Bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum ST16Pa in supplemented whey powder formulations

Whey, the main by-product of the dairy industry, is frequently disposed of in the environment without any treatment due to the high cost of this process. Alternatively, whey can be used as a medium to culture lactic acid bacteria and produce value-added products such as bacteriocins. In this work, we attempted to improve bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum ST16Pa in a whey powder formulation supplemented with additional sources of carbon, nitrogen, and vitamin B12 at different levels and varying the agitation intensity according to a Plackett-Burman experimental design. Only the addition of tryptone positively influenced the production of this bacteriocin. The results allowed us to identify a supplemented whey formulation, comprising 150 g/L of whey total solids plus 10 g/L of tryptone and soybean extract, whose fermentation by Lb. plantarum ST16Pa in shake flasks under agitation at 150 rpm led to a cell-free supernatant with an antimicrobial activity against Listeria innocua 6a CLIST 2865 (inhibition zone of 13.23 mm) close to that previously obtained in de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe medium by other authors. These results are significant considering that the same strain cultured in cheese whey did not previously display any antimicrobial activity

Nanominerals assemblages and hazardous elements assessment in phosphogypsum from an abandoned phosphate fertilizer industry

The present work investigates hazardous elements and nanomineralogical assemblages of phosphogypsum waste from an abandoned phosphate fertilizer industry located in Santa Catarina state (Brazil). Correlations between the chemical composition, nanominerals, and ultrafine particles are discussed. Multifaceted physical-geochemical study provided a careful understanding of the nanomineralogical assemblage of the phosphogypsum waste. The electron beam investigation revealed the presence of many hazardous elements in the ultrafine particles. Cr, Pb, Mn, Se, Sr, and Zr, among others, were found in individual ultrafine particles and nanominerals in all studied samples. Besides that, rare earth elements were found in different concentration ranges, being Ce, La, and Nd, the rare earth elements, found in the higher concentrations, above 900 mg kg−1. The data supplied by this article are important to characterize the phosphogypsum waste, assessing the potential hazard to the environment and human health, and also, provides information to enable the designing of alternatives to manage this waste

Treatment of effluents containing 2-chlorophenol by adsorption onto chemically and physically activated biochars

The application of adsorption using biochars for the remediation of effluents containing emerging contaminants, including chlorophenols, is a hotspot and trend development in the literature. This treatment is more interesting when using readily available wastes and at no cost, such as malt bagasse, for example. Here, the biochars were produced from malt bagasse, by physical and chemical activation (with CO2 and ZnCl2, respectively) and employed as adsorbents in the remediation of effluents containing 2-chlorophenol. Results revealed that the activated biochars have mesoporous structures and surface areas of 161 m² g-1 (CO2) and 545 m² g-1 (ZnCl2). For both activated biochars, adsorption of 2-chlorophenol was favored under acid conditions, with the highest adsorption capacities found using ZnCl2-activated biochar. The maximum adsorption capacity using ZnCl2-activated biochar was 150 mg g-1. The process was endothermic and spontaneous. ZnCl2-activated biochar exhibited an efficiency of 98% (using a dosage of 10 g L-1) in the treatment of industrial effluents containing 2-chlorophenol.La aplicación de la adsorción mediante biocarros para la remediación de efluentes que contienen contaminantes emergentes, incluidos los clorofenoles, es un punto crítico y un desarrollo de tendencia en la literatura. Este tratamiento es más interesante cuando se utilizan residuos fácilmente disponibles y sin costo, como el bagazo de malta, por ejemplo. Aquí, los biocarros se produjeron a partir de bagazo de malta, mediante activación física y química (con CO2 y ZnCl2, respectivamente) y se emplearon como adsorbentes en la remediación de efluentes que contienen 2-clorofenol. Los resultados revelaron que los biocarros activados tienen estructuras mesoporosas y áreas superficiales de 161 m² g-1 (CO2) y 545 m² g-1 (ZnCl2). Para ambos biocarros activados, la adsorción de 2-clorofenol se vio favorecida en condiciones ácidas, con las capacidades de adsorción más altas encontradas utilizando biocarbón activado con ZnCl2. La capacidad máxima de adsorción usando biocarbón activado con ZnCl2 fue de 150 mg g-1. El proceso fue endotérmico y espontáneo. El biocarbón activado con ZnCl2 exhibió una eficiencia del 98% (usando una dosis de 10 g L-1) en el tratamiento de efluentes industriales que contienen 2-clorofenol

Valores e Desenvolvimento Humano

A primeira parte desse Relatório de Desenvolvimento Humano do Brasil 2009/2010 começa com a descrição de um amplo processo de consulta aberta à sociedade, denominada Brasil Ponto a Ponto, para a escolha do tema do relatório. A Campanha Brasil Ponto a Ponto teve por objetivo estimular o debate em todo o país sobre o que precisa ser mudado no Brasil para melhorar a vida das pessoas. A campanha foi aberta a todos os brasileiros, que poderiam participar respondendo à pergunta: O que precisa mudar no Brasil para a sua vida melhorar de verdade

Collagen and Elastic Fibers in Odontogenic Entities: Analysis Using Light and Confocal Laser Microscopic Methods

Dentigerous cyst (DC) and keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KOT) are odontogenic lesions arising from epithelial elements, such as those observed in dental follicles (DF), that have been part of the tooth forming apparatus. These lesions show different clinical and histological characteristics, as well as distinct biological behavior. This study aimed to qualify and quantify collagen and elastic fibers by means of histochemical techniques with light and confocal laser microscopic methods in three odontogenic entities. Eleven DF, 13 DC (n=10 with inflammation, n=3 without inflammation) and 13 KOT were processed to the following techniques: Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson’s Trichrome, Picrosirius, Direct Blue, and Orcein. DF and DC without inflammation exhibited collagen with similar characteristics: no parallel pattern of fiber orientation, thick fibers with dense arrangement, and absence of distinct layers. A comparison between DC with inflammation and KOT revealed similar collagen organization, showing distinct layers: thin collagen fibers with loose arrangement near the epithelium and thick fibers with dense arrangement in distant areas. The only difference found was that KOT exhibited a parallel collagen orientation in relation to the odontogenic epithelia. It may be suggested that the connective tissue of DC is a reactive tissue, inducing an expansive growth associated with fluid accumulation and inflammatory process, which in turn may be present as part of the lesion itself. In KOT, loosely arranged collagen may be associated with the behavior of the neoplastic epithelium

Design, development and validation of a questionnaire to assess dentists' knowledge and experience in diagnosing, recording, and managing root caries.

OBJECTIVES The prevalence of root caries is increasing globally, especially in the elderly population, and even though the number of patients with root caries lesions is augmenting, there are still many discrepancies in how dentists manage this condition. The present study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to evaluate how dentists diagnose, record and manage root caries lesions, and to verify the validity and reliability of this questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS An expert panel developed a self-administered questionnaire survey with three domains: (1) dentists' knowledge on diagnosis, recording, and managing root caries; (2) information about their current general clinical routines; (3) their demographics. The original English [E] version was translated into three different languages (French [F], German [G], Italian [I]), and subsequently back-translated into English by independent dentists. For the validation, 82 dentists (20-22 for each of the translated versions) accepted to answer the questionnaire at two different time-points (with 1-week interval). The data was quality checked. Construct validity, internal reliability, and intra-class correlation (ICC) were assessed. RESULTS Seventy-seven dentists completed the questionnaire twice [E: 17; F: 19; G: 19; I: 22]. The mean ICC (standard deviation) was 0.98(0.03) for E, 0.90(0.12) for F, 0.98 (0.04) for G, and 0.98 (0.01) for I. Overall, the test-retest reliability was excellent (mean ICC (SD): 0.96 (0.08)). Furthermore, the questionnaire demonstrated good internal reliability (inter-observer reliability; Fleiss kappa: overall:0.27(fair); E:0.30 (fair); F: 0.33(fair); G: 0.33(fair); I: 0.89 (almost perfect)). CONCLUSION The questionnaire was validated and is suitable to be used in the four languages to assess the knowledge of dentists on diagnosing, recording and managing root caries. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The present questionnaire was validated and seems to be a good tool to evaluate how dentists diagnose, record, and manage root caries lesions both in its original (English) and its translated (French, German, and Italian) versions

Characterization and Evaluation of the Artemis Camera for Fluorescence-Guided Cancer Surgery

Purpose: Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging can provide the surgeon with real-time visualization of, e.g., tumor margins and lymph nodes. We describe and evaluate the Artemis, a novel, handheld NIR fluorescence camera.Procedures: We evaluated minimal detectable cell numbers (FaDu-luc2, 7D12-IRDye 800CW), preclinical intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) using indocyanine green (ICG), and of orthotopic tongue tumors using 7D12-800CW. Results were compared with the Pearl imager. Clinically, three patients with liver metastases were imaged using ICG.Results: Minimum detectable cell counts for Artemis and Pearl were 2 × 105 and 4 × 104 cells, respectively. In vivo, seven SLNs were detected in four mice with both cameras. Orthotopic OSC-19-luc2-cGFP tongue tumors were clearly identifiable, and a minimum FaDu-luc2 tumor size of 1 mm3 could be identified. Six human malignant lesions were identified during three liver surgery procedures.Conclusions: Based on this study, the Artemis system has demonstrated its utility in fluorescence-guided cancer surgery

Investigation on the Anticonvulsant Potential of Luteolin and Micronized Luteolin in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide, and an important number of patients (30%) fail to respond to any available antiepileptic drug. Previous studies have shown that luteolin presents a promising potential as an anticonvulsant. On the other hand, different studies showed that luteolin does not promote anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, there is a lack of consensus about the use of luteolin for seizure control. Luteolin low bioavailability could be a limiting factor to obtain better results. Attractively, micronization technology has been applied to improve flavonoids bioavailability. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of luteolin on its raw form and micronized luteolin in a PTZ-induced seizure model in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our results demonstrate that luteolin and micronized luteolin did not block PTZ-induced seizures in adult zebrafish. Also, luteolin and micronized luteolin did not provoke behavioral changes. Finally, our results show that 24 h after seizure occurrence, no changes were detected for p70S6Kb, interleukin 1β, and caspase-3 transcript levels. Altogether, we failed to observe an anticonvulsant potential of luteolin in adult zebrafish, even in its micronized form. However, we recommend new studies to investigate luteolin benefits in epilepsy.Fil: Garbinato, Cristiane. No especifíca;Fil: Alves Lima Rezende, Cássia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Schneider, Sabrina Ester. No especifíca;Fil: Pedroso, Jefferson. No especifíca;Fil: dos Santos, Aline E.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Petry, Fernanda. No especifíca;Fil: Aguiar, Gean Pablo S.. No especifíca;Fil: Girardi Müller, Liz. No especifíca;Fil: Lanza, Marcelo. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Piato, Angelo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Vladimir Oliveira, J.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Siebel, Anna Maria. No especifíca

Content of Minerals and Antinutritional Factors in Akara (Fried Cowpea Food)

The aim of the study was the quantifaction of minerals and antinutritional factors in akara (AK) and its crude mass (CM). Deep-frying was performed on 5 consecutive days. Potassium and phosphorus were the most abundant elements naturally present (545-719 mg 100 g-1 and 210-375 mg 100 g-1, respectively), while sodium exhibited the highest contents (699-1,869 mg 100 g-1) because of salt addition to CM. The content of antinutritional factors in AK and CM were determined to be: 11.27 ± 0.17 and 9.9 ± 0.14 µmol g-1 (InsP5); 2.92 ± 0.03 and 3.75 ± 0.11 µmol g-1 (InsP6); 1.73 ± 0.16 and 1.68 ± 0.02 mg eq. CE g-1 (tannins); 6.35 ± 0.03 and 6.27 ± 0.03 mg g-1 (polyphenols); 0.50 ± 0.00 and 0.0 HU kg-1 (hemagglutinins). Deep frying led to a signiï¬cant reduction (p ≤ 0.05) in the content of most of the minerals and antinutritional factors analyzed. Nonetheless, AK was shown to be a good source of K, P, Mg, Mn, Mo, Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn. However, bioavailability of the Fe and Zn was low