Identification of biomarkers in the hair of dogs: new diagnostic possibilities in the study and control of visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis whose etiologic agent in the Americas is Leishmania infantum, and dogs are the main host. Research and innovation in diagnostic techniques are essential to improve the surveillance and control of VL in endemic areas. The present study investigates the profile of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by healthy dogs and by dogs infected by L. infantum to detect variations in the VOCs that may be used as biomarkers in the diagnosis of VL. In total, 36 dogs were selected from an endemic area and divided into three groups: G1, not infected with L. infantum; G2, infected without clinical signs of VL; and G3, infected with clinical signs of VL. To analyze the profiles of the VOCs emitted by dogs from the three groups, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used. Variations were observed between the profiles of the VOCs emitted in the three groups studied, and they also differentiated infected animals with or without clinical signs. Six VOCs were identified as potential biomarkers of infection, with significant variations between healthy dogs (G1) and infected dogs (G2 + G3). The detection of variations between groups G2 and G3 suggested that the profiles of some VOCs may be related to the type of immune response and the parasite load of the infected dogs. This study demonstrated the possibility of analysis of VOCs as biomarkers of VL in diagnostic, clinical, and epidemiological work.

Evaluation of the effects of canning variables on the mineral composition of canned cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata l. Walp) using multi-response analysis.

This study aims to investigate the effects of canning variables (cooking time, storage time, volume of vinegar, salt and sugar) on the mineral composition of canned cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) and which conditions provide optimised preservation of the mineral content of the grains. Different formulations of canned cowpeas were produced following two levels factorial experimental design using five variables. A set of 11 different formulations were evaluated using the desirability function with essential minerals (Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, P and Zn) as the response. The optimal multi-response conditions for higher mineral retention were: 360 days of storage at 30 ± 5 °C (ST2), 30 ml of vinegar, 9.0 g of NaCl, 18 min of cooking time, and 9.0 g, 19.5 g or 30 g of sugar (the effect of the sugar content at the evaluated range was not significant at 95% confidence level).

Evaluation of the nutritional quality of cereal bars made with pulse flours using desirability functions.

The development of nutritious, low-cost snacks has become increasingly important due to consumer demand for healthier diets. In this study, sensory and physical-chemical parameters and mineral compositions (P, Ca, Na, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, Al, Cu, Mn, Ni and Ba) of cereal bars were evaluated. The bars were made with flours of Lablab purpureus L. Sweet (mangalo), Vigna unguiculata L. Walp (cowpea) or Cajanus cajan L. Huth (pigeon pea) and the desirability function was used to attain the best formulation for maximising the content of protein, fibre, ashes and essential elements. Sensory analysis revealed satisfactory acceptability. Acidity did not change significantly (p > 0.05), and water activity values ​​did not exceed 0.557 over 90 days, indicating stability. Principal component analysis revealed no significant differences when comparing the mineral content between the bars. The desirability function indicated that the cowpea-based bar had a higher nutritional quality, with a protein content of 4.91 ± 0.25 g 100 g-1, P content of 187.7 ± 3.6 mg 100 g-1, Mg content of 87.37 ± 1.19 mg 100 g-1 and Mn content of 2020 ± 130 µg 100 g-1, than the other bars. The overall sensory evaluation also yielded a high score for the cowpea-based bar (overall quality equal to 6.23 ± 1.10). Therefore, pulse flours could be potential nutritional ingredients for making snacks, and in particular, cereal bars containing them could be a viable product alternative for small rural cooperatives.

Segurança alimentar e nutricional em comunidade quilombola: indicadores socioeconômicos e sanitários / Food and nutritional security in quilombola community: socioeconomic and sanitary indicators

Objetivou-se avaliar os aspectos socioeconômicos, de saneamento básico e da qualidade microbiológica de água estuarina em uma comunidade quilombola. Foi aplicada entrevista semiestruturada e realizada coleta de amostras da água em cinco pontos, nos períodos seco e chuvoso, com aferição dos parâmetros abióticos. A qualidade microbiológica da água foi verificada empregando a Técnica de Fermentação em Tubos Múltiplos. Observou que o saneamento básico foi considerado precário sem coleta de lixo e o esgotamento sanitário a céu aberto. A densidade de coliformes totais e termotolerantes variou entre os períodos estando acima do permitido na legislação no período chuvoso nos pontos 1, 2 e 3 para coliformes termotolerantes. Infere-se risco a garantia da Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional, com fortes indícios de Insegurança Alimentar e Nutricional.

Padrões de consumo alimentar em uma cidade doRecôncavo da Bahia: um enfoque na segurançaalimentar e nutricional / Patterns of food consumption in a city Recôncavo of Bahia: a focuson food and nutrition security

O objetivo desse estudo foi identificar os padrões de consumo alimentar de moradores de uma cidade no Recôncavoda Bahia, analisando no contexto da segurança alimentar e nutricional. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, desenvolvidona cidade de Santo Amaro, Bahia. Participaram deste estudo 50 adultos usuários de Unidades de Saúde da Família.Empregou-se o Questionário de Frequência Alimentar para avaliar o consumo alimentar dos participantes, o qualfoi composto por 93 itens alimentares. Utilizou-se a Análise Fatorial por componentes principais para identificar ospadrões de consumo alimentar da população estudada. A população do estudo foi composta em sua maioria pormulheres (40,80%). Foram identificados quatro padrões de consumo alimentar rotulados da seguinte forma: padrãomisto integrado por frutas, hortícolas, laticínios, preparação e bebidas; padrão tradicional caracterizado por oleaginosas,pescados, grãos, farináceos e cereais; padrão regional composto por preparações regionais, produtos de panificação,massas e ovos; e o padrão ocidental com predomínio de açúcares/açucarados e carnes. O presente estudo identificoudois padrões de consumo alimentar considerados saudáveis e dois padrões alimentares não saudáveis sendo que estesdois últimos padrões representam risco à segurança alimentar e nutricional desta população, por apresentar baixaquantidade de nutrientes e elevada quantidade de sódio e gorduras.

The objective of this study was to identify the patterns of food consumption of residents from a city of the Bahia’sReconcavo, analyzing this issue in the context of food and nutrition security. This is a cross-sectional study, developed inthe city of Santo Amaro, Bahia. Fifty adults, users of the Unit of Family Health, participated in this study. It was employedthe Questionnaire of Food Frequency, which is composed of 93 food items. Factorial analysis for principal componentsin order to identify the consumption patterns of the aforesaid population. The population of this study was composedmostly by women (40,80%). It was identified four patterns of food consumption, labeled as it follows: a mixed patternintegrated by fruits, vegetables, dairy, preparation and beverages, a traditional pattern characterized by oilseeds, fish,grains, farinaceous and cereal, a regional pattern composed by regional preparations, bakery products, dough, andeggs, and an western pattern with predominance of sugars/sugary and meats. The present study identified two foodconsumption patterns considered healthy and two others considered unhealthy. The latter patterns represent a risk tofood and nutritional security of this population, by having low quantity of nutrients and high quantity of sodium and fat.

A sensitive flow analysis system for the fluorimetric determination of low levels of formaldehyde in alcoholic beverages.

A sensitive FIA method was developed for the selective determination of formaldehyde in alcoholic beverages. This method is based on the reaction of Fluoral-P (4-amine-3-pentene-2-one) with formaldehyde, leading to the formation of 3,5-diacetyl-1,4-dihydrolutidine (DDL), which fluoresces at lambda(ex)=410nm and lambda(em)=510nm. The analytical parameters were optimized by the response surface method using the Box-Behnken design. The proposed flow injection system allowed for the determination of up to 3.33x10(-5)molL(-1) of formaldehyde with R.S.D.<2.5% and a detection limit of 3.1ngmL(-1). The method was successfully applied to determine formaldehyde in alcoholic beverages, without requiring any sample pretreatment, and the results agreed with the reference at a 95% confidence level by paired t-test. In the optimized condition, the FIA system proved able to analyze up to 60 samples/h.

Spectrophotometric determination of sulphate in automotive fuel ethanol by sequential injection analysis using dimethylsulphonazo(III) reaction.

A sensitive SIA method was developed for sulphate determination in automotive fuel ethanol. This method was based on the reaction of sulphate with barium-dimethylsulphonazo(III) leading to a decrease on the magnitude of analytical signal monitored at 665 nm. Alcohol fuel samples were previously burned up to avoid matrix effects for sulphate determinations. Binary sampling and stop-flow strategies were used to increase the sensitivity of the method. The optimization of analytical parameter was performed by response surface method using Box-Behnker and central composite designs. The proposed sequential flow procedure permits to determine up to 10.0mg SO(4)(2-)l(-1) with R.S.D. <2.5% and limit of detection of 0.27 mg l(-1). The method has been successfully applied for sulphate determination in automotive fuel alcohol and the results agreed with the reference volumetric method. In the optimized condition the SIA system carried out 27 samples per hour.