Abstract INTRODUCTION: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are a frequent cause of bacteremia, especially in neonates. The major virulence determinant in CoNS is the ability to produce biofilms, which is conferred by the icaADBC genes. This study aimed to assess different methods for the detection of biofilm formation in 176 CoNS isolates from blood cultures of newborns. METHODS: The presence of the icaACD genes was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and biofilm formation was assessed on congo red agar (CRA), by the tube method (TM), and on tissue culture plates (TCP). RESULTS: Of the 176 CoNS isolates, 30.1% expressed icaACD and 11.4% expressed icaAD. The CRA assay and TM showed that 42% and 38.6% of the isolates were biofilm producing, respectively. On TCP, 40.9% of the isolates produced biofilms; 21% were weakly adherent and 19.9% were strongly adherent. When compared to the gold standard technique (PCR), the CRAassay showed 79% sensitivity and 84% specificity (kappa = 0.64), TM showed 78% sensitivity and 89% specificity (kappa = 0.68), and TCP showed 99% sensitivity and 100% specificity (kappa = 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, ~42% of CoNS isolates produced biofilms, and the presence of icaACD was associated with a greater capacity to form biofilms. Compared to the other phenotypic methodologies, TCP is an ideal procedure for routine laboratory use.

Platelet Concentrates (PCs) are the blood components with the highest rate of bacterial contamination, and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the most frequently isolated contaminants. This study investigated the biofilm formation of 16 contaminated units out of 691 PCs tested by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Adhesion in Borosilicate Tube (ABT) and Congo Red Agar (CRA) tests were used to assess the presence of biofilm. The presence of icaADC genes was assessed by means of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. With Vitek(r)2, Staphylococcus haemolyticus was considered the most prevalent CoNS (31.25%). The CRA characterized 43.8% as probable biofilm producers, and for the ABT test, 37.5%. The icaADC genes were identified in seven samples by the PCR. The ABT technique showed 85.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity when compared to the reference method (PCR), and presented strong agreement (k = 0.8). This study shows that species identified as PCs contaminants are considered inhabitants of the normal skin flora and they might become important pathogens. The results also lead to the recommendation of ABT use in laboratory routine for detecting biofilm in CoNS contaminants of PCs.

OBJETIVOS: Determinar quais parâmetros espaço-temporais são preditores do andar de indivíduos com doença de Parkinson idiopática para os testes de resistência aeróbia e agilidade, propostos pela bateria de testes da American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados seis homens e seis mulheres com comprometimento e estágio da doença em níveis leve e moderado, que realizaram os testes de agilidade e resistência aeróbia, conforme o protocolo da AAHPERD, e andaram 8m sobre uma passarela. Uma câmera digital registrou uma passada central. Marcadores foram fixados no quinto metatarso e na face lateral do calcâneo do membro inferior direito e no primeiro metatarso e na face medial do calcâneo do membro inferior esquerdo. As variáveis dependentes selecionadas foram: tempo nos testes de agilidade e resistência e as variáveis cinemáticas (comprimento da passada - CP, cadência - CAD, duração da passada - DP, duração da fase de duplo suporte - DDS, duração do suporte simples - SS, duração da fase de balanço - DB e velocidade da passada - VP). RESULTADOS: Para agilidade, o teste de Pearson apontou correlação estatisticamente significativa entre as variáveis CP (r=-0,70; p<0,05), CAD (r=-0,72; p<0,01), VP (r=-0,83; p<0,01), DP (r=0,71; p<0,01) e DDS (r=0,90; p<0,01). Para resistência, houve correlação com as variáveis CP (r=-0,67; p<0,05), CAD (r=-0,72; p<0,01), VP (r=-0,82; p<0,01), DP (r=0,71; p<0,01) e DDS (r=0,90; p<0,01). A análise de regressão múltipla revelou que a DDS foi a única variável preditora dos testes de agilidade (R²=0,82; p<0,01) e resistência (R²=0,81; p<0,01). CONCLUSÕES: Observou-se o uso potencial da DDS como parâmetro espaço-temporal do andar preditor do desempenho dos testes de resistência aeróbia e agilidade em pacientes com doença de Parkinson idiopática.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which spatial and temporal parameters are predictors of the gait pattern of individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, for the aerobic endurance and agility tests included in the battery of tests of the AAHPERD protocol. METHODS: Six men and six women with mild and moderate impairment and disease stage were selected. They performed agility and aerobic endurance test in accordance with the AAHPERD protocol, and walked 8 m on a walkway. A digital video camera recorded one central stride. Markers were attached to the fifth metatarsal and lateral face of the calcaneus of the right leg and to the first metatarsal and medial face of the calcaneus of the left leg. The dependent variables selected were the time taken in the agility and endurance tests and the kinematic variables: stride length (SL), cadence (CAD), stride time (ST), double support time (DS), single support time (SS), swing time (SW) and stride velocity (SV). RESULTS: For agility, Pearson's test showed statistically significant correlations with SL (r=-0.70; p<0.05), CAD (r=-0.72; p<0.01), SV (r=-0.83; p<0.01), ST (r=0.71; p<0.01) and DS (r=0.90; p<0.01). For endurance, there were correlations with SL (r=-0.67; p<0.05), CAD (r=-0.72; p<0.01), SV (r=-0.82; p<0.01), ST (r=0.71; p<0.01), and DS (r=0.90; p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed that DS was the only variable that predicted performance in both the agility (R²=0.82; p<0.01) and the endurance (R²=0.81; p<0.01) tests. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that DS measure has a potential use as a kinematic parameter of gait that predicts the performance in agility and aerobic endurance tests in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes períodos de jejum alimentar (três, seis, nove, 12, 15 e 18 horas) na perda de peso da ave viva, rendimento da carcaça quente e fria (antes e após o resfriamento no "chiller"). Os atributos de qualidade da carne de peito de frango criados no sistema convencional tais como cor, capacidade de retenção de água (CRA), pH, força de cisalhamento e perda por cozimento foram avaliados. Neste experimento foram utilizados frangos de corte da linhagem Ross com 46 dias de idade. Os resultados mostraram que períodos prolongados de jejum alimentar teve efeito estatístico (P<0,05) na perda de peso das aves vivas. Essa perda foi de 2,27% para três horas a 7,51% para 18 horas de jejum alimentar. A queda no rendimento da carcaça a quente começou às nove horas de jejum (P<0,05) com rendimento de 67,4% após três horas a 66,2 % após nove horas de jejum alimentar. O rendimento da carcaça resfriada diminuiu de 74,8% após três horas a 73,2% após seis horas de jejum (P<0,05). Os maiores rendimentos de carcaça foram obtidos com os frangos de corte submetidos aos períodos entre 3 e 6 horas de jejum (carcaça quente) e três horas (carcaça resfriada). Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas (P>0,05) para o valor de L*, a* e b*, CRA, pH e perda por cozimento da carne de peito devido aos diferentes períodos de jejum alimentar. Os valores da correlação de Pearson mostraram uma correlação negativa (P<0,001) tanto entre o pH e o valor de L* quanto entre o valor de L* e a CRA nos diferentes períodos de jejum.

This research was aimed at evaluating the effect of different feed withdrawal (FW) periods (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 hours) on the live bird weight loss, dressed and chilled carcass yield (before and after of water chilling). The attributes of chilled breast meat quality of broilers raised in the conventional system were also evaluated, such as color, water holding capacity (WHC), pH, shear force and cooking loss. In this experiment, 46-day-old Ross broilers were used. The results of this study indicated that prolonged FW periods have a significant effect (P<0.05) on live broiler weight losses, from 2.27% for 3 hours FW to 7.51% for 18 hours FW. The reduction in dressed carcass yields became statistically significant after 9 hours of FW, ranging from carcass yield of 67.4% after 3hours to 66.2% after 9 hours FW. Chilled carcass yields dropped from 74.8% after 3 hours to 73.2% after 6 hours FW (P<0.05). The highest carcass yields were observed for broilers submitted to FW periods between 3 and 6 hours (dressed carcass yield) and 3 hours (chilled carcass yield). No statistical differences (P>0.05) were observed for L*, a* and b values, WHC, pH, cooking losses and pH of the breast meat submitted to different FW periods. Pearson correlation values showed a negative (P<0.001) correlation between pH and L* value, and between L* value and WHC, which varied with FW periods.