The objectives of the present study were the subtyping of Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni strains obtained from humans and different animal species using PCR-RFLP, and the detection, by means of the same technique, of strains related to serotype PEN O19:LIO 7, the main C. jejuni serotype linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Seventy C. jejuni strains isolated from human feces (n=33), primates (n=15), dogs (n=5), swine (n=2), bovines (n=1), abortion material from goats (n=2) and poultry carcasses (n=12), all collected in the state of São Paulo, were subtyped by means of PCR-RFLP of fla A gene, using restriction endonucleases Hae III, Afa I and Mbo I. Seven subtypes were observed when using the enzyme Hae III; eight when using Mbo I; and seven when using Afa I. The combination of the three endonucleases led to 16 fla-RFLP subtypes, from which ten subtypes shared strains of human and animal origin. From these, seven subtypes were observed in human and broiler strains. In eight subtypes, the other animal species shared patterns with human strains. It was inferred that, besides broilers, swine, goats, dogs and primates may be sources of infection for human in São Paulo. PCR-RFLP is a highly discriminatory technique that may be applied to molecular epidemiology studies of samples from different origins. Besides, the study also enabled the detection of two human strains and two primate strains related to serotype PEN O19: LIO 7.

Numerous silicates based wastes have been produced and considered for recycling and reuse. Among them, glass cullet is one of the most common silicate wastes and has considerable volume in the cities wastes. A big amount of this waste is recycled by the glass industry but another part is dumped in the cities garbage deposits. In the last few decades there has been considerable research on the reuse of glass waste as aggregate to produce glass-ceramic, for mortars, ceramics and for cement and concrete. This work is concerned to study the reuse of one way glass bottles as aggregate to produce roof tiles (red ceramic). Two kinds of glass powder were prepared by sieving: alpha (0.088 to 0.125 mm) and beta (0.037 to 0.088 mm). Prismatic ceramic bodies (CB) were pressed (60 x 20 x ~5 mm) using a ceramic mass with 0, 5, 8 and 10 % of glass cullet powder added and fired at five different temperatures (800 to 1200 ºC). The results of the technological tests (flexural strength, water absorption, dimensional changes, density and porosity apparent) show that shrinkage increases with the glass content and all other properties above are improved. These changes are more exhibited at temperatures higher than 900°C and in the higher powder glass concentrations (8 e 10%).

The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of the most common clinical features in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in a sample of the Brazilian population. The medical records of 92 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease attended during the period from 1985 to 2003 were reviewed. The following data were recorded: age at diagnosis, gender, associated clinical manifestations, occurrence of stroke, age at loss of renal function (beginning of dialysis), and presence of a family history. The involvement of abdominal viscera was investigated by ultrasonography. Intracranial alterations were prospectively investigated by magnetic resonance angiography in 42 asymptomatic patients, and complemented with digital subtraction arteriography when indicated. Mean age at diagnosis was 35.1 ± 14.9 years, and mean serum creatinine at referral was 2.4 ± 2.8 mg/dL. The most frequent clinical manifestations during the disease were arterial hypertension (63.3%), lumbar pain (55.4%), an abdominal mass (47.8%), and urinary infection (35.8%). Loss of renal function occurred in 27 patients (mean age: 45.4 ± 9.5 years). The liver was the second organ most frequently affected (39.1%). Stroke occurred in 7.6% of the patients. Asymptomatic intracranial aneurysm was detected in 3 patients and arachnoid cysts in 3 other patients. In conclusion, the most common clinical features were lumbar pain, arterial hypertension, abdominal mass, and urinary infection, and the most serious complications were chronic renal failure and stroke. Both intracranial aneurysms and arachnoid cysts occurred in asymptomatic patients at a frequency of 7.14%.

RESUMO Com o objetivo de aprimorar os métodos diagnósticos em micoplasmoses foi realizado um estudo utilizando-se muco prepucial e sêmen innatura de touros de monta natural e de uma central de inseminação artificial com o objetivo de reduzir o tempo necessário para a emissão de resultados e aumentar os níveis de detecção, assumindo o isolamento bacteriano, técnica dependente da viabilidade microbiana, como teste gold standard. Cento e setenta e cinco amostras de muco prepucial e 143 amostras de sêmen fresco foram estudadas. Através da técnica de PCR (Reação da Polimerase em Cadeia), uma triagem prévia das amostras foi realizada para detecção de Mollicutes, utilizando-se o sistema MGSP/GPO-1. Primers espécie-específicos para Mycoplasma bovigenitalium e Ureaplasma diversum foram posteriormente utilizados. Ao isolamento, foram observados 45,1% (79/175) de positivos para Mollicutes e 66,5% (115/173) para U. diversum em muco de prepucial. Comparativamente, a PCR revelou 63,7% (109/171) de amostras positivas através de sistema de MGSP/GPO-1, 42,6% (72/169) de amostras positivas para M. bovigenitalium e 72,9% (124/170) para U. diversum. O estudo das amostras de sêmen apresentou 22,5% (32/142) de positivos para Mollicutes e 51,7% (74/143) para U. diversum, através do isolamento. Pela PCR, foram detectadas 24,1% (33/137) de amostras positivas no sistema MGSP/GPO-1, 27,4% (34/124) de amostras positivas para M. bovigenitalium e 56,6% (73/129) para U. diversum. O teste de McNemar para presença de Mollicutes em muco de prepucial (p = 0,57), mostrou que o sistema MGSP/GPO-1 pode ter um valor considerável quando associado à detecção específica de U. diversum, apresentando uma boa sensibilidade (75,2%), porém baixa especificidade (58,9%). A análise estatística mostrou que o sistema MGSP/GPO-1 de triagem poderia substituir o isolamento preliminar para Mycoplasma spp. em amostras de sêmen (p = 0,86).

ABSTRACT With the objective of improving the diagnostic methods in mycoplasmosis, a study was carried out using bovine prepucial mucus and fresh semen from natural breeding and one Artificial Insemination Center with the aim to reduce the time necessary for the emission of results and to increase the detection levels, assuming bacterial isolation, on technique that depends on microbial viability, as the gold standard test. One hundred and seventy-five prepucial mucus samples and 143 fresh semen samples were studied. By PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technique, a previous screening using the MGSP/GPO-1 system was tested for Mollicutes detection. Species-specific primers for Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversumwere used subsequently. By isolation there were observed 45.1% (79/175) of positivity for Mollicutes and 66.5% (115/173) for U. diversum in prepucial mucus. Comparatively, PCR revealed 63.7% (109/171) of positive samples by MGSP/GPO-1, 42.6% (72/169) of positive samples for M. bovigenitalium and 72.9% (124/170) for U. diversum. The semen samples study presented 22.5% (32/142) of positivity for Mollicutes and 51.7% (74/143) for U. diversum, by isolation. By PCR, 24.1% of positive samples were detected (33/137) using the MGSP/GPO-1 system, 27.4% (34/124) of positive samples for M. bovigenitalium and 56.6% (73/129) for U. diversum. The McNemar test for the Mollicutes presence in prepucial mucus (p = 0.57) showed that theMGSP/GPO-1 system can have a considerable value when associated with specific detection of U. diversum, showing good sensitivity (75.2%), however lower specificity (58.9%). The statistical analysis showed that the screening by MGSP/GPO-1 system could substitute the preliminary isolation of Mycoplasma spp. in semen samples (p = 0.86).