Is there still room to explore cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase-producers in Brazilian biodiversity?

In the present work, different Brazilian biomes aiming to identify and select cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase-producer bacteria are explored. This enzyme is responsible for converting starch to cyclodextrin, which are interesting molecules to carry other substances of economic interest applied by textile, pharmaceutical, food, and other industries. Based on the enzymatic index, 12 bacteria were selected and evaluated, considering their capacity to produce the enzyme in culture media containing different starch sources. It was observed that the highest yields were presented by the bacteria when grown in cornstarch. These bacteria were also characterized by sequencing of the 16S rRNA region and were classified as Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Gracilibacillus and Solibacillus.

Predicting malignant neck lymphadenopathy using color duplex sonography based on multivariate analysis.

PURPOSE: To select the best predictors of cervical lymph node malignancy based on gray-scale and power Doppler sonography using multivariate analysis. METHODS: We evaluated sonographically a total of 97 lymph nodes in the neck that were subjected to fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The gray-scale and power Doppler sonography parameters that we analyzed using multivariate logistic regression included size, shape, echogenicity, echotexture, margins, hilum, presence of microcalcifications or necrosis, vascularization, and resistance index (RI). RESULTS: The three variables with a diagnostic accuracy exceeding 80% were an altered vascularization, heterogeneous echotexture, and abnormal hilum. Malignant nodes exhibited higher RI and larger sizes than benign nodes, and the best cutoff values to distinguish malignant from benign lymph nodes were an RI of 0.77 and a short axis ≥ 0.9 cm. Altered vascularization, a short axis ≥ 0.9 cm, and abnormal hilum were the best predictors of malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: The best sonographic predictors of lymph node malignancy are, in descending order, an altered vascularization, a short axis ≥ 0.9 cm, an abnormal hilum, and a heterogeneous echotexture. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:587-594, 2016.

Diaphragmatic breathing training program improves abdominal motion during natural breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a diaphragmatic breathing training program (DBTP) on thoracoabdominal motion and functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=30; forced expiratory volume in 1s, 42%±13% predicted) were randomly allocated to either a training group (TG) or a control group (CG). INTERVENTIONS: Subjects in the TG completed a 4-week supervised DBTP (3 individualized weekly sessions), while those in the CG received their usual care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effectiveness was assessed by amplitude of the rib cage to abdominal motion ratio (RC/ABD ratio) (primary outcome) and diaphragmatic mobility (secondary outcome). The RC/ABD ratio was measured using respiratory inductive plethysmography during voluntary diaphragmatic breathing and natural breathing. Diaphragmatic mobility was measured by ultrasonography. A 6-minute walk test and health-related quality of life were also evaluated. RESULTS: Immediately after the 4-week DBTP, the TG showed a greater abdominal motion during natural breathing quantified by a reduction in the RC/ABD ratio when compared with the CG (F=8.66; P<.001). Abdominal motion during voluntary diaphragmatic breathing after the intervention was also greater in the TG than in the CG (F=4.11; P<.05). The TG showed greater diaphragmatic mobility after the 4-week DBTP than did the CG (F=15.08; P<.001). An improvement in the 6-minute walk test and in health-related quality of life was also observed in the TG. CONCLUSIONS: DBTP for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induced increased diaphragm participation during natural breathing, resulting in an improvement in functional capacity.