Orientador: Carlos Magno Castelo Branco Fortaleza / Coorientador: Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza Cunha / Banca: Antonio Carlos Campos Pignatari / Banca: Marcelo Ribeiro Ribas / Resumo: Estudos recentes apontam para elevação da incidência e gravidade das infecções por Saphylococcus aureus. Esse fato é agravado pela ampla disseminação de isolados resistentes à meticilina (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, MRSA) nos hospitais, e sua recente emergência na comunidade. A colonização nasal de indivíduos assintomáticos é a maior responsável pela persistência e disseminação de S. aureus nas populações humanas. Assim sendo, inquéritos de carreamento nasal são importantes para estimar a "carga"(burden) de S. aureus como um todo e de MRSA na comunidade. Este projeto tem por objetivo identificar a prevalência e fatores de risco para carreamento de S. aureus e MRSA em população de área urbana de Botucatu, São Paulo. Adicionalmente, o estudo se propôs a realizar caracterização molecular da clonalidade e resistência de isolados colonizantes nasais. Para tanto, foram selecionada uma amostra de 686 pessoas com mais de um ano de idade, estratificada por local de residência, gênero e idade. Foram colhidas secreções nasais por meio de swabs, que posteriormente foram semeados em meio de cultura. Ao mesmo tempo, foram identificados dados demográficos e clínicos dos sujeitos da pesquisa. Isolados de S. aureus foram submetidos a testes de suscetibilidade à meticilina/oxacilina (fenotípicos e genotípicos) e, se resistentes, à caracterização do cassete cromossômico SCCmec. Foi também realizada caracterização clonal dos isolados de MRSA por Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) e Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). Quando foram identificados carreadores de MRSA, foi obtidas amostras de seus contactantes domicilares para caracterização de clusters. Análises estatísticas foram realizadas para identificar fatores de risco para carreamento de S. aureus como um todo e MRSA em particular... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Recent studies point out to increasing incidence and severity of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. This phenomenon is aggravated by the widespread dissemination of methicillin-resistant isolates (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, MRSA) in hospitals, and their recent emergence in the community. The nasal colonization of asymptomatic individuals is a determinant of the persistence and spread of S. aureus in human populations. Therefore, investigations of nasal carriage are important for estimating the burden of S. aureus as a whole and of MRSA in the community. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors for nasopharyngeal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA in the urban population in the city of Botucatu, São Paulo. Additionally, the study included molecular characterization of resistance and strain typing of isolates. We selected a sample of 686 people over one year of age, stratified by place of residence, gender and age. Nasal secretions were screened with swabs, which were plated in culture medium. We also aimed to identify demographic and clinical data of the study subjects. Isolates of S. aureus were tested for susceptibility to methicillin / oxacillin (phenotypic and genotypic test) and, if resistant, to the characterization of chromosome cassette SCCmec. Clonal characterization of MRSA isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) was also performed. When MRSA carriers were identified, samples were obtained from their household contacts in order to characterize clusters. Statistical analyzes were performed to identify risk factors for carrying of S. aureus as a whole and MRSA. Prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA carriage were 32.7% (95% CI = 29.2% - 36.2%) and 0.9% (0.4% -1.8%), respectively. Independent risk factors for colonization by... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

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Additional appendix (5 p.) is pasted onto back end-paper. / Bibliography: leaves 219-244. / v, 244, [14] p., 67 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Investigates the complexity of the vagal reflexes arising from the upper gastrointestinal tract by recording single unit vagal afferents and efferents in the ferret. The potential involvement of various neurotransmitters in mediating and modulating gastrointestinal tract inputs is also explored. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine, 1999

Additional appendix (5 p.) is pasted onto back end-paper. Bibliography: leaves 219-244. Investigates the complexity of the vagal reflexes arising from the upper gastrointestinal tract by recording single unit vagal afferents and efferents in the ferret. The potential involvement of various neurotransmitters in mediating and modulating gastrointestinal tract inputs is also explored.

The homodimeric hemoglobin (HbI) from the blood clam Scapharca inaequivalvis binds oxygen cooperatively and thus offers a simple model system for studying communication between two chemically identical sites. Although the individual subunits of HbI have the same myoglobin-fold as mammalian hemoglobins, the quaternary assemblage is radically different. Upon oxygen binding by HbI, only small tertiary changes are seen at the subunit interface in contrast to the relatively large quaternary changes observed with mammalian hemoglobins. Analysis of structures of this hemoglobin in the liganded (02or CO) and unliganded states has provided a framework for understanding the role of individual amino acid side-chains in mediating cooperativity. The work presented in this dissertation has directly tested the central tenets of the proposed structural mechanism for cooperativity in HbI, illuminating the key roles played by residue Phe 97 and interface water molecules in intersubunit communication. Heterologous expression of Scapharca dimeric hemoglobin: A synthetic gene has been utilized to express recombinant RbI in Escherichia coli. The HbI apoprotein constitutes 5-10% of the total bacterial protein in this system. Addition of the heme precursor δ-aminolevulinic acid to the expression culture results in a ~3-fold increase in the production of soluble hemoglobin. Recombinant HbI has been successfully purified to homogeneity, resulting in a final yield of 80-100 mg of pure holoprotein from a 12 L expression culture. Analysis of recombinant HbI reveals its oxygen binding properties to be indistinguishable from native HbI. It was necessary to correct a protein sequence error by mutating residue Asn 56 to aspartate in order to obtain diffraction quality crystals, that are isomorphous to native HbI crystals. These recombinant HbI crystals diffract to high resolution, permitting the functional effects of mutant HbI proteins to be correlated with detailed structural analysis.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-12-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:20:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pires_fv_me_botfm.pdf: 971753 bytes, checksum: e0024dc8e5a05bbf7c3af4c01338c186 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Estudos recentes apontam para elevação da incidência e gravidade das infecções por Saphylococcus aureus. Esse fato é agravado pela ampla disseminação de isolados resistentes à meticilina (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, MRSA) nos hospitais, e sua recente emergência na comunidade. A colonização nasal de indivíduos assintomáticos é a maior responsável pela persistência e disseminação de S. aureus nas populações humanas. Assim sendo, inquéritos de carreamento nasal são importantes para estimar a “carga”(burden) de S. aureus como um todo e de MRSA na comunidade. Este projeto tem por objetivo identificar a prevalência e fatores de risco para carreamento de S. aureus e MRSA em população de área urbana de Botucatu, São Paulo. Adicionalmente, o estudo se propôs a realizar caracterização molecular da clonalidade e resistência de isolados colonizantes nasais. Para tanto, foram selecionada uma amostra de 686 pessoas com mais de um ano de idade, estratificada por local de residência, gênero e idade. Foram colhidas secreções nasais por meio de swabs, que posteriormente foram semeados em meio de cultura. Ao mesmo tempo, foram identificados dados demográficos e clínicos dos sujeitos da pesquisa. Isolados de S. aureus foram submetidos a testes de suscetibilidade à meticilina/oxacilina (fenotípicos e genotípicos) e, se resistentes, à caracterização do cassete cromossômico SCCmec. Foi também realizada caracterização clonal dos isolados de MRSA por Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) e Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). Quando foram identificados carreadores de MRSA, foi obtidas amostras de seus contactantes domicilares para caracterização de clusters. Análises estatísticas foram realizadas para identificar fatores de risco para carreamento de S. aureus como um todo e MRSA em particular... / Recent studies point out to increasing incidence and severity of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. This phenomenon is aggravated by the widespread dissemination of methicillin-resistant isolates (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, MRSA) in hospitals, and their recent emergence in the community. The nasal colonization of asymptomatic individuals is a determinant of the persistence and spread of S. aureus in human populations. Therefore, investigations of nasal carriage are important for estimating the burden of S. aureus as a whole and of MRSA in the community. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors for nasopharyngeal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA in the urban population in the city of Botucatu, São Paulo. Additionally, the study included molecular characterization of resistance and strain typing of isolates. We selected a sample of 686 people over one year of age, stratified by place of residence, gender and age. Nasal secretions were screened with swabs, which were plated in culture medium. We also aimed to identify demographic and clinical data of the study subjects. Isolates of S. aureus were tested for susceptibility to methicillin / oxacillin (phenotypic and genotypic test) and, if resistant, to the characterization of chromosome cassette SCCmec. Clonal characterization of MRSA isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) was also performed. When MRSA carriers were identified, samples were obtained from their household contacts in order to characterize clusters. Statistical analyzes were performed to identify risk factors for carrying of S. aureus as a whole and MRSA. Prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA carriage were 32.7% (95% CI = 29.2% - 36.2%) and 0.9% (0.4% -1.8%), respectively. Independent risk factors for colonization by... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Dopamine mechanisms in the central nervous system are important in the control of both normal and abnormal motor function. The recent observations in both animal and human studies, that melatonin, the principal hormone of the pineal gland, may have a role in the control of movement and the pathophysiology of movement disorders, have given rise to the concept that melatonin may have a modulatory influence on central dopaminergic neurotransmission. This study makes use of three animal behavioural models as well as a biochemical model of central dopaminergic function to further investigate the concept. Results from studies using the biochemical model, which investigated the effect of melatonin on dopamine and apomorphine stimulation of dopamine-sensitive adenylate cylase, suggest that melatonin is neither a competitive antagonist nor agonist at the D₁ receptor level, although the possibility of physiological stimulation or antagonism is not excluded. In behavioural studies, prior melatonin mg/kg administration (1 and 10 (8M) ip) inhibited apomorphine induced stereotypy and locomotor activity in normal rats, and apomorphine-induced rotational behaviour in 6-hydroxydopamine and quinolinic acid lesioned rats. The possibility that these results may have physiological significance is borne out by the observation that, under enviromental lighting conditions that are associated with raised endogeous melatonin levels, apomorphine- induced stereotypy and locomotor activity is attenuated. The general conclusion is that melatonin has an inhibitory influence on central nervous system dopaminergic function, suggesting therefore, that the pineal gland and melatonin may have a role in the pathophysiology and treatment of movement and behavioural disorders associated with dopaminergic dysfunction

A fibropapilomatose é uma neoplasia caracterizada pela formação de múltiplos tumores que acomete, mais frequentemente, a espécie de tartaruga marinha Chelonia mydas. Estudos recentes apontam o Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) como o provável agente etiológico dessa doença, embora a associação com ambientes antropogenicamente alterados parecem contribuir para o desenvolvimento da doença. Nesse estudo, biópsias de tumores e secreções de tartarugas verdes capturadas no litoral do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, foram submetidas a análises histológicas e moleculares visando detectar e caracterizar ChHV5. Em 45,5 % dos casos, os achados histopatológicos revelaram células epiteliais balonizantes com corpúsculos de inclusão intranucleares. ChHV5 foram detectados nas biópsias de pele e oculares dos animais e em secreções oculares e saliva por PCR. A análise das sequências parciais do gene da polimerase do ChHV5 detectadas revelou duas sequências gênicas distintas entre si. A análise filogenética indicou que as amostras brasileiras são similares às amostras de ChHV5 do grupo filogeográfico do Atlântico, compartilhando o mesmo clado que amostras provenientes do Golfo da Guiné e de Porto Rico, sugerindo um possível fluxo dos vírus entre essas três regiões. / Fibropapillomatosis is a neoplastic disease characterized by the formation of multiple tumors affecting different species of sea turtles and, most often, Chelonia mydas. Recent studies indicate that Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is the etiological agent of this disease, though its association with anthropogenically altered environments also appears to contribute to disease expression and tumor formation. In this study, tumor biopsy and secretions from green turtles captured off the coast of São Paulo State, Brazil, were used in histological and molecular analyses to detect and characterize ChHV5. In 45.5 % of cases, the tumor histopathological findings revealed ballooning degeneration with intranuclear inclusion bodies. ChHV5 was detected using polymerase chain reaction on the animals skin, ocular tumor biopsies, and ocular and oral secretions. The analysis of the detected ChHV5 sequences revealed two distinct genetic sequences together. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Brazilian samples were similar to ChHV5 samples described for the Atlantic phylogeographic group and are therefore part of the same clade as the Gulf of Guinea and Puerto Rico samples. This similarity suggests a possible flow of the virus between these three regions.

Saprophytic fungi can be paired with companion crops in interplant systems to increase production efficiency. However, fungal species/strain, substrate, and inoculation rate can affect the growth of companion crops. This project investigated the viability of open-field mushroom production by interplanting three strains of Pleurotus ostreatus (Elm A, Elm B, and 8801) with kale (B. oleracea var. acephala) and forage radish (Raphanus raphanistrub sub. sativus), and measured the effect of interplanting on plant yield over two field seasons. In the field, Elm A showed an increase in plant yield at a low inoculation rate and decrease in plant yield at a high inoculation rate, compared to the untreated. Conversely, 8801 showed a reduction in plant yield at high and low inoculation rates in the field. Elm B at a high rate showed a reduction in plant yield both in the field and greenhouse. Kale was grown in hydroponics with fungal secretions added at a range of concentrations (10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000 ppm). Elm A showed an overall increase in plant yield in hydroponics, and Elm B showed an overall decrease in plant yield, compared to the untreated. Mushroom production was low in field plots and was not a commercially viable option. Pleurotus ostreatus interplanting methods with companion crops need improvement to make this a commercially viable practice.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the leading healthcare-acquired infection among ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICU). VAP is a serious patient complication that results in increased hospital length of stay, cost, morbidity, and mortality. The accumulation of subglottic secretions above the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff increases the risk of VAP, as these secretions may leak around the cuff of the ETT resulting in aspiration and an increased risk for infection. An in depth literature review was done to determine the effectiveness of subglottic secretion aspiration (by means of specialized ETT tubes with intrinsic suction lumens) in decreasing the incidence rate of VAP. Evidenced-based data were gathered from the CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases for this review. VAP guidelines recommend subglottic secretion aspiration as a means to prevent its occurrence. However, important variables such as suction pressure, frequency, secretion viscosity, and ETT cuff pressure and volume need to be considered. The interaction among these variables determines the effectiveness of subglottic secretion removal. The goal of this review was to highlight these interactions and provide evidenced-based information for critical care nurses to expand their understanding of the dynamics involved in subglottic secretion aspiration and how to efficiently use this practice to prevent VAP.