Aims: The aim of this study was to identify an isolate B, an exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing lactic acid bacteria and determine the fermentation time effect on EPS production. Methodology and results: Isolate B, an EPS producer, was isolated from peanut milk containing commercial sugar, which was fermented spontaneously for 24 h. Isolate B was identified biochemically using API 50 CH and molecularly based on 16S rDNA. The effect of fermentation time on EPS production by isolate B with variations of the fermentation time were 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 h. Isolate B was able to produce EPS qualitatively by producing mucoid colonies on solid media containing sucrose. The identification revealed that this isolate was Weissella confusa both biochemically using API 50 CH and molecularly based on 16S rDNA sequence homology-based method. The fermentation time significantly affected EPS production (P<0.05). Isolate B (W. confusa) produced the highest EPS (10.41 g/L) at 36 h with a cell viability of 6.5 × 108 CFU/mL. Furthermore, the FTIR results of EPS showed absorption bands characteristic of carbohydrates, including O-H, C-H, C=O, C-O-C and α-1,6 glycosidic groups. The EPS in this study was most likely a dextran type. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The yield of EPS production was influenced by fermentation time. Results suggest that W. confusa isolated from peanut milk had a good ability for EPS production. Therefore, it can be considered further to apply this strain for the production of EPS. However, further research is required.

Background: The Philippine National Ear Institute (PNEI) was created to promote health of hearing and balance among Filipinos. Over the years, it has provided audiologic services to thousands of patients annually and has published relevant hearing and balance research. Objective: To describe the patients served by the PNEI in terms of age, region of origin, occupation, pretest diagnosis, and audiologic results. Methods: Study Design - Cross-sectional study Setting - National tertiary care center Population - All records of patients referred for audiologic testing at PNEI in 2006 were reviewed and encoded into analyzable format. Results: A total of 1,756 patients had audiologic records for review. Median age was 32.5 years, with the age distribution presented according to sex, type of tests done including common reasons for referral, and median threshold levels by frequency. Coverage was national in scope, with most patients coming from the National Capital Region and from Regions III and IVa. Occupation was indicated in 37.8 percent of the working age group, most of whom were unemployed. The most common pretest diagnosis was chronic otitis media (26.6 percent), followed by hearing loss of unknown etiology (13.0 percent) and tinnitus (9.3 percent). Severity of hearing impairment based on pure tone audiometry was variable, and was presented according to common diagnoses. About 39 percent of hearing impairment cases were sensorineural, 36 percent conductive and 25 percent due to mixed defect. Bilateral Type A ears were found in 45.4 percent of patients by tympanometry, while 29.3 percent were bilateral Type B. For otoacoustic emissions, 69.0 percent were labeled as "refer" in at least one ear. Conclusion: The PNEI is a major national referral center for audiology that holds much promise in developing programs for national surveillance of the hearing status of different sectors in Philippine society. (Author)
HEARING AUDIOLOGY ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE TESTS OTITIS MEDIA

Malunion of recurrent fractures in Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) patients causes limb length discrepancy and malrotation. These cause added difficulty for OI patients to ambulate. Lengthening with distraction osteogenesis using an external fixator in OI patients is challenging. Acute lengthening with autologous bone graft is a known method in a normal bone but not a known procedure in OI patients. We present two clinic cases of adolescent OI patients with limb length discrepancy and externally rotated lower limb that underwent acute lengthening and rotational correction using a locked intramedullary nail and ipsilateral autologous iliac bone graft. Both patients obtained union and improvement of ambulatory capability without recurrence of fracture within five years of follow-up. Acute lengthening by 2cm and rotational correction with intramedullary nail improved the gait efficiency in the OI patients. Harvesting large amounts of the tricortical iliac bone graft, followed by controlled weight-bearing is a safe procedure.

Air Pollutants ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Environmental Exposure ; Humans ; Particle Size ; Particulate Matter ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology