Effects of Oral Nutritional Supplementation on Patients with Venous Ulcers: A Clinical Trial.

Background: The dosage and safety of nutritional supplements for patients with venous ulcers are still not well established. Aim: To evaluate the effects of a high calorie, high protein, arginine-, zinc-, and vitamins A, C, and E-enriched nutritional supplement on the biochemical profile, dietary intake, anthropometry, muscle strength, and characteristics of lesions of patients with venous ulcers. Methods: A controlled before−after clinical trial with a four-week follow-up involved 27 patients with venous ulcers under outpatient treatment in Brazil. It was administered in two to three doses per day (200 mL each) of a high-calorie and high-protein supplement enriched with arginine, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E. Patients were assessed for anthropometric parameters, dietary intake, biochemical tests, and healing conditions according to the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH). Results: It was observed that an increase in energy and protein supply led to an adequate intake of immunonutrients (zinc and vitamins A, C, and E), increased body weight, increased body mass index, and stronger handgrip strength. The injury area and the score on the PUSH notably decreased after the intervention (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The administered supplement, at the tested dosage, improved the nutritional status and characteristics of lesions in patients with venous ulcers.

Effect of Fortification with Multiple Micronutrient Powder on the Prevention and Treatment of Iron Deficiency and Anaemia in Brazilian Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Fortification with multiple micronutrient powder has been proposed as a public health intervention able to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in children. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of fortification with multiple micronutrient powder with drug supplementation in the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency and anaemia. This was a cluster trial with anemic and non-anaemic children between six and 42 months old, in randomization data. Non anaemic children received fortification with multiple micronutrient powder or standard drug supplementation of ferrous sulfate associated with folic acid in a prevention dose. Anaemic children who were randomized to receive multiple micronutrient powder also received the recommended iron complementation for anaemia treatment. A total of 162 children were evaluated. The prevalence of anaemia decreased from 13.58 to 1.85%. Iron deficiency decreased from 21.74% to 7.89% (by serum ferritin) and iron deficiency decreased from 66.81 to 38.27% (by soluble transferrin receptor). No difference was identified between interventions for hemoglobin (p = 0.142), serum ferritin (p = 0.288), and soluble transferrin receptor (p = 0.156). Fortification with multiple micronutrient powder was effective in preventing iron deficiency and anaemia in children aged six to 48 months. In anaemic children; it was necessary to supplement the dose of multiple micronutrient powder with ferrous sulfate.

Organic beet leaves and stalk juice attenuates HDL-C reduction induced by high-fat meal in dyslipidemic patients: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Beet leaves and stalks are rich in polyphenols; however, their effect on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in humans, to our knowledge, has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the acute effect of beet leaves and stalk juice, containing different concentrations of polyphenols, on lipemia, glycemic control, nitric oxide concentration, and blood pressure in patients with dyslipidemia after a high-fat meal. METHODS: In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study, patients 20 to 59 y of age with dyslipidemia were fed a single high-fat meal supplemented with either a placebo or one of two organic beet leaves and stalk juices rich in polyphenols (32 or 77.5 mg EAG/100 mL) with a 1-wk washout. Thus, each group was composed of 13 patients. Blood samples were obtained at fasting and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after intervention. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triacylglycerols, glucose, insulin, nitrite and nitrate, and blood pressure were assessed at each time period. The high-fat meal increased triacylglycerol levels after 120 (P < 0.001) and 180 min (P < 0.001) and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after 60 min (P < 0.05). This reduction was attenuated in both groups that received BLS juices after 120 min (P = 0.005). A reduction in diastolic blood pressure within groups that received BLS juice was also observed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups for other biomarkers. CONCLUSION: The beet leaves and stalk juice attenuated the reduction of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol induced by a high-fat meal.

Sequence analysis and characterization of plasmid pLK39 isolated from endophytic Salmonella sp. isolated from Solanum lycocarpum.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a small cryptic plasmid pLK39 isolated from endophytic Salmonella sp. was determined. This plasmid is 4,029 bp long with an overall GC content of 55.4 %. Sequence analyses of pLK39 revealed extensive homology to several plasmids: pRK10, pK, pSW200, pBERT, pST728/06-2, pSW100, pEC3, and pUCD5000. Using the ORF Finder program, 35 putative ORFs was identified, 30 showed more than 35 residues. After performing a search for homologous sequences to the pLK39 at BLASTn software on NCBI, it was ascertained that the plasmid has a ColE1-like replication origin and also a region of mobilization proteins from relaxase family (mobCABD). Besides these mobilization proteins, the pLK39 codes a putative DUF903 protein family, which is characterized as assumed external cytoplasmic membrane lipoprotein. A recombinant form of pLK39 carrying a kanamycin resistance gene is stably maintained in Escherichia coli cells grown in the absence of selection pressure. pLK39 was compatible with pUC18, pBR322, and pACYC184.

Genetic structure and gene flow in Eugenia dysenterica DC in the Brazilian Cerrado utilizing SSR markers

The ''cagaita tree'' (Eugenia dysenterica) is a plant found widespread in the Brazilian Cerrado. Its fruit is used for popular consumption and for industrial purposes. This study opens a new perspective for the generation of population genetic data and parameters estimates for devising sound collection and conservation procedures for Eugenia dysenterica. A battery of 356 primer pairs developed for Eucalyptus spp. was tested on the ''cagaita tree''. Only 10 primer pairs were found to be transferable between the two species. Using a polyacrilamide gel, an average of 10.4 alleles per locus was detected, in a sample of 116 individuals from 10 natural ''cagaita tree'' populations. Seven polymorphic loci allowed estimation of genetic parameters, including expected average heterozygosity He = 0,442, among population diversity, R ST = 0,268 and gene flow Nm = 0,680. Results indicated a potential of SSR locus transferability developed for Eucalyptus to other species of different genera, such as in the case of the ''cagaita tree''. The high genetic diversity among populations detected with SSR markers indicated that these markers are highly sensitive to detect population structure. Estimated Nm values and the existence of private alleles indicated reduced gene flow and consequently possible damage to the metapopulation structure.

Assessment of genetic variability within and among coffee progenies and cultivars using RAPD markers

The RAPD technique associated with restriction digestion of genomic DNA was used to assess the genetic variability within and among nine populations of Coffea arabica, including six progenies belonging to the Sarchimor germplasm, the progeny PR 77054-40-10 (Catuaí Vermelho IAC 81 x Icatu), and two commercial cultivars (IAPAR 59 and Catuaí Vermelho IAC-81). These populations were evaluated using analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), genetic similarity among progenies, and percentage of polymorphic loci. A total of 99 RAPD markers were evaluated of which 67 (67.67 percent) were polymorphic. AMOVA showed that 38.5 percent and 61.5 percent of the genetic variation was distributed among and within populations, respectively. The fixation index (F ST) of the genotypes was 0.385. The mean genetic variability estimated within populations ranged from 15.58 (IAPAR 59) to 8.27 (Catuaí Vermelho IAC 81). A distinct level of genetic variability was revealed for each of the coffee progenies and varieties studied. The methodology used in this investigation was useful to determine the genetic variability within and among C. arabica L. populations providing significant information for coffee breeding

Análise da sobrevida de pacientes com câncer de mama localmente avançado submetidas à quimioterapia neo-adjuvante (FACV) / Analysis of the survival of patients with locally advanced breast neoplasm submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (FACV)

Com o objetivo de avaliar a sobrevida de pacientes com câncer de mama localmente avançado, 71 pacientes com carcinoma de mama, estadio clínico III, foram submetidas à quimioterapia neo-adjuvante com o esquema FACV (ciclofosfamida 400 mg/m2, 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2, adriamicina 10 mg/m2 e vincristina 1 mg/m2). Foram realizados 6 ciclos, semanalmente, seguidos de mastectomia e mais 11 ciclos quinzenalmente. As curvas de sobrevida foram calculadas pelos estimadores de Kaplan e Meier. Como resultado, a mediana de seguimento das pacientes foi de 24 meses, variando de 1 a 93 meses. Aos 60 meses, a sobrevida livre de recidiva local foi de 60 por cento, a sobrevida livre de doença foi de 26 por cento e a sobrevida total foi de 52 por cento. A mediana de tempo para a recidiva local foi de 14 meses e a mediana de tempo para o aparecimento de metástases foi de 16 meses. Houve 8,5 por cento de abandono de tratamento pré-operatório. Assim, conclui-se que a quimioterapia neo-adjuvante, com o esquema proposto, mostrou ser uma boa alternativa no controle do câncer de mama, com alto índice de adesäo ao tratamento e um controle sistêmico satisfatório para pacientes diagnosticadas com doença localmente avançada.