Isolamento e caracterização de cepas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae de interesse em produção de vinho

Despite the availability of several Saccharomyces cerevisiae commercial strains intended for wine production, strains isolated from winery regions are usually more adapted to their own climatic conditions, grapes and also partially responsible for particular characteristics that frequently identify specific wines and regions. Thus the microbiota of an important winery region (Colombo) was studied in order to isolate and characterize S. cerevisiae strains that could be used on wine production. From 61 yeasts isolated, 14 were identified as S. cerevisiae. Some of them showed fermentative characteristics even better than commercial strains indicating that they could be applied on wine production in order to increase the quality and assure the particular wine characteristics of that region

An oxalate-bridged oxidovanadium(iv) binuclear complex that improves the in vitro cell uptake of a fluorescent glucose analog

The centrosymmetric oxidovanadium(IV) complex (Et 3NH) 2[{VO(OH 2)(ox)} 2(μ–ox)] (I), where ox 2− = oxalate, was synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (single-crystal and powder, PXRD), thermogravimetric (TGA), magnetic susceptibility (at room temperature) and spectroscopic analyses (infrared, Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance, EPR, spectroscopies). In the solid state, each vanadium center is coordinated by the oxygen atoms of a bis-bidentate oxalate bridging ligand, a terminal oxalate, an oxo group and one water molecule. The electronic structure of the binuclear complex was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, both in vacuum and in a simulated aqueous environment, employing the ωB97XD functional and the def2TZVP basis set. The cytotoxicity of I was evaluated in vitro in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, giving an IC 50 value of 15.67 µmol L −1 after incubation for 24 h. The EPR analysis of I in aqueous solution suggested the maintenance of the binuclear structure, while in the hyperglycemic medium DMEM the complex suffers dissociation to give a mononuclear oxidovanadium(IV) species. HepG2 cell treatment with 0.10 and 0.50 µmol L −1 of I in DMEM increased 2-NBDG (2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose) uptake significantly (up to 91% as compared to HepG2 in hyperglycemic condition, 59%). These results indicate a promising activity of I to be investigated further in additional antidiabetic studies

Quality impact on diagnostic blood specimen collection using a new device to relieve venipuncture pain.

A new device called Buzzy\uae has been recently presented that combines a cooling ice pack and a vibrating motor in order to relieve the venipuncture pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Buzzy\uae use during diagnostic blood specimen collection by venipuncture for routine immunochemistry tests. Blood was collected from 100 volunteers by a single, expert phlebotomist. A vein was located on the left forearm without applying tourniquet, in order to prevent any interference from venous stasis, and blood samples were collected using a 20-G straight needle directly into 5 mL vacuum tubes with clot activator and gel separator. In sequence, external cold and vibration by Buzzy\uae was applied on the right forearm\u20145 cm above the chosen puncture site\u2014for 1 min before venipuncture and continued until the end of the same procedure already done in the left forearm. The panel of tests included the following: glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, c-reactive protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, AST, ALT, g-glutamyltransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, total bilirubin, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, chloride, lipase, cortisol, insulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, total triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine, total thyroxine, free thyroxine and haemolysis index. Clinically significant differences between samples were found only for: total protein, albumin and transferrin. The Buzzy\uae can be used during diagnostic blood specimens collection by venipuncture for the majority of the routine immunochemistry tests. We only suggest avoiding this device during blood collection when protein, albumin and transferrin determinations should be performed

The effective reduction of tourniquet application time after minor modification of the CLSI H03-A6 blood collection procedure.

Introduction: The phlebotomists\u2019 procedures are a still source of laboratory variability. The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of minor modification in procedure for collection of diagnostic blood specimens by venipuncture from CLSI H03-A6 document is able to reduce the tourniquet application time. Materials and methods: Thirty phlebotomists were invited to participate. Each phlebotomist was trained individually to perform the new venipuncture procedure that shortens the time of tourniquet release and removal. The phlebotomy training program was delivered over 8h. After training, all phlebotomists were monitored for 20 working days, to guarantee the adoption of the correct new procedures for collection of diagnostic blood specimens. After this time frame the phlebotomists were evaluated to verify whether the new procedure for blood collection derived from CLSI H03-A6 document was effective to improve the quality process by decrease in tourniquet application time. We compared the tourniquet application time and qualitative difference of phlebotomy procedures between laboratories before and after phlebotomy training. Results: The overall mean \ub1 SD tourniquet application time before and after this intervention were 118 \ub1 1 s and 30 \ub1 1 s respectively. Minor modifications in procedure for blood collection were able to reduce significantly the tourniquet application time (-88 s, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The minor modifications in procedure for collection of diagnostic blood specimens by venipuncture from CLSI H03-A6 document were able to reduce the tourniquet application time. Now the proposed new procedure for collection of diagnostic blood specimens by venipuncture could be considered usefulness and should be put into practice by all quality laboratory managers and/or phlebotomy coordinators to avoid preanalytical errors regard venous stasis and guarantee patient safety

Sodium citrate vacuum tubes validation: preventing preanalytical variability in routine coagulation testing.

Sometimes in-vitro diagnostic devices (e.g. blood collection tubes) are not validated before use or when the producer's brand is changed. The aim of this study was to validate five brands of sodium citrate vacuum tubes. Blood specimens from 50 volunteers were collected in five different tube brands (I: Venosafe, II: VACUETTE, III: BD Vacutainer, IV: LABOR IMPORT and V: S-Monovette). Routine coagulation tests [activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and fibrinogen (FIB)] were performed on ACL TOP instrument using HemosIL reagents. The significance of the differences between samples was assessed by paired Student's t-test, set at P\u200a<\u200a0.005. Significant differences were observed for: PT when comparing I vs. II, I vs. III, I vs. V, II vs. III, II vs. IV, II vs. V, III vs. IV, III vs. V and IV vs. V; aPTT when comparing I vs. II, I vs. III, I vs. IV, II vs. IV, III vs. IV and IV vs. V. No differences were observed among brands for FIB determination. We suggest that every laboratory management should both standardize the procedures and frequently evaluate the quality of in-vitro diagnostic devices

Management of preanalytical phase for routine hematological testing: is the pneumatic tube system a source of laboratory variability or an important facility tool?

Management of preanalytical phase for routine hematological testing: is the pneumatic tube system a source of laboratory variability or an important facility tool