O estudo objetivou investigar a liberação in vitro de galactomanana (GM) em distintas espécies patogênicas de fungos do gênero Aspergillus. Grande variabilidade foi detectada tanto intra quanto inter espécies, sendo as cepas da espécie A. terreus relacionadas aos maiores índices de GM detectados. O significado in vivo destes achados permanece em aberto, porém merece investigação.

Here we investigate the extent to which different Aspergillus species release galactomannan (GM) in vitro. Marked variability was observed in GM reactivity between and within Aspergillus species, with A. terreus strains showing the highest GM indexes. The in vivo significance of these findings remains to be determined.

Very limited data are available in the literature to elucidate the aetiology of invasive mould infections in Latin America. Here we report that Aspergillus species caused only half of such cases in a cohort study conducted over 21 months in a university hospital in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. Fusarium spp. were the second most prevalent moulds (20.7%), followed by Zygomycetes (13.8%). The importance of obtaining local epidemiological data for adequately guiding empirical antifungal therapy is reinforced.

Piperacillin-tazobactam is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent that can cause false-positive results in the commercial Platelia Aspergillus EIA test. So far, no study has been performed in Latin America to evaluate the clinical implication of this finding. Here we studied the potential for galactomannan detection in piperacillin-tazobactam batches commercialized in the Brazilian market. Five batches from distinct laboratories were tested in duplicate in the Platelia Aspergillus EIA according to the manufacturer's instructions. Only one drug showed crossreaction at a cut-off of 0.5. Human serum was spiked with this particular drug aiming to mimic achievable piperacillin-tazobactam concentrations in the serum. Results were all negative for galactomannan detection, even at high drug concentrations. Results from this pilot study suggest that piperacillin-tazobactam might not be a clinically significant cause of false-positive results in the Platelia Aspergillus EIA test in Brazil.

Com a construção da usina hidrelétrica de Ilha Solteira no final da década de 1960, algumas áreas foram desmatadas, servindo como "área de empréstimo". Os solos dessas áreas foram retirados e estas adquiriram características físicas, químicas e biológicas distantes das ideais. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos da aplicação da adubação química e orgânica na fertilidade do subsolo degradado e micorrização de Stryphnodendron polyphyllum (barbatimão). A área localiza-se na fazenda de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão (FEPE) da UNESP/Ilha Solteira, em Selvíria - MS. Com delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas de 250 m² (10 x 25 m), foram avaliados 10 tratamentos: testemunha; calagem; adubação N + P; calagem + N + P; N + P + aguapé; N + P + bagaço de cana; N + P + aguapé + bagaço de cana; calagem + N + P + aguapé; calagem + N + P + bagaço de cana; e calagem + N + P + bagaço de cana + aguapé. Avaliaram-se as características químicas do solo e o crescimento do barbatimão em cinco períodos (junho, agosto, novembro e dezembro de 2005 e março de 2006), e a micorrização, em março de 2006. Observou-se que o subsolo continuou apresentando caráter ácido e pobreza em nutrientes após um ano de avaliação. O crescimento da planta aumentou ao longo do período, com os maiores valores para os tratamentos que receberam calagem, adubação e resíduos orgânicos, especialmente o aguapé. A colonização micorrízica foi influenciada positivamente pela presença de resíduos orgânicos, e o número de esporos, pelos tratamentos com presença de aguapé.

Due to the building of the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Ilha Solteira, in the late 60s, some areas have been deforested and were used as "loan areas". Thus, the soils belonging to these locations were subtracted and these areas' physical, chemical and biological properties became inappropriate. This work aimed at evaluating the use of chemical and organic fertilization to improve the degraded subsoil and replanting with mycorrhizal Stryphnodendron polyphyllum ("barbatimão"). The area is located at the Experimental Station (FEPE), UNESP/Ilha Solteira Campus, in Selvíria - MS. Using the design of randomized blocks with four replications of 250 m² plots (10 x 25 m), 10 treatments were evaluated: control; liming; fertilizing N + P; liming + N + P; N + P + water hyacinth; N + P + sugar cane bagasse; N + P + water hyacinth + sugar cane bagasse; liming + N + P + water hyacinth; liming + N + P + sugar cane bagasse; and liming + N + P + water hyacinth + sugar cane bagasse. Chemical characteristics of the subsoil and plant growth were evaluated five times (June, August, November and December 2005, and March of 2006) and the root percent colonization was evaluated in March 2006. After a year the subsoil still remained acidic and of low chemical fertility. The steam diameter and plant height showed increasing results along the period, with the highest values for the treatments that received liming, N + P and organic residues. The percent mycorrhizal colonization and number of spores were positively influenced by the presence of organic residues.

FUNDAMENTOS- As espécies de dermatófitos podem variar de uma região para outra, tendo esse fato importância epidemiológica e terapêutica. OBJETIVO- Descrever a freqüência dos dermatófitos nos exames micológicos em pacientes ambulatoriais do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). MÉTODOS - Foi realizada análise retrospectiva dos exames micológicos realizados em pacientes ambulatoriais do Serviço de Dermatologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) durante o período de agosto de 1998 a fevereiro de 2006. Os dados foram comparados com os de trabalhos anteriores locais e de outras cidades do Brasil utilizando o teste do qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS - Das 5.077 amostras coletadas, 2.033 (40,0%) foram positivas para dermatófitos, sendo entre os dermatófitos o Trichophyton rubrum a espécie mais isolada (62,4%), seguido de T. mentagrophytes (18,2%), Microsporum canis (5,7%), Epidermophyton floccosum (2,0%), M. gypseum (1,4%) e T.tonsurans (0,3%). CONCLUSÕES - Não houve variação significativa na epidemiologia dos dermatófitos nos últimos sete anos na cidade de Porto Alegre (p>0,05). Entretanto, o estudo evidencia diferenças na microbiota de Porto Alegre, comparada à de alguns outros centros urbanos do país (p<0,001). Foi observada menor ocorrência de T. tonsurans e M. canis em relação a São Paulo; ao contrário do T. mentagrophytes, que é quase três vezes mais freqüente em Porto Alegre.

BACKGROUND - Dermatophyte species vary in different regions and this fact has therapeutical and epidemiological importance. OBJECTIVE - To determine the frequency and the species of dermato phytes in mycological examinations of patients seen at the outpatients' clinic, Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. METHODS - A retrospective analysis of mycological examinations performed in outpatients from August 1998 to February 2006. The data were compared to the results of previous studies conducted locally and in other Brazilian cities by means of chi-square test. RESULTS - Out of 5077 samples collected, 2033 (40.0%) were positive for dermathophytes. Trichophyton rubrum species more frequently isolated (62.4%), followed by T. mentagrophytes (18.2%), Microsporum canis (5.7%), Epidermophyton floccosum (2.0%), Microsporum gypseum (1.4%) and T. tonsurans (0.3%). CONCLUSION - No significant variation was observed in epidemiological data on dermatophytes in the last seven years in Porto Alegre (p>0.05). However, the study showed differences in the microbiota of Porto Alegre, compared to other Brazilian urban centers (p<0.001). T. tonsurans and M. canis were less frequent than in São Paulo, unlike T. mentagrophytes, which is occurs three times more often in Porto Alegre than in São Paulo.

Bloodstream infections caused by yeast, Candida spp, are quite important clinically and epidemiologically due to a high mortality rate and an increasing number of non-albicans species with a more resistant (differentiated susceptibility) profile. We examined species prevalence and susceptibility profile for fluconazole and the risk for nosocomial infections by Candida spp at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, a general tertiary care hospital in southern Brazilian, through a retrospective study, beginning with positive cultures of hospitalized patients. The distribution by species in 131 documented episodes was as follows: Candida albicans (45%), C. parapsilosis (24.4%), C. tropicalis (15.3%), C. glabrata (6.9%), C. krusei (4.6%) and 3.8% other species (C. pelicullosa, C. guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae and C. kefyr). The vast majority of samples (121- 92.4%) were susceptible to fluconazole; the resistant or dose-dependent sensitive samples included only C. krusei and C. glabrata. Blood diseases (leukemia, lymphoma), or neoplasias (solid tumors), were found in 35.0% of the candidemia episodes. We noted the previous use of antibiotics in 128 (97.7%) patients, with 79.7% using three or more antibiotics before the candidemia episode. Other risk factors included a central venous catheter in 94 (71.8%) and abdominal surgery in 32 (24.4%) patients. The overall mortality rate was 51.9%, which varied according to the underlying disease. We found that C. albicans was the most prevalent species, although the non-albicans species predominated. However, in vitro resistance to fluconazole was detected only among the species (C. glabrata and C. krusei) that tend to be resistant to the azolic compounds. Previous use of antibiotic and the use of a central venous catheter were the main risk factors among patients with candidemia.