Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a probiotic agent and a possible aflatoxin B1 adsorbent in simulated fish intestinal tract conditions / Saccharomyces cerevisiae como agente probiótico e possível adsorvente de aflatoxina B1 em condições simuladas do trato intestinal de peixes

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the probiotic potential and absorption of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the aflatoxin B1 in simulated fish intestinal tract conditions. Three yeast strains were used, two from brewery: S. cerevisiae RC1 and S. cerevisiae RC3 and one from a fish farming environment: S. cerevisiae A8L2. The selected yeasts were subjected to the following in vitro tests: homologous inhibition, self-aggregation, co-aggregation, antibacterial activity, gastrointestinal conditions tolerance and adsorption of AFB1. All S. cerevisiae strains showed good capability of self-aggregation and co-aggregation with pathogenic bacteria. All yeast strains were able to survive the gastrointestinal conditions. In acidic conditions, the factors (strain vs. time) had interaction (P=0.0317), resulting in significant variation among the strains tested in the time periods analyzed. It was observed that there was also interaction (P=0.0062) in intestinal conditions, with an increased number of cells in the 12-hour period for all strains tested. In the adsorption test, the A8L2 strain was statistically more effective (P<0.005) for both AFB1 concentrations evaluated in this study (10 and 25ng/mL). Thus, it was observed that the strains of S. cerevisiae have potential probiotic and adsorbent of AFB1.(AU)

Objetivou-se, com esta pesquisa, avaliar in vitro o potencial probiótico e adsorvente de Saccharomyces cerevisiae para aflatoxina B1 em condições simuladas do trato intestinal de peixes. Foram utilizadas três cepas de leveduras, sendo duas provenientes de cervejaria: S. cerevisiae RC1 e S. cerevisiae RC3, e uma de ambiente de piscicultura: S. cerevisiae A8L2. As leveduras selecionadas foram submetidas aos seguintes testes in vitro: inibição homóloga, autoagregação, coagregação, atividade antibacteriana, viabilidade às condições gastrointestinais e adsorção de AFB1. Todas as estirpes de S. cerevisiae mostraram boa capacidade de autoagregação e coagregação com bactérias patogênicas. Todas as estirpes de levedura foram capazes de sobreviver às condições gastrointestinais. Em condições ácidas, os fatores (cepa x tempo) tiveram interação (P=0,0317), resultando em variações significativas entre as cepas testadas nos períodos de tempo analisados. Observou-se que também houve interação (P=0,0062) em condições intestinais, havendo um aumento do número de células no período de 12h para todas as cepas avaliadas. No ensaio de adsorção, a estirpe A8L2 foi a mais eficaz estatisticamente (P<0,005), para as duas concentrações de AFB1 avaliadas neste estudo (10 e 25ng. mL-1). Dessa forma, conclui-se que as cepas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae possuem potencial probiótico e adsorvente de AFB1.(AU)

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B. L. Burtt & R. M. Sm. (Zingiberaceae): levantamento de publicações nas áreas farmacológica e química para o período de 1987 a 2008 / Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B. L. Burtt & R. M. Sm. (Zingiberaceae): survey of publications in pharmacological and chemical areas from 1987 to 2008

Espécie muito encontrada no nordeste do Brasil, Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B. L. Burtt & R. M. Sm. é conhecida popularmente como colônia. Na medicina popular é utilizada como antihipertensiva, diurética e febrífuga. Alguns estudos com óleos essenciais mostram sua atividade antimicrobiana, hipotensiva e um leve efeito diurético. Visando contribuir para o maior conhecimento da espécie realizou-se uma revisão de publicações envolvendo estudos nas áreas farmacológica e química para o período de 1987 a 2008.

Normally found in the northeast of Brazil, Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B. L. Burtt. & R. M. Sm. is commonly known as "colônia". In folk medicine, it has been used as antihypertensive, diuretic and febrifuge. Some studies with essential oils have shown its antimicrobial and hypotensive activities, besides a slight diuretic effect. Aimed at improving the knowledge of such species, a survey of publications involving studies in pharmacological and chemical areas was conducted from 1987 to 2008.

Evaluation of DNA damage by the alkaline comet assay of the olfactory and respiratory epithelia of dogs from the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Animals kept as pets may be considered sentinels for environmental factors to which humans could be exposed. Olfactory and respiratory epithelia are directly subjected to airborne factors, which could cause DNA lesions, and the alkaline comet assay is considered a reliable tool for the assessment of DNA damage. The objective of this work is to evaluate the extent of DNA damage by the comet assay of the olfactory and respiratory epithelia of dogs from different regions of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Thirty-three clinically healthy dogs, aged 5 years or more, were used in the study, with 7 from the North region of São Paulo, 7 from the South region, 3 dogs from the East region, and 16 dogs from the West city region. Three dogs younger than 6 months were used as controls. DNA damage was analyzed by the alkaline comet assay. We observed no difference in histopathological analysis of olfactory and respiratory epithelia between dogs from different regions of São Paulo. Dogs older than 5 years presented significantly higher comet length in both olfactory and respiratory epithelia, when compared with controls, indicating DNA damage. When separated by regions, olfactory and respiratory epithelia presented similar DNA damage in dogs from different regions of São Paulo, corroborating with similar levels of particulate matter index (PM10) in all regions of the city. In this study, we report for the first time that the comet assay can be used to quantify the extent of DNA damage in dog olfactory and respiratory epithelia, and that comet length (DNA damage) increases with age, probably due to environmental factors. Air pollution, as measured by PM10, can be responsible for this DNA damage.

PtSRR1, a putative Pisolithus tinctorius symbiosis related receptor gene is expressed during the first hours of mycorrhizal interaction with Castanea sativa roots / PtSRR1, um possível receptor simbiose-regulado de Pisolithus tinctorius é expresso nas primeiras horas de interação ectomicorrízica com raízes de Castanea sativa

PtSRR1 EST was previously identified in the first hours of Pisolithus tinctorius and Castanea sativa interaction. QRT-PCR confirmed PtSRR1 early expression and in silico preliminary translated peptide analysis indicated a strong probability that PtSRR1 be a transmembrane protein. These data stimulate the PtSRR1 gene research during ectomycorrhiza formation.

PtSRR1 foi isolado preliminarmente de P. tinctorius nas primeiras horas da interação com raízes de C. sativa. Análises de QRT-PCR confirmaram sua expressão positiva (12 h) e seu peptídeo putativo indicou forte possibilidade para proteína transmembranar. Estes dados estimulam o estudo do PtSRR1 durante a formação de ectomicorrizas.

PtSRR1, a putative Pisolithus tinctorius symbiosis related receptor gene is expressed during the first hours of mycorrhizal interaction with Castanea sativa roots.

PtSRR1 EST was previously identified in the first hours of Pisolithus tinctorius and Castanea sativa interaction. QRT-PCR confirmed PtSRR1 early expression and in silico preliminary translated peptide analysis indicated a strong probability that PtSRR1 be a transmembrane protein. These data stimulate the PtSRR1 gene research during ectomycorrhiza formation.

Studies on clinicopathological features of lung cancer patients with K-ras/p53 gene alterations: comparison between younger and older groups.

In order to define the roles of the K-ras and p53 genes in the development of lung cancer, especially in young adults, we compared the clinicopathological features of the patients between younger (< or = 45 years, n = 47) and older (< 55 years, n = 50) groups. The gene alterations were examined by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method. The K-ras gene alterations were detected only in adenocarcinomas, and the p53 gene alterations in all histologic types of lung cancer. There were no significant differences in the frequency of both K-ras and p53 gene alterations between the younger and older groups (9 vs. 11%, 36 vs. 32%). In the younger group, but not in the older one, the percentage for smokers was significantly higher in the p53 gene alteration-positive group than for the negative group (65 vs. 30%). As to the prognosis, there were no significant differences between the p53 gene alteration-positive and -negative cases in both the younger and older groups as well as in all subjects, while a tendency of poorer prognosis was observed in K-ras gene alteration-positive cases than for the -negative ones with adenocarcinomas. These results suggest that (1) the K-ras and p53 gene alterations would have no special roles in terms of the lung carcinogenesis in young adults; (2) a positive relationship between smoking and p53 gene alteration would exist in young adults with lung cancer, and (3) K-ras gene alteration would become a prognostic factor in lung cancer.

Comparison of DNA flow cytometric analysis of body cavity fluids with conventional cytology.

The potential utility of flow cytometric (FCM) analysis in routine diagnostic cytology for effusions was assessed with 104 samples from body cavity fluids. Conventional cytology showed no positivity (0/33) for effusions from patients with non-malignant diseases, and 45% positivity (38/71) for effusions from patients with malignant diseases. Conversely, FCM showed no positivity (aneuploid) (0/33) for effusions from patients with non-malignant diseases, and 18% positivity (13/71) with malignant diseases. In 13 cases examined, 8 cases (62%) showed an identical DNA ploidy pattern between effusion site and primary site. FCM showed positivity in four cytologically negative samples (3 malignant lymphomas and 1 clear cell carcinoma). In cases with malignant lymphoma, conventional cytology showed 40% positivity (4/10) and FCM 60% (6/10) positivity. These results indicate that DNA analysis of cells in malignant effusions does not have a diagnostic value as a routine test, but it may have in cases of malignant lymphoma.

Sex differences in clinicopathological features of peripheral T1 adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Clinicopathological features of surgically-treated peripheral T1 adenocarcinoma of the lung were compared between 30 females and 26 males, and the following sex differences were observed; 1) Females were younger than males, 2) There was a higher percentage of smokers among males, 3) The acinar histologic subtype was less frequently found in females, 4) Well differentiated tumors were more frequently found in females, 5) K-ras gene mutations were observed only in males, 6) Prognosis was slightly better in females. As to other factors such as N-factor, tumor ploidy or central fibrosis, there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Although we were not able to explain the causes for the above sex differences, it was speculated that smoking was mainly responsible for them.

Hexadecylpalmitoylglycerol or ceramide is linked to similar glycophosphoinositol anchor-like structures in Trypanosoma cruzi.

The lipopeptidophosphoglycan from Trypanosoma cruzi is a glycosylated inositol-phosphoceramide isolated from epimastigotes at the stationary phase of growth (4-5 days). We have now purified two similar glycoinositolphospholipids (glycoinositolphospholipid A and glycoinositolphospholipid B) from epimastigotes after the second day of culture growth. [3H]Palmitic acid was incorporated into 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-palmitoylglycerol in glycoinositolphospholipid A and into ceramide in glycoinositolphospholipid B. The lipids were released by incubation with glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus thuringiensis or by chemical methods. After alkaline hydrolysis, the lipids were analysed by GLC/MS. In glycoinositolphospholipid A the resulting lipids corresponded to 1-O-hexadecylglycerol and palmitic acid. The ceramide components in glycoinositolphospholipid B are sphinganine, palmitic acid and lignoceric acid. The oligosaccharides could be degraded by nitrous acid and further enzymic treatment showed that the two glycoinositolphospholipids isolated from T. cruzi share the common core structure of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol membrane anchors. The microheterogeneity was determined, as well as the substitution by galactose, and was mainly in the furanose configuration as was previously described for lipopeptidophosphoglycan. However, methylation analysis indicated that 20% of the galactose is in the pyranose form. Both glycoinositolphospholipids mainly differ in the lipid moiety.

Algorítmo para detecçäo e delimitaçäo de complexos QRS em tempo-real, utilizando duas derivaçöes de ECG / A real time algorithm for detection-delineation of QRS complexes using two simultaneous ECG leads

Foi implementado num microcomputador desenvolvido pelo Programa de Engenharia Biomédica da COPPE/UFRJ, um detector/delimitador de Complexos QRS em tempo-real que utiliza duas derivaçöes do eletrocardiograma (ECG). Ambas as derivaçöes säo comparadas entre si pelo algorítmo e é gerada uma "detecçäo resultante". A técnica de detecçäo para cada canal de ECG é baseada em compressäo de dados, identificaçäo de morfologias triangulares com cálculo de um "fator de qualidade" para as mesmas e sua conseqüente concatenaçäo para a formaçäo do QRS. A avaliaçäo do algorítmo é feita automaticamente pelo próprio microcomputador, utilizando-se um banco de dados de ECG do MIT-BIH ARRHYTHMIA DATABASE (1980), e permite que se observe tanto o desempenho do "detector resultante" como o de cada um dos outros dois canais. Numa primeira avaliaçäo, o desempenho do algorítmo para a derivaçäo de melhor relaçäo sinal/ruido no DATABASE, foi o seguinte: 0,63% de falsos negativos (FN) e 0,52% de falsos positivos (FP). Esse resultado é comparável ao obtido por outros grupos de pesquisadores para detectores de canal único. Para o "detector resultante" os resultados obtidos säo de 0,27% de falsos negativos e 5,44% de falsos positivos. A percentagem de FN é plenamente satisfatória. A de FP no entanto, ainda é elevada. Säo discutidas as vantagens potenciais de um detector/delimitador baseado em duas derivaçöes, bem como as melhorias que estäo em fase de implementaçäo no algorítmo

[Morphology of the mycelium of Ascobolus furfuraceus using different sources of nitrogen]. / Morfología del micelio de Ascobolus furfuraceus con distintas fuentes de nitrógeno.

Ascobolus furfuraceus mycelium showed morphological variations when grown with different nitrogen sources. The hyphae were compared using as parameters cell diameter and length, branching and vacuolization. The variations in cell size, vacuolar area and branching, in response to the nitrogen source, suggest that the nitrogen régime plays a controlling role in the growth of the mycelium as well as in the morphogenesis of the cells. The results are discussed in relation to previous data on the metabolic efficiency of the fungus.

Morfología del micelio de Ascobolus furfuraceus con distintas fuentes de nitrógeno. / [Morphology of the mycelium of Ascobolus furfuraceus using different sources of nitrogen]

Ascobolus furfuraceus mycelium showed morphological variations when grown with different nitrogen sources. The hyphae were compared using as parameters cell diameter and length, branching and vacuolization. The variations in cell size, vacuolar area and branching, in response to the nitrogen source, suggest that the nitrogen régime plays a controlling role in the growth of the mycelium as well as in the morphogenesis of the cells. The results are discussed in relation to previous data on the metabolic efficiency of the fungus.

[Assays of nutrition in Ascobolus furfuraceus. Sources of nitrogen]. / Ensayos de nutrición en Ascobolus furfuraceus. Fuentes de nitrógeno.

The effect of various nitrogen sources on growth and efficiency parameters of Ascobolus furfuraceus was investigated. As nitrogen sources, sodium nitrate and nitrite, inorganic ammonium salts and nitrated organic compounds have been used. The results showed that all of them could be used by the fungus, with the exceptions of sodium nitrite and ammonium oxalate. Good correlation was observed among the growth parameters, the 'economic coefficients' of uptake and internal conversion of sources, and the specific respiration rates. The best nitrogen source - estimated as growth and efficiency parameters - was ammonium carbonate in the culture conditions used. The possibility of heterotrophic carbon fixation is discussed.

Ensayos de nutrición en Ascobolus furfuraceus. Fuentes de nitrógeno / [Assays of nutrition in Ascobolus furfuraceus. Sources of nitrogen]

The effect of various nitrogen sources on growth and efficiency parameters of Ascobolus furfuraceus was investigated. As nitrogen sources, sodium nitrate and nitrite, inorganic ammonium salts and nitrated organic compounds have been used. The results showed that all of them could be used by the fungus, with the exceptions of sodium nitrite and ammonium oxalate. Good correlation was observed among the growth parameters, the ’economic coefficients’ of uptake and internal conversion of sources, and the specific respiration rates. The best nitrogen source - estimated as growth and efficiency parameters - was ammonium carbonate in the culture conditions used. The possibility of heterotrophic carbon fixation is discussed.

Ensayos de nutrición en Ascobolus furfuraceus. Fuentes de nitrógeno. / [Assays of nutrition in Ascobolus furfuraceus. Sources of nitrogen]

The effect of various nitrogen sources on growth and efficiency parameters of Ascobolus furfuraceus was investigated. As nitrogen sources, sodium nitrate and nitrite, inorganic ammonium salts and nitrated organic compounds have been used. The results showed that all of them could be used by the fungus, with the exceptions of sodium nitrite and ammonium oxalate. Good correlation was observed among the growth parameters, the economic coefficients of uptake and internal conversion of sources, and the specific respiration rates. The best nitrogen source - estimated as growth and efficiency parameters - was ammonium carbonate in the culture conditions used. The possibility of heterotrophic carbon fixation is discussed.