Differential Impacts of Yeasts on Feeding Behavior and Development in Larval Drosophila suzukii (Diptera:Drosophilidae).

Larval Drosophila encounter and feed on a diverse microbial community within fruit. In particular, free-living yeast microbes provide a source of dietary protein critical for development. However, successional changes to the fruit microbial community may alter host quality through impacts on relative protein content or yeast community composition. For many species of Drosophila, fitness benefits from yeast feeding vary between individual yeast species, indicating differences in yeast nutritional quality. To better understand these associations, we evaluated how five species of yeast impacted feeding preference and development in larval Drosophila suzukii. Larvae exhibited a strong attraction to the yeast Hanseniaspora uvarum in pairwise yeast feeding assays. However, larvae also performed most poorly on diets containing H. uvarum, a mismatch in preference and performance that suggests differences in yeast nutritional quality are not the primary factor driving larval feeding behavior. Together, these results demonstrate that yeast plays a critical role in D. suzukii's ecology and that larvae may have developed specific yeast associations. Further inquiry, including systematic comparisons of Drosophila larval yeast associations more broadly, will be necessary to understand patterns of microbial resource use in larvae of D. suzukii and other frugivorous species.

Nutritional aspects of people affected by leprosy, between 2001 and 2014, in semi-arid Brazilian municipalities. / Aspectos nutricionais de pessoas acometidas por hanseníase, entre 2001 e 2014, em municípios do semiárido brasileiro.

The study aimed to characterize food insecurity, nutritional status, and eating habits of people affected by leprosy. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study based on a census population. We evaluated 276 cases, reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System, between 2001 and 2014, in the municipalities of Vitória da Conquista and Tremedal, in the state of Bahia. Food insecurity was estimated according to the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. We collected weight and height measurements, meal frequency, and household, socioeconomic, psychosocial and clinical variables. The prevalence of food insecurity was 41.0% among the study population - 28.3% mild, 8.0% moderate and 4.7% severe. Overweight/obesity was estimated in 60.1% of the study participants, and excessive salt intake was reported by 8.6%. Beans and red meat were the most regularly consumed foods; there was low consumption of milk, raw and cooked vegetables, and fruits. This population presented high food insecurity prevalence, inadequate eating habits and nutritional status, reflecting nutritional vulnerability. The insertion of nutritional assistance in the leprosy control programmes is recommended, to improve health care.

O estudo buscou caracterizar a insegurança alimentar, o estado nutricional e os hábitos alimentares de pessoas acometidas por hanseníase. Trata-se de um estudo transversal descritivo, de população censitária, em que foram avaliados 276 casos, notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, entre 2001 e 2014, nos municípios de Vitória da Conquista e Tremedal, Bahia. Na análise foi empregada a Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar. Foram coletadas medidas de peso e altura, frequência alimentar, variáveis domiciliares, socioeconômicas, psicossociais e clínicas. A prevalência de insegurança alimentar foi de 41,0% na população; sendo 28,3% leve, 8,0% moderada e 4,7% grave. O sobrepeso/obesidade foi estimado em 60,1% das pessoas avaliadas e o consumo excessivo de sal foi relatado por 8,6%. O feijão e a carne vermelha foram os alimentos mais regularmente consumidos e houve baixo consumo de leite, hortaliças cruas e cozidas e frutas. A insegurança alimentar apresentou elevada prevalência, associada à inadequação do hábito alimentar e estado nutricional, refletindo a vulnerabilidade nutricional desta população. Recomenda-se a inserção da assistência nutricional às políticas públicas da hanseníase, como forma de qualificar a atenção à saúde.

Aspectos nutricionais de pessoas acometidas por hanseníase, entre 2001 e 2014, em municípios do semiárido brasileiro / Nutritional aspects of people affected by leprosy, between 2001 and 2014, in semi-arid Brazilian municipalities

Resumo O estudo buscou caracterizar a insegurança alimentar, o estado nutricional e os hábitos alimentares de pessoas acometidas por hanseníase. Trata-se de um estudo transversal descritivo, de população censitária, em que foram avaliados 276 casos, notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, entre 2001 e 2014, nos municípios de Vitória da Conquista e Tremedal, Bahia. Na análise foi empregada a Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar. Foram coletadas medidas de peso e altura, frequência alimentar, variáveis domiciliares, socioeconômicas, psicossociais e clínicas. A prevalência de insegurança alimentar foi de 41,0% na população; sendo 28,3% leve, 8,0% moderada e 4,7% grave. O sobrepeso/obesidade foi estimado em 60,1% das pessoas avaliadas e o consumo excessivo de sal foi relatado por 8,6%. O feijão e a carne vermelha foram os alimentos mais regularmente consumidos e houve baixo consumo de leite, hortaliças cruas e cozidas e frutas. A insegurança alimentar apresentou elevada prevalência, associada à inadequação do hábito alimentar e estado nutricional, refletindo a vulnerabilidade nutricional desta população. Recomenda-se a inserção da assistência nutricional às políticas públicas da hanseníase, como forma de qualificar a atenção à saúde.

Abstract The study aimed to characterize food insecurity, nutritional status, and eating habits of people affected by leprosy. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study based on a census population. We evaluated 276 cases, reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System, between 2001 and 2014, in the municipalities of Vitória da Conquista and Tremedal, in the state of Bahia. Food insecurity was estimated according to the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. We collected weight and height measurements, meal frequency, and household, socioeconomic, psychosocial and clinical variables. The prevalence of food insecurity was 41.0% among the study population - 28.3% mild, 8.0% moderate and 4.7% severe. Overweight/obesity was estimated in 60.1% of the study participants, and excessive salt intake was reported by 8.6%. Beans and red meat were the most regularly consumed foods; there was low consumption of milk, raw and cooked vegetables, and fruits. This population presented high food insecurity prevalence, inadequate eating habits and nutritional status, reflecting nutritional vulnerability. The insertion of nutritional assistance in the leprosy control programmes is recommended, to improve health care.

Relative Abundance in Bacterial and Fungal Gut Microbes in Obese Children: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Differences in relative proportions of gut microbial communities in adults have been correlated with intestinal diseases and obesity. In this study we evaluated the gut microbiota biodiversity, both bacterial and fungal, in obese and normal-weight school-aged children. METHODS: We studied 28 obese (mean age 10.03 ± 0.68) and 33 age- and sex-matched normal-weight children. BMI z-scores were calculated, and the obesity condition was defined according to the WHO criteria. Fecal samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA amplification followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis and sequencing. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to quantify the most representative microbial species and genera. RESULTS: DGGE profiles showed high bacterial biodiversity without significant correlations with BMI z-score groups. Compared to bacterial profiles, we observed lower richness in yeast species. Sequence of the most representative bands gave back Eubacterium rectale, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, and C. glabrata as present in all samples. Debaryomyces hansenii was present only in two obese children. Obese children revealed a significantly lower abundance in Akkermansia muciniphyla, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bacteroides/Prevotella group, Candida spp., and Saccharomyces spp. (P = 0.031, P = 0.044, P = 0.003, P = 0.047, and P = 0.034, respectively). CONCLUSION: Taking into account the complexity of obesity, our data suggest that differences in relative abundance of some core microbial species, preexisting or diet driven, could actively be part of its etiology. This study improved our knowledge about the fungal population in the pediatric school-age population and highlighted the need to consider the influence of cross-kingdom relationships.

Identification of a novel leptin receptor duplicate in Atlantic salmon: Expression analyses in different life stages and in response to feeding status.

In recent years rapidly growing research has led to identification of several fish leptin orthologs and numerous duplicated paralogs possibly arisen from the third and fourth round whole genome duplication (3R and 4R WGD) events. In this study we identify in Atlantic salmon a duplicated LepRA gene, named LepRA2, that further extend possible evolutionary scenarios of the leptin and leptin receptor system. The 1121 amino acid sequence of the novel LepRA2 shares 80% sequence identity with the LepRA1 paralog, and contains the protein motifs typical of the functional (long form) leptin receptor in vertebrates. In silico predictions showed similar electrostatic properties of LepRA1 and LepRA2 and high sequence conservation at the leptin interaction surfaces within the CHR/leptin-binding and FNIII domains, suggesting conserved functional specificity between the two duplicates. Analysis of temporal expression profiles during pre-hatching stages indicate that both transcripts are involved in modulating leptin developmental functions, although the LepRA1 paralog may play a major role as the embryo complexity increases. There is ubiquitous distribution of LepRs underlying pleiotropism of leptin in all tissues investigated. LepRA1 and LepRA2 are differentially expressed with LepRA1 more abundant than LepRA2 in most of the tissues investigated, with the only exception of liver. Analysis of constitutive LepRA1 and LepRA2 expression in brain and liver at parr, post-smolt and adult stages reveal striking spatial divergence between the duplicates at all stages investigated. This suggests that, beside increased metabolic requirements, leptin sensitivity in the salmon brain might be linked to important variables such as habitat, ecology and life cycle. Furthermore, leptins and LepRs mRNAs in the brain showed gene-specific variability in response to long term fasting, suggesting that leptin's roles as modulator of nutritional status in Atlantic salmon might be governed by distinct genetic evolutionary processes and distinct functions between the paralogs.

Hanseníase e a nutrição: uma revisão da literatura / Leprosy and Nutrition: a review of literature

O presente estudo é uma revisão da literatura sobre hanseníase e nutrição, mostrando a importância do estado nutricional de hansenianos na melhoria da resposta ao tratamento. Foram selecionados estudos sobre hanseníase e nutrição em livros técnicos e artigos publicados no período de 2009 a 2013 utilizando-se as bases de dados Medline, LILACS, SciELO, PubMed e Bireme. Os achados do presente estudo evidenciam a importância de se avaliar estado nutricional e hábitos alimentares de pacientes portadores de hanseníase. Esses pacientes possuem déficits nutricionais em relação a dados antropométricos e a ingestão de nutrientes, que aumentam sua vulnerabilidade para baixa imunidade e consequentemente o agravo da doença. Há necessidade de novos estudos na área, pois existe uma carência de informações sobre o assunto. A implementação de programas de reeducação alimentar, educação nutricional e hábitos de vida saudáveis relacionados à promoção da saúde em pacientes com hanseníase são necessários.

The present study is a review of literature about nutrition and leprosy, showing how important nutritional status of leper are in order to improve the treatment response.The bibliographic search on leprosy and nutrition was conducted using databases such as Medline, LILACS,SciELO, PubMed and Bireme in technical books and articles published from 2009 to 2013. The findings of the study highlight the importance of assessing the nutritional status and the food habits of patients with leprosy.Those patients have nutritional deficits in relation to anthropometric data and to nutrient intake which increase their vulnerability for low immunity and, consequently, the aggravation of disease. There is a need for new studies in the area because of the lack of information about this subject. The implementation of nutritional re-education programs, nutrition education and healthy life habits related to health promotion for patients with leprosy are necessary.

[The nutritional and dieting profiles of patients diagnosed with leprosy treated in the primary healthcare units of Greater Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil]. / Avaliação nutricional e alimentar de pacientes portadores de hanseníase tratados em unidades de saúde da grande Vitória, Estado do Espírito Santo.

INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated leprosy in relation to the clinical, sociodemographic, nutritional and dietary profiles of patients diagnosed at primary healthcare units in the suburbs of Greater Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, from January to December 2009. METHODS: The study involved 152 male and female patients initiating polychemotherapy treatment. The collected data included sociodemographic, anthropometric, biochemical and dietary aspects derived from a questionnaire of eating frequency (QEF) that was validated and adapted for Brazilian culture. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to evaluate patient nutritional status. RESULTS: The study showed that: 79 (52%) of the participants were women, average age was 40.4 years-old (± 16.9); 81 (53.3%) were employed; the mean number of years of schooling was 7.1 (± 4.5). Concerning the disease, 79 (52%) of the participants were multibacillary and 73 (48%) paucibacillary. The bacilloscopy index was negative in 125 (82.2%) patients. Excess weight was identified in 11.8% and 5.3% were underweight. Rice and beans were mentioned frequently, 87.3% and 88.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that simple actions, initiated during primary healthcare, can help to improve the treatment of patients with the leprosy.

Avaliação nutricional e alimentar de pacientes portadores de hanseníase tratados em unidades de saúde da grande Vitória, Estado do Espírito Santo / The nutritional and dieting profiles of patients diagnosed with leprosy treated in the primary healthcare units of Greater Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo investigou a hanseníase quanto à apresentação clínica, perfil sociodemográfico, nutricional e alimentar de pacientes diagnosticados nas Unidades de Saúde dos municípios da Grande Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brasil, no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2009. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 152 pacientes de ambos os sexos, em início de tratamento poliquimioterápico. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, antropométricos, bioquímicos e de alimentação a partir de um questionário de frequência alimentar (QFA) validado e adaptado. Foi calculado o índice de massa corporal (IMC) para avaliação do estado nutricional. RESULTADOS: O estudo mostrou que: 79 (52 por cento) dos participantes eram do sexo feminino, a média de idade foi de 40,4 anos (± 16,9); 81 (53,3 por cento) possuíam vínculo empregatício; a média de anos de estudo foi de 7,1 (± 4,5). Em relação à doença, 79 (52 por cento) eram multibacilares e 73 (48 por cento) paucibacilares. O índice baciloscópico foi negativo em 125 (82,2 por cento) pacientes. O excesso de peso foi identifcado em 11,8 por cento e 5,3 por cento apresentaram baixo peso. O arroz e o feijão foram os alimentos relatados com maior frequência de consumo, 87,3 por cento e 88,7 por cento respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo demonstrou que ações simples, iniciadas na atenção primária à saúde, podem auxiliar na melhoria do acompanhamento a portadores de hanseníase.

INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated leprosy in relation to the clinical, sociodemographic, nutritional and dietary profiles of patients diagnosed at primary healthcare units in the suburbs of Greater Vitória, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, from January to December 2009. METHODS: The study involved 152 male and female patients initiating polychemotherapy treatment. The collected data included sociodemographic, anthropometric, biochemical and dietary aspects derived from a questionnaire of eating frequency (QEF) that was validated and adapted for Brazilian culture. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to evaluate patient nutritional status. RESULTS: The study showed that: 79 (52 percent) of the participants were women, average age was 40.4 years-old (±16.9); 81 (53.3 percent) were employed; the mean number of years of schooling was 7.1 (±4.5). Concerning the disease, 79 (52 percent) of the participants were multibacillary and 73 (48 percent) paucibacillary. The bacilloscopy index was negative in 125 (82.2 percent) patients. Excess weight was identified in 11.8 percent and 5.3 percent were underweight. Rice and beans were mentioned frequently, 87.3 percent and 88.7 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that simple actions, initiated during primary healthcare, can help to improve the treatment of patients with the leprosy.

Estado nutricional e percepção alimentar em indivíduos institucionalizados com seqüelas de hanseníase / Nutritional status and eating perception in individuals institutionalized with sequels of leprosy

OBJETIVO: Conhecer o estado nutricional e percepção alimentar dos moradores com seqüelas de hanseníase. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, descritivo e analítico A população avaliada constou de 40 ex hansenianos institucionalizados. Para classificação do estado nutricional utilizou-se o Índice de Massa Corporal para adulto segundo OMS, 1995 e 1997 e para avaliação do consumo alimentar (calorias e proteínas) o registro alimentar de dois dias. Para percepção alimentar foi aplicado um questionário com 15 moradores que mantinham contato produtivo. Utilizou-se o software SPSS for Windows® versão 17.0.RESULTADOS: Três (7,5%) moradores apresentaram diagnóstico nutricional de magreza grau I; 4 (10%) grau II; 2 (5%) grau III; 23 (57,5%) de eutrofia; 6 (15%) de pré obesidade e 2 (5%) com diagnóstico nutricional de obesidade grau I. A soma dos moradores (25) com ad-equação calórica acima de 110% e abaixo de 90% foi superior ao número de moradores (15) com adequação calórica de 90 a 110%.O percentual médio de adequação protéica foi 131,2% . Com relação à percepção alimentar observou-se que 4(26,7%) têm percepção que não alimentam bem; 13(86,7%) que a alimentação é suficiente; 8(53,3%) gostam da alimentação oferecida na instituição; 9 (60%) alimentam exclusivamente das refeições oferecidas pela instituição; 9(60%) não gostam de mastigar os alimentos; 6(40,0%) gostam de ficar sozinhos durante as refeições. Os resultados mostraram uma situação preocupante, de risco nutricional. CONCLUSÕES: A associação entre as percepções merece ser valorizada pela equipe de saúde e responsáveis pela alimentação, que poderia gerar maior aceitação ao ali-mento oferecido. Torna-se imprescindível uma assistência voltada para minimizar as marcas, o sofrimento e a rejeição deixada pelo estigma social associado à hanseníase.

OBJECTIVE: Knowing the nutritional status and eating perception of residents with leprosy sequel. METHODS: The evaluated population consisted of 40 former leprosy residents . To determine the nutritional status the BMI (Body Mass Index) for adults was used according to WHO (Wolrd Health Organization) , 1995 and 1997 for assessment of food intake (protein and calories) the eating record of 2 days. To determine the eating perception a questionnaire was applied with 15 residents that were keeping productive contact. Data were tabulated and analyzed using Software SPSS for Windows® version 17.0.RESULTS: 3 (7,5%) residents presented nutritional diagnosis of thinness level I ; 4 (10%) thinness level II; 2 (5%) thinness level III; 23 (57,5%) eutrophic; 6 (15%) pre obesity; and 2 (5%) residents with nutritional diagnosis of obesity level I . It was observed that the sum of resindents (25) with caloric adequacy over 110% and below 90% was superior than the number of residents (15) with caloric adequacy from 90 to 110% . The average percentage of proteic adequacy of 131,2 % . Regarding eating perception it was observed that 4(26,7%) have perception that they do not eat well; 13(86,7%) answered that their diet is enough; 8(53,3%) like the food offered in the institution; 9 (60%) eat exclusively the meals offered in the institution; 9(60%) not like to chew the food; 6(40,0%) like to be alone during meals.CONCLUSION: The results showed a worrying situation of nutritional risk. The association among the perceptions deserve to be valued by the health team and responsible for feeding. This knowledge could generate greater acceptance to the food offered. It is indispensable assistance aimed to minimize the marks, suffering and rejection left by the social stigma associated with leprosy.

Armadillo meat intake was not associated with leprosy in a case control study, Curitiba (Brazil).

Leprosy's progression and its maintained endemic status, despite the availability of effective treatments, are not fully understood and recent studies have highlighted the possibility of involved Mycobacterium leprae ambient reservoirs. Wild armadillos can carry leprosy and, because their meat is eaten by humans, development of the disease among armadillo meat consumers has been investigated. This study evaluated the frequency of armadillo meat intake among leprosy patients as well as age and gender matched controls with other skin diseases from a dermatological unit. Armadillo meat consumption among both groups was adjusted by demographic and socioeconomic covariates based on a conditional multiple logistic regression model. One hundred twenty-one cases and 242 controls were evaluated; they differed in socioeconomic variables such as family income, hometown population and access to treated water. The multivariate analysis did not show an association between the intake of armadillo meat and leprosy (odds ratio = 1.07; CI 95% 0.56-2.04), even when only cases with no known contacts were analyzed. We conclude that leprosy is not associated with the intake of armadillo meat in these patients.

Armadillo meat intake was not associated with leprosy in a case control study, Curitiba (Brazil)

Leprosy's progression and its maintained endemic status, despite the availability of effective treatments, are not fully understood and recent studies have highlighted the possibility of involved Mycobacterium leprae ambient reservoirs. Wild armadillos can carry leprosy and, because their meat is eaten by humans, development of the disease among armadillo meat consumers has been investigated. This study evaluated the frequency of armadillo meat intake among leprosy patients as well as age and gender matched controls with other skin diseases from a dermatological unit. Armadillo meat consumption among both groups was adjusted by demographic and socioeconomic covariates based on a conditional multiple logistic regression model. One hundred twenty-one cases and 242 controls were evaluated; they differed in socioeconomic variables such as family income, hometown population and access to treated water. The multivariate analysis did not show an association between the intake of armadillo meat and leprosy (odds ratio = 1.07; CI 95 percent 0.56-2.04), even when only cases with no known contacts were analyzed. We conclude that leprosy is not associated with the intake of armadillo meat in these patients.

Avaliação nutricional e caracterização sócio-demográfica de portadores de hanseníase - SP / Hansen's patients nutritional assessment and population characteristics - SP

Introdução: A hanseníase é uma doença infecto-contagiosa, de evolução lenta, que se manifesta por meio de lesões na pele e nos nervos periféricos, sendo importante caracterizar o estado nutricional dos pacientes. Objetivo: Avaliar o estado nutricional de indivíduos adultos com hanseníase. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico observacional do tipo transversal, com coleta de dados primários que foi desenvolvido no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP, Centro de Dermatologia Sanitária em São Paulo e Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima em Bauru. Para avaliar o consumo alimentar foi adotado o inquérito Rec 24h e um questionário para caracterização das variáveis sócio-demográficas, clínicas, antropométricas e dos hábitos e práticas alimentares. Resultados: A população nos três locais foi composta por 91 pacientes, com predominância do gênero masculino e idade entre 23 e 79 anos. A maior concentração ocorreu na faixa de 40 a 59 anos que representou 43 por cento dos pacientes. Houve predomínio do estado civil casado. A maior parte da população (41,8 por cento) constituiu-se de trabalhadores ativos e 10 por cento encontrava-se afastada de suas atividades, 70 por cento, possuíam o nível fundamental incompleto e 22 por cento eram analfabetos. Os indivíduos (80,3 por cento) recebiam até 2 salários mínimos. A maioria da população (61,5 por cento) não praticava atividade física. Com relação à prática alimentar 71,4 por cento realizavam entre 3 e 4 refeições diárias. Observou-se 13,1 por cento de obesidade (classes 1 e 2) 3,2 por cento de baixo peso. Após o diagnóstico da doença 16,5 por cento referiram ter deixado de comer carne de pato, porco, peixe, linguiça e ovos, 12,1 por cento referiram acreditar que a alimentação provocava hanseníase e 30,8 por cento que a alimentação poderiam piorar a hanseníase. Conclusões: A população de estudo apresentou-se com baixa renda, baixa escolaridade e predomínio de pré-obesidade. Os pacientes referiram ter mudado a alimentação após o diag...

The effects of different beak trimming techniques on plasma corticosterone and performance criteria in Single Comb White Leghorn hens.

DeKalb XL chicks were given a beak trim at 6 d of age (6DP) with a 2.8-mm gauge and a beak trim at 11 wk (11WB) with a block cut approximately 2 mm anterior to the nasal openings. Corticosterone (CS) levels of the 6DP treatment were (P < or = 0.01) elevated above nontrimmed CS levels at 2 h posttrim; and BW and feed consumption (FC) of the 6DP were depressed until 8 wk of age. At 11 wk of age, CS of the 11WB treatment was (P < or = 0.02) elevated above controls at 1, 2, 8, and 5 wk posttrim. The 11WB treatment resulted in a decrease in FC and a reduction in BW at 12, 14, and 16 wk of age, whereas there were no differences among treatments in livability during the pullet phase. At 72 wk of age, FC of the nontrimmed controls was greater than both beak trimmed treatments, and both beak trimmed treatments had greater hen housed eggs, percentage hen day egg production, and percentage livability. Both beak trimmed treatments resulted in better egg income, feed cost per hen, and net income (NI). The 6DP and 11WB beak trim treatments resulted in an improvement of NI per hen of 1.48 dollars and 1.86 dollars, respectively. In addition, both beak trimmed treatments exhibited better feather score and Hansen's test (fearfulness). It was concluded that pullets and hens could adapt to the physiological stress of beak trimming and out perform, during a lay phase, controls whose beaks were not trimmed.

Suggested pharmacophagy of the African bushhopper Phymateus leprosus (Fabricius) (Pyrgomorphidae, Orthoptera).

The bushhopper Phymateus leprosus (Fabricius) in the field shows a special appetite for the milkweed Asclepias fruticosa. Asclepiadaceae, like Apocynaceae and Scrophulariaceae, contain cardiac glycosides. Raw and purified extracts of these plants phagostimulate larval and adult P. leprosus. We also screened natural and half-synthetic compounds found in those plant extracts. While saponins and sapogenins did not stimulate the animals, many cardiac glycosides and aglycones, offered on filter paper, proved to be phagostimulants.

Dietary habits, food intake and functional outcomes in those with a history of Hansen's disease in Korea.

This study shows that the nutrition and health status of ex-leprosy patients in Korea was marginal. Their nutrient intakes were low, especially from micronutrients which were associated with food from animal sources. Dietary quality was discriminated by food habits, such as skipping meals, irregularity of meals, food purchase and meal preparation. Dietary quality was best predicted by food habits followed by physical fitness and nutrition knowledge. Our subjects were nutrition-conscious, but they did not have accurate information. These findings suggest that our study population needs nutrition education.

[Non-religious prohibitions of meat consumption in Senegal]. / Interdits non religieux de la consommation de viandes au Sénégal.

680 persons belonging to all ethnical and religious groups in various regions of Senegal, have been questioned to know types of meat they avoid for non religious beliefs. The results show that: 25% of responses are related to prohibited meat for patronymic names (family names), reason comparable to "totemism". Camel flesh is in this group. 75% of responses deal with prohibitions of consumption connected with various beliefs. So is the case of goat meat avoided by 13% of persons, because it would transmit leprosy or reveal incubating diseases. 14% of persons questioned said that Spiegel lobule of liver must be exclusively consumed by only sons or only daughters. Meat taboos connected with socio-cultural beliefs (totemism, mimetism) have a minor impact on the global consumption of this food.