Spathaspora brunopereirae sp. nov. and Spathaspora domphillipsii sp. nov., two d-xylose-fermenting ascosporogenous yeasts from Amazonian Forest biomes

Four isolates of Spathaspora species were recovered from rotting wood collected in two Brazilian Amazonian biomes. The isolates produced unconjugated allantoid asci with a single elongated ascospore with curved ends. Sequence analysis of the ITS-5.8S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that the isolates represent two different novel Spathaspora species, phylogenetically related to Sp. boniae. Two isolates were obtained from rotting wood collected in two different sites of the Amazonian forest in the state of Pará. The name Spathaspora brunopereirae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The holotype of Spathaspora brunopereirae sp. nov. is CBS 16119^T (MycoBank MB846672). The other two isolates were obtained from a region of transition between the Amazonian forest and the Cerrado ecosystem in the state of Tocantins. The name Spathaspora domphillipsii sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species. The holotype of Spathaspora domphillipsii sp. nov. is CBS 14229^T (MycoBank MB846697). Both species are able to convert d-xylose into ethanol and xylitol, a trait with biotechnological applications.

Production of ethanol and xylanolytic enzymes by yeasts inhabiting rotting wood isolated in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate

Yeasts associated with rotting wood from four Atlantic Rain forest sites in Brazil were investigated using a culture medium based on sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate. A total of 330 yeast strains were isolated. Pichia manshurica, Candida pseudolambica, and Wickerhamomyces sp. 3 were the most frequently isolated species. Fourteen novel species were obtained in this study. All isolates were tested for their ability to ferment d-xylose and to produce xylanases. In the fermentation assays using d-xylose (30 g L^-1), the main ethanol producers were Scheffersomyces stipitis (14.08 g L^-1), Scheffersomyces sp. (7.94 g L^-1) and Spathaspora boniae (7.16 g L^-1). Sc. stipitis showed the highest ethanol yield (0.42 g g^-1) and the highest productivity (0.39 g L^-1h^-1). The fermentation results using hemicellulosic hydrolysate showed that Sc. stipitis was the best ethanol producer, achieving a yield of 0.32 g g^-1, while Sp. boniae and Scheffersomyces sp. were excellent xylitol producers. The best xylanase-producing yeasts at 50 °C belonged to the species Su. xylanicola (0.487 U mg^-1) and Saitozyma podzolica (0.384 U mg^-1). The results showed that rotting wood collected from the Atlantic Rainforest is a valuable source of yeasts able to grow in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate, including species with promising biotechnological properties.

Scheffersomyces stambukii f.a., sp. nov., a d-xylose-fermenting species isolated from rotting wood

Two isolates representing a new species of Scheffersomyces were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in an Amazonian forest ecosystem in Brazil. Analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 domains showed that this new species is phylogenetically related to Scheffersomyces NYMU 15730, a species without a formal description, and the two are in an early emerging position with respect to the xylose-fermenting subclade containing Scheffersomyces titanus and Scheffersomyces stipitis. Phylogenomic analyses using 474 orthologous genes placed the new species in an intermediary position between Scheffersomyces species and the larger genus Spathaspora and the Candida albicans/Lodderomyces clade. The novel species, Scheffersomyces stambukii f.a., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The type strain of Scheffersomyces stambukii sp. nov. is UFMG-CM-Y427^T (=CBS 14217^T). The MycoBank number is MB 824093. In addition, we studied the xylose metabolism of this new species.

Cyberlindnera tropicalis f.a., sp. nov., a novel yeast isolated from tropical regions

Two yeast strains, DMKU-WBBC14 and UFMG-CM-Y3283, were isolated from soil in Samutprakarn province in the central part of Thailand and from rotting wood in an Amazonian forest site in the Roraima State in Brazil, respectively. The two strains showed identical sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and different sequences by three nucleotide substitutions of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Therefore, these two strains represented a single species which was most closely related to Cyberlindnera mengyuniae CBS 10845T. The nucleotide sequence differences between the two strains of the novel species and the type strain Cyberlindnera mengyuniae CBS 10845T were 10 substitutions in the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene and 46 substitutions in the ITS region. DMKU-WBBC14 and UFMG-CM-Y3283 differed in growth temperature profiles. Moreover, they also exhibited different carbon assimilation profiles and growth temperature profiles from the type strain of Cyberlindnera mengyuniae, CBS 10845T. The name Cyberlindnera tropicalis f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DMKU-WBBC14T (=CBS 14558T=TBRC 6562T). The Mycobank number is MB 819722.

Long-term alcohol exposure elicits hippocampal nonsynaptic epileptiform activity changes associated with expression and functional changes in NKCC1, KCC2 co-transporters and Na+/K+-ATPase

Nonsynaptic mechanism changes, particularly the enhancement of NKCC1 expression in the dentate gyrus (DG) after 4weeks of ethanol consumption, motivate the present work, in which rats were submitted to a period of chronic consumption (12weeks). Four groups of six animals (6-week-old male Wistar rats) were formed, including the control (C), ethanol 1 (E1), ethanol 2 (E2) and ethanol 3 (E3) groups. The rats in the E1, E2 and E3 groups were treated daily with a 30% v/v solution of ethanol, administered via oral gavage (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0g/kg, respectively). Nonsynaptic epileptiform activities (NEA) were induced by means of the zero-Ca2+ and high-K+ model using hippocampal slices and were recorded in the DG. The presence of NKCC1, KCC2, α1-Na+/K+-ATPase and GFAP immunoreactivity was analyzed. The results demonstrate that alcohol consumption changes NEA, and these changes are more prominent at the lower dosage. An increase in the DC shifts associated with epileptiform discharges was present with the low dose. This increase was correlated with the increment of NKCC1 expression. Confocal microscopy images indicate the NKCC1 increase was pronounced in the initial axonal segment of granule cells. The blockage of these cotransporters during NEA induction with bumetanide suppressed the DC shift increase and diminished all parameters of NEA that were quantified for all groups treated with ethanol. Therefore, the increase in NKCC1 expression and the effective activity of this cotransporter, which were observed in the treated groups, suggest that drugs that act for block NKCC1 represent promising strategies for diminishing the effects of alcohol damage on the brain.

Genomic analysis and D-xylose fermentation of three novel Spathaspora species: Spathaspora girioi sp. nov., Spathaspora hagerdaliae f. a., sp. nov. and Spathaspora gorwiae f. a., sp. nov

Three novel D-xylose-fermenting yeast species of Spathaspora clade were recovered from rotting wood in regions of the Atlantic Rainforest ecosystem in Brazil. Differentiation of new species was based on analyses of the gene encoding the D1/D2 sequences of large subunit of rRNA and on 642 conserved, single-copy, orthologous genes from genome sequence assemblies from the newly described species and 15 closely-related Debaryomycetaceae/Metschnikowiaceae species. Spathaspora girioi sp. nov. produced unconjugated asci with a single elongated ascospore with curved ends; ascospore formation was not observed for the other two species. The three novel species ferment D-xylose with different efficiencies. Spathaspora hagerdaliae sp. nov. and Sp. girioi sp. nov. showed xylose reductase (XR) activity strictly dependent on NADPH, whereas Sp. gorwiae sp. nov. had XR activity that used both NADH and NADPH as co-factors. The genes that encode enzymes involved in D-xylose metabolism (XR, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulokinase) were also identified for these novel species. The type strains are Sp. girioi sp. nov. UFMG-CM-Y302(T) (=CBS 13476), Sp. hagerdaliae f.a., sp. nov. UFMG-CM-Y303(T) (=CBS 13475) and Sp. gorwiae f.a., sp. nov. UFMG-CM-Y312(T) (=CBS 13472).

Yamadazyma riverae sp. nov., a yeast species isolated from plant materials

Nine strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from rotting wood, tree bark, ant nests or living as endophytes in leaves of Vellozia gigantea. Analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that this species was related to Candida insectorum in the Yamadazyma clade. The novel species differed from closely related species by 10 and 11 substitutions in the ITS region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of the rRNA gene, respectively. The species is heterothallic and forms asci with one to two hat-shaped ascospores. The name Yamadazyma riverae sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species. The type strain is UFMG-CM-Y444T ( = CBS 14121T) and the allotype strain is TT12 ( = CBS 14098 = UFMG-CM-Y577). The Mycobank number is MB 813221.

The influence of presaccharification, fermentation temperature and yeast strain on ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse

Ethanol can be produced from cellulosic biomass in a process known as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). The presence of yeast together with the cellulolytic enzyme complex reduces the accumulation of sugars within the reactor, increasing the ethanol yield and saccharification rate. This paper reports the isolation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae LBM-1, a strain capable of growth at 42 °C. In addition, S. cerevisiae LBM-1 and Kluyveromyces marxianus UFV-3 were able to ferment sugar cane bagasse in SSF processes at 37 and 42 °C. Higher ethanol yields were observed when fermentation was initiated after presaccharification at 50°C than at 37 or 42° C. Furthermore, the volumetric productivity of fermentation increased with presaccharification time, from 0.43 g/L/h at 0 h to 1.79 g/L/h after 72 h of presaccharification. The results suggest that the use of thermotolerant yeasts and a presaccharification stage are key to increasing yields in this process.

Candida amazonensis sp. nov., an ascomycetous yeast isolated from rotting wood in the Amazonian forest

Five strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in an Amazonian forest site in the state of Roraima, northern Brazil. The sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of the rRNA gene showed that this species belongs to the Scheffersomyces clade and is related to Candida coipomoensis, Candida lignicola and Candida queiroziae. The novel species Candida amazonensis sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The type strain of C. amazonensis sp. nov. is UFMG-HMD-26.3(T) ( = CBS 12363(T) = NRRL Y-48762(T)).

Procalcitonin does discriminate between sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome

AIMS

To evaluate whether procalcitonin (PCT) and C reactive protein (CRP) are able to discriminate between sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in critically ill children.

METHODS

Prospective, observational study in a paediatric intensive care unit. Kinetics of PCT and CRP were studied in patients undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (SIRS model; group I1) and patients with confirmed bacterial sepsis (group II).

RESULTS

In group I, PCT median concentration was 0.24 ng/ml (reference value <2.0 ng/ml). There was an increment of PCT concentrations which peaked immediately after CPB (median 0.58 ng/ml), then decreased to 0.47 ng/ml at 24 h; 0.33 ng/ml at 48 h, and 0.22 ng/ml at 72 h. CRP median concentrations remained high on POD1 (36.6 mg/l) and POD2 (13.0 mg/l). In group II, PCT concentrations were high at admission (median 9.15 ng/ml) and subsequently decreased in 11/14 patients who progressed favourably (median 0.31 ng/ml). CRP levels were high in only 11/14 patients at admission. CRP remained high in 13/14 patients at 24 h; in 12/14 at 48 h; and in 10/14 patients at 72 h. Median values were 95.0, 50.9, 86.0, and 20.3 mg/l, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0.99 for PCT and 0.54 for CRP. Cut off concentrations to differentiate SIRS from sepsis were >2 ng/ml for PCT and >79 mg/l for CRP.

CONCLUSION

PCT is able to differentiate between SIRS and sepsis while CRP is not. Moreover, unlike CRP, PCT concentrations varied with the evolution of sepsis.

[Algal flora of Lake Amapá in Rio Branco, Acre State, II: chlorophyta]

In this study, 15 samples were collected on a bi-monthly basis, during the period between March and May 1994, and 3 additional samples were collected, one in each of the months of July, October and November 1994. All the samples were collected in Lake Amapá (lat. 10 degrees 2'36"S, long. 67 degrees 50'24"W), which is located in Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil. Ten táxons, of Chlorophyta were registered: Botryococcaceae (2), Treubariaceae (1), Volvocaceae (2), Closteriaceae (3) e Desmidiaceae (2). All taxa identified are first citations for Acre State.

[The Medico-Social Cardiology Center of Coimbra. History and epilogue]

The Medico-Social Cardiology Center of Coimbra, designed and founded by João Porto in 1941, played a remarkable (and pioneering) role in helping cardiac patients in the central part of Portugal. Its work was made possible by the commitment of many doctors, nurses and Social Center Bulletins. For a quarter of a century the number of medical and social interventions in favor of cardiac patients is truly remarkable. Meanwhile, improvements in the national social services--easier access to medical services, free semiology exams, subsidized drugs, state illness subsidies--caused a reduction of monetary contributions from both partners and wealthier and healthier cardiac patients. Little by little the Center's activity was reduced, which ultimately led to its recent dissolution. The Center's books were placed in the Archive of the University and its assets (bank deposits) were donated to the Association for the Development of Cardiology at the University Hospital in Coimbra. As its name suggests, the main goal of this non-profit association consists in the promotion of scientific and technological improvement of the Cardiology Department at the University Hospital of Coimbra.

[The outlook for medical ethics in the 1990s]

The evolution of medicine throughout time--in clinical practice, in scientific progress and in the development of new technologies of semeiology and therapeutics-, created a long list of ethical problems unknown before. If the Hippocratic oath remains valid nowadays, as a true monument of rare moral elegance, the truth is, that it began to be unable to cover all the new aspects created by the evolution of Medicine on one hand, and the transformation of the Society, on the other hand. Therefore, the confrontation of the traditional principles of Medical ethics with the new realities is mandatory, to analyse a long list of well defined questions such as, clinical trials, human experimentation, problems related with the creation of life and its ending, organ transplants molecular biology, medical genetics, analysis of, human genome and its consequences, new biotechnologies, as well as other questions that are covered by the broader aspect of bioethics, interlinking in this way several areas of knowledge. All the technologies used in clinical practice, radically changed the traditional relation between the doctor and the patient, and created not only a number of new problems, but also, clear threats to medical secrecy and patient privacy. The exponential increase in the number of terminal patients made for way some temptations (intensive care, euthanasia) and for the idea of developing a correct structure palliative Medicine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Primary heart tumors. Report of a clinical case]

The authors describe the case of a 52-year-old patient with several hospitalizations due to acute pulmonary edema, clarified only during the performance of cardiac surgery for the correction of presumable mitral valvular pathology. A leiomiossarcome of the left auricle was concerned, which involved the posterior ring of the mitral valve, the interauricular septum and the orifices of the pulmonary veins. Due to the impossibility of proceeding with the complete resection of the tumor, the tumoral mass was wasted away in order to liberate the involved structures, this followed by chemotherapy. Two years since, the patient shows a generally deteriorated state, submitted to various hospitalizations due to cardiac insufficiency, having been objectivated hepatic metastization and recurrence of the primary neoplasm.

[Immunization with an anti-Lewis a antibody]

A case of immunological sensitization for a natural and irregular anti-Lewis a antibody, is presented. Immuno-hematologic studies of blood and saliva, and identification of seric antibody through a panel of phenotype red cells, were made.

[The development of cardiology in the last 40 years]

In order to correctly appreciate the way cardiology developed in the last 40 years, the "state-of-the-art" balance when the first World Congress took place, September-1950, in Paris, is made. The most current diagnostic methods were relatively scarce at the time-ECG, chest X ray, phonocardiography, pulse wave tracings, coupled with vectorcardiography and ballistocardiography, but in the well equipped hospitals right ventricular catheterization was already performed. The therapeutics of the important morbid situations-like congestive heart failure, arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction and ischemia was disappointing, but closed heart surgery was already taking place. Since then, things had changed suddenly. Over the last 40 years a marked scientific and technology explosion has emerged, that had benefited cardiology science, encompassing several broad areas, namely, patient approaching, pathophysiology understanding, the emergence of new drugs and clinical use, interventional cardiology and remarkable progress in open heart surgery. Imaging techniques development and other technology lead to a simple and accurate cardiac diagnosis. 24 hours ECG and blood pressure recording, and cardiac output measurement, greatly improves our medical knowledge. Computers development, representing the most significant technology advances, has given to cardiology non-predicted advances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Diabetes mellitus and coronopathy]

Diabetes Mellitus represents an important public health problem in the most developed industrialized countries. Clinical presentations of diabetes are strongly related to the cardiovascular system, namely, coronary disease and angiopathic renal failure. Diabetes modifies the clinical course of arteriosclerosis by carrying the angiopathic process to a microvascular level, where typical microangiopathic lesions can be observed. The risk of developing atherosclerotic disease is 2-3 fold higher in diabetics than in nondiabetics and arterial hypertension reaches a prevalence of 40 to 80%. Authors analyse Arterial Hypertension in the context of Diabetes putting focus on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Where considering the coronary disease (CD), its high prevalence among the diabetics is also emphasized, which is expressed by an increase of morbidity and mortality when compared to normal subjects. In diabetics not only the incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction is higher, but also the long term prognosis is more complicated, a reality that the authors try to explain by anatomic and metabolic factors. The association of Diabetes plus hyperlipidemia represents undoubtedly one of the major factors that justify the worsening and progression of CD. Briefly, some interesting points that allow the understanding of this topic are described, pointing the pathogenic differences of types I and II and the clinical implications of their knowledge. Finally, the approach of Diabetes as a cardiovascular risk factor is discussed in a prophylactic perspective.

[Congestive heart insufficiency. Prophylactic aspects]

Since the therapeutic advances prolong survival of many patients suffering from cardiovascular pathology--the prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) had just doubled, being a common entity in a world whose individuals present a great increase in longevity. These considerations justify the renewed interest in this particular syndrome. Concepts, pathophysiology and compensatory mechanisms are briefly summarized, putting emphasis on the advantage of pharmacologically interrupt the vicious loop of the compensatory mechanisms, that could play a deleterious role in the syndrome. Neurohormonal responses and the "pivotal" role of angiotensine II in CHF pathology are also discussed, emphasizing the benefits of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) when treating patients presenting heart failure. Questions addressed to its prescription at an early stage, (classes II and III of NYHA--to prevent the progressive exhaustion of the failing heart) are also considered. When approaching the preventive measures in a wide perspective, primary, secondary and tertiary types of preventive options are described. ACEI use for the least advanced clinical stages of CHF (class II and III) would represent a tertiary type of CHF prevention.

[Collapse of the aortic valve in dilated myocardiopathies: echocardiographic study]

In order to clarify the early systolic partial closure (notching) of aortic valve in patients (pts) with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC), authors (AA) evaluated the M-mode echocardiograms corresponding to 41 pts with DC. Pts were separated in two groups, according to the presence of systolic notching: group A (18 pts) presenting systolic notching; group B (23 pts) in which no systolic notching was observed. For each group, the same echocardiographic parameters were evaluated related to aortic root, left atrium, left ventricule (LV), aortic valve and mitral valve. Both groups were compared statistically. Results--Group A presented a reduced motion of aortic root and greater initial maximal aortic cuspids separation. AA therefore conclude that in pts with DC the systolic notching has no eventual relation with mitral regurgitation. In this setting no conclusions about LV function can be inferred, and it is suggested that systolic notching may bear some relation with differences in the distribution of transvalvular aortic flow.