Short-read whole genome sequencing identifies causative variants in most individuals with previously unexplained aniridia.

BACKGROUND: Classic aniridia is a highly penetrant autosomal dominant disorder characterised by congenital absence of the iris, foveal hypoplasia, optic disc anomalies and progressive opacification of the cornea. >90% of cases of classic aniridia are caused by heterozygous, loss-of-function variants affecting the PAX6 locus. METHODS: Short-read whole genome sequencing was performed on 51 (39 affected) individuals from 37 different families who had screened negative for mutations in the PAX6 coding region. RESULTS: Likely causative mutations were identified in 22 out of 37 (59%) families. In 19 out of 22 families, the causative genomic changes have an interpretable deleterious impact on the PAX6 locus. Of these 19 families, 1 has a novel heterozygous PAX6 frameshift variant missed on previous screens, 4 have single nucleotide variants (SNVs) (one novel) affecting essential splice sites of PAX6 5' non-coding exons and 2 have deep intronic SNV (one novel) resulting in gain of a donor splice site. In 12 out of 19, the causative variants are large-scale structural variants; 5 have partial or whole gene deletions of PAX6, 3 have deletions encompassing critical PAX6 cis-regulatory elements, 2 have balanced inversions with disruptive breakpoints within the PAX6 locus and 2 have complex rearrangements disrupting PAX6. The remaining 3 of 22 families have deletions encompassing FOXC1 (a known cause of atypical aniridia). Seven of the causative variants occurred de novo and one cosegregated with familial aniridia. We were unable to establish inheritance status in the remaining probands. No plausibly causative SNVs were identified in PAX6 cis-regulatory elements. CONCLUSION: Whole genome sequencing proves to be an effective diagnostic test in most individuals with previously unexplained aniridia.

Noticeable Quantities of Functional Compounds and Antioxidant Activities Remain after Cooking of Colored Fleshed Potatoes Native from Southern Chile.

The effect of cooking on the concentrations of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in 33 colored-fleshed potatoes genotypes was evaluated. The phenolic profiles, concentrations, and antioxidant activity were evaluated with a liquid chromatography diode array detector coupled to a mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization interface (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS). Eleven anthocyanins were detected; in the case of red-fleshed genotypes, these were mainly acyl-glycosides derivatives of pelargonidin, whereas, in purple-fleshed genotypes, acyl-glycosides derivatives of petunidin were the most important. In the case of the purple-fleshed genotypes, the most important compound was petunidin-3-coumaroylrutinoside-5-glucoside. Concentrations of total anthocyanins varied between 1.21 g kg-1 in fresh and 1.05 g kg-1 in cooked potato and the decreases due to cooking ranged between 3% and 59%. The genotypes that showed the highest levels of total phenols also presented the highest levels of antioxidant activity. These results are of relevance because they suggest anthocyanins are important contributors to the antioxidant activity of these potato genotypes, which is significant even after the drastic process of cooking.

Effect of fertilization and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation on antioxidant profiles and activities in Fragaria ananassa fruit.

BACKGROUND: The main methods used to increase the yield and quality of strawberry fruit produced in acidic soils with low P availability include root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and adjusting the type of P supplementation by means of traditional (TF) or organic (OF) fertilization, and adjusting nutrient doses. In this study, the antioxidant properties of strawberry fruit were evaluated under different treatments of fertilization (TF or OF) and different doses of P supplied at planting (0, 50 or 100% of the agronomic recommendation) and in the presence or absence of AM fungus as a bioinoculant. RESULTS: Fruits without fertilization treatments and with TF presented with higher anthocyanin concentrations. In general, higher values were obtained without AM colonization. However, spectrophotometric tests showed the highest activity and concentration in the AM-inoculated treatments. It is likely that phenolic compounds other than anthocyanins are present in the extracts. These other compounds could not be identified by the method used but could be detected by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. CONCLUSION: This study provides information that allows for improvements in strawberry fruit quality by agronomic management, with a potential beneficial effect on the health of consumers. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cockle Cerastoderma edule fishery collapse in the Ría de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain) associated with the protistan parasite Marteilia cochillia.

The highest shellfishery catch in Galicia (NW Spain) has traditionally been cockle Cerastoderma edule. The shellfish bed located in Lombos do Ulla (Ría de Arousa) used to be among those with the highest cockle production; however, cockle mortality rate increased sharply in this bed in April 2012, reaching 100% in May 2012. Salinity and temperature were discounted as potential causes of the mortality. Marteiliosis, which was first detected in February 2012 and reached 100% prevalence in April 2012, was identified as the most probable cause. Marteiliosis had never been detected in Galician cockles, but extensive surveillance of the Galician coast in May to July 2012 detected marteiliosis in most cockle beds of the Ría de Arousa, whereas it was not found in other rías; 2 mo later, the cockle catch in the Ría de Arousa became negligible. Examination of the aetiological agent of marteiliosis with light and transmission electron microscopy supported its assignation to the genus Marteilia; morphological features showed similarity, but not complete identity, with the recently described species M. cochillia Carrasco et al., 2013. Regarding its molecular characterisation, a consensus sequence of 4433 bp containing a partial sequence of the intergenic spacer region, the complete 18S rRNA gene and a partial sequence of the first internal transcribed spacer region was obtained. The obtained sequences were compared with those available for Marteilia spp. and other Paramyxida. Molecular data support that this parasite corresponds to the species M. cochillia, and a PCR assay was designed for its specific diagnosis. The association of huge cockle mortality with M. cochillia infection urges extreme caution to avoid spreading this disease.

A polymeric cobalt(II) complex derived from citric acid (H4cit) and 2,6-diaminopurine (dap): {[Co4(cit)2(dap)4(H2O)4]·6.35H2O}n.

Poly[[tetraaquadi-µ4-citrato-tetrakis(2,6-diaminopurine)tetracobalt(II)] 6.35-hydrate], {[Co4(C6H4O7)2(C5H6N6)4(H2O)4]·6.35H2O}n, presents three different types of Co(II) cations in the asymmetric unit, two of them lying on symmetry elements (one on an inversion centre and the other on a twofold axis). The main fragment is further composed of one fully deprotonated citrate (cit) tetraanion, two 2,6-diaminopurine (dap) molecules and two aqua ligands. The structure is completed by a mixture of fully occupied and disordered solvent water molecules. The two independent dap ligands are neutral and the cit tetraanion provides for charge balance, compensating the 4+ cationic charge. There are two well defined coordination geometries in the structure. The simplest is mononuclear, with the Co(II) cation arranged in a regular centrosymmetric octahedral array, coordinated by two aqua ligands, two dap ligands and two O atoms from the ß-carboxylate groups of the bridging cit tetraanions. The second, more complex, group is trinuclear, bisected by a twofold axis, with the metal centres coordinated by two cit tetraanions through their α- and ß-carboxylate and α-hydroxy groups, and by two dap ligands bridging through one of their pyridine and one of their imidazole N atoms. The resulting coordination geometry around each metal centre is distorted octahedral. Both groups are linked alternately to each other, defining parallel chains along [201], laterally interleaved and well connected via hydrogen bonding to form a strongly coupled three-dimensional network. The compound presents a novel µ4-κ(5)O:O,O':O',O'',O''':O'''' mode of coordination of the cit tetraanion.

Development of an innovative nutraceutical fermented beverage from herbal mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.) extract.

Herbal mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.) leaves are traditionally used for their stimulant, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and diuretic activity, presenting as principal components polyphenolic compounds. The aim of this work was to develop an innovative, non-dairy, functional, probiotic, fermented beverage using herbal mate extract as a natural ingredient which would also be hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective. Among different strains used, Lactobacillus acidophilus was selected as the best for fermentation. The addition of honey positively affected the development of L. acidophilus and the formulated beverage maintained microbial stability during shelf life. Key ingredients in the extract included xanthines, polyphenols and other antioxidants with potential health benefits for the consumer. Caffeine levels and antioxidant activity were also studied. Acceptable levels of caffeine and large antioxidant capacity were observed for the formulation when compared to other antioxidant beverages. An advantage of this product is the compliance to organic claims, while providing caffeine, other phyto-stimulants and antioxidant compounds without the addition of synthetic components or preservatives in the formulation. Sensorial analysis demonstrated that the beverage had good consumer acceptance in comparison to two other similar commercial beverages. Therefore, this beverage could be used as a new, non-dairy vehicle for probiotic consumption, especially by vegetarians and lactose intolerant consumers. It is expected that such a product will have good market potential in an era of functional foods.

Molecular characterisation and biomass and metabolite production of Lactobacillus reuteri LPB P01-001: A potential probiotic.

Lactobacillus reuteri LPB P01-001 was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of wild swine and was characterised by biochemical testing and sequencing of gene 16S rRNA. A simple and low-cost culture medium based on cane sugar (2.5% p/v) and yeast extract (1% p/v) was used in the production of this probiotic. The fermentative conditions were a) pH control at 6.5 and b) no pH control; both were set at 37°C in a 12 L slightly stirred tank bioreactor. Fermentation parameters such as the specific growth rate, productivity and yield of biomass, lactic and acetic acid levels were determined. L. reuteri LPB P01-001 behaves as an aciduric bacteria because it grows better in a low pH medium without pH control. However, the lactic acid production yield was practically half (9.22 g.L(-1)) of that obtained under a constant pH of 6.5, which reached 30.5 g.L(-1) after 28 hours of fermentation. The acetic acid production was also higher under pH-controlled fermentation, reaching 10.09 g.L(-1)after 28 hours of fermentation. These parameters may raise the interest of those committed to the efficient production of a probiotic agent for swine.

Imaging in Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: State-of-Art Review.

Mitral regurgitation is the second-most frequent valvular heart disease in Europe and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Recognition of MR should encourage the assessment of its etiology, severity, and mechanism in order to determine the best therapeutic approach. Mitral valve surgery constitutes the first-line therapy; however, transcatheter procedures have emerged as an alternative option to treat inoperable and high-risk surgical patients. In patients with suitable anatomy, the transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral leaflet repair is the most frequently applied procedure. In non-reparable patients, transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has appeared as a promising intervention. Thus, currently TMVR represents a new treatment option for inoperable or high-risk patients with degenerated or failed bioprosthetic valves (valve-in-valve); failed repairs, (valve-in-ring); inoperable or high-risk patients with native mitral valve anatomy, or those with severe annular calcifications, or valve-in-mitral annular calcification. The patient selection requires multimodality imaging pre-procedural planning to select the best approach and device, study the anatomical landing zone and assess the risk of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. In the present review, we aimed to highlight the main considerations for TMVR planning from an imaging perspective; before, during, and after TMVR.

Prevalence and Prognostic Significance of Malnutrition in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with poor prognosis in a wide range of illnesses. However, its prognostic impact in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is not well known. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to report the prevalence, clinical associations, and prognostic consequences of malnutrition in patients with ACS. METHODS: In this study, the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) was applied to 5,062 consecutive patients with ACS. The relationships between malnutrition risk and all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events (MACEs) (cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction, or ischemic stroke) were examined. RESULTS: According to the CONUT score, NRI, and PNI, 11.2%, 39.5%, and 8.9% patients were moderately or severely malnourished, respectively; 71.8% were at least mildly malnourished by at least 1 score. Although worse scores were most strongly related to lower body mass index, between 8.4% and 36.7% of patients with a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2 were moderately or severely malnourished, depending on the nutritional index used. During a median follow-up of 3.6 years (interquartile range: 1.3 to 5.3 years), 830 (16.4%) patients died, and 1,048 (20.7%) had MACEs. Compared with good nutritional status, malnutrition was associated with significantly increased risk for all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio for moderate and severe degrees of malnutrition, respectively: 2.02 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65 to 2.49] and 3.65 [95% CI: 2.41 to 5.51] for the CONUT score, 1.40 [95% CI: 1.17 to 1.68] and 2.87 [95% CI: 2.17 to 3.79] for the NRI, and 1.71 [95% CI: 1.37 to 2.15] and 1.95 [95% CI: 1.55 to 2.45] for the PNI score; p values <0.001 for all nutritional indexes). Similar results were found for the CONUT score and PNI regarding MACEs. All risk scores improve the predictive ability of the GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) risk score for both all-cause mortality and MACEs. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition is common among patients with ACS and is strongly associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular events. Clinical trials are needed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of nutritional interventions on outcomes in patients with ACS.

New Cancer Diagnosis After Bleeding in Anticoagulated Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Bleeding is frequent in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with oral anticoagulant therapy, and may be the first manifestation of underlying cancer. We sought to investigate to what extent bleeding represents the unmasking of an occult cancer in patients with AF treated with oral anticoagulants. Methods and Results Using data from CardioCHUVI-AF (Retrospective Observational Registry of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation From Vigo's Health Area), 8753 patients with AF aged ≥75 years with a diagnosis of AF between 2014 and 2017 were analyzed. Of them, 2171 (24.8%) experienced any clinically relevant bleeding, and 479 (5.5%) were diagnosed with cancer during a follow-up of 3 years. Among 2171 patients who experienced bleeding, 198 (9.1%) were subsequently diagnosed with cancer. Patients with bleeding have a 3-fold higher hazard of being subsequently diagnosed with new cancer compared with those without bleeding (4.7 versus 1.4 per 100 patient-years; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 3.2 [95% CI, 2.6-3.9]). Gastrointestinal bleeding was associated with a 13-fold higher hazard of new gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis (HR, 13.4; 95% CI, 9.1-19.8); genitourinary bleeding was associated with an 18-fold higher hazard of new genitourinary cancer diagnosis (HR, 18.1; 95% CI, 12.5-26.2); and bronchopulmonary bleeding was associated with a 15-fold higher hazard of new bronchopulmonary cancer diagnosis (HR, 15.8; 95% CI, 6.0-41.3). For other bleeding (nongastrointestinal, nongenitourinary, nonbronchopulmonary), the HR for cancer was 2.3 (95% CI, 1.5-3.6). Conclusions In patients with AF treated with oral anticoagulant therapy, any gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or bronchopulmonary bleeding was associated with higher rates of new cancer diagnosis. These bleeding events should prompt investigation for cancers at those sites.

Management of non-invasive tumours, benign tumours and breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations based on a Latin American survey.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed health systems across the world, both in general hospitals and in oncology institutes or centres.For cancer specialists, particularly breast cancer (BC), the COVID-19 pandemic represents a combination of challenges since the hospital resources and staff have become more limited; this has obliged oncology specialists to seek a consensus and establish which patients with BC require more urgent attention and which patients can wait until there is a better control of this pandemic. The health system in Latin America has some special characteristics; in some of the countries, there are shortages which limit access to several specialities (surgery, clinical oncology and radiotherapy) in some regions. OBJECTIVE: After a systematic review of the most recent literature regarding the management of BC during the COVID-19 pandemic, the main objective is to understand the position of the different Latin American Societies of Mastology in terms of available alternatives for the treatment of BC. METHODS: After carrying out a comprehensive and exhaustive search of the most recent guides on the management of BC during the COVID-19 pandemic, the board members of the Latin American Federation of Mastology invited, via email, different specialists, all experts in BC care, to complete an anonymous survey online.The survey was distributed between 30 and 10 May 2020. The survey included 27 questions on four topics: demographic information, consultations, imaging and treatment of BC.The questionnaire was sent and then distributed to various health specialists including breast surgeons, clinical oncologists, radiation oncologists and radiologists via the Presidents of the different Latin American Societies of Mastology in 18 countries. The results are summarised as tallies based on the number of responses to each question. RESULTS: A total of 499 responses were received. The majority of the respondents were males (275 (55.11%)); 290 participants were over 45 years (58.11%).The questionnaire presented those surveyed with three possible answers (agree, disagree and neither agree nor disagree). The results reflect that there was consensus in the majority of situations presented. Only seven questions revealed disagreement among those responding. The results are presented as recommendations. CONCLUSION: The management of patients with BC presents unique challenges during the current world health situation produced by COVID-19 pandemic. Breast care specialists (surgical oncologists, breast care clinicians, clinical oncologists, radiation oncologists and radiologists) from 18 countries in Central and South America submitted through their responses and recommendations for the treatment of BC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Microcultures of lactic acid bacteria: characterization and selection of strains, optimization of nutrients and gallic acid concentration.

Eighteen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, isolated from coffee pulp silages were characterized according to both growth and gallic acid (GA) consumption. Prussian blue method was adapted to 96-well microplates to quantify GA in LAB microcultures. Normalized data of growth and GA consumption were used to characterize strains into four phenotypes. A number of 5 LAB strains showed more than 60% of tolerance to GA at 2 g/l; whereas at 10 g/l GA growth inhibition was detected to a different extent depending on each strain, although GA consumption was observed in seven studied strains (>60%). Lactobacillus plantarum L-08 was selected for further studies based on its capacity to degrade GA at 10 g/l (97%). MRS broth and GA concentrations were varied to study the effect on growth of LAB. Cell density and growth rate were optimized by response surface methodology and kinetic analysis. Maximum growth was attained after 7.5 h of cultivation, with a dilution factor of 1-1/2 and a GA concentration between 0.625 and 2.5 g/l. Results indicated that the main factor affecting LAB growth was GA concentration. The main contribution of this study was to propose a novel adaptation of a methodology to characterize and select LAB strains with detoxifying potential of simple phenolics based on GA consumption and tolerance. In addition, the methodology presented in this study integrated the well-known RSM with an experimental design based on successive dilutions.

Rapid capillary electrophoresis analysis of glutathione and glutathione disulfide in roots and shoots of plants exposed to copper.

INTRODUCTION: Glutathione and glutathione disulfide can be determined by capillary zone electrophoresis; however, the frequent use of acidic precipitation of protein from samples prior to analysis generates an acidic matrix of strength and pH that may cause changes in the method sensitivity, comigration of species or changes in the equilibria that relate both species in cells or fluids. OBJECTIVE: To optimise electrophoretic conditions for glutathione and glutathione disulfide determination, and to improve pre-analytical treatment for better visualization of the signals of both peptides in an acidic matrix. METHODOLOGY: The method consisted of direct photometric detection at 185 nm and 300 mm borate at pH 7.6 as background electrolyte. The variables under study were voltage applied, injection time, capillary length and electrolyte pH. Seedlings were hydroponically grown and the peptides were extracted with metaphosphoric acid. RESULTS: The resulting acidic matrix was previously treated with the same background electrolyte to prevent comigration and to improve signal resolution. The optimised method showed good reproducibility and linearity, with correlation coefficients above 0.999 and detection limits below 3 microM, and determination of both analytes in less than 3 min. Analyte recovery in the process was in the 88-104% range. The concentration range found in hydroponically grown tomato plants, irrespective of copper level, was 45-100 nmol/g fresh weight for glutathione and below 56 nmol/g fresh weight for glutathione disulfide. CONCLUSION: The results obtained here support the applicability of the method to the fast and simultaneous determination of glutathione and glutathione disulfide in tissue of shoots and roots of plants grown under either normal or stressful conditions.

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of diaquabis(2,6-diamino-7H-purin-1-ium-κN9)bis(4,4'-oxydibenzoato-κO)cobalt(II) dihydrate.

The title mononuclear CoII complex, [Co(C5H7N6)2(C14H8O5)2(H2O)2]·2H2O, has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, with one formula unit per cell (Z = 1 and Z' = 1/2). It consists of a mononuclear unit with the CoII ion on an inversion centre coordinated by two 2,6-diamino-7H-purin-1-ium cations, two 4,4'-oxydibenzoate anions (in a nonbridging κO-monodentate coordination mode, which is less common for the anion in its CoII complexes) and two water molecules, defining an octahedral environment around the metal atom. There is a rich assortment of nonbonding interactions, among which a strong N+-H...O- bridge, with a short N...O distance of 2.5272 (18) Å, stands out, with the H atom ostensibly displaced away from its expected position at the donor side, towards the acceptor. The complex molecules assemble into a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network. A variable-temperature magnetic study between 2 and 300 K reveals an orbital contribution to the magnetic moment and a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between CoII centres as the temperature decreases. The model leads to the following values: A (crystal field strength) = 1.81, λ (spin-orbit coupling) = -59.9 cm-1, g (Landé factor) = 2.58 and zJ (exchange coupling) = -0.5 cm-1.

Effect of the frying process on the composition of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and antioxidant activity in flesh colored potatoes.

Phenolic composition of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) with colored flesh has been previously reported, highlighting their anthocyanin composition. However, there is less information available about the profiles and concentrations of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCADs) in these potatoes. In pigmented potatoes from Southern Chile, three HCADs have been detected, corresponding to the trans isomers of 3-, 4- and 5-caffeoylquinic acid. It is remarkable that after frying, the HCAD concentrations increased 493% compared to those of fresh potatoes. The same tendency has been observed for total phenols and antioxidant activity of the chips. The results obtained are relevant in relation to the classification of pigmented potatoes as functional foods not only due to their anthocyanin content but also due to their higher content of HCADs, especially since their concentration increases considerably after frying, thus contributing to their antioxidant activity and potential beneficial effects for human health compared with uncolored genotypes.

Preparación intestinal colónica con polietilenglicol y manitol: efectividad según la escala de Boston / Colonic bowel preparation: effectiveness of polyethyleneglycol and manitol

Comparar efectividad del polietilenglicol y manitol en la preparación intestinal mediante escala de Boston, pacientes de la consulta externa de gastroenterología, tercer trimestre, 2012. Estudio prospectivo, transversal, experimental. Muestra de 100 pacientes aleatorizados en dos grupos: polietilenglicol y manitol, 50 en cada uno. A todos se les instauró dieta líquida el día previo al estudio e indicación para la ingesta de la solución a evaluar. Se realizó colonoscopia con evaluación endoscópica según escala de Boston. La tolerancia a la preparación fue considerada fácil por 88% en el grupo polietilenglicol vs 100% del grupo manitol (p=0,041). El 98% del grupo manitol consideró que este medicamento tenía sabor agradable en comparación con polietilenglicol (78%) (p=0,002). El efecto adverso más frecuente en ambos grupos fue la náusea. El polietilenglicol alcanzó exploraciones completas con restos en un 82% colon derecho, 56% colon transverso y 72% colon izquierdo, mientras que con manitol prevaleció la exploración completa sin restos en 66%, 90% y 68% respectivamente (p<0,05). La puntuación global de la escala de Boston con polietilenglicol y manitol fue 6 vs 8 (p<0,05). Manitol resultó ser más efectivo que polietilenglicol para la preparación del colon en su totalidad y por segmentos

To compare the effectiveness of polyethyleneglycol and mannitol bowel preparation by Boston scale, in patients from the outpatient gastroenterology in the third quarter of 2012. Prospective, cross, experimental with a sample of 100 patients randomized to group polyethyleneglycol and mannitol group, 50 in each. All were introduced liquid diet the day before the test with the appropriate indication for the intake of the solution to evaluate and colonoscopy was performed endoscopic evaluation scale as Boston. Tolerance was considered easy preparation by 88% in polyethyleneglycol group vs 100% mannitol group (p=0.041). 98% mannitol group had considered that this medicine palatable compared with polyethyleneglycol (78%) (p=0.002). The most common adverse event in both groups was nausea. Polyethyleneglycol reached full scans with remains at 82% right colon, transverse colon 56% and 72% left colon, whereas mannitol prevailed without full exploration remains at 66%, 90% and 68% respectively (p<0,05). The overall rating scale was polyethyleneglycol Boston 6 vs 8 in the mannitol group (p<0,05). Mannitol was more effective for the preparation of polyethyleneglycol entire colon and segments

Batch fermentation model of propionic acid production by Propionibacterium acidipropionici in different carbon sources.

Propionic acid (PA) is widely used as additive in animal feed and also in the manufacturing of cellulose-based plastics, herbicides, and perfumes. Salts of propionic acid are used as preservative in food. PA is mainly produced by chemical synthesis. Nowadays, PA production by fermentation of low-cost industrial wastes or renewable sources has been an interesting alternative. In the present investigation, PA production by Propionibacterium acidipropionici ATCC 4965 was studied using a basal medium with sugarcane molasses (BMSM), glycerol or lactate (BML) in small batch fermentation at 30 and 36 degrees C. Bacterial growth was carried out under low dissolved oxygen concentration and without pH control. Results indicated that P. acidipropionici produced more biomass in BMSM than in other media at 30 degrees C (7.55 g l(-1)) as well as at 36 degrees C (3.71 g l(-1)). PA and biomass production were higher at 30 degrees C than at 36 degrees C in all cases studied. The best productivity was obtained by using BML (0.113 g l(-1) h(-1)), although the yielding of this metabolite was higher when using glycerol as carbon source (0.724 g g(-1)) because there was no detection of acetic acid. By the way, when using the other two carbon sources, acetic acid emerged as an undesirable by-product for further PA purification.

Production and characterization of the exopolysaccharides produced by Agaricus brasiliensis in submerged fermentation.

The aim of the work was to study the production of the exopolysaccharides by Agaricus brasiliensis and the isolation of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) with biological effects. A brasiliensis LPB03 was cultured in submerged fermentation in a medium containing glucose, yeast extract, hydrolyzed soybean protein, and salts (pH 6.1) at 29 degrees C and 120 rpm for 144 h. The maximum biomass and EPS yield was 7.80 +/- 0.01 and 1,430.70 +/- 26.75 mg/L, respectively. To isolate the produced EPSs, two methods were compared: (1) with alcohol precipitation and (2) treatment with tricloroacetic acid (TCA), followed by alcohol precipitation. The use of TCA facilitated the purification of the EPS, reducing the amount of the contaminant soy proteins. For monosaccharide identification, the EPSs were hydrolyzed, derivatized to alditol acetates, and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry, which showed the presence (in molar percentage) of mannose (58.7), galactose (21.4), and glucose (13.1) as major sugars, with lower amounts of rhamnose (3.9) and xylose (2.8). Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the morphological structure of the EPS. The experiments in vivo including EPS in the mice diet during 8 weeks indicated the hipocholesteremic and hypoglycemic effects.

Molecular characterisation and biomass and metabolite production of Lactobacillus reuteri LPB P01-001: a potential probiotic

Lactobacillus reuteri LPB P01-001 was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of wild swine and was characterised by biochemical testing and sequencing of gene 16S rRNA. A simple and low-cost culture medium based on cane sugar (2.5% p/v) and yeast extract (1% p/v) was used in the production of this probiotic. The fermentative conditions were a) pH control at 6.5 and b) no pH control; both were set at 37°C in a 12 L slightly stirred tank bioreactor. Fermentation parameters such as the specific growth rate, productivity and yield of biomass, lactic and acetic acid levels were determined. L. reuteri LPB P01-001 behaves as an aciduric bacteria because it grows better in a low pH medium without pH control. However, the lactic acid production yield was practically half (9.22 g.L-1) of that obtained under a constant pH of 6.5, which reached 30.5 g.L-1 after 28 hours of fermentation. The acetic acid production was also higher under pH-controlled fermentation, reaching 10.09 g.L-1 after 28 hours of fermentation. These parameters may raise the interest of those committed to the efficient production of a probiotic agent for swine.