Coffea arabica and C. canephora discrimination in roasted and ground coffee from reference material candidates by real-time PCR.

To produce specific desirable coffee blends, Coffea arabica and C. canephora are mixed each other, in some cases to suit consumer preference, but in others to reduce production costs. In this scenario, the aim of this work was to evaluate standard candidate reference materials (RMc) for analysis of different blends of roasted and ground coffee. For this purpose, we analyzed different percentages of C. arabica and C. canephora (100:0; 50:50; 25:75; and 0:100, respectively). These RMc samples were developed in a previous study with green coffee beans submitted to medium roasting. In this work, coffee species differentiation (C. arabica and C. canephora) was analyzed by real-time PCR, using specific primers previously developed, called ARA primers. The RMc material with 100% C. canephora did not present amplification, in contrast with the samples containing C. arabica, which all presented amplification. These results indicate the specificity of ARA primers for C. arabica and that the detection system assay can be used as a promising molecular tool to identify and quantify percentages of C. arabica in different coffee blends.

Efficacy of oral administration of lactic acid bacteria isolated from cocoa in a fermented milk preparation: reduction of colitis in an experimental rat model.

We investigated the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) obtained from cocoa fermentation using an experimental rat model of colitis. Cocoa beans were collected from fermentation boxes every 12 h for 5 days to isolate the microorganisms. Strains were isolated by serial dilution and plating on MRS agar. Gram-positive and catalase-negative rods were subjected to DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction, and sequencing. Ten strains were randomly pooled and used to prepare a fermented milk drink that was used to treat the experimental colitis. A parallel group was treated with a single strain drink. Serum concentrations of cytokines and IgA, total and differential counts of blood leukocytes, and histological appearance were compared with the untreated control colitis group. Eighty strains of LAB were identified as Lactobacillus fermentum (68) and Lactobacillus plantarum (12). The multi-strain LAB pool significantly reduced the total number of leukocytes. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of neutrophils and monocytes compared with the control colitis group. IFN-γ concentration was downregulated in animals treated with the LAB pool. IL-10 and IgA increased significantly in the group treated with the strains. Histological analysis showed that the LAB pool reduced the inflammatory infiltrate and restored tissue architecture. The group treated with the single strain LAB drink (L. fermentum) showed no signs of inflammation remission. The results confirm the probiotic action of cocoa-derived LAB in the treatment of experimental colitis. Studies using isogenic models and humans will clarify the mechanisms of immune response modulation in inflammatory bowel disease.

High yield of functional metagenomic library from mangroves constructed in fosmid vector.

In the present study, metagenomic technique and fosmid vectors were used to construct a library of clones for exploring the biotechnological potential of mangrove soils by isolation of functional genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes. The library was built with genomic DNA from the soil samples of mangrove sediments and the functional screening of 1824 clones (~64 Mbp) was performed to detect the hydrolytic activity specific for cellulases, amylases (at acidic, neutral and basic pH), lipases/esterases, proteases, and nitrilases. Significant numbers of clones, positive for the tested enzyme activities were obtained. Our results indicate the importance and biotechnological potential of mangrove soils especially when compared to those obtained using other soil metagenomic libraries.

Estudio biométrico de la arterias femoral, poplítea y tibial posterior en relación a los implantes de stents / Biometric study of the femoral, popliteal and posterior tibial arteries in relation to the stents

Los aneurismas de la arteria poplítea son los más frecuentes entre los aneurismas periféricos, pudiendo ser tratados con stents a través de cirugía endovascular. Sin embargo, tales stents poseen el mismo diámetro en la parte proximal y distal, no siendo compatible con la anatomía vascular de ese segmento. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la diferencia entre el diámetro del tercio distal de la arteria femoral y el diámetro de la arteria tibial posterior, además de obtener el diámetro de otras arterias del miembro inferior. Se utilizaron 28 cadáveres formolizados de individuos adultos, de ambos sexos, los que fueron disecados en la región correspondiente. Los diámetros registrados fueron los siguientes: en el tercio distal de la arteria femoral (inicio de la arteria poplítea), parte final de la arteria poplítea antes de su bifurcación en arterias tibial anterior y posterior, arterias tibial anterior y posterior (tronco tibiofibular). En el sexo masculino, desde el tercio distal de la arteria femoral hasta la arteria tibial posterior hubo una reducción del diámetro de 27,92% (p<0,0001). En el femenino, la reducción fue de 52,61% (p < que 0,0001). Al comparar el diámetro del tercio distal de la arteria femoral entre ambos sexos, se obtuvo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p < 0,0497), así como entre los diámetros de las arterias tibiales posteriores (p< 0,0142). Estos datos son de importancia clínica para los procedimientos de cirugía endovascular, pudiendo reducir las complicaciones en tales procedimientos. Las endoprotésis deberán adaptarse a estas diferencias de diámetro.

The popliteal artery aneurysms are the most common among peripheral aneurysms and can be treated with stents through endovascular surgery. However, these stents have the same diameter at the proximal and distal part , not being compatible with the vascular anatomy of that segment. The aim of this study was determine the difference between the diameter of the distal third of the femoral artery and the diameter of the posterior tibial artery, and to obtain the diameter of others arteries of the lower limb. We study 28 formalized cadavers of adult individuals of both sexes, which were dissected in the corresponding region. The following arterial diameters were recorded: the distal third of the femoral artery, distal part of the popliteal artery, anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery. In males from the distal third of the femoral artery to the posterior tibial artery there was a narrowing of 27.92% (p < 0.0001). In women , the reduction was 52.61 % (p<0.0001). By comparing the diameter of the distal third of the femoral artery between the sexes, a statistically significant difference was obtained (p<0.0497), as well as between the posterior tibial artery diameters (p < 0.0142). These data are of clinical importance for endovascular surgery procedures and may reduce complications in such procedures. Stents must adapt to these differences in diameter.

Viability and resistance of lactobacilli isolated from cocoa fermentation to simulated gastrointestinal digestive steps in soy yogurt.

To study the potential probiotic characteristics such as decrease of pH, microbial viability, and tolerance to simulated digestive steps of fermented soy beverage ("soy yogurt") produced with lactobacilli isolated from cocoa fermentation (Lactobacillus fermentum TcUESC01 and Lactobacillus plantarum TcUESC02) during fermentation and refrigerated storage. The sensory acceptance of the yogurts was also tested. Samples of soy yogurt produced with L. fermentum TcUESC01 or L. plantarum TcUESC02 were collected during fermentation (0, 4, 8, and 12 h) and refrigerated storage (1, 9, 18, and 27 d), and submitted to pH and bacterial viability determinations. Tolerance to simulated digestion steps was done with refrigerated storage samples at 9 °C. Simulated digestion was performed in 3 successive steps: exposure to pepsin-HCl solution, bile shock, and simulated small intestinal juice. During storage, a decrease in pH and lactobacillus viability was observed. L. fermentum TcUESC01 showed to be more resistant than L. plantarum TcUESC02 to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. All soy yogurts showed acceptable hedonic scores (greater than 5 in a 9-point hedonic scale ranging from "like extremely" to "dislike extremely") in sensory evaluation for flavor, aroma, color, consistency, and overall impression. L. plantarum TcUESC02 and, especially, L. fermentum TcUESC01 showed potential probiotic characteristics when considering pH, cell viability, and tolerance to simulated digestive steps and did not affect the sensory characteristics when supplemented to soy yogurt during storage.

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA to monitor changes in mouse gut bacterial communities during Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis latent infection.

Changes in intestinal microbial flora during a 4-week period of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis colonization in resistant mice (latent carrier animals) were evaluated using a culture independent method involving denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The contents of the ileocecal portion of the intestines produced 26 bands. Fifty-seven percent of the bands were expressed in more than 80% of the samples. Forty percent of the bands present in the negative control were common to all samples, and 60% differed from those obtained 12 h and 1, 5, 10, and 28 days post-inoculation (PI). A dendrogram distinguished the negative control as the external group, and 2 clusters were formed with 76% similarity, separating the 12-h PI and 3-day PI time points from the others. These groupings were also revealed through multivariate analysis in a principal component analysis and the Venn diagram. The production of interferon γ 12 h and 3 days PI may explain this brief imbalance in microbiota that was quickly reversed in the subsequent days. These findings demonstrate that S. enterica serovar Enteritidis can colonize the gut and persist in balance with the microbiota of resistant hosts.

Importancia de la relación anatómica entre el nervio isquiático y el margen posterior del acetábulo en la luxación posterior de la cadera / Anatomic value of the sciatic nerve with the posterior margin of the acetabulum in posterior dislocation of the hip

La luxación posterior de la articulación de la cadera es un trauma que puede sufrir una buena parte de la población, donde se puede comprometer el nervio isquiático, produciendo serios problemas en la vida del individuo afectado. El conocimiento de la relación anatómica entre el nervio isquiático y el margen posterior del acetábulo propiciará um diagnóstico preciso y precoz de esta lesión. Con el objetivo de estudiar la relación topográfica del nervio isquiático con el margen posterior del acetábulo y entregar antecedentes anatómicos para las cirugías ortopédicas en caso de luxaciones posteriores de la cadera, se estudiaron 40 miembros inferiores formolizados, de cadáveres humanos, adultos y de ambos sexos, localizados en los laboratorios de anatomía topográfica de la Universidad Estadual de Ciencias de la Salud de Alagoas, Brasil. En 19 miembros inferiores (47,7 por ciento) el nervio isquiático pasó directamente sobre el margen posterior del acetábulo y en los 21 restantes (53,3 por ciento), el nervio estuvo distante del margen mencionado, distancia que varió de 6 a 49 mm. Los resultados obtenidos muestran la estrecha relación entre el nervio isquiático y el margen acetabular, lo que acrecienta la posibilidad de lesión del nervio em los casos de luxación posterior de la cadera...

The posterior dislocation of the hip joint is a trauma that can undergo a large part of the population, which may compromise the sciatic nerve, causing serious problems in the life of the affected individual. Knowledge of the anatomical relationship between the sciatic nerve and the posterior margin of the acetabulum will facilitate accurate diagnosis and early um this injury. In order to study the topographical relationship of the sciatic nerve with the posterior margin of the acetabulum and provide background for orthopedic anatomical in posterior dislocations of the hip were studied 40 lower limbs formolized human cadavers, adults of both sexes , located in the topographical anatomy laboratories of the Universidade Estadual de Ciencias da Saude, Alagoas, Brasil. In 19 limbs (47.7 percent) sciatic nerve passed directly over the posterior margin of the acetabulum and the remaining 21 (53.3 percent), the nerve passed distal to the acetabular margin, distance ranging from 6-49 mm. The results show the close relationship between the sciatic nerve and the acetabular margin, which increases the possibility of nerve injury in posterior dislocation of the hip...

Lactic acid bacteria dynamics during spontaneous fermentation of cocoa beans verified by culture-independent denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.

Cocoa is naturally fermented in the field before the cocoa seeds are removed for processing. We assessed the dynamics of lactic acid bacteria during cocoa fermentation in Bahia, Brazil. During five days of fermentation, temperature and pH were measured and beans were collected for genomic DNA extraction every 12 h. The DNA was used as a template for amplification with Lac1-Lac2 and Lac3-Lac2 for denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analyses. pH values ranged from 3.34 to 4.98, while the temperature varied from 23° to 50°C. Lac1-Lac2 primers permitted detection of 11 operational taxonomic units. Twenty-eight operational taxonomic units were obtained with the primer pair Lac3-Lac2. It was observed that there were variations between the numbers of operational taxonomic units throughout the process, probably because of changes in pH and temperature. The greatest similarity in amplified samples was obtained with the primers Lac3-Lac2.

[The northeast: recent population trends and new perspectives on population growth during the period 1980-2005]. / Nordeste: a dinamica populacional recente e as nova perspectivas de crescimento populacional para o periodo 1980-2005.

PIP: A review of population trends in northeastern Brazil is presented for the period from 1980 to the present, and estimated up to 2005. The analysis is undertaken separately for each of the region's 127 micro-regions. Prospects for demographic aging and the concentration of the population in the coastal regions are assessed. (SUMMARY IN ENG)^ieng