Typical and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli bacterial translocation associated with tissue hypoperfusion in rats

Although enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) are well-recognized diarrheal agents, their ability to translocate and cause extraintestinal alterations is not known. We investigated whether a typical EPEC (tEPEC) and an atypical EPEC (aEPEC) strain translocate and cause microcirculation injury under conditions of intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial translocation (BT) was induced in female Wistar-EPM rats (200-250 g) by oroduodenal catheterization and inoculation of 10 mL 10(10) colony forming unit (CFU)/mL, with the bacteria being confined between the duodenum and ileum with ligatures. After 2 h, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver and spleen were cultured for translocated bacteria and BT-related microcirculation changes were monitored in mesenteric and abdominal organs by intravital microscopy and laser Doppler flow, respectively. tEPEC (N = 11) and aEPEC (N = 11) were recovered from MLN (100%), spleen (36.4 and 45.5%), and liver (45.5 and 72.7%) of the animals, respectively. Recovery of the positive control E. coli R-6 (N = 6) was 100% for all compartments. Bacteria were not recovered from extraintestinal sites of controls inoculated with non-pathogenic E. coli strains HB101 (N = 6) and HS (N = 10), or saline. Mesenteric microcirculation injuries were detected with both EPEC strains, but only aEPEC was similar to E. coli R-6 with regard to systemic tissue hypoperfusion. In conclusion, overgrowth of certain aEPEC strains may lead to BT and impairment of the microcirculation in systemic organs.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PediatriaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de MicrobiologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de CirurgiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PediatriaUNIFESP, Depto. de MicrobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de CirurgiaSciEL

Comunidade microbiana epifítica associada à azeitona in natura

Nos últimos anos, o posicionamento no mercado de produtos do olival com elevada qualidade tem sofrido alterações consideráveis, sobretudo pela procura de produtos diferenciados. O desenvolvimento de estratégias de diferenciação, assentes na qualidade, sabor e aroma são desafios crescentes sobretudo para satisfazer consumidores cada vez mais exigentes. A diversidade microbiana presente na azeitona, demonstrada em estudos anteriores, associada ao seu potencial em sintetizar compostos, sugere que os microrganismos possam ter um papel importante na determinação da qualidade e nas características dos produtos daí resultantes. Assim, a identificação da flora microbiana da azeitona abrirá perspetivas à sua possível utilização controlada, e assim produzir produtos diferenciados e de qualidade superior, aspetos não explorados até ao momento. Assim, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo geral criar uma coleção de microrganismos autóctones que possam ser promissores para uma utilização futura em desenvolvimento de novos produtos do olival. Para tal, isolou-se a população microbiana epifítica de azeitonas acabadas de colher de três variedades: Cobrançosa, Madural Verdeal Transmontana, com recurso à técnica da diluição em Placa de Petri, em meio de cultura Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) e meio sólido Luria-Bertani (LB). Os resultados obtidos foram analisados tendo por base a variedade e o meio de cultura utilizado. Com base nas características morfológicas das colónias de bactérias, leveduras e fungos filamentosos foram obtidos 133 isolados que estão em fase de identificação até à espécie. Para fungos e leveduras, verificou-se que o meio PDA foi mais efetivo, contrariamente às bactérias que se desenvolveram melhor e em maior número no meio LB. Quando agrupadas por semelhança morfológica, totalizam 48 isolados diferentes. O efeito da variedade não foi muito evidente, uma vez que a população encontrada foi muito semelhante nas três variedades em estudo. O trabalho desenvolvido até ao momento permite afirmar a grande variedade e riqueza microbiana, e a sua utilização poderá abrir perspetivas à produção de produtos diferenciados.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Desenvolvimento de um pão à base de farinha de castanha, com adição de alfarroba ou chícharo: Viabilidade nutricional

O Consumidor é cada vez mais exigente e procura novas formulações alimentares em busca de sabores diferentes aos habituais, para “fugir” à rotina do dia-a-dia. O pão é um produto alimentar muito bem aceite pelo consumidor, mas nem sempre satisfaz em termos nutricionais as necessidades de uma dieta saudável. Neste projeto, desenvolveram-se várias formulações de pão em que os ingredientes base foram a farinha de trigo e a de castanha. No sentido de enriquecer os produtos finais, adicionou-se ainda alfarroba ou chícharo, para conferir novas propriedades nutricionais e também novos sabores. Para a quantificação dos minerais recorreuse a técnica de Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) (em atmosfera de hélio). Os resultados são discutidos em função dos perfis mineralógicos das diferentes formulações bem como dos valores resultantes de uma análise sensorial hedónica de aceitação.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Relativistic Factor in the Orbital Dynamics of Point Masses

There is a growing population of relativistically relevant minor bodies in the Solar System and a growing population of massive extrasolar planets with orbits very close to the central star where relativistic effects should have some signature. Our purpose is to review how general relativity affects the orbital dynamics of the planetary systems and to define a suitable relativistic correction for Solar System orbital studies when only point masses are considered. Using relativistic formulae for the N body problem suited for a planetary system given in the literature we present a series of numerical orbital integrations designed to test the relevance of the effects due to the general theory of relativity in the case of our Solar System. Comparison between different algorithms for accounting for the relativistic corrections are performed. Relativistic effects generated by the Sun or by the central star are the most relevant ones and produce evident modifications in the secular dynamics of the inner Solar System. The Kozai mechanism, for example, is modified due to the relativistic effects on the argument of the perihelion. Relativistic effects generated by planets instead are of very low relevance but detectable in numerical simulations

Physico-chemical characterization of asolectin–genistein liposomal system: An approach to analyze its in vitro antioxidant potential and effect in glioma cells viability

AbstractIn this study, the interaction between soy isoflavone genistein and asolectin liposomes was investigated by monitoring the effects of isoflavone on lipidic hydration, mobility, location and order. These properties were analyzed by the following techniques: horizontal attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (HATR-FTIR), low-field 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-field 31P NMR, zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV–vis spectroscopy. The antioxidant and antitumoral activities of the genistein liposomal system were also studied. The genistein saturation concentration in ASO liposomes corresponded to 484μM. HATR–FTIR results indicated that genistein influences the dynamics of the lipidic phosphate, choline, carbonyl and acyl chain methylenes groups. At the lipid polar head, HATR–FTIR and 31P NMR results showed that the isoflavone reduces the hydration degree of the phosphate group, as well as its mobility. Genistein ordered the lipid interfacial carbonyl group, as evidenced by the HATR–FTIR bandwidth analysis. This ordering effect was also observed in the lipidic hydrophobic region, by HATR–FTIR, NMR, DSC and turbidity responses. At the saturation concentration, liposome-loaded genistein inhibits the lipid peroxidation induced by hydroxyl radical in 90.9%. ASO liposome-loaded genistein at 100μM decreased C6 glioma cell viability by 57% after 72h of treatment. Results showed an increase of the genistein in vitro activities after its incorporation in liposomes. The data described in this work will contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between genistein and a natural-source membrane and of its influence on isoflavone biological activities. Furthermore, the antitumoral results showed that genistein-based liposomes, which contain natural-sourced lipids, may be promising as a drug delivery system to be used in the glioma therapy

The Kuiper Belt and Other Debris Disks

We discuss the current knowledge of the Solar system, focusing on bodies in the outer regions, on the information they provide concerning Solar system formation, and on the possible relationships that may exist between our system and the debris disks of other stars. Beyond the domains of the Terrestrial and giant planets, the comets in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud preserve some of our most pristine materials. The Kuiper belt, in particular, is a collisional dust source and a scientific bridge to the dusty "debris disks" observed around many nearby main-sequence stars. Study of the Solar system provides a level of detail that we cannot discern in the distant disks while observations of the disks may help to set the Solar system in proper context.Comment: 50 pages, 25 Figures. To appear in conference proceedings book "Astrophysics in the Next Decade