Recomendações clínicas para o diagnóstico e tratamento da melioidose

Melioidosis is an emerging infection in Brazil and neighbouring South American countries. The wide range of clinical presentations include severe community-acquired pneumonia, septicaemia, central nervous system infection and less severe soft tissue infection. Diagnosis depends heavily on the clinical microbiology laboratory for culture. Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacterial cause of melioidosis, is easily cultured from blood, sputum and other clinical samples. However, B. pseudomallei can be difficult to identify reliably, and can be confused with closely related bacteria, some of which may be dismissed as insignificant culture contaminants. Serological tests can help to support a diagnosis of melioidosis, but by themselves do not provide a definitive diagnosis. The use of a laboratory discovery pathway can help reduce the risk of missing atypical B. pseudomallei isolates. Recommended antibiotic treatment for severe infection is either intravenous Ceftazidime or Meropenem for several weeks, followed by up to 20 weeks oral treatment with a combination of trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and doxycycline. Consistent use of diagnostic microbiology to confirm the diagnosis, and rigorous treatment of severe infection with the correct antibiotics in two stages; acute and eradication, will contribute to a reduction in mortality from melioidosis.Melioidose é uma infecção emergente no Brasil e em países vizinhos da América do Sul. O amplo espectro de apresentação clínica inclui pneumonia adquirida na comunidade, septicemia, infecção do sistema nervoso central e infecção de partes moles de menor severidade. O diagnóstico depende essencialmente da identificação microbiológica. Burkholderia pseudomallei, a causa bacteriana da melioidose, é facilmente cultivada em sangue, escarro e em outras amostras clínicas. Entretanto, B. pseudomallei pode ser difícil de identificar com segurança e também ser confundido com outras bactérias Gram negativas. Os exames sorológicos podem dar suporte a um diagnóstico de melioidose, mas não fornece um diagnóstico definitivo por si só. A realização de investigação laboratorial seqüenciada pode ajudar a reduzir o risco de não reconhecer isolados incomuns de B. pseudomallei. O tratamento antibiótico recomendado para infecção severa é Ceftazidima ou Meropenem endovenosos por várias semanas, seguido por um tratamento oral com uma combinação de Sulfametoxazol-Trimetopim e Doxiciclina por até 20 semanas. O uso consistente do diagnóstico microbiológico e o tratamento rigoroso da infecção severa com antibióticos adequados nas duas etapas, aguda e de erradicação, contribuirão para a redução da mortalidade por melioidose

Effect of Phytosanitary Irradiation on the Quality of Chandler Pummelo (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.)

In this study, we evaluated the chemical and physiological effect of low-dose gamma irradiation on the post-harvest quality of Chandler Pummelos (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.), an emerging crop of interest in the U.S. Chandler pummelos from a local grower in California were irradiated at target doses of 150 Gy and 1000 Gy. Irradiated and untreated pummelos were stored at 12 °C for 3 weeks and at 20 °C for the 4th week to reflect three weeks of sea shipment at ideal temperature for storage of pummelos and an additional week of retail under ambient conditions. Irradiation reduced hardness of the pummelo rind and firmness of the flesh. Rind hardness decreased during the 3 weeks of storage at 12 °C, however, during storage at 20 °C for 1 week, hardness increased, most likely due to moisture loss from the surface of the fruit. Although, a decrease in the firmness of the pummelo flesh was observed immediately following irradiation, storage did not lead to additional softening. The external appearance of pummelos was negatively impacted by higher irradiation dose, longer storage time and higher temperatures as pitting and mold growth were evident on pummelos treated at 1000 Gy and following storage at 20 °C. When stored at ideal temperature, pummelos irradiated at 150 Gy appeared to maintain similar quality as untreated pummelos. The results suggest that Chandler pummelo quality is compromised at 20 °C and 1000 Gy treatment but irradiation with 150 Gy can serve as a potential phytosanitary treatment for Chandler pummelos

Naturally-occurring iron minerals as inexpensive catalysts for CWPO

This work explores the potential application of naturally-occurring minerals as inexpensive catalysts in heterogeneous Fenton, namely catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO). The availability, low cost and environmentally friendly character of those materials make them interesting candidates for such application. The performance of magnetite, hematite and ilmenite as CWPO catalysts has been tested under different working conditions, which include temperature (25–90 °C), H2O2 dose (250–1000 mg L−1) and catalyst concentration (1–4 g L−1). The operating temperature plays a key role on the rate of H2O2 decomposition so that with magnetite H2O2 conversion after 4 h increased from 8 to 99% by increasing the temperature from 25 to 90 °C. Based on the reaction mechanism proposed, a kinetic model was developed which successfully described the experimental results on H2O2 decomposition. The catalytic performance of the minerals tested at temperatures above the ambient was demonstrated using phenol (100 mg L−1) as target pollutant. Unprecedented efficiencies of H2O2 consumption, higher than 80% were achieved, allowing high oxidation and mineralization, i.e. complete phenol conversion and almost 80% TOC reduction at 75 °C with a catalyst loading of 2 g L−1 and the theoretical stoichiometric amount of H2O2 for complete mineralization of phenol (500 mg L−1). Magnetite is particularly attractive, since it showed the highest activity and can be easily separated from the liquid phase given its magnetic properties. All the minerals tested suffered low iron leaching and magnetite and hematite showed a good reusability upon three consecutive runs. However, in this case long-term durability is not a crucial issue, given the availability and low cost of these mineralsThis research has been supported by the Spanish MINECO through the project CTQ2013-4196-R and by the CM through the project S2013/MAE-2716. M. Muñoz thanks the Spanish MINECO for a Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación postdoctoral contract (IJCI-2014-19427

Analysis of a silvopastoral system with animals of the autochtonous swine breed Porco Celta in Galicia (NW Spain)

PosterPig traditional production systems in Galicia (NW Spain) are based on seasonal resources us like chestnut and pastures. The Breeders' Association of the autochthonous Celtic breed of pigs (ASOPORCEL) has developed a novel system within the traditional Galicia grazed forest areas in order to preserve landscape quality and biologic diversity, minimizing therefore the environmental impact of pig production. One of the main concerns of silvopastoral system implementation is the need of fencing. Fencing costs could be reduced if animals are rearing with infrastructures based on Pavlov animal condition reflex management in an extensive system. Therefore, cost reduction is obtained thanks to the clear reduction of personnel needs to feed animals, fencing costs and understorey clearance to reduce forest fires. In 2013 an experiment was carried out in Nebra (NW of Spain) in a young Pinus pinaster plantation. Pig stocking rate was around 3.85 pigs per ha (25 males and 25 females) in a total surface of 13 ha. Forest grazing program was initiated when animals were three months old in March 2013 and finished in December 2013. They were allowed access the whole plot. Concentrate was provided twice every day after sounding an alarm to attract pigs. All the animals adapted rapidly to the system. Two types o understory vegetation (Ulex and Pteridium) was sampled following a transect from close to far away feeding areas (three distances). Fern control was intense, being gorse less consumed. After nine months, average animal daily gain (ADG) obtained was 290 ± 4 gr. We can conclude that the used method is perfectly adaptable to the systems of exploitation suggested for the Celtic pig breed. This will be highly relevant to preserve this autochthonous breed and increase the number of extensive farms in the area while contributing to fix population dedicated to use silvopastoral systems

Optical Particle Detection in Liquid Suspensions with a Hybrid Integrated Microsystem

AbstractA compact, robust and portable system for optical particle detection in liquid suspensions, achieved through the hybrid integration of commercial components, such as VCSELs and microlenses, in a silicon micromachined structure is presented. We demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating a device providing up to 4 collimated laser beams, with the ability of detecting and distinguishing microparticles of several diameters, even in mixed suspensions. This optical microsystem represents an alternative design for microflow cytometers based on optical fibres, and is aligned with the current tendency set by the Point-of-care devices

Ionic liquids breakdown by Fenton oxidation

Fenton oxidation has proved to be an efficient treatment for the degradation of ionic liquids (ILs) of different families viz. imidazolium, pyridinium, ammonium and phosphonium, in water. The intensification of the process, defined as the improvement on the efficiency of H2O2 consumption, by increasing the temperature is necessary to avoid high reaction times and the need of large excess of H2O2. In this work, temperatures within the range of 70-90°C have been used, which allowed an effective breakdown of the ILs tested (1 g L-1 initial concentration) with the stoichiometric amount of H2O2 and a relatively low Fe3+dose (50 mg L-1). Under these conditions conversion of the ILs was achieved in less than 10 min, with TOC reductions higher than 60% upon 4 h reaction time, except for the phosphonium IL. The remaining TOC corresponded mainly to short-chain organic acids. The treatment reduced substantially the ecotoxicity up to final values below 0.01 TU in most cases and a significant improvement of the biodegradability was achieved. Upon Fenton oxidation of the four ILs tested hydroxylated compounds of higher molecular weight than the starting ILs, fragments of ILs partially oxidized and short-chain organic acids were identified as reaction by-products. Reaction pathways are proposedThis research has been supported by the Spanish MICINN through the projects CTQ2008-03988 and CTQ2010-14807 and by the CM through the project S-2009/AMB-158

Localized Fibrous Tumors of the Pleura: Experience With 7 Recent Cases

OBJECTIVE: Localized fibrous tumors of the pleura are rare. We report 7 cases and review the literature in order to define the range of clinical characteristics of these tumors, treatment options, and prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective review of 7 cases treated between 1997 and 2003, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnostic tests, and treatment. The tumor was removed surgically in all cases, by thoracotomy in 6 cases and by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in 1 patient. RESULTS: All patients recovered fully after surgery, with no postoperative complications. One patient experienced recurrence twice, 33 and 67 months after the initial resection. All are alive at the time of writing, after a mean follow up period of 19 months (range 1 month to 5 years and 10 months). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of choice for a fibrous tumor of the pleura is full resection and follow up to detect possible late recurrence

Degradation of imidazolium-based ionic liquids by catalytic wet peroxide oxidation with carbon and magnetic iron catalysts

BACKCGROUND: The ‘green’ image of ionic liquids (ILs) has changed in the last few years since numerous works have evidenced their non-biodegradability, persistence and high ecotoxicity, particularly for the most common imidazolium-based ILs. In this work, the feasibility of catalytic wet peroxide oxidation for the degradation of imidazolium-based ILs of different alkyl chain lengths has been studied under selected operating conditions (1000 mg L−1 IL, stoichiometric H2O2 dose, 2 g L−1 catalyst, pH 3 and 90 °C temperature) using different catalysts such as magnetic iron (Fe3O4) supported on γ-Al2O3 and activated carbon (AC) as well as bare carbon materials (graphite, AC). The catalytic activity and stability and the efficiency of H2O2 consumption have been evaluated. RESULTS: Although both AC-based catalysts led to the conversion of the IL, they yielded a low H2O2 consumption efficiency (24% and 45% with AC and Fe3O4/AC, respectively) due to the fast decomposition of H2O2 and the recombination of radical species into H2O and O2, non-reactive species under the operating conditions. In contrast, graphite and Fe3O4/γ-Al2O3 showed high activity allowing complete conversion and relatively high mineralization degrees of all the ILs tested in 1 h reaction time. Among those catalysts, Fe3O4/γ-Al2O3 exhibited a considerably greater stability upon four successive uses where iron leaching was negligible and the magnetic properties were maintained. CONCLUSIONS: Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation has proved to be an interesting alternative for the treatment of imidazolium-based ILs in water. The application of Fe3O4/γ-Al2O3 is particularly promising due to its high activity, remarkable stability and easy magnetic recoveryThis research has been supported by the Spanish MINECO through the project CTQ2013-4196-R and by the CM through the project S2013/MAE-271

Consideraciones sobre la reducción de placas astrométricas por el método de cuadrados mínimos

Se tratará sobre las mediciones micrométricas de una misma placa, efectuadas con dos instrumentos distintos de medición una máquina antigua Repsold y un Estereo Restituidor Wild A 7 - completo. Se trata de deducir los errores de las estrellas individuales respecto al grupo interviniente en la reducción y los errores residuales "medidos-instrumento".Asociación Argentina de Astronomí

Limiting Behaviour in Parameter Optimal Iterative Learning Control

This paper analyses the concept of LIMIT SET in Iterative Learning Control. The authors investigate the existence of STABLE and UNSTABLE parts of the Limit Set and demonstrate that there will often exist in practice. This illustrated via a 2-dimensional example where the convergence of the learning algorithm is analysed from the error's dynamical behaviour. These ideas are extended to N-dimensional cases by analogy and example