ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the long-chain fatty acid and major compounds levels in the feces after prophylactic oral use of Lacticaseibacillus casei in an experimental model of intestinal mucositis. Methods: Fifteen Swiss mice were randomly divided into three groups (n=5/group): The negative or positive control groups (n = 5) received saline orally for 18 days and an the intraperitoneal (i.p.) of saline or 5 Fluorouracil (450 mg/kg) in 15th day, respectability. L. casei group received oral concentration of L. casei (1x109 CFU/mL) for 18 days, the i.p. injection of 5-fluorouracil (450 mg/kg) in 15th days. Tissue samples from colon and each small intestine segment were collected for histopathological analysis. Stool samples were collected. Fecal composition of long-chain fatty acids and sterols were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on the 15th and the 18th day. Results: The mucosa layer of all small intestine segments of animals from L. casei showed well preserved epithelium and glands, without necrosis signs, but Goblet cells number decreased. Several long-chain fatty acids and sterols have been identified before and after in the groups. L. casei administration after 5-FU treatment reduced concentrations of linoleic acid (18:2) (p < 0.001) and oleic acid (18:1) (p < 0.001) in feces. Conclusions: L. casei prevented the mucosal damage associated with 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis reduced long-chain fatty acid levels in the feces.

With the advent of recombinant DNA technology, recombinant protein expression has become an important tool in the study of the structure, function and identification of new proteins, especially those with therapeutic functions. Escherichia coli has been the predominant prokaryote used in genetic engineering studies due to the abundance of information about its metabolism. Despite significant advances in molecular biology and immunology of infections, there are as yet no prophylactic drugs capable of preventing visceral leishmaniasis. It is therefore important to identify specific antigens in order to develop vaccines and diagnostic kits against this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of culture medium on the production of eIF antigen from Leishmania chagasi in recombinant Escherichia coli. An induction procedure using IPTG was carried out in a series of trials, to observe the influence of culture medium (2xTY, TB) under expression of the recombinant eIF protein. Results showed that recombinant protein expression was associated to growth and that the highest eIF antigen expression was obtained in the 2xTY medium.

Com o objetivo de determinar a prevalência de Staphylococcus spp resistentes à meticilina isolados na Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco, Natal, RN, no período de 2002 a 2003, analisou-se 1.576 materiais clínicos de pacientes hospitalizados. As amostras foram coletadas, processadas e identificadas conforme procedimento padrão para cada espécime clínico. O perfil de susceptibilidade in vitro foi realizado pelo método de Kirby-Bauer. Isolou-se 188 cepas de Staphylococcus spp, das quais 105 foram identificadas como Staphylococcus aureus e 83 como Staphylococcus coagulase negativos. Staphylococcus aureus foi isolado com mais freqüência em secreções enquanto Staphylococcus coagulase negativos foram mais prevalentes em hemoculturas. A elevada (41,5%) prevalência dos Staphylococcus spp resistentes à meticilina demonstra a necessidade de medidas profiláticas imediatas com o objetivo de impedir a disseminação desse fenômeno.

Analyses on 1,576 clinical specimens from hospitalized patients were performed with the aim of determining the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp isolated in the Januário Cicco Teaching Maternity Hospital in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, in 2002 and 2003. The samples were collected, processed and identified according to standard procedures, for each clinical specimen. In vitro susceptibility profiles were obtained using the Kirby-Bauer method. 188 strains of Staphylococcus spp were isolated: 105 were identified as Staphylococcus aureus and 83 as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated most often in secretions, whereas coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was most prevalent in blood cultures. The high (41.5%) prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp shows the need for immediate prophylactic measures aimed at impeding the dissemination of this phenomenon.

Foram estudados, entre janeiro de 2003 a dezembro de 2004, todos os recém-nascidos internados na UTI neonatal da Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco, portadores de cateter venoso umbilical. Avaliou-se a prevalência de espécies de Candida nas pontas de cateteres intra-venosos dos neonatos, e os fatores associados a que os pacientes estavam submetidos. As pontas de cateter foram cultivadas em ágar sangue, e, quando houve crescimento de colônia leveduriforme, esta foi subcultivada para a realização de provas morfológicas e bioquímicas para identificar a espécie. Do total de 240 cateteres analisados, 41 apresentaram crescimento de leveduras, sendo 34 encaminhados para identificação, observando-se os seguintes agentes: 13 C. albicans (38%), 10 Candida parapsilosis (29%), 8 C. tropicalis (20%), 1 C. guilliermondii (3%), 1 C. famata (3%) e 1 Trichosporon spp. (3%). Dos pacientes que apresentaram cultura de ponta de cateter positiva para fungos, três tiveram hemocultura positiva com a mesma espécie em ambos os sítios. Entre os fatores de risco destaca-se que todos os pacientes faziam uso de antibioticoterapia de amplo espectro, portavam sonda nasogástrica, além de outros procedimentos invasivos, como ventilação mecânica e cateter umbilical.

All the newborns with umbilical venous catheters, hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit at Januário Cicco Maternity Hospital in Natal, Brazil, between January, 2003 and December, 2004 were studied. The prevalence of Candida species in the tips of intra-venous catheters was assessed, as well as the coexisting exposures that the patients were subjected to. Catheter tips were cultivated in blood agar and when yeast culture occurred, the colony was subcultivated for species identification through morphologic and biochemical assays. From a total of 240 catheters, 41 were positive for yeasts, and 34 were submitted to identification. The following agents were isolated: 13 C. albicans (38%), 10 Candida parapsilosis (29%), 8 C. tropicalis (20%), one C. guilliermondii (3%), one C. famata (3%) and one Trichosporon spp. (3%). Three patients among those with positive catheter tip fungal cultures were also hemoculture positive, with the same fungal species at both sites. Among the coexisting exposures, it should be pointed out that all the patients underwent broad spectrum antibiotic therapy, used a nasogastric probe, in addition to undergoing other invasive procedures such as mechanical ventilation and umbilical catheter implantation.