Biofilm microbial composition changes due to different surface chemical modifications of activated carbon cloths in the biotransformation of 4-nitrophenol.

Activated carbon cloths (ACCs) were used as biofilms supports in the anaerobic biotransformation of 4-nitrophenol (4NP). As received ACC material (AW) was oxidized with HNO3 (OX) and then functionalized with anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQ). The three ACCs were packed in hybrid UASB reactors and seeded with anaerobic granular sludge for biotransformation experiments. The results indicated that ACC-packed bioreactors improved the biotransformation of 4NP by twofold as compared to the control reactor without support materials. However, the biotransformation effciency of AW, OX and AQ was very similar (59%), indicating the role of ACC as biofilm support and not as redox mediator. After 4NP biotransformation several physicochemical and biological changes were observed like (1) the point of zero charge (pHPZC) shift from acidic values (AW = 5.0, OX = 3.4, AQ = 3.1) to neutral values (pHPZC = 7.6 on average), (2) increase in the concentration of acidic and basic surface functional groups over ACC materials and the amount of supported biomass on ACCs due to biofilm formation, and (3) enrichment of exoelectrogenic microorganisms belonging to the genera Geobacter over carbonyl-rich ACC surface as revealed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Overall, the results suggest that chemical modifications of ACCs changed the microbial composition of the biofilm, but the higher concentration of carbonyl groups on ACC did not affect the biotransformation of 4NP.

[Prevalence and associated factors of hospital malnutrition in a general hospital; Perú, 2012]. / Prevalencia y factores asociados a desnutrición hospitalaria en un hospital general; Perú, 2012.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital malnutrition is a prevalent problem that cause higher morbidity and mortality, poorer response to treatment and higher hospital stay and cost. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with hospital malnutrition in a peruvian General Hospital. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including 211 hospitalized patients in Medicine and Surgery wards. Demographic, clinical and anthropometrical indicators' data was collected. Multivariate analysis was binary logistic regression. All tests had a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Prevalence of hospital malnutrition was 46.9%. Prevalences of caloric and protein malnutrition were 21.3% and 37.5%, respectively. Bivariate analysis found that hospitalization in Surgery wards was associated with a major risk of caloric (OR = 4.41, IC 95% [1.65-11.78]) and protein malnutrition (OR = 2.52, IC 95% [1.297-4.89]). During the analysis of quantitative variables, significant associations between number of comorbidities and caloric malnutrition (p = 0.031) was found, and also between the beginning of food intake changes and the presence of protein malnutrition (p = 0.031). Multivariate analysis showed significant association between diagnosis of neoplasm and presence of caloric malnutrition (OR = 5.22, IC [1.43-19.13]). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of hospital malnutrition was near 50%, as in similar studies. Protein-caloric malnutrition prevalences obtained, differ from the ones in a previous study in this hospital, which is explained by the different diagnostic criteria and particular characteristics of groups of patients, such as procedence ward and comorbidities. An association between protein-caloric and hospitalization in a Surgery ward was found; the reasons should be investigated in further studies.

Introducción: La desnutrición hospitalaria es un problema prevalente que genera mayor morbi-mortalidad, peor respuesta al tratamiento, mayor estancia y costo hospitalario. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia y factores asociados a desnutrición hospitalaria en un hospital general peruano. Métodos: Estudio analítico transversal de 211 pacientes en servicios de Medicina y Cirugía. Se analizó variables demográficas, clínicas e indicadores antropométricos. El análisis multivariado fue de regresión logística binaria. El nivel de significancia fue 5% (p < 0,05). Resultados: La prevalencia de desnutrición hospitalaria fue 46.9% y las de desnutrición calórica y proteica fueron 21,3% y 37,5% respectivamente. En el análisis bivariado, estar hospitalizado en el servicio de Cirugía se asoció a un mayor riesgo de desnutrición calórica (OR = 4,41, IC 95% [1,65-11,78]) y proteica (OR = 2,52, IC 95% [1,30-4,90]). Hubo asociación significativa entre el número de comorbilidades del paciente y desnutrición calórica (p = 0,031), y el tiempo de cambio de ingesta alimentaria y presencia de desnutrición proteica (p = 0,031). El análisis multivariado mostró asociación significativa entre el diagnóstico de neoplasia y la presencia de desnutrición calórica (OR = 5,22, IC 95% [1,43-19,13]). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de desnutrición hospitalaria fue cerca del 50%, coincidiendo con estudios similares. Las prevalencias de desnutrición calórica/proteica halladas difieren de las de un estudio anterior en este hospital, explicándose por parámetros de diagnóstico diferentes y características particulares de las poblaciones, como el servicio de procedencia y comorbilidades. Se encontró asociación entre desnutrición proteica/calórica y estar hospitalizado en el servicio de Cirugía; las razones deben investigarse en estudios posteriores.

[Thyroid dysfunction in children with chronic renal failure]. / Alteraciones de la función tiroidea en niños con insuficiencia renal crónica.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency and type of thyroid dysfunction in children with chronic renal failure (CRF) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD); and to establish the accuracy of the presence of goiter to identify patients with CRF and thyroid dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study performed in a tertiary pediatric medical care center. CRF patients younger than 17 years old, with more than three months in PD or HD were included. All patients were assessed regarding their growth and sexual development; thyroid dysfunction was evaluated by serum concentration of thyrotropin (TSH), thyroxine (T4L) and triiodothyronine (T3T). RESULTS: 50 patients were included, 25 were male, and mean age was 12 years old. There were 14 (28%) patients with thyroid dysfunction; nine had subclinical hypothyroidism, three patients had euthyroid sick syndrome and two primary hypothyroidism. Thirteen patients had goiter: seven had thyroid dysfunction and in six patients the thyroid function was normal. The sensitivity of goiter to detect thyroid dysfunction was 50% and the specificity was 83.3%. The two patients with the greatest delay in their growth were hypothyroid. CONCLUSIONS: Given that the high frequency of thyroid dysfunction in children with CRF, these patients need a systematic screening, in order to improve their quality of care.