Plant lectins ConBr and CFL modulate expression toll-like receptors, pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduce the bacterial burden in macrophages infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

BACKGROUND: Plant lectins have long been used in biomedical research as immunomodulators against tumor cells and microbial infections. PURPOSE: To test the ability of plant lectins ConBr (Canavalia brasiliensis) and CFL (Cratylia argentea) to activate antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities of murine peritoneal macrophages (pMØ) infected with a virulent strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm). METHODS: We incubated pMØ with non-toxic amounts of ConBr and CFL either before (preventive schedule) or after (curative schedule) exposure to STm. RESULTS: In uninfected pMØ, ConBr and CFL greatly increased levels of mRNA transcripts for IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6 and the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs), but not IL-10 and IL-12. Exposure to naïve splenocytes of culture supernatants of pMØ previously stimulated with CFL resulted in expression of IL-12 and IFN-γ. Both preventive and curative treatment schedules significantly reduced the intracellular load of Salmonella. Experiments in infected macrophages exposed to lectins in the preventive schedule showed that mRNA transcripts for IL-6 and TNF-α were increased by CFL, whereas ConBr enhanced IL-12 (subunit p40). In the curative schedule, CFL induced significant expression of IL-12 (p40) whereas ConBr enhanced expression IL-1ß and TNF-α genes. The lectin treatments did not influence on iNOs expression in pMØ infected with STm C5 regardless of the treatment schedule. Curative treatments with CFL increased approximately 130-fold expression of TLR-4 whist expression of TLR-9 was increased by treatments with ConBr. CONCLUSION: We conclude that lectins ConBr and CFL have immunomodulatory properties that are beneficial on control of cells infected by Salmonella.

Níveis de cromo orgânico em rações para frangos de corte mantidos sob estresse por calor no período de um a 42 dias de idade / Levels of dietary chromiumin rations for male broilers kept under heat stress from one to 42 days of age

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação de cromo sobre o desempenho e o rendimento de cortes de frangos, mantidos em ambiente de alta temperatura, no período de um a 42 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 400 frangos de corte, machos, da linhagem Cobb, em um delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos, 0, 350, 700, 1.050 e 1.400ppb de cromo na ração, oito repetições e 10 aves por repetição. Nos períodos de um a 21 e de um a 42 dias de idade, não houve influência dos tratamentos sobre o ganho de peso, o consumo de ração e a conversão alimentar das aves, mas observou-se que o consumo de cromo aumentou de forma linear. Os tratamentos não influenciaram os pesos absoluto e relativo de nenhum dos cortes, peito, coxa e sobrecoxa, avaliados aos 42 dias de idade. A suplementação de até 1.400ppb de cromo na ração não influenciou o desempenho e o rendimento de cortes nobres de frangos de corte mantidos em estresse por calor, no período de um a 42 dias de idade.

The effect of dietary organic chromium supplementation on the performance and yield of prime cuts of male broilers from one to 42 days of age reared under high environmental temperature was evaluated. Four-hundred Cobb male broilers, averaging 38±0.14g were distributed in a simple sample random design with five treatments (0; 350; 700; 1,050; and 1,400ppb of chromium in ration), eight replicates, and ten birds per replicates. In periods from one to 21 and from one to 42 days of age, the treatments did not influence the weight gain, the food intake, and the feed:gain ratio of the birds. However, the chromium intake increased in a linear way. No effect of both absolute and relative weights of all evaluated cuts (breast, thigh, and drumstick) was observed. The dietary chromium supplementation up to 1,400ppb did not influence the performance and the carcass traits of the male broilers kept under heat stress from one to 42 days of age.

[Voluminous hypothalamic hamartoma in a 5-month-old boy: Epilepsy and surgery]. / Voluminoso hamartoma hipotalámico en un niño de 5 meses: epilepsia y cirugía.

The authors report the case of 5-month-old boy with a hypothalamic hamartoma and persistent gelastic seizures in spite of a wide combination of different antiepileptic drugs. It was decided to carry out only partial removal of the tumor for decompression and to decreasing the activity of the epileptogenic focus. Surgical therapy revealed as a valid option in the treatment of the uncontrollable gelastic seizures.

Voluminoso hamartoma hipotalámico en un niño de 5 meses: epilepsia y cirugía / Voluminous hypothalamic hamartoma in a 5-month-old boy: epilepsy and surgery

Los autores presentan el caso clínico de un niño de 5 meses de edad con un hamartoma hipotalámico, con crisis gelásticas persistentes y refractarias a una amplia combinación de diferentes antiepilépticos. Se decidió realizar una remoción parcial de la lesión tumoral para descompresión y disminución del estímulo epileptogénico, en un intento de control quirúrgico de las crisis. La terapéutica quirúrgica se reveló como una opción válida en el tratamiento de las crisis gelásticas incontrolables con la terapéutica médica (AU)

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in adolescents: knowledge and consumption.

OBJECTIVE: To assess adolescents' knowledge about n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their dietary intake of these important nutrients. METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 12 questions assessing the knowledge and intake of n-3 PUFA and of a 24-h dietary recall was administered to 1117 ninth-grade adolescents (52% girls and 48% boys) attending five public schools. The adolescents were subsequently provided with verbal and written information on the health benefits, requirements, and dietary sources of n-3 PUFA. Dietary recalls were analyzed for energy and n-3 PUFA intake. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-tests, Chi-square analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used to assess adolescents' knowledge about n-3 PUFA as well as to examine relationships of independent variables with n-3 PUFA intake. RESULTS: Most adolescents (89%) believed that eating fish, a main source of very long chain (VLC) n-3 PUFA, is healthy and may prevent heart disease (59%), but only a few knew about n-3 PUFA's role in alleviating inflammation (29%) and its potential for cancer prevention (25%). Many were aware of marine sources of n-3 PUFA, such as salmon (67%), tuna (46%), mackerel (30%), and herring (26%), but only 36% knew about adequate intake of VLC n-3 PUFA. The main source of n-3 PUFA information was parents (58%), whereas only 21% of adolescents reported that their care providers had discussed health benefits of n-3 PUFA with them. About one-third of adolescents consumed fish at least once a week, and 29% consumed fish once a month. Dislike (22% of participants) and allergy (3%) were the main reasons for rarely (< or = 3 times/year; 18%) or never (17%) consuming fish. Only one adolescent reported daily consumption of a fish concentrate supplement. Daily consumption of linolenic acid was higher in boys (0.38 +/- 0.02 g) than in girls (0.31 +/- 0.01 g; p =.002). Total intake of n-3 PUFA represented only 30% of the presently available (Canadian) recommended daily allowance (CRDA) for 14- to 15-year-old boys (1.4 g/day) and 29% of the CRDA for 14- to 15-year-old girls (1.2 g/day). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents are aware of some of the health benefits of n-3 PUFA but lack concrete information about dietary requirements of n-3 PUFA and about n-3 PUFA content of various dietary sources.

Hypotensive effect of crude extract Olea. africana (Oleaceae) in normo and hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of crude extracts of the root and stem of Olea africana on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate in normo and hypertensive rats. DESIGN: Comparative study. SETTING: Laboratory. SUBJECTS: 40 Sprague Dawley rats of either sex (150 to 250 g) randomly assigned to normotensive (n = 15) (DOCA) -salt hypertensive (n = 25) groups. The normotensive group comprised three subgroups (n = 5) namely, a control treated with graded volumes of normal saline intravenously (i.v.), and two groups respectively treated with graded doses of aqueous extract of O. africana (i.v.). The hypertensive group comprised five subgroups (n = 5) namely, a control group of sham operated rats, and four groups of nephrectomised rats. One group of nephrectomized rats received Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and salt for seven days, while others received DOCAsalt for 14 days. Two groups of the 14 day treated rats respectively received 200 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg of O. africana orally thereafter. MAP and HR were measured under sodium pentobarbital anaesthesia (35 mg/kg intraperitoneally). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean arterial pressure and heart rate. RESULTS: Intravenous administration of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of O. africana caused an immediate and dose dependent fall in MAP and HR in anaesthetised normotensive rats. The aqueous extract was more potent than the ethanolic extract. Orally administered aqueous extract produced lowering of MAP and HR in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Propranolol partially blocked the Map lowering effect of O. africana. CONCLUSION: Extracts of O. africana lowered MAP and HR in normotensive and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Hence the use of the aqueous extracts in the treatment of some forms of hypertension and heart palpitations in humans. This effect may be mediated via beta adrenergic receptors.

Adolescents and calcium: what they do and do not know and how much they consume.

PURPOSE: To assess knowledge about calcium and dietary intake among a sample of adolescents. METHODS: A survey consisting of 24-h dietary recall and 14 questions assessing knowledge about calcium was administered to 1117 adolescents (52% girls and 48% boys) attending the ninth grade in five public schools. RESULTS: A majority (98%) believed that dietary calcium is healthy, strengthens the bones (92%), and may prevent osteoporosis (51%), but only a few were aware of the role of calcium in neuromuscular function (20%) and blood pressure regulation (15%). About 60% knew that adolescence is a critical period for peak bone mass accretion. Only 19% were aware of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of calcium for adolescents [4 servings (1200 mg)/day]. The majority knew that dairy products are the main dietary source of calcium, but only 10% were aware of the calcium content of various dairy products. Only 45% knew about nondairy sources of calcium. The adolescents' main sources of calcium information were health teachers (55%) and parents (46%), while only 38% reported that their health care providers had discussed health benefits of calcium. Dairy products accounted for most of the reported daily calcium intake, and the majority (79%) reported consuming dairy products daily. "Dislike" and allergy were the main reasons given for not consuming dairy products. One third reported daily supplementation with vitamins and minerals, 68% of which contained 100-200 mg of elemental calcium. Calculated calcium intake (foods, beverages, and supplements) was 536 +/- 19 mg/24 h (45% of RDA) in girls and 681 +/- 28 mg/24 h (57% of RDA) in boys (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: While adolescents are aware of the main health benefits of calcium, they lack specific information about daily requirements and calcium content of the various dietary sources. This lack of information may contribute to adolescents' suboptimal intake of calcium.

[Coronary transluminal angioplasty after the use of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction]. / Angioplastia transluminal coronária após o uso de trombolítico no infarto agudo do miocárdio.

PURPOSE: To present the Cardiology Institute of Rio Grande do Sul experience with percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA), after thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Fifty-three patients with transmural AMI in whom early successful intravenous streptokinase recanalization was followed by PTCA. The mean age was 50 years, male patients were more frequent, the predominant area of infarct was anterior wall and more frequently the "culprit" coronary was the left anterior descendent. The main indication of PTCA was uniarterial lesion with less than 20 mm of length. RESULTS: The success comes out in 44 patients (81.5%). Ten patients (18.5%) were considered unsuccessful and were referred to emergency bypass graft surgery. The in-hospital AMI rate after PTCA was 5.5%. In the follow-up the reestenoses rate was 11% and reocclusion was 3.7%. New PTCA was necessary in 3 patients (5.5%) and in one, by-pass graft (1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: PTCA is an important and secure modality of complementary therapy after thrombolytic therapy with low morbidity and mortality.