Quality evaluation of banana skin extract jellies.

Due to the great volume of banana skin resulting from the industrialization of banana and to their high pectin content, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effect of the following factors: extract/sugar, pectin and citric acid on the chemical, physical and sensory qualities of the jellies obtained. A complete factorial experimental design was used (2(3)) with 3 central points to evaluate the influence of the factors on the dependent variables, testing the linear models. The chemical properties underwent few alterations and the instrumental and sensory texture attributes were mainly affected by the extract/sugar ratio and the pectin level. The brittleness, elasticity and gumminess increased with increases in the extract/ sugar ratio and pectin level. According to the sensory analysis and the purchasing intention, the best formulations were those obtained using a higher extract/sugar ratio (60/40) and lower pectin level (0.5 g/ 100), combined with the highest (20 mL) or lowest volumes of citric acid (15 mL), with scores for all the attributes in the range from 'I liked slightly' to 'I liked moderately'.

Interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 single nucleotide gene polymorphisms in Paracoccidioidomycosis.

The gene polymorphisms interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) +874 T/A and interleukin (IL)-4 -590 C/T have been associated with the altered production of cytokines. Therefore, they might be indicative of the occurrence of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position+874 IFN-gamma showed an increase occurrence of A/T genotype in both PCM patients and healthy individuals as control (HIC) (56% and 45%, respectively), while the allelic distribution showed 82% of A allele in the patients and 80% in the controls. The SNP of -590 IL-4 showed that C/T genotype was significantly (p<0.05) more prevalent (39%) in PCM group compared to the HIC group (19%), while IL-4 C/C genotype was significantly less frequent (59%) in the patient group compared to the control group (81%). Otherwise, 41% of PCM patients and 19% of HIC individuals carried the IL-4 T allele. Stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from PCM patients with cell extract antigenic preparations (PbAg) as well as secreted and surface antigens (MEXO) of P. brasiliensis evidenced that there is no difference in the IFN-gamma production related to A and T alleles between PCM and HIC individuals. However, with IL-4 production, PCM patients classified as C phenotype showed two times more IL-4 production than PCM patients classified as T phenotype and HIC controls. In conclusion, our results suggest that functional genetic variants in the IL-4 promoter could influence the production of IL-4 in PCM.

Association between ultrasound findings and extent of trophoblastic invasion into the tubal wall in ampullary pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Predictive factors of damage to the Fallopian tube may guide the treatment of patients with tubal pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the depth of trophoblastic invasion into the tubal wall, assessed on postoperative histological examination, with the findings obtained on transvaginal sonography (TVS) in women with ampullary pregnancy. METHODS: Women with ampullary pregnancy undergoing salpingectomy were enrolled into the study. Only women with a finding of either an embryo with cardiac activity or a tubal ring on TVS were included in the analysis, a total of 85 patients. Trophoblastic invasion was assessed postoperatively and was histologically classified as Stage I when limited to the tubal mucosa, Stage II when extending to the muscle layer and Stage III in the case of complete tubal wall infiltration. The association between findings on TVS and the stage of trophoblastic invasion was evaluated. RESULTS: There was a significant association between the findings on TVS and the depth of trophoblastic invasion (P < 0.001). All patients in whom an embryo with cardiac activity had been identified were found to have Stage II (17.9%) or Stage III (82.1%) invasion, whereas in those patients who showed a tubal ring on TVS, Stage I invasion was the most frequent finding (41.3%). CONCLUSIONS: In ampullary pregnancy, the finding on TVS of an embryo with cardiac activity is associated with deeper penetration of trophoblastic tissue into the tubal wall than is the finding of a tubal ring.

The uremic toxin methylguanidine increases the oxidative metabolism and accelerates the apoptosis of canine neutrophils.

We investigated the hypothesis that the increased concentration of plasma methylguanidine (MG) increases oxidative metabolism and accelerates apoptosis of neutrophils from dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To achieve this, the levels of MG were quantified in healthy (n=16) and uremic dogs with CKD stage 4 of according to the guidelines of the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS, 2015) (n=16) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To evaluate the isolated effect of MG on neutrophil oxidative metabolism and apoptosis, neutrophils isolated from 12 healthy dogs were incubated with the highest concentration of plasma MG (0.005g/L) observed in dogs with CKD. Neutrophil oxidative metabolism was assessed by flow cytometry, using the probes hydroethidine for superoxide production and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate for hydrogen peroxide production, with or without phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulus. Neutrophil apoptosis and viability were also evaluated in flow cytometer using the Annexin V-PE system, with or without the apoptosis-inducing effect of camptothecin. Uremic dogs presented higher concentrations of MG (p<0.0001), increased oxidative stress and primed neutrophils with higher apoptosis rate. The neutrophil abnormalities observed in vivo were also reproduced in vitro, using cells isolated from healthy dogs and incubated with MG. We obtained strong evidence that in dogs with CKD, increased MG levels contributed to oxidative stress and potentially compromised the non-specific immune response by altering the oxidative metabolism and viability of canine neutrophils.

Interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha single nucleotide gene polymorphism frequency in paracoccidioidomycosis.

Allelic variants of cytokine genes seem to be involved in mechanisms of resistance or susceptibility to several diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of genotypes with the tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-alpha gene polymorphism G/A at position -308 and the IL-10 gene polymorphism G/A at position -1082, and to verify a possible association of these polymorphisms with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Genotyping was performed by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) on genomic DNA isolated of granulocytes from 54 PCM patients and 31 noninfected individuals. The analysis of SNP at position -1082 IL-10 showed a high frequency of GA genotype in both patients and controls (51% and 55%, respectively), while the allelic frequency showed 54% of G allele in the patients and 66% of A allele in the controls. The GG genotype was more frequent in patients (85%) and controls (68%) when we analyze the SNP at position -308 of TNF-alpha gene. Otherwise, 91% of PCM patients and 84% of noninfected individuals carried the G allele in -308 TNF-alpha SNP. Stimulation of cells from individuals with PCM phenotyped as A+ (GA or AA genotypes) presented elevation of TNF-alpha producing cells when compared with IL-10-producer cells. These findings reinforce the critical role of IL-10 and TNF-alpha in the paracoccidioidomycosis and can strongly suggest that the genetic screening of the -308G/A and -1082G/A polymorphisms may be a valid tool for identification of subjects needing a more appropriate therapy.

Correlations between peripheral parasite load and common clinical and laboratory alterations in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis.

Intensity of peripheral parasite infection has an important role in the transmission of Leishmania spp. from one host to another. As parasite load quantification is still an expensive procedure to be used routinely in epidemiological surveillance, the use of surrogate predictors may be an important asset in the identification of dogs with high transmitting ability. The present study examined whether common clinical and laboratory alterations can serve as predictors of peripheral parasitism in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania spp. Thirty-seven dogs were examined in order to establish correlations between parasite load (PL) in multiple peripheral tissues and common clinical and laboratory findings in canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine PL in conjunctival swabs, ear skin, peripheral blood and buffy coat. Additionally, a series of hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress markers were quantified. Correlations between net peripheral infection and severity of clinical alterations and variation in laboratory parameters were assessed through a new analytical approach, namely Compressed Parasite Load Data (CPLD), which uses dimension reduction techniques from multivariate statistics to summarize PL across tissues into a single variable. The analysis revealed that elevation in PL is positively correlated with severity of clinical sings commonly observed in CVL, such as skin lesions, ophthalmic alterations, onycogriphosis, popliteal lymphadenomegaly and low body mass. Furthermore, increase in PL was found to be followed by intensification of non-regenerative anemia, neutrophilia, eosinopenia, hepatic injury and oxidative imbalance. These results suggest that routinely used clinical and laboratory exams can be predictive of intensity of peripheral parasite infection, which has an important implication in the identification of dogs with high transmitting ability.

Resveratrol atenua o estresse oxidativo e a lesão muscular de ratos sedentários submetidos ao exercício físico / Resveratrol attenuates oxidative stress and muscle damage in sedentary rats subjected to physical exercise

O sedentarismo é um problema de saúde pública e um dos maiores males da sociedade moderna. Já está bem estabelecido que esforço físico em excesso ou em indivíduos não condicionados acarreta estresse oxidativo e lesões musculares. No presente estudo, foi testada a hipótese de que um único esforço físico é capaz de causar estresse oxidativo e lesão muscular em indivíduos sedentários. Aditivamente foi avaliado efeito antioxidante do polifenol resveratrol (RV) quanto a sua capacidade de atenuar o estresse oxidativo e a lesão muscular causados pelo esforço físico. Para tal, 40 ratos (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar), machos, adultos e sedentários foram aleatoriamente submetidos ou não a 90 minutos de natação, com e sem tratamento com RV (100mg/kg/PV/14dias): N-RV- (n=10) grupo mantido em repouso e não tratado com RV; N-RV+ (n=10) grupo mantido em repouso e tratado com RV; N+RV- (n=10) grupo submetido ao esforço físico de natação e não tratado com RV e N+RV+ (n=10) grupo submetido ao esforço físico de natação e tratado com RV. Em ratos sedentários, o esforço físico da natação promoveu estresse oxidativo (aumento da peroxidação lipídica e diminuição da capacidade antioxidante total do plasma) e aumento significativo da atividade plasmática de creatina quinase (CK) e lactato desidrogenase (LDH). O tratamento com RV diminuiu a peroxidação lipídica e a concentração dos marcadores de lesão muscular (CK e LDH) de ratos sedentários submetidos à natação. Essa é uma das primeiras evidências de que um único esforço físico pode causar estresse oxidativo em indivíduos sedentários e que o RV pode ser uma alternativa para atenuar a lesão muscular causada por esse estresse.(AU)

Physical inactivity is a public health problem when a sedentary population practices physical activity sporadically. Exercise in unconditioned individuals causes oxidative stress and muscle damage. This study tested the hypothesis that a single physical exertion can cause muscle damage and oxidative stress in sedentary individuals, and resveratrol can attenuate it. For this, 40 sedentary adult male rats were equally and randomized into four groups subjected to 90min swimming or rest and administered aqueous resveratrol (100mg/kg/day) or saline for 14 days: N-RV-, rats maintained at rest and administered saline; N-RV+, rats maintained at rest and treated with resveratrol; N+RV-, rats subjected to physical exercise and administered saline; and N+RV+, rats subjected to physical exercise and treated with resveratrol. In sedentary rats, the physical exertion of swimming promoted oxidative stress, i.e. increased lipid peroxidation and decreased plasma total antioxidant capacity, and significant increases in CK and LDH plasma activities. Resveratrol diminished lipid peroxidation and the concentrations of muscle damage markers (CK and LDH) in sedentary rats subjected to swimming. The results provide evidence that a single sudden physical exertion can cause oxidative stress in sedentary rats. Resveratrol showed good results as a treatment for minimizing muscle damage caused by this stress.(AU)

Neutrophil dysfunction varies with the stage of canine visceral leishmaniosis.

Canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL) causes a dependent-stage alteration in neutrophil oxidative metabolism. When production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the antioxidant capacity of neutrophils, apoptosis is triggered, impairing the viability and function of these cells, which can predispose dogs to infection. However, the uremic condition observed in late-stage CVL can also alter the viability and function of human neutrophils. To more clearly understand this relationship, the apoptosis rate and oxidative metabolism of neutrophils from control dogs (n=20) were compared to dogs in moderate (n=15) and very severe (n=15) stage CVL, classified according to LeishVet Consensus. To assess neutrophil oxidative metabolism, superoxide production was measured using the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test (NBT) in isolated neutrophils. The apoptosis rate of neutrophils was estimated using the morphological method. Moderate-stage dogs presented increased superoxide production, while dogs with very severe stage CVL presented decreased superoxide production and an increase neutrophil apoptosis rate. Leishmaniosis causes differential neutrophil dysfunction according to disease stage. In moderate stage CVL, increased superoxide production is observed with no change in neutrophil viability. However, in very severe stage CVL, decreased superoxide production and increased apoptosis occur associated with uremia.

Prevention of accidental exposure in radiotherapy: the risk matrix approach.

Knowledge and lessons from past accidental exposures in radiotherapy are very helpful in finding safety provisions to prevent recurrence. Disseminating lessons is necessary but not sufficient. There may be additional latent risks for other accidental exposures, which have not been reported or have not occurred, but are possible and may occur in the future if not identified, analyzed, and prevented by safety provisions. Proactive methods are available for anticipating and quantifying risk from potential event sequences. In this work, proactive methods, successfully used in industry, have been adapted and used in radiotherapy. Risk matrix is a tool that can be used in individual hospitals to classify event sequences in levels of risk. As with any anticipative method, the risk matrix involves a systematic search for potential risks; that is, any situation that can cause an accidental exposure. The method contributes new insights: The application of the risk matrix approach has identified that another group of less catastrophic but still severe single-patient events may have a higher probability, resulting in higher risk. The use of the risk matrix approach for safety assessment in individual hospitals would provide an opportunity for self-evaluation and managing the safety measures that are most suitable to the hospital's own conditions.

Predictive factors of trophoblastic invasion into the ampullary region of the tubal wall in ectopic pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Predictive factors of damage to the Fallopian tube may guide the treatment for patients with tubal pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of the following parameters: gestational age, serum beta-hCG concentrations and ultrasound findings. METHODS: A total of 105 patients with ampullary pregnancy undergoing salpingectomy were analysed. Trophoblastic invasion was histologically classified as stage I when limited to the tubal mucosa, stage II when extending to the muscle layer and stage III in the case of complete tubal wall infiltration. We correlated the depth of trophoblastic infiltration into the tubal wall with gestational age, beta-hCG concentration on the day of surgery and the type and size of the ectopic mass upon ultrasound. RESULTS: No association was observed between the depth of trophoblastic invasion and gestational age (P = 0.53) or tubal mass diameter (P = 0.43). Trophoblastic invasion was, however, associated with beta-hCG concentration (P < 0.001) and with the type of ultrasonographic image (P = 0.001). Beta-hCG levels of 2400 mIU/ml showed 82.8% sensitivity and 85.5% specificity for stage I, and levels of 5990 mIU/ml showed 82.6% sensitivity and 74.6% specificity for stage III. CONCLUSIONS: Depth of trophoblastic penetration into the tubal wall of the ampullary region of Fallopian tube is correlated with beta-hCG concentration and the type of ultrasonographic image; serum beta-hCG is the best predictor of the depth of penetration.

Microlaparoscopy for an intact ectopic pregnancy and endometriosis with the use of a diode laser: case report.

Microlaparoscopy is a development of endoscopic surgery which further reduces invasiveness of surgical procedures. The use of a diode laser in microlaparoscopy for the treatment of a patient with an intact ectopic pregnancy and endometriosis is described for the first time. As the diode laser has easy management and widely recognized precision, its use could be highly advantageous in such situations. The success achieved in this case contributes to the wider use of micro-endoscopic procedures.

Availability of intestinal microbial lysine for whole body lysine homeostasis in human subjects.

We have investigated whether there is a net contribution of lysine synthesized de novo by the gastrointestinal microflora to lysine homeostasis in six adults. On two separate occasions an adequate diet was given for a total of 11 days, and a 24-h (12-h fast, 12-h fed) tracer protocol was performed on the last day, in which lysine turnover, oxidation, and splanchnic uptake were measured on the basis of intravenous and oral administration of L-[1-(13)C]lysine and L-[6,6-(2)H(2)]lysine, respectively. [(15)N(2)]urea or (15)NH(4)Cl was ingested daily over the last 6 days to label microbial protein. In addition, seven ileostomates were studied with (15)NH(4)Cl. [(15)N]lysine enrichment in fecal and ileal microbial protein, as precursor for microbial lysine absorption, and in plasma free lysine was measured by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Differences in plasma [(13)C]- and [(2)H(2)]lysine enrichments during the 12-h fed period were observed between the two (15)N tracer studies, although the reason is unclear, and possibly unrelated to the tracer form per se. In the normal adults, after (15)NH(4)Cl and [(15)N(2)]urea intake, respectively, lysine derived from fecal microbial protein accounted for 5 and 9% of the appearance rate of plasma lysine. With ileal microbial lysine enrichment, the contribution of microbial lysine to plasma lysine appearance was 44%. This amounts to a gross microbial lysine contribution to whole body plasma lysine turnover of between 11 and 130 mg. kg(-1). day(-1), depending on the [(15)N]lysine precursor used. However, insofar as microbial amino acid synthesis is accompanied by microbial breakdown of endogenous amino acids or their oxidation by intestinal tissues, this may not reflect a net increase in lysine absorption. Thus we cannot reliably estimate the quantitative contribution of microbial lysine to host lysine homeostasis with the present paradigm. However, the results confirm the significant presence of lysine of microbial origin in the plasma free lysine pool.

Púrpura trombocitopênica autoimune e gravidez / Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and pregnancy

Acompanharam-se treze gestaçöes em onze pacientes portadoras de púrpura trombocitopênica autoimune. Dez pacientes atingiram o termo da gestaçäo. Na maioria dos casos o diagnóstico havia sido feito há mais de dois anos. A incidência de cesárea 90%. Três recém-nascidos apresentaram plaquetopenia neonatal que persistiu em média por um mês. Conclue-se que em relaçäo ao prognóstico fetal e materno o melhor tipo de parto para a paciente com púrpura trombocitopênica em atividade é a cesárea com anestesia geral

Bloqueio átrio-ventricular congênito: características neonatais e evoluçäo / Congenital complete heart block

Säo apresentados 9 casos de RN portadores de bloqueio átrio-ventricular congênito (BAVC) com detecçäo da anomalia no terceiro trimestre de gestaçäo através de ecocardiografia fetal. Todos os RNs foram de termo ou limítrofes e a maioria nasceu de parto cesáreo, em boas condiçöes. Imediatamente após o nascimento, foi realizado avaliaçäo cardiológica completa, através de exame clínico, ECG, Rx de tórax, ecocardiografia e monitorizaçäo de FC pelo Holter contínuo de 24 horas. Cinco RNs apresentaram BAVC com FC basal ao redor de 60 bat/min e, em destes, a sorologia para LES (anti SS-AA/Rô) foi positiva. Os 5 evoluiram bem, tendo recebido alta antes do primeiro mês de vida sem medicaçäo e com acompanhamento ambulatorial. Um RN apresentou BAVC com FC basal ao redor de 50 bat/min, tendo evoluido para ICC ao final do primeiro mês, compensada com o uso de digitálico e diurético. Três casos eram associados com cardiopatia congênita complexa, sendo 2 do tipo átrio-ventricular communis (AVC) e um do tipo transposiçäo corrigida dos grandes vasos da base. Os 2 casos com AVC foram os únicos que descompensaram precocemente (primeira semana de vida). Estes casos mostram que a detecçäo precoce de alteraçöes de ritmo cardíaco no pré-natal, um preparo adequado para a recepçäo do RN ao nascimento, avaliaçäo cardiológica completa, säo fatores decisivos para uma boa evoluçäo pós-natal

Gestantes de pelo menos 45 anos de idade: consideracoes sobre 40 casos / Pregnant women of 45 or more. Considerations on 40 cases

Num periodo de cinco anos ocorreram 47.328 partos no Amparo Maternal, em Sao Paulo.Neste periodo verificaram-se 40 partos (0,09%) em gestantes de pelo menos 45 anos de idade, que foram selecionadas para este estudo. Apenas duas pacientes eram primigestas, ao passo que 29 eram grandes multiparas. A hipertensao arterial incidiu em 62,5% dos casos (25 pacientes). Ocorreram sete casos de amniorrexe prematura (17,5%) A apresentacao era cefalica em 36 gestantes, pelvica em tres e cormica em um caso O parto normal ocorreu em 28 oportunidades (70%). O forcipe de alivio foi empregado duas vezes (5%) e a operacao cesariana praticada em 10 casos (25%). Foram verificados sete casos de atonia uterina (17,5%) Ocorreram 39 recem-nascidos vivos (97,5%) e um natimorto (2,5%). Foram identificados tres casos de sindrome de Down (7,5%)