approach to a water safety plan for recreational waters disinfection of a drainage pumping station as an unconventional point source of fecal contamination

Abstract In the context of the management of bathing water quality, the intermittent contamination of rainwater drainage pumps (unconventional point sources) could be controlled by peracetic acid disinfection. Thus, a field experimental study was carried out to set up a water safety plan, determining the monitoring parameters and the critical limit for corrective actions. With a 0.5 mg/l dosage, the average logarithmic microbial reduction was 0.50 ± 0.48 for Escherichia coli (EC) and 0.43 ± 0.54 for intestinal enterococci. Among the chemical and physical parameters that could be monitored in real time, the oxidation–reduction potential was the only one able to predict the microbial concentration discharged from a drainage pump and the logarithmic abatement of EC. Considering the possible impact of this source on bathing waters in terms of additional risk of gastrointestinal infections, the critical limit for continuous monitoring was established using a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model

Antibody response against plasmid-encoded toxin (Pet) and the protein involved in intestinal colonization (Pic) in children with diarrhea produced by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

Enteroaggregative Escherichia eoli (EAEC) is an emerging cause of pediatric and adult travellers diarrhea. the mechanism by which EAEC induce diarrhea is not completely known. Two serine protease autotransporter proteins, named Pet and Pic have been identified in EAEC strains. Pet has enterotoxic and cytotoxic activities, while the role of Pic in pathogenesis may lie on its mucinolytic activity. Little is known about Pet and Pic biological activities in vivo. in this study the antibody responses against these autotransporter proteins in convalescent children is investigated. Fifteen (83%) children showed specific antibodies against Pet or Pic in their sera. IgG and IgM antibodies were the main isotype found. Specific antibodies against Pic, but not against Pet, were detected in sera from age-matched control group. These data show that specific anti-Pet and anti-Pic antibodies are produced during the course of a natural EAEC infection in children. (C) 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Univ São Paulo, Dept Microbiol, Inst Ciencias Biomed, São Paulo, BrazilInst Butantan, Lab Especial Microbiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Anal Clin & Toxicol, BR-05508900 São Paulo, BrazilCINVESTAV, IPN, Dept Cell Biol, Mexico City 14000, DF, MexicoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

The Flagella of an Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain Are Required for Efficient Interaction with and Stimulation of Interleukin-8 Production by Enterocytes in Vitro

The ability of some typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains to adhere to, invade, and increase interleukin-8 (IL-8) production in intestinal epithelial cells in vitro has been demonstrated. However, few studies regarding these aspects have been performed with atypical EPEC (aEPEC) strains, which are emerging enteropathogens in Brazil. in this study, we evaluated a selected aEPEC strain (1711-4) of serotype O51:H40, the most prevalent aEPEC serotype in Brazil, in regard to its ability to adhere to and invade Caco-2 and T84 cells and to elicit IL-8 production in Caco-2 cells. the role of flagella in aEPEC 1711-4 adhesion, invasion, and IL-8 production was investigated by performing the same experiments with an isogenic aEPEC mutant unable to produce flagellin (FliC), the flagellum protein subunit. We demonstrated that this mutant (fliC mutant) had a marked decrease in the ability to adhere to T84 cells and invade both T84 and Caco-2 cells in gentamicin protection assays and by transmission electron microscopy. in addition, the aEPEC 1711-4 fliC mutant had a reduced ability to stimulate IL-8 production by Caco-2 cells in early (3-h) but not in late (24-h) infections. Our findings demonstrate that flagella of aEPEC 1711-4 are required for efficient adhesion, invasion, and early but not late IL-8 production in intestinal epithelial cells in vitro.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Colegio Doutoral Franco BrasileiroInstitut PasteurFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Programa de Apoio a Nucleos de ExcelenciaPRONEXConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilInst Pasteur, Unite Pathogenie Bacterienne Muqueuses, F-75724 Paris 15, FranceInst Butantan, Bacteriol Lab, BR-05503900 São Paulo, BrazilInst Fleury Ensino & Pesquisa, BR-04344903 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilInstitut Pasteur: PTR165FAPESP: 05/59128-0Web of Scienc

Effects of copper on larvae of the marbled crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Decapoda, Grapsidae): toxicity test and biochemical marker responses

The importance of trace elements in ecotoxicological investigations is a well-known issue when monitoring polluted areas such as commercial harbors. Copper represents one of the most common metal contaminants, often detected in these areas as it is widely employed in various fields and has many sources of inflow in the marine environment. Pachygrapsus marmoratus is a widespread intertidal crab species that has been extensively studied in ecology, ethology and population genetics. Ecotoxicological studies have also been performed, exclusively on the adult stage. In the present study we investigated the mortality and biochemical (oxidative stress and neurotoxicity) responses of P. marmoratus larvae exposure to environmental relevant concentration of copper. Results showed dose-dependent responses in terms of larval mortality, with a calculated LC50 value of 0.5 mg/L of Cu2+. The LC50 concentration was used as the starting point for subsequent biochemical response evaluation. Results also demonstrated dose-dependent activation of antioxidant systems assuming a compensatory antioxidant activity to prevent higher cellular damage when larvae were exposed to the highest concentrations of copper. Moreover, a significant enhancement of neurotransmitter activities was observed, assuming a possible direct interaction of copper with the enzymes or an increase of free copper ion aliquot into the cells.publishe

Exercise-induced angiogenesis is attenuated by captopril but maintained under perindopril treatment in hypertensive rats

Angiogenesis is an important exercise-induced response to improve blood flow and decrease vascular resistance in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), but some antihypertensive drugs attenuate this effect. This study compared the effects of captopril and perindopril on exercise-induced cardiac and skeletal muscle angiogenesis. Forty-eight Wistar rats and 48 SHR underwent 60 days of aerobic training or were kept sedentary. During the last 45 days, rats were treated with captopril, perindopril or water (Control). Blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken and histological samples from the tibialis anterior (TA) and left ventricle (LV) muscles were analyzed for capillary density (CD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein level. Exercise increased vessel density in Wistar rats due to higher VEGFR-2 (+17%) and eNOS (+31%) protein level. Captopril and perindopril attenuated exercise-induced angiogenesis in Wistar rats, but the attenuation was small in the perindopril group, and this response was mediated by higher eNOS levels in the Per group compared to the Cap group. Exercise increased myocardial CD in Wistar rats in all groups and treatment did not attenuate it. Both exercise and pharmacological treatment reduced BP of SHR similarly. Rarefaction was found in TA of SHR compared to Wistar, due to lower levels of VEGF (−26%) and eNOS (−27%) and treatment did not avoid this response. Exercise prevented these reductions in control SHR. While rats treated with perindopril showed angiogenesis in the TA muscle after training, those rats treated with captopril showed attenuated angiogenesis (−18%). This response was also mediated by lower eNOS levels in Cap group compared with Per and control group. Myocardial CD was reduced in all sedentary hypertensive compared with Wistar and training restored the number of vessels compared with sedentary SHR. In conclusion, taken into account only the aspect of vessel growth, since both pharmacological treatments reduced BP in SHR, the result of the present study suggests that perindopril could be a drug of choice over captopril for hypertensive practitioners of aerobic physical exercises, especially considering that it does not attenuate angiogenesis induced by aerobic physical training in skeletal and cardiac muscles

Influence of forensic examination on the accountability of sexual violence authors in teenagers

OBJETIVO: avaliar a influência do exame médico-legal na responsabilização criminal de acusados de violência sexual contra adolescentes do sexo feminino. MÉTODO: foram analisados retrospectivamente 137 processos judiciais de estupro contra adolescentes matriculadas no Centro de Referência da Criança e do Adolescente entre janeiro de 1995 e dezembro de 2004. Os laudos do Instituto Médico Legal foram classificados como negativos ou positivos para a materialidade do crime sexual e confrontados com a sentença judicial, condenatória ou não para o acusado. Os dados foram informatizados em Programa EpiInfo e submetidos ao teste de Qui-quadrado para Tabelas de contingência, fixando-se em p &lt; 0,05 o nível de rejeição da hipótese de nulidade. RESULTADOS: em 30 casos (21,9%) o laudo foi concordante com a queixa de estupro. Em 107 casos (78,1%) o exame médico-legal não encontrou evidência material do crime sexual. Entre os exames positivos, 25 acusados (83,3%) foram condenados, enquanto nas perícias negativas ocorreram 68 condenações (63,5%). CONCLUSÕES: o exame médico-legal positivo se associou com maior probabilidade de condenação do acusado da violência sexual. A ausência de elementos comprobatórios materiais não impediu a responsabilização de parte expressiva dos acusados, indicando que outros meios de convencimento são admitidos pela justiça.OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the influence of forensic examination on the accountability of sexual violence criminal charges in adolescent girls. METHOD: retrospective study, it was analyzed 137 lawsuits rape in teenagers enrolled in the Reference Center for Children and Adolescents between January 1995 and December 2004. The awards of the Forensic Institute were classified as negative or positive for the materiality of sexual crimes and confronted with the judicial sentence, condemnatory or not. Data was computerized in EpiInfo Program and subjected to chi-square test for contingency tables, considering p < 0.05 the level of rejection of the hypothesis of nullity. RESULTS: in 30 cases (21.9%) the award was consistent with the complaint of rape. In 107 cases (78.1%) the forensic examination found no physical evidence of sexual crime. Among the positive cases, 25 accused (83.3 %) were condemned, while in the negative skills it was observed 68 condemnations (63.5 %). CONCLUSIONS: the positive forensic examination was associated with the most part of probability of condemnation of the accused of the sexual violence. The absence of corroborative material elements did not obstruct the accountability of expressive part of the accused subjects, indicating that other means of persuasion are accepted by the courts

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700