Production of Different Biochemicals by Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 742 From Pretreated Brewers' Spent Grains.

Brewers' spent grains (BSG) are a by-product of the brewing industry that is mainly used as feedstock; otherwise, it has to be disposed according to regulations. Due to the high content of glucose and xylose, after pretreatment and hydrolysis, it can be used as a main carbohydrate source for cultivation of microorganisms for production of biofuels or biochemicals like 2,3-butanediol or lactate. 2,3-Butanediol has applications in the pharmaceutical or chemical industry as a precursor for varnishes and paints or in the food industry as an aroma compound. So far, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Clostridium sp., and Enterobacter aerogenes are being used and investigated in different bioprocesses aimed at the production of 2,3-butanediol. The main drawback is bacterial pathogenicity which complicates all production steps in laboratory, pilot, and industrial scales. In our study, a gram-positive GRAS bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 742 was used for the production of 2,3-butanediol. Since this strain is very poorly described in literature, bacterium cultivation was performed in media with different glucose and/or xylose concentration ranges. The highest 2,3-butanediol concentration of 18.61 g l-1 was achieved in medium with 70 g l-1 of glucose during 40 h of fermentation. In contrast, during bacterium cultivation in xylose containing medium there was no significant 2,3-butanediol production. In the next stage, BSG hydrolysates were used for bacterial cultivation. P. polymyxa DSM 742 cultivated in the liquid phase of pretreated BSG produced very low 2,3-butanediol and ethanol concentrations. Therefore, this BSG hydrolysate has to be detoxified in order to remove bacterial growth inhibitors. After detoxification, bacterium cultivation resulted in 30 g l-1 of lactate, while production of 2,3-butanediol was negligible. The solid phase of pretreated BSG was also used for bacterium cultivation after its hydrolysis by commercial enzymes. In these cultivations, P. polymyxa DSM 742 produced 9.8 g l-1 of 2,3-butanediol and 3.93 g l-1 of ethanol. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that different experimental setups give the possibility of directing the metabolism of P. polymyxa DSM 742 toward the production of either 2,3-butanediol and ethanol or lactate.

Quality management: patients reflections on health care at outpatient clinic of internal medicine department.

Middle and older age group relative share in the community permanently grows. Those are commonly burdened with several chronic health conditions or elevated incidence of acute ones and in more frequent need for consulting health services. In the era of modern technical medicine, it is important to increase quality of services particularly patients orientated. Department of Internal Medicine developed questionnaire to assess reflections on medical care from the receiver of medical services point of view. Sample was formed from individuals that visited outpatient triage Unit (OTU) and voluntary enrolled, during period April 1-August 31, 2008 for any medical reason. Study population structure had similarly equally of both genders, socio-economical background, and was in age range 18-87. Questionnaire was developed by team of experienced personnel covering satisfaction on received medical care. There were 279 returned formulary in a sample of 6700 patients (4.18%). Patients visited OTU chiefly on behalf medical condition secondary to address of residency, followed by personal choice, on advice given by general practitioner, by emergency transportation services, or just due to earlier experiences. Regarding provided medical care extent, 4/5 of patients were examined in lesser than 2 hours, while total workup lasted mostly for 2-4, followed by over four. Over half of patients were moderate toward highly satisfied with provided medical information, personnel communication style and general reflection on all services while being in the Department premises. Astonishing proportion of patients (93%) was satisfied with positive personnel communication. Integration of patients' self-perceived reports about medical services in organizing process is inevitable for augmenting content and at the same time valuable for developing overall quality of treatment. Communication excellence is of premier importance and unavoidable for giving additional positive effect to remain health status or to ease the healing process of individual and their families.