Biofilm formation in catheter-related infections by Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing Staphylococcus aureus

The use of invasive techniques, such as intravascular catheter insertion, and the formation of biofilms in several devices by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have contributed to the increased number of septic patients, morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the virulence of strains through catheter colonization and identification of microbial biofilm, as well as pathological changes on the colonized skin. An experimental biofilm formation model utilized catheter fragments implanted subcutaneously in 25 Swiss mice. The technique consisted of inoculating a catheter fragment on the back of each animal, followed by intradermal inoculation of 50 μl of bacterial suspension at 1.0 × 107 colony forming units/ml. After 96 h, catheters were removed for macroscopic analysis and evaluated through culture. Local skin fragments were also extracted for histopathology analysis. Staphylococcus aureus can adhere to catheters, colonize and form biofilms. The high amount of viable bacterial cells colonizing catheters and virulence factors can lead to severe infections of skin and adjacent tissues. [Int Microbiol 19(4): 199-207 (2016)]Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus · biofilms · infections · MRSA · Panton-Valentine leukocidi

Tool Condition Monitoring of Single-point Dressing Operation by Digital Signal Processing of AE and AI

Abstract This work aims at determining the right moment to stop single-point dressing the grinding wheel in order to optimize the grinding process as a whole. Acoustic emission signals and signal processing tools are used as primary approach. An acoustic emission (AE) sensor was connected to a signal processing module. The AE sensor was attached to the dresser holder, which was specifically built to perform dressing tests. In this work there were three types of test where the edit parameters of each dressing test are: the passes number, the dressing speed, the width of action of the dresser, the dressing time and the sharpness. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) technique is employed to classify and predict the best moment for stopping the dressing operation. During the ANNs use, the results from Supervised Neural Networks and Unsupervised Neural Networks are compared

Microfluidic-based platform to mimic the in vivo peripheral administration of neurotropic nanoparticles

Aim: Propose a nanoparticle for neuron-targeted retrograde gene delivery and describe a microfluidic-based culture system to provide insight into vector performance and safety. Methods: Using compartmentalized neuron cultures we dissected nanoparticle bioactivity upon delivery taking advantage of (quantitative) bioimaging tools. Results: Targeted and nontargeted nanoparticles were internalized at axon terminals and retrogradely transported to cell bodies at similar average velocities but the former have shown an axonal flux 2.7-times superior to nontargeted nanoparticles, suggesting an improved cargo-transportation efficiency. The peripheral administration of nanoparticles to axon terminals is nontoxic as compared with their direct administration to the cell body or whole neuron. Conclusion: A neuron-targeted nanoparticle system was put forward. Microfluidic-based neuron cultures are proposed as a powerful tool to investigate nanoparticle bio-performance.The work was financed by Portuguese funds through the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia in the framework of the projects PTDC/CTM-NAN/115124/2009 and PTDC/CTM-NAN/3547/2014. CDF Lopes, CP Gomes and E Neto acknowledge the FCT for their PhD scholarships(SFRH/BD/77933/2011, SFRH/BD/77930/2011 and SFRH/BD/81152/2011, respectively). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript

Primeiro registro de Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici raça 3 no Estado de Minas Gerais.

Resumo 757-1

Acoustic image-based damage identification of oxide aluminum grinding wheel during the dressing operation

Abstract Grinding is a finish process of parts that require high precision and tight dimensional tolerance, which owe high value-added. As the grinding process takes place, the cutting surface of the grinding wheel undergoes wear and then its cutting capacity is reduced. On the other hand, the dressing operation is responsible for restoring the cutting surface of the grinding wheel and, therefore, plays a key role in the grinding process. This work aims at obtaining acoustic images of the grinding wheel surface to identify its conditions during the dressing operation. Experimental tests were conducted with a single-point diamond dresser in a surface grinding machine, which was equipped with an oxide aluminum grinding wheel in which specific marks were intentionally made on its surface to simulate damages for identification. An acoustic emission sensor was fixed to the dresser holder and the signal were acquired at 5 MHz. The signal spectrum was investigated and a frequency band was carefully selected, which represented the conditions of grinding wheel surface. The root mean square values were then computed from the raw signal with and without filtering for several integration periods, and the acoustic images obtained. The results show that the proposed technique is efficient to identify the damage on the wheel surface during the dressing operation as well as its location

Diagnóstico Citogenético em Líquidos Amnióticos Realizado entre 2000-2011 no Centro de Genética Médica Jacinto Magalhães, INSA, IP

Introdução: O diagnóstico pré-natal citogenético efetuado em líquido amniótico é um método seguro e fiável para deteção de anomalias cromossómicas fetais, sendo habitualmente realizado a partir das 15 semanas de gestação. Obtêm-se resultados, em média, após 8-10 dias de cultura dos amniócitos. Objectivo: Apresentar a estatística dos resultados obtidos na análise citogenética de líquidos amnióticos realizada na Unidade de Citogenética do Centro de Genética Médica Jacinto Magalhães entre 2000 e 2011, comparando-os com o descrito na literatura. Material e métodos: Entre janeiro de 2000 e dezembro de 2011 foram processados 10149 líquidos amnióticos. Os motivos para a realização da amniocentese foram, nomeadamente, idade materna avançada, anomalias ecográficas, marcadores ecográficos, rastreio bioquímico positivo, familiares com anomalias cromossómicas e risco de doença monogénica. Foram realizadas culturas de amniócitos de acordo com as técnicas convencionais de citogenética e os cromossomas identificados com bandas GTG ou GTL. Sempre que necessário efetuaram-se estudos de citogenética molecular (FISH) com as sondas adequadas ao esclarecimento do caso. Resultados: A análise revelou 342 cariótipos anormais (3,4%) dos quais 234 tinham anomalias numéricas e 108 estruturais. Os Síndromes de Down, de Edwards e de Turner foram as anomalias mais frequentes. Vinte e três culturas não cresceram, representando uma percentagem de 0,2% de insucesso. Conclusões: Os autores correlacionam os resultados obtidos com as indicações clínicas fornecidas e comparam-nas com o descrito na literatura. O presente estudo poderá ser utilizado para o estabelecimento de uma base de dados a nível nacional