Mechanism of adsorption of ferric iron by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from a bacterium Acidiphilium sp.

The aim of this study was to assess the sorption of Fe(III) by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of the Acidiphilium 3.2Sup(5) bacterium, which has promising properties for use in microbial fuel cells (MFC). The EPS of A. 3.2Sup(5) was extracted using EDTA. The sorption isotherms were determined using aliquots of purified EPS. The exosubstances loaded with metal were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The sorption uptake approaches to 536.1 +/- 26.6 mg Fe(III) (g EPS)(-1) at an initial ferric concentration of 2.0 g l(-1). The sorption of Fe(III) by EPS can be fitted to the Freundlich model. The sorption process produces hydrated iron (III) oxalate [Fe(OH)(C2O4) x 2H2O] by a reversible reaction (log K = 1.06 +/- 0.16), indicating that a shift in the sorption of the cation can be easily achieved. Know the magnitude and form of iron sorption by EPS in MFC can foresee the potential impact on the metabolism of iron-reducing and iron-oxidazing bacteria and, therefore, on the feasibility of the system.

Extraction of extracellular polymeric substances from the acidophilic bacterium Acidiphilium 3.2Sup(5).

Extraction of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from Acidiphilium 3.2Sup(5) was investigated using five methods: EDTA, NaOH, ion exchange resin, heating and centrifugation. The bacterium studied presents promising application in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The degree of cellular lysis provoked by each method was determined by UV-visible spectroscopy of cultures before and after EPS extraction. In addition, two electron microscopy techniques (TEM and SEM) were employed to determine the degree of attachment and the growth of the biofilm overtime on two solid supports: carbon fibre cloth and graphite rods. The main constituents of the EPS extracted by all methods were proteins and carbohydrates, as confirmed by FT-IR analysis, showing the major presence of carboxylic, hydroxylic and amino groups. The greater extractions of EPS were obtained using EDTA. This method also produced a less degree of cellular lysis. Furthermore, both the amount and the chemical composition of EPS strongly depended on the extraction method used.

Biología molecular en el cáncer vesical / Molecular biology in bladder cancer

El desarrollo de la biología molecular referido a la etiopatogenia de los tumores en general, y del cáncer vesical en particular, se produce a una velocidad vertiginosa que supera ampliamente la capacidad de aprender y estar al día en materia tan compleja para el urólogo de batalla.El conocimiento de factores moleculares de influencia decisiva en la formación, desarrollo y progresión del cáncer vesical, nos obliga a valorar en su justa medida el papel que tienen o tendrán en la evolución y supervivencia de este tumor. Se prevée ya de antemano, que su fiabilidad deberá ser mucho mayor que los factores clásicamente establecidos morfológicos, es decir, el grado y el estadio.Realizamos una revisión bibliográfica, analizando y explicando el papel que juegan los oncogenes, genes de supresión tumoral, marcadores de densidad vascular, telomerasa, etc., en la formación y desarrollo del cáncer vesical, y sus posibles relaciones con factores clínicopatológicos ya establecidos (AU)

[Brachmann-de-Lange syndrome in our population: clinical and epidemiological characteristics]. / Síndrome de Brachmann de Lange en nuestro medio: características clínicas y epidemiológicas.

INTRODUCTION: We present the study of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of Brachmann-de Lange syndrome in our population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study we present the analysis of 13 cases of Brachmann-de Lange syndrome identified among 24,696 infants with congenital defects registered by the Spanish Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECEMC) between April 1976 and June 1996. RESULTS: The minimum estimation of the prevalence in our population is 0.97 per 100,000 live births. We have epidemiologically confirmed the presence of intrauterine growth retardation and have observed that parental ages tend to be relatively young. We have observed a wide range of clinical expression of this syndrome. One hundred percent of our cases have limb reduction defects, followed in frequency by craniofacial alterations (84.62%), abnormal hair distribution (76.92%) and genital defects (69.23%). Upper limbs are predominantly affected and one case of diaphragmatic hernia is worth mentioning. We underline the importance of the differential diagnosis with Fryns'syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The cases studied correspond to the most severe form of the syndrome, reason for which the prevalence is a minimal estimate. However, the mild forms of the syndrome are more frequent and it is important to consider that the face, especially the form of the eyebrow, could be a good guide for the diagnosis of mild forms of the syndrome.

[Cardiorespirography of the newborn infant at 12 hours of life]. / Cardiorrespirografía en el recién nacido a las doce horas de vida.

The introduction of the cardiorespirogram more than twenty years ago provided a useful continous noninvasive monitoring technique of heart and respiratory functions. However, there are only few studies about recording of these parameters and the topic is often partially discussed. Thus, the aim of this paper is to analyze the cardiorespirograms from newborn infants, divided into three groups: 50 normal fullterm infants, 28 preterm and 16 fullterm low birth weight infants. The age at monitoring was 12 hours. The 50 normal newborns reveal patterns similar to those described by other authors. The preterm and fullterm low birth weight infants show a significantly higher baseline with less variability and reactivity, data which lead us to bear in mind gestational age and birth weight to evaluate the cardiorespirogram.