Assessment of occupational exposure to azole resistant fungi in 10 Portuguese bakeries

Occupational exposure to bioaerosols resulting from handling of flour dust and raw materials in bakeries is associated with health problems. The emergence of azole-resistant fungal species in the environment is thought to be related to the use of azole fungicides in cereal crops and prevention of postharvest spoilage. As raw materials used in bakeries are commonly exposed to azoles, we investigated the mycobiota and azole-resistant fungi prevalence in this occupational environment. Ten Portuguese bakeries were assessed through electrostatic dust cloth (EDC, n = 27), settled dust (n = 7), and raw material (n = 26) samples. Samples were inoculated in malt extract agar (2%) (MEA) with chloramphenicol (0.05 g/L) and in dichloran glycerol (DG18), and onto Saboraud screening media supplemented with 4 mg/L itraconazole, 1 mg/L voriconazole, or 0.5 mg/L posaconazole, and incubated for 3–5 days at 27 °C. Except for one out of the ten analyzed bakeries, Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., and Aspergillus sp. were the most prevalent fungi identified. Aspergillus sp. and Mucorales order were identified in raw materials with both media, whereas Penicillium sp. was identified in DG18 only. Azole-resistant species were identified in the environment (EDC) and, to a lower extent, in raw materials, including Aspergillus sp. and Mucorales. The presence of azole-resistant fungal species in bakeries represents an occupational risk for workers. This study proposes complementary sampling methods for the evaluation of occupational exposure to mycobiota and highlights the importance of studying the prevalence of azole-resistant strains in specific occupational environments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Variations in Inflammatory Markers in Acute Myocardial Infarction: a Longitudinal Study

Actualmente a inflamação é considerada uma componente importante na aterosclerose, desde o seu início até à ruptura da placa seguida de trombose e da progressiva obstrução do vaso. A ruptura da cápsula fibrótica da placa expõe factores de tecido presentes no seu núcleo necrótico que induzem o processo inflamatório, promovendo a adesão celular e a coagulação e que conduzem à formação do trombo. Por seu turno, várias citocinas e moléculas de adesão celular contribuem activamente para o desenvolvimento da placa. Em particular a citocina TNF-a e a molécula de adesão intercelular (ICAM-1) poderão ser indicadoras de inflamação enquanto que as formas solúveis de P-selectina e de CD40 ligando (sCD40L) poderão dar a magnitude da activação plaquetária. Neste trabalho foram estudados 17 doentes com enfarte de miocárdio submetidos a angioplastia (grupo AMI) e 16 doentes com confirmação angiográfica de ausência de doença coronária. Os doentes do grupo AMI foram seguidos nas primeiras 24h de evolução do enfarte agudo de miocárdio antes da administração de medicação e da intervenção angiográfica e ao longo do período de recuperação, 2 e 40 dias após enfarte. Foram medidas no soro por imunoensaio as concentrações de TNF-a e das formas solúveis de CD40L, ICAM-1 e P-selectina. Foram observadas variações significativas de sP-selectina relativamente aos controlos. Imediatamente após o enfarte de miocárdio verificou-se um aumento de sP-selectina, seguido de uma descida brusca dos seus níveis às 48h, e de um incremento para valores idênticos aos observados no grupo de controlo ao 40º dia. As variações observadas nas concentrações de sCD40L não foram significativas relativamente aos controlos. No entanto, verificou-se uma tendência de diminuição da concentração até 48h após o enfarte de miocárdio, seguindo-se um aumento que atingiu valores ligeiramente superiores ao do grupo controlo no 40º dia. As concentrações de TNF-a medidas foram sistematicamente superiores às verificadas no grupo controlo, tendo-se ainda observado uma subida gradual desde o enfarte de miocárdio até ao 40º dia, sendo este incremento significativo. Os valores de sICAM-1 não apresentaram quaisquer variações após o enfarte nem relativamente ao grupo controlo. As variações observadas sugerem um papel importante destes marcadores no processo inflamatório e na evolução do enfarte de miocárdio. O aumento brusco da concentração de sP-selectina após o enfarte de miocárdio evidencia a activação plaquetária e trombose. Na evolução do enfarte, e à medida que as variáveis hemodinâmicas retornam a valores estáveis, devido à medicação aplicada, o aumento de sCD40L e TNF-a em circulação pode reflectir o papel destas moléculas na recuperação endotelial e do miocárdio

Blood antioxidant parameters in subjects from Azorean populations with different sociocultural profile

Abstract de Comunicação em Painel (PS4-02730) apresentada em "27th Meeting of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)", 30 Jun-6 Jul, 2001, Lisboa, Portugal.Age, sex, physiological and pathological conditions, as well as geographical location reflected in diet, social and environmental conditions and even in life habits are relevant factors in the assessment of the prooxidant/antioxidant status of individuais. The aim of this work is to compare some antioxidant parameters, such as whole blood Se-glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and erythrocyte Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, serum selenium, copper and zinc leveis in healthy subjects from three populations with different sociocultural characteristics. Volunteer men and women aged 20-60 were selected from Ponta Delgada (urban population), Ribeira Quente (fishing population) and Água Retorta (rural population) located in the island o f S. Miguel (Azores’ Archipelago, Portugal). No significant differences in GSH-Px activity were found in interpopulation analysis, but the activity tended to be higher in women than in men; in turn, selenium levels, which were maximum in subjects from Ribeira Quente, were significantly bigher in male than in female groups, except in the rural population where they were similar. SOD activities, as well as zinc leveis were significantly higher in both men and women from the fishing population than in the others, where they did not differ. Also SOD, but not zinc or copper, was higher by 13% in women than in men from Ribeira Quente. The rural population exhibited the highest copper concentrations, being much higher in these women than in those from Ribeira Quente or Ponta Delgada. Diet, either food or drinking water might be a major cause for the differences observed

Desarrollo del proceso tecnológico del árbol del carro transversal del torno C11MB

El trabajo se realizó debido a la necesidad de estandarizar la fabricación de los árboles del carro transversal del torno C11MB como consecuencia de que anteriormente se habían fabricado varias piezas de este tipo a través del proceso de mediciones directas realizadas por el operario sin la tenencia de un plano de pieza que mostrara las dimensiones de las superficies que lo componen, ni tampoco una documentación tecnológica para realizar el proceso de maquinado. Previamente se hizo un análisis del árbol del carro transversal del torno C11MB y se describe un itinerario de la tecnología de fabricación por maquinado para la elaboración del mismo, además se calcularon los regímenes de corte para cada una de las operaciones y transiciones por las cuales pasaría dicha pieza y la valoración económica y medioambiental del proyecto realizado

Variações Longitudinais de Lipoproteínas de Baixa Densidade Oxidadas Associadas à Artéria "Culpada" no Enfarte do Miocárdio com Elevação ST - um Marcador Promissor?

The aim of the present study was to investigate variations in oxidized LDL (oxLDL) at the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and over the recovery period, exploring their relationship with coronary disease severity. A follow-up of 50 AMI patients was evaluated against 25 healthy volunteers (reference group). The AMI patients were evaluated at three time points: at admission before the administration of IIb/IIIa inhibitors and angioplasty, and two and 40 days after intervention. Plasma oxLDL concentrations were measured by ELISA. oxLDL was found to be significantly higher in AMI patients in the acute phase relative to reference levels, decreasing progressively over the recovery period. The results also demonstrated that oxLDL levels were decreased in patients with the left circumflex artery (LCX) as culprit vessel compared to the left anterior descending coronary (LAD) or right coronary artery (RCA). The results highlight a significant increase in oxLDL concentration related to coronary artery disease severity, as conditions such as LCX lesions are usually associated with a favorable prognosis, contrasting with LAD-associated conditions that can compromise large areas of myocardium. The results thus suggest that oxLDL may constitute a promising marker in assessment of AMI evolution

Prognostic Value of VEGF in Patients Submitted to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the staff of Servico de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Marta, and Ms. Rute Pinheiro for the help with laboratory work. The study was financially supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, PIC/IC/82734/2007 Contract and SFRM/BPD/6308/2009 Grant, and by Liga dos Amigos do Hospital de Santa Marta.We examined the longitudinal changes of VEGF levels after percutaneous coronary intervention for predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. VEGF was measured in 94 CAD patients' serum before revascularization, 1-month and 1-year after. Independently of clinical presentation, patients had lower VEGF concentration than a cohort of healthy subjects (median, IQ: 15.9, 9.0-264 pg/mL versus 419, 212-758 pg/mL; P < 0.001) at baseline. VEGF increased to 1-month (median, IQ: 276, 167-498 pg/mL; P < 0.001) and remained steady to 1-year (median, IQ: 320, 173-497 pg/mL; P < 0.001) approaching control levels. Drug eluting stent apposition and previous medication intake produced a less steep VEGF evolution after intervention (P < 0.05). Baseline VEGF concentration <40.8 pg/mL conveyed increased risk for MACE in a 5-year follow-up. Results reflect a positive role of VEGF in recovery and support its importance in CAD prognosis.publishersversionpublishe

Systemic markers of the redox balance and Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism in Atherosclerosis: the Relevance for an Integrated Study

Copyright © 2006 by Humana Press Inc.Artigo original publicado por Humana Press Inc. Actual Editora da Revista Biological Trace Element Research: Springer [A publicação original está disponível em www.springerlink.com].Prospective studies have demonstrated that an imbalance between oxidative damage and antioxidative protection can play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Also, genotypes with the apolipoprotein E ζ4 allele have been associated with an increase risk for this pathology. Based on this knowledge, the aim of this study was to evaluate indicators of the redox balance, trace elements, and apolipoprotein E allelic profile in subjects from the Lisbon population with clinically stable atherosclerosis, at risk for atherosclerotic events, and in healthy subjects for comparison. The activities of superoxide dismutase in erythrocytes and glutathione peroxidase in whole blood, plasma total thiols, and serum ceruloplasmin were kept unchanged among the three groups. Serum α-tocopherol was increased in atherosclerotic patients. Total malondialdehyde in serum and protein carbonyls in plasma, which are indicators of lipid and protein oxidative damage, respectively, reached their highest values in risk subjects. The concentrations of potassium and calcium, in plasma and in blood cells, were slightly elevated in patients and might reflect an electrolytic imbalance. Regarding the apolipoprotein E polymorphism, atherosclerotic patients had an increased incidence of the high-risk genotypes for atherogenesis (ζ3/ζ4 and ζ4/ζ4). A multivariate model applied to the general population using most of the parameters clearly separated the three groups at study (i.e., the healthy group from the steady-state group of risk disease and from the atherosclerotic one). As shown by us, the usefulness of biochemical and complementary genetic markers is warranted for a better knowledge on atherosclerosis molecular basis.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia; Centro de Biologia Ambiental; Instituto de Investigação Científica Bento da Rocha Cabral; Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge