Control of the growth of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in industrialized orange juice using rosemary essential oil and nisin

The use of rosemary essential oil (RO) and its combination with nisin (RO+N) in preventing the multiplication of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in orange juice was evaluated. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) for RO were both 125 μg ml^-1 while RO+N displayed a synergistic effect. The use of RO and RO+N at concentrations of 1, 4 and 8× MIC in orange juice for 96 h was evaluated in terms of their sporicidal effectiveness. With regard to the action against A. acidoterrestris spores, RO at 8× MIC was sporostatic, whereas RO+N at 1× MIC was sporicidal. Morphological changes in the structure of the micro-organism after treatment were also observed by microscopy. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis showed that most cells were damaged or killed after treatment. In general, the antioxidant activity after addition of RO+N decreased with time. The results demonstrate that using the combination of RO and nisin can prevent the A. acidoterrestris growth in orange juice.

P2874Predictors of Electrical Strom among ICD patients: the importance of the burden of non-sustained VTs

Background

Among ICD patients, the burden of non-sustained ventricular tachycardias (NSVT) occurring during the first 6 months after implant is associated independently with an increase in cardiac death. It is unknown whether there are differences between the incidence of Electrical Storm (ES) and the cause of cardiac mortality (CM) according to the burden of NSVT.

Purpose

To determine the relationship between the burden of NSVT occurring early after ICD implant and the risk of ES in the long-term among ICD patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods

In this prospective study, 416 patients (age: 65±11; LVEF: 30±8; ischemic etiology: 62%, primary prevention: 63%) with LVEF <45% and ICD without cardiac resynchronization therapy were followed-up for 41±27 after implant. ICD programming was standardized. NSVT was defined as any ventricular tachyarrhythmia with >5 beats at ≥150 bpm terminating spontaneously before therapy that occurred within the first six months after ICD implant.

Results

A total of 31 patients (7.5%) presenting with ES during the follow-up. After classifying the subjects into three groups according to the burden of NSVT (tertiles): no NSVT (N=166, group 1); 1–5 NSVT (n=130, group 2) and >5 NSVT (n=120, group 3), the cumulative incidence of ES was higher in group 3: 2.4% vs. 3.1% vs. 19.2%, with an average of time from implant to ES significantly shorter (mean [95% CI, months]): 97 (94–100) vs. 103 (99–106) vs. 86 (79–93); p<0.001 for groups 1–2 vs. 3 (log-rank test). Figure. All ESs were due to monomorphic VT in individuals with ≤5 NSVT; however, 19% of ESs were caused by polymorphic VT or VF among patients with >5 NSVT (p<0.05). By multivariate analysis (Cox-regression), LVEF, % (HR=1.06; p=0.026) and >5 TVNS (HR=4.66; p=0.001) were identified as independent predictors of ES. Cardiac mortality (CM) was independently higher in subjects with >5 NSVT (HR=1.7; p=0.03). The most frequent cause of CM was cardiac failure irrespective of NSVT burden (93% in patients with ≤5 NSVT and 79% in >5 NSVT); however CM due to ES was exclusive of individuals with >5 NSVT: 15% vs. 0% (p<0.05).

Figure 1

Conclusions

1. The burden of NSVT occurring during the first 6 months after an ICD implant is associated independently with a higher risk of ES in the long-term. 2. The adjusted risk of ES is 4-fold higher in individuals with >5 NSVT. 3. The most frequent etiology of CM is heart failure; CM due to ES is exclusive of patients with >5 NSVT causing the 15% of deaths in such population.

Molecular detection of Leishmania spp in Lutzomyia longipalpis in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects a large part of the world population. Knowing the sand fly fauna of a region is of fundamental importance for guiding health surveillance actions related to the prevention and control of leishmaniasis. A total of 86 specimens of sand flies (60 females and 26 males) were collected. Using the classification proposed by Galati (2003), the following species were identified: Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912), Migonemyia migonei (França, 1920), Evandromyia cortelezzi (Brethes, 1923), Ev. sallesi (Galvão & Coutinho, 1939), Nyssomyia whitmani (Atunes & Coutinho, 1939), Psathyromyia lutziana (Costa Lima, 1932), Ev. lenti (Mangabeira, 1938), Brumptomyia sp. (França and Parrot, 1921), and Pressatia sp. (Mangabeira, 1942). Using PCR with internal transcribed spacer target to identify infected sand flies, five Lu. longipalpis females were infected with Leishmania spp. Despite the small number of specimens collected, considerable species diversity was found in the study area.

Clinical significance of anaemia associated with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumours in men

BACKGROUND

An association between prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas and anaemia in male patients has been recently reported. Our aim has been to evaluate the prevalence of anaemia in men with prolactinomas and to assess the relationships between haemoglobin concentrations and pituitary function at diagnosis in these patients.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis, 26 male patients with prolactinomas (22 macroprolactinomas and 4 microprolactinomas) were studied. Blood haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit value and baseline hormonal levels were collected at the time of prolactinoma diagnosis. The presence or absence of partial or total hypopituitarism was also evaluated at diagnosis. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the presence of anaemia as a function of serum hormone concentrations and pituitary dysfunction.

RESULTS

  Patient bearing macroprolactinomas showed significant lower haemoglobin concentrations than those found in patients with microprolactinomas (13.5 ± 1.2 g/dl vs. 15.1 ± 0.9 g/dl, p < 0.05). Anaemia (haemoglobin < 13 g/dl) was present in nine (34.6%) patients, all of them with macroprolactinomas. The degree of anaemia was mild (haemoglobin > 11 g/dl) in all patients. No correlation between haemoglobin and serum prolactin was found. Haemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in men with hypogonadism (n = 14) than in eugonadal men. Haemoglobin value was also significantly lower in patients with total hypopituitarism in comparison with patients with partial hypopituitarism (12.4 ± 1.0 g/dl, n = 7 vs. 14.0 ± 1.2 g/dl, n = 13, p = 0.007). The number of affected pituitary axes was found to be related with the presence of anaemia. Logistic regression analysis showed that anaemia was related with FT4 (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.06-0.81, p = 0.02), cortisol (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.68-0.96, p= 0.02) and the presence of hypopituitarism (OR 20.0; 95% CI 1.68-238.63, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

  Anaemia was found in about a third of men with prolactinomas. Our results also suggest that the presence of anaemia in these patients seems to be associated with panhypopituitarism.

Iris pigmentation and susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss

The purpose of this retrospective study is to examine the possible association between iris pigmentation and susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss in 2407 noise-exposed workers. The workers were between 16 to 65 years of age and were exposed to 2 to 42 years of work-related noise. Results demonstrated that dark-eyed workers presented a greater percentage of normal pure-tone thresholds than fair-eyed workers. Fair-eyed workers had threshold averages of 25.1 dB (right ear) and 26.0 dB (left ear) at 3, 4, and 6 kHz, which were significantly worse than workers with dark irises, with threshold averages of 15.8 dB and 17.2 dB in the right and left ear, respectively (p<0.01). Fair-eyed workers with less than 10 years of noise exposure had the same audiometric pattern as the dark-eyed workers exposed for more than 10 years. Workers not exposed to noise did not present significant differences in their audiometric pattern as a function of eye colour. These results suggest that iris pigmentation may be an additional indication of susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss.

Correlations of structure and rates of energy transfer for through-bond energy-transfer cassettes

Fluorescent DNA-labeling cassettes are designed to have a common absorbing chromophore matched to a single exciting laser wavelength, but up to four different emitters. Experiments reported here have examined the energy-transfer rates and fluorescence polarization characteristics for two different types of cassette, involving three distinct relative orientations of the donor and acceptor transition moments and the axis of the rigid linker. Energy-transfer times range from <200 fs to approximately 20 ps, the fastest transfer times occurring when the transition moments of the donor and acceptor species are aligned parallel to the linker axis. Experimental evidence is presented that supports a through-bond energy-transfer mechanism, in contrast with a commercial DNA-labeling agent, which exhibits much slower transfer times controlled by FRET. These rigid cassettes also exhibit polarized fluorescence from the acceptor species, so that this particular type of DNA-labeling probe has some of the advantages of single-molecule probes such as rhodamine and coumarin dyes.

Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness profile in normal eyes using third-generation optical coherence tomography

AIMS

To establish four normal retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness radial profiles based on third-generation optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to compare them with previously reported histologic measurements.

METHODS

A total of 20 normal eyes were studied. A circular scan was adjusted to the size of the optic disc and three scans were performed with this radius and every 200 microm thereafter, up to a distance of 1400 microm. Four different radial sections (superotemporal, superonasal, inferonasal, and inferotemporal) were studied to establish RNFL thickness OCT profiles. Additionally, two radial scans orientated at 45 and 135 degrees crossing the optic disc centre were performed in six of 20 eyes, and RNFL thickness was measured at disc margin.

RESULTS

Quadrant location and distance from disc margin interaction in RNFL thickness was statistically significant (P<0.001). The RNFL thickness decreased (P<0.001) as the distance from the disc margin increased for all sections. The measurements automatically generated by the OCT built-in software were thinner (P<0.001) than histologic ones close to the disc margin.

CONCLUSIONS

Four normal OCT RNFL profiles were established and compared with histological data obtained from the same area. RNFL measurements assessed by OCT 3 were significantly thinner close to the optic disc margin.

Association between SLC11A1 polymorphisms and susceptibility to different clinical forms of tuberculosis in the Peruvian population

Polymorphism in SLC11A1 has been implicated in host susceptibility to tuberculosis. We have studied associations between INT4, D543N, and 3'UTR polymorphisms of SLC11A1 and different clinical forms of TB. Analysis used 507 patients with pulmonary TB, 123 with extra pulmonary TB and 513 controls. INT4 and D543N showed allelic association with pulmonary TB (P=0.02 and 0.03 respectively). INT4-D543N-3'UTR haplotypes showed an association with pulmonary TB (P=0.03). No association of SLC11A1 with miliary TB was observed, and a possible association of D543N to the pleural form (P=0.08) was suggested. These results support association between SLC11A1 and TB, particularly to the common pulmonary form.

Measuring higher order optical aberrations of the human eye: techniques and applications

In the present paper we discuss the development of "wave-front", an instrument for determining the lower and higher optical aberrations of the human eye. We also discuss the advantages that such instrumentation and techniques might bring to the ophthalmology professional of the 21st century. By shining a small light spot on the retina of subjects and observing the light that is reflected back from within the eye, we are able to quantitatively determine the amount of lower order aberrations (astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) and higher order aberrations (coma, spherical aberration, etc.). We have measured artificial eyes with calibrated ametropia ranging from +5 to -5 D, with and without 2 D astigmatism with axis at 45 degrees and 90 degrees. We used a device known as the Hartmann-Shack (HS) sensor, originally developed for measuring the optical aberrations of optical instruments and general refracting surfaces in astronomical telescopes. The HS sensor sends information to a computer software for decomposition of wave-front aberrations into a set of Zernike polynomials. These polynomials have special mathematical properties and are more suitable in this case than the traditional Seidel polynomials. We have demonstrated that this technique is more precise than conventional autorefraction, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 0.1 micro m for a 4-mm diameter pupil. In terms of dioptric power this represents an RMSE error of less than 0.04 D and 5 degrees for the axis. This precision is sufficient for customized corneal ablations, among other applications.

Preliminary tests and construction of a computerized quantitative surgical keratometer

PURPOSE

To construct a simple, computer-based, quantitative surgical keratometer to measure a 3.0 to 4.0 mm central region of the corneal surface.

SETTING

Laboratorio de Optica Oftalmica, Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC-USP), São Paulo, Brazil.

METHODS

A high-intensity fiber-optic-illuminated ring pattern (Placido disk) is projected on the cornea. Reflected images are captured by a charge-coupled device camera mounted on a Zeiss microscope beam splitter and then digitized by a frame grabber installed on an IBM-compatible personal computer. Simple algorithms based on image-processing techniques were implemented for border detection. A calibrating curve based on 4 spherical surfaces was used to calculate diopter values at 360 points at each examination. Results were plotted on the computer monitor using diopter value versus angle (1 through 360 degrees) graphs. Preliminary measurements of 14 healthy corneas were compared with the equivalent radial distance points measured on an EyeSys corneal topographer.

RESULTS

Mean deviation was 0.05 mm for radius of curvature, 0.24 diopter for power, and 5 degrees for cylinder.

CONCLUSION

The keratometer provided precise measurements for corneal shape control during surgery.

Successful control of onchocerciasis vectors in San Vicente Pacaya, Guatemala, 1984-1989

Between 1984 and 1989, the onchocerciasis-vector control zone on the pilot area of San Vicente Pacaya, Guatemala, which had been subject to experimental control since 1979, was extended from 91.3 to 148.6 km2. Temephos was used as a larvicide against Simulium ochraceum s.l. the target species. As a new strategy, only breeding sites with water discharges of 0.1-10 litres/s were treated, every 2 weeks. This approach provided a substantial reduction in effort, number of treated sites, time and cost. To assess the effect of the temephos, nine sites were selected in which standardized collections of adult Simulium were made twice a month, by human bait. There was an obvious difference between the pre- and post-control mean densities of flies at each site. In the northern area, which includes the Lavaderos, Barretal, Colina and Rodeo sites, the biting density in 1979, before treatment, varied between 10 and 64 flies/man-hour (FMH). Four years later, this had been reduced to 0.1-3.2 FMH, and by the end of the present study, in 1989, the mean density was zero FMH. In the southern area, which lies south-east of Lavaderos (and includes Guachipilin, Ingerto, Pena Blanca and Sierra Morena), the density during the pre-control phase was 24 FMH at one of the two sites investigated at the time and 39.3 FMH at the other. It fell to 0.1-0.5 FMH after 5 years of control and to zero (three sites) or close to zero (< or = 0.5 FMH; one site) for the last 4 years of the present study. To assess the effect of vector control on onchocerciasis prevalence and incidence, 1280 residents from six endemic communities, out of 12,000 permanent inhabitants, were examined. In Santa Cruz, Patrocinio and Los Rios, the prevalence of skin microfilariae in the subjects from each community fell from 8.1%-37.8% during the pretreatment, base-line period to 0.0%-31.5% when the study foci were totally integrated into the vector-control operation following treatment. Incidence among children (aged < or = 9 years) varied from 0%-25% for the period 1982-1984 but, thereafter, not a single case appeared in four of the six study communities (Santa Cruz, Patrocinio, Los Rios and Berlin). Incidence in Guachipilin did not decline appreciably, probably because of human migration into the area from other onchocerciasis foci. The prevalence of nodules followed a similar trend to those of the prevalence and incidence of skin microfilariae, falling from 9.1%-45.0% pre-control to 1.8%-14.3% 10 years later.