Sustainable recovery of protein-rich liquor from shrimp farming waste by lactic acid fermentation for application in tilapia feed.

The biotransformation of shrimp head waste into ingredients for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) post-larvae (PLs) diet formulations was evaluated herein. A novel consortium of lactic acid bacteria, comprising the strains Lactobacillus futsaii LAB06 and L. plantarum LAB14, selected based on kinetic growth parameters, was applied in the fermentation of shrimp head waste. After 48 h, the highest lactic acid production was 100 g L-1, allowing for maximum recovery of chitin and protein-rich liquor. The liquor was added to commercial powdered fish feed at 15, 30, and 45% (w/w) and offered to Nile tilapia PL during 28 days. The inclusion of 30% provided the best results for Nile tilapia PL survival, weight and length gains, specific growth rate, and biomass, proving that the fermented liquor can be incorporated, leading to economic benefits and contributing to the reduction of environmental pollution caused by the improper disposal of shrimp waste.

[Endoscopy in megaesophagus. Prospective study of 600 cases]. / Endoscopia no megaesôfago. Estudo prospectivo de 600 casos.

From 1977 to 1984 six-hundred non selected patients with megaesophagus were prospectively examined through 722 endoscopies. 347 (57.8%) were men and 253 (42.2%) women the age ranged from 11 to 87 years (mean 45.7). 499 (90.2%) out of 553 patients had positive serologic test for Chagas' disease. 480 were non treated patients and 120 were previously treated. The following endoscopic findings were found: stasis esophagitis--15 (2.5%), reflux esophagitis--41 (6.5%), stenosis of esophagus--8 (1.3%), cancer of esophagus--5 (0.8%), hiatal hernia--3 (0.5%), esophageal varices--2 (0.3%), leukoplasia--1 (0.2%), duodeno-gastric biliary reflux--173 (30.4%), chronic gastritis--109 (18.2%), gastric ulcer--10 (1.8%), gastric polyp--2 (0.4%), gastric cancer--1 (0.2%), megabulbus--9 (1.6%), duodenal ulcer--10 (1.8%) and duodenitis--5 (1.9%). The cancer of esophagus and megaesophagus association in our results was lower than those reported by others; this may be due to the inclusion of early cases of megaesophagus in our patients. The high incidence of duodeno-gastric biliary reflux in the chagasic megaesophagus is claimed by the authors to be due to an antrum-pyloric-duodenal dyskinesia secondary to intrinsic denervation caused by Chagas' disease. Finally the authors recommend the endoscopy as a routine procedure in the megaesophagus in order to detect these associated morbid conditions.

Concentrations of cephapirin sodium in plasma and gynecologic tissue after a single preoperative dose.

The penetration of cephapirin sodium into tissues that are commonly involved in gynecologic infections was studied after administration of a single i.v. dose of 1 g of cephapirin to about 15 patients to undergo gynecologic surgery. Blood and tissue specimens were obtained either 30 or 60 min after the infusion had been completed. Blood levels averaged 16.07 +/- 3.7 and 6.29 +/- 1.6 microgram/ml and mean tissue levels were 7.87 and 6.28 microgram at these two sampling times, respectively. These results suggest that bactericidal levels of cephapirin against sensitive organisms can be achieved in gynecologic tissues.

Global and effective synergism of amikacin, gentamicin or tobramycin when combined with carbenicillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The authors describe a study to evaluate the synergistic effects of the combinations of amikacin-carbenicillin, gentamicin-carbenicillin and tobramycin-carbenicillin at the associated minimal bactericidal concentrations and at doses related to the serum levels reached by the drugs in the blood.

Comparative human oral clinical pharmacology of cefadroxil, cephalexin, and cephradine.

At equivalent oral doses, cefadroxil has a longer serum half-life, slower urinary excretion rate, greater area under the serum level versus time curve than cephalexin or cephradine, and peak serum concentrations that are 75 to 80% those of cephalexin. The calculated, apparent in vivo volume of distribution of cefadroxil is greater than that of cephalexin. These properties infer greater persistence of cefadroxil in serum and urine and more prolonged in vivo bacterial exposure to cefadroxil than to cephalexin or cephradine. Neither cefadroxil nor cephalexin demonstrates drug accumulation on repeated administration. The serum levels achieved by cefadroxil are unaffected by food. The pharmacokinetic properties of cefadroxil are supportive of the development of clinical efficacy data which could indicate that cefadroxil could be administered at 12-h intervals.

Activity of amikacin, gentamicin and kanamycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The activity of amikacin, gentamicin and kanamycin was tested in vitro against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Concentrations of the antibiotics in serum and in saline solution were prepared according to serum levels produced in volunteers 15 minutes, 1,2, and 6 hours after a single intramuscular injection of 500 mg amikacin, 80 mg gentamicin and 500 mg kanamycin. Following isolation of the Pseudomonas strains in cultures, they were incubated and seeded in Mueller-Hinton broth, then 10(-7) dilutions of the organisms were kept in contact with the prepared antibiotic solutions in serum and in saline solution for three hours, the approximate half-life of the antibiotics in serum. Amikacin was active at concentrations seen six hours post-dose, inhibiting growth in a total of 72-5% of seeded plates. Gentamicin was active for only two hours and inhibited growth in 2-5% of the plates. Kanamycin showed no antipseudomonal activity.