Sheep Milk: Physicochemical Characteristics and Relevance for Functional Food Development.

Sheep milk has a high nutritional value and high concentrations of proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins, as compared to the milks of other domestic species. The physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of sheep milk can be advantageous for the manufacture of products containing prebiotic ingredients and/or probiotic bacteria, which are major categories in the functional food market. Following this technological trend, this review will address the characteristics and advantages of sheep milk as a potentially functional food, as well as the development of sheep milk dairy products containing prebiotics and/or probiotics.

Plasma levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-18 after an acute physical exercise: relation with post-exercise energy intake in twins.

Increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) plasma levels have been described to occur during physical exercise. A relative reduction in energy intake after physical activity has also been reported after exercise, indicating a possible involvement of IL-6 as an anorexigenic factor. Given the possible effect of interleukins on appetite, we assessed whether a controlled physical activity bout is related with changes in IL-6, IL-6 soluble receptor (IL-6sR), gp130 and interleukin-18 (IL-18) plasma levels, as well as their relation with post-exercise energy intake. A co-twin intervention study was carried out with five young male monozygotic twin pairs. One co-twin performed 45 min of submaximal exercise on a treadmill near the anaerobic threshold ending with 7 min at 90 % VO(2) max, while his co-twin remained non-active. Ad libitum energy intake was tested through a carbohydrate-rich meal test. Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline, immediately after exercise and after the meal ingestion. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-6sR, gp130 and IL-18 were measured via ELISA. IL-6 plasma levels increased after physical activity bout (2.6-fold change; p = 0.04). A less marked trend, although still significant, was observed for plasma levels of IL-6sR and gp130. Plasma levels of IL-18 did not significantly change during exercise. The twins who exercised exhibited significantly lower energy intake (181 versus 1,195 kcal; p = 0.04), compared to the co-twins who remained resting. The present study in monozygotic twins shows increased IL-6 plasma levels after acute physical exercise with a significant reduction in energy intake, supporting a linkage between IL-6 and acute post-exercise eating behaviour.

DISTRIBUIÇÃO GEOPOLÍTICA DA FASCIOLOSE HEPÁTICA NA ILHA DE SANTIAGO, CABO VERDE

ABSTRACT A survey was carried out in order to study the geopolitical distribution of fascioliasis on Santiago Island, Cape Verde. During the evaluation, conducted from May to June 2008, measurements were made and recorded regarding the size and infection rates of the snail, pH and water temperature and vertebrate infection rates. Snails and bovine feces samples were collected at random in all municipalities of Santiago Island, except Tarrafal, properly packed, and sent to the Laboratory of National Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (INIDA) where they were analyzed. The results showed positive results for stool examinations of cattle and the presence of an intermediate host (Lymnaea natalensis) in all localities visited. A positive correlation was also found between the vertebrate and invertebrate infection rate, with the highest rate recorded in Santa Cruz (72.72%) and the lowest in Praia (16.66%). The average infection rate observed for the snails and cattle was 51.51% and 37.15%, respectively.

RESUMO O trabalho foi realizado no intuito de registrar a distribuição geopolítica da Fasciolose Hepática na Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde. Durante a avaliação, realizada de maio a junho de 2008, foram registrados tamanho e taxas de infecção do molusco, pH e temperatura da água e taxas de infecção de vertebrados. As amostras de moluscos e de fezes de bovinos foram coletadas, de forma aleatória, em todos os municípios da Ilha de Santiago, com exceção de Tarrafal, e, devidamente embaladas, encaminhadas para o Laboratório do Instituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário (INIDA), onde foram analisadas. As análises demonstraram resultados positivos para a coproscopia de bovinos e a presença do hospedeiro intermediário (Lymnaea natalensis) em todos os municípios visitados. Também ficou demonstrada uma correlação positiva entre a taxa de infecção dos hospedeiros vertebrados e invertebrados, sendo que o maior índice foi registrado no Município de Santa Cruz (72,72%) e o menor no da Praia (16,66%). A taxa de infecção média verificada para os moluscos e os bovinos foi de 51,51% e 37,15%, respectivamente.

Distribuição geopolítica da fasciolose hepática na Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde / Geopolitic distribuition of hepatic fasciolosis on Santiago Island, Cape Verde

O trabalho foi realizado no intuito de registrar a distribuição geopolítica da Fasciolose Hepática na Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde. Durante a avaliação, realizada de maio a junho de 2008, foram registrados tamanho e taxas de infecção do molusco, pH e temperatura da água e taxas de infecção de vertebrados. As amostras de moluscos e de fezes de bovinos foram coletadas, de forma aleatória, em todos os municípios da Ilha de Santiago, com exceção de Tarrafal, e, devidamente embaladas, encaminhadas para o Laboratório do Instituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário (INIDA), onde foram analisadas. As análises demonstraram resultados positivos para a coproscopia de bovinos e a presença do hospedeiro intermediário (Lymnaea natalensis) em todos os municípios visitados. Também ficou demonstrada uma correlação positiva entre a taxa de infecção dos hospedeiros vertebrados e invertebrados, sendo que o maior índice foi registrado no Município de Santa Cruz (72,72%) e o menor no da Praia (16,66%). A taxa de infecção média verificada para os moluscos e os bovinos foi de 51,51% e 37,15%, respectivamente.

A survey was carried out in order to study the geopolitical distribution of fascioliasis on Santiago Island, Cape Verde. During the evaluation, conducted from May to June 2008, measurements were made and recorded regarding the size and infection rates of the snail, pH and water temperature and vertebrate infection rates. Snails and bovine feces samples were collected at random in all municipalities of Santiago Island, except Tarrafal, properly packed, and sent to the Laboratory of National Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (INIDA) where they were analyzed. The results showed positive results for stool examinations of cattle and the presence of an intermediate host (Lymnaea natalensis) in all localities visited. A positive correlation was also found between the vertebrate and invertebrate infection rate, with the highest rate recorded in Santa Cruz (72.72%) and the lowest in Praia (16.66%). The average infection rate observed for the snails and cattle was 51.51% and 37.15%, respectively.

Two-year follow-up study of elderly residents in S. Paulo, Brazil: methodology and preliminary results.

INTRODUCTION: Previous cross-sectional studies have shown a high prevalence of chronic disease and disability among the elderly. Given Brazil's rapid aging process and the obvious consequences of the growing number of old people with chronic diseases and associated disabilities for the provision of health services, a need was felt for a study that would overcome the limitations of cross-sectional data and shed some light on the main factors determining whether a person will live longer and free of disabling diseases, the so-called successful aging. The methodology of the first follow-up study of elderly residents in Brazil is presented. METHOD: The profile of the initial cohort is compared with previous cross-sectional data and an in-depth analysis of nonresponse is carried out in order to assess the validity of future longitudinal analysis. The EPIDOSO ('Epidemiologia do Idoso') Study conducted a two-year follow-up of 1,667 elderly people (65+), living in S. Paulo. The study consisted of two waves, each consisting of household, clinical, and biochemical surveys. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In general, the initial cohort showed a similar profile to previous cross-sectional samples in S. Paulo. There was a majority of women, mostly widows, living in multigenerational households, and a high prevalence of chronic illnesses, psychiatric disturbances, and physical disabilities. Despite all the difficulties inherent in follow-up studies, there was a fairly low rate of nonresponse to the household survey after two years, which did not actually affect the representation of the cohort at the final household assessment, making unbiased longitudinal analysis possible. Concerning the clinical and blood sampling surveys, the respondents tended to be younger and less disabled than the nonrespondents, limiting the use of the clinical and laboratory data to longitudinal analysis aimed at a healthier cohort. It is worth mentioning that gender, education, family support, and socioeconomic status were not important determinants of nonresponse, as is often the case.

Hiperplasia gigante de ganglio linfatico (enfermedad de Castleman). / Giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease)

Nuestro comentario se refiere a la hiperplasia gigante de ganglio linfatico o enfermedad de Castleman de tipo hialino-vascular, localizada en un ganglio linfatico cervical de una mujer joven que consulta por la adenopatia asintomatica, resecandose un ganglio de 6 x 3 cm. Se describen las caracteristicas citologicas de las celulas foliculares e interfoliculares y los cambios morfologicos de los nodulos linfaticos caracteristicos de esta enfermedad.Con las tecnicas de impregnacion argentica para trama colageno-reticulinica y para celulas reticulendoteliales, se pueden apreciar la magnitud y distribucion de la hiperplasia hialino-vascular, y la cuantia y disposicion de los macrofagos en el ganglio afectado. Se destaca el caracter benigno de la lesion cuyo tratamiento curativo es la simple extirpacion quirurgica del tumor; se mencionan los fundamentos para el diagnostico diferencial con otras patologias neoplasicas y no neoplasicas; y ademas se comenta la otra forma de la lesion de esta enfermedad: la de celulas plasmaticas, la cual cuando es difusa y cursa con sintomas generales, plantea el diagnostico diferencial con la linfadenopatia angioinmunoblastica

Hiperplasia gigante de ganglio linfatico (enfermedad de Castleman). / Giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castlemans disease)

Nuestro comentario se refiere a la hiperplasia gigante de ganglio linfatico o enfermedad de Castleman de tipo hialino-vascular, localizada en un ganglio linfatico cervical de una mujer joven que consulta por la adenopatia asintomatica, resecandose un ganglio de 6 x 3 cm. Se describen las caracteristicas citologicas de las celulas foliculares e interfoliculares y los cambios morfologicos de los nodulos linfaticos caracteristicos de esta enfermedad.Con las tecnicas de impregnacion argentica para trama colageno-reticulinica y para celulas reticulendoteliales, se pueden apreciar la magnitud y distribucion de la hiperplasia hialino-vascular, y la cuantia y disposicion de los macrofagos en el ganglio afectado. Se destaca el caracter benigno de la lesion cuyo tratamiento curativo es la simple extirpacion quirurgica del tumor; se mencionan los fundamentos para el diagnostico diferencial con otras patologias neoplasicas y no neoplasicas; y ademas se comenta la otra forma de la lesion de esta enfermedad: la de celulas plasmaticas, la cual cuando es difusa y cursa con sintomas generales, plantea el diagnostico diferencial con la linfadenopatia angioinmunoblastica