We analyzed the current status (as of the end of August 2008) of human mitochondrial genomes deposited in GenBank, amounting to 5140 complete or coding-region sequences, in order to present an overall picture of the diversity present in the mitochondrial DNA of the global human population. To perform this task, we developed mtDNA-GeneSyn, a computer tool that identifies and exhaustedly classifies the diversity present in large genetic data sets. The diversity observed in the 5140 human mitochondrial genomes was compared with all possible transitions and transversions from the standard human mitochondrial reference genome. This comparison showed that tRNA and rRNA secondary structures have a large effect in limiting the diversity of the human mitochondrial sequences, whereas for the protein-coding genes there is a bias toward less variation at the second codon positions. The analysis of the observed amino acid variations showed a tolerance of variations that convert between the amino acids V, I, A, M, and T. This defines a group of amino acids with similar chemical properties that can interconvert by a single transition.

Twenty samples of Brazilian meat and meat products were screened by the agar overlay method for bacteriocinproducing lactic acid bacteria, using Lactobacillus sake ATCC 15521 as indicator strain. Based on Gram staining, KOH reaction, catalase test and fermentation of 49 carbohydrates (API 50 CH), three out of seven isolates with confirmed antagonist properties were identified as Lactobacillus curvatus, one as Leuconostoc mesenteroides and one as Leuconostoc sp. Two isolates could not be properly identified using these tests. The inhibitors produced by these strains were sensitive to proteases. Inhibition due to lytic bacteriophages was ruled out, so the isolates were classified as bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria. Four of them presented antilisterial activity and a potential application as biopreservatives in meat systems.

Sepsis is the most common cause of death in critically ill patients and is associated with multiorgan failure, including acute kidney injury (AKI). This situation can require acute renal support and increase mortality. Therefore, it is essential to administer antimicrobials in doses that achieve adequate serum levels, avoiding both overdosing and drug toxicity as well as underdosing and the risk of antibiotic resistance and higher mortality. Currently, there are no validated guidelines on antibiotic dose adjustments in septic patients with AKI. The current recommendations were extrapolated from studies conducted in noncritical patients with end‐stage chronic kidney disease receiving chronic renal replacement therapy. This study aimed to review and discuss the complexity of this issue, considering several factors related to drug metabolism, the characteristics of critically ill patients, the properties of antimicrobial drugs and dialysis methods.

This study confirms that the FPCD and the FPCD/weight ratio are the most consistent predictors of laryngoscopic difficulty in pediatric patients. For patients over 6 months of age, the IID also correlated with laryngoscopic difficulty. For children who were capable of obeying simple orders, the Mallampati test correlated better with laryngoscopic difficulty than did the Mallampati test with phonation. Our results strongly suggest that skilled professionals should perform airway management in children, especially in patients with a high FPCD or a high FPCD/weight ratio.

4 Utilizamos problemática obrigatória para compreender a polícia como objeto de estudo nas ciências sociais, nos termos propostos por Bourdieu (2001) em que algumas questões se constituem em "repertório de lugares-comuns", "não apenas um discurso e uma linguagem comuns, mas também terrenos de encontro e acordo, problemas comuns e maneiras comuns de abordar tais problemas comuns" (Ibidem, p. 207). Para o autor, pouco importa se os intelectuais discordam das questões que discutem. O que está em jogo é estar de acordo em discuti-las. Neste ponto, tal noção torna-se chave para o argumento que pretendemos desenvolver, uma vez que se busca demonstrar que a polícia, enquanto objeto de estudo, consolida-se nas ciências sociais.

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As bactérias láticas (LAB) despertam interesse devido ao seu potencial de utilização no biocontrole em alimentos. Elas podem exercer atividade inibitória frente a outras bactérias devido à competição direta por nutrientes e pela produção de compostos antagonísticos como ácidos orgânicos, diacetil, peróxido de hidrogê-nio e bacteriocinas [3,4,10,21].Até o momento, a nisina é a única bacteriocina permitida para uso em cerca de 50 países [5], incluindo o Brasil onde ela é aprovada para uso em todos os tipos de queijos, e também aplicada na superfície externa de salsichas de diferentes tipos [1,2,16].Entretanto, seu uso em carnes pode ser limitado por interações com esse tipo de alimento [8,25], e até inativação pela enzima glutationa S-transferase de mús-culo bovino [23].Neste trabalho, foram caracterizadas algumas propriedades de bacteriocinas de bactérias láticas. -MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS -Linhagens bacterianasForam estudadas seis linhagens de bactérias láticas isoladas a partir de produtos cárneos brasileiros [7]. A origem e a identificação das referidas cepas estão mostradas na Tabela 1. TABELA 1. Linhagens bacteriocinogênicas estudadas neste trabalho. CARACTERIZAÇÃO PRELIMINAR DE BACTERIOCINAS PRODUZIDAS POR SEIS CEPAS DE BACTÉRIAS LÁTICAS ISOLADAS DE PRODUTOS CÁRNEOS EMBALADOS A VÁCUO SUMMARYPRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIOCINS PRODUCED BY SIX LACTIC ACID BACTERIA STRAINS ISOLATED FROM VACUUM-PACKAGED MEAT PRODUCTS. In this work, the bacteriocins produced by six bacterial strains were studied (Lactobacillus sake 1, Lactobacillus curvatus 5, Leuconostoc mesenteroides 11, Leuconostoc sp 12, Lactobacillus curvatus 14 and Lactobacillus sake 16). Title of inhibitory activity was determined by critical dilution assay, using Lactobacillus sake ATCC 15521 and Listeria monocytogenes as indicator microorganisms. The inhibitory compounds were also characterized with respect to stability to the action of enzymes, thermostability, stability in several pHs and mode of action (bactericide or bacteriostatic) towards Listeria monocytogenes. No bacteriocin was destroyed by pepsin, but all of them were destroyed by proteinase K, trypsin and α-amylase (except that α-amylase did not inactivate the bacteriocin produced by Leuconostoc sp 12). Lactobacillus sake 1, Leuconostoc mesenteroides 11 and Lactobacillus sake 16 exerted antilisterial activity. The more active strains against Listeria monocytogenes were Lactobacillus sake 1 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides 11 (12.800 AU/ml). Bacteriocins produced by Lactobacillus sake 1 and Lactobacillus curvatus 5 presented the highest thermal stability. The bacteriocin of Lactobacillus sake 1 was the most stable to pH variations. All LAB produced bacteriocin in the range of temperature from 4 o C to 30 o C and this property is of great interest for future applications in refrigerated meat products.