Iodine intake in Portuguese pregnant women: results of a countrywide study

BACKGROUND

Iodine is the key element for thyroid hormone synthesis, and its deficiency, even moderate, is harmful in pregnancy, when needs are increased, because of its potential deleterious effects on fetal brain development. In Portugal, no recent data on iodine intake exists. The objective of this countrywide study was to analyze iodine status in pregnant Portuguese women in order to propose adequate measures to the health authorities.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Using a fast colorimetric method, urine iodine concentration (UIC) was evaluated in 3631 pregnant women followed in 17 maternity hospitals from hinterland and coastal areas in Continental Portugal and the Portuguese islands of Açores and Madeira.

RESULTS

Median UIC value was 84.9 μg/l (range 67.6-124.1) in Continental Portugal, 69.5 μg/l in Madeira, and 50.0 μg/l in Açores. The percentage of satisfactory values (>150 μg/l) was 16.8, ranging from 8.8 to 34.1 in the Continent, and being 8.2 in Madeira and 2.3 in Açores. The percentage of values below 50 μg/l was 23.7, ranging from 14.0 to 37.4 in the Continent, 33.7 in Madeira, and 50.0 in Açores.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results point to an inadequate iodine intake in pregnant women assisted in most Portuguese maternity hospitals. Considering the potential deleterious effects of inadequate iodine supply in pregnancy, iodine supplementation is strongly recommended in this period of life.

Analyses of microbial community within a composter operated using household garbage with special reference to the addition of soybean oil

A commercially available composter was operated using fixed composition of garbage with or without the addition of soybean oil. The composter was operated without adding seed microorganisms or bulking materials. Microflora within the composter were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) in the case of oil addition, or by 16/18 S rRNA gene sequencing of the isolated microorganisms in the case of no oil addition. The results showed that, irrespective of the addition of oil, the bacteria identified were all gram positive, and that lactobacilli seemed to be the key microorganisms. Based on the results, suitable microflora for use in a household composter are discussed.

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analyses of microbial community from field-scale composter

The diversity of microbial community during the decomposition of waste in a field-scale composter (Hazaka system) was investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The composter operates at a high temperature through a self-heating system, creating a thermophilic (60-76 degrees C) stage during the initial phase and a mesophilic (45 degrees C) stage towards the later phase of the composting period. The pH of the system (pH 7.75-8.10) did not vary significantly during the process while moisture content was reduced from 48.8% to 25.1%. DGGE and 16S rDNA analyses showed that the following genera were found throughout the process: Propionibacterium sp., Methylobacterium sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Bradyrhizobium sp. Different Bacillus spp. thrive at the thermophilic or the mesophilic stage while Clostridium sp. was only found at the initial phase of the process. Staphylococcus sp. and Caulobacter sp. or Brevundimonas sp. existed during the later phase of the composting period.

Physiological and chemotaxonomical studies on microflora within a composter operated at high temperature

Physiological and chemotaxonomical studies were carried out on microorganisms isolated from a composter operated at around 50 to 60 degrees C. Only gram-positive rods were isolated and the microbial counts on agar plates were relatively low (10(3) to 10(5) cfu/g-sample). The chemotaxonomic properties of the ten isolates revealed that they were typical of the genus Bacillus. Identification by the Biolog system concurred with the chemotaxonomy; all the strains were determined to be Bacillus. 16S rDNA analysis closely identified five of the isolates as B. licheniformis, one as B. subtilis, and two as B. thermoamylovorans, while the remaining two strains seemed to belong to a new species. However, in several cases 16S rDNA analysis and the Biolog system gave different results at the species level. The stability of microflora within the composter was also investigated using the Biolog system. Analysis of colonies obtained during three sampling periods--December 1997, April 1998, and June 1998--showed that the microflora in the composter remained fairly stable.