The use of physical and virtual infrastructures for the validation of algal cryopreservation methods in international culture collections.

Two cryopreservation methods, colligative cryoprotection coupled with controlled cooling and vitrification-based, encapsulation-dehydration were validated by five members of the EU research infrastructure consortium, COBRA, and two independent external validators. The test strain Chlorella vulgaris SAG 211-11b was successfully cryopreserved using two-step cooling employing passive (Mr Frosty) and Controlled Rate Freezers (CRF) attaining the desired recovery target within 15% of the median viability level (94%). Significant differences (p < 0.05) between cooling regimes were observed where Mr Frosty was more variable (Inter-Quartile Range being 21.5%, versus 13.0% for CRF samples). Viability assessment using fluorescein diacetate gave significantly (P < 0.0001) higher survival than growth in agar with median values being 96% and 89%, respectively. On employing encapsulation-dehydration, greater variability between some validators was observed, with six labs observing recovery in 100% of the beads (84-95% of cells surviving) and one lab observing survival in 80% of the treated beads. Bead disruption followed by algal growth in agar was considered the most reliable and accurate method of assessing cell survival for encapsulation-dehydration.

Myocardial perfusion and angioplasty. Comparison of myocardial contrast echocardiography and scintigraphy.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the efficacy of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) by harmonic power imaging (HPI), in evaluation of perfusion in one-vessel coronary disease treated by angioplasty, using myocardial scintigraphy as gold standard. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective comparative study. SETTING: Ambulatory. POPULATION: We included 33 patients (pts), aged 53.5 +/- 9 years, 27 male. INCLUSION CRITERIA: pts with one-vessel coronary disease (> or = 70% stenosis), with indication for angioplasty; sinus rhythm; good echocardiographic window with harmonic imaging. Exclusion criterion: previous myocardial infarction. METHODS: All patients underwent myocardial scintigraphy and HPI together with stress echocardiography, both followed by angioplasty (stenting in ten). HPI and myocardial scintigraphy were repeated, in all patients, at three months after intervention. Ten patients were re-assessed by coronary angiography for ischemia on the scintigraphic study. For the HPI exam, Levovist was selected as contrast and dipyridamole as stress agent (0.56 mg/kg). Perfusion was assessed visually and classified by HPI and scintigraphy studies as: 1 (normal), 2 (reduced), or 3 (absent). For analysis, the left ventricle was divided into 16 segments. RESULTS: Of the 43 coronary angiograms performed (ten at three months after angioplasty), 38 showed 70% stenosis, none occlusive or subocclusive. We analyzed 1056 left ventricle segments, from 66 HPI and myocardial scintigraphy studies (before and after angioplasty). Analysis was impossible or doubtful in 4.9%. Baseline and stress HPI detected 216 perfusion abnormalities. Global concordance between the segmental perfusion score obtained by HPI and scintigraphy was 66.2%, which became 76.3% when two groups were considered: a) score 1 b) score 2 and 3 together. In comparison with scintigraphy, HPI sensitivity for detection of perfusion abnormalities was 79.3% (higher for anterior septum, anterior and lateral wall) and specificity was 91.4% (higher for septum, inferior wall and apical segments). HPI correctly identified the location of coronary stenosis in 73.5% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, HPI was a feasible and promising method for assessment of perfusion in one-vessel coronary disease and chronic ischemia. In comparison with myocardial scintigraphy, a high concordance for perfusion score was found, as well as high sensitivity and specificity for detection of perfusion abnormalities.

Mulher: existe isso?

Este texto, de quatro jovens psicólogas, é o resultado de uma conversa descontraída, sobre as suas perplexidades diante da teoria psicanalítica da feminilidade. Elas acabavam de apresentar um trabalho sobre a sexualidade feminina, como ilustração de um curso no Instituto de Psiquiatria. De forma bastante espontânea, elas recolocam a questão do enigma de tal modo, que ficamos com a impressão que a mulher não é mais o 'continente negro', mas o 'buraco negro' (AU)