Livia Gabriela

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to compare Petrifilm Aerobic Count (AC) plates and the conventional pour plate methodology using the de Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) agar for the enumeration of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fermented milks (FMs), with different starter cultures added. FM samples (n = 66) were collected and plated on both methodologies, with incubation under anaerobic conditions at 35C for 48 h. The count results were compared by analysis of variance (P ≤ 0.05) and regression analysis. No differences between the mean counts obtained by both methodologies were observed, even when distinct FMs were compared. Considering all samples, a high correlation level was obtained between Petrifilm AC and MRS agar (r = 0.92), but these indexes were lower in FMs with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (r = 0.90) and Lactobacillus fortis (r = 0.81). Despite some slight interferences, Petrifilm AC has proven to be a convenient methodology on enumerating LAB in FM.This study aimed to compare Petrifilm Aerobic Count (AC) plates and the conventional pour plate methodology using the de Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) agar for the enumeration of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fermented milks (FMs), with different starter cultures added. FM samples (n = 66) were collected and plated on both methodologies, with incubation under anaerobic conditions at 35C for 48 h. The count results were compared by analysis of variance (P ≤ 0.05) and regression analysis. No differences between the mean counts obtained by both methodologies were observed, even when distinct FMs were compared. Considering all samples, a high correlation level was obtained between Petrifilm AC and MRS agar (r = 0.92), but these indexes were lower in FMs with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (r = 0.90) and Lactobacillus fortis (r = 0.81). Despite some slight interferences, Petrifilm AC has proven to be a convenient methodology on enumerating LAB in FM.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThis study focused on the evaluation of an important tool for monitoring the microbiologic quality in the food industry. Petrifilm plates are widely used in the food industry, and their application for several microorganisms groups and foods must be properly evaluated for convenient application. Petrifilm Aerobic Count (AC) plates, associated to the de Man–Rogosa–Sharpe broth, were already described as adequate for the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) enumeration in foods. However, A previous study was conducted only with experimental inoculation of LAB in sterile milk and naturally occurring LAB in raw milk (Nero et al. 2006). This article is a complement of the first one, and we show the convenience of Petrifilm AC plates on LAB enumeration in fermented milks, considering different types of LAB starter cultures on the performance of this methodology.This study focused on the evaluation of an important tool for monitoring the microbiologic quality in the food industry. Petrifilm plates are widely used in the food industry, and their application for several microorganisms groups and foods must be properly evaluated for convenient application. Petrifilm Aerobic Count (AC) plates, associated to the de Man–Rogosa–Sharpe broth, were already described as adequate for the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) enumeration in foods. However, A previous study was conducted only with experimental inoculation of LAB in sterile milk and naturally occurring LAB in raw milk (Nero et al. 2006). This article is a complement of the first one, and we show the convenience of Petrifilm AC plates on LAB enumeration in fermented milks, considering different types of LAB starter cultures on the performance of this methodology.

OBJECTIVE: retrospective epidemiological analysis of spinal cord injury patients admitted to Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER) in Goiânia, Goiás. METHODS: retrospective epidemiological study based on the analysis of medical records data of patients who were hospitalized in the period from March 2007 to March 2009. RESULTS: 208 patients were analyzed, predominantly male (78.85%) with a mean age of 35.3 years. The most neurological deficit was paraplegic (64.90%), and 54.33% of the patients were classified as ASIA A (complete lesion), according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA). The average time from injury to admission was 129.7 days, and the mean time of hospitalization was 44.9 days. The main cause was traumatic spinal cord injury and of these, 44.70% were from traffic accidents. The main complication was urinary tract infection. CONCLUSION: the epidemiological data of spinal cord injury patients admitted to rehabilitation in CRER was in accordance with data already reported in literature, demonstrating the importance of dissemination and implementation campaigns for the prevention of spinal cord trauma. As well as the need for early referral of patients to a rehabilitation center, since most of them are young with severe neurological deficit and highly disabling.

The aim of this study was to verify the use of outpatient health services and associated factors among women ages 20 to 60 years living in the urban area of São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional, population-based study with a sample of 1,026 women in 2003. The association between the independent variables and the outcome was evaluated by means of prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Poisson regression was used with a hierarchical model. Among 1,022 women, 136 (13.3%; 95%CI: 11.2-15.4) had not used outpatient services in the 12 months prior to the interview. Women in lower socioeconomic classes (C, D, and E), with less schooling, and with lower income showed lower use of outpatient health services. Thus, the most vulnerable women and those with the greatest health needs showed the lowest use of health services, suggesting unfavorable conditions in the local health system and pointing to the presence of lack of universal care and equal access

Nanocomposites consisting of hydroxyapatite (HA) and a sodium maleate copolymer (maleic polyelectrolyte), synthesized by hydrothermal method and deposited on titanium substrates by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) technique were tested for the biological properties. Coating bioanalysis was carried out by triple staining of actin, microtubules and nuclei followed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Within 24 h cells that occupied the biomaterial surface displayed the morphology and cytoskeleton pattern similar to the controls. Cells grown on nanocomposite coated surfaces had a higher proliferation rate than their counterparts grown on Ti coated with HA alone, indicating that maleic polyelectrolyte improved surface bio-adhesive characteristics. The capacity to induce cell attachment, spreading and proliferation demonstrated the potential of Ti coated with HA-polymer nanocomposites to be used as scaffolds in dental or orthopedic implantology.