RESUMO A utilização de antimicrobianos na produção animal provoca seleção de bactérias resistentes. O objetivo do estudo foi comparar a utilização de alternativas associadas à antibioticoterapia preventiva na alimentação de suínos nas fases de recria e de terminação. Foram utilizados 1.045 animais de 60 a 190 dias de idade, submetidos a seis tratamentos com 16 repetições, como segue: 1) sem antibióticos; 2) com antibióticos; 3) prebióticos; 4) probióticos; 5) óleos essenciais; e 6) ácidos orgânicos. Os animais foram pesados, e a história clínica foi registrada, incluindo mortalidade e diarreia. No abatedouro, foram investigados índices de pneumonia e úlceras gástricas. O custo de cada tratamento foi discutido. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos (P>0,05) em relação à taxa de conversão alimentar (2,64 ± 0,03), ao ganho de peso médio geral (107,06 ± 0,9kg), ao ganho de peso médio diário (856,49 ± 7,7g) e ao peso de carcaça (92,4 ± 0,7kg). A aplicação de medicamentos injetáveis em animais com quadro clínico representou US$ 0,56/intervenção, sem diferença entre os tratamentos (P>0,05). Além disso, independentemente do tratamento, foi observada alta frequência de pneumonia (>0,90). Não foi observada diferença para o grau de úlcera gástrica nem na consistência das fezes (P>0,05). A utilização de antibioticoterapia e de alternativas aos antibióticos na ração não trouxe benefícios aos desempenhos zootécnico e sanitário dos animais.

ABSTRACT The utilization of antimicrobials in animal production, causes selection of resistant bacteria. The objective of this study was to compare the utilization of alternatives in association with preventive antibiotic therapy in swine feed during the growing and finishing phases. 1,045 animals were used from 60 to 190 days of age and were subjected to six treatments with 16 repetitions as follows: 1) antibiotic free; 2) antibiotics; 3) prebiotic; 4) probiotic; 5) essential oils; and 6) organic acid. Animals were weighted, and clinical history was recorded including mortality and diarrhea. At the abattoir, pneumonia index and gastric ulcers were investigated. The cost for each treatment was discussed. No difference between treatments were observed (P>0.05) regarding feed conversion rate (2.64±0.03), overall average weight gain (107.06±0.9kg), average daily weight gain (856.49±7.7g) and carcass weight (92.4±0.7kg). The application injectable drugs in animals presenting clinical symptoms, represented US$ 0.56/intervention, without difference between the treatments (P>0.05). Furthermore, independently of the treatment, high frequency of pneumonia was observed (>0.90). No difference for the degree of gastric ulcer nor feces consistency were observed (P>0.05). The utilization of antibiotic therapy and alternatives to antibiotics in feed did not produce benefits to the production indices and sanitary performances of the animals.

Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate third generation biodiesel production by the microalgae Phormidium autumnale using sucrose as exogenous carbon source. The study focused on optimization of the different C/N ratios and on the analysis of biofuel quality. The results indicate that a C/N ratio of 40 improved the performance of the system, reaching single-cell oil productivities of 18.9 mg/L in steady-state conditions. This oil has a composition predominantly saturated (45.2%) and monounsaturated (34.7%) suitable for biodiesel synthesis (ester content of 99.8%, cetane number of 58.5%, iodine value of 67.2 gI2/100 g, unsaturation degree of 71.3% and a cold filter plugging point of 6.7 ºC).

Bacterial infections cause thousands of deaths in the world every year. In most cases, infections are more serious because the patient is already weakened, and often, the bacteria are already resistant to the antibiotics used. Counterparting this negative scenario, the interest in medicinal plants as an alternative to the synthetic antimicrobial drugs is blossoming worldwide. In the present work, we identified the volatile compounds of ethanol extracts of Melissa officinalis, Mentha sp., Ocimum basilicum, Plectranthus barbatus, and Rosmarinus officinalis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Also was evaluated antimicrobial activity of ethanol extracts against 6 bacteria of clinical interest, and was tested the interaction of these extracts with a commercial antibiotic streptomycin. Phytol was a compound identified in all extracts by GC/MS, being majoritary component in Plectranthus barbatus and Rosmarinus officinalis. The Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to ethanol extracts, and Plectranthus barbatus and Rosmarinus officinalis were the most active extracts. Ethanol extracts exhibited a synergetic effect with streptomycin. These results encourage additional studies, in order to evaluate the possibilities of using ethanol extracts of Lamiaceae family as natural source for antibacterial activity.

INTRODUÇÃO: Aposição incompleta (AI) é descrita após implante de stents farmacológicos (SF) e pode associar-se à trombose de stents. Em razão de diferentes plataformas, polímeros e fármacos utilizados, diferenças na eficácia e na segurança entre SF também são esperadas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a incidência de AI persistente e tardia após implante de stents com sirolimus (SES) e com zotarolimus (ZES) e a evolução dos pacientes que apresentem essa alteração. MÉTODO: Análise de 242 pacientes tratados com SF (175 pacientes com SES - Cypher® - e 67 pacientes com ZES - EndeavorTM) e submetidos a ultra-sonografia intracoronária após o implante e aos seis meses. RESULTADOS: No grupo tratado com SES, 7 (4%) pacientes apresentaram AI tardia e 12 (6,8%), AI persistente. No grupo tratado com ZES, nenhum caso de AI tardia foi identificado e, em 4 pacientes, observou-se AI após o implante e que desapareceu aos seis meses. Nos pacientes com AI tardia, observou-se aumento evolutivo dos volumes do vaso (de 377,2 ± 148,9 mm³ para 431,9 ± 155,1 mm³; p = 0,51) e da placa (de 206,1 ± 51,5 mm³ para 236,9 ± 68,4 mm³; p = 0,36). O volume de hiperplasia intimal foi maior após ZES (16,6 ± 5,8 mm³ vs. 5,1 ± 5,5 mm³; p < 0,0001). Após nove meses, não ocorreram eventos cardíacos adversos nos pacientes com AI. CONCLUSÃO: A incidência de AI tardia foi de 2,9% e observada após SES. A presença de AI não esteve relacionada a eventos adversos a médio prazo.

BACKGROUND: Incomplete stent apposition (ISA) has been documented after drug-eluting stents (DES) and could be related to stent thrombosis. Because DES differ in metal platform, polymer and pharmacological agent, differences in performance and safety are expected. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the frequency and clinical consequences of ISA after implantation of sirolimus- (SES) and zotarolimuseluting stents (ZES). METHODS: 242 patients (pts) who underwent DES placement (175 pts with Cypher® and 67 pts with EndeavorTM stents) had serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) performed (at index procedure and after 6-months). RESULTS: 7 pts (4%) had late-acquired ISA after SES. Another 12 (6.8%) pts treated with SES had persistent ISA. Among pts treated with ZES, none had late ISA and 4 had ISA observed after stent implantation that completely resolved at 6-months. There was an increase in vessel (377.2 ± 148.9 to 431.9 ± 155.1 mm³, p = 0.51) and in plaque volume (206.1 ± 51.53 to 236.91 ± 68.4 mm³, p=0.36) in pts with late ISA. Amount of neointimal hyperplasia was significantly higher in ZES than SES (16.6 ± 5.8 mm³ vs 5.1 ± 5.5 mm³, p < 0.0001). After 9 months, no adverse clinical event was observed in pts with ISA. CONCLUSION: Overall incidence of IVUS-detected late incomplete DES apposition was 2.9%, all after SES. The presence of ISA was not related to clinical adverse events during mid term follow-up.

Nódulos de tireóide são uma condição clínica comum e em seu diagnóstico diferencial inclui-se o câncer de tireóide. Como o câncer de tireóide é raro, é importante conhecer a prevalência de nódulos de tireóide em grupos fortemente pre-dispostos para dimensionar seu impacto e adequar estratégias diagnósticas. OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a prevalência de nódulos de tireóide diagnosticados por ecografia em mulheres na maturidade. MÉTODOS: Entre agosto de 1996 e dezembro de 1997 foram avaliadas, de forma consecutiva, pacientes do sexo feminino com idade de 40 anos ou mais que realizavam ecografia no Serviço de Radiologia do HCPA. Foram excluídas as mulheres encaminhadas para exame de tireóide. As 207 pacientes examinadas tiveram média de idade de 54,7 anos (mediana: 53 anos com mínimo de 40 e máximo de 86 anos). Cento e vinte e três (59,4%) apresentaram tireóide normal e 82 (39,6%) tiveram alguma alteração na glândula. CONCLUSÕES: Alterações nodulares foram encontradas em 73 (35,3%) mulheres, e 35 (16,9%) portavam nódulos tireoidianos com 1 cm ou mais. As mulheres sem nódulos de tireóide eram mais jovens (53,1 ± 10,7 anos) que as que apresentavam nódulos tireoidianos (58,2 ± 10,6 anos), p=0,001 e houve aumento do número de quaisquer nódulos (p=0.001) ou de nódulos maior que 1 cm (p=0.007) com o aumento da idade. Assim sendo, nódulos de tireóide são muito comuns em mulheres com 40 anos ou mais, a sua prevalência aumenta com a idade nesse grupo etário, e eles são potencialmente palpáveis (maiores que 1 cm) em 1 em cada 6 mulheres nesta faixa etária. É importante que tenhamos esses dados em mente quando indicamos avaliação ecográfica da tireóide em mulheres com 40 anos ou mais.

OBJECTIVES: Thyroid nodules constitute a very common clinical problem and the differential diagnosis includes thyroid cancer. As thyroid cancer is rare, it is important to know the prevalence of thyroid nodules in cohorts strongly predisposed to this problem to be able to measure its impact on the health care system, and to devise appropriate diagnostic strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid nodules in women 40 year-old or older by ecography. METHODS: Between August 1996 and December 1997, 207 women, 40 year-old or older, were consecutively evaluated by thyroid ecography in the Radiology Division of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Patients who came to the Division to be submitted to thyroid ecography were excluded. The mean age of patients studied was 54.7 years (median: 53, range: 40-86 years). One hundred and twenty three patients (54.9%) had a normal thyroid and eighty-two had an abnormal gland (39.6%). Thyroid nodules were detected in seventy-three women (35.3%) and these were larger than 1 cm in 35 women (16.9%). Women without thyroid nodules were younger (53.1 ±10.7 years) than women with thyroid nodules (58.2 ±10.6 years) p=0.001; and the prevalence of any thyroid nodule (p=0.001) or nodules larger than 1 cm (p=0.007) increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid nodules are very common in women 40 year-old or older, their prevalence increases with age in this cohort and these nodules are potentially palpable (larger than one cm) in one of six women in this age group It is important to have these data in mind when ordering thyroid ecographic studies in women 40 year-old or older.

Este trabalho mostra como modelos estatísticos podem ajudar na obtenção de misturas poliméricas complexas. Neste caso foram estudadas misturas poliméricas ternárias cujos valores de energia e tensão de ruptura foram medidos para treze amostras com proporções diferentes. As respostas foram tratadas estatisticamente usando modelos cúbicos especial e completo. O comportamento dos valores das respostas para toda a faixa de composição das blendas PS/PMMA/PVDF e PS/PBMA/PVDF foram adequadamente descrito pelo modelo cúbico completo. Diagramas ternários marcados por valores de curvas de nível são úteis para analisar como estas propriedades mecânicas mudam quando se varia a proporção dos componentes. Uma modelagem estatística correta para toda a faixa de proporção de componentes para a blenda PS/PEMA/PVDF requer modelos de misturas mais sofisticados.

The paper shows how statistical models can help taylor complex polymeric mixtures. Ternary polymer mixtures were studied. Energy and strength at break response values were measured for thirteen samples of varying component proportions. The responses were statistically treated using special and full cubic models. The behaviors of these response values for the whole range of compositions of the PS/PMMA/PVDF and for PS/PBMA/PVDF blends are adequately described by full cubic models. Ternary diagrams marked by isoresponse value contour lines are useful for analyzing how these mechanical properties change with varying component proportions. Successful statistical modeling of the whole range of component proportions of the PS/PEMA/PVDF blends evidently requires more sophisticated mixture models.

Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus that, under special conditions, converts from its more common mycelial form to a yeast-like form. Achieving this conversion, however, has been problematical for researchers. The present study tested conversion rates in ten Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum strains using seven culture media, four of wich were conventional and three novel. One of our novel media, MLGema, induced complete conversion, of two strains within five days of incubation at 35 degrees centigrades, and of all strains that eventually converted by the time of the second subculturing transfer, under defined experimental conditions. MLGema is also inexpensive and easy to produce.