Isolation of Clostridium perfringens from swine carcasses and feces

Bacterial hazards are the major concern in the production of food of animal origin. Clostridium perfringens is a common cause of food-borne illness. The illness is characterized by profuse diarrhea and acute abdominal pain. At this study 30 carcass swabs from dorsal area and 30 fecal samples from a swine abattoir were analyzed over C. perfringens presence

ANÁLISE DO ÍNDICE DE ÁREAS VERDES (IAV) NA ÁREA CENTRAL DA CIDADE DE JUIZ DE FORA, MG

A vegetação é capaz de promover significativas melhorias no ambiente urbano, principalmente no que se refere à redução da poluição atmosférica, à minimização das temperaturas, ao conforto ambiental, além de causar bem-estar físico e psíquico, atuando, conseqüentemente, na qualidade de vida. O presente trabalho procurou conhecer a oferta de áreas verdes a partir do cálculo do Índice de Áreas Verdes (IAV) em 24 Regiões Urbanas de Juiz de Fora. Constatou-se reduzida presença de áreas verdes, sendo que apenas uma única região urbana apresentou um IAV acima do sugerido na Carta a Londrina e Ibiporã, que é de 15m²/habitantes. Todas as demais áreas estiveram muito abaixo deste mínimo. Neste sentido, este trabalho vem confirmar o déficit de áreas verdes, que, atrelado a dinâmica urbana, prejudica a qualidade de vida da população

Extracellular enolase of Candida albicans is involved in colonization of mammalian intestinal epithelium

Enolase is secreted by C. albicans and is present in its biofilms although its extracellular function is unknown. Here we show that extracellular enolase mediates the colonization of small intestine mucosa by C. albicans. Assays using intestinal mucosa disks show that C. albicans adhesion is inhibited, in a dose dependent mode, either by pretreatment of intestinal epithelium mucosa disks with recombinant C. albicans enolase (70% at 0.5 mg/ml enolase) or by pretreatment of C. albicans yeasts with anti-enolase antibodies (48% with 20 µg antiserum). Also using flow cytometry, immunoblots of conditioned media and confocal microscopy we demonstrate that enolase is present in biofilms and that the extracellular enolase is not an artifact due to cell lysis, but must represent functional secretion of a stable form. This is the first direct evidence that C. albicans extracellular enolase mediates colonization on its primary translocation site. Also, because enolase is encoded by a single locus in C. albicans, its dual role peptide, as glycolytic enzyme and extracellular peptide, is a remarkable example of gene sharing in fungi

Serum levels of S100B and NSE proteins in Alzheimer's disease patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alzheimer's disease is the most common dementia in the elderly, and the potential of peripheral biochemical markers as complementary tools in the neuropsychiatric evaluation of these patients has claimed further attention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We evaluated serum levels of S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in 54 mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and in 66 community-dwelling elderly. AD patients met the probable NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Severity of dementia was ascertained by the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, cognitive function by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and neuroimage findings with magnetic resonance imaging. Serum was obtained from all individuals and frozen at -70°C until analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By comparing both groups, serum S100B levels were lower in AD group, while serum NSE levels were the same both groups. In AD patients, S100B levels were positively correlated with CDR scores (rho = 0.269; p = 0.049) and negatively correlated with MMSE scores (rho = -0.33; <it>P </it>= 0.048). NSE levels decreased in AD patients with higher levels of brain atrophy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings suggest that serum levels of S100B may be a marker for brain functional condition and serum NSE levels may be a marker for morphological status in AD.</p

Validation of vulnerability markers of dysfunctions in the socioemotional development of infants

ABSTRACT Objectives: to validate the vulnerability markers of dysfunctions in the socioemotional development of infants. Methods: study with a sequential exploratory mixed-method design. The vulnerability markers elaborated in the qualitative phase were analyzed by experts in the quantitative phase using the Delphi technique with a minimum consensus of 70%. Seventeen judges answered the questionnaire in the first round of analysis and 11 answered in the second round. Results: in the first round, two markers did not reach minimum consensus: the presence of instability in family relationships (66%) and delinquency and/or drug abuse by parents/caregivers (65%). In the second round, all markers were validated, with more than 90% agreement in most of the attributes, and reached the minimum consensus of 73%. Conclusion: the eight vulnerability markers reached the minimum consensus for validation, and a relevant instrument for infant care can be developed after assessing the reliability and clinically validating these markers

Sistema de oscilometria de impulso em pediatria: revisão de literatura

Introduction: impulse oscillometry (IOS) is considered a method of evaluation of respiratory mechanics, and being non-invasive, has been increasingly mentioned in the care and research of pediatric patients. Studies have considered the interest of determining reference values and check the IOS relationship with other methods of respiratory assessment.Objective: to present an update of the literature regarding the system, technical criteria and interpretation of data, as well as the relationship of the system with other methods of respiratory assessment and its clinical applicability.Method: literature review with consultation in the databases MEDLINE / PubMed and Ebsco, using the keywords: “impulse oscillometry”, "reference  values” and “child”. It was considered all material with information about the equipment, their indications and application as an evaluation tool in different clinical situations.Results: 45 documents were identified, (41 trials and 4 reviews), supplemented with 20 papers (1 guideline, 1 manual on equipment and 18 articles on the subject). This material was characterized by approaching the equipment, its parameters evaluation, performance technique and positioning of the patient during the examination, criteria for acceptability and reproducibility, and interpretation of the data obtained. There are several publications of this tool in the evaluation of respiratory mechanics disorders such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, and making on reference values in healthy children. Conclusion: IOS is a relatively new feature, whose indication  in pediatrics has been increasing, but still required investigations, both technical and clinical investigations.Introdução: a oscilometria de impulso (IOS) é considerado um método de avaliação da mecânica respiratória, e por ser não invasivo, vem sendo crescentemente indicado na assistência e investigação do paciente pediátrico. Estudos tem tido como interesse a determinação de valores de referência e a verificação da relação do IOS com outros métodos de avaliação respiratória. Objetivo: Apresentar uma atualização da literatura quanto ao sistema, critérios técnicos e interpretação de dados, bem como, a relação do sistema com outros métodos de avaliação respiratória e sua aplicabilidade clínica.Método: revisão bibliográfica com consulta nas bases de dados MEDLINE/PubMed e Ebsco, utilizando as palavras-chaves: “impulse oscillometry”, “reference values” e “child”. Considerou-se todo material com informações sobre o equipamento, suas indicações e aplicação como instrumento de avaliação em diferentes situações clínicas.Resultados: foram identificados 45 documentos, sendo 41 ensaios clínicos e 4 revisões, complementados com 20 trabalhos: 1 guideline, 1 manual sobre o equipamento e 18 artigos referentes ao tema. Esse material foi caracterizado por abordar o equipamento, seus parâmetros de avaliação, técnica de execução e posicionamento do paciente durante o exame, critérios de aceitabilidade e reprodutibilidade e interpretação dos dados obtidos. São várias as publicações dessa ferramenta na avaliação da mecânica respiratória de disfunções como asma e fibrose cística e geração de valores de referência em crianças saudáveis.Conclusão: o IOS é um recurso relativamente novo, cuja indicação em pediatriatem sido crescente, mas que ainda carece investigações, tanto técnicas quanto clínicas

Complexity measures of heart-rate variability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with alternative pulmonary capacities

Objective: the complexity of heart-rate variability (HRV) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with different pulmonary capacities was evaluated. Methods: We set these according to their pulmonary capacity, and specifically forced vital capacity (FVC). We split the groups according to FVC (FVC > 50% (n = 29) and FVC < 50% (n = 28)). In ALS, the presence of an FVC below 50% is indicative of noninvasive ventilation with two pressure levels and with the absence of other respiratory symptoms. As the number of subjects per group was different, we applied the unbalanced one-way analysis of variance (uANOVA1) test after three tests of normality, and effect size by Cohen’s d to assess parameter significance. Results: with regard to chaotic global analysis, CFP4 (p < 0.001; d = 0.91), CFP5 (p = 0.0022; d = 0.85), and CFP6 (p = 0.0009; d = 0.92) were enlarged. All entropies significantly increased. Shannon (p = 0.0005; d = 0.98), Renyi (p = 0.0002; d = 1.02), Tsallis (p = 0.0004; d = 0.99), approximate (p = 0.0005; d = 0.97), and sample (p < 0.0001; d = 1.22). Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) (p = 0.0358) and Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD) (p = 0.15) were statistically inconsequential between the two groups. Conclusions: HRV complexity in ALS subjects with different pulmonary capacities increased via chaotic global analysis, especially CFP5 and 3 out of 5 entropies

Taking care of yourself to take care of the other: reflections of nursing professionals about self care

Objective: To analyze the practices of nursing professionals of a Hospital Emergency and Emergency, directed to self-care; characterize them as the weekly schedule of work and ascertain the difficulties that are to take care of themselves. Method: This exploratory-descriptive and qualitative, performed with a nursing team in July 2009 in a Hospital Emergency and Emergency Campina Grande / PB / Brazil. The empirical material was analyzed using content analysis, having obeyed the precepts of Resolution 196/96, submitted to the Ethics Committee of the Centre for Higher Education and Development (CESED) which approved on 25/05/2009, No. 1846.0. 000405-09. Results: There was a perception of nursing professionals related to self-care; Practice of nursing directed to self-care for health maintenance, and difficulties encountered by practitioners for self-care. Conclusion: The practice of nursing directed to self-care showed negative aspects related to the theme