SummaryWe evaluated the role of the family in the transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection in preschool-aged children from a rural district in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sixty-six families (66 index children, 63 mothers, 60 fathers and 134 siblings), defined as at least one parent living in the same household with at least one offspring up to 8 years old, were studied. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by logistic regression controlling for age, gender, number of children in household and H. pylori status of the father, mother and siblings. The prevalence of the infection was 69.7% (469 of 673) and it increased with age (P < 0.001). Positive mothers were a strong and independent risk factor for infection (OR 22.70;). Positive siblings were also positively associated with infection (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.01-3.30).

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The study of enzymatic catalysis is a classical biochemistry experiment for undergraduate classes. We propose the utilization of the serine protease trypsin to discuss several parameters affecting enzyme catalysis. Hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrate N α -benzoyl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BApNA) was followed by spectrophotometric monitoring. The optimal pH and temperature values were found to be 8.0 and 40 °C, respectively. Km and Vmax values were obtained by adjustment to Michaelis-Menten, Lineweaver-Burke, and Hanes equations. We then investigated the effect of organic solvents (a series of alcohols) on the hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrate. The reaction rate was reduced in the presence of methanol and further reduced by ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol, when compared to the data obtained with buffer. Finally the students were asked to measure the molar absorptivity of p-nitrophenol in the presence of the alcohols employed for the kinetic experiments. Thus they could learn that the value of this parameter varies with the solvent. These experiments were designed as a project-oriented approach to teach biochemistry methodologies and theoretical aspects of enzyme kinetics. They took about four months with four to six hours per week spent in the laboratory.

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