Abstract Biological flocculants are advantageous due to their biodegradability and safety to living beings. In this work, four bacterial strains, isolated from sugarcane cropped soil (Bacillus megaterium LBPMA-APFSG3Isox and B. toyonensis LBPMA-ACOPR1.Isox) and sludge of an agroindustrial effluent (B. pumilus LBPMA-BLD07 and B. thuringiensis LBPMA-EFIII), were studied. It was found that all of them secreted bioflocculants, at 37 ± 1 °C, with no pH changes over time and the flocculant activity increased during the time course of incubation. These results stimulated the optimization of the culture conditions to improve flocculation rates, such as the pH, nitrogen sources and carbon. For B. toyonensis LBPMA-ACOPR1.Isox and B. thuringiensis LBPMA-EFIII, the best pH for the bioflocculant production was 5.0. Sucrose and maltose were the best sources of carbon, while urea was the preferred source of nitrogen for two of the tested isolates (B. pumilus LBPMA-BLD07 and B. toyonensis LBPMA-ACOPR1.Isox), followed by (NH4)2SO4 (B. megaterium LBPMA-APFSG3Isox) and peptone (B. thuringiensis LBPMA-EFIII). The FTIR-ATR spectra of each extracted material responsible for the flocculant activities of the strains displayed carboxyl, hydroxyl and methoxy functional groups characteristic of polysaccharides.

Resumo: Objetivos: Comparar diferentes desfechos neonatais de acordo com as diferentes modalidades de tratamento do diabetes mellitus gestacional. Métodos: Trata-se de uma coorte retrospectiva. A população do estudo foi composta por gestantes com diabetes gestacional atendidas em uma maternidade pública de julho de 2010 a agosto de 2014. Foram incluídas mulheres com idade mínima de 18 anos, gestação única e com critérios para diabetes mellitus gestacional. Para decisão terapêutica foram considerados glicemias, circunferência abdominal fetal, índice de massa corporal e idade gestacional. Os desfechos neonatais avaliados foram: via de parto, prematuridade, relação do peso com idade gestacional, Apgar no 1º e 5º minuto e necessidade de internação em unidade de terapia intensiva. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 705 gestantes. Os desfechos neonatais foram analisados com base na terapêutica recebida. Mulheres tratadas com metformina tiveram menor chance de ter filhos pequenos para a idade gestacional (IC 95%: 0,09-0,66) e maior chance de ter um filho adequado para a idade gestacional (IC 95%: 1,12-3,94). A gestante tratada com insulina teve menor chance de ter um filho prematuro (IC 95%: 0,02-0,78). O tratamento feito com a associação de insulina e metformina resultou em maior chance de um recém-nascido grande para a idade gestacional (IC 95%: 1,14-11,15) e menor chance de prematuridade (IC 95%: 0,01-0,71). A modalidade de tratamento não interferiu na via de parto, Apgar e internação em terapia intensiva. Conclusões: O pediatra na sala de parto pode esperar diferentes desfechos para o filho de mãe diabética, com base no tratamento recebido.

Abstract: Objectives: To compare different neonatal outcomes according to the different types of treatments used in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. The study population comprised pregnant women with gestational diabetes treated at a public maternity hospital from July 2010 to August 2014. The study included women aged at least 18 years, with a singleton pregnancy, who met the criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose levels, fetal abdominal circumference, body mass index and gestational age were considered for treatment decision-making. The evaluated neonatal outcomes were: type of delivery, prematurity, weight in relation to gestational age, Apgar at 1 and 5 min, and need for intensive care unit admission. Results: The sample consisted of 705 pregnant women. The neonatal outcomes were analyzed based on the treatment received. Women treated with metformin were less likely to have children who were small for gestational age (95% CI: 0.09-0.66) and more likely to have a newborn adequate for gestational age (95% CI: 1.12-3.94). Those women treated with insulin had a lower chance of having a preterm child (95% CI: 0.02-0.78). The combined treatment with insulin and metformin resulted in higher chance for a neonate to be born large for gestational age (95% CI: 1.14-11.15) and lower chance to be born preterm (95% CI: 0.01-0.71). The type of treatment did not affect the mode of delivery, Apgar score, and intensive care unit admission. Conclusions: The pediatrician in the delivery room can expect different outcomes for diabetic mothers based on the treatment received.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are fully biodegradable biopolyesters produced by many prokaryotes and accumulated as insoluble cytoplasmatic inclusions. The detection of these intracellular granule is usually provided using lipofilic azodyes, which are not specific. Another way to screen PHA-producing bacteria is through culture-independent molecular techniques such Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and the search for new PHA-producer strains is essential to reduce the cost at industrial level. The application of these both methods is desirable. In the present study, 24 bacteria isolated from soil of the Atlantic forest in Maceió (AL, Brazil) and from agri-industrial sludge (Coruripe-AL, Brazil) were studied regarding to their capacity of growing in mineral salt medium, as indicative of PHA synthesis. All strains were submitted to biochemical characterization, whilst PCR has proved that isolates BMA-05, BMA-10, BMA-13 and BDL-07 has the gene phaC, which encodes a PHA synthase, the key for PHA synthesis. The amplification and sequencing of their 16S r-DNA region was able to identify these bacteria respectively as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca and Bacillus pumilus. The same minimal medium supplement with peptone demonstrated to induce growing of those strains.