RESUMO
Purpose: To describe the outcomes of a novel technique for the repair of peripheral corneal perforations using autologous limbal tissue. Methods: Two patients with peripheral corneal perforations with contraindications to other corneal procedures underwent limbal advancements. This technique involves creating a pedicle of the limbus, sclera and conjunctiva to cover the perforation. Results: The tissue had optimal integration in both patients; no aqueous leaks or flat anterior chambers were noted. None of the patients had recurrence of perforation or ocular discomfort. Conclusion: In conclusion, this technique is a cost-effective and straightforward alternative for the repair of impending acute peripheral perforations.
RESUMO
The level of fecal pollution in 17 sites in Puerto Rico was determined by Escherichia coli (E.coli) enumeration using an enzyme substrate medium and Quanti-Tray®/2000. Human fecal pollution was identified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of carbamazepine (CBZ) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detection of the human Bacteroides marker, HF183. Carbamazepine was detected in 16 out of 17 sites, including Condado Lagoon, a popular recreational area. Elevated E.coli levels (>410 CFU 100 mL(-1)) were detected in 13 sites. Average CBZ concentrations ranged from 0.005 µg L(-1) to 0.482 µg L(-1) and 7 sites were positive for HF183. Higher CBZ concentrations were associated with the detection of HF183 (Mann-Whitney test; U=42.0; df=7; 1-tailed P value=0.013). This was the second study to determine surface water concentrations of CBZ in the Caribbean and the first in Puerto Rico.
Assuntos
Bacteroides/genética , Carbamazepina/análise , Fezes/microbiologia , Microbiologia da Água , Região do Caribe , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Escherichia coli , Humanos , Porto Rico , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análiseRESUMO
Fecal pollution in the coastal marine environments was assessed at eleven sampling locations along the Georgia coast and Trinidad, and nine sites from Puerto-Rico. Membrane filtration (EPA method 1604 and method 1600) was utilized for Escherichia coli and enterococci enumeration at each location. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplification of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used to determine the presence of the Helicobacter pylori in marine samples. There was no significant correlation between the levels of E. coli, enterococci and H. pylori in these water samples. H. pylori was detected at four of the 31 locations sampled; Oak Grove Island and Village Creek Landing in Georgia, Maracas river in Trinidad, and Ceiba Creek in Puerto Rico. The study confirms the potential public health risk to humans due to the widespread distribution of H. pylori in subtropical and tropical costal marine waters.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental , Helicobacter pylori/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Água do Mar/microbiologia , Microbiologia da Água , Escherichia coli/classificação , Escherichia coli/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Georgia , Helicobacter pylori/classificação , Helicobacter pylori/isolamento & purificação , Porto Rico , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
In this study, quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the atrazine catabolism gene, atzA, was used to detect the presence of atrazine degrading bacteria as an indicator of atrazine contamination in 11 sites in Georgia, nine coastal sites in Puerto Rico and 11 coastal sites in Trinidad. The atzA gene was detected in five stations in Georgia (Oak Grove Island entrance, Blythe Island Recreation Park, Jekyll Island., Village Creek Landing and Dunbar Creek Sea Island Rd Bridge). In Puerto Rico gene was detected in five sites (Boquilla, Oro Creek, Fishers Association, Ceiba Creek and Sabalos Creek) while seven sites in Trinidad (Carli Bay, Las Cuevas Bay, Quinam Bay, Salybia River, Salybia Bay, Maracas River and Maracas Bay) showed the presence of atzA.
Assuntos
Atrazina/metabolismo , Bactérias/genética , Genes Bacterianos , Herbicidas/metabolismo , Água do Mar/microbiologia , Poluentes Químicos da Água/metabolismo , Bactérias/metabolismo , Biodegradação Ambiental , Georgia , Porto Rico , Água do Mar/química , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
The bacterioplankton diversity of coastal waters along a latitudinal gradient between Puerto Rico and Argentina was analyzed using a total of 134,197 high-quality sequences from the V6 hypervariable region of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA) (mean length of 60 nt). Most of the OTUs were identified into Proteobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria, corresponding to approx. 80% of the total number of sequences. The number of OTUs corresponding to species varied between 937 and 1946 in the seven locations. Proteobacteria appeared at high frequency in the seven locations. An enrichment of Cyanobacteria was observed in Puerto Rico, whereas an enrichment of Bacteroidetes was detected in the Argentinian shelf and Uruguayan coastal lagoons. The highest number of sequences of Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria were obtained in the Amazon estuary mouth. The rarefaction curves and Good coverage estimator for species diversity suggested a significant coverage, with values ranging between 92 and 97% for Good coverage. Conserved taxa corresponded to aprox. 52% of all sequences. This study suggests that human-contaminated environments may influence bacterioplankton diversity.
Assuntos
Bactérias/classificação , Plâncton/classificação , Microbiologia da Água , Actinobacteria/genética , Actinobacteria/isolamento & purificação , Bactérias/genética , Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Bacteroidetes/genética , Bacteroidetes/isolamento & purificação , Biodiversidade , Cianobactérias/genética , Cianobactérias/isolamento & purificação , Humanos , América Latina , Plâncton/genética , Plâncton/isolamento & purificação , Proteobactérias/genética , Proteobactérias/isolamento & purificação , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
Traditional and molecular methods (PCR) were used to detect, quantify and identify the source of fecal pollution in coastal sites of Puerto Rico and Trinidad. Enterococci and Escherichia coli standard plate counts were used as a general indicator of fecal contamination while the PCR detection of Bifidobacteria adolescentis and human or bovine specific Bacteroidales were used to examine potential sources. Seven of 14 sites in Trinidad including Maracas Bay which is a major public beach contained significant fecal contamination based on enterococci numbers counts exceeding established thresholds for areas of direct contact. Forty six percent of the 27 stations in Puerto Rico were over the established thresholds for enterococci and 49% according to E. coli counts. About 31% of the stations examined in Puerto Rico had evidence of human derived fecal contamination. Human fecal pollution was detected in only one station from Trinidad. Bovine derived contamination was detected only once.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental , Fezes/microbiologia , Água do Mar/microbiologia , Microbiologia da Água , Poluentes da Água/análise , Animais , Bovinos , Escherichia coli/isolamento & purificação , Geografia , Humanos , Porto Rico , Medição de Risco , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
Abstract:Studies of temporal and spatial changes in phytoplankton biomass and turbidity provide essential information on coral reef ecosystem function and health.Fluctuation of phytoplankton biomass responds to several factors including nutrient inputs,both anthropogenic and natural,while turbidity is mostly affected by sediment resuspension or transport from terrestrial systems.These parameters can be used as sentinels of significant environmental factors "modifying "coral reef systems.A chlorophyll a concentration (Chl a )and turbidity (Turb)in situ logger was installed at 10 stations from June 4 to July 7,2003 in La Parguera Natural Reserve (Southwestern Puerto Rico)to assess short-term temporal and geographic variation in patterns of phytoplankton biomass and turbidity at pre-selected sites as part of an interdisciplinary long-term study.Average station Chl a variation was 0.17-1.12 µg l-1 and 0.2-23.4 NTU for Turb.Results indicate that the western near-coastal stations had higher levels of Turb and Chl a .The easternmost mid shelf station,Romero reef,was similar to coastal stations probably due to nutrient and suspended sediment inputs from a source external to our study area to the east,Guánica Bay.Comparisons between different sampling days indicate significant differences between days for most stations suggesting that one-time discrete sampling may not be representative of average water column conditions and illustrate the dynamic nature of coral reef systems.Further work is warranted to assess seasonal changes that integrate short-term (daily)variability in both Turb and Chl a.