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Cupriavidus pauculus is a Gram negative rod that is usually isolated in water and has been extraordinarily isolated in patients with vascular access and / or immunosuppression. In this work we present a series of cases of patients with positive blood cultures for cupríavidus pauculus, during a short period of time in our hospital center. The only characteristic related to all cases was the use of parenteral nutrition. It highlights the rareness of the microorganism and the susceptibility identified in the antibiogram, which may be useful for future cases.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the viability of Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042 and Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 in a freeze-dried capsules system prepared with sodium alginate and gum arabic using the extrusion technique. The capsules made with alginate 2% (w/v)/gum arabic 2% (w/v) showed higher hardness (7.12 ± 0.71 N), with highly cohesive (0.81 ± 0.02) and elastic (0.99 ± 0.00) features on the Texture Profile Analysis (TPA), as well as higher sphericity with 1.75 ± 0.12 mm y 1.73 ± 0.13 mm diameter axes and regularity in their surface by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The use of skimmed milk at 10% as a cryoprotector in the freeze-drying process allowed the obtention of high viability percentages (88% a 96%) for both strains. Best results of viability for P. acidilactici encapsulated was with the use of alginate 2% (w/v)/gum arabic 2% (w/v) (92%±2.65), and L. plantarum with the use of alginate 2% (w/v) (84.71%±10.33) during the gastrointestinal environment challenge.

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This study evaluated the association between anorexia of aging and nutrients intake. It was a cross-sectional study with 130 individuals aged 60 years or older, undergoing outpatient care in the city of Campinas, São Paulo. Anorexia of Aging (AA) was assessed using the Simplified Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), and food consumption was evaluated using the 24-hour recall (24HR). The prevalence of AA was 27.7%, in which 66.7% were women and 38.9% were older than 80 years. Elderly with AA presented lower intake of calories (1172.6 kcal vs 1477.9 kcal; p = 0.003), carbohydrates (158.5 g vs 194.1 g; p = 0.015), proteins (49.9 g vs 68.5 g; p = 0.004) and lipids (34.6 g vs 46.1 g; p = 0.006). They also had lower intake of fibers (12.6 g vs 19.4 g; p < 0.001), iron (6.4 mg vs 8.9 mg; p < 0.001) and zinc (6.0 mg vs 8.5 mg; p = 0.004). Our results show that intake of most nutrients is significantly lower in AA elderly, except carbohydrates, which may point to worse-quality diets. The diagnosis of AA, as well as the evaluation of elderly food intake, are essential to prevent undernutrition, vulnerabilities, and increased morbidity and mortality.

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OBJECTIVE: to explore the relationship between anemia, hemoglobin concentration and frailty syndrome in older adults. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This was a cross-sectional population-based study, with adults ≥60 years (n=1,256) from the third wave of the SABE Cohort Study (Health, Well-being and Aging) conducted in 2010 in São Paulo, Brazil. Frailty syndrome was evaluated according to Fried´s phenotype. Anemia was defined using the WHO criteria (hemoglobin concentration <12 g/dL for women and <13 g/dL for men). Four approaches were used to verify the associations between anemia, hemoglobin concentration and frailty status or number of frailty criteria. We used logistic regression and Poisson regression in the analyses, and they were adjusted in three hierarchical models using three blocks of variables: basic characteristics; clinical characteristics; cognitive status. RESULTS: Mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in frail elderly (13.3g/dL, versus 14.3g/dL in non-frail; p<0.001). Prevalence of anemia was also significantly higher in frail when compared to non-frail elderly (24.2% and 3.8%; p<0.001). Anemia was significantly associated to low physical activity, weakness and slowness. In the fully adjusted regression models, anemia was strongly associated to frailty (OR=3.27, 95%IC=1.89,5.65; p<0.001), and lower levels of hemoglobin were associated to higher number of frailty criteria. CONCLUSIONS: We found important associations between anemia, hemoglobin concentration and frailty; anemic older adults were more likely to be frail, and lower levels of hemoglobin were associated to higher number of frailty criteria showing a clear dose-response effect.

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OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between hemoglobin concentration and disability and mobility difficulty among older adults living in São Paulo, Brazil. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Population-based study conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Adults age 60 and over (n=1,256) from the third data collection wave of the SABE Study (Health, Well-being, and Aging) conducted in 2010. MEASUREMENTS: Two outcome measures were included in the analyses: 1) a difficulty to perform at least one of the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and 2) mobility difficulty, which was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Logistic regression models assessed the association between hemoglobin and each of the outcome measures. All analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of IADL disability was 26.8% and 10.7% of participants had mobility difficulty. The mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in older adults who already presented disability (13.7g/dL versus 14.4g/dL among independent elderly) or decreased mobility (13.4g/dL versus 14.3g/dL among elderly with preserved mobility). Higher values of hemoglobin concentration were associated with lower the risk of IADL disability (OR=0.88; p=0.04) and mobility difficulty (OR=0.81; p=0.02). Hemoglobin concentrations showed a dose-response effect in the probability of each outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Lower hemoglobin concentration was associated with a higher probability of IADL disability and mobility difficulty, showing a clear dose-response effect.

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Adsorption isotherms of chlorobenzene, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride vapors on undoped SiO(2), and metal-doped Ag/SiO(2), Cu/SiO(2) and Fe/SiO(2) substrates were measured in the temperature range of 398-593K. These substrates were prepared from a typical sol-gel technique in the presence of metal dopants that rendered an assortment of microporous-mesoporous solids. The relevant characteristic of these materials was the different porosities and micropore to mesopore volume ratios that were displayed; this was due to the effect that the cationic metal valence exerts on the size of the sol-gel globules that compose the porous solid. The texture of these SiO(2) materials was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR, and diverse adsorption methods. The pore-size distributions of the adsorbents confirmed the existence of mesopores and supermicropores, while ultramicropores were absent. The Freundlich adsorption model approximately fitted the chlorinated compounds adsorption data on the silica substrates by reason of a heterogeneous energy distribution of adsorption sites. The intensity of the interaction between these organic vapors and the surface of the SiO(2) samples was analyzed through evaluation of the isosteric heat of adsorption and standard adsorption energy; from these last results it was evident that the presence of metal species within the silica structure greatly affected the values of both the amounts adsorbed as well as of the isosteric heats of adsorption.

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In affluent societies high caloric intake and chronic stress are currently associated with upper body fat. We investigated the effects of a high-sucrose (S) diet and dexamethasone (DEX) on fat depots (experiment 1) and lipid fuel fluxes (experiment 2) in male Wistar rats. In experiment 1, a liquid diet of commercial powdered milk containing 31% calories as carbohydrate or an isocaloric S diet (80% calories as carbohydrate) was offered to male rats. One half of the rats on each diet received a daily dose of 3 microg DEX in their diet. Intake was measured daily and body weight 3 times a week. Rats were killed after 7 weeks, and fat depot weights and carcass lipid were determined. In a second experiment, other rats received only the S diet with or without DEX. After 7 weeks, under pentobarbital anesthesia, arterial, portal, and iliolumbar vein blood was drawn, and the liver was extracted. Plasma concentration of triacylglycerides (TAG), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol (GOL), and lactate (L) and liver TAG were measured. Rats on the S diet ingested less and gained less weight. DEX treatment significantly reduced body weight gain. All fat depots as percentage of body weight were increased only in the S-DEX group. The S-DEX group had more liver TAG and less arterial NEFA and GOL than the S group. TAG determinations showed unexpected results: portal levels in the S-DEX group and iliolumbar levels in both groups were significantly higher than in the arterial plasma. This fact, together with high NEFA/GOL ratios in these veins, may signify incomplete TAG hydrolysis by lipoprotein lipase. L levels were higher in the S-DEX group and higher in arterial versus venous blood in both groups, indicating L uptake both in the splanchnic area and the retroperitoneal fat. These results show that, in rats, a long-term high-sucrose diet has peculiar effects on L turnover, and when associated with DEX, it also increases fat depots, induces liver steatosis, and, presumably, inhibits complete hydrolysis of TAG by lipoprotein lipase (LPL).

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PIP: The World Health Organization has recommended since 1920 that salt for cooking be iodized to ensure adequate iodine intake by the population. The frequent appearance of goiter especially in adolescents in some endemic areas of the Dominican Republic prompted a study of iodine content of salt. Concentrations of iodine were assessed in 12 samples of salt. Three samples were from salt mines and the rest were obtained as "iodized salt" in markets. Iodine was added to six other samples as a control for the laboratory procedure. 50 mothers attending a public children's clinic and 25 attending a private medical practice were interviewed concerning the type of salt they used for cooking. Iodine was not found in the 12 samples but was found in the six controls. 56% of the women stated they used non-refined salt in meal preparation. 16% of the mothers in the public clinic and 44% in the private clinic were aware of the association between iodine and goiter.^ieng

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Systemic toxocariasis generally causes fever, liver enlargement and lymph node swelling. This is an unusual case report which was initially confused with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis due to the presence of fever, arthralgias, arthritis of the smaller joints, important leukocytosis and hypergammaglobulinemia, besides testing positive for rheumatoid factor type IgM. After finding severe eosinophilia in both the patient's blood as well as in the bone marrow, systemic toxocariasis was diagnosed also finding very high levels of antibodies against Toxocara canis using the ELISA technique. Briefly discussed are the clinical and laboratory data, and the management of systemic toxocariasis and the possible origin of the rheumatoid factor in this disease.

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