Photodynamic inactivation of foodborne bacteria by eosin Y.

AIMS: The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of photodynamic inactivation mediated by eosin Y in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacteria (107 CFU per ml) were incubated with eosin Y at concentrations ranging from 0·1 to 10 µmol l-1 , irradiated by green LED (λmax 490-570 nm) for 5, 10 and 15 min and the cellular viability was determined. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was completely inactivated when treated with 10 µmol l-1 eosin Y for 10 min. Treatments reduced B. cereus and Salm. Typhimurium counts to 2·7 log CFU per ml and 1·7 log CFU per ml, respectively. Escherichia coli counts were slightly reduced. Staphylococcus aureus presented the highest sensitivity, being completely inactivated by eosin Y at 5 µmol l-1 and 5 min of illumination. The reduction of cellular viability of photoinactivated Staph. aureus was also demonstrated by flow cytometry and morphological changes were observed by scanning electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Eosin Y in combination with LED produced bacterial inactivation, being a potential candidate for photodynamic inactivation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study evidenced the efficacy of photodynamic inactivation as a novel and promising alternative to bacterial control.

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.

Effectiveness of a back school program in low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of a back school program in pain, functional status, quality of life, and in anxiety and depression in patients with non-specific low back pain. METHODS: Sixty patients with low back pain were randomized to an intervention and control group. The intervention group underwent a five-weekly back school program. The control group was seen in weekly medical visits, without educative approaches. Both groups took acetaminophen as analgesic medication. All subjects were evaluated by a blind physiotherapist after randomization, 30, 60 and 120 days. Rolland-Morris, SF-36, STAI and Beck questionnaires, pain visual analogical scale and Schober's test were applied. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) consumption was considered co-intervention. The statistical analyses were performed using Pearson's Chi-Square analysis and Student's t-test to compare the baseline characteristics of the groups and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures to assess changes inter/intra groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the two groups. Fifty-five patients completed the study. The intervention group showed a significant improvement in the general health domain, assessed by SF-36, and also in the reduction of acetaminophen and NSAID intake. There was no significant difference between the groups in pain, functional status, anxiety or depression. CONCLUSION: The back school program was more effective than any educational intervention in general health status and in decreasing acetaminophen and NSAID intake. It was ineffective in the other quality of life domains, in pain, functional status, anxiety and depression.

Vibrio cholerae resistant to 2,4-diamino-6,7-diisopropylpteridine (O/129) isolated from patients with enteritis in Ceará, Brazil.

This paper reports the characterization of clinical Vibrio cholerae resistant to vibriostatic agent O/129, using classical and plasmid analysis. In a study conducted during December 1991-September 1993, two of 7,058 V. cholerae strains, obtained from patients suspected to have cholera in the State of Ceará, northeast Brazil, were resistant to 150 micrograms of the vibriostatic agent O/129 (2,4-diamino-6,7-diisopropylpteridine). One strain was identified as V. cholerae O1 El Tor Inaba and the other one as serogroup O22. Only one O1 strain harboured a plasmid of 147 kb transferable to Escherichia coli K12, and five strains of V. cholerae O1 and non-O1 were sensitive to O/129 and plasmid-negative at a frequency between 8 x 10(-2) and 3.6 x 10(-5). Additionally, O/129-resistant strains of V. cholerae O1 and O22 were resistant to trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole.

[The emergence of multiple antimicrobial resistance in Vibrio cholerae isolated from gastroenteritis patients in Ceará, Brazil]. / Emergência da múltipla resistência a antimicrobianos em Vibrio cholerae isolados de pacientes com gastroenterite no Ceará, Brasil.

Of 7058 Vibrio cholerae strains recovered from patients suspected of cholera in the State of Ceará between December 1991 and September 1993, two were resistant to antimicrobials (Ampicillin, erythromycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline) and to vibriostatic agent O/129 (2,4-diamino-6,7-diisopropylpteridine). From the bacteriological standpoint, one strain was identified as V. cholerae serogroup O:1, biotype El Tor, serovar Inaba, and another as V. cholerae serogroup O:22, biochemically classified as Heiberg type II. It was shown that only in the serogroup O:1 strain, multiple resistance was encoded by a plasmid transferrable by conjugation to Escherichia coli K12 and a sensitive strains of V. cholerae O1 and non-O1, with at a frequency between 8 x 10(-2) and 5 x 10(-6). The plasmid, with a molecular weight of 147 Kb, encoded both multiple resistance to antimicrobials and the vibriostatic compound (O/129), compatible with descriptions reported in other parts of world.

Early postoperative pelvic-floor biofeedback improves erectile function in men undergoing radical prostatectomy: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and urinary incontinence are common complications following radical prostatectomy (RP). Although pelvic-floor biofeedback training (PFBT) may improve urinary continence following RP, its effects on the recovery of potency are unknown. Fifty-two patients selected for RP were prospectively randomized for a treatment group (n=26) receiving PFBT once a week for 3 months and home exercises or a control group (n=26), in which patients received verbal instructions to contract the pelvic floor. Erectile function (EF) was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) before surgery and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Patients were considered potent when they had a total IIEF-5 score>20. Continence status was assessed and defined as the use of no pads. Groups were comparable in terms of age, body mass index, diabetes, pathological tumor stage and neurovascular bundle preservation. A significant reduction in IIEF-5 scores was observed after surgery in both groups. In the treatment group, 8 (47.1%) patients recovered potency 12 months postoperatively, as opposed to 2 (12.5%) in the control group (P=0.032). The absolute risk reduction was 34.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8-64%) and the number needed to treat was 3 (95% CI: 1.5-17.2). A strong association between recovery of potency and urinary continence was observed, with continent patients having a 5.4 higher chance of being potent (P=0.04). Early PFBT appears to have a significant impact on the recovery of EF after RP. Urinary continence status was a good indicator of EF recovery, with continent patients having a higher chance of being potent.

Líquen plano associado à meanoníquia: peculiaridades da apresentação clínica e breve revisão da literatura

Os autores apresentam um caso do Líquen plano ungueal com comprovação histopatológica- no qual, além das alterações clínicas habituais, houve associação de hiperpigmentação da lâmina. São discutidas as diversas manifestações do acometimento ungueal, a evolução peculiar do caso com melhora das alterações pigmentares, além de se proceder a uma breve revisão literatura