Unravelling the relation between processed crude oils and the composition of spent caustic effluents as well as the respective economic impact.

Spent caustic discharges are responsible for increasing oil and grease (O&G) matter in refineries wastewater, leading to increasing treatment costs due to low water quality and environmental constraints associated with high O&G concentration discharges. As a way to settle and optimize treatment technologies for such complex effluents, more insight regarding the effluents impact and deeper characterization is necessary. The present study intends to assess the possibility of a relationship between the processed crude oils with the polar O&G concentration in naphthenic spent caustic as well as in the final wastewater; Sines refinery was considered as case-study. Also, in order to get insights about the nature of the polar O&G compounds, their structures and their prevalence in the effluent treatment system was carried out through detailed analytical characterization studies. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were chosen. It was found that, for the Sines refinery, spent caustic discharges may increase the refinery effluent management cost up to 3 €/ton of processed crude oil, every time a high kerosene cut acid crude oil is processed. It was also found that the typical spent caustic O&G effluents are composed by organic contaminants with low molecular weight (MW), with aromatic and polar arrangements, like phenolic groups and naphthenic acids. This outcome is crucial for subsequently establishing the best technologies able to deal with such complex effluents.

Aspectos epidemiológicos e clínico-patológicos de um surto de miopatia nutricional em potros ˗ relato de caso / [Epidemiological and clinical-pathological aspects of an outbreak of nutritional myopathy in young horses ˗ case report]

A miopatia nutricional é uma doença degenerativa que pode afetar os músculos esqueléticos e cardíaco, causada pela deficiência dietética de selênio e/ou vitamina E. Objetivou-se relatar a ocorrência de miopatia nutricional em dois potros Puro Sangue Inglês, criados de forma extensiva, com baixa disponibilidade de forragem e sem suplementação mineral. De um lote de nove animais de diferentes idades (cinco éguas adultas, uma potra lactente de três meses,uma mula e dois potros de 16 e 17 meses), apenas os dois últimos foram afetados. Clinicamente, havia decúbito lateral ou esternal, taquicardia, taquipneia, desidratação e dor à palpação muscular na região dos glúteos.O diagnóstico presuntivo de miopatia nutricional foi realizado por meio da associação dos sinais clínicos aos dados epidemiológicos.O animal 1 foi eutanasiado cinco dias após o atendimento devido à piora gradativa do quadro, e o animal 2 recuperou-se com o tratamento adotado. O diagnóstico foi confirmado com base nos exames complementares, nos achados de necropsia e na dosagem da concentração hepática de selênio. Este relato de caso alerta para o risco da ocorrência de miopatia nutricional em equinos, sobretudo jovens, sem acesso a pastagens ou feno de boa qualidade e sem suplementação mineral adequada.(AU)

Nutritional myopathy is a degenerative disease caused by the dietary deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E that can affect skeletal and cardiac muscles. The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of nutritional myopathy in two Thoroughbred young horses, raised in pastures with low forage availability and no mineral supplementation. From a herd of nine animals of different ages (five adult mares, one three-month-old nursing foal, one mule and two 16- and 17-month-old horses), only the last two were affected. Clinical signs were lateral or sternal recumbency, tachycardia, tachypnea, dehydration and muscle pain. Presumptive diagnosis of nutritional myopathy was made associating clinical signs and epidemiological data. Animal 1 was euthanized five days after the first evaluation due to clinical signs gets worse, and animal 2 recovered with the established treatment. Diagnosis was confirmed with complementary exams, necropsy findings and levels of hepatic selenium. This paper alerts to the risk of nutritional myopathy occurrence in horses, mainly young animals, which are not ingesting good quality hay or green forage and do not receive appropriate mineral supplementation.(AU)

Meta-analytic study of organic acids as an alternative performance-enhancing feed additive to antibiotics for broiler chickens.

The effect of organic acids as an alternative to antibiotics on the performance of broiler chickens was evaluated by meta-analysis, identifying and quantifying the main factors that influence results. A total of 51,960 broilers from 121 articles published between 1991 and 2016 were used. Interactions of additives [non-supplemented group (control), organic acids, and growth promoter antibiotics] with microbial challenge (with or without inoculation of pathogenic microorganisms) were studied on performance variables. Moreover, the effects of organic acids, used individually or in blends, were evaluated. Relative values of average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were obtained in relation to control: ΔADG and ΔADFI, respectively. Analysis of variance-covariance revealed lower ADG with organic acids when compared to antibiotics (P < 0.05). There was a significant interaction between the additives and the challenge on feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.01) and on viability (P < 0.05). Without challenge, organic acids improved broilers' FCR (P < 0.01), presenting results similar to antibiotics (P > 0.05). Under challenge, the organic acids were again effective on FCR (-5.67% in relation to control, P < 0.05), but they did not match antibiotics (-13.40% in relation to control, P < 0.01). Viability was improved only under challenge conditions, and only by antibiotics (+4.39% in relation to control, P < 0.05). ADG (P < 0.05) and FCR (P < 0.01) were increased by blends of organic acids, but not by the organic acids used alone (P > 0.05). ADFI and production factor were not influenced by the treatments (P > 0.05). ΔADFI of organic-acid supplemented group showed a linear influence on ΔADG, which increases 0.64% at every 1% increase in ΔADFI. In conclusion, organic acids can be utilized as performance enhancing, but the results are lower than those found with antibiotics, particularly under microbial challenge. The blends of organic acids provide better results than the utilization of one organic acid alone.

Coffee is protective against oral and pharyngeal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Coffee is one of the most popular and consumable drinks worldwide. However, there are conflicting results on the influence of this drink in oral and pharyngeal cancer risk. To clarify this, we aimed to systemically review and carry out a meta-analysis of the relevant literature on the association between coffee and oral and pharyngeal cancer. STUDY DESIGN: We carried out an electronic search of publications up to August 2016 from PubMed, National Library of Medicines Medline, Embase, Science Direct and the Cochrane Central Register. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to address the quality of the studies a meta-analysis was carried out using random-effects models. RESULTS: From the 22,515 entries identified in the search, 13 case-control and 4 cohort studies were selected. With regards to quality on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, an overall value of 6.06 was obtained. The analysis for oral and pharyngeal cancer grouped together indicated a pooled OR of .69 (95% CI of .57-.84; p<.001) for high versus low coffee consumption with a moderate heterogeneity (I2: 50.3%; p=.009). Regarding studies on oral cavity cancers we observed a pooled OR of 0.82; 95% CI =.58-1.16; p=.257) and for pharyngeal cancers a pooled OR of .72 (95% CI of 0.54-.95; p=.019). There was no significant publication bias. CONCLUSION: The results show an inverse association between high coffee consumption and the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancers, which indicates that coffee may have a protective role against these cancers. Further larger prospective observational cohort studies are needed to address any effect of other possible co-factors.

Effects of lipid sources, lysophospholipids and organic acids in maize-based broiler diets on nutrient balance, liver concentration of fat-soluble vitamins, jejunal microbiota and performance.

Three experiments with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement were conducted to evaluate maize-based diets for broilers containing different lipid sources [soybean oil (S) or beef tallow (T)] supplemented with or without lysophospholipids and organic acids on nutrient balance (Experiment I, evaluation period of 10-14 d), on liver concentration of fat-soluble vitamins, on jejunal microbiota (Experiment II, sampling at d 14) and on performance (Experiment III, accumulated periods of 1-14, 1-21 and 1-42 d). A total of 1344 male chicks were used. In each experiment, the birds were allotted in a completely randomised design with 8 replications. The lysophospholipids were mainly composed of lysolecithins and the organic acids blend was constituted by lactic (40%), acetic (7%) and butyric acids (1%). An interaction between lipid sources and lysophospholipids was observed on faecal apparent digestibility of lipid (ADL), which improved with lysophospholipids addition in T diets. Broilers fed on S had higher ADL and faecal apparent digestibility of nitrogen-corrected gross energy (ADGEN). It was not possible to demonstrate a significant treatment effect on the liver concentration of vitamins A and E, even with the differences in fatty acid profile between S and T. Enterobacteria values were below the detection threshold. Lysophospholipid supplementation reduced gram-positive cocci in T-fed birds. S diets promoted lower total anaerobe counts compared with T diets, independent of additives. S diets increased BW gain and feed:gain ratio in all evaluation periods. Lysophospholipids and organic acids improved feed:gain ratio at 1-21 d in T diets. Furthermore, main effects were observed for lysophospholipids and organic acids at 1-42 d, which increased BW gain and improved feed:gain ratio, respectively. No positive interactions between additives were found.

Análise fitoquímica e atividade antifúngica do óleo essencial de folhas de Lippia sidoides Cham. e do Timol contra cepas de Candida spp / Phytochemical analysis and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Lippia sidoides Cham. and of the Thymol against Candida strains

RESUMO A resistência de fungos do gênero Candida aos fármacos químicos tem lançado o desafio de se identificar novas substâncias que possuam atividade antibiótica ou venham a modular o efeito de produtos atualmente usados contra candidíase. O presente estudo avaliou a atividade antifúngica do óleo essencial de Lippia sidoides Cham. e do timol, sobre cepas de Candida. Inicialmente os produtos foram testados frente a 16 cepas fúngicas pela técnica de difusão em meio sólido, o que permitiu selecionar linhagens para continuidade da pesquisa. Com as linhagens de Candida krusei (CK LMBM 01, CK LMBM 02), Candida albicans (CA LM 62) e Candida tropicalis (CT LM 20), procedeu-se, por microdiluição em caldo, a determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e em meio sólido, a Concentração Fungicida Mínima (CFM) dos produtos foi identificada. O microcultivo das leveduras em meio empobrecido foi realizado para verificação de alterações morfológicas e, além disso, uma análise da composição química do óleo foi realizada por Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (CG-EM). Nesta análise, o constituinte majoritário foi o timol (84,95%), seguido de compostos como p-cimeno e Éter metil carvacrol, entre outros. A CIM do óleo essencial de Lippia sidoides Cham. frente às cepas variou entre 64 e 256 μg/mL, enquanto a CIM do timol foi estabelecida entre 32 e 64 μg/mL. A CFM do óleo essencial foi determinada entre 128 e 512 μg/mL e para o timol foram encontrados valores entre 64 e 128 μg/mL. Em relação à análise micromorfológica, verificada nas concentrações de CIM e CIM x 2, o óleo essencial inibiu o dimorfismo das cepas CK 01 e CT 20 na CIM e quando foi ensaiado o timol, este, na CIM, impediu a transição morfológica das cepas CK 01 e CA 62. Uma redução da morfogênese também foi obsevada na cepa CT 20, porém apenas em CIM x 2 e de forma mais discreta. Os resultados enaltecem o potencial antifúngico de L. sidoides e de seu composto majoritário timol tanto no combate à Candida quanto na neutralização de um dos fatores de virulência, a capacidade invasiva por formação de hifas e pseudohifas verificado na condição patogênica da candidíase. Estes dados são promissores e poderão incentivar futuras pesquisas sobre os aspectos fitoquímicos, toxicológicos e farmacológicos tanto do óleo essencial de Lippia sidoides como também de seus componentes químicos.

ABSTRACT The resistance of the Candida against drugs has been a challenge to the discovery of new substances with antimicrobial or modulatory effects that could be used against the cadidiasis. This work evaluated the antifungal activity of the essential oil of Lippia sidoides Cham. and of the Thymol against Candida strains. The products were tested towards 16 strains of Candida using the diffusion method, which allowed to select the strains in order to proceed with the research. The strains of Candida krusei (CK LMBM 01, CK LMBM 02), Candida albicans (CA LM 62) and Candida tropicalis (CT LM 20) were assayed by the microdilution method so that the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimal Fungicide Concentration (MFC) could be determined. The morphogenesis of the Candida was evaluated using poor environment in order to observe morphological changes. The composition of the essential oil was determined by GC-MS. The main compound observed was the thymol (84.95%). The MIC of the essential oil of L. sidoides and Thymol ranged between 64 to 256 μg/mL, and between 32 to 64 μg/mL respectively. The MFC of the essential oil and the thymol varied between 128 to 512 μg/mL and 64 to 128 μg/mL respectively. The morphogenesis of different Candida strains was inhibited in the MIC and MICx2 to the essential oil and thymol. The results indicated the antifungal potential of the L. sidoides and of the Thymol due to the inhibition of the invasive capacity, one of the most important virulence factors for the candidiasis` development. These results are promising to new researches about the phytochemical, toxicological and pharmacological aspects of the essential oil of L. sidoides and its phytochemical compounds.

Effect of lipid sources and inclusion levels in diets for broiler chickens / Efeito de fontes lipídicas e níveis de inclusão em dietas para frangos de corte

This research aimed to evaluate the interactions and effects of 2 and 4% addition levels of poultry slaughterhouse fat (chicken tallow) and soybean oil in diets for broiler chickens. Two experiments were carried out using one-day-old male Cobb chicks in an entirely random design with a 2x2 factorial scheme. In the first experiment, 560 chicks were used to evaluate performance and carcass characteristics. In the second experiment, 100 chicks were used to determine the nutrient digestibility, dietary energy utilization and the lipase and amylase pancreatic activity. There was no interaction between the fat sources and the addition levels for any of the analyzed variables, except for the digestibility coefficient of dry matter (DCDM), which was higher in diets added with 2% soybean oil when compared to chicken tallow. The addition of 4% fat in the diet, regardless of fat source, improved the digestibility coefficient of ethereal extract (DCEE) and increased weight gain and feed intake. Moreover, in the initial phase, the addition of 4% fat to the diet increased lipase activity when compared to diets with 2% addition, and a positive correlation between DCEE and pancreatic lipase activity was observed. In conclusion, there is no interaction between fat sources and addition levels, except for DCDM. Carcass characteristics are not influenced by any of the studied factors. The addition of 4% fat increases pancreatic lipase activity and improves DCEE, resulting in greater weight gain, regardless of the tested fat source, making chicken tallow a great alternative to soybean oil...

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as interações e os efeitos da utilização de gordura de abatedouro avícola (gordura de frango) e de óleo de soja com níveis de inclusão de 2 e 4% em dietas para frangos de corte. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos com pintos de corte de um dia de idade, machos, da linhagem Cobb, alojados num delineamento inteiramente ao acaso em esquema fatorial 2x2. No primeiro experimento utilizaram-se 560 aves para avaliar o desempenho e as características de carcaça. No segundo experimento foram alojadas 100 aves para determinar o aproveitamento dos nutrientes e da energia da dieta, e também a atividade de lipase e amilase pancreática. Não houve interações entre as fontes lipídicas e os níveis de inclusão para nenhuma das variáveis analisadas, com exceção do coeficiente de metabolizabilidade da matéria seca (CMMS), que foi maior nas dietas com inclusão de 2% de óleo de soja em relação à gordura de frango. A inclusão de 4% de lipídios na dieta, independente da fonte lipídica, melhorou o coeficiente de metabolizabilidade do extrato etéreo (CMEE) e aumentou o ganho de peso e o consumo de ração das aves. Ainda, na fase inicial, a adição de 4% de lipídios na dieta aumentou a atividade de lipase em relação às dietas com inclusões de 2%, observando-se uma correlação positiva entre o CMEE e a atividade de lipase pancreática. Como conclusão, não há interação entre as fontes lipídicas e os níveis de inclusão estudados, com ressalva para o CMMS. As características de carcaça não são influenciadas por nenhum dos fatores estudados. A adição de 4% de lipídio aumenta a atividade de lipase pancreática e melhora o CMEE, refletindo em maior ganho de peso das aves, indiferentemente da fonte lipídica testada, o que torna a gordura de frango uma boa alternativa ao óleo de soja...

Parâmetros ósseos de frangos de corte alimentados com rações contendo fitase e baixos níveis de fósforo disponível e proteína bruta / Bone parameters for broilers fed diets with phytase and low phosphorus and crude protein levels

Foram utilizados 504 pintos de linhagem comercial (Ag Ross 308) para frangos de corte de um dia de idade, distribuídos em 12 tratamentos com seis repetições. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 2x2x3, com dois níveis de fósforo disponível (0,45 e 0,34%), dois níveis de fitase (0 e 1200 FTU/kg) e três níveis de proteína bruta (22,5; 20,5 e 18,5%). A porcentagem de cálcio e fósforo nas tíbias foi influenciada significativamente pelos níveis de proteína e de fósforo na dieta com o uso da fitase. Os teores de matéria mineral nas tíbias apresentaram efeito linear com o uso da enzima e efeito quadrático com a ausência dela, apresentando maior valor com o nível de 22,5% de proteína na dieta. Já com os maiores níveis de fósforo houve efeito linear entre os níveis de proteína bruta na dieta e os pesos da matéria mineral nas tíbias, ou seja, quanto maior o nível de proteína, menor o peso da matéria mineral.

504 (five hundred four) 1 day old male chicks from a commercial broiler line (Ag Ross 308) were used, distributed in 12 treatments, with 6 replicates per treatment. The experimental design was casually blocked and treatments were organized in a 2x2x3 factorial arrangement: two available phosphorus levels (0.45 and 0.34%), two phytase inclusion levels (0 and 1200 FTU/kg) and three crude protein levels (22.5; 20.5 and 18.5%). Tibia calcium percentage was influenced by protein and phosphorus levels in the diet, when using phytase. Tibia ash levels showed a linear effect when enzymes were added and showed a quadractic effect without it, and the higher value was observed with 22.5% crude protein in the diet. With higher phosphorus levels a linear effect was observed between crude protein in the diet and tibia ash weights, as a higher protein level had lower tíbia ash weight.

Dietary effects of chelated zinc supplementation and lysine levels in ISA Brown laying hens on early and late performance, and egg quality.

It has been hypothesized that zinc (Zn) levels beyond those that are nutritionally required may favor the utilization of dietary lysine, and consequently reduce the level of its inclusion into the diet. Therefore, the possible effects of interaction between chelated Zn and the level of lysine (Lys) on egg production and egg quality of laying hens were evaluated. In total, 720 ISA Brown layer hens aged 24 to 36 wk (early phase) and 48 to 60 wk (late phase) were allotted in a completely randomized factorial design that used 3 Zn and 5 Lys levels (6 replications, 8 birds/replication). All birds aged 37 to 47 wk (between early and late phases) were fed a standard diet and maintained under the same experimental design. The Zn levels used were 137, 309, and 655 mg/kg; and the Lys levels were 0.560, 0.612, 0.677, 0.749, and 0.851%. The optimal levels of Lys digestibility were based on laboratory analyses with regard to the weighted average relationship between 83.5% digestibility and the total Lys from principal ingredients. There was no effect of interaction found between the dietary levels of Zn and Lys for most of the variables studied; however, each had an independent effect on the variables. An increase in Zn from 137 to 655 mg/kg had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the performance of hens in both phases; however, it showed a significant effect on egg quality (P < 0.01), principally on mineral composition. Increased Zn resulted in decreased shell weight, percentage of ash, yolk ash deposition, and total ash deposition. On the other hand, an increase in Lys from 0.560 to 0.851% significantly affected (P < 0.002) several performance parameters and the chemical composition of the eggs, including feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, BW gain, egg weight, and production. In conclusion, there was no interaction found between Zn and Lys, but higher dietary levels of chelated Zn reduced bird performance and egg quality parameters, whereas higher Lys levels could be beneficial to bird performance and egg quality.

Relative bioavailability of phosphorus in feed and agricultural phosphates for poultry.

Nine hundred fifty male Hubbard chicks were used in a 21-d study (10 birds per battery cage) to determine relative bioavailability of P (RBP) in four feed-grade phosphates (FP) [two Brazilian dicalcium and two U.S.-made phosphates (di-monocalcium and defluorinated)] and four Brazilian agricultural grade phosphates (AP) [single (AP-1), and triple (AP-2) superphosphates, monoammonium (AP-3), and thermomagnesium (AP-4) phosphates]. The reference standard was a purified-grade calcium phosphate dibasic (SP). Phosphates were added to the corn-soybean control diet (22% protein; 0.40% P + 0.08% P from SP), providing 0.08 and 0.16% additional P. Calcium level was 1.0% for all diets. Slope ratio was used to determine RBP, with BW, bone ash (BA), or bone strength (BS) regressed on P added within each P source. A relative biological value (RBV) was estimated using BW, BA, and feed efficiency. Performance was depressed (P < 0.01) by AP as compared with FP; BW was decreased by 11%, and feed intake (FI) was decreased by 14%. Mortality increased (P < 0.05) by 154% (7 vs 2.8%). Phosphate source AP-4, which had the lowest content of P and a high content of F, Fe, Ba, Ti, and Th, was toxic based on a 44% decrease (P < 0.01) in BW, 46% decrease in FI, 19% decrease in BA (32.4 vs 40.0%), 55% decrease in BS (7.1 vs 15.8 kg), and mortality increase (P < 0.05) from 0.7 to 26% compared with the average of AP-1, -2 and -3. The RBP could not be estimated for AP-4; and average availabilities for FP and AP, respectively, were 100.6 and 107.6% (BW), 88.3 and 93.2% (BA), 84.2 and 96.3% (BS), and 100.0 and 99.9% (RBP). The AP varied in RBP, with particularly high values calculated for AP-3. Performance and bone parameters in this study were not strongly affected by high levels of potentially toxic mineral elements in certain AP; this result may be explained by the low levels of phosphate addition and the short duration of the feeding period (21 d). However, considering their relatively high levels of F, Fe, Mg, S, Ba, Ti, and Th, agricultural-grade phosphate may represent considerable risk of toxicity for use in animal diets.

Analgesic activity of Psychotria colorata (Willd. ex R. & S.) Muell. Arg. alkaloids.

An ethnopharmacological survey showed that home remedies prepared with flowers, fruits and roots of Psychotria colorata (Wild. ex R. & S.) Muell. Arg. (RUBIACEAE) are used by Amazonian caboclos as pain killers. These data led to the evaluation of analgesic activity of extracts of P. colorata, using the formalin, writhing and tail-flick methods. This paper reports the Naloxone reversible opioid-like analgesic activity of alkaloids present in leafs and flowers of P. colorata.

Pectin and complications after gastric surgery: normalisation of postprandial glucose and endocrine responses.

Pectin has been shown to minimise the fall in blood glucose seen in patients who are troubled by hypoglycaemia attacks after gastric surgery. We therefore performed 50 g glucose tolerance tests with and without 14.5 g pectin on 11 post-gastric surgery patients. After pectin, the high postprandial levels of glucose, insulin, and enteroglucagon were significantly reduced as was the fall in blood glucose between 90 and 120 minutes. These effects of pectin may reflect slower uptake of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract and provide evidence to support the use of unabsorbable carbohydrate gelling agents in treating hypoglycaemia after gastric surgery.