Dietary total antioxidant capacity is positively associated with muscular strength in cirrhotic outpatients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis is the end-stage of progressive fibrosis, in which oxidative stress and inflammation-related pathways can modulate the cellular and tissue events involved in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Dietary intake of antioxidants has been suggested to protect against oxidative damage and related clinical complications. The present study aimed to investigate the potential association of the dietary total antioxidant capacity (dTAC) with anthropometric, functional and biochemical markers, as well as the severity of the disease, in cirrhotic outpatients. METHODS: Sixty-two outpatients (38 men and 24 women) with a mean (SD) age of 59.1 (9.9) years were evaluated. Dietary TAC was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire. Aetiology and severity of liver cirrhosis, lifestyle characteristics, occurrence of comorbidities and oedema, and anthropometric, functional and biochemical markers were all assessed. RESULTS: Cirrhotic outpatients with higher dTAC also had higher values of the hand-grip strength (P = 0.029) and arm muscle area (P = 0.027). After adjusting by sex, age, smoking and alcohol intake, the addition of 1 mmol day-1 of dTAC contributed to increase 0.552 kg f-1 in hand-grip strength (P < 0.05). The addition of one mmol day-1 of dTAC contributed to an arm muscle area increase 0.565 cm2 (P < 0.05) on average. CONCLUSIONS: The dTAC was positively associated with hand-grip strength and arm muscle area in cirrhotic outpatients. The implications of the present study are important in clinical practice because a diet rich in antioxidants may be an ally in the control of excessive reactive oxygen species production in cirrhotic outpatients with repercussion on muscle mass and strength.

Platynota rostrana (Walker) (Tortricidae) and Phidotricha erigens Raganot (Pyralidae): artificial diet effects on biological cycle

The lepidopterans Platynota rostrana (Walker) (Tortricidae) and Phidotricha erigens Raganot (Pyralidae) have been found frequently in citrus groves in São Paulo State in recent years. Since in Brazil, the fertility cycle of these two species is largely unknown, as are details of the damage wrought by them in crops, this research studied these aspects of the two species, which were kept under laboratory conditions (temperature 25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10 percent RH, 14 h photophase) and on an artificial diet. The duration of the biological cycle (egg-adult) for P. rostrana was 38.3 days and total viability was 44.0 percent; for P. erigens these values were 32.5 days and 63.6 percent, respectively. Both species showed five larval instars. Females of P. rostrana laid an average of 308 eggs, whereas those of P. erigens laid an average of 106 eggs. In both species, female pupae were heavier than males. Male and female longevity for both species was nearly 10 days. Based on the data obtained, the artificial diet produced better results in P. rostrana than in P. erigens. If these species, which have the potential to reach pest status in the citrus groves of São Paulo State, could be reared on an artificial diet, research on their control by alternative methods would be easier.

Os lepidópteros Platynota rostrana (Walker) (Tortricidae) e Phidotricha erigens Raganot (Pyralidae) têm sido constatados com freqüência nos pomares cítricos do Estado de São Paulo, nos últimos anos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a biologia das duas espécies, em condições de laboratório (temperatura 25 ± 2 °C, UR. 70 ± 10 por cento e fotofase de 14 h) em dieta artificial, elaborar uma tabela de vida de fertilidade e descrever os danos causados no campo, devido ao desconhecimento destes aspectos biológicos dos referidos insetos no Brasil. A duração do ciclo biológico (ovo-adulto) de P. rostrana foi de 38,3 dias e a viabilidade total de 44,0 por cento, enquanto para P. erigens foi de 32,5 dias e 63,6 por cento, respectivamente. Ambas as espécies apresentaram cinco ínstares e as pupas de fêmeas foram mais pesadas do que as de machos. As fêmeas de P. rostrana colocaram, em média, 308 ovos e as de P. erigens 106 ovos. A longevidade de machos e fêmeas das duas espécies foi próxima de 10 dias. Pela tabela de vida de fertilidade concluiu-se que P. rostrana tem melhor desempenho em dieta artificial que P. erigens. É possível criar estas espécies em dieta artificial, facilitando o desenvolvimento de pesquisas relacionadas ao seu controle por métodos alternativos, caso elas assumam o status de pragas nos pomares de São Paulo.

Platynota rostrana (Walker) (Tortricidae) AND Phidotricha erigens Raganot (Pyralidae): artificial diet effects on biological cycle.

The lepidopterans Platynota rostrana (Walker) (Tortricidae) and Phidotricha erigens Raganot (Pyralidae) have been found frequently in citrus groves in São Paulo State in recent years. Since in Brazil, the fertility cycle of these two species is largely unknown, as are details of the damage wrought by them in crops, this research studied these aspects of the two species, which were kept under laboratory conditions (temperature 25 +/- 2 degrees C, 70 +/- 10% RH, 14 h photophase) and on an artificial diet. The duration of the biological cycle (egg-adult) for P. rostrana was 38.3 days and total viability was 44.0%; for P. erigens these values were 32.5 days and 63.6%, respectively. Both species showed five larval instars. Females of P. rostrana laid an average of 308 eggs, whereas those of P. erigens laid an average of 106 eggs. In both species, female pupae were heavier than males. Male and female longevity for both species was nearly 10 days. Based on the data obtained, the artificial diet produced better results in P. rostrana than in P. erigens. If these species, which have the potential to reach pest status in the citrus groves of São Paulo State, could be reared on an artificial diet, research on their control by alternative methods would be easier.