Identification of oxidoreductases from the petroleum strain.

A gram-positive bacterium, denominated CFA-06, was isolated from Brazilian petroleum in the Campos Basin and is responsible for the degradation of aromatic compounds and petroleum aromatic fractions. The CFA-06 strain was identified as using the 16S rRNA and gyrase B sequence. Enzymatic assays revealed the presence of two oxidoreductases: a catalase and a new oxidoreductase.

Adipose-derived stromal cell therapy improves cardiac function after coronary occlusion in rats.

Recent studies have identified adipose tissue as a new source of mesenchymal stem cells for therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapy with adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) in a rat model of healed myocardial infarction (MI). ASCs from inguinal subcutaneous adipose tissue of male Wistar rats were isolated by enzymatic digestion and filtration.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor treatment of chronic myocardial infarction.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration on cardiac function of rats with chronic myocardial infarction through two different protocols: high dose short term and low dose long term protocols.

Methods: Wistar rats were submitted to MI surgery and after 4 weeks they received recombinant human G-CSF (Filgrastim) or vehicle subcutaneously. We tested the classical protocol (50 microg/kg/day during 7 days) and the long term low dose treatment (four cycles of 5 days of 10 microg/kg/day).

G-CSF does not improve systolic function in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been reported to improve cardiac performance by increasing the number of bone marrow stem cell in the peripheral circulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of G-CSF administration on cardiac function in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: Recombinant human G-CSF (Filgrastim, 100 microg/kg, sc) twice a day during seven consecutive days (G-CSF group, n=13) or vehicle (control group, n=10) was administrated three hours after left anterior coronary artery ligation.

Is saliva as reliable as urine for detection of cytomegalovirus DNA for neonatal screening of congenital CMV infection?

Background: There are no studies on the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA by molecular methods in the saliva of newborn infants in large scale screening programs.

Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of saliva as a sample for the neonatal screening of congenital CMV infection as compared to urine when processed by a PCR.

Study Design: Saliva and urine samples were obtained during the first week of life.