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

FISIOTERAPIA ASSOCIADA À TOXINA BOTULÍNICA NA DIPLEGIA ESPÁSTICA: um relato de caso

Crianças com diplegia espástica apresentam um padrão de marcha caracterizado pela posição do tornozelo em flexão plantar, flexão excessiva do joelho associado ao valgismo e aumento da adução e rotação interna do quadril. A postura em flexão plantar do tornozelo, secundária à espasticidade, é um dos principais fatores que interferem na função da marcha. Foi realizado um relato de caso para descrever e avaliar a atuação fisioterapêutica associada à aplicação da toxina botulínica tipo A (Dysport) nos flexores plantares de uma criança com diplegia espástica. A criança foi avaliada pré-aplicação da toxina botulínica, 30 e 60 dias após a sua aplicação pelo Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa (GMFCS), da Medida da Função Motora Grossa (GMFM), da goniometria do tornozelo e do Vídeo Gait Analysis (VGA). O programa de fisioterapia iniciou-se no dia seguinte à aplicação. Foi verificada mudança de um nível no GMFCS com melhora de 9,4% na área de meta do GMFM. Na amplitude de movimento do tornozelo direito houve uma melhora de 15º com o joelho fletido e 17º com joelho estendido e no tornozelo esquerdo uma melhora de 3º e 10º, respectivamente. No VGA ocorreu alteração de um grau no tornozelo esquerdo. Isso demonstra que um programa de fisioterapia associado à aplicação da toxina botulínica interferiu positivamente no desempenho da funcionalidade de uma criança com diplegia espástica e encurtamento dos flexores plantares

Sleep and salivary cortisol in preterm neonates: a clinical, randomized, controlled, crossover study

ABSTRACT Objective: Analyze the influence of ear protectors on the baseline levels of salivary cortisol and response and total sleep time of preterm neonates during two periods of environmental management of a neonatal intermediate care unit. Method: A clinical, randomized, controlled and crossover study conducted with 12 preterm neonates. The use of ear protectors was randomized in two periods. Sleep evaluation was performed using one Alice 5 Polysomnography System and unstructured observation. Results: No significant difference was observed between the baseline levels of salivary cortisol and response in preterm neonates from the control and experimental groups, and no statistical significance was observed between the total sleep time of both groups. No relationship was observed between the baseline levels of cortisol and response and total sleep time. Conclusion: Ear protectors in preterm neonates did not influence the salivary cortisol level and total sleep time in the studied periods

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved