Polychlorinated biphenyls in umbilical cord serum of newborns from Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are food-chain contaminants that have been shown to contaminate foods worldwide. The newborn are exposed to these organochlorine compounds across the placenta and through breastfeeding. They are proven to be carcinogenic and may contribute to congenital malformation etiology. METHODS: This study examined levels of five PCB congeners (28, 52, 138, 153 and 180) in umbilical cord serum samples from 148 newborns from Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Serum concentrations of PCBs were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection and mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Levels of ∑PCBs ranged from 0.35 to 55.17 ng/ml in umbilical cord serum positive samples, and PCB 138 was the most prevalent congener. Only 7.4% of samples presented no PCB congener. CONCLUSIONS: Some PCB congener cord serum levels were related to the locale of the mothers' residence, smoking and drinking habits, fruit consumption, and congenital malformation.

Aflatoxin M1 in pasteurized, UHT milk and milk powder commercialized in Londrina, Brazil and estimation of exposure / Aflatoxina M1 em leite pasteurizado e UHT e leite em po comercializados em Londrina, Brasil e exposicao estimada.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is found in milk and other excretion products after aflatoxin B1 intake. AFM1 is carcinogenic to humans, and known levels of dairy product contamination is important to understand the risks to which the population is exposed. The occurrence of AFM1 was evaluated in 42 milk samples commercialized in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil and this rate of occurrence was used to estimate this exposure. AFM1 determina tion was ca rried out by ELISA, and was detected in 100 % samples at levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.81 µ g/kg (mean 0.13 µ g/kg). None of the samples p resente d AFM1 above the maximum permitted level by Brazilian Legislation (0.5 µ g/kg for fluid milk and 5 µ g/kg for milk powder). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of AFM1 was evaluated, and the average intake was 0.468 ng/kg body weight (b.w.) for adolescents, 0.384 ng/kg b.w. for adults and 0.559 ng/kg b.w. for the elderly. Values of EDI of AFM1 found in Londrina pose a toxicological risk to the population investigated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on estimat ed AFM1 dietary exposure from Parana, Brazil.

Aflatoxina M1 (AFM1) e encontrada no leite e em outros produtos de excrecao apos o consumo de aflatoxina B1. AFM1 e carcinogenica para humanos, e avaliar os niveis de contaminacao em produtos lacteos e importante para conhecer os riscos aos quais a populacao esta exposta. A ocorrencia de AFM1 foi avaliada em 42 amostras de leite comercializadas em Londrina, Estado do Parana, Brasil, e sua ocorrencia foi utilizada para estimar sua exposicao. A determinacao de AFM1 foi avaliada por ELISA, e foi detectada em 100% das amostras, em niveis variando de 0,01 a 0,81 µ g/kg (media 0,13 µ g kg). Nenhuma das amostras apresentou niveis de AFM1 acima do maximo permitido pela Legislacao brasileira (0,5 µ g/kg para leite fluido e 5 µ g/kg para leite em po). A ingestao diaria estimada (IDE) de AFM1 foi avaliada, e a ingestao media foi de 0,468 ng/kg de peso corporal (p.c.)/dia para adolescentes, 0,384 ng/kg p.c./dia para adultos e 0,559 ng/kg p.c./dia para idosos. Valores de IDE de AFM1 encontrados em Londrina supoem um risco toxicologico para a populacao investigada. Do melhor do nosso conhecimento, este e o primeiro trabalho sobre a exposicao estimada de AFM1 do Parana, Brasil.

Sheep milk: physical-chemical characteristics and microbiological quality / Leite ovino: características físico-químicas e qualidade microbiológica

Sheep milk is the third most consumed milk in Brazil. It is much appreciated for its nutritional status and is important for children that have problems with cow milk. Little information is known about the chemical, physical and microbiological composition of sheep milk from South Brazil. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe chemical and microbiological characteristics of sheep milk produced on two rural properties located in southern Brazil (Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul). The chemical composition of sheep milk was 17.32 g/100 g total solids, 5.86 g/100 g total protein, 4.46 g/100 g casein, 1.08 g/100 g whey protein, 7.28 g/100 g fat, 0.93 g/100 g ash, and 3.41 g/100 g lactose. High somatic cell count (1.7x106 cells/mL), total mesophilic bacterias (16.0x106 CFU/mL) and psychrotrophics (5.8x106 CFU/mL) were observed. Growth of Staphylococcus aureus, enterobacteria and coliforms occurred in 100% of the samples, and 45% of the samples showed growth of Escherichia coli. The sheep milk physical-chemical and microbiology parameters are similar to those presented in the literature for other countries but somatic cell count presented high levels.

O leite de ovelha é o terceiro mais consumido no Brasil, e é muito apreciado devido ao seu aspecto nutricional. Pouca informação a respeito da composição química e microbiológica do leite de ovelha no Brasil é conhecida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar o leite ovino produzido em duas propriedades rurais localizadas no Sul do Brasil (Paraná e Rio Grande do Sul). A composição química do leite de ovelha foi 17,32 g/100 g de sólidos totais; 5,86 g/100 g de proteína total; 4,46 g/100 g de caseína; 1,08 g/100 g de soro proteico; 7,28 g/100 g de gordura; 0,93 g/100 g de cinzas e 3.41 g/100 g de lactose. Altas contagens de células somáticas (1,7x106 células/mL), bactérias mesófilas (16,0 x106 UFC/mL) e psicrotróficos (5,8x106 UFC/mL) foram observadas. Multiplicação de Staphylococcus aureus, enterobactérias e coliformes ocorreu em 100% das amostras, 45% de amostras apresentou multiplicação de Escherichia coli. Os parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos do leite ovino deste estudo são semelhantes a literatura para outros países, porém, a contagem de células somáticas foi elevada.

Trypacidin, a spore-borne toxin from Aspergillus fumigatus, is cytotoxic to lung cells.

Inhalation of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia can cause severe aspergillosis in immunosuppressed people. A. fumigatus produces a large number of secondary metabolites, some of which are airborne by conidia and whose toxicity to the respiratory tract has not been investigated. We found that spores of A. fumigatus contain five main compounds, tryptoquivaline F, fumiquinazoline C, questin, monomethylsulochrin and trypacidin. Fractionation of culture extracts using RP-HPLC and LC-MS showed that samples containing questin, monomethylsulochrin and trypacidin were toxic to the human A549 lung cell line. These compounds were purified and their structure verified using NMR in order to compare their toxicity against A549 cells. Trypacidin was the most toxic, decreasing cell viability and triggering cell lysis, both effects occurring at an IC50 close to 7 µM. Trypacidin toxicity was also observed in the same concentration range on human bronchial epithelial cells. In the first hour of exposure, trypacidin initiates the intracellular formation of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This oxidative stress triggers necrotic cell death in the following 24 h. The apoptosis pathway, moreover, was not involved in the cell death process as trypacidin did not induce apoptotic bodies or a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. This is the first time that the toxicity of trypacidin to lung cells has been reported.