The effects of sodium hypochlorite against selected drinking water-isolated bacteria in planktonic and sessile states

Chlorine is the most commonly used agent for general disinfection, particularly for microbial growth control in drinking water distribution systems. The goals of this study were to understand the effects of chlorine, as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), on bacterial membrane physicochemical properties (surface charge, surface tension and hydrophobicity) and on motility of two emerging pathogens isolated from drinking water, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The effects of NaOCl on the control of single and dual-species monolayer adhered bacteria (2 h incubation) and biofilms (24 h incubation) was also assessed. NaOCl caused significant changes on the surface hydrophobicity and motility of A. calcoaceticus, but not of S. maltophilia. Planktonic and sessile S. maltophilia were significantly more resistant to NaOCl than A. calcoaceticus. Monolayer adhered co-cultures of A. calcoaceticus-S. maltophilia were more resilient than the single species. Oppositely, dual species biofilms were more susceptible to NaOCl than their single species counterparts. In general, biofilm removal and killing demonstrated to be distinct phenomena: total bacterial viability reduction was achieved even if NaOCl at the higher concentrations had a reduced removal efficacy, allowing biofilm reseed. In conclusion, understanding the antimicrobial susceptibility of microorganisms to NaOCl can contribute to the design of effective biofilm control strategies targeting key microorganisms, such as S. maltophilia, and guarantying safe and high-quality drinking water. Moreover, the results reinforce that biofilms should be regarded as chronic contaminants of drinking water distribution systems and accurate methods are needed to quantify their presence as well as strategies complementary/alternative to NaOCl are required to effectively control the microbiological quality of drinking water.This work was financially supported by: Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006939 (Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy – LEPABE funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) – and by national funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/MEC: Project POMACEA–Inn-INDIGO/0001/2014, SFRH/BD/103810/2014 and SFRH/BPD/81982/2011

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: Cause of a Cardiogenic Shock

A miocardiopatia de Takotsubo, de etiologia desconhecida, caracteriza-se pela disfunção sistólica súbita e transitória dos segmentos médio-apicais do ventrículo esquerdo, sem doença coronária significativa, com total normalização das alterações segmentares. É mais frequente em mulheres de meia-idade, implicando diagnóstico diferencial com a sindrome coronária aguda. Apresentamos o caso de uma mulher de 59 anos que recorreu ao Serviço de Urgência por dispneia súbita e dor torácica. À admissão apresentava-se em edema pulmonar agudo hipotensivo com necessidade de suporte aminérgico e ventilação invasiva. A avaliação analítica demonstrava elevação dos marcadores cardíacos. Electrocardiogramas seriados em ritmo sinusal com inversão progressiva da onda T nas derivações precordiais (v2 - v6). Ecocardiogramas de controlo revelando acinésia apical com diminuição da função sistólica global, e reversão total das alterações em duas semanas. Admitido choque cardiogénico de etiologia não esclarecida foi excluída doença coronária, sustentando o diagnóstico de miocardiopatia de Takotsubo

Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM): uma colecção de fungos filamentosos a olhar o futuro

Em 2001 a OCDE publica o relatório: Biological Resource Centres – Underpinning the Future of Life Sciences and Biotechnology apontando para a necessidade do reforço e modificações dos centros de recursos biológicos no sentido destes estarem à altura das necessidades do século XXI. Os centros de recursos biológicos (CRBs) são entendidos como uma parte essencial da infra­estrutura que suportam as ciências da vida e a biotecnologia. Eles consistem em fornecer serviços e serem depositários de células vivas, de genomas de organismos, e da informação relacionada com a hereditariedade e as funções biológicas dos sistemas. Neste contexto, a Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM – www.micoteca.deb.uminho.pt), fundada em 1996, tem como missão ser uma colecção de fungos filamentosos com o objectivo principal de manter e fornecer linhagens com qualidade e autenticidade para a investigação em biotecnologia e ciências da vida, e laboratórios de ensino, actuando também como um centro de conhecimento, informação e formação na área da micologia, em articulação com outras colecções de culturas nacionais e internacionais. A MUM é membro e acolhe o secretariado da European Culture Collections Organization (ECCO), é membro e está no conselho executivo da World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC). Tem participado activamente nos grupos de trabalho da OCDE para os assuntos dos CRBs. É parceira do projecto demonstrativo Global Biological Resource Centres Network (GBRCN) e do projecto financiado pela comissão europeia European Consortium of Microbial Resource Centres (EMbaRC). Assim, a introdução de parâmetros de gestão da qualidade e na identificação e autenticação das linhagens conservadas através de abordagens polifásicas, com especial ênfase na biologia molecular e na tipagem espectral com o recurso da técnica de matrix­assisted laser desorption∕ionization timeof­flight mass spectrometry (MALDI­TOF MS), são uma vertente fundamental para a requalificação da colecção. Estas metodologias específicas associadas a novos modelos de gestão são relevantes na adaptação da MUM para o seu futuro dado que as linhagens que fornece terão maior qualidade e competitividade

Ovarian Ectopic Pregnancy in Adolescence

Ovarian pregnancy is one of the rarest types of extrauterine pregnancy. Its preoperative diagnosis remains a challenge since it presents quite similarly to tubal pregnancy and complicated ovarian cysts. Although in most cases, histology is necessary to confirm the diagnosis, we present an ovarian pregnancy in a teenager, correctly diagnosed during ultrasound examination

Prospective Risk of Intrauterine Death of Monochorionic-Diamniotic Twins

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to calculate the prospective risk of fetal death in monochorionic-diamniotic twins. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated 193 monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies that were followed and delivered after 24 weeks. Surveillance included cardiotocography and sonography performed at least once weekly. The prospective risk of fetal death was calculated as the total number of deaths at the beginning of the gestational period divided by the number of continuing pregnancies at or beyond that period. RESULTS: The fetal death rate was 5 of 193 pregnancies (2.6%; 95% CI, 1.1, 5.9); the prospective risk of stillbirth per pregnancy after 32 weeks of gestation was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.3% - 4.2%). CONCLUSION: Under intensive surveillance, the prospective risk of fetal death in monochorionic-diamniotic pregnancies after 32 weeks of gestation is much lower than reported and does not support a policy of elective preterm delivery

Delirium Pós-Operatório em Cirurgia Vascular

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of Postoperative Delirium and to identify specific perioperative risk factors in patients undergoing Vascular Surgery. Other goals were to study its impact in hospital length of stay and to create an algorithm to deal with patients under suspicion of Postoperative Delirium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 56 consecutive vascular surgery patients were prospectively evaluated. Exclusion criteria were age less than 18, dementia, abnormal level of consciousness, psychiatric disorder and visual or hearing impairment. Mini Mental State Examination were applied during pre-anesthetic visit. In patients with clinical indicators of delirium the Confusion Assessment Method was applied. Patients were assessed during 5 days after surgery. RESULTS: The overall incidence of delirium was 12,5%, developped mostly by the second to fifth postoperative day. Patients with delirium presented moderate to severe pain. Patients who received combined general and regional anesthesia didn't develop delirium. The median hospital length of stay was 21 in patients with delirium and 7 days in patients without (p 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of postoperative delirium was lower than previously reported. The incidence of delirium was higher in ICU patients and pain was associated with postoperative delirium suggesting the opportunity to control postoperative factores. The development of delirium in the second and fifth day indicated the need for early and more prolonged preventive and diagnosing measures. Clinical and costly considerations of prolonged hospital stay shown in this cohort warrant strong debate strategies to be applied.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Perinatal Outcome and Change in Body Mass Index in Mothers of Dichorionic Twins: a Longitudinal Cohort Study

We used a prospective cohort to analyze the effect of change in BMI rather than change in weight, in mothers carrying dichorionic twins from a population that did not receive any dietary intervention. A total of 269 mothers (150 nulliparas and 119 multiparas) were evaluated. The average change (%) from the pre-gravid BMI was 7.2+/-6.1, 17.4+/-8.2, and 28.7+/-10.8, at 12-14, 22-25, and 30-34 weeks, respectively, without difference between nulliparas and multiparas. The comparison between maternities below or above the average change from the pregravid BMI failed to demonstrate an advantage (in terms of total twin birthweight and gestational age) of an above average change from the pregravid BMI, even when the lower versus upper quartiles were compared. Our observations reached different conclusions regarding the recommended universal dietary intervention in twin gestations. A cautious approach is advocated towards seemingly harmless excess weight gain, as normal weight women may turn overweight, or even obese, by the end of pregnancy, and be exposed to the untoward effects of obesity on future health and body image

Puerperal Complications Following Elective Cesarean Sections for Twin Pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the maternal puerperal morbidity in elective and emergent cesareans in twins. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated postpartum complications among patients who underwent elective cesarean birth for twin pregnancy. This group was compared to matched singletons and to emergent cesareans in twins. RESULTS: During the period September 1994-March 2006 there were 299 (47.4%) elective and 80 (12.7%) emergent cesarean sections in twin pregnancies, for a total of 379 (60.1%) cesarean births for both twins. Controls included 299 cases of elective cesareans in singletons. The comparison between elective and emergent cesareans and between elective cesareans in twins and in singletons found no significant differences in postpartum fever, scar infection, and postpartum hemorrhage. Venous thromboembolism occurred in two twin pregnancies, one in the elective and one in the emergent cesarean group. Postpartum hysterectomy was required in a singleton pregnancy following an elective cesarean birth. CONCLUSION: At present, no data exist to show a disadvantage for a planned cesarean birth for twins.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ambientes e vida na terra: Os primeiros 4.0 ga

O planeta Terra tem sofrido alterações ao longo do tempo geológico. Pouco tempo decorrido após a sua formação, há cerca de 4.6 Ga, era uma planeta homogéneo. Durante este longo intervalo de tempo, a Geosfera sofreu diversos processos de diferenciação geoquímica e geológica, responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento da actual estrutura interna da Terra. A formação da Atmosfera e da Hidrosfera ocorreu durante o Hadaico, aproximadamente entre 4.5 Ga e 4.4 Ga. A evolução e interacção dos sistemas terrestres, geosfera, atmosfera e hidrosfera, permitiu que fossem reunidas condições favoráveis ao aparecimento da Vida, há pelo menos 3.8 Ga. As formas de Vida foram-se desenvolvendo em diversos ambiente, constituindo outro importante sistema terrestre, a Biosfera. Este artigo tem como principal objectivo a compilação da informação mais relevante relacionada com os principais eventos e outros episódios significantes, que contribuíram para a origem da Vida e seu suporte, tendo como limite temporal o início do Fanerozóico.Environments and Life – the first 4.0 Ga in Earth: The planet Earth has been changing through the geologic time. The Earth was created about 4.6 Ga ago as a homogeneous planet. During this long period of time, several processes occurred originating the geochemical and geological differentiation of the Geosphere and developing the present internal Earth structure. The formation of the Atmosphere and Hydrosphere occurred during the Hadean, approximately 4.5 Ga to 4.4 Ga ago. The evolution and interaction of these important terrestrial systems (geosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere) allowed, during Earth history, the development of vital conditions for the emergence of Life, at least 3.8 Ga ago. The first organisms might have appeared from the most diverse environments constituting another important system, the Biosphere. The main objective of this article is to compile the most relevant information related with major geological events and other significant episodes, which have contributed to the emergence of Life and its support throughout geological time until Early Paleozoic.Centro de Ciências da Terra (NCT/UM), do Centro de Ciências da Terra (CCT/UM) e do Centro de Geologia da Universidade do Porto (CGUP). Programa de Financiamento Plurianual da FCT, inscrito no POCTI inserido no III Quadro Comunitário de Apoio, co- financiado pelo Governo Português e pela União Europeia (FEDER

An ontology-based approach to systems biology literature retrieval and processing

This paper details the SysBio Explorer, a Systems Biology Literature Retrieval and Processing Framework, whose aim relies on the automatic inference of regulatory and metabolic networks based on biomedical literature. The SysBio Explorer does not focus on any organism or problem in particular and encompasses a number of processing and analysis techniques. It works over full-text documents, applying Natural Language Processing techniques and using biomedical dictionaries and ontologies together with hand-made rules. Besides biological entity recognition and relation extraction, document classification, relevance assessment and authoring networks are also within its present scope. The framework is described in terms of its design requirements and implementation decisions, exposing current achievements, but also highlighting present obstacles and future work. Experiments over realworld problems concerning the organisms E. coli, S. cerevisiae and H. pylori are used in its validation.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - POCI/BIO/60139/2004; POSI/PLP/43931/2001; POSC project POSC/339/1.3/C/NAC.Fundação para a Computação Científica Nacional