Nutrients and culture conditions requirements for the degradation of phenol by Rhodococcus UKMP-5M.

The capability of Rhodococcus UKMP-5M, isolated from petroleum contaminated soil, in the degradation of phenol was studied using shake flask culture. The effect of nutrients and cultivation conditions on growth of this bacterium and phenol degradation was investigated. Among the different types of medium tested (M1, M2, M3 and M4), M1 was found to be the preferred medium for growth of this bacterium and phenol degradation. The optimized cultivation conditions for growth of Rhodococcus UKMP-5M and phenol degradation were; 30oC, initial pH 7.5 and buffer concentration ranged from 5 to 50 mM. Improvement of growth and phenol degradation was achieved in medium supplemented with 2 g l-1 glucose. In addition, NaCl at a concentration of 0.1 g l-1 was required to enhance growth and phenol degradation. The addition of 0.4 g l-1 (NH4)2SO4 into the culture medium greatly enhanced phenol degradation. At optimal medium composition and cultivation condition, Rhodococcus UKMP-5M was able to utilize phenol at concentration up to 900 mg l-1. Results of this study showed that Rhodococcus UKMP-5M has potential to be used in the degradation of phenol.

Concordância entre a percepção materna dos movimentos fetais e a visualização pela ultrassonografia / Agreement between maternal perception of fetal movements and visualization by ultrasound

OBJETIVO: Verificar, em gestantes de baixo risco, a concordância entre a percepção materna dos movimentos fetais e os movimentos constatados simultaneamente pela ultrassonografia. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 20 gestantes com os seguintes critérios de inclusão: feto único e vivo; idade materna entre 18 e 35 anos; idade gestacional entre 36 e 40 semanas completas; morfologia fetal normal ao exame ultrassonográfico; ausência de morbidades clínicas ou obstétricas. A gestante foi avaliada por dez minutos, período em que foi monitorada com aparelho de cardiotocografia para registro dos movimentos fetais acionados com o marcador de eventos, com a velocidade do papel ajustada para 3 cm/min. Simultaneamente foi realizada observação dos movimentos fetais pela ultrassonografia. RESULTADOS: A análise de concordância interobservador pela análise de kappa obteve o índice de 0,62, caracterizando boa concordância (IC95% 0,45 - 0,79). O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse foi de 0,82 (IC95% 0,61 - 0,92). A análise pelo gráfico de Bland & Altman indicou boa concordância. A análise pela regressão linear demonstrou correlação significativa entre a percepção materna (x) e a observação pela ultrassonografia (y) (r²=0,71; p<0,001; equação: y= 5,31+0,66x). CONCLUSÕES: A concordância da percepção materna e ultrassonográfica dos movimentos fetais é boa, o que permite o uso da contagem de movimentos fetais na avaliação da vitalidade fetal.

PURPOSE: To determine the agreement between maternal perception of fetal movements and the movements recorded simultaneously by ultrasound in low-risk pregnancies. METHODS: Twenty pregnant women were evaluated with the following inclusion criteria: single pregnancy, alive fetus, maternal age between 18 and 35 years; between 36 and 40 weeks gestation; normal fetal morphology at ultrasound, and absence of maternal comorbidities. The pregnant women were evaluated for 10 minutes, during which cardiotocography was used to record fetal movements triggered with the event marker, with the paper speed set at 3 cm/min. At the same time, fetal movements were observed by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The kappa index for interobserver agreement analysis was 0.62, showing good agreement (95%CI 0.45 - 0.79). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.82 (95%CI 0.61 - 0.92). Analysis by the Bland & Altman graph indicated good agreement. A linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between maternal perception (x) and ultrasound (y) observation (r²=0.71, p<0.001; equation: y=5.31+0.66x). CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between ultrasound and maternal perception of fetal movement is good, allowing the use of fetal movement counting in the assessment of fetal wellbeing.

Determinação histopatológica da presença do helicobacter pylori em câncer gástrico / Histopathological determination of helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer

RACIONAL: A causa do câncer gástrico (CG) é controversa e tem vários fatores envolvidos no seu processo de carcinogênese, incluindo o Helicobacter pylori (Hp) O papel da infecção pelo Hp no CG permanece incerto, com vários estudos controversos. OBJETIVO: Correlacionar a presença da infecção pelo Hp com câncer gástrico, através de exame anatomopatológico convencional do estômago ressecado. MÉTODO: Noventa e um pacientes tratados por ressecção cirúrgica foram revistos. O exame anatomopatológico foi feito em todos os pacientes para determinar a presença de infecção por Hp, metaplasia intestinal (MI) e confirmação do tipo histológico por hematoxilina-eosina. A análise estatística foi realizada através do qui-quadrado e testes de log-rank. RESULTADOS: MI foi observada em 81 tumores (89 por cento). Em geral, a presença de infecção pelo Hp foi observada em 46 casos (50,5 por cento). Não houve associação entre idade e Hp. Nos grupos de pacientes com CG avançado e precoce, a infecção pelo Hp estava presente em 47,7 por cento e 54 por cento dos tumores. A infecção pelo Hp ocorreu em 40 tumores (49 por cento) no grupo de pacientes com MI. Nos com tumores sem MI, Hp estava presente em cinco (50 por cento). Tumores proximais tiveram mais infecção por Hp, quando comparados aos tumores distais. CONCLUSÕES: A taxa de infecção não teve associação significativa com o tipo histológico, sexo, MI ou estágio de desenvolvimento tumoral. Esses resultados podem indicar que a participação da infecção pelo Hp durante o desenvolvimento do CG não pode ser descartada; no entanto, provavelmente não é essencial em todas as fases e o mecanismo do CG pode ser distinto da gastrite crônica e MI. Finalmente, é possível que a associação proposta é mera coincidência e que não há nenhuma influência real das bactérias no processo de carcinogênese.

INTRODUCTION: Etiology of gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial and several factors have implicated in its carcinogenesis process, including Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. Hp infection's role on GC remains uncertain, with several conflicting studies. METHOD: Ninety-one patients with diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the stomach treated by surgical resection were reviewed. Pathological examination was repeated in all patients to determine the presence of Hp infection, intestinal metaplasia (IM) and confirmation of the hystologic type by conventional haematoxylin-eosin staining. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-quadrate and log-rank tests. RESULTS: IM was observed in 81 tumours (89 percent). Overall, the presence of Hp infection was observed in 46 tumours (50.5 percent). There was no association between age and Hp status. In the group of patients with early and advanced GC, Hp infection was present in 47.7 percent and 54 percent of tumours. Hp infection was present in 40 tumours (49 percent) in the group of patients with IM. In patients with tumours without IM Hp was present in five (50 percent) tumours. Proximal tumours had more Hp infection when compared to distal tumours. CONCLUSIONS: The infection rate had no significant association with histologic type, IM, gender or stage. These results may indicate that participation of Hp infection during GC development cannot be ruled out; however, it is probably not essential during all stages of GC development and the mechanism may be distinct of the chronic gastritis and IM progression. Finally, it is possible that the proposed association is merely coincidental and that there is no actual influence of the bacteria in the carcinogenesis process.

Physiologic effects of maternal separation on rat brain neurochemistry: comparative study

Exposure to maternal separation in early life is associated with alteration in the neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter system which may be associated with risk of psychiatric disorders development at adulthood. The aim of this study was to [i] assess levels of monoamines [dopamine, nor-epinephrine, epinephrine and serotonin] in rat pup's brain following repeated maternal separation [RMS] and maternal deprivation [MD]. [ii] Assess brain corticosterone and oxytocin level following both RMS and MD. This study was carried out on 50 male rat pups divided into 3 experimental groups; Group I: 20 rats subjected to 3 h of repeated maternal separation for 14 days; Group II: 20 rats subjected to 24 h of maternal deprivation; Group III: 10 rats served as control group. At the end of the experimental period, all rats were sacrificed and their brains were rapidly removed and dissected for estimation of monoamines, corticosterone and oxytocin. Brain corticosterone level showed marked increase after both separation procedures, however, MD was associated with marked increase. RMS was associated with higher level of epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine and serotonin levels however, were reduced after MD. Oxytocin level showed marked reduction after MD and RMS. The current work provided some neurobiological evidence supporting the determinant role of mother-infant relationship in the development of psychopathology. Maternal separation leads to profound alterations in the central neurotransmitter system and therefore is associated with increased risk of psychiatric disorders as depression and anxiety. Moreover, maternal separation has impact on the corticosterone and oxytocin release in the brain. Different separation procedures however, can influence the consequences of MS