Characterization of Thiobacillus thioparus isolated from an activated sludge bioreactor used for hydrogen sulfide treatment.

AIMS: To compare Thiobacillus thioparus population dynamics in a control and a test activated sludge (AS) bioreactor, used for hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) degradation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to confirm the presence of T. thioparus, and real-time PCR was used to quantify the level of this bacterium in the AS samples. The DGGE analysis showed a band for T. thioparus in all samples, with the band being more prominent in the test sample with H(2)S diffusion. It also showed that although a change occurred in the diversity of the microbial population in the test sludge after 6 weeks of H(2)S diffusion, the microbial community structure of the test and control was still similar. Thiobacillus thioparus-specific PCR primers confirmed that 50% of the isolates from both the test and control bioreactors were T. thioparus. The thiobacilli population became more efficient at degrading the diffused H(2)S. This increase in efficiency was confirmed by a significant increase in the number of isolates from the test sludge compared with those from the control sludge, when they were grown in a thiosulfate-rich liquid medium. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the use of AS process for H(2)S removal encourages the population of T. thioparus to increase even at times when the total biomass concentration shows a decrease. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The research results give an insight into the dynamics of the microbial population in an AS pilot plant used in a dual role, to treat the wastewater and H(2)S.

Hepatocarcinoma: análise de 14 casos / Hepatocarcinoma: analysis of 14 cases

No Brasil, o hepatocarcinoma näo é frequente. Constituem grupos de risco os portadores de vírus B da hepatite e cirróticos. Os autores descrevem 14 casos de hepatocarcinoma atendidos em 33 meses. OBJETIVO. Analisar as alteraçöes clínicas e laboratoriais dos doentes com hepatocarcinoma atendidos em 33 meses. CASUISTICA. Relatamos 14 casos de hepatocarcinoma atendidos de agosto de 1990 a maio de 1993, sendo dez do sexo masculino, com idade média de 53 anos. RESULTADOS. Os principais sintomas e sinais foram dor, emagrecimento e icterícia. Marcadores virais: 6 HBsAg, 1 HBeAg, 1 anti-HCV. A AFP elevou-se em 92 por cento. Oito tinham cirrose, 11 tumores multicêntricos. O tratamento cirúrgico foi realizado em três doentes, sendo em um ressecçäo parcial de tumor. Quimioterapia sistêmica foi feita em cinco doentes, sem resposta. CONCLUSAO. O carcinoma hepatocelular é uma doença infrequente em nosso meio. A maioria (80 por cento) apresentava doença avançada e 42 por cento dos pacientes foram HBsAg positivos

[Hepatocarcinoma: analysis of 14 cases]. / Hepatocarcinoma: análise de 14 casos.

In Brazil, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not a common tumour. Virus B hepatitis and cirrhosis play an important role in the development of HCC. The authors described 14 cases of HCC registered in our service during the last 33 months. PURPOSE--Evaluate clinical and laboratory aspects of the hepatocarcinoma treated in our service. MATERIAL--Fourteen patients evaluated between 1990 and 1993 were described. Ten were men the median age was 53 years. RESULTS--The main symptoms were: abdominal pain, weight loss and jaundice. Among the fourteen patients, 42% percent were positive for HBsAg, 0.7% for anti HCV and 57% were cirrhotic. Eighty percent had an advanced disease and serum alphafeto-protein was elevated in 92%. The patients underwent different kinds of treatment. Systemic chemotherapy was started in 5 patients, however without any response. Surgery was done in three patients, one underwent partial resection of the tumour and in the others a total resection was carried out. CONCLUSION--The hepatocarcinoma is rare in our service, eighty percent had advanced disease and 42% were positive for HBsAg.

Duodenitis: histopathological and endoscopic study: critical analysis of parasitic duodenits and white spot

In the study we examined several types of chronic duodenitis, such as, nonspecific, parasitic and those associated to other pathologies, in order to verify the amin histopathological alterations; to correlate endoscopical alterations on light microscopy; to analyze the "white spot" of the duodenal mucosa in parasitic diseases and other types of duodenitis. In 213 endoscopies with 2130 biopsies, we found chronic duodenitis as a difuse process in 91.5 per cent of the cases. Histopathological and morphological correlations show 78.3 per cent "agreement", 18 per cent "false negative" and 3.7 per cent "false positive". However, normal mucosa occured in 86,3 per cent of "false negative"; erosive duodenal pathology was 10.8 per cent of the total cases being classified into: "autonomous" - 26 per cent, "simultaneous" - 9 per cent, portal hypertension - 13 per cent, giardiasis-9 per cent and strongyloidiasis-39 per cent; complete erosions, located in the duodenal bulb, were suggestive of parasitic diseases

Pharmacologic and toxicologic effects of two Maytenus species in laboratory animals.

Leaves of Maytenus species are used in the popular medicine of Brazil for their reported antacid and antiulcerogenic activity. The present work examined the effects of a boiling water extract of equal parts of M. aquifolium and M. ilicifolia leaves on acute administration in rats and mice, in an attempt to detect any general depressant, hypnotic, anticonvulsant and analgesic effects. General depressant and hypnotic effects were seen only after intraperitoneal administration. After chronic administration, the overall behavior of animals did not change and they continued to gain weight at the same rate as controls. Several biochemical and hematological parameters as well as pathological examination of different organs did not show any significant alterations after 3 months of treatment. A search for the potential effects of the extract on the fertility of female and male rats and on the course of pregnancy as well as a search for potential teratogenic effects did not reveal any significant differences from controls. Taken together, the results indicate that these Maytenus species may be safe for human use and deserve further investigation.