Moçambique. Manual de biossegurança e bioprotecção do instituto nacional de saúde / Biosafety and bioprotection manual of the national institute of health

Ao efectuarmos a revisão deste manual pretendemos apresentar uma nova dinâmica sobre os principais conceitos relativos a Biossegurança e Bioprotecção, suas interfaces essenciais e permitir que esses conhecimentos teóricos se desdobrem em acções práticas no dia-a-dia dos funcionários e colaboradores do e no INS, das re presentações locais, bem como da Rede de Laboratórios de Saúde Pública Humana do Sistema Nacional de Saúde (SNS). Nesta 2ª edição do manual iremos aprimorar os conceitos sobre Biossegurança, Bioprotecção, Biorisco e outros perigos que podem ocorrer em laboratórios, avaliação de riscos, níveis de biossegurança laboratorial, medidas de protecção individual e colectivas classifica das em barreiras primárias e secundárias, de controlo administrativos e de engenharia, adopção de boas práticas microbiológicas e de pro cedimentos (BPMP), medidas de precaução aceites universalmente e promoção da cultura do comportamento organizacional, iniciativas que induzam a manipulação segura de agentes e doenças emergentes e re-emergentes de carácter epidémico, endémico ou pandémico rumo a manutenção da segurança global em saúde…

Microbiología del agua mineromedicinal del Balneario de San Nicolás / Microbiology of the natural mineral water of San Nicolás Spa

Se han estudiado los microorganismos autóctonos y alóctonos de las aguas mineromedicinales del Balneario San Nicolás (Alhama de Almería). No se han encontrado bacterias patógenas ni indicadores fecales en 250 mL de agua. La microbiota autóctona está constituida, principalmente, por bacterias oligotrofas Gram positivas de la clase Firmicutes. El sondeo Sillero, utilizado en los tratamientos, presenta un número muy bajo de bacterias viables (<10 ufc/mL) que corresponden en su mayoría a cocos Gram positivos (93,3%) y a la especie Staphylococcus lugdunensis (40%). El sondeo San Marcos tiene una mayor diversidad microbiana, predominando los bacilos Gram positivos de la especie Bacillus licheniformis (32,4%) y los bacilos Gram negativos de la especie Cupriavidus pauculus (16,2%). En todas las muestras se han detectado microorganismos proteolíticos, amilolíticos, nitrificantes y amonificantes, así como bacterias halófilas y del hierro. También se han estudiado los biotapetes formados en las fuentes utilizadas para bebida, constituidos por una asociación de cianobacterias filamentosas y esféricas, así como del alga Cosmarium (AU)

Both the autochthonous and the allochthonous microorganisms of minero‐medicinal water from the San Nicolas spa (Alhama of Almería, Spain) have been analyzed. No pathogen bacteria or faecal indicators have been found in 250 mL of water. The autochthonous microbiota is mainly composed of oligotrophic Grampositive bacteria of the Firmicutes phylum. The Sillero sampling, used in the spa treatments, presents a very low count of viable bacteria (< 10 cfu / mL), being the most part of them Grampositive cocci (93.3%) of the Staphylococcus lugdunensis (40%) species. The San Marcos sampling presents a higher microbial diversity, predominantly Gram‐positive bacilli of the Bacillus licheniformis (32.4%) species and Gram‐negative bacilli of the Cupriavidus pauculus (16.2%) species. Proteolytic, amylolitic, nitrifying and ammonifying microorganisms have been detected in all samples, altogether with halophilic and iron bacteria. An analysis of the microbial mats growing in the spa drinking water sources shows that these consist of an association of spherical and filamentous cyanobacteria and the Cosmarium algae (AU)

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a University Hospital in the South of Brazil

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) stand out as one of the main agents causing nosocomial and community infections. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the MRSA predominance in a university hospital in the south of Brazil and it was carried out for five years (from 2007 to 2011). 616 MRSA (33,3% of the total) were isolated and an important reduction in the MRSA predominance was observed along the study. Although it was registered a reduction in the MRSA predominance, male adult patients (41-70 years old), who were in the Medical Clinic and Adult ICU, had the highest infection rates and concerning MRSA isolates rates, these were higher in blood and tracheal aspirates. In conclusion, studies of this type are becoming relevant to recognize pathogens like MRSA and to determine its predominance.

Staphylococcus aureus resistentes à meticilina (MRSA) destacam-se mundialmente como um dos mais frequentes patógenos nosocomiais e comunitários. Este estudo retrospectivo teve por objetivo analisar a prevalência de MRSA em um hospital universitário no sul do Brasil. Durante cinco anos (2007 a 2011), 616 MRSA (33,3% do total de S. aureus) foram isolados, sendo que sua frequência de isolamento apresentou considerável redução no decorrer do estudo. Nossos resultados demonstraram que as maiores taxas de isolamento dos MRSA ocorreram em amostras de sangue e secreção traqueal. As infecções prevaleceram em pacientes adultos (41 a 70 anos), do sexo masculino, internados na Clínica Médica e UTI adulto. Estudos como este se tornam importantes para o reconhecimento de patógenos resistentes, como o MRSA, e para a determinação da sua prevalência.

Metabolomics: a tool for early detection of toxicological effects and an opportunity for biology based grouping of chemicals-from QSAR to QBAR.

BASF has developed a Metabolomics database (MetaMap(®) Tox) containing approximately 500 data rich chemicals, agrochemicals and drugs. This metabolome-database has been built based upon 28-day studies in rats (adapted to OECD 407 guideline) with blood sampling and metabolic profiling after 7, 14 and 28 days of test substance treatment. Numerous metabolome patterns have been established for different toxicological targets (liver, kidney, thyroid, testes, blood, nervous system and endocrine system) which are specific for different toxicological modes of action. With these patterns early detection of toxicological effects and the underlying mechanism can now be obtained from routine studies. Early recognition of toxicological mode of action will help to develop new compounds with a more favourable toxicological profile and will also help to reduce the number of animal studies necessary to do so. Thus this technology contributes to animal welfare by means of reduction through refinement (2R), but also has potential as a replacement method by analyzing samples from in vitro studies. With respect to the REACH legislation for which a large number of animal studies will need to be performed, one of the most promising methods to reduce the number of animal experiments is grouping of chemicals and read-across to those which are data rich. So far mostly chemical similarity or QSAR models are driving the selection process of chemical grouping. However, "omics" technologies such as metabolomics may help to optimize the chemical grouping process by providing biologically based criteria for toxicological equivalence. "From QSAR to QBAR" (quantitative biological activity relationship).

Chemical target and pathway toxicity mechanisms defined in primary human cell systems.

INTRODUCTION: The ability to predict the health effects resulting from drug or chemical exposure has been challenging due to the complexity of human biology. Approaches that detect and discriminate a broad range of mechanisms in testing formats that are predictive and yet cost-effective are needed. METHODS: Here, we evaluated the performance of BioMAP systems, primary human cell-based disease models, as a platform for characterization of chemical toxicity mechanisms. For this we tested a set of compounds with known or well-studied mechanisms in a panel of 8 BioMAP assays relevant to human respiratory, skin, immune and vascular exposure sites. RESULTS: We evaluated the ability to detect and distinguish compounds based on mechanisms of action, comparing the BioMAP activity profiles generated in a reduced sample number format to reference database profiles derived from multiple experiments. We also studied the role of BioMAP assay panel size and concentration effects, both of which were found to contribute to the ability to discriminate chemicals and mechanisms. DISCUSSION: Compounds with diverse mechanisms, including modulators of the NFkappaB pathway, microtubule function and mitochondrial activity, could be discriminated and classified into target and pathway mechanisms in both assay formats. Certain inhibitors of mitochondrial function, such as rotenone and sodium azide, but not others, were classified with inducers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, providing insight into the toxicity mechanisms of these agents. This method may have utility in classifying novel agents with unknown modes of action according to their effects on toxicity pathways.

A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of related esters and alcohols of cinnamic acid and cinnamyl alcohol when used as fragrance ingredients.

An evaluation and review of a structurally related group of fragrance materials.

Fragrance material review on alpha-iso-methylionone.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of alpha-iso-methylionone when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.

Fragrance material review on ionone.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of ionone when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.

Fragrance material review on methyl salicylate.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of methyl salicylate when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.

A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of ionones when used as fragrance ingredients.

An evaluation and review of a structurally related group of fragrance materials.

A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of salicylates when used as fragrance ingredients.

An evaluation and review of a structurally related group of fragrance materials.

Carcinogenesis and chemotherapy viewed from the perspective of stoichiometric network analysis (SNA): what can the biological system of the elements contribute to an understanding of tumour induction by elemental chemical noxae (e.g., Ni2+ , Cd2+ ) and to an understanding of chemotherapy?

The biological application of stoichiometric network analysis (SNA) permits an understanding of tumour induction, carcinogenesis, and chemotherapy. Starting from the Biological System of the Elements, which provides a comprehensive treatment of the functions and distributions of chemical (trace) elements in biology, an attempt is made to interrelate the essential feature of biology and--regrettably--of tumour genesis by superimposing SNA reasoning on common features of all crucial biological processes. For this purpose, aspects, effects and drawbacks of autocatalysis (identical reproduction which can occur either under control or without control [in tumours]) are linked with the known facts about element distributions in living beings and about interference of metals with tumours (in terms of both chemotherapy and carcinogenesis). The essential role of autocatalysis in biology and the drawbacks of either controlled or spontaneous cell division can be used to understand crucial aspects of carcinogenesis and chemotherapy because SNA describes and predicts effects of autocatalysis, including phase effects that may be due to some kind of intervention. The SNA-based classifications of autocatalytic networks in cell biology are outlined here to identify new approaches to chemotherapy.