Nutritional characterisation of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm. produced using paper scraps as substrate.

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm. is the third most produced edible mushroom worldwide, due to its ability to colonise and degrade a large variety of lignocellulosic substrates. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical composition of fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus grown on blank and printed paper substrates, in comparison with samples grown on oat straw (control). The nutritional properties of the control sample were similar to values reported in the literature, while the chemical composition of the samples obtained using paper scraps, either blank or printed, was highly satisfactory. The results obtained validated the nutritional characteristics of the samples, highlighting a profitable means to recycle paper.

Microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction to quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in pine trees.

A methodology for the extraction and quantification of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) based on microwave-assisted extraction coupled with headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy was validated for needles and bark of two pine species (Pinus pinaster Ait. and Pinus pinea L.). The limits of detection were below 0.92 ng g(-1) (dry weight) for needles and below 0.43 ng g(-1) (dw) for bark. Recovery assays were performed with two sample masses spiked at three levels and the overall mean values were between 70 and 110 % for P. pinaster and 75 and 129 % for P. pinea. In the first species, the increase in sample mass lowered the recoveries slightly for most PAHs, whereas for the second, the recoveries were higher for the needles. Naturally contaminated samples from 4 sites were analysed, with higher levels for urban sites (1,320 and 942 ng g(-1) (dw) vs. 272 and 111 ng g(-1) (dw) for needles and 696 and 488 ng g(-1) (dw) vs. 270 and 103 ng g(-1) (dw) for bark) than for rural ones and also for P. pinaster samples over P. pinea. It is also shown that gas-phase PAHs are predominant in the needles (over 65 % of the total PAHs) and that the incidence for particulate material in bark, reaching 40 % as opposed to a maximum below 20 % for the needles. The method has proved to be fit and improved some of the existing approaches, on the assessment of particulate PAHs and bark levels.

[Leber's miliary aneurysms associated with vitreomacular traction syndrome: case report]. / Aneurisma miliar de Leber associado à síndrome de tração vítreomacular: relato de caso.

Retinal telangiectasias are idiopathic vascular abnormalities of the retina characterized by irregular dilatation of the retinal vessels, intraretinal and subretinal exudation. The aim of this article is to describe the uncommon association of Leber's miliary aneurysms and vitreomacular traction syndrome in a female patient. The diagnosis was established with angiofluoresceinography and optic coherence tomography. The patient was treated with focal photocoagulation with argon green laser directed to the perimacular aneurysms and pars plana posterior vitrectomy. The visual acuity showed great improvement after a four-month follow-up. The present report supports the importance of optic coherence tomography in cases where the vitreoretinal interface must be evaluated, including vascular pathologies, which allowed us to offer a better treatment to this patient.

Aneurisma miliar de Leber associado à síndrome de tração vítreomacular: relato de caso / Leber's miliary aneurysms associated with vitreomacular traction syndrome: case report

Telangiectasias retinianas são anormalidades vasculares primárias e idiopáticas caracterizadas por dilatações irregulares e incompetência dos vasos retinianos com variados graus de exsudação intra e sub-retiniana. O objetivo desse relato é documentar uma rara associação entre aneurisma miliar de Leber e síndrome de tração vítreomacular bem caracterizada à angiofluoresceinografia e tomografia de coerência óptica. O tratamento realizado foi fotocoagulação com laser de argônio nos aneurismas perimaculares e cirurgia de vitrectomia posterior via pars plana, o que resultou em melhora consistente da acuidade visual. O caso relatado confirma a importância da tomografia de coerência óptica em estudar a interface vítreorretiniana e suas alterações, o que permitiu abordagem completa da doença em questão.

Retinal telangiectasias are idiopatic vascular abnormalities of the retina characterizad by irregular dilatation of the retinal vessels, intraretinal and subretinal exsudation. The aim of this article is to describe the uncommon association of Leber's miliary aneurysms and vitreomacular traction syndrome in a female patient. The diagnosis was established with angiofluoresceinography and optic coherence tomography. The patient was treated with focal photocoagulation with argon green laser directed to the perimacular aneurysms and pars plana posterior vitrectomy. The visual acuity showed great improvement after a four-month follow-up. The present report supports the importance of optic coherence tomography in cases where the vitreoretinal interface must be evaluated, including vascular pathologies, which allowed us to offer a better treatment to this patient.

Validation and global uncertainty of a gas chromatographic with mass spectrometry method for fenamidone analysis in grapes and wines.

Fenamidone is an imidazolinone fungicide recently introduced in viticulture practices. This work reports the validation and assessment of global uncertainty of a gas chromatographic with mass spectrometry method to analyze fenamidone in grapes and wines. This method consists in a simple and fast liquid-liquid extraction step followed by chromatographic determination. Limits of detection for fenamidone in grapes and wines were, respectively, 0.05 mg/kg and 0.06 mg/L, precision was below 9.4% and average recovery was 89 +/- 5%. In the concentration range from 0.05 to 1.00 mg/kg (or mg/L) of fenamidone, global uncertainty calculated following the EURACHEM/CITAC rules, and also by the Horwitz function, was below 25%. The EURACHEM/CITAC global uncertainty budget used gave lower estimates than those obtained from the Horwitz function.

[Low prevalence of dyschromatopsia using the fourth edition of HRR (Hardy, Rand and Rittler) pseudoisochromatic plate test among the Indian population of Lalima village, Terena]. / Baixa prevalência de discromatopsia, pela 4a edição do teste pseudoisocromático HRR (Hardy, Rand e Rittler), da população indígena de etnia terena da aldeia lalima na região de Miranda: Mato Grosso do Sul.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the frequency of dyschromatopsias among the 10 to 45-year-old male Indian population of Lalima village, Terena ethnicity, in Miranda-MS, using the fourth edition of the pseudoisochromatic HRR test (Hardy, Rand and Rittler). METHODS: Lalima village in Miranda-MS was visited in January and February 2005. The visits only occurred after the approval of the project by the Committee of Ethics and Research of UFMS, by the National Committee of Ethics and Research, by the Indian National Foundation, and by the chief of Lalima village. The test was applied in 226 Indians who had been previously submitted to ophthalmologic examination for the detection of abnormalities that could doubt the applicability of the test. The test was performed under natural illumination, in sunny days, however with no direct sunlight. The test was applied and analyzed by the same experimenter in all the Indians. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-six men were examined (60.1%) of the total male population of 376 individuals between 10 and 45 years old who live in Lalima village. No cases of dyschromatopsia were found in this population examined with the HRR test. CONCLUSIONS: Once it is known that incidence of dyschromatopsias among the white male Caucasian population is about 6-8%, the results of the present study indicate a low prevalence of dyschromatopsias in this Indian population of Terena ethnicity, since no cases were detected in the examined sample. Other studies using different methods must be made to reinforce the present results. It would also be interesting to genetically examine this population and verify the genes that code for photopigments.

Baixa prevalência de discromatopsia, pela 4ª edição do teste pseudoisocromático HRR (Hardy, Rand e Rittler), da população indígena de etnia terena da aldeia lalima na região de Miranda: Mato Grosso do Sul / Low prevalence of dyschromatopsia using the fourth edition of HRR (Hardy, Rand and Rittler) pseudoisochromatic plate test among the Indian population of Lalima village, Terena

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a freqüência de discromatopsias através da 4ª edição do teste pseudoisocromático HRR (Hardy, Rand and Rittler) entre a população indígena masculina da aldeia Lalima, etnia Terena, na região de Miranda-MS. MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas viagens à aldeia Lalima em Miranda-MS, nos meses de janeiro e fevereiro de 2005. As viagens para realizar os exames só foram iniciadas após o projeto ter sido avaliado e aprovado pelos Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa da UFMS, Comitê Nacional de Ética e Pesquisa, Fundação Nacional do índio e do cacique da aldeia Lalima. O teste HRR foi aplicado em 226 índios após terem sido submetidos a exame oftalmológico para detecção de anormalidades que pudessem comprometer a aplicabilidade do teste. O teste foi realizado sob luz natural, em dias ensolarados, sem incidência direta de sol. O teste foi aplicado e interpretado pelo mesmo examinador em todos os índios. RESULTADOS: Realizaram-se 226 exames (60,1 por cento) de uma população de 376 homens entre 10 e 45 anos de idade, que vivem na Aldeia Lalima. Não foi encontrado nenhum caso de discromatopsia na população examinada com o teste HRR. CONCLUSÃO: O resultado do presente estudo mostra a baixa prevalência de discromatopsia nesta população indígena de etnia Terena, uma vez que não se detectou nenhum caso de discromatopsia na população estudada, sendo a prevalência de discromatopsia entre homens caucasianos de 6 a 8 por cento. A ausência de discromatopsia na população estudada, no entanto, deve ser mais bem avaliada tentando aumentar o tamanho da amostra, utilização de outros testes e, principalmente, por estudos genéticos para verificar os genes codificadores dos fotopigmentos para melhor compreensão das condições relacionadas à visão de cores dessa comunidade indígena.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the frequency of dyschromatopsias among the 10 to 45-year-old male Indian population of Lalima village, Terena ethnicity, in Miranda-MS, using the fourth edition of the pseudoisochromatic HRR test (Hardy, Rand and Rittler). METHODS: Lalima village in Miranda-MS was visited in January and February 2005. The visits only occurred after the approval of the project by the Committee of Ethics and Research of UFMS, by the National Committee of Ethics and Research, by the Indian National Foundation, and by the chief of Lalima village. The test was applied in 226 Indians who had been previously submitted to ophthalmologic examination for the detection of abnormalities that could doubt the applicability of the test. The test was performed under natural illumination, in sunny days, however with no direct sunlight. The test was applied and analyzed by the same experimenter in all the Indians. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-six men were examined (60.1 percent) of the total male population of 376 individuals between 10 and 45 years old who live in Lalima village. No cases of dyschromatopsia were found in this population examined with the HRR test. CONCLUSIONS: Once it is known that incidence of dyschromatopsias among the white male Caucasian population is about 6-8 percent, the results of the present study indicate a low prevalence of dyschromatopsias in this Indian population of Terena ethnicity, since no cases were detected in the examined sample. Other studies using different methods must be made to reinforce the present results. It would also be interesting to genetically examine this population and verify the genes that code for photopigments.

Determination of semi-volatile priority pollutants in landfill leachates and sediments using microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction.

The present work was focused on the development of a simple method aimed at the determination of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 15 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in landfill leachates and sediments by adapting a domestic microwave oven to perform microwave-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction (MA-HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatographic separation and tandem mass spectrometric detection. Good linearity was observed within the concentration range studied; detection limits ranged from 0.1 ng/l to 7 ng/l for PCBs and from 5 ng/l to 926 ng/l for PAHs. Concerning precision, the relative standard deviations obtained were, on average for the leachate and sediment samples analysed, 18% for PCBs and 20% for PAHs. Average recovery values were 37% and 76% for PCBs, and 58% and 48% for PAHs, respectively, for the leachate and reference sediment studied. The method allows the determination of PAHs and PCBs in landfill leachates and sediments, avoiding clean-up steps and the consumption of organic solvents.

Development and validation of a novel method for the analysis of chlorinated pesticides in soils using microwave-assisted extraction-headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new procedure for determining eleven organochlorine pesticides in soils using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) is described. The studied pesticides consisted of mirex, alpha- and gamma-chlordane, p,p'-DDT, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide isomer A, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, dieldrin, endrin, aldrine and hexachlorobenzene. The HS-SPME was optimized for the most important parameters such as extraction time, sample volume and temperature. The present analytical procedure requires a reduced volume of organic solvents and avoids the need for extract clean-up steps. For optimized conditions the limits of detection for the method ranged from 0.02 to 3.6 ng/g, intermediate precision ranged from 14 to 36% (as CV%), and the recovery from 8 up to 51%. The proposed methodology can be used in the rapid screening of soil for the presence of the selected pesticides, and was applied to landfill soil samples.

Uncertainty associated to the analysis of organochlorine pesticides in water by solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-electron capture detection--evaluation using two different approaches.

As the performances of analytical instrumentation are being gradually enhanced, the limits of detection become increasingly lower, allowing more environmental contaminants to be determined in different matrices. Problems emerge when dealing with data from different origins, once the uncertainty of the results is difficult to be compared, especially if its calculation procedure is rather different, as very often happens. Samples of two organochlorine pesticides of somewhat opposite characteristics (lindane and heptachlor, classified as persistent organic pollutants--POPs) were analyzed in aqueous media using headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) prior to gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) and this methodology was in-house validated. Detection limits of 0.097 and 0.050 microg l(-1), average intermediate precision of 11.6% and 27.5%, and average recovery of 95.6% and 103.0%, for lindane and heptachlor, respectively, were found. In the absence of available interlaboratory studies to assess the reliability of the results, the expanded uncertainty was calculated following two different approaches (bottom-up/Eurachem and modified top-down) and the results were compared. Globally it was clearly shown that, for both pesticides, the lower the concentration range, the higher the uncertainty associated to the results. Expanded uncertainties estimated by bottom-up/Eurachem approach varied from 51% to 14% for a lindane concentration range of 0.1-1 microg l(-1), and from 48% to 24% for a heptachlor range of 0.1-2 microg l(-1). Modified top-down approach pointed to 44% (lindane and heptachlor) in the same ranges, meaning that a uniform procedure for uncertainty estimation should be adopted.

Screening of grapes and wine for azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl and trifloxystrobin fungicides by HPLC with diode array detection.

The Quinone outside Inhibitors (QoI) are one of the most important and recent fungicide groups used in viticulture and also allowed by Integrated Pest Management. Azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl and trifloxystrobin are the main active ingredients for treating downy and powdery mildews that can be present in grapes and wines. In this paper, a method is reported for the analysis of these three QoI-fungicides in grapes and wine. After liquid-liquid extraction and a clean-up on commercial silica cartridges, analysis was by isocratic HPLC with diode array detection (DAD) with a run time of 13 min. Confirmation was by solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), followed by GC/MS determination. The main validation parameters for the three compounds in grapes and wine were a limit of detection up to 0.073 mg kg(-1), a precision not exceeding 10.0% and an average recovery of 93% +/- 38.

Determination of ethyl carbamate in alcoholic beverages: an interlaboratory study to compare HPLC-FLD with GC-MS methods.

An international interlaboratory study on the determination of ethyl carbamate in alcoholic beverages by a new HPLC-FLD and by the official GC-MS methods is presented. The aim of this study was to improve the knowledge about precision and accuracy parameters of the new method and to compare the performance of both HPLC and GC methods. Five different samples representing table wines, fortified wines (red and white), distilled spirits, and wine spirits were available for analysis by each participant. Despite the low number of participants (6), the results obtained by the laboratories using the HPLC-FLD method are comparable to those obtained by GC-MS methods. The present study emphasizes the possibility to use, as routine, a much simpler analytical method than the current reference method by GC-MS for ethyl carbamate determination in alcoholic beverages.

Resultados das primeiras 500 cirurgias de catarata após o término da residência médica / Results of initial 500 cataract sugeries after ophthalmology medical residence

Objetivo: Avaliar a frequência de complicações per e pós-operatórias, assim como os resultados cirúrgicos das primeiras cirurgias de catarata realizadas após o término da residência médica em oftalmologia. Metodologia: Foram coletados os dados de 500 cirurgias, todas realizadas pelo mesmo cirurgião (sem o auxílio de outro cirurgião mais experiente) no Hospital São Julião, em Campo Grande, MS, no período de junho de 200 a janiro de 2003. Os dados foram estatisticamente trabalhados no programa Epi-info 2002. Resultados: Realizaram-se 252 (50,4 por cento) cirurgias em pacientes do sexo feminino e 248 (49,6 por cento) em pacientes do sexo masculino. Foram feitas 425 (85 por cento) facectomias extracpsulares. Setenta e cinco (15 por cento) olhos foram submetidos à técnica de facoemulsificação. Foram observadas complicações pós-operatórias em 51 (10,2 por cento)olhos. Houve 28 (5,6 por cento) casos de rotura de cápsula posterior. Em 406 (81,2 por cento) olhos a acuidade visual pós-operatória com correção foi melhor ou igual que 20/40. Conclusão: Os dados per e pós-operatórios encontrados nesse estudo são semelhantes aos encontrados por outros autores. A acuidade visual apresentou melhora na grande maioria dos pacientes operados. Assim, após o término da residência médica, o cirurgião deve se sentir encorajado a operar, não se desestimulando ante as complicações, ocorrentes tanto com os menos quanto com os mais experientes.