Efeito do processamento de defumação na qualidade de bijupirá (Rachycentron canadum): atributos bacteriológicos, químicos e sensoriais / Effect of smoking-method on the keeping quality of cobia (Rachycentron canadum): bacteriological, chemical and sensory attributes

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver a carne de bijupirá defumada, assim como avaliar o rendimento, a qualidade bacteriológica, a composição centesimal e a aceitabilidade do produto. Análises microbiológicas de pesquisa de Salmonella sp. e contagens de Staphylococcus aureus, coliformes totais e Escherichia coli foram realizadas. Foi determinada a composição centesimal e realizado o teste de aceitação do produto. O rendimento médio da carne após a salga foi de 83,41%, com base no peso do charuto. A análise microbiológica da carne defumada apresentou-se positiva em apenas uma amostra para Staphylococcus aureus e negativa para as demais bactérias. O produto possui boa qualidade nutricional e alcançou 97% de aceitação para o aspecto global, atingindo média de 6,26 (± 0,99). A carne de bijupirá defumada obteve condições higiênico-sanitárias satisfatórias, boa qualidade nutricional, além de alto índice de aceitação sensorial, destacando-se os atributos textura e sabor. Evidenciou-se, assim, que esse tipo de processo pode ser realizado em escala artesanal ou industrial.(AU)

The objective of the study was to develop the smoked cobia meat and to evaluate the yield, the bacteriological quality, the centesimal composition, and the acceptability of the product. Microbiological analysis of Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus, total coliforms and Escherichia coli counts were performed. The centesimal composition was determined and the acceptance test was performed. The average yield of the product after salting was 83.41% based on the fish roll weight. The microbiological analysis of the smoked meat showed positive in only one sample for Staphylococcus aureus and negative for the other bacteria. The product has a good nutritional quality and was accepted obtaining 97% for the overall aspect, average of 6.26 (± 0.99). The smoked cobia meat obtained satisfactory hygienic-sanitary conditions, good nutritional quality, besides a high index of sensorial acceptance emphasizing the texture and flavor attributes. Smoked process can be easily carried out on an artisanal or industrial scale.(AU)

Gender differences in 24-hour urinary diaries of asymptomatic North American adults.

PURPOSE: Two previously published studies from our center have described the urinary habits of asymptomatic men (284) and women (300) as revealed by 24-hour urinary diaries. Those gender specific studies found that urinary diary variables are affected by age and race. By comparing the data from those studies we determined the effect of gender on voiding habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this secondary analysis we matched each female urinary diary to that of a male of similar age and race. Diary variables were compared using paired sign tests with results considered significant at the 5% level. RESULTS: A total of 141 matched pairs were studied. The population age ranged from 18 to 68 years and was racially diverse (56% black, 31% white, 7% Hispanic and 6% Asian). Men had higher total fluid intake and mean voided volume than women (p <0.001 and 0.04, respectively). Women voided more frequently than men (p = 0.006) and had more voids per liter of fluid intake (p <0.001). No gender differences were found for body mass index, nighttime or daytime diuresis rates, total urine volume, maximum voided volume or rates of nocturia. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that there are significant gender effects on 24-hour diary variables, with females tending to void more often and at lower mean volumes. The results of our study may be useful in the design of research studies or for patient counseling.

Loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability at chromosomal sites 1Q and 10Q in morphologically distinct regions of late stage prostate lesions.

PURPOSE: We investigated the incidence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability in sporadic prostate cancer and surrounding tissue at loci encompassing the HPC1 and PTEN genes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical specimens from 63 patients with sporadic stage T3 or T4 prostatic adenocarcinoma were analyzed for LOH and microsatellite instability. Microdissected tissue included morphologically normal foci, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic adenocarcinoma. LOH analysis was performed using 4 microsatellite markers that map in the region of the 1q24 to 25 locus of the putative prostate cancer susceptibility gene HPC1 and 4 that map in the region of the 10q23 locus of the PTEN gene. RESULTS: The incidence of LOH on 10q was consistent with that previously reported in prostatic tumors. LOH associated with the PTEN locus was recorded in morphologically normal foci, BPH and adenocarcinoma. Sequence analysis of PTEN in a limited number of lesions revealed mutations in nontumor and tumor tissue. Analysis of the DS10215 locus showed significant LOH in tumor but not in benign tissue, suggestive of a tumor suppressor gene in this region associated with prostatic neoplastic progression. In contrast, no significant LOH was observed in the same tissues at 4 loci on chromosome 1q. In this study we recorded elevated levels of microsatellite instability in benign prostatic tissue with an additional increase associated with prostatic adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The low incidence of LOH in the region of the HPC1 locus in all prostate lesions studied suggests that this putative hereditary prostate cancer susceptibility locus does not appear to have a role in sporadic prostate cancer, at least not in the context of LOH. In contrast, analysis of the same tissues for LOH at chromosome 10q confirmed frequent alterations in this region linked to late stage prostate cancer. PTEN mutations in microdissected morphologically normal and BPH tissue showed alterations in nontumor tissue surrounding adenocarcinoma. Microsatellite instability was increased in adenocarcinomas over an elevated background recorded in surrounding tissues.

Molecular analysis of PTEN and MXI1 in primary bladder carcinoma.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 10q is associated with late-stage events in urothelial neoplastic progression. The tumor suppressor gene PTEN, which is mutated or homozygously deleted in numerous cancers, maps to a region of 10q within the reported region of minimal loss in bladder tumors. In two recent studies alterations in the PTEN gene occur at a low frequency in bladder tumors displaying 10q LOH. We have screened 35 late-stage bladder tumors for mutations in PTEN and MXI1, both genes mapping to chromosome 10q. Using single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, we identified 6 tumors harboring mutations in PTEN and 2 additional tumors displaying homozygous deletion at this locus. No MXI1 mutations were identified within the same tumor panel. Of 16 bladder tumor cell lines analyzed, 2 showed homozygous deletion of PTEN and 3 harbored point mutations resulting in an amino acid change. Two cell lines harbored missense mutations in MXI1. We report a significantly higher frequency of PTEN alterations in bladder carcinoma (23%) than was previously recorded, with no accompanying mutations in the MXI1 gene.

Prenatal failure to visualize kidneys: a spectrum of disease.

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the outcomes and management of patients when there is a failure to visualize kidneys on prenatal ultrasound. METHODS: Nine thousand five hundred twelve prenatal ultrasound studies performed on 4900 patients were reviewed retrospectively for the findings of a failure to visualize kidneys. The prenatal ultrasounds, pregnancy outcomes, and postmortem studies were reviewed for each of the 10 patients identified. RESULTS: Nine of 10 patients experienced fetal death in the index pregnancy: 7 had therapeutic abortions, 1 had an intrauterine fetal demise, and 1 gave birth to a stillborn infant. One patient gave birth to a live infant with Bartter's syndrome and grossly normal kidneys, as diagnosed by ultrasound. Developmental renal anomalies were identified in only 4 of 10 cases, and only 2 patients had true bilateral renal agenesis. There was 1 case each of bilateral renal medullary cystic dysplasia and bilateral renal hypoplasia. Three cases had no renal anomalies and included 1 case each of Turner's syndrome, chronic abruption, and a cord accident. In 2 cases, postmortem examinations were not performed because of family wishes. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal failure to visualize kidneys represents a spectrum of clinical problems not all of which are fatal. Close consultation with an experienced ultrasonographer is essential to provide informed counseling to expectant parents. Pathologic examination should be recommended when there is fetal demise and a suspicion of genitourinary anomalies. Screening of family members of the index patient and genetic counseling may be indicated.

Prospective development of a cost-efficient program for the pubovaginal sling.

OBJECTIVES: We designed and implemented a cost-containment program for patients undergoing a pubovaginal sling procedure. We sought to test the hypothesis that preoperative patient education could reduce the length of hospital stay in these patients. Our goal was to decrease hospital charges while maintaining quality of care. METHODS: A multidisciplinary group of clinic and hospital staff identified factors that contribute to a patient's hospital charges for a pubovaginal sling procedure. A program of preoperative patient education to teach intermittent self-catheterization was combined with the elimination or control of items considered unnecessary to the delivery of safe, efficient care. Patient care was standardized from the preoperative visit to discharge planning. The difference in the mean values of 38 prestudy patients was compared with 15 study patients with a Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: Length of hospital stay was reduced from a mean of 2.8 to 1.1 days after implementation of the program (P < 0.0001). This decreased length of stay, combined with a reduction in routine laboratory studies (97% decrease; P < 0.0001), operating room charges (11% decrease; P < 0.01), and medications (35% decrease; P < 0.01), led to significantly reduced hospital charges. Total hospital charges decreased by 35%, from a mean of $4862 to a mean of $3153 (P < 0.0001). There was no increase in morbidity. Patient satisfaction with length of hospital stay did not change significantly following implementation of the program. CONCLUSIONS: With a program of preoperative patient education combined with a critical review of the factors contributing to a patient's hospital charges, it is possible to implement a cost-efficient program for a pubovaginal sling, leading to a 35% reduction in mean total hospital charges. This approach directed toward other incontinence procedures could be expected to yield comparative results.