Control of the growth of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in industrialized orange juice using rosemary essential oil and nisin.

The use of rosemary essential oil (RO) and its combination with nisin (RO+N) in preventing the multiplication of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in orange juice was evaluated. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) for RO were both 125 µg ml-1 while RO+N displayed a synergistic effect. The use of RO and RO+N at concentrations of 1, 4 and 8× MIC in orange juice for 96 h was evaluated in terms of their sporicidal effectiveness. With regard to the action against A. acidoterrestris spores, RO at 8× MIC was sporostatic, whereas RO+N at 1× MIC was sporicidal. Morphological changes in the structure of the micro-organism after treatment were also observed by microscopy. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis showed that most cells were damaged or killed after treatment. In general, the antioxidant activity after addition of RO+N decreased with time. The results demonstrate that using the combination of RO and nisin can prevent the A. acidoterrestris growth in orange juice.

Molecular detection of Leishmania spp in Lutzomyia longipalpis in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects a large part of the world population. Knowing the sand fly fauna of a region is of fundamental importance for guiding health surveillance actions related to the prevention and control of leishmaniasis. A total of 86 specimens of sand flies (60 females and 26 males) were collected. Using the classification proposed by Galati (2003), the following species were identified: Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912), Migonemyia migonei (França, 1920), Evandromyia cortelezzi (Brethes, 1923), Ev. sallesi (Galvão & Coutinho, 1939), Nyssomyia whitmani (Atunes & Coutinho, 1939), Psathyromyia lutziana (Costa Lima, 1932), Ev. lenti (Mangabeira, 1938), Brumptomyia sp. (França and Parrot, 1921), and Pressatia sp. (Mangabeira, 1942). Using PCR with internal transcribed spacer target to identify infected sand flies, five Lu. longipalpis females were infected with Leishmania spp. Despite the small number of specimens collected, considerable species diversity was found in the study area.

Molecular detection of Leishmania spp in Lutzomyia longipalpis in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects a large part of the world population. Knowing the sand fly fauna of a region is of fundamental importance for guiding health surveillance actions related to the prevention and control of leishmaniasis. A total of 86 specimens of sand flies (60 females and 26 males) were collected. Using the classification proposed by Galati (2003), the following species were identified: Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912), Migonemyia migonei (França, 1920), Evandromyia cortelezzi (Brethes, 1923), Ev. sallesi (Galvão & Coutinho, 1939), Nyssomyia whitmani (Atunes & Coutinho, 1939), Psathyromyia lutziana (Costa Lima, 1932), Ev. lenti (Mangabeira, 1938), Brumptomyia sp. (França and Parrot, 1921), and Pressatia sp. (Mangabeira, 1942). Using PCR with internal transcribed spacer target to identify infected sand flies, five Lu. longipalpis females were infected with Leishmania spp. Despite the small number of specimens collected, considerable species diversity was found in the study area.

A Novel Disease of Big-Leaf Mahogany Caused by Two Fusarium Species in Mexico.

Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is valued for its high-quality wood and use in urban landscapes in Mexico. During surveys of mango-producing areas in the central western region of Mexico, symptoms of malformation, the most important disease of mango in the area, were observed on big-leaf mahogany trees. The objectives of this research were to describe this new disease and determine its cause. Symptoms on big-leaf mahogany at four sites in Michoacán, Mexico resembled those of the vegetative phase of mango malformation, including compact, bunched growth of apical and lateral buds, with greatly shortened internodes and small leaves that curved back toward the supporting stem. Of 163 isolates that were recovered from symptomatic tissues, most were identified as Fusarium pseudocircinatum (n = 121) and F. mexicanum (n = 39) using molecular systematic data; two isolates represented unnamed phylospecies within the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC 20-d and FIESC 37-a) and another was in the F. solani species complex (FSSC 25-m). However, only F. mexicanum and F. pseudocircinatum induced malformation symptoms on 14-day-old seedlings of big-leaf mahogany. The results indicate that F. mexicanum and F. pseudocircinatum, previously reported in Mexico as causal agents of mango malformation disease, also affect big-leaf mahogany. This is the first report of this new disease and the first time that F. mexicanum was shown to affect a host other than mango.

Portable device for magnetic stimulation: assessment survival and proliferation in human lymphocytes.

A device's instrumentation for magnetic stimulation on human lymphocytes is presented. This is a new procedure to stimulate growing cells with ferrofluid in vortices of magnetic field. The stimulation of magnetic vortices was provided at five different frequencies, from 100 to 2500 Hz and intensities from 1.13 to 4.13 mT. To improve the stimulation effects, a paramagnetic ferrofluid was added on the cell culture medium. The results suggest that the frequency changes and the magnetic field variation produce an important increase in the number of proliferating cells as well as in the cellular viability. This new magnetic stimulation modality could trigger an intracellular mechanism to induce cell proliferation and cellular survival only on mitogen stimulated cells.

Effects of raloxifene on the urethra of adult castrated female rats.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of raloxifene on the weight and epithelial thickness of the urethra of castrated female rats. METHODS: Forty castrated female rats were randomly separated into two groups: group I (control, n = 20) received only the vehicle, and group II (raloxifene, n = 20) received 750 microg/day of raloxifene for 30 days. On the 31st day, the animals were sacrificed and the urethras were removed for the study. A model for categorical data using the weighted minimum mean square error method and Student's t test were used for the data analysis (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The mean weights of the urethras in groups I and II were 22 +/- 1.6 mg and 24 +/- 1.7 mg, respectively (p = 0.371). There was an increase in the mean epithelial thickness of the distal segments in group II compared to group I (50.7 +/- 1.9 microm vs. 45.3 +/- 1.6 microm, respectively) (p < 0.04). No statistically significant difference was found in the mean epithelial thickness of the proximal urethra between the two groups (p = 0.187). CONCLUSION: Raloxifene administered to castrated female rats for 30 days increased the distal urethral epithelial thickness and did not alter the weight of the urethra.

Iris pigmentation and susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss.

The purpose of this retrospective study is to examine the possible association between iris pigmentation and susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss in 2407 noise-exposed workers. The workers were between 16 to 65 years of age and were exposed to 2 to 42 years of work-related noise. Results demonstrated that dark-eyed workers presented a greater percentage of normal pure-tone thresholds than fair-eyed workers. Fair-eyed workers had threshold averages of 25.1 dB (right ear) and 26.0 dB (left ear) at 3, 4, and 6 kHz, which were significantly worse than workers with dark irises, with threshold averages of 15.8 dB and 17.2 dB in the right and left ear, respectively (p<0.01). Fair-eyed workers with less than 10 years of noise exposure had the same audiometric pattern as the dark-eyed workers exposed for more than 10 years. Workers not exposed to noise did not present significant differences in their audiometric pattern as a function of eye colour. These results suggest that iris pigmentation may be an additional indication of susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss.

Association between SLC11A1 polymorphisms and susceptibility to different clinical forms of tuberculosis in the Peruvian population.

Polymorphism in SLC11A1 has been implicated in host susceptibility to tuberculosis. We have studied associations between INT4, D543N, and 3'UTR polymorphisms of SLC11A1 and different clinical forms of TB. Analysis used 507 patients with pulmonary TB, 123 with extra pulmonary TB and 513 controls. INT4 and D543N showed allelic association with pulmonary TB (P=0.02 and 0.03 respectively). INT4-D543N-3'UTR haplotypes showed an association with pulmonary TB (P=0.03). No association of SLC11A1 with miliary TB was observed, and a possible association of D543N to the pleural form (P=0.08) was suggested. These results support association between SLC11A1 and TB, particularly to the common pulmonary form.

Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness profile in normal eyes using third-generation optical coherence tomography.

AIMS: To establish four normal retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness radial profiles based on third-generation optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to compare them with previously reported histologic measurements. METHODS: A total of 20 normal eyes were studied. A circular scan was adjusted to the size of the optic disc and three scans were performed with this radius and every 200 microm thereafter, up to a distance of 1400 microm. Four different radial sections (superotemporal, superonasal, inferonasal, and inferotemporal) were studied to establish RNFL thickness OCT profiles. Additionally, two radial scans orientated at 45 and 135 degrees crossing the optic disc centre were performed in six of 20 eyes, and RNFL thickness was measured at disc margin. RESULTS: Quadrant location and distance from disc margin interaction in RNFL thickness was statistically significant (P<0.001). The RNFL thickness decreased (P<0.001) as the distance from the disc margin increased for all sections. The measurements automatically generated by the OCT built-in software were thinner (P<0.001) than histologic ones close to the disc margin. CONCLUSIONS: Four normal OCT RNFL profiles were established and compared with histological data obtained from the same area. RNFL measurements assessed by OCT 3 were significantly thinner close to the optic disc margin.

Measuring higher order optical aberrations of the human eye: techniques and applications.

In the present paper we discuss the development of "wave-front", an instrument for determining the lower and higher optical aberrations of the human eye. We also discuss the advantages that such instrumentation and techniques might bring to the ophthalmology professional of the 21st century. By shining a small light spot on the retina of subjects and observing the light that is reflected back from within the eye, we are able to quantitatively determine the amount of lower order aberrations (astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) and higher order aberrations (coma, spherical aberration, etc.). We have measured artificial eyes with calibrated ametropia ranging from +5 to -5 D, with and without 2 D astigmatism with axis at 45 degrees and 90 degrees. We used a device known as the Hartmann-Shack (HS) sensor, originally developed for measuring the optical aberrations of optical instruments and general refracting surfaces in astronomical telescopes. The HS sensor sends information to a computer software for decomposition of wave-front aberrations into a set of Zernike polynomials. These polynomials have special mathematical properties and are more suitable in this case than the traditional Seidel polynomials. We have demonstrated that this technique is more precise than conventional autorefraction, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 0.1 micro m for a 4-mm diameter pupil. In terms of dioptric power this represents an RMSE error of less than 0.04 D and 5 degrees for the axis. This precision is sufficient for customized corneal ablations, among other applications.

Measuring higher order optical aberrations of the human eye: techniques and applications

In the present paper we discuss the development of "wave-front", an instrument for determining the lower and higher optical aberrations of the human eye. We also discuss the advantages that such instrumentation and techniques might bring to the ophthalmology professional of the 21st century. By shining a small light spot on the retina of subjects and observing the light that is reflected back from within the eye, we are able to quantitatively determine the amount of lower order aberrations (astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) and higher order aberrations (coma, spherical aberration, etc.). We have measured artificial eyes with calibrated ametropia ranging from +5 to -5 D, with and without 2 D astigmatism with axis at 45º and 90º. We used a device known as the Hartmann-Shack (HS) sensor, originally developed for measuring the optical aberrations of optical instruments and general refracting surfaces in astronomical telescopes. The HS sensor sends information to a computer software for decomposition of wave-front aberrations into a set of Zernike polynomials. These polynomials have special mathematical properties and are more suitable in this case than the traditional Seidel polynomials. We have demonstrated that this technique is more precise than conventional autorefraction, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 0.1 æm for a 4-mm diameter pupil. In terms of dioptric power this represents an RMSE error of less than 0.04 D and 5º for the axis. This precision is sufficient for customized corneal ablations, among other applications

Krametosan, a new trinorlignan from the roots of Krameria tomentosa.

A new phenylcoumarone type trinorlignan, krametosan (1), along with the known norlignans, ratanhiaphenol I (2) and 2-(2'-hydroxy-4',6'-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-(E)-propenylbenzofuran (3), the lignan conocarpan (4) and dinorlignan decurrenal (5), were isolated from the CHCl3 extract of the roots of Krameria tomentosa. The structure of these compounds were elucidated by the spectroscopic methods.

Efeito do exercício físico na hipertensäo renovascular crônica em ratos / Effect of physical exercises in chronic renovascular hypertension in rats

Este experimento foi realizado tendo por objetivo verificar a influência do exercício físico na pressäo arterial e no controle de peso corporal em ratos normais e ratos com hipertensäo renovascular crônica, pelo método de Godblatt um rim, um clipe (HG1). Foram utilizados 40 ratos Wistar com peso entre 150 e 200 g, divididos em 4 grupos: I e II - Normotensos com e sem exercício físico; IIIe IV - Hipertensos (HG1)com e sem exercício. O exercício físico constou de nataçäo durante 15 minutos, 2 vezes ao dia por 5 semanasconsecutivas. A pressäo arterial dos animais foi verificada aos 7, 14, 21, 28 e 35 dias por meio de um eletrosfigmógrafo (NARCOBIOSYSTEMS, Houston, USA), com cabos acoplados do microfone KOROTKOF e bomba de compressäo de cauda (cuff pump) e o peso corporal foi verificado diariamente antes do treinamento. Os resultados foram analisados, através do teste T de "Student" para dados pareados e näo-pareados. Pelo resultados obtidos observou-se, decorrente do exercício, que os animais normotensos apresentaram reduçäo significativa do ganho de peso corporal. Por outro lado, os animais hipertensos submetidos ao exercício físico, apresentaram uma reduçäo significativa de PA, sugerindo que nos animais hipertensos (HG1), submetidos ao exercício físico de nataçäo, por um período de 5 semanas, a pressäo arterial é mais sensível a alteraçöes do que o peso corporal. E que a nataçäo reduz o ganho de peso corporal em animais normotensos sem alterar de forma significativa a PA.

Preliminary tests and construction of a computerized quantitative surgical keratometer.

PURPOSE: To construct a simple, computer-based, quantitative surgical keratometer to measure a 3.0 to 4.0 mm central region of the corneal surface. SETTING: Laboratorio de Optica Oftalmica, Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC-USP), São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A high-intensity fiber-optic-illuminated ring pattern (Placido disk) is projected on the cornea. Reflected images are captured by a charge-coupled device camera mounted on a Zeiss microscope beam splitter and then digitized by a frame grabber installed on an IBM-compatible personal computer. Simple algorithms based on image-processing techniques were implemented for border detection. A calibrating curve based on 4 spherical surfaces was used to calculate diopter values at 360 points at each examination. Results were plotted on the computer monitor using diopter value versus angle (1 through 360 degrees) graphs. Preliminary measurements of 14 healthy corneas were compared with the equivalent radial distance points measured on an EyeSys corneal topographer. RESULTS: Mean deviation was 0.05 mm for radius of curvature, 0.24 diopter for power, and 5 degrees for cylinder. CONCLUSION: The keratometer provided precise measurements for corneal shape control during surgery.

Desenvolvimento de um instrumento computadorizado para medida do poder refrativo da córnea (videoceratógrafo) / Development of a computerized instrument (videokeratograph)for the measurement of the corneal refractive power

Objetivo: Resumir o desenvolvimento de um Videoceratógrafo (ou menos precisamente, Topógrafo de Córnea) projetado e fabricado no Brasil. Métodos: Discos de Plácido pintados num anteparo em forma de cone säo refletidos pela córnea. As imagens passam por um sistema óptico de aumento e säo focalizadas num CCD ('' Charge Coupled Device ''; nada mais do que uma abreviaçäo para câmeras fabricadas com a tecnologia de semicondutores) atrás do cone. O sinal do CCD é enviado para uma placa de captura de imagens ('' frame grabber '')intalada em um PC-IBM compatível. Por meio de algoritmos de processamento de imagens, extraem-se das imagens digitalizadas distâncias de borda dos Discos de Plácido. Estes valores säo inseridos em algoritmos com modelos matemáticos de curvatura da córnea, resultando no cálculo da dioptria de aproximadamente 5.760 pontos. Resultados: Assim como em outros aparelhos importados, imprime-se na tela do computador um mapa colorido plano com código de cores relativo aos valores de dioptria. Para um conjunto de 9 esferas de raios: 5.50; 5.75; 6.00; 6.25; 6.75; 7.00; 7.25; 7.50; 7.75 mm obteve-se um desvio médio de 0.1 para dioptria e 0.02 mm para o raio. Foram analizados computacionalmente 5.760 pontos para cada esfera. Em uma amostra de 20 córneas obteve-se desvio médio de 0.2 dioptrias com relaçäo ao topógrafo EyeSys. Conclusöes: Podemos afirmar que o instrumento contruído obtém resultados equivalentes àqueles do intrumento importado.

Detection system for ocular refractive error measurement.

An automatic and objective system for measuring ocular refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism) was developed. The system consists of projecting a light target (a ring), using a diode laser (lambda = 850 nm), at the fundus of the patient's eye. The light beams scattered from the retina are submitted to an optical system and are analysed with regard to their vergence by a CCD detector (matrix). This system uses the same basic principle for the projection of beams into the tested eye as some commercial refractors, but it is innovative regarding the ring-shaped measuring target for the projection system and the detection system where a matrix detector provides a wider range of measurement and a less complex system for the optical alignment. Also a dedicated electronic circuit was not necessary for treating the electronic signals from the detector (as the usual refractors do); instead a commercial frame grabber was used and software based on the heuristic search technique was developed. All the guiding equations that describe the system as well as the image processing procedure are presented in detail. Measurements in model eyes and in human eyes are in good agreement with retinoscopic measurements and they are also as precise as these kinds of measurements require (0.125D and 5 degrees).

Successful control of onchocerciasis vectors in San Vicente Pacaya, Guatemala, 1984-1989.

Between 1984 and 1989, the onchocerciasis-vector control zone on the pilot area of San Vicente Pacaya, Guatemala, which had been subject to experimental control since 1979, was extended from 91.3 to 148.6 km2. Temephos was used as a larvicide against Simulium ochraceum s.l. the target species. As a new strategy, only breeding sites with water discharges of 0.1-10 litres/s were treated, every 2 weeks. This approach provided a substantial reduction in effort, number of treated sites, time and cost. To assess the effect of the temephos, nine sites were selected in which standardized collections of adult Simulium were made twice a month, by human bait. There was an obvious difference between the pre- and post-control mean densities of flies at each site. In the northern area, which includes the Lavaderos, Barretal, Colina and Rodeo sites, the biting density in 1979, before treatment, varied between 10 and 64 flies/man-hour (FMH). Four years later, this had been reduced to 0.1-3.2 FMH, and by the end of the present study, in 1989, the mean density was zero FMH. In the southern area, which lies south-east of Lavaderos (and includes Guachipilin, Ingerto, Pena Blanca and Sierra Morena), the density during the pre-control phase was 24 FMH at one of the two sites investigated at the time and 39.3 FMH at the other. It fell to 0.1-0.5 FMH after 5 years of control and to zero (three sites) or close to zero (< or = 0.5 FMH; one site) for the last 4 years of the present study. To assess the effect of vector control on onchocerciasis prevalence and incidence, 1280 residents from six endemic communities, out of 12,000 permanent inhabitants, were examined. In Santa Cruz, Patrocinio and Los Rios, the prevalence of skin microfilariae in the subjects from each community fell from 8.1%-37.8% during the pretreatment, base-line period to 0.0%-31.5% when the study foci were totally integrated into the vector-control operation following treatment. Incidence among children (aged < or = 9 years) varied from 0%-25% for the period 1982-1984 but, thereafter, not a single case appeared in four of the six study communities (Santa Cruz, Patrocinio, Los Rios and Berlin). Incidence in Guachipilin did not decline appreciably, probably because of human migration into the area from other onchocerciasis foci. The prevalence of nodules followed a similar trend to those of the prevalence and incidence of skin microfilariae, falling from 9.1%-45.0% pre-control to 1.8%-14.3% 10 years later.

PIP: In the onchocerciasis vector control zone in San Vicente Pacaya, Guatemala, temephos was the only insecticide used against Simulium ochraceum during 1979-89. A shift to a strategy of treating only breeding sites with water discharges of 0.1-10 liters/s every 2 weeks resulted in considerable reductions in program effort, number of treated sites, time, and costs. To evaluate the effect of the temephos, 9 sites in which standardized collections of adult Simulium were made twice a month were selected. In the northern sites (Lavaderos, Barretal, Colina, and Rodeo), the biting density before the temephos treatment program was initiated in 1979 was 10-64 flies per man-hour. This density had been reduced to 0.1-3.2 by 1983 and to zero by 1989. In the southern area (Guachipilin, Ingerto, Pena Blanca, and Sierra Morena), pre-intervention biting densities were 24.0-39.3 flies per man-hour, but dropped to 0.1-0.5 by 1993 and to 0-0.5 by 1989. Moreover, examination of 1280 residents from 6 endemic communities revealed a decline in the prevalence of skin microfilariae from 8.1-37.8% in the baseline period to 0-31.5% when the study foci were integrated into the vector control operation after treatment. After 1984, 4 of these communities had no cases of onchocerciasis among children 9 years of age and younger. The prevalence of nodules fell from 9.1-45.0% in the pretreatment period to 1.8-14.3% in 1989. These findings confirm that larviciding with temephos has produced excellent control of onchocerciasis in San Vicente Pacaya.