White Rot Fungi as Tools for the Bioremediation of Xenobiotics: A Review.

Industrial development has enhanced the release into the environment of large quantities of chemical compounds with high toxicity and limited prospects of degradation. The pollution of soil and water with xenobiotic chemicals has become a major ecological issue; therefore, innovative treatment technologies need to be explored. Fungal bioremediation is a promising technology exploiting their metabolic potential to remove or lower the concentrations of xenobiotics. In particular, white rot fungi (WRF) are unique microorganisms that show high capacities to degrade a wide range of toxic xenobiotic compounds such as synthetic dyes, chlorophenols, polychlorinated biphenyls, organophosphate pesticides, explosives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this review, we address the main classes of enzymes involved in the fungal degradation of organic pollutants, the main mechanisms used by fungi to degrade these chemicals and the suitability of fungal biomass or extracellular enzymes for bioremediation. We also exemplify the role of several fungi in degrading pollutants such as synthetic dyes, PAHs and emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and perfluoroalkyl/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Finally, we discuss the existing current limitations of using WRF for the bioremediation of polluted environments and future strategies to improve biodegradation processes.

How to do liver transplantation using liver allografts with damaged supra-hepatic inferior vena cava.

During deceased donor procurement, the heart procurement team may cut the supra-hepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) too close to the liver surface, depriving the liver allograft from having enough supra-hepatic IVC to perform the anastomosis with the recipient's IVC or hepatic veins. In such instances, liver grafts usually are deemed as non-appropriate for transplantation, being discarded. Here we report a technique for reconstruction of damaged supra-hepatic IVCs through the use of a segment of the infra-hepatic IVC of the liver graft.

Diversity of Ligninolytic Enzymes and Their Genes in Strains of the Genus Ganoderma: Applicable for Biodegradation of Xenobiotic Compounds?

White-rot fungi (WRF) and their ligninolytic enzymes (laccases and peroxidases) are considered promising biotechnological tools to remove lignin related Persistent Organic Pollutants from industrial wastewaters and contaminated ecosystems. A high diversity of the genus Ganoderma has been reported in Cuba; in spite of this, the diversity of ligninolytic enzymes and their genes remained unexplored. In this study, 13 native WRF strains were isolated from decayed wood in urban ecosystems in Havana (Cuba). All strains were identified as Ganoderma sp. using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-method based on ITS sequences. All Ganoderma sp. strains produced laccase enzymes at higher levels than non-specific peroxidases. Native-PAGE of extracellular enzymatic extracts revealed a high diversity of laccase isozymes patterns between the strains, suggesting the presence of different amino acid sequences in the laccase enzymes produced by these Ganoderma strains. We determined the diversity of genes encoding laccases and peroxidases using a PCR and cloning approach with basidiomycete-specific primers. Between two and five laccase genes were detected in each strain. In contrast, only one gene encoding manganese peroxidase or versatile peroxidase was detected in each strain. The translated laccases and peroxidases amino acid sequences have not been described before. Extracellular crude enzymatic extracts produced by the Ganoderma UH strains, were able to degrade model chromophoric compounds such as anthraquinone and azo dyes. These findings hold promises for the development of a practical application for the treatment of textile industry wastewaters and also for bioremediation of polluted ecosystems by well-adapted native WRF strains.

Prokaryote community dynamics in anaerobic co-digestion of swine manure, rice straw and industrial clay residuals.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the addition of rice straw and clay residuals on the prokaryote methane-producing community structure in a semi-continuously stirred tank reactor fed with swine manure. Molecular techniques, including terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and a comparative nucleotide sequence analyses of the prokaryotic 16S rRNA genes, were performed. The results showed a positive effect of clay addition on methane yield during the co-digestion of swine manure and rice straw. At the digestion of swine manure, the bacterial phylum Firmicutes and the archaeal family Methanosarcinaceae, particularly Methanosarcina species, were predominant. During the co-digestion of swine manure and rice straw the microbial community changed, and with the addition of clay residual, the phylum Bacteroidetes predominated. The new nutritional conditions resulted in a shift in the archaeal family Methanosarcinaceae community as acetoclastic Methanosaeta species became dominant.

Anestesia de urgência no paciente com estômago cheio / Urgency anesthesia in patient with full stomach

O objetivo deste artigo de revisão é explorar os últimos aspectos da anestesia e das técnicas de proteção de via aérea no paciente que não consegue completar o tempo de jejum pré-operatório mínimo devido a uma situação de emergência, onde o risco de aspiração de conteúdo gástrico e suas repercussões podem agravar significativamente o prognóstico e a sobrevida.

In this review article will be explored the latest aspects of anesthesia and airway protection techniques on patients who can't complete the preoperative fasting period due to an emergency situation, where the risk of aspiration of gastric content and its repercussions may significantly worsen the prognosis and survival.

Diagnóstico diferencial da icterícia obstrutiva na emergência / Differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice in the emergency room

Neste breve artigo de revisão serão expostos os principais diagnósticos diferenciais do paciente que se apresenta ictérico no primeiro atendimento na emergência, abordando a apresentação clínica e aspectos relacionados aos exames subsidiários utilizados no diagnóstico dessas patologias, com ênfase na obstrução biliar extra-hepática.

These brief review article will expose the major differential diagnosis of patients who present with jaundice in the first emergency care, approaching the clinical presentation and aspects related to subsidiary tests used in the diagnosis of these diseases, with emphasis on extrahepatic biliary obstruction.

Insuficiência cardíaca agudamente descompensada: diagnóstico e tratamento / Acute decompensated heart failure: diagnosis and treatment

Insuficiência cardíaca agudamente descompensada (ICAD) traz altos custos hospitalares e um grande número de atendimentos na emergência, além de provocar perda da qualidade de vida. A doença de base, insuficiência cardíaca crônica, tem alta prevalência e grande impacto na morbimortalidade em todo o mundo, sendo considerada um grave problema de saúde pública.

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) brings high hospital costs and a large number of attendances at the emergency room, causing loss of life quality. The underlying disease, chronic heart failure has high prevalence and significant impact on morbidity and mortality worldwide and is considered a serious public health problem.