Characterization of an antagonistic peptide produced by a Bacteroides Fragilis isolate obtained from a patient with intra-abdominal infection / Caracterização de um peptido antagonístico produzido por Bacteroides Fragilis isolado obtido em um paciente com infecção intra-abdominal

The indigenous microbiota of humans is extremely rich and diverse, with special emphasis on the intestinal microbiota. As a constituent of this microbiota, it is mentioned the genus Bacteroides, whose members are Gram negative rods, obligate anaerobes, amphibionts, associated to the etiopathogenesis of important infectious diseases, such as intra-abdominal infections. Bacteroides strains have the ability to synthesize antagonistic substances that play an ecological role, especially in densely colonized habitats, giving a competitive advantage to the producing samples. The objective of this study was to evaluate the synthesis capacity of antagonistic substances by 40 samples of Bacteroides and Parabacteroides isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections. The expression of antagonism was evaluated by the overlay diffusion method, using, as well as the test samples, 36 reference samples of Gram negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Subsequently, a production strain (Bacteroides fragilis) was used for extraction, purification and partial characterization of the detected antagonistic substance. As indicator strains, Bacteroides ovatus and Bacteroides caccae were used. The production strain was submitted to protein extraction, and the activity of the precipitated intracellular extract was detected with (NH4) 2SO4 in concentrations of 30% (C30) and 50% (C50). C30 and C50 were inactivated by proteases and high temperatures and remained active after exposure to organic solvents and a wide pH range. Both fractions presented antagonistic activity of bacteriostatic nature. The C50 extract was subjected to ion exchange chromatography, and 50 fractions were recovered. Among them, fractions 1 to 4, referring to a single peak, that were not able to bind to the column, presented antagonistic activity. Fractions from the ion exchange chromatography were applied in gel filtration chromatography. Among them, fractions 2 and 3 were able to inhibit the developing sample. These fractions were submitted to reverse phase chromatography, and 50 fractions were collected. One of them, fraction 2C, remained active against the revealing sample. Mass spectrometry, from fraction 2C obtained from reverse phase chromatography, presented ions of approximately 1300.00 Da, which generated a more intense signal. The search performed by similarity between the sequenced peptides and proteins described in the BLASTP database, from fragmentation obtained in reverse phase chromatography, resulted in 100% identity between two peptides. One of the sequenced peptides showed 100% identity to a type VII secretion protein. The search performed by similarity between the sequenced peptides and proteins described in the ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDE DATABASE database, from fragmentation obtained with trypsin digestion, resulted in 42% identity with a Streptomyces microcine. Together, the results indicate the production of antagonistic substances by the B. fragilis sample under study. It is plausible to assume that they play a relevant role in interbacterial relationships, as a virulence factor, in a complex environment such as intra-abdominal infection

ALEITAMENTO MATERNO: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA DA LITERATURA EM PERIÓDICOS INDEXADOS DE 2009 A 2012

O aleitamento materno é uma experiência que tem ajudado diversas crianças a enfrentarem contextos adversos em termos econômicos e sociais, além de representarem também, uma inusitada e gratificante experiência emocional. Tem se mostrado capaz de suprir todas as necessidades nutricionais do lactente, através da especificidade de sua composição, com efeito protetivo contra uma série de doenças e infecções. Este estudo se propôs a uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre aleitamento materno. O estudo envolveu 30 artigos, selecionados de maneira aleatória nas bases de dados Scielo e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde - BVS, utilizando as palavras-chave: aleitamento, leite materno e prática alimentar.   De uma maneira geral, os resultados demonstraram vantagens importantes em termos da amamentação exclusiva até os seis meses de idade, porém foram inconclusivos em aspectos como a associação entre aleitamento materno e desenvolvimento cognitivo e, na predição de uma possível obesidade em adolescentes que, quando crianças não foram amamentados exclusivamente ao seio até os seis meses de idade, pelo menos

IMPORTÂNCIA DA AVALIAÇÃO CLÍNICA NO DIAGNÓSTICO DE DOENÇA PERIODONTAL EM CÃES DA RAÇA PASTOR ALEMÃO

As doenças periodontais resultam de resposta inflamatória progressiva do hospedeiro ao acúmulo de placa bacteriana, incluindo os metabólitos no dente e nos tecidos gengivais. Assim, avaliou-se, clinicamente, o periodonto de cães da raça Pastor Alemão, levando-se em consideração presença de tártaro, sangramento à sondagem e mobilidade dentária em animais com sítios saudáveis e com doença periodontal. Para isso, utilizaram-se 29 cães,da raça Pastor Alemão, com idade variando de três a seis anos. Clinicamente, 27 (93,10%) cães apresentavam vários sítios com sintomatologia clínica de doença periodontal e somente dois apresentavam sítios saudáveis. Os dentes mais acometidos foram os molares, os pré-molares e os caninos,com sinais clínicos mais intensos nas superfícies dentárias e maior acúmulo de tártaro e placa bacteriana. Os resultados demonstraram a necessidade de se proceder a uma limpeza preventiva dos dentes, para proporcionar maior saúde para os cães.
 PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Periodonto, cães, dente

Microbial content recovered from diabetic foot infections: a cross-sectional study in Brazil / Conteúdo microbiano recuperado em infecções de pé diabético: um estudo transversal no Brasil

In Brazil, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is 11.9 million cases. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) increase morbidity and cause hospital admissions among DM patients. In an attempt to better understand DFU, this cross-sectional study investigated microbial content and their susceptibility to antimicrobials. Secretion from foot ulcers of 30 diabetic patients were obtained in three Brazilian hospitals and submitted to microbiological evaluation. All recovered strains were identified and submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Genetic diversity was investigated by PCR coupled with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). DFU exhibited a polymicrobial profile composed of 72.5% aerobic and 22.3% anaerobic bacteria, and 2.5% fungi species. A total of 91 microorganisms were isolated, and the number of recovered species per patient ranged from 1-9. Peptostreptococcus spp. was the most frequently recovered obligate anaerobic Genus and was resistant mostly to penicillin and clindamycin. A total of 37.5% S. aureus strains were methicillin resistant. E. coli were the most susceptible Gram-negative species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most resistant. The present study demonstrated that almost 34% of microbial species observed on DGGE gels were not cultivable. The recovery of multidrug resistant microorganisms pointed out to the need for more attention when prescribing an empirical therapy and emphasized the relevance of this study

Social responsibility and corporate reputation: an investigation on the perception of stakeholders in the electric utility northeast

The new scenario, where organizations realize the importance in dealing with several factors that circumscribe its environment, makes the figure of the stakeholder a key point for this interaction between organization and environment. This study sought to highlight the corporate reputation, from the identity of the associated image and desired image Celpe, northeast electric utility, in the matters of corporate social responsibility, through the perceptions of stakeholders within the context of that company. The participants were service users of the studied company, representing the image associated with the company, and employees. We identified several aspects of socially responsible practices promoted by the organization and set out in questionnaires for the two groups. When analyzing the results it was found that the company has little knowledge of social Celpe, while several of their employees know such actions. It was evidenced that these actions have reduced their visibility when the service fails. However, when relating the various aspects of social responsibility and corporate reputation of the organization, the results provide evidence of an association between these variables, for both groups of participants.O novo cenário, no qual as organizações percebem a importância nas relações com diversos fatores que circunscrevem o seu ambiente, torna a figura do stakeholder um ponto-chave para essa interação entre organização e meio. O presente estudo procurou evidenciar a reputação corporativa, a partir da identidade, da imagem associada e da imagem desejada da Celpe, concessionária de energia elétrica nordestina, quanto aos aspectos da responsabilidade social corporativa, por meio das percepções dos stakeholders inseridos no contexto dessa companhia. Participaram da pesquisa usuários dos serviços da companhia pesquisada, representando a imagem associada pela sociedade, e colaboradores da empresa. Foram identificados diversos aspectos sobre as práticas socialmente responsáveis promovidas pela organização e expostos, em questionários, para os dois grupos. Ao analisar os resultados, verificou-se que a sociedade tem pouco conhecimento das ações sociais da Celpe, enquanto vários dos seus colaboradores conhecem tais ações. Ficou evidenciado ainda que essas ações têm sua visibilidade reduzida quando a prestação de serviços é falha. Entretanto, quando relacionados os diversos aspectos da responsabilidade social com a reputação corporativa da organização, os resultados trazem indícios de uma associação entre essas variáveis, para os dois grupos de participantes

Reutilización del detergente enzimático en el procesamiento de gastroscopios: una fuente potencial de trasmisión de microorganismos

Objetivo: evaluar la potencial contaminación del detergente enzimático a partir de su reutilización e identificar el perfil microbiológico en la solución utilizada en la limpieza de aparatos endoscópicos gastrointestinales. Método: estudio transversal realizado a partir del análisis microbiológico de 76 alícuotas de 19 diferentes soluciones de detergente enzimático utilizadas en la limpieza de aparatos endoscópicos. Las alícuotas fueron homogeneizadas y sometidas a filtración en membrana Millipore® 0,45µm, la identificación presumida de los microorganismos fue realizada por métodos bioquímico-fisiológicos conforme grupos bacterianos específicos previamente establecidos y que presentan importancia clínica y epidemiológica. Resultados: los valores medios, así como la desviación estándar y la mediana, de la carga microbiana del detergente enzimático fueron crecientes a medida que la solución fue reutilizada. Hubo diferencia significativa entre las medias después del primer uso y después de la quinta reutilización. Fueron identificados 97 microorganismos, con predominio de los géneros Staphylococcus coagulase negativa, Pseudomonas spp, Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp, y de la especie Escherichia coli. Conclusión: la reutilización de la solución de detergente enzimático constituye un riesgo al procesamiento seguro de los aparatos endoscópicos, evidenciado por su contaminación con microorganismos que presentan potencial patogénico, ya que el detergente enzimático no posee propiedad bactericida y puede contribuir como fuente importante para brotes en pacientes sometidos a esos procedimientos.Objetivo: avaliar a potencial contaminação do detergente enzimático a partir de seu reuso e identificar o perfil microbiológico na solução utilizada na limpeza de aparelhos endoscópicos gastrointestinais. Método: estudo transversal realizado a partir da análise microbiológica de 76 alíquotas de 19 diferentes soluções de detergente enzimático utilizadas na limpeza de aparelhos endoscópicos. As alíquotas foram homogeneizadas, submetidas a filtração em membrana Millipore® 0,45µm e a identificação presuntiva dos microrganismos foi realizada por métodos bioquímico-fisiológico conforme grupos bacterianos específicos previamente estabelecidos e que apresentam importância clínica e epidemiológica. Resultados: Os valores médios, assim como o desvio-padrão e a mediana, da carga microbiana do detergente enzimático foram crescentes à medida que a solução foi reutilizada. Houve diferença significativa entre as médias de após primeiro uso e após quinto reuso. Foram identificados 97 microrganismos, com predomínio dos gêneros Staphylococcus coagulase negativa, Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., e da espécie Escherichia coli. Conclusão: O reuso da solução de detergente enzimático constitui um risco ao processamento seguro dos aparelhos endoscópios, evidenciado pela sua contaminação com microrganismos que apresentam potencial patogênico, uma vez que o detergente enzimático não possui propriedade bactericida e pode contribuir como fonte importante para surtos em pacientes submetidos a tais procedimentos.Objective: to evaluate the potential contamination of enzymatic detergent from its reuse and to identify the microbiological profile in the solution used to clean gastrointestinal endoscopic devices. Method: cross-sectional study based on microbiological analysis of 76 aliquots of 19 different enzymatic detergent solutions used to clean endoscopic devices. The aliquots were homogenized, subjected to Millipore® 0.45 µm membrane filtration and the presumptive identification of microorganisms was performed by biochemical-physiological methods according to previously established specific bacterial groups that are of clinical and epidemiological relevance. Results: the mean values, as well as the standard deviation and the median, of the enzymatic detergent microbial load increased as the solution was reused. There was a significant difference between the means of after first use and after fifth reuse. A total of 97 microorganisms were identified, with predominance of the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp. genus, and Escherichia coli species. Conclusion: the reuse of the enzymatic detergent solution is a risk to the safe processing of endoscopic devices, evidenced by its contamination with pathogenic potential microorganisms, since the enzymatic detergent has no bactericidal property and can contribute as an important source for outbreaks in patients under such procedures

Quantitative Assessment of the Efficacy of Two Different Single-file Systems in Reducing the Bacterial load in Oval-Shaped Canals: A Clinical Study

Introduction: This randomized clinical study compared the in vivo antibacterial efficacy of Reciproc Blue (RB), XP-endo Shaper (XP-S), and XP-endo Shaper associated with XP-endo Finisher (XP-F) systems in infected oval-shaped root canals with primary apical periodontitis. Methods: In this study, 28 human teeth with a single root and a single canal were randomly assigned to 2 groups according to the instrumentation technique: group 1, RB (n = 14) and group 2, XP-endo (XP-S and XP-F, n = 14). The single-rooted teeth were prepared by reciprocating and rotary nickel-titanium instruments with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite irrigation. Samples were collected from the canal at the baseline (S1), after chemomechanical preparation (S2), and after XP-F instrumentation (S3). The DNA extracts were subjected to quantitative analysis for total bacterial counts by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The data were analyzed using the analysis of variance test, and the level of significance was set at 5%. Results: All samples tested positive for the presence of bacteria at baseline, and the bacterial counts substantially reduced after treatment procedures (P .05). A marked bacterial reduction was observed after the use of the XP-F instrument (P <.01). Conclusions: The XP-S and RB systems sharply reduced the bacterial load in oval-shaped root canals with primary apical periodontitis. XP-F used as a supplementary instrument to chemomechanical preparation promoted a significantly higher bacterial reduction

Uso da geotecnologia para o mapeamento da cultura do café na microrregião de Ariquemes no Estado de Rondônia

The Ariquemes County, at Rondônia State is a great coffee producer with 33,097 hectare, according by IBGE (2009). This region is a second most representative from East of State. This culture was introduced at the early 1970´s decade. For now, coffee represents the most important agriculture product.Satellite images with geoprocessing support and low cost of operation show faster results with reasonable precision and accuracy. The present work has intend to show the coffee crop mask made to Ariquemes county on Rondonia State in North Region of Brazil. This crop mapping was consisted in recognizing coffee areas through the visual interpretation on Landsat-5/TM images using ArcGIS and Google Earth softwares and georreferenced points with coffee producers. The result using visual image interpretation with medium and high resolution images available at Google Earth and Landsat TM images, plus georreferenced points provides a coffee heterogenic comprehension of crop spectral properties. Besides, other factors has to task difficult as relief variation, crop age, similar spectral answer to other crops, as intercropping areas. The coffee crop presented a very complex spectral response by the existence of different crop systems, operations and, mainly, intercropping. The use of geoprocessing techniques was considered feasible for mapping the coffee region of Ariquemes county Rondônia State, where has been recorded an extension of 22,384.70 hectare of coffee crop.Pages: 4170- 41

Geoprocessamento e sensoriamento remoto como subsídio à previsão de safra de café no Extremo Oeste Baiano

The state of Bahia is the newest frontier of coffee in Brazil. The state park features a coffee with an area of 139,550 hectares in production, which represent 4.9% of the Brazilian disseminated by 167 counties. There are three consolidated areas in coffee production: the Highlands, Atlantic and Savannah, this last cultivated using irrigation techniques. The irrigated coffee is located in the Extreme West of Bahia, which advances every year on the savannah plateau and represents the most competitive of the world and can achieve high levels of productivity. However, even with its economic and social importance, the coffee plantations of Bahia savannah needs additional information related to its extent and spatial distribution. For crop mapping, images from the satellite sensor LISS 3 from ResourceSat with a 23.5 m of spatial resolution. The use of GIS has identified 13,200 hectares of coffee in the middle region of the Extreme West of Bahia, which mapping resulted in increase of 7.7% in the areas of coffee compared to the area estimated by the IBGE, and 7.5% of the area published by CONAB/GEASA. The image sensor LISS 3 were effective in mapping the region's coffee and besides, the coffee showed different spectral behaviors, related to age and form of cultivation (or pivot block). However, no significant impairment of the mapping. Samples of georeferenced points with cultivation of coffee, made available by IBGE, contributed significantly to give more attention to certain areas.Pages: 25-3