ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of marine diesel oil on the development and survival of three different species of mangrove propagules with or without a hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial consortium and the possible use of propagules for the recovery of mangroves impacted by oil. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, near a mangrove from which we collected samples of sediments and propagules of Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia schaueriana and Rhizophora mangle. The bacterial consortium comprised Bacillus spp., Rhizobium spp., Pseudomonas spp., Ochrobactrum spp. and Brevundimonas spp. After six months, L. racemosa and A. schaueriana only survived in control treatments and R. mangle showed the highest survival rates of the three species, indicating that different mangrove species do not respond uniformly to oil spills. Propagules of R. mangle are much more resistant and the hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial consortium we tested can be applied in the phytoremediation of pollutants.

The influence of copper on the ciliate Euplotes sp. and associated bacteria isolated from sediment samples of Guanabara Bay were investigated in bioassays. This region is highly affected by heavy metals such as copper, from solid waste constantly dumped in the bay and other sources such as industrial effluents, antifouling paints, atmospheric deposition and urban drainage, and even today there are few data on the metal toxicity to the ecosystem of the Bay of Guanabara. Bioassays were conducted to estimate the LC50-24 h of copper, in order to determine the concentration of metal bearing 50% of the population mortality. The results indicated that the concentrations of 0.05 and 0.009 mg L-1 presented no toxicity to Euplotes sp. The associated bacteria are tolerant to copper concentrations used in bioassays, and suggest that they could be used as a potential agent in the bioremediation of areas affected by copper.

La influencia del cobre sobre el ciliado Euplotes sp. y las bacterias asociadas aisladas de muestras de sedimentos de la bahía de Guanabara fueron investigados en bioensayos. Esta región está altamente afectada por metales pesados, como el cobre, a partir de residuos sólidos constantemente vertidos en la bahía y de otras fuentes, como los efluentes industriales, pinturas antiincrustantes, deposición atmosférica y drenaje urbano, y hasta hoy hay pocos datos sobre la toxicidad del metal para el ecosistema de la bahía de Guanabara. Se efectuaron bioensayos para estimar la CL50-24 h de cobre para determinar la concentración de metales que lleva al 50% de la mortalidad de la población. Los resultados indicaron que las concentraciones de 0,05 y 0,009 mg L-1, no representan toxicidad para Euplotes sp. Las bacterias asociadas son tolerantes a las concentraciones de cobre utilizadas en los bioensayos, lo que sugiere que podrían ser utilizadas como un agente potencial en la biorremediación de las zonas afectadas por el cobre.

RACIONAL: A doença celíaca, uma das mais comuns enteropatias inflamatórias mediadas por um componente da dieta, ocorre em resposta à intolerância ao glúten nos indivíduos geneticamente predispostos. Com a disponibilidade dos exames sorológicos, essa enfermidade tem se mostrado mais freqüente que no passado, contudo seu diagnóstico ainda é, habitualmente, tardio. A pesquisa de intolerância ao glúten em pacientes com sintomas dispépticos, possível manifestação clínica da doença celíaca, pode permitir uma detecção mais precoce dos indivíduos afetados. OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de doença celíaca em pacientes dispépticos submetidos a endoscopia digestiva alta de rotina. PACIENTES/MÉTODOS: Achados endoscópicos, análise histológica da mucosa duodenal e resultado de testes sorológicos de 142 pacientes consecutivos com dispepsia foram obtidos entre outubro de 2001 e outubro de 2003, e comparados. RESULTADOS: O padrão endoscópico sugestivo de doença celíaca foi encontrado em quatro pacientes. O teste IgG-AGA foi positivo em 24 pacientes. Dois dos pacientes IgG-AGA positivos também apresentaram teste IgA-EMA positivo e padrão endoscópico e histológico duodenal compatíveis com doença celíaca. Alterações endoscópicas duodenais foram expressivamente mais evidentes nestes pacientes. A prevalência de doença celíaca observada neste estudo foi de 1,4%. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes dispépticos, por sua elevada prevalência de doença celíaca, são um grupo de maior risco para essa patologia. Celíacos sem diagnóstico prévio podem ser identificados através de marcadores endoscópicos de atrofia vilositária duodenal. Entretanto, essas alterações endoscópicas podem ser insuficientes para que o diagnóstico seja estabelecido e, conseqüentemente, deve ser recomendada a inclusão de testes sorológicos para doença celíaca na investigação dos pacientes com dispepsia.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease is one of the most common dietary-mediated inflammatory enteropathies that occur in genetically predisposed individuals in response to gluten intolerance. This disorder has become more common than in the past, even if it frequently remains undetected for long periods of time. The screening of patients with dyspepsia, a symptom that can be a manifestation of celiac disease, may allow an early identification of affected individuals. Endoscopy and serological tests may have an important role in the management of these patients. AIMS: Determining the prevalence of celiac disease in dyspeptic patients submitted to routine diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. PATIENTS/METHODS: Endoscopic findings, duodenal biopsy histological specimens and serological test results were assessed and compared in 142 patients consecutively admitted with dyspeptic symptoms between October 2001 and October 2003. RESULTS: An endoscopic pattern suggestive of celiac disease was observed in four patients. The IgG-AGA assay was positive in 24 patients. Two of the IgG-AGA positive patients also yielded positive results on the IgA-EMA test and concomitantly disclosed endoscopic pattern and histological features in duodenal biopsy compatible with celiac disease. Abnormal endoscopic findings were notably marked in biopsy proven celiac patients. Therefore, a 1.4% prevalence of celiac disease was observed in this study group. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of celiac among dyspeptic symptomatic individuals indicates that they are a higher risk group for developing celiac disease. Undiagnosed celiac disease may be inferred by endoscopic markers of duodenal villous atrophy. Endoscopic findings, however, may be inadequate to suitably diagnose this disease and consequently the incorporation of diagnostic serologic assays of celiac disease in routine testing for dyspepsia is strongly recommended.

Os autores utilizam como método de proteção medular em cirurgia de aorta descendente, circulação extracorpórea átrio esquerdo-femoral esquerda, com baixa dose de heparina (1 mg/kg), bomba centrífuga (bio-pump) e exsangüinação controlada. Operaram 4 doentes com esta metodologia sem que houvesse mortalidade, paraplegia ou sangramento excessivo.

The authors have used for spinal cord protection during descending aortic surgery, partial extracorporeal circulation from left atrium to left femoral artery, low dose of heparin (1 mg/kg), centrifugal pump (bio-pump) and controlled exsanguination. They have operated upon with this methodology 4 patients without mortality, paraplegia or excessive bleeding.