Critérios de positividade para cervicografia digital: melhorando a sensibilidade do diagnóstico do câncer cervical Digital cervicography criteria: improving sensitivity in uterine cervical cancer diagnosis

O objetivo deste trabalho foi validar critérios de positividade para cervicografia digital. Estudo realizado com 300 mulheres submetidas a protocolo clínico composto por exame citológico, uma avaliação por meio de cervicografia digital sem ampliação de imagem (Avaliação 1), e outra avaliação também usando cervicografia digital mas com ampliação adicional de imagem e os critérios de positividade propostos neste estudo (Avaliação 2). A idade média das mulheres foi de 27,6 anos. Os critérios de positividade para cervicografia digital foram identificados em 111 casos (100%) dos testes positivos para lesões precursoras do câncer do colo uterino e em 8 casos (2,6%) considerados falso-positivos. As avaliações 1 e 2 classificaram os exames como positivos (163; 54,3%) e suspeitos (146; 48,6%), respectivamente. Os resultados revelam que a cervicografia digital foi mais sensível (99,1%) e a citologia mais específica (100%). O desempenho alcançado pela cervicografia digital, quando aplicado os critérios de positividade, alcançou sensibilidade 4,5 vezes superior ao desempenho da citologia oncológica, além do baixo custo, sugerindo ser uma técnica factível.<br>This study aimed to validate the scoring criteria for digital cervicography. The study enrolled 300 women submitted to a clinical protocol using cytological examination alone, digital cervicography without image magnification (Evaluation 1), and digital cervicography plus additional image magnification and considering the positive criteria (Evaluation 2). Women's mean age was 27.6 years. Positive criteria for digital cervicography were identified in 111 positive cases with pre-cancerous cervical lesions (100%) and in 8 cases classified as false positives (2.6%). Evaluations 1 and 2 classified the tests as positive (163; 54.3%) and suspected (146; 48.6%), respectively. According to the findings, digital cervicography was more sensitive (99.1%) and cytology more specific (100%). Digital cervicography sensitivity increased by 4.5 times when the positive criteria were applied as compared to cytology alone, besides involving low cost, thus suggesting that it is a viable technique

Nodularin, a cyanobacterial toxin, is synthesized in planta by symbiotic Nostoc sp.

The nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Nostoc, is a commonly occurring cyanobacterium often found in symbiotic associations. We investigated the potential of cycad cyanobacterial endosymbionts to synthesize microcystin/nodularin. Endosymbiont DNA was screened for the aminotransferase domain of the toxin biosynthesis gene clusters. Five endosymbionts carrying the gene were screened for bioactivity. Extracts of two isolates inhibited protein phosphatase 2A and were further analyzed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)/MS. Nostoc sp. 'Macrozamia riedlei 65.1' and Nostoc sp. 'Macrozamia serpentina 73.1' both contained nodularin. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) HESI-MS/MS analysis confirmed the presence of nodularin at 9.55±2.4 ng μg⁻¹ chlorophyll a in Nostoc sp. 'Macrozamia riedlei 65.1' and 12.5±8.4 ng μg⁻¹ Chl a in Nostoc sp. 'Macrozamia serpentina 73.1' extracts. Further scans indicated the presence of the rare isoform [L-Har²] nodularin, which contains L-homoarginine instead of L-arginine. Nodularin was also present at 1.34±0.74 ng ml⁻¹ (approximately 3 pmol per g plant ww) in the methanol root extracts of M. riedlei MZ65, while the presence of [L-Har²] nodularin in the roots of M. serpentina MZ73 was suggested by HPLC HESI-MS/MS analysis. The ndaA-B and ndaF genomic regions were sequenced to confirm the presence of the hybrid polyketide/non-ribosomal gene cluster. A seven amino-acid insertion into the NdaA-C1 domain of N. spumigena NSOR10 protein was observed in all endosymbiont-derived sequences, suggesting the transfer of the nda cluster from N. spumigena to terrestrial Nostoc species. This study demonstrates the synthesis of nodularin and [L-Har²] nodularin in a non-Nodularia species and the production of cyanobacterial hepatotoxin by a symbiont in planta

Two sides of a coin: targets and by-products of water and wastewater treatment

With time new methods/technique developed for clean/portable as same, it is essential to authenticate them. In this chapter the discussion on what is the disadvantage of tertiary treatment including harmful disinfection by-products (DBP). The details of Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic acid, Nitrosamine and Perfluorinated compounds, its necessary condition like precursors for formation the in treatment. As well as how to get rid of these compounds and their pathways are also summarized. Chlorination is the cheapest, realistic and most effective method in comparison to ozonation and UV radiations. Among all the methods mentioned above, chlorination is the cheapest, realistic and most effective method for achieving the best results. However, its results in harmful disinfection by-products, which need to understand the critical situation.by Bhagwana Ram, Divya Sharma and Manish Kuma