ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the viability of the bacterium Bacillus pumilus as a biological agent in the process of calcium carbonate precipitation on a concrete surface. This evaluation was carried out in a curing tank of concrete samples, applying a nutrient solution enriched with B. pumilus for 48 h. During the experimental period, a urease test was performed to determine whether the microorganisms could hydrolyze urea by the action of the urease enzyme. The results revealed that B. pumilus is susceptible to converting urea into ammonium and increasing the medium pH. There was also a 0.03 g cm-2 reduction in water absorption by capillarity in specimens biomineralized with B. pumilus compared to conventional specimens. Due to the degree of surface protection, microorganisms have reduced the material’s porosity, causing an increase in tensile strength by diametric compression of approximately 9.0 MPa. The lower height of capillary rise observed was 1.83 cm in biomineralized specimens and 3.83 cm for conventional specimens. The results obtained with the scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy indicate the presence of CaCO3 precipitated by the bacteria. In general, the results obtained in this study show that B. pumilus may improve its mechanical properties when it is applied superficially to concrete. samples B 4 h period enzyme pH 003 0 03 0.0 cm2 2 cm- protection materials material s porosity 90 9 9. MPa 183 1 83 1.8 383 3 3.8 CaCO bacteria general 00 0. 18 8 1. 38 3.

RESUMO O presente estudo avaliou a viabilidade da bactéria Bacillus pumilus como agente biológico no processo de precipitação de carbonato de cálcio na superfície do concreto. Tal avaliação foi conduzida em um tanque de cura de amostras de concreto aplicando-se uma solução nutriente enriquecida com B. pumilus durante 48 horas. Durante o período experimental, foi realizado teste de uréase para determinar se B. pumilus é capaz de hidrolisar ureia por ação da enzima uréase. Os resultados revelaram que B. pumilus é suscetível a converter ureia em amônia, além de elevar o pH do meio. Constatou-se também a redução de 0,03 g cm-2 na absorção de água por capilaridade nos corpos de prova biomineralizados com B. pumilus, quando comparados aos corpos de prova convencionais. Dado o grau de proteção superficial, B. pumilus reduziu a porosidade do material ocasionando aumento da resistência à tração por compressão diametral de aproximadamente 9,0 MPa. A menor altura de ascensão capilar observada foi de 1,83 cm nos corpos de prova biomineralizados e de 3,83 cm nos corpos de prova convencionais. Os resultados obtidos no microscópio eletrônico de varredura e espectroscopia dispersiva de energia indicam a presença de CaCO3, que foi precipitado pelas bactérias. De maneira geral, os resultados obtidos mostram que B. pumilus aplicado superficialmente no concreto pode melhorar suas propriedades mecânicas. aplicandose aplicando B 4 horas experimental amônia meio Constatouse Constatou 003 0 03 0,0 cm2 2 cm- convencionais superficial 90 9 9, MPa 183 1 83 1,8 383 3 3,8 CaCO3 CaCO bactérias geral mecânicas 00 0, 18 8 1, 38 3,

Abstract Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in women and requires early diagnosis for defining the appropriate treatment. Objective To identify the positive predictive value (PPV) and safety of the early use of handgrip exercise in pharmacological stress echocardiography using dobutamine (early-ECHO) in women. Methods Positive ischemic early-ECHO records from 111 women were evaluated from January 2012 to March 2018. Subsequently, the hospital medical records were verified to locate patients who underwent conventional coronary angiography (CCA), and we analyzed the medical conduct adopted for these patients. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS employing one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Fisher’s exact test, or Pearson’s chi-square test. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 for all analyses. Results Four patients (4.4%) presented serious complications during the examination. Out of 90 patients who underwent CCA, 71 (78.9%) had CAD. Among these 71 patients, 58 (81.7%) had severe lesions and 13 (18.3%) presented moderate CAD. Moreover, CCA did not demonstrate relevant coronary lesions in 19 of the 90 patients (21.1%). Among patients with severe CAD, 16 (27.6%) underwent myocardial revascularization surgery; 34 (58.6%) underwent percutaneous coronary angioplasty; and 08 (13.7%) had their clinical treatments intensified. The PPV for early-ECHO was 78.9%. Conclusions Early-ECHO showed a high PPV for diagnosing myocardial ischemia in women. It presented a low complication rate and provided rapid disease identification, allowing the early treatment of injuries and potentially preventing CAD complications.

INTRODUÇÃO: A fibromialgia é uma síndrome reumática caracterizada por dor difusa e crônica associada a fadiga, insônia, ansiedade, depressão, perda de memória e tontura. Embora os mecanismos fisiológicos que controlam a fibromialgia não tenham sido estabelecidos, fatores neuroendócrinos, genéticos ou moleculares podem estar envolvidos. OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar os polimorfismos dos genes do receptor de serotonina (5-HT2A) e da catecolO-metiltransferase (COMT) em pacientes brasileiros com fibromialgia, a fim de avaliar sua participação na etiologia da doença. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: O DNA genômico extraído de 102 amostras de sangue (51 pacientes, 51 controles) foi usado para a caracterização molecular dos polimorfismos dos genes 5-HT2A e COMT, por meio de PCR-RFLP. RESULTADOS: A análise molecular dos polimorfismos do gene 5-HT2A demonstrou frequências de 25,49% C/C, 49,02% T/C e 25,49% T/T, nos pacientes com fibromialgia, e 17,65% C/C, 62,74% T/C e 19,61% T/T, no grupo controle, não apresentando diferença significativa entre o grupo de pacientes e o grupo controle. Os polimorfismos do gene da COMT em pacientes com fibromialgia apresentaram uma frequência de 17,65% e 45,10% para os genótipos H/H e L/H, respectivamente. No grupo controle, as frequências foram de 29,42%, para H/H, e 60,78%, para L/H, sem diferença significativa entre ambos os grupos. Entretanto, houve diferença significativa na frequência do genótipo L/L em pacientes (37,25%) e controles (9,8%), o que permitiu a diferenciação entre os dois grupos. CONCLUSÃO: A frequência do genótipo L/L foi maior nos pacientes com fibromialgia. Apesar de a fibromialgia envolver uma situação poligênica e fatores ambientais, o estudo molecular do SNP rs4680 do gene da COMT pode auxiliar a identificação de indivíduos suscetíveis.

INTRODUCTION: Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic syndrome characterized by diffuse and chronic pain associated with fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, memory loss, and dizziness. Although the physiological mechanisms that control fibromyalgia have not been precisely established, neuroendocrine, genetic or molecular factors may be involved in fibromyalgia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to characterize serotonin receptor (5-HT2A) and catecholO-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphisms in Brazilian patients with fibromyalgia and to evaluate the participation of these polymorphisms in the etiology of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Genomic DNA extracted from 102 blood samples (51 patients, 51 controls) was used for molecular characterization of the 5-HT2A and COMT gene polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: Analysis of the 5-HT2A polymorphism revealed a frequency of 25.49% C/C, 49.02% T/C and 25.49% T/T in patients, and of 17.65% C/C, 62.74% T/C and 19.61% T/T in the control group, with no differences between the two groups.Analysis of the COMT polymorphism in patients showed a frequency of 17.65% and 45.10% for genotypes H/H and L/H, respectively. In the control group the frequency was 29.42% for H/H and 60.78% for L/H, also with no differences between the two groups. However, there was a significant difference in the frequency of the L/L genotype between patients (37.25%) and controls (9.8%), which permitted differentiation between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The L/L genotype was more frequent among fibromyalgia patients. Though considering a polygenic situation and environmental factors, the molecular study of the rs4680 SNP of the COMT gene may be helpful to the identification of susceptible individuals.