Phylogenomics analysis of multidrug-resistant Elizabethkingia anophelis in industrial wastewater treatment plant.

Aims: This study investigated the phylogenetic relatedness of multidrug-resistant Elizabethkingia anophelis recovered from an industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTPi).

Methods And Results: The wastewater samples were plated in brain heart infusion agar (4 mg/L ceftazidime, 8 mg/L meropenem, and 2 mg/L polimixin). Four isolates recovered from four stages of WWTPi (influent, aeration, decantation, and treated effluent) were identified and evaluated of susceptibility profiles in the VITEK 2 system.

Occurrence of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST244 and ST11 extensively drug-resistant producing KPC, NDM, OXA-370 in wastewater, Brazil.

Aims: To investigate the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) and their clonal relationships from hospital and municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Methods And Results: Eighteen Kl. pneumoniae strains recovered from three WWTPs were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF).

Environmental genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Wastewater-based epidemiology can be a complementary approach for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, diversity, and geographic distribution. It is a complementary approach regarding its prevalence and diversity, and geographic distribution. The study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Migration of silver nanoparticles from plastic materials, with antimicrobial action, destined for food contact.

Five materials with antimicrobial function, by adding silver, were investigated to evaluate total silver concentration in the polymers and migration of silver nanoparticles from the materials in contact with food. The migration test was carried out by contacting plastic material with food simulant. Migration concentrations and average silver particle sizes were determined by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma, performed in single particle mode (spICP-MS).

Organic Black Beans ( L.) from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, Present More Phenolic Compounds and Better Nutritional Profile Than Nonorganic.

Brazil is the world's third largest common bean ( L.) producer, and 60% of its population consumes this legume. Although organic farming is a sustainable alternative to nonorganic agriculture, its effect on chemical composition is still controversial.

Metal mixtures in pregnant women and umbilical cord blood at urban populations-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This study aims to assess interrelationships between serum lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) concentrations in pregnant women in their third trimester and umbilical cord blood, while inter-metal correlations were also determined. This study is part of the PIPA project (Childhood and Environmental Pollutant Project), whose pilot study was carried out from October 2017 to August 2018 and will be presented here. Blood samples were obtained from 117 mother-umbilical cord pairs and analyzed concerning metal concentrations.

Suitability of 3D human brain spheroid models to distinguish toxic effects of gold and poly-lactic acid nanoparticles to assess biocompatibility for brain drug delivery.

Background: The blood brain barrier (BBB) is the bottleneck of brain-targeted drug development. Due to their physico-chemical properties, nanoparticles (NP) can cross the BBB and accumulate in different areas of the central nervous system (CNS), thus are potential tools to carry drugs and treat brain disorders. In vitro systems and animal models have demonstrated that some NP types promote neurotoxic effects such as neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the CNS.

Dissemination of enteroviruses in the production chain of organic lettuce in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This study aimed to survey the environmental dissemination of enterovirus (EV) in a site of organic lettuce situated in the mountainous region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For this purpose, a total of 96 environmental samples, including water and lettuce samples obtained in different stages of the production chain (e.g.

Dissemination of gastroenteric viruses in the production of lettuce in developing countries: a public health concern.

Investigation of major viruses responsible for acute viral gastroenteritis, such as norovirus (NoV), rotavirus species A (RVA) and human adenovirus (HAdV), was conducted in the mountainous region of the state of Rio de Janeiro in a lettuce-producing area. Irrigation water and lettuce samples were collected at different production stages. Viruses were concentrated using an adsorption-elution method and detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

International Harmonization and Cooperation in the Validation of Alternative Methods.

The development and validation of scientific alternatives to animal testing is important not only from an ethical perspective (implementation of 3Rs), but also to improve safety assessment decision making with the use of mechanistic information of higher relevance to humans. To be effective in these efforts, it is however imperative that validation centres, industry, regulatory bodies, academia and other interested parties ensure a strong international cooperation, cross-sector collaboration and intense communication in the design, execution, and peer review of validation studies. Such an approach is critical to achieve harmonized and more transparent approaches to method validation, peer-review and recommendation, which will ultimately expedite the international acceptance of valid alternative methods or strategies by regulatory authorities and their implementation and use by stakeholders.

Brazilian Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (BraCVAM) and the process of validation in Brazil.

The need for the creation of a Brazilian centre for the validation of alternative methods was recognised in 2008, and members of academia, industry and existing international validation centres immediately engaged with the idea. In 2012, co-operation between the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) and the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) instigated the establishment of the Brazilian Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (BraCVAM), which was officially launched in 2013. The Brazilian validation process follows OECD Guidance Document No.

Applicability of the Monocyte Activation Test (MAT) for hyperimmune sera in the routine of the quality control laboratory: Comparison with the Rabbit Pyrogen Test (RPT).

Pyrogen tests are safety assays performed during the routine quality control of injectable products required by regulatory agencies. Currently, there are three available testing possibilities: 1) the Rabbit Pyrogen Test (RPT); 2) the Bacterial Endotoxin Test (BET); and 3) test systems using human whole-blood or monocytes, termed Monocyte Activation Test (MAT). Although BET is often considered as a replacement for the animal test, it is unable to detect pyrogens other than endotoxin.

Participation of Brazil in the World Congresses on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences: an increase in commitment to the Three Rs.

Many Brazilian researchers have long been interested in the development and use of alternative methods. Most of their research groups work in isolation, due to the lack of funding for collaborative studies. Despite these problems, since the Third World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, Brazilian researchers have strongly participated, not only by presenting posters and oral presentations, but also by being involved in the World Congress Committees.

Establishment and validation of an ELISA for the quantitation of HBsAg in recombinant hepatitis B vaccines.

Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for the determination of the in vitro potency of recombinant hepatitis B vaccines, which detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), have been used frequently as an alternative for traditional in vivo potency tests. With the constant need for validation procedures, an ELISA that could be employed to determine the in vitro potency of five recombinant hepatitis B vaccines simultaneously was established using two monoclonal antibodies. The use of two monoclonal antibodies produced "in house" specific for the small envelope protein S of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) resulted in the production of a highly specific, sensitive and stable ELISA.

The need for the establishment of a Brazilian Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (BraCVAM).

Brazil has recently approved legislation for regulating experimental animal use. On the other hand, it is a requirement that the safety of many products on the market is controlled on the basis of animal testing. Some groups at official laboratories, universities and industries are studying alternative methods, but there is no approved mechanism for funding collaborative studies, nor is there an institution responsible for coordinating these studies.

Rapid tranquillisation in psychiatric emergency settings in Brazil: pragmatic randomised controlled trial of intramuscular haloperidol versus intramuscular haloperidol plus promethazine.

Objective: To determine whether haloperidol alone results in swifter and safer tranquillisation and sedation than haloperidol plus promethazine.

Design: Pragmatic randomised open trial (January-July 2004).

Setting: Psychiatric emergency room, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.