Improvements in fermentation and nutritive quality of elephant grass [Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone] silages: a review.

Elephant grass [Pennisetum purpureum Schumach. syn. Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone], also known as Napier grass and King grass, includes varieties Taiwán, Gigante, Merkerón, Maralfalfa, and others. The grass achieves high biomass production in tropical-subtropical, temperate, and arid areas. The high-water concentration of elephant grass suggests that ensiling could offer an alternative way to preserve the nutritional quality of the grass during storage, however, some considerations should be addressed because of the particularities of the grass. Ensiling elephant grass may produce adequate fermentation but could suffer effluent losses and subsequent losses of nutrients due to leaching. To improve fermentation and nutrient characteristics of elephant grass silages, several studies were conducted with the inclusion of additives. Lactic acid bacteria inocula have reduced pH and increased crude protein content of elephant grass silage, but aerobic stability of silages could be affected by the bacterial inoculation. There is limited information, however, on the potential of different silage inoculants to reduce growth of spoilage microorganisms during the aerobic phase of silage prepared with elephant grass. Exogenous fibrolytic enzymes also may improve elephant grass silage quality by enhancing microbial fiber-degradation with subsequent increase in lactic acid and its associated pH reduction. Another study approach to improve fermentation and nutritional quality of elephant grass silages involved the addition of different feeds at ensiling, including conventional feeds such corn, wheat, rice bran, and molasses or alternative feeds such as different dehydrated by-products obtained from the food industries of juice and jelly. In the manuscript, the presented scientific information shows the great potential of the different manipulations to improve the quality of elephant grass silages and with possible enhance of the economic profit and sustainability of livestock farming in the tropical areas.

Olfactory Function and Olfactory Disorders. / Riechen und Riechstörungen.

The sense of smell is important. This became especially clear to patients with infection-related olfactory loss during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We react, for example, to the body odors of other humans. The sense of smell warns us of danger, and it allows us to perceive flavors when eating and drinking. In essence, this means quality of life. Therefore, anosmia must be taken seriously. Although olfactory receptor neurons are characterized by regenerative capacity, anosmia is relatively common with about 5 % of anosmic people in the general population. Olfactory disorders are classified according to their causes (e. g., infections of the upper respiratory tract, traumatic brain injury, chronic rhinosinusitis, age) with the resulting different therapeutic options and prognoses. Thorough history taking is therefore important. A wide variety of tools are available for diagnosis, ranging from short screening tests and detailed multidimensional test procedures to electrophysiological and imaging methods. Thus, quantitative olfactory disorders are easily assessable and traceable. For qualitative olfactory disorders such as parosmia, however, no objectifying diagnostic procedures are currently available. Therapeutic options for olfactory disorders are limited. Nevertheless, there are effective options consisting of olfactory training as well as various additive drug therapies. The consultation and the competent discussion with the patients are of major importance.

Ultrastructural Aspects of The Intestinal Cells Surface of Angiostrongylus Cantonensis By Using of Transmission Electron Microscopy.

The rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic parasite and the main cause of eosinophilic meningitis in the world. Its main source of nutrients originates from the degradation of host hemoglobin in blood-feeding helminths, such as A. cantonensis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the ultrastructure of the intestinal cells by using of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A. cantonensis worms obtained from Rattus norvegicus (norway rats) from endemic area were used for TEM. The ultrastructural analysis was performed using fragments cut from the middle part of the worms, and the TEM study revealed the cells with microvilli and nuclei containing areas of loose and condensed chromatin and the presence of macrovesicles and microvesicles of digestion and it was observed in this study that intestinal epithelium is look like a syncytium. The ultrastructural aspects of the intestinal cells surface of A. Cantonensis the indicate that the intestinal epithelium is a multinucleate mosaic or syncytium.

[LHON-Treatment option despite poor initial visual acuity?] / LHON ­ Behandlungsoption trotz schlechtem Ausgangsvisus?

A case of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy is reported in order to draw attention to this rare mitochondrial disease in the differential diagnostics and to show current treatment options. In this case despite very poor initial visual acuity and late start of treatment an improvement of visual acuity relevant for the patient could be achieved.

Use of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanohydrogels for the controlled release of pimaricin in active packaging.

UNLABELLED: We propose here a delivery drug-polymer system using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) nanohydrogels that enables pimaricin to be protected from hostile environments and allows the controlled release of the antifungal through environmental stimuli. We synthesized 2 nanohydrogels, 1 with 100% N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPA(5)) and 1 with 80% N-isopropylacrylamide copolymerized and 20% acrylic acid (PNIPA-20AA(5)). Both were then, loaded with a pimaricin aqueous solution. The pimaricin release profiles of these 2 nanohydrogels were considerably different: PNIPA(5) released 10% and PNIPA-20AA(5) released 30% with respect to the free pimaricin release. Moreover, the diffusion experiments showed that pimaricin was released from the PNIPA-20AA(5) nanohydrogel for up to 3 times longer than free pimaricin. Therefore, incorporating acrylic acid as comonomer into the PNIPA nanohydrogel resulted in a slower but more continuous release of pimaricin. The highest pimaricin levels were reached when the most hydrophilic nanohydrogel was used. The bioassay results showed that the pimaricin-nanohydrogel system was highly effective in inhibiting the growth of the indicator strain in conditions of thermal abuse. The spoilage in acidified samples stored under fluorescent lighting was reduced by 80.94% ± 33.02% in samples treated with a pimaricin-loaded nanohydrogel, but only by 19.91% ± 6.68% in samples treated with free pimaricin. Therefore, 2 conclusions emerge from this study. One is that the nanohydrogel delivery system could impede the degradation of pimaricin. The other is that the inhibitory effect of the antifungal on yeast growth is more pronounced when it is added included into the nanohydrogel to the food, especially in an acidic environment. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This article presents relevant results on the use of nanohydrogels in food packaging. Nanohydrogels could provide protection so that the pimaricin remains active for a longer time. They also allow the controlled release of pimaricin, which thus regulates the unnecessary presence of the antifungal in the food.

Validez de la ingesta energética estimada por registro alimentario en deportistas recreacionales / Validity of energy intake determined by food record in recreational sportspeoples

Introducción: Las estimaciones no representativas de la ingesta habitual reducen la validez de una investigación.Objetivos: Determinar qué proporción de un grupo de adultos que practican actividad física en forma recreacional, realizan registros alimentarios de escasa validez para estimar la ingesta energética habitual. Determinar si la validez de la ingesta energética estimada se asocia con determinadas características de los encuestados (sociodemográficas y antropométricas entre otras). Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico. Se incluyeron adultos de 19 a 70 años, de ambos sexos, que realizaron actividad física programada en 4 establecimientos deportivos en Capita Federal y el Conurbano bonaerense de julio a septiembre de 2009. Se realizaron dos entrevistas, mediciones antropométricas, un registro alimentario de 6 días y un registro de actividad física. Para identificar ingesta estimadas no representativas de la ingesta habitual se utilizó el método de Mc.Crory y col., con un punto de corte ±1DE. Resultados: De los 48 encuestados, el 31,3% (n=15) realizó un registroalimentario compatible con una subestimación de la ingesta energética habitual. El 22,9% (n=11) de los encuestados realizó un registro alimentario que posiblemente sobrestimó la ingesta de energía. La circunferencia de cintura aumentada y el sobrepeso se asociaron con el subregistro (p<0,01), mientras que en el grupo que posiblemente sobrestimó la ingesta había una mayor proporción de individuos con un nivel educativo mayor al secundario completo (p<0,05). Conclusiones: Tanto el sub como el sobre registro estuvieron presentes en este grupo y deben ser tenidos en cuenta al diseñar estudios que utilicen estas herramientas.

[Left ventricle free wall rupture - a 10-year experience]. / Rotura de parede livre do ventrículo esquerdo- 10 anos de experiência.

The left ventricle free wall rupture is one of the most serious and lethal complications associated to myocardial infarction.The most common treatment in our days consists in direct closure of the rupture with pericardium or synthetic material, applied with the help of histoacryl glue, without extracorporeal circulation.Between January 2000 and September 2010, 35 consecutive patients underwent operation for left ventricle free wall rupture at our hospital.The mean age was 69,5 years and most of the patients were male ( 65,7 % ). 2,9 days was the mean time for rupture after infarction and the anterior and lateral wall were most frequently involved. 94,7 % of the patients were in shock. Surgery was performed without extracorporeal circulation using a patch of pericardium and/or Dacron Sauvage, with histoacryl glue in 85,7 % of cases.Mean time of ICU stay was 7,9 days, in-hospital global mortality 28,6 %. At 2,5 years follow-up, 86 % of the patients were alive.Despite the high morbidity and mortality associated to surgery, the procedure is now safer, simpler and quick allowing the treatment of a situation that conducted to a most certain death without management.

Farmacodermia em um cão após administração de antibióticos do grupo betalactâmico: relato de caso / Pharmacodermia in a dog after administration of beta-lactam antibiotics: case report

A severe cutaneous reaction in a female dog after administration of penicillin and cephalexin is described, in which the main signs presented by the patient were fever, lack of appetite, and detachment of epidermis in the dorsal region of body.The established treatment was surgical debridement of the region, topical application of Aloe Vera with sugar, and systemic antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin, resulting in the recovery and wound closure in approximately 45 days.

[Minimally invasive thoracic surgery: a fifteen-years experience]. / Cirurgia torácica minimamente invasiva. Experiêcia de 15 anos.

The evolution of surgical techniques has rendering possible for thoracic surgery to be performed efficiently and safely, with less aggressive approaches. Being less traumatic, minimally invasive surgery allows a faster post-operative recovery, less complications and reduces in patient days and morbidity. The authors consider as minimally invasive approaches the video-assisted thoracic surgery, as well as the minithoractomy and the ministernotomy. The present paper reviews thoracic surgeries performed for the last 15 years in a cardiothoracic surgical unit using a minimally invasive surgical approach.

[Intra-thoracic goiter: analysis of the Department's experience]. / Bócio mergulhante: Análise da casuística do Serviço.

A review of all clinical files with pre-operative diagnosis of intra-thoracic goiter operated in our Department from 2001-2009 was made. We identified 30 patients, of which 66% were females. 63% of the patients were asymptomatic, 46% had clinical or radiological findings of mediastinal structures compression and 2 patients were ventilated prior to surgery. 50% of the patients were operated on through an inferior transverse cervicotomy, the remaining were operated on through partial or complete sternotomy, with cervical approach. 6,6% of patients (n=2) had an intra-operative diagnosis of invasive thymoma, 3,3% (n=1) had a very invasive mediastinal tumor and 3,3% (n=1) had an ectopic thyroid. Average surgical length of time was of 83 minutes. In 10% of patients (n=3) post-operative invasive ventilation was required, one of which for unilateral permanent lesion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In the long term follow-up we assessed 18 patients. The median follow up was 53 months. One patient died at the 15th post-operatory day of pneumonia, one expired at the 30th day for anaplasic thyroid carcinoma progression and one died at the 18 month from invasive thymoma progression. One patient currently reveals evidence of local recurrence 3 patients are currently taking levothyroxine and one is taking propiltiouracil. Pathological studies revealed that 66% of cases were multinodular goiter and neoplasia was present in 13% of the patients. Other results were thymic pathology in 13% of cases (n=4), parathyroid cyst in 3,3% (n=1), and ectopic thyroid in 3,3% (n=1(.

[Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in Rendu-Osler-Weber disease. Case report]. / Malformações arteriovenosas pulmonares: caso clínico no context de doenca de Rendu-Osler-Weber.

The authors report the clinical case of a 59 year-old woman who was incidentally diagnosed as having arteriovenous pulmonary malformation (AVPM). Through clinical history a diagnosis of Rendu-Osler-Weber disease (ROWD) was made, a disease manifesting itself through the existence of vascular malformations in the skin, mucosae and viscera (like the lungs, liver and brain). The surgical therapy offered to the patient had no complications. The essential aspects of pathofisiology, clinical manifestations and treatment of AVPM and ROWD are discussed.

Rapid Detection of Tobacco Rattle Tobravirus in Viruliferous Paratrichodorus allius from Greenhouse and Field Specimens.

The stubby root nematode, Paratrichodorus allius, is important to the potato industry in the Pacific Northwest of USA, because it vectors Tobacco rattle virus (TRV), the causal agent of corky ringspot disease. The current method for determining if nematodes are viruliferous for TRV takes several weeks, requiring a glasshouse bioassay followed by a serological test. To overcome this drawback, a rapid and affordable molecular test was developed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to identify viruliferous P. allius nematodes within 48 hours. Primers from the 16 kDa gene of TRV were used to detect TRV in both greenhouse-reared and field collected P. allius. TRV RNA can be detected consistently in nucleic acids equivalent to one quarter of a viruliferous adult nematode reared in the greenhouse. In order to reduce the time and expense of processing individual nematodes from field samples, viral RNA was consistently and affordably detected in extracts from 5 field-collected adult P. allius.

[The impact of the "patient - prosthesis mismatch" in patients with aortic valve replacement.]. / Impacto do "patient-prosthesis mismatch" em doentes submetidos a substituição valvular aórtica.

UNLABELLED: Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch (PPM) is still a controversial matter in our days. We have PPM when the orifice area of an implanted aortic prosthesis valve is too small for the body surface area of an individual; this is, when the orifice area indexed to the body surface area is <0.8-0.9 cm2/m2. OBJECTIVE: Assess the impact of Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch in the short term and 2 years follow up in a group of patients submitted to aortic valve replacement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors present a retrospective study involving 343 patients with a mean age of 64,68+/-12,4 years that were submitted to aortic valve replacement between January 2005 and December 2008. Data were collected from patients' files and direct contact with the patients, comparing the groups with and without PPM and correlating them in terms of Euroscore, demographics, type of implanted prosthesis, surgical times, ICU and hospital stay. The data related to short term and long term mortality as well as the NYHA class evolution were also obtained. RESULTS: Using the cut-off related to effective orifice area index 0,9 cm2/m2 we found PPM in 109 patients (31.7%). When comparing the two groups, we found that PPM seems to be related to advanced age (p=0.001), biological prosthesis (p=0.01) and, as expected, with use of valves less than 21 (p<0,05). A statistical significant difference was found for: 1) short-term mortality in patients with PPM (p<0,001), however, there were no differences in 2 years mortality and NYHA class between the groups; 2) aorta's cross clamping and extra corporeal circulation time (p=0.047 and p=0.036, respectively).

[Results of an experience with the Bentall procedure]. / Cirurgia de bentall. Experiência e resultados do serviço.

OBJECTIVES: The authors report a retrospective study of patients who underwent a Bentall procedure in the Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Department of Hospital Santa Maria, Lisbon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were obtained from 42 patients who underwent the Bentall procedure between 1991 and 2008. Different parameters were compared as well as the short and long term results. RESULTS: The median age was 58,5 years being 88% of patients of male gender. 32 (76,27%) presented with ascending aorta degenerative aneurism, 6 p (14,3%) with type A aortic dissection and 4p (9,5%) with Marfan syndrome. 10p(23.8%) had associated coronary artery disease and there were 6p (14.3%) who underwent emergency surgery. Among the risk factors associated, 24 p (57,1%) had hypertension, 12 p (28,6%) dyslipidemia, 4p (9,5%) had history of smoking, 7 p (16,7%) diabetes, 6 p (14,3%) CPOD, 2 p (4,8%) renal dysfunction and 2 had a recent myocardial infarction. There were 7p (16,7%) with left ventricular dysfunction (EF<40%); 25 p were in NYHA class II-III. The hospitalar mortality was of 2,77% in non-emergent cases, and 33,3% in emergent operations. After 30 days, 92,8% of patients were alive. The 1-year survival was 90,4% and after 5 years of 85,7%. CONCLUSIONS: The Bentall procedure obtained good results in short and long term and, despite the emerging of new and more complex techniques like remodelling and reimplantation, our results support the maintenance of this procedure as the preferential treatment for aortic root and valvular disease.

Expression of HLA molecules on peripheral blood lymphocytes: a useful monitoring parameter in cardiac transplantation.

During the rejection process of cardiac allografts, the expression of HLA antigens increases on various graft tissues, ie, the myocardium and the interstitial structures. However, in this type of transplant there is a paucity of knowledge about HLA expression on recipient cells, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In the present study expression of HLA class I and class II antigens was monitored on peripheral blood lymphocytes prior to and during a 12-month follow-up, using flow cytometry. In our series, the frequency of acute rejection episodes was greater from the fourth to the ninth month after transplantation, coinciding with a reduction in cyclosporine blood levels. At the same time, expression of HLA class I and class II antigens significantly increased among recipients suffering from more severe acute rejection episodes compared with those showing acceptance of their grafts (P < .01). In conclusion, acute rejection episodes in cardiac transplantation were associated with up-regulation of HLA molecules on recipient peripheral blood cells. Monitoring the expression of HLA molecules on peripheral blood lymphocytes may represent an easy, noninvasive practice to individualize immunosuppressive therapy.

Soluble HLA-G in heart transplantation: their relationship to rejection episodes and immunosuppressive therapy.

The aims of this study were to quantify the level of soluble HLA-G in heart transplant patients, to determine the relationship between the sHLA-G levels and the appearance of acute rejection episodes, and to identify the influence of immunosuppressive therapy on sHLA-G levels. Analysis of sHLA-G, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the transplant patients, revealed the existence of two similarly sized groups of patients. One group displayed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in sHLA-G during the first month after transplantation while the other group maintained low levels of the molecule (0-30 ng/ml) throughout the study. The latter group displayed a high incidence of recurrent severe rejection. A significant increase (p < 0.01) in sHLA-G 2 hours after administration of immunosuppressive treatment (mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine A/FK506, corticoids) was found. These results suggest that sHLA-G participates in the induction of certain levels of immunological tolerance in these recipients.

Control of the Oriental Fruit Moth, Grapholita molesta, Using Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Laboratory and Fruit Bin Assays.

The oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta (Busck), which is among the most important insect pests of peaches and nectarines, has developed resistance to a wide range of insecticides. We investigated the ability of the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser), S. feltiae (Filipjev), S. riobrave (Cabanillas et al.), and Heterorhabditis marelatus (Liu and Berry) to control OFM under laboratory and fruit bin conditions. At a dosage of 10 infective juveniles (IJ)/cm(2) in the laboratory, S. carpocapsae caused 63%, S. feltiae 87.8%, S. riobrave 75.6%, and H. marelatus 67.1% OFM mortality. All four nematode species caused significant OFM larval mortality in comparison to the nontreated controls. Steinernema feltiae was used for the bin assays due to the higher OFM mortality it caused than the other tested EPN species and to its ability to find OFM under cryptic environments. Diapausing cocooned OFM larvae in miniature fruit bins were susceptible to IJ of S. feltiae in infested corner supports and cardboard strips. Treatment of bins with suspensions of 10 or 25 S. feltiae IJ/ml water with wetting agent (Silwet L77) resulted in 33.3 to 59% and 77.7 to 81.6% OFM mortality in corner supports and cardboard strips, respectively. This paper presents new information on the use of EPN, specifically S. feltiae, as nonchemical means of OFM control.

Development of a bioactive packaging cellophane using Nisaplin as biopreservative agent.

AIMS: Production of a nisin-containing cellophane-based coating to be used in the packaging of chopped meat. METHODS AND RESULTS: The adsorption of nisin to cellophane 'P' type surface was studied at 8, 25, 40 and 60 degrees C using different concentrations of nisin. Then, the antimicrobial activity of adsorbed nisin to cellophane surface was determined in fresh veal meat for effectiveness in reducing the total aerobic bacteria. The adsorption of nisin to cellophane was higher at 8 degrees C. The developed bioactive cellophane reduced significantly the growth of the total aerobic bacteria (by ca 1.5 log units) through 12 days of storage at 4 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Bioactive cellophane packaging could be used for controlling the microbial growth in chopped meat. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Nisin-adsorbed bioactive cellophane would result in an extension of the shelf life of chopped meat under refrigeration temperatures.

Soluble proteins of chemical communication in the social wasp Polistes dominulus.

Members of the odorant-binding protein (OBP) and chemosensory protein (CSP) families were identified and characterised in the sensory tissues of the social wasp Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Unlike most insects so far investigated, OBPs were detected in antennae, legs and wings, while CSPs appeared to be preferentially expressed in the antennae. The OBP is very different from the homologous proteins of other Hymenopteran species, with around 20% of identical residues, while the CSP appears to be much better conserved. Both OBP and CSP, not showing other post-translational modifications apart from disulphide bridges, were expressed with high yields in a bacterial system. Cysteine pairing in the recombinant and native proteins follows the classical arrangements described for other members of these classes of proteins. OBPs isolated from the wings were found to be associated with a number of long-chain aliphatic amides and other small organic molecules. Binding of these ligands and other related compounds was measured for both recombinant OBP and CSP.