Análise da contaminação bacteriológica do setor de parada de ônibuus municipais do terminal rodoviário de uma cidade do interior do estado de São Paulo / Analysis of the bacterial contamination in the bus station of a city in the São Paulo State

Objetivo ­ Analisar a cotaminação de bactérias em assentos de espera, balcões de compra de passagens e corrimões de rampas e escadas do Terminal Rodoviário de uma cidade do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Métodos ­ Foram coletadas quatro amostras da superfície de corrimões de rampas e escadas, quatro da superfície de balcões de compra de passagens e quatro da superfície de assentos de espera, escolhidas aleatoriamente, no setor de parada de ônibus municipais do Terminal Rodoviário em diferentes dias e horários, verificandose a temperatura média local no momento das coletas. As amostras foram coletadas com swabs umedecidos em solução salina estéril, semeadas em meio de cultura ágar nutriente e incubadas a 37°C por 24 horas. Após esse período, foi feita a contagem visual de colônias e as que se diferenciaram visualmente foram submetidas à prova da catalase, coloração de Gram e observação ao microscópio óptico. Resultados ­ Em todos os locais houve crescimento bacteriano, sendo o balcão o local com maior contaminação e os dias com as temperaturas mais amenas. Quanto à análise morfológica e à prova da catalase, observou-se a presença de bacilos Gram positivos e negativos, com catalase positiva e catalase negativa. Não foi observado o crescimento de cocos Gram negativos. Conclusão ­ O presente estudo identificou a existência de uma colonização de bactérias significativa no Terminal Rodoviário analisado, demonstrando que o local trata-se de um ambiente suscetível para se contrair e transmitir doenças e infecções se não efetuadas medidas preventivas de higienização.

Objective ­ To analyze the bacteria cotamination in standby seats, buying desks tickets and railings ramps and stairs from the bus terminal of a city of the São Paulo State. Methods ­ Four samples were randomly chosen and collected from each local of the municipal bus stop sector bus terminal on different days and hours, with temperature check. Samples were collected with a dampened swab with sterile saline, seeded on nutrient agar and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. After that, the colonies of bacteria were counted and subjected to the test of catalase, Gram staining and observation the optical microscope when they presented morphological differences. Results ­ In all local there was bacterial growth, but the buying tickets desk presented higher contamination and days with mild temperatures favored their development. There were presence of Gram positive and negative, catalase positive and negative. There was no Gram negative cocci. Conclusion ­ The present study identified the existence of a significant colonization of bacteria at the bus terminal, demonstrating that it is a susceptible environment to contract and transmit diseases and infections if not made preventive hygiene measures.

Vitamin D receptor and calcium-sensing receptor gene polymorphisms in hypercalciuric stone-forming patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Some studies have identified an association of kidney stone formation with vitamin D receptor (VDR) or calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) polymorphisms. We aimed to evaluate the association between these polymorphisms with urinary calcium excretion (uCa) in calcium- stone-forming patients. METHODS: VDR polymorphism, detected by BsmI digestion, and 3 CaSR polymorphisms (G/T at codon 986, G/A at codon 990 and C/G at codon 1011), detected by direct sequencing, were evaluated in 100 hypercalciuric (HCa) and 101 normocalciuric (NCa) calcium-stone-forming patients. RESULTS: The total allelic frequency of VDR polymorphism was: 16% BB, 49% Bb and 35% bb. The prevalence of bb genotype was significantly higher in the HCa when compared to the NCa group (43 vs. 27%). With respect to CaSR polymorphisms, 986S, 990G and 1011E variant alleles were detected, respectively, in 5, 4 and 3% of the whole sample and 5 CaSR haplotypes were identified: 94% ARQ (wild-type), 3% SRQ, 1.5% AGQ, 1.0% ARE and 0.5% AGE. No statistical differences have been observed between NCa and HCa with respect to these CaSR haplotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that bb homozygous for VDR polymorphism was overrepresented in hypercalciuric stone formers. Urinary calcium excretion was not associated with CaSR polymorphism in the present sample.

Preservation of urine samples for metabolic evaluation of stone-forming patients.

Metabolic evaluation of stone-forming (SF) patients is based on the determination of calcium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid and other parameters in 24-h urine samples under a random diet. A reliable measurement of urinary oxalate requires the collection of urine in a receptacle containing acid preservative. However, urinary uric acid cannot be determined in the same sample under this condition. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the addition of preservatives (acid or alkali) after urine collection would not modify the results of those lithogenic parameters. Thirty-four healthy subjects (HS) were submitted to two non-consecutive collections of 24-h urine. The first sample was collected in a receptacle containing hydrochloric acid (HCl 6 N) and the second in a dry plastic container, with HCl being added as soon as the urine sample was received at the laboratory. Additionally, 34 HS and 34 SF patients collected a spot urine sample that was divided into four aliquots, one containing HCl, another containing sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3 )5 g/l), and two others in which these two preservative agents were added 24 h later. Urinary oxalate, calcium, magnesium, citrate, creatinine and uric acid were determined. Urinary parameters were also evaluated in the presence of calcium oxalate or uric acid crystals. Mean values of all urinary parameters obtained from previously acidified 24-h urine samples did not differ from those where acid was added after urine collection. The same was true for spot urine samples, with the exception of urinary citrate that presented a slight albeit significant change of 5.9% between samples in HS and 3.1% in SF. Uric acid was also not different between pre- and post-alkalinized spot urine samples. The presence of crystals did not alter these results. We concluded that post-delivery acidification or alkalinization of urine samples does not modify the measured levels of urinary oxalate, calcium, magnesium, creatinine and uric acid, and that the change on citrate was not relevant, hence allowing all parameters to be determined in a single urine sample, thus avoiding the inconvenience and cost of multiple 24-h urine sample collections.

Effects of creatine supplementation on body composition and renal function in rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of oral creatine supplementation on renal function and body composition (fat and lean mass) in an experimental model. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were supplemented with creatine (2 g.kg(-1) of food) for 10 wk in combination with treadmill exercise, 12 m.min(-1), 1 h.d(-1) (CREAT + EX, N = 12) or not (CREAT, N = 10), and compared with exercised animals without creatine supplementation (EX, N = 7) and CONTROL animals, N = 7. Body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by dual x-ray absorptiometry and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) were measured by inulin and paraaminohippurate clearance, respectively. RESULTS: At the end of the study (post), CREAT+EX presented higher lean mass and lower fat mass than CREAT, EX or CONTROL (349.7 +/- 19.7 vs 313.3 +/- 20.3, 311.9 +/- 30.8, 312.4 +/- 21.0 g and 5.7 +/- 2.3 vs 10.0 +/- 3.3, 9.8 +/- 1.5, 10.0 +/- 3.5%, P < 0.05, respectively). Post lean/fat mass ratio was higher than baseline only in CREAT + EX (18.9 +/- 7.2 vs 8.6 +/- 1.8, P < 0.05). Post BMD was significantly higher than baseline in all groups. GFR and RPF were lower in CREAT versus CONTROL (0.5 +/- 0.1 vs 1.0 +/- 0.1 and 1.5 +/- 0.2 vs 2.4 +/- 0.5 mL.min(-1), P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Creatine supplement in combination with exercise increased the proportion of lean mass more than EX or CREAT alone. The use of creatine alone induced an important and significant reduction of both RPF and GFR.

Estrogen receptor (ER) gene polymorphism may predict the bone mineral density response to raloxifene in postmenopausal women on chronic hemodialysis.

The estrogen receptor (ER) gene has been considered as a candidate genetic marker for osteoporosis, and PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms of the ERalpha gene have been associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). We investigated whether ER polymorphism could predict the response of BMD in 28 postmenopausal women on hemodialysis with marked osteopenia or osteoporosis, randomized to receive raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), or placebo for 1 year. BMD was assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry and PvuII and XbaI restriction fragment-length polymorphism of the ER gene was determined using polymerase chain reaction. Baseline lumbar spine or femoral neck BMD parameters were not different between patients presenting either homozygous PP or xx when compared with heterozygous Pp or Xx genotypes. After 1 year, patients on raloxifene, presenting with PP or xx genotypes (but not those with Pp or Xx), showed a significantly higher mean lumbar spine BMD (0.942 +/- 0.18 vs. 0.925 +/- 0.17 g/cm2, p < .01) and lower serum pyridinoline (19.7 +/- 9.7 vs. 30.6 +/- 16.5 nmol/L, p < .02) when compared with baseline values. No changes were detected in the placebo-treated patients or in the femur neck sites. In conclusion, after 1 year on raloxifene, postmenopausal osteoporotic women on chronic hemodialysis, homozygous for the P or x (PP or xx) alleles of the ER, exhibited a better lumbar spine BMD response and decreased serum pyridinoline values when compared with heterozygous women (Pp or Xx), suggesting that ERalpha allelic variants may explain, at least in part, the different outcomes after treatment of osteoporosis with SERM.

Efeitos da suplementação de creatina por tempo prolongado sobre a composição corporal e função renal em modelo experimental / Effects of long-term creatine supplementation on body composition and renal function in rats

O suplemento de creatinina (Cr) tem sido utilizado freqüentemente para aumentar a massa muscular e melhorar a performance atlética durante o exercício. Entretanto, o efeito da Cr sobre a função renal ainda não está estabelecido. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do uso prolongado da suplementação de Cr sobre a composição corporal e função renal em um modelo experimental. Ratos Wistar machos foram suplementados com Cr (2g/Kg de dieta) durante 10 semanas em combinação com exercícios em esteira, 12m/min, 1hr/dia (CREAT+EX, N=12), ou não (CREAT, N=10) e comparados a animais exercitados sem suplementação (EX, N=7). A composição corporal foi determinada em aparelho de emissão de 2 fótons e fonte de raios-X e a filtração glomerular (FG) e o fluxo plasmático renal (FPR) medidos através de clearance de inulina e paraminohipurato, respectivamente. Resultados: ao final do estudo (pós), CREAT+EX apresentou maior massa magra (349,7±19,7 vs 313,3±20,3, 311,9±30,8, 312,4±21,0 g) e menor percentual de gordura (5,7±2,3 vs 10,0±3,3, 9,8±1,5, 10,0±3,5 por cento) do que os grupos CREAT, EX ou CONT, respectivamente (p<0,05). A razão massa magra/gordura corporal (pós) foi maior do que a inicial somente no grupo CREAT+EX (18,9±7,2 vs 8,6±1,8, p<0,05). A FG e FPR foram menores no grupo CREAT vs CONT (0,5±0,1 vs 1,0±0,1 & 1,5±0,2 vs 2,4±0,5 mL/min, respectivamente, p<0,05. Conclusão: O suplemento Cr quando combinado ao exercício aumentou a proporção de massa magra em relação à gordura mais do que o exercício ou a Cr isoladamente. A suplementação de Cr isolada isoladamente induziu uma importante e significante redução de FG e FPR.