Amino acids L-phenylalanine and L-lysine involvement in trans and cis piperamides biosynthesis in two Piper species.

Several Piper species accumulate piperamides as secondary metabolites, and although they have relevant biological importance, many details of their biosynthetic pathways have not yet been described experimentally. Experiments involving enzymatic reactions and labeled precursor feeding were performed using the species Piper tuberculatum and Piper arboreum. The activities of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzymes, which are involved in the general phenylpropanoid pathway, were monitored by the conversion of the amino acid L-phenylalanine to cinnamic acid. The activity of the 4-hydroxylase (C4H) enzyme was also observed in P. tuberculatum by converting cinnamic acid to p-coumaric acid. L-[UL-14C]-phenylalanine was fed into the leaves of P. tuberculatum and incorporated into piperine (1), 4,5-dihydropiperine (2), fagaramide (4), trans-piplartine (7), and dihydropiplartine (9). In P. arboreum, it was only incorporated into the piperamide 4,5-dihydropiperiline (3). L-[UL-14C]-lysine was successfully incorporated into the 4,5-dihydropiperine piperidine group (2), dihydropyridinone, and trans- (7) and cis-piplartine (8). These data corroborate the proposal of mixed biosynthetic origin of piperamides with the aromatic moiety originating from cinnamic acid (shikimic acid pathway) and key amide construction with amino acids as precursors.

Elevada frequência de Aeromonas spp. e genes de virulência em cultivos de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) em tanques-rede, na região semiárida de Pernambuco, Brasil / High frequency of Aeromonas spp. and virulence genes in Nile Tilapia farms (Oreochromis niloticus) in semi-arid regions of Pernambuco, Brazil

Objetivou-se avaliar a ocorrência de Aeromonas spp. em peixes e amostras de água na região semiárida de Pernambuco e avaliar a frequência de aerolissina (aerA), enterotoxina citotóxica (act), enterotoxina citotônica (alt) e serina protease (ahp) nesses isolados. Foram analisados 70 peixes vivos e oito mortos com sinais clínicos de aeromoniose e 16 amostras de água. Aeromonas spp. foram identificadas por análises microbiológicas (provas bioquímicas) e molecular, usando-se primers específicos para a região 16S rRNA, e a distribuição dos quatro fatores de virulência (aerA, alt, act e ahp) foi investigada por ensaio de PCR. Cento e cinquenta e cinco (84,7%) isolados foram confirmados como Aeromonas spp. na análise molecular. Os genes de virulência mais frequentes foram act (53,55%) e aerA (51,61%). De acordo com o tipo de amostra, observou-se maior frequência do gene aerA (87,5% P=0,0474) em isolados de peixes mortos e a menor frequência do gene act (47,73% P=0,0002) em peixes vivos. Este estudo demonstrou a presença de aeromoniose no cultivo de tilápias em tanques-rede, nos municípios de Jatobá e Petrolândia, na região semiárida de Pernambuco. A detecção de aerA, act e alt pode ser utilizada na tipagem de virulência de Aeromonas spp.(AU)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Aeromonas spp. from fishes and tilapia net-cage farm water in semi-arid regions of Pernambuco and to evaluate the frequency of the aerolysin (aerA), cytotoxic enterotoxin (act), cytotonic enterotoxin (alt) and serine protease (ahp) genes in Aeromonas isolates. 70 live and eight dead fish with aeromoniosis clinical signs and 16 water samples were analyzed. Aeromonas spp. isolated were identified by microbiological (biochemical evidence) and molecular analysis using specific primers for 16SrRNA region, while the distribution of four virulence factors, including aerA, alt, act and ahp, was investigated by PCR assay. One hundred fifty-five (84.7%) isolates were confirmed as Aeromonas spp. by molecular analysis. The most frequent virulence genes in isolates were act (53.55%) and aerA (51,61%). According to the kind of sample, the higher frequency of aerA gene (87.5% P= 0.0474) was observed in isolates from dead fish and the lowest frequency of act gene (47.73% P= 0.0002) from live fish. This study found the presence of aeromoniosis on tilapia farming in net-cages on Jatobá and Petrolândia counties in the semiarid Pernambuco region. The detection of aerA, act and alt can be used for virulence typing of Aeromonas spp. isolates.(AU)

Fauna parasitária e relação parasito-hospedeiro de tambaquis criados na região do Baixo São Francisco, nordeste do Brasil / Parasitic fauna and parasite-host relationship of tambaqui reared in São Francisco river basin, Brazilian northeast

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a fauna parasitária de tambaquis na região do Baixo São Francisco-AL/SE-Brasil e correlacionar os índices de prevalência e intensidade média com fatores bióticos e abióticos. Foram coletados 252 espécimes para análise parasitológica de 10 pisciculturas. Os parasitos foram contabilizados, identificados, e determinaram-se os índices de prevalência e intensidade média, que foram correlacionados com fatores bióticos e abióticos. Dos peixes coletados, 65,5% estavam parasitados por pelo menos um táxon. Foram encontrados 10 táxons: Monogeneas, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, tricodinídeos, Piscinoodinium pillulare, Ichthyobodo sp., Dolops carvalhoi, Lernaea cyprinacea, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Henneguya sp. e Myxobolus sp. As maiores prevalências foram encontradas para Monogeneas (49,2%) e Myxobolus sp. (31,5%). Correlações negativas entre prevalência e fatores bióticos (peso e comprimento) foram observadas para Monogeneas (r2= -0,49; r2= -0,43), Myxobolus sp. (r²= -0,46; r²= -0,39) e Henneguya sp. (r²= -0,41; r²= -0,39). O fator abiótico temperatura apresentou correlação negativa com as prevalências de Lernaea cyprinacea (r= -0,39) e tricodinídeos (r= -0,33), enquanto a condutividade elétrica apresentou correlação positiva (r= 0,40) com a prevalência de tricodinídeos. Conclui-se que a fauna parasitária dos tambaquis cultivados na região do Baixo São Francisco é diversificada e com a carga parasitária dependente da qualidade de água e do estágio de desenvolvimento dos peixes.(AU)

This study investigated the parasitic fauna of tambaquis reared in lower Sao Francisco region-Al/SE-Brazil correlating parasitic indices to abiotic and biotic factors. A total of 252 specimens of tambaqui were collected in ten fish farms for parasitological analysis. The parasites were counted, identified and the parasitological indices were determined and correlated to biotic and abiotic factors. Of all collected fish, 65,5 % were parasitized by at least one taxon. Ten taxa were found: Monogeneans, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, trichodinids Piscinoodinium pillulare, Ichthyobodo sp, Dolops carvalhoi, Lernaea cyprinacea, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Henneguya sp. and Myxobolus sp. The higher prevalences were found to monogeneans (49.2%) and Myxobolus sp. (31.5%). Negative correlation of prevalence and biotic factor (weight and length) were observed to monogeneans (r 2 = -0.49, r 2 = -0.43), Myxobolus sp (r²= -0.46; r²= -0.39) and Henneguya sp (r²= -0.41; r²= -0.39). Abiotic factor of temperature presented a negative correlation to prevalence of Lernaea cyprinacea and trichodinids (r= -0.39 e r= -0.33, respectively) and the electric conductivity presented positive correlation to trichodinids (r= 0.40). It was concluded that parasitic fauna of tambaquis cultured in Lower São Francisco region is diversified and the parasitic load dependent on water parameters and fish growth.(AU)

Intra-alveolar epsilon-aminocaproic acid for the control of post-extraction bleeding in anticoagulated patients: randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the intra-alveolar administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) and daily gentle rinsing with EACA mouthwash with that of routine postoperative procedures for the control of bleeding after tooth extraction in anticoagulated patients. A randomized clinical trial was conducted involving 52 patients submitted to 140 tooth extractions, assigned randomly to two groups. The intervention group was treated with intra-alveolar administration of EACA immediately after surgery and gentle rinsing with EACA mouthwash during the postoperative period. The control group received routine postoperative recommendations. A single episode of immediate bleeding occurred in the intervention group. Late bleeding episodes occurred in 23 procedures (16.4%): 11 (15.7%) in the intervention group and 12 (17.1%) in the control group. Among the patients with late bleeding, 18 (78.3%) events were classified as moderate and were controlled by the patient applying pressure to a gauze pack placed over the extraction socket. The remaining five cases (21.7%) required re-intervention. No statistically significant difference in the frequency of postoperative bleeding was observed between the groups. Thus, routine measures were as effective for the control of bleeding after simple tooth extractions in anticoagulated patients as the topical administration of EACA.

Use of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ashes in alkali-activated materials, ceramics and granular applications: A review.

This paper presents a literature review on the incorporation of municipal solid waste incinerated bottom ash as raw material in several markets, other than those where it is conventionally used, such as geotechnical applications and road pavement construction. The main findings of an ample selection of experimental investigations on the use of the bottom ash as precursor of alkali-activated materials, as an adsorbent material for the removal of hazardous elements from wastewater and landfill gases, as soil replacement in agricultural activities, as partial or complete substitute of raw materials for the manufacture of ceramic-based products, as landfill cover and as biogas production enhancer, were gathered, collated and analysed.

Fractions composition study of the pyrolysis oil obtained from sewage sludge treatment plant.

In this work the parameters of Low Temperature Conversion--LTC were applied in a centrifuged sludge from a sewage treatment plant located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Before the conversion, the sludge was dried and analyzed by TGA to observe its behavior with increasing temperature. The chemical composition of the crude pyrolysis oil was analyzed by FTIR, 1H NMR and GC-MS. The results showed that the oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons, oxygenated and nitrogenated compounds. Using a catalytic treatment it was possible to fractionate the oil where the predominant constituents were hydrocarbons showing that the cracking was effective. An important result was the difference between the calorific value of dry sludge (10 MJ kg(-1)), the pyrolysis oil (36 MJ kg(-1)) and one of the fractions separated by catalytic cracking (40 MJ kg(-1)) when compared with commercial diesel (45 MJ kg(-1)).

KPC-2 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli co-infection in a catheter-related infection.

We describe the first report of simultaneous blood infection with KPC-2 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in a Brazilian patient. We highlight the importance of implementing efficient infection control measures to limit the spread of these phenotypes in a hospital setting.

The use of hydroxyapatite and autogenous cancellous bone grafts to repair bone defects in rats.

Bone grafts are frequently used in the treatment of bone defects. Bone harvesting can cause postoperative complications and sometimes does not provide a sufficient quantity of bone. Therefore, synthetic biomaterials have been investigated as an alternative to autogenous bone grafts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the repair of bone defects by autogenous cancellous bone grafts or porous bioceramic discs of hydroxyapatite/phosphate cement mixture. Two 5-mm diameter defects were made in the skulls of rats and filled with the bioceramic material or cancellous bone. The rats were sacrificed 2, 4, 8 and 24 weeks after surgery and tissue samples were analyzed by radiography and histology. By the 24th week, the defects filled with autogenous cancellous bone grafts or bioceramic material showed similar volumes of bone tissue within the defect. However, defects treated with bioceramic material were almost completely closed as a result of the joining of ceramic fragments and the neoformed bone tissue, while those filled with autogenous grafts showed several areas filled with connective tissue. These results indicated that the osteointegration of bioceramic fragments allowed the reconstruction of parietal bone defects without the need for a bone graft.

Variability of Meloidogyne exigua on Coffee in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Minas Gerais is the major coffee-producing state of Brazil, with 28% of its production coming from the region of Zona da Mata. Four major species of root-knot nematode attacking coffee (Meloidogyne incognita, M. paranaensis, M. coffeicola, and M. exigua) have been reported from Brazil. To determine the variability in Meloidogyne spp. occurring in that region, 57 populations from 20 localities were evaluated for morphological, enzymatic, and physiological characteristics. According to the perineal pattern, all the populations were identified as M. exigua; however populations from the municipality of São João do Manhuaçu exhibited patterns very similar to M. arenaria. The identity of all the populations was confirmed by the phenotypes of esterase, malate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase. Thirteen populations (22.8%) showed the typical one-band (E1) esterase phenotype, whereas the others (77.2%) had a novel two-band phenotype (E2). No intraspecies variability was found in any population. All populations were able to reproduce on tomato, pepper, beans, cacao, and soybean. Reproduction was greater on tomato and pepper than on coffee seedlings, the susceptible standard.

Light microscopical and ultrastructural characterization of goat preantral follicles.

Goat ovarian preantral follicles were morphologically and ultrastructurally described in this work. Primordial follicles are oocytes surrounded by one layer of squamous or squamous-cuboidal granulosa cells; primary follicles have a single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells, and secondary follicles are oocytes surrounded by two or more layers of cuboidal granulosa cells. At all developmental stages a thick layer of glycoproteins, the basement membrane, surrounded the preantral follicles. The quiescent oocyte is spherical or oval and it has a large eccentrically located nucleus with a conspicuous nucleolus. The organelles were uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm. A large number of vesicles were spread throughout the cytoplasm in all the oocytes. The cytoplasm of oocytes also contains numerous rounded mitochondria besides the usual organelles. As the follicle develops, the mitochondria become elongated. The communication between the oocyte and the granulosa cells is apparently mediated through endocytosis as indicated by the abundant coated pits and vesicles noted in the cortical cytoplasm of the oocyte. The oocyte plasma membrane presented projections that penetrated between adjacent granulosa cells and a few short microvilli lying parallel to the oocyte surface. In secondary follicles, patches of zona pellucida material were observed. Overall, the results indicate that the morphological and ultrastructural organization of caprine preantral follicles resembles that of other mammals. However, some particularities were observed, and that may indicate species specific differences.

[Periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage in the premature infants]. / Hemorragia periventricular e intraventricular de recién nacidos prematuros.

OBJECTIVE: To review intracranial hemorrhage originated in the subependymal germinal matrix region. DEVELOPMENT: Incidence rates of germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH) range from 20 to 40% of infants born before 32 weeks gestational age or with birth weight less than 1,500 g. Because the GMH is usually diagnosed during the first 72 postnatal hours, that is the optimal time to perform ultrasound scans. The pathogenesis of GMH is multifactorial and related to vascular, intravascular and extravascular factors. The grading system relies on the detection of blood in the germinal matrix region and into the ventricular system. Ultrasound scans are the diagnostic method of choice, once it is easy to perform and has low costs. In a prospective study of 146 preterm infants (< 2,200 g), the incidence of GMH in those weighing less than 1,501 g, was 36%. GMH occurred mainly in the first week of life (65%) and in 70% of cases was classified as grade I. Risk factors found to be related to the GMH were: general anesthesia for cesarean section, Apgar score below 4 in the first minute or below 8 in the fifth minute, low birth weight, the presence of respiratory distress, patent ductus arteriosus, anemia, repeated arterial functions and umbilical arterial catheterization. Mean gestational age, systolic and diastolic pressure in the first 24 hours of life and hematocrit were lower in patients with GMH. CONCLUSIONS: GMH is frequent in the preterm infant, and occurs mainly in the first week of life. Ultrasound scans are the method of choice for the diagnosis and follow-up. Risk factors associated were hypoxia and excessive handling.

[Nursing care for women during climacteric]. / Assistência de enfermagem à mulher no climatério.

Climateric is a transitory stage in women's life, which causes remarkable alterations. This article brings into focus how important the nurse performance is, giving protection, promotion and recuperation for women's health. The authors suggest some recommendations during nursing care.