Abdominal aortic aneurysm model in swine with bovine pericardium patch.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysm repair using endovascular techniques has grown in importance as materials have improved. Studies of endovascular prostheses require experimental models that reproduce anatomic and pathophysiological characteristics of human aneurysms. OBJECTIVES: To describe a porcine model of abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHODS: This prospective cohort study used eleven Large White female pigs with a mean age of 12 weeks in two study phases. In phase I, the aneurysm was produced with a bovine pericardium patch by retroperitoneal surgery conducted under general anesthesia. In phase II, 15 days later, the animals underwent arteriography and were then euthanized before specimens were removed for histological analysis. RESULTS: Formation of parietal thrombus was observed in all animals. Microscopic analysis showed calcifications around thrombus in 82% of the animals. There was lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in the graft and adjacent area, with fibrosis in nine animals. Three pigs had substantial myointimal thickening, and eight had microcalcifications. Mortality was zero, and there were no ruptures, ischemia, or surgery site infections. CONCLUSIONS: This is a unique model, using inexpensive, biocompatible material. Bovine pericardium is easy for the surgeon to handle and has very similar characteristics to autologous tissue in terms of integration with the cell wall.

CONTEXTO: A correção de um aneurisma por meio de técnicas endovasculares tem ganhado importância com o aprimoramento dos materiais. O estudo das próteses endovasculares requer modelos experimentais que reproduzam as características anatômicas e fisiopatológicas dos aneurismas humanos. OBJETIVOS: Descrever um modelo suíno de aneurisma de aorta abdominal. MÉTODOS: Este estudo de coorte prospectivo utilizou 11 porcas da raça Large White com idade média de 12 semanas nas duas fases do estudo. Na fase I, o aneurisma foi produzido com um saco de pericárdio bovino através de cirurgia por via retroperitoneal sob anestesia geral; na fase II, 15 dias após a fase I, os animais foram submetidos a arteriografia e, posteriormente, a eutanásia, sendo os espécimes retirados para análise histológica. RESULTADOS: A formação de trombo parietal foi observada em todos os animais. A análise microscópica mostrou calcificações ao redor do trombo em 82% dos animais. Havia infiltrado linfoplasmocitário no enxerto e na área adjacente, com fibrose em nove animais. Três porcos tinham espessamento miointimal substancial, e oito tinham microcalcificações. A mortalidade foi zero, e não houve rupturas, isquemia ou infecção no local da cirurgia. CONCLUSÕES: É um modelo único, com material biocompatível e de baixo custo. O pericárdio bovino é de fácil manuseio pelo cirurgião e possui características muito semelhantes ao tecido autólogo em sua integração com a parede celular.

Marmoricola silvestris sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from alpine forest soil.

A Gram-stain-positive, flagellated, catalase- and cytochrome c oxidase-positive bacterial strain, designated S20-100T, was isolated from alpine forest soil. Growth occurred at a temperature range of 0-30 °C, at pH 6-9 and in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain S20-100T was related to the genus Marmoricola and had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Marmoricola ginsengisoli Gsoil 097T (98.4 %) and Marmoricola solisilvae KIS18-7T (98.3 %). The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain S20-100T contained ll-diaminopimelic acid (ll-Dpm) as the diagnostic diamino acid and was of the type A3γ ll-Dpm - Gly. The strain contained MK-8(H4) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified lipids in lower amounts. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω9c. The genomic DNA G+C content was 66.2 mol%. Combined data of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses demonstrated that strain S20-100T represents a novel species of the genus Marmoricola, for which the name Marmoricola silvestris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S20-100T (=DSM 104694T=LMG 30008T).

Psychromicrobium silvestre gen. nov., sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from alpine forest soils.

Two Gram-stain-variable, non-motile, catalase-positive and cytochrome c oxidase-negative bacteria, designated AK20-18T and AM20-54, were isolated from forest soil samples collected in the Italian Alps. Growth occurred at a temperature range of 5-30 °C, at pH 6-9 and in the presence of 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains AK20-18T and AM20-54 was 100 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain AK20-18T had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strain of Arthrobacter psychrochitiniphilus (96.9 %). The cell-wall peptidoglycan structure of strain AK20-18T was of the type A3alpha l-Lys-l-Thr-l-Ala2 (A11.27). The whole-cell sugars were galactose, ribose and lesser amounts of mannose. The major respiratory quinone of the two strains was menaquinone 9(H2) [MK-9(H2)], whereas MK-10(H2) was a minor component. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and unknown glycolipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 59.9 mol%. Combined data of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses demonstrated that strains AK20-18T and AM20-54 represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Psychromicrobium silvestre gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Psychromicrobium silvestregen. nov., sp. nov. is AK20-18T (=DSM 102047T=LMG 29369T).

Ampullimonas aquatilis gen. nov., sp. nov. isolated from bottled mineral water.

Two isolates, designated B15.09-116T and B15.09-124, were recovered from bottled mineral water in Portugal. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, these strains were related most closely to species of the genus Derxia (belonging to the family Alcaligenaceae) with pairwise sequence similarities of 93.0-93.6 %. The isolates were not pigmented and formed Gram-stain-negative, short, motile rod-shaped cells. The organisms were strictly aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative. These organisms also fixed N2. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Ubiquinone 8 was the major respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C content of strain B15.09-116T was 49.8 mol%. Based on phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical characteristics the two strains are considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Ampullimonas aquatilis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Ampullimonas aquatilis is B15.09-116T ( = CECT 8581T = LMG 28208T).

Virgibacillus flavescens sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment.

A Gram-stain-variable, rod-shaped, motile bacterial strain, designated S1-20T, was isolated from marine sediment of the Yellow Sea in China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain S1-20T was related to the genus Virgibacillus and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the type strains of Virgibacillus necropolis (98.1 %), Virgibacillus arcticus (97.7 %) and Virgibacillus carmonensis (97.3 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain S1-20T were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The main menaquinone was MK-7. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain S1-20T was 38.3 mol%. The polar lipids profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, five unidentified phospholipids, one unknown aminophospholipid and an aminolipid. Combined data from phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA-DNA relatedness studies demonstrated that strain S1-20T is a representative of a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus flavescens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S1-20T ( = LMG 28381T = DSM 29015T).

Nakamurella silvestris sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from alpine forest soil.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, catalase-positive and cytochrome c oxidase-negative bacterium, designated strain S20-107T, was isolated from alpine forest soil. Growth occurred at 0-30 °C, at pH 6-9 and in the presence of 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain S20-107T was related to the genus Nakamurella and had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Nakamurella flavida DS-52T (96.1 %). Strain S20-107T showed <96.1% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other recognized members of the genus Nakamurella. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major whole-cell sugars were glucose, galactose, mannose, arabinose, ribose and rhamnose. The strain contained MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminophospholipid as the major polar lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.5 mol%. Combined data of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses demonstrated that strain S20-107T represents a novel species of the genus Nakamurella, for which the name Nakamurella silvestris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S20-107T (=DSM 102309T=LMG 29427T).

Seasonal and altitudinal changes of culturable bacterial and yeast diversity in Alpine forest soils.

The effect of altitude and season on abundance and diversity of the culturable heterotrophic bacterial and yeast community was examined at four forest sites in the Italian Alps along an altitude gradient (545-2000 m). Independently of altitude, bacteria isolated at 0 °C (psychrophiles) were less numerous than those recovered at 20 °C. In autumn, psychrophilic bacterial population increased with altitude. The 1194 bacterial strains were primarily affiliated with the classes Alpha-, Beta-, Gammaproteobacteria, Spingobacteriia and Flavobacteriia. Fifty-seven of 112 operational taxonomic units represented potential novel species. Strains isolated at 20 °C had a higher diversity and showed similarities in taxa composition and abundance, regardless of altitude or season, while strains isolated at 0 °C showed differences in community composition at lower and higher altitudes. In contrast to bacteria, yeast diversity was season-dependent: site- and altitude-specific effects on yeast diversity were only detected in spring. Isolation temperature affected the relative proportions of yeast genera. Isolations recovered 719 strains, belonging to the classes Dothideomycetes, Saccharomycetes, Tremellomycetes and Mycrobotryomycetes. The presence of few dominant bacterial OTUs and yeast species indicated a resilient microbial population that is not affected by season or altitude. Soil nutrient contents influenced significantly abundance and diversity of culturable bacteria, but not of culturable yeasts.

Microbial diversity and dynamics of a groundwater and a still bottled natural mineral water.

The microbial abundance and diversity at source, after bottling and through 6 months of storage of a commercial still natural mineral water were assessed by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. The results revealed clear shifts of the dominant communities present in the three different stages. The borehole waters displayed low cell densities that increased 1.5-fold upon bottling and storage, reaching a maximum (6.2 × 10(8) cells l(-1) ) within 15 days after bottling, but experienced a significant decrease in diversity. In all cases, communities were largely dominated by Bacteria. The culturable heterotrophic community was characterized by recovering 3626 isolates, which were primarily affiliated with the Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. This study indicates that bottling and storage induce quantitative and qualitative changes in the microbial assemblages that seem to be similar as revealed by the two sample batches collected on 2 consecutive years. To our knowledge, this is the first study combining culture-independent with culture-dependent methods, and repeated tests to reveal the microbial dynamics occurring from source to stored bottled water.

Cavicella subterranea gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a deep mineral-water aquifer, and emended description of the species Perlucidibaca piscinae.

One strain designated W2.09-231T was isolated from an aquifer through a 150-metre-deep borehole feeding a mineral-water bottling plant in Central Portugal. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the novel organism is most closely related to the species of the genera Perlucidibaca and Paraperlucidibaca, belonging to the family Moraxellaceae, with 16S rRNA gene pairwise sequence similarity of 94.5 and 93.1 %, respectively. The strain was not pigmented and formed Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, short rod-shaped cells. The organism was strictly aerobic, and oxidase- and catalase-positive. Strain W2.09-231T was organotrophic, but grew only on a very limited number of single carbon sources. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and one major unknown phospholipid. Ubiquinone 12 (U-12) was the major respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C content of strain W2.09-231T was 62.0 mol%. Based on phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical characteristics, we describe a novel species of a novel genus represented by strain W2.09-231T ( = CECT 8582T = LMG 28332T) for which we propose the name Cavicella subterranea gen. nov., sp. nov. We also propose to emend the description of the species Perlucidibaca piscinae to reflect new results obtained in this study.

Palleronia abyssalis sp. nov., isolated from the deep Mediterranean Sea and the emended description of the genus Palleronia and of the species Palleronia marisminoris.

Three strains designated 221-F1(T), 221-F2 and 3030-F1 were isolated from the Matapan Vavilov Deep canyon, also known as Calypso Deep in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, at a depth of 4,908 m. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis these strains were found to be most closely related to Palleronia marisminoris and Hwanghaeicola aestuarii, with 16S rRNA gene pairwise sequence similarity of 95.3 and 94.7 % respectively, belonging to the family Rhodobacteraceae. The strains were observed to be red-pigmented and to form non-motile cocci or pleomorphic cells. The cells were found to stain Gram-negative, to be strictly aerobic, oxidase and catalase positive. Strains 221-F1(T), 221-F2 and 3030-F1 were found to be mesophilic and to grow in medium containing up to 13 % NaCl. The major polar lipids of the three strains were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified aminolipid. Ubiquinone 10 (U-10) was found to be the major respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C content of strain 221-F1(T) was determined to be 64.7 mol%. Based on phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical characteristics we describe a new species represented by strain 221-F1(T) (=CECT 8504(T) = LMG 27977(T)) for which we propose the name Palleronia abyssalis sp. nov. We also propose to emend the description of the genus Palleronia and the species P. marisminoris to reflect new results obtained in this study.

Heliimonas saccharivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Chitinophagaceae isolated from a mineral water aquifer, and emended description of Filimonas lacunae.

Two isolates, with optimum growth temperature and pH of about 30 °C and 6.0-7.0, were recovered from a borehole head of a mineral water aquifer in Portugal. The closest relatives based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis were species of genera of the family Chitinophagaceae. Strains L2-4(T) and L2-109 formed translucent colonies and non-motile pleomorphic cells. Strains were strictly aerobic, and oxidase- and catalase-positive. The major fatty acids of strains L2-4(T) and L2-109 were 17 : 0 iso 3-OH, 15 : 0 iso and 15 : 1 iso G. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, four unidentified aminophospholipids, four unidentified aminolipids and three unidentified polar lipids. Menaquinone 7 was the only respiratory quinone. The G+C content of the DNA of strains L2-4(T) and L2-109 was 42.0 and 41.4 mol%, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, physiological and biochemical characteristics, strains L2-4(T) ( = CECT 8122(T) = LMG 26919(T)) and L2-109 ( = CECT 8121 = LMG 26920) are considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Heliimonas saccharivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Heliimonas saccharivorans is L2-4(T). Due to additional results obtained in this study an emended description of Filimonas lacunae is provided.

An induced annual modulation signature in COSINE-100 data by DAMA/LIBRA's analysis method.

The DAMA/LIBRA collaboration has reported the observation of an annual modulation in the event rate that has been attributed to dark matter interactions over the last two decades. However, even though tremendous efforts to detect similar dark matter interactions were pursued, no definitive evidence has been observed to corroborate the DAMA/LIBRA signal. Many studies assuming various dark matter models have attempted to reconcile DAMA/LIBRA's modulation signals and null results from other experiments, however no clear conclusion can be drawn. Apart from the dark matter hypothesis, several studies have examined the possibility that the modulation is induced by variations in detector's environment or their specific analysis methods. In particular, a recent study presents a possible cause of the annual modulation from an analysis method adopted by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment in which the observed annual modulation could be reproduced by a slowly varying time-dependent background. Here, we study the COSINE-100 data using an analysis method similar to the one adopted by the DAMA/LIBRA experiment and observe a significant annual modulation, however the modulation phase is almost opposite to that of the DAMA/LIBRA data. Assuming the same background composition for COSINE-100 and DAMA/LIBRA, simulated experiments for the DAMA/LIBRA without dark matter signals also provide significant annual modulation with an amplitude similar to DAMA/LIBRA with opposite phase. Even though this observation does not directly explain the DAMA/LIBRA results directly, this interesting phenomenon motivates more profound studies of the time-dependent DAMA/LIBRA background data.

Strong constraints from COSINE-100 on the DAMA dark matter results using the same sodium iodide target.

We present new constraints on dark matter interactions using 1.7 years of COSINE-100 data. The COSINE-100 experiment, consisting of 106 kg of tallium-doped sodium iodide [NaI(Tl)] target material, is aimed to test DAMA's claim of dark matter observation using the same NaI(Tl) detectors. Improved event selection requirements, a more precise understanding of the detector background, and the use of a larger dataset considerably enhance the COSINE-100 sensitivity for dark matter detection. No signal consistent with the dark matter interaction is identified and rules out model-dependent dark matter interpretations of the DAMA signals in the specific context of standard halo model with the same NaI(Tl) target for various interaction hypotheses.

Factors associated with prenatal care and seeking assistance in public hospitals in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Adequate prenatal care provides an opportunity for counseling and reducing the complications associated with pregnancy and delivery. Our objective was to describe the demographic, behavioral, and clinical profile of the pregnant women hospitalized at public maternity hospitals and to identify factors associated with six or more prenatal consultations in Vitória, Brazil. A cross-sectional study of 1,380 women was conducted in public maternity hospitals in Vitória, Brazil. Sixty-seven percent of participants had >or=6 prenatal consultations. Reasons for hospitalization were vaginal delivery (55.7%), cesarean section (32.9%), clinical treatment (7.7%), and abortion/miscarriage (3.7%). Having >or=9 years of schooling (odds ratio, OR = 1.8; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.1-3.1), being married (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-2.9) and delivering at term (OR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.6-8.2) were significantly independently associated with having >or=6 prenatal consultations. Although higher education, being married, and delivering at term were associated with >or=6 prenatal consultations in this population, the high rate of Cesarean sections demonstrates the need for ongoing educative strategies among health professionals.

Intra-Vesical Colistin for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Urinary Tract Infections.

The numbers of multiple drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections are rising worldwide. The threat is increased by the lack of new antibiotics, so clinicians are turning to older drugs previously abandoned due to their recognized toxicity, such as colistin. However, the need to avoid kidney toxicity from colistin has led to its topical use. We present the case of a patient with type I cardiorenal syndrome with cystitis due to multiple drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa who was successfully treated with intravesical instillation of colistin. LEARNING POINTS: The case report is one of the few in the literature on the intravesical instillation of colistin to address lower urinary tract infection.Isolated intravesical colistin instillation was effective in a patient with anuria.

Self-expandable nitinol stent placement in homocysteinemic porcine aorta.

PURPOSE: To compare aortic intimal thickening of normal and hyperhomocysteinemic pigs (induced with a methionine-rich diet) following placement of a self-expanding nitinol stent. METHODS: Eighteen Macau pigs were used. They were older than eight weeks in age and had an average weight of 30 kg. Pigs were randomly divided into two groups. The first, Group C (control), was fed a regular diet, and the second group, Group M, was fed a methionine-rich diet for 30 days to induce hyperhomocysteinemia. The self-expandable nitinol stents were 25mm in length and 8 mm in diameter after expansion. Blood samples were collected to measure total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and homocysteine concentrations. All animals were subjected to angiography. Thirty days after the procedure, the animals were sacrificed, and the abdominal aorta was removed for histological and digital morphometry analysis. RESULTS: Under microscopic evaluation, the intima was significantly thicker in Group C than in Group M. When groups were compared by digital morphometric analysis, intimal thickening of the vessel wall was higher in Group C than in Group M. There was no significant change in total cholesterol, triglycerides or HDL concentrations in either group. In group C the levels of plasma homocysteine ranged from 14,40 to 16,73 micromol/l; in Group M, plasma homocysteine levels ranged from 17.47 to 59.80 micromol/l after 30 days of a methionine-rich diet. CONCLUSION: Compared to normal pigs, less intimal hyperplasia was observed in the abdominal aortas of hyperhomocysteinemic pigs thirty days after the insertion of a self-expandable nitinol stent.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm model in swine with bovine pericardium patch / Modelo de aneurisma de aorta abdominal em suínos com saco pericárdico bovino

Abstract Background Aneurysm repair using endovascular techniques has grown in importance as materials have improved. Studies of endovascular prostheses require experimental models that reproduce anatomic and pathophysiological characteristics of human aneurysms. Objectives To describe a porcine model of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods This prospective cohort study used eleven Large White female pigs with a mean age of 12 weeks in two study phases. In phase I, the aneurysm was produced with a bovine pericardium patch by retroperitoneal surgery conducted under general anesthesia. In phase II, 15 days later, the animals underwent arteriography and were then euthanized before specimens were removed for histological analysis. Results Formation of parietal thrombus was observed in all animals. Microscopic analysis showed calcifications around thrombus in 82% of the animals. There was lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in the graft and adjacent area, with fibrosis in nine animals. Three pigs had substantial myointimal thickening, and eight had microcalcifications. Mortality was zero, and there were no ruptures, ischemia, or surgery site infections. Conclusions This is a unique model, using inexpensive, biocompatible material. Bovine pericardium is easy for the surgeon to handle and has very similar characteristics to autologous tissue in terms of integration with the cell wall.

Resumo Contexto A correção de um aneurisma por meio de técnicas endovasculares tem ganhado importância com o aprimoramento dos materiais. O estudo das próteses endovasculares requer modelos experimentais que reproduzam as características anatômicas e fisiopatológicas dos aneurismas humanos. Objetivos Descrever um modelo suíno de aneurisma de aorta abdominal. Métodos Este estudo de coorte prospectivo utilizou 11 porcas da raça Large White com idade média de 12 semanas nas duas fases do estudo. Na fase I, o aneurisma foi produzido com um saco de pericárdio bovino através de cirurgia por via retroperitoneal sob anestesia geral; na fase II, 15 dias após a fase I, os animais foram submetidos a arteriografia e, posteriormente, a eutanásia, sendo os espécimes retirados para análise histológica. Resultados A formação de trombo parietal foi observada em todos os animais. A análise microscópica mostrou calcificações ao redor do trombo em 82% dos animais. Havia infiltrado linfoplasmocitário no enxerto e na área adjacente, com fibrose em nove animais. Três porcos tinham espessamento miointimal substancial, e oito tinham microcalcificações. A mortalidade foi zero, e não houve rupturas, isquemia ou infecção no local da cirurgia. Conclusões É um modelo único, com material biocompatível e de baixo custo. O pericárdio bovino é de fácil manuseio pelo cirurgião e possui características muito semelhantes ao tecido autólogo em sua integração com a parede celular.

Microbial Contaminants of Cord Blood Units Identified by 16S rRNA Sequencing and by API Test System, and Antibiotic Sensitivity Profiling.

Over a period of ten months a total of 5618 cord blood units (CBU) were screened for microbial contamination under routine conditions. The antibiotic resistance profile for all isolates was also examined using ATB strips. The detection rate for culture positive units was 7.5%, corresponding to 422 samples.16S rRNA sequence analysis and identification with API test system were used to identify the culturable aerobic, microaerophilic and anaerobic bacteria from CBUs. From these samples we recovered 485 isolates (84 operational taxonomic units, OTUs) assigned to the classes Bacteroidia, Actinobacteria, Clostridia, Bacilli, Betaproteobacteria and primarily to the Gammaproteobacteria. Sixty-nine OTUs, corresponding to 447 isolates, showed 16S rRNA sequence similarities above 99.0% with known cultured bacteria. However, 14 OTUs had 16S rRNA sequence similarities between 95 and 99% in support of genus level identification and one OTU with 16S rRNA sequence similarity of 90.3% supporting a family level identification only. The phenotypic identification formed 29 OTUs that could be identified to the species level and 9 OTUs that could be identified to the genus level by API test system. We failed to obtain identification for 14 OTUs, while 32 OTUs comprised organisms producing mixed identifications. Forty-two OTUs covered species not included in the API system databases. The API test system Rapid ID 32 Strep and Rapid ID 32 E showed the highest proportion of identifications to the species level, the lowest ratio of unidentified results and the highest agreement to the results of 16S rRNA assignments. Isolates affiliated to the Bacilli and Bacteroidia showed the highest antibiotic multi-resistance indices and microorganisms of the Clostridia displayed the most antibiotic sensitive phenotypes.

[Prognostic value of the grade of cellular differentiation, of mucus presence and the growth pattern of the invasive margin in colorectal adenocarcinomas Dukes B]. / Valor prognóstico do grau de diferenciação celular, da presença de muco e do padrão de crescimento da margem invasiva em adenocarcinomas colorretais Dukes B.

BACKGROUND: The unfavorable evolution of approximately 1/3 of the patients with colorectal cancer, classified in the Dukes B stage, shows to be desirable the addition of another approaches morphologic prognostics. The reports of the literature about prognostic significance of cellular differentiation, mucus presence and the pattern of growth of the invasive margin in colorectal cancer were controversial. AIMS: To evaluate the prognostic significance of tumor differentiation, mucus presence and the growth pattern of the invasive margin in patients with colorectal carcinomas classified in Dukes B stage. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A retrospective study of 156 patients who had undergone curative resection for colorectal cancer was made at the Department of Gastroenterology Surgery of the "Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual", in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Their mean age was 58 (range 28-83) years and consisted of 94 (60.26%) women and 62 (39.74%) men. The cellular differentiation was classified in two degrees: low and high malignancy degree, in agreement with the area of predominant differentiation of the tumor. Tumors with at least 60% of its volume in mucus were called mucinous carcinoma. The growth of the invasive margin was classified as expanding when the tumor showed a well-delineated and circumscribed border pushing the adjacent structures and infiltrating when the tumor advances by a process of seemingly effortless dissection between the normal structures of the bowel wall. RESULTS: There were predominance of tumors of low malignancy (139 (89.10%)), non-mucinous (142 (91.03%)) and with margin of the infiltrating type (123 (78.85%)). Only the growth of the invasive margin influenced the survival of 5 years. Patients with tumor exhibiting margin of the expanding type, presented a favorable outcome than those with margin of the infiltrating type -- 81.82% x 60.98%. CONCLUSION: The type of growth of the invasive tumor margin may help to identify the prognosis of low and high-risk subgroups of patients.