Innovative application of brackish groundwater without the addition of nutrients in the cultivation of Spirulina and Chlorella for carbohydrate and lipid production.

Brackish groundwater is promising for the cultivation of economically important microalgae; however, its effects have been evaluated only after nutrient supplementation. In this study, 100% brackish groundwater was evaluated as a culture medium for Spirulina sp. (BGWS) and Chlorella fusca (BGWC). In addition, the effects of supplementation with 25% of the nutrients from Zarrouk (BGWS25) and BG-11 (BGWC25) culture media were evaluated. BGWS and BGWC increased the concentration (68.1% w w-1) and productivity of carbohydrate (35.3 mg L-1 d-1) in Spirulina sp. and increased the concentration (56.4% w w-1) and productivity (13.5 mg L-1 d-1) of lipids in C. fusca biomass, when compared to that in the respective controls. The use of brackish groundwater as the sole culture medium is an innovative alternative for the economic production of biomass rich in carbohydrates and lipids. This has potential applications for biofuel production.

Spirulina sp. LEB 18 cultivation in seawater and reduced nutrients: Bioprocess strategy for increasing carbohydrates in biomass.

This study aimed to evaluate the growth and production of biomolecules by Spirulina sp. LEB 18 cultivated in seawater. The seawater was used without nutrient addition (SW0) and supplemented with 100% (SW100), 50% (SW50), and 25% (SW25) nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and EDTA concentrations that make up the Zarrouk culture medium. When grown in SW0, Spirulina sp. LEB 18 showed maximum biomass concentration (2.17 g L-1) on the 11th d of cultivation and an increase in the carbohydrate content and productivity by 203% and 52%, respectively, when compared to the control culture. This cultivation strategy demonstrated the feasibility of using seawater as an alternative to freshwater in cultures as well as reduced nutritional requirements for biomass and carbohydrate production.

Unravelling growth trajectories from complicated otoliths - the case of Brazilian codling Urophycis brasiliensis.

Uncertainty regarding the age determination of the Brazilian codling Urophycis brasiliensis has hampered its stock assessment. Transverse sections of otoliths displayed up to seven (in males) and 12 (in females) alternate opaque and translucent bands that could not be conclusively validated as annuli, resulting in unrealistically high ages of first maturity (A50 ) (A50male = 4·5 years and A50female = 6 years). Therefore, growth was described by the von Bertalanffy (VB) model using an alternative approach that combined microstructure data (daily growth increments) and a fixed asymptotic total length (L∞ ). This approach was supported by applying it to two other co-occurring species, the whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri and the king weakfish Macrodon atricauda, for which daily and annual ring formation has previously been validated. The sensitivity to realistic errors associated with the choice of the L∞ and the daily increment readings was shown to be low. The results show that U. brasiliensis has a fast growth rate (Kmale = 1·19 year-1 , Kfemale = 0·71 year-1 ) and early maturation (A50male = 1·1-1·5 years, A50female  = 1·6-1·8 years); typical life-history traits for a sub-tropical coastal gadiform. This novel study offers an alternative approach for age and growth reconstruction for species with complex patterns of opaque and translucent bands provided that daily growth increments in the yearlings can be counted and L∞ reliably estimated.

Life history and initial assessment of fishing impacts on the by-catch species Dules auriga (Teleostei: Serranidae) in southern Brazil.

The life history of Dules auriga, a small hermaphrodite serranid species inhabiting deep waters and a frequent component of the discarded catch of bottom trawling in southern Brazil, was studied to assess the fishery effects on the stock through the estimation of the remaining spawning-potential ratio. Sampling was conducted throughout a year and included specimens to determine sex, maturity and age. Age was validated by the edge type and marginal-increment analysis. The oldest and the largest individuals were 9 years and 195 mm total length. Growth parameters fitted to the von Bertalanffy equation were L∞ = 178·34 mm, k = 0·641 year-1 and t0 = -0·341 years. Length and age at first maturity were 140·72 mm and 2 years, respectively. The reproductive season was throughout the austral spring and summer. The assessment of the effects of fishing showed that it may have resulted in a loss of 50% of the spawning potential. This loss may be higher when taking into account the uncertainty in the life-history parameters and could be considered of concern for the population. Fast growth, moderate longevity, long spawning season, small size and age at maturity make D. auriga relatively resilient to the removal of biomass by fishing. When considering the uncertainty, however, the losses of the spawning potential have been severely reducing the population resilience in the face of ecosystem changes.

Density-dependent changes in the feeding behaviour of Macrodon atricauda of southern Brazil.

Long-term density-dependent changes in the population dynamics of the king weakfish Macrodon atricauda of southern Brazil between 1976 and 2013 may be related to a change in diet and an increase in feeding intensity. The importance of the small crustacean, Artemesia longinaris, increased in the diet of adults, whereas the importance of teleosts decreased and the frequency of full stomachs increased. Macrodon atricauda currently benefits from a high availability of A. longinaris, which results in a higher energy intake per individual, which, in turn, induces faster body growth and an earlier onset of sexual maturation.

Controlling a vancomycin-resistant enterococci outbreak in a Brazilian teaching hospital.

The purpose of this article was to describe a 2.5-year interventional program designed to control the dissemination after a large hospital outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in a tertiary-care university hospital. A VRE working group was designated to work specifically on controlling VRE intrahospital dissemination after the detection of the first VRE infection at in our hospital in June 2007. The intervention consisted in the interruption of new admissions during a period of 15 days and closure of the index case unit, microbiological surveillance of rectal swabs for VRE, cohorting patients and staff, immediate application of contact precautions, and continuous education. From July 2007 to December 2009, 8,692 rectal swabs were cultured for VRE and 321 (3.7%) were positive. An expressive reduction of the detection of new positive rectal swabs cultures was seen during the year 2009 (1.5%) when compared to 2008 (4.2%) and 2007 (7.2%) (p < 0.005). The annual ratio of VRE per 1,000 admissions reduced from 20.3 in 2007 to 10.07 and 3.82 in 2008 and 2009, respectively (p < 0.001). The continuous microbiologic surveillance for VRE and strict and prompt contact precautions for VRE patients were the fundamental aids in the control of VRE.

In vivo study of the anti-inflammatory effect of Rhus toxicodendron.

BACKGROUND: Homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus tox) is used in various inflammatory conditions. We screened its effect compared to succussed ethanol controls and appropriate active controls. METHOD: We initially experimented with Rhus tox 6, 12, 30 and 200 cH, using carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats. The 6 cH dilution appeared most effective and was used in subsequent assays. We used pre-treatment and single treatment regimes in Wistar rats, and mice. RESULTS: We found significant reductions compared to control in carrageenan-induced paw oedema, vascular permeability, writhing induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid and stress induced gastric lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Rhus tox in homeopathic dilution appears to interfere with inflammatory processes involving histamine, prostaglandins and other inflammatory mediators.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of extract, fractions and populnoic acid from bark wood of Austroplenckia populnea.

Austroplenckia populnea (Reiss) Lund is a Brazilian plant from "cerrado", which belongs to Celastraceae family, popularity know as "marmelinho-do campo, mangabeira-brava, mangabarana, vime and maria-mole". This plant is used in folk medicine to treat dysenteries and inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatism. Austroplenckia populnea bark hydroalcoholic crude extract, and its hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions, obtained by partition, as well as the isolated populnoic acid were investigated for their anti-inflammatory (carrageenan, dextran and histamine-induced rat paw oedema, histamine-induced increase in vascular permeability, and granulomatous tissue induction) and analgesic activities (writhing and hot plate tests). The ED(50) (oral) of the crude extract for the inhibition of carragenan-induced rat paw oedema assay was determined to be 200 mg/kg, which was also used in the assays with the extract and its fractions in all other experiments. Populnoic acid was administered in the dose of 50 mg/kg. Crude extract, hexane and chloroform fractions (200 mg/kg), and indomethacin (10 mg/kg) inhibited significantly (p<0.05) the formation of the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, measured in third hour of experiment (peak of oedema formation) by 43.2%, 37.3%, 31.1% and 59.3%, respectively. There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in dextran-induced rat paw oedema in all groups, while in the assay using histamine as the oedematogenic agent, only the groups treated with populnoic acid (50 mg/kg) and cyproheptadine (10 mg/kg) displayed significant reduction (p<0.05). The populnoic acid and cyproheptadine reduced the peak of oedema formation (1st hour) by 41.3% and 34.7%, respectively. Only for the groups treated with populnoic acid (50 mg/kg) and cyproheptadine (10 mg/kg) it was observed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in histamine-induced increase in vascular permeability (44.8% and 80.3%, respectively). Granulomatous tissue formation was significantly inhibited (p<0.05) by both hexane fraction (46.0%) and dexamethasone (66.2%). In the analgesic assays, the crude extract and its hexane and chloroform fractions, as well as indomethacin diminished significantly the number of writhings (p<0.05) by 69.6%, 47.2%, 44.8% and 62.8%, respectively. On the other hand, none assayed sample displayed significant result in the hot plate test. Based on the obtained results it is suggested that extracts of Austroplenckia populnea bark and populnoic acid display anti-inflammatory activity, supporting its folkloric use to treat inflammatory disorders.

Topical antiinflammatory and analgesic activities of Copaifera duckei dwyer.

The oleoresin of several Copaifera species is used widely in the Amazonian Region mainly as a topical antiinflammatory and healing agent. The topical analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of Copaifera duckei oleoresin, whose terpenoidal chemical composition has been characterized, are now examined. Antiinflammatory activity was evaluated in rats using the carrageenin-induced paw edema and the granuloma tests, and in mice by the croton oil-induced dermatitis test. Analgesic activity was determined in mice using the writhing test method. In the carrageenin-induced edema and granuloma tests the oleoresin in a dose of 1,802 mg/kg inhibited the edema by 18% and granuloma by 42% (p < 0.05), this last result similar to that observed with dexamethasone. Topical doses of 517 mg/kg, 1,035 mg/kg and 1,802 mg/kg produced 52%, 58% and 62% (p < 0.05) reduction of the edema induced by croton oil, respectively, and 48%, 56% and 65% inhibition of the writhing process (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the Copaifera duckei oleoresin has topical antiinflammatory and analgesic activities.

Action of Causticum in inflammatory models.

The anti-inflammatory effect of Causticum was evaluated using acute and chronic inflammatory models in vivo. The administration of concentrated Causticum solution into the hind paw of rats produced an inflammatory reaction with oedema formation within the first hour, showing that Causticum acts as an oedematogenic agent. Carrageenin induced rat paw oedema was significantly inhibited (P<0.05) in the group treated with Causticum 30cH solution compared to control. Groups treated with potentized Causticum (6cH, 12cH, 30cH and 200cH), showed significant inhibition (P<0.05) of the inflammation pre-induced by carrageenin. However pre-treatment with Causticum 30cH for 6 days (0.5 ml, daily) did not significantly inhibit granulation using an implantation method.

Action of causticum in inflammatory models

The anti-inflammatory effect of Causticum was evaluated using acute and chronic inflammatory models in vivo. The administration of concentrated Causticum solution into the hind paw of rats produced an inflammatory reaction with oedema formation within the first hour, showing..(AU)