The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

Avaliacao do uso da pleuroscopia no tratamento do empiema pleural agudo, fase fibrinopurulenta

O estudo descreve a evolução de uma série de 50 pacientes submetidos à pleuroscopia convencional para tratamento de empiema pleural fase fibrinopurulenta, no Serviço de Cirurgia Torácica da Universidade de Caxias do Sul, RS. Através da análise bivariada, foram identificados três fatores prognósticos desfavoráveis ao desfecho - resolução do empiema: mau estado geral dos pacientes, presença de germes anaeróbios no líquido pleural e expansibilidade pulmonar parcial no pós-operatório imediato (p < 0,001). A criação de um índice prognóstico derivado do modelo multivariado, composto pela combinação destes três fatores prognósticos, permitiu a identificação da importância destes fatores na resolução do empiema. Nos pacientes em que nenhum ou apenas um dos três fatores foi identificado (43 pacientes), houve 100% de resolução do empiema. A presença de dois fatores (3 pacientes) determinou a resolução do empiema em 33,3% dos casos. Nos 4 pacientes restantes, em que foram identificados os 3 fatores, nenhum apresentou resolução do empiema através da pleuroscopia. O método permitiu a resolução do empiema em 90% dos casos. O período médio de permanência hospitalar foi de 12,3 dias ± 5,7 para os pacientes com resolução do processo infeccioso e de 21 ,2 ± 5,1 para os casos de insucesso terapêutico. A morbidade e a mortalidade foram de 14% e de 4%, respectivamente. A realização de tomografia computadorizada ou ecografia torácica para identificar corretamente a presença das septações pleurais foi necessária em 23 pacientes (46%), o que os torna critério indispensável à indicação da pleuroscopia no tratamento do empiema pleural fase fibrinopurulenta.This study describes the evolution of a series of fifty(50) patients that underwent conventional pleuroscopy for lhe treatment of pleural empyema in the fibrinopurulent stage at lhe Thoracic Surgery Unit of the University of Caxias do Sul, RS. A bi-varied analysis identified three unfavorable prognostic factors for the resolution of the empyema : a general bad health condition of lhe patients, the presence of anaerobe germs in the pleural liquid, and partial pulmonary expansibility during the early postoperative period. ( p<0,001) The creation of a prognostic indicator from a multi-varied model, made up by the combination of three prognostic factors, helped to identify the importance of these factors in the resolution of the empyema. In lhe patients where none of the three factors were identified (43 patients) there was 100% resolution of the empyema. The presence of two factors (3 patients) determined the resolution of the empyema in 33,3% of the cases. In the remaining 4 patients the three factors were identified and none of them presented resolution of the empyema by means of a pleuroscopy. The method led to the resolution of empyema in 90% of the cases. The average in-hospital period ranged from 12,3 days ± 5, 7 for patients whit resolution of the infectious process and 21,2 ± 5,1 for the cases of therapeutic failure. Morbidity reached 14% and mortality 4%. Computed tomography and thoracic ecography in arder to accurately identify the presence of pleural sepsis were necessary for 23 patients(46%), wich proves theses procedures are indispensable criteria for the indication of pleuroscopy in the treatment of pleural empyema in the fibrinopurulent stage

Estudo sobre a eficácia da aerostasia pulmonar, em modelo animal, utilizando diferentes tipos de sutura

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Avaliacao do uso da pleuroscopia no tratamento do empiema pleural agudo, fase fibrinopurulenta

O estudo descreve a evolução de uma série de 50 pacientes submetidos à pleuroscopia convencional para tratamento de empiema pleural fase fibrinopurulenta, no Serviço de Cirurgia Torácica da Universidade de Caxias do Sul, RS. Através da análise bivariada, foram identificados três fatores prognósticos desfavoráveis ao desfecho - resolução do empiema: mau estado geral dos pacientes, presença de germes anaeróbios no líquido pleural e expansibilidade pulmonar parcial no pós-operatório imediato (p < 0,001). A criação de um índice prognóstico derivado do modelo multivariado, composto pela combinação destes três fatores prognósticos, permitiu a identificação da importância destes fatores na resolução do empiema. Nos pacientes em que nenhum ou apenas um dos três fatores foi identificado (43 pacientes), houve 100% de resolução do empiema. A presença de dois fatores (3 pacientes) determinou a resolução do empiema em 33,3% dos casos. Nos 4 pacientes restantes, em que foram identificados os 3 fatores, nenhum apresentou resolução do empiema através da pleuroscopia. O método permitiu a resolução do empiema em 90% dos casos. O período médio de permanência hospitalar foi de 12,3 dias ± 5,7 para os pacientes com resolução do processo infeccioso e de 21 ,2 ± 5,1 para os casos de insucesso terapêutico. A morbidade e a mortalidade foram de 14% e de 4%, respectivamente. A realização de tomografia computadorizada ou ecografia torácica para identificar corretamente a presença das septações pleurais foi necessária em 23 pacientes (46%), o que os torna critério indispensável à indicação da pleuroscopia no tratamento do empiema pleural fase fibrinopurulenta.This study describes the evolution of a series of fifty(50) patients that underwent conventional pleuroscopy for lhe treatment of pleural empyema in the fibrinopurulent stage at lhe Thoracic Surgery Unit of the University of Caxias do Sul, RS. A bi-varied analysis identified three unfavorable prognostic factors for the resolution of the empyema : a general bad health condition of lhe patients, the presence of anaerobe germs in the pleural liquid, and partial pulmonary expansibility during the early postoperative period. ( p<0,001) The creation of a prognostic indicator from a multi-varied model, made up by the combination of three prognostic factors, helped to identify the importance of these factors in the resolution of the empyema. In lhe patients where none of the three factors were identified (43 patients) there was 100% resolution of the empyema. The presence of two factors (3 patients) determined the resolution of the empyema in 33,3% of the cases. In the remaining 4 patients the three factors were identified and none of them presented resolution of the empyema by means of a pleuroscopy. The method led to the resolution of empyema in 90% of the cases. The average in-hospital period ranged from 12,3 days ± 5, 7 for patients whit resolution of the infectious process and 21,2 ± 5,1 for the cases of therapeutic failure. Morbidity reached 14% and mortality 4%. Computed tomography and thoracic ecography in arder to accurately identify the presence of pleural sepsis were necessary for 23 patients(46%), wich proves theses procedures are indispensable criteria for the indication of pleuroscopy in the treatment of pleural empyema in the fibrinopurulent stage

Anterior surgical management of the cervicothoracic junction lesions at T1 and T2 vertebral bodies Manejo cirúrgico via anterior das lesões da junção cérvico-torácica nos corpos vertebrais de T1 e T2

Lesions of the cervicothoracic junction have a high propensity for causing instability and present unique challenges in the surgical treatment. Several surgical approaches to this region have been described in the literature. We report our experience in the surgical treatment of six patients with unstable lesions involving the cervicothoracic junction at T1 and T2 vertebral bodies. The patients underwent an anterior left Smith-Robinson approach and manubriotomy. Mesh and cervical plate system were used for stabilization and reconstruction of the region. No complication related to the surgical procedure was observed. In our experience, in injuries involving the T1 and T2 vertebral bodies, the transmanubrial approach offers good working room to remove the lesions and anterior reconstruction.Lesões da junção cérvico-torácica têm alta tendência em causar instabilidade e apresentam grandes desafios ao tratamento cirúrgico. Diversas abordagens cirúrgicas a esta região foram descritas na literatura. Relatamos nossa experiência no tratamento cirúrgico de seis pacientes com lesões instáveis envolvendo a junção cérvico-torácica em corpos vertebrais de T1 e T2. Os pacientes foram submetidos a uma abordagem anterior de Smith-Robinson pela esquerda e manubriotomia. Mesh e placa cervical foram utilizados para estabilização e reconstrução da região. Nenhuma complicação relacionada ao procedimento cirúrgico foi observada. Em nossa experiência, em lesões que envolvem os corpos vertebrais de T1 e T2, a abordagem transmanubrial oferece bom campo de trabalho para remoção das lesões e estabilização anterior

Anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction: case series and literature review

OBJECTIVES: the authors report their experience with the anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction at C7 to T4 vertebral bodies, how the radiological investigation was performed in order to define the need for manubriotomy, how was the surgical pitfalls and the clinical evaluation. METHODS: prospective cohort study with 14 patients who underwent an anterior approach to the cervicothoracic surgery during the period of January 1996 to January 2009. The patients underwent radiographic evaluation with computed tomography and magnetic resonance before surgery in order to identify when the manubriotomy was necessary. The surgery was usually performed from the left side through an anterior Smith-Robinson approach and manubriotomy when necessary. Mesh and cervical plate system were used for stabilization when corpectomy was performed. Nevertheless, in the cases with discal herniation C7-T1, the reconstruction was done with PEEK and cervical plate system. RESULTS: the mean age was 63 years old (range, 30-77 years) and seven of the patients were men. The majority of cases had metastatic disease (n=8) or disc herniation (n=4). There were two complications related to the surgical procedures: one patient with dysphonia caused by a local hematoma and other one with lung infection. The mean surgical time, bleeding volume, pain intensity, medication intake and length of hospital stay were lower in the cases in which manubriotomy was not necessary. CONCLUSIONS: the anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction is effective and presents low morbidity rate. In cases of injuries involving the C7 vertebral body and C7-T1 intervertebral disc herniation, a transcervical approach without the manubriotomy was indicated; when a T1 and/or T2 corpectomy was necessary, the transmanubrial approach usually was necessary in order to provide a good working space to perform a corpectomy and reconstruction. Performing manubriotomy increases surgical time, bleeding, pain intensity, analgesic drugs intake and the length of hospital stay