Effects of alcohol intake in periodontitis progression in female rats: a histometric study

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Caracterização de hambúrguer elaborado com farinha de folhas de Moringa (Moringa oleífera Lam.)

The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves flour in beef burger during storage for 120 days. Six hamburger formulations were processed: one control (without the use of additives), four with addition of Moringa leaves flour (0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25 g/100 g aggregate), and one with addition of synthetic antioxidant Propyl Gallate (0.01 g/100 g aggregate). The products were analyzed for their chemical composition with determinations of moisture, protein, dietary fiber, lipids, ash, carbohydrate, and caloric value after preparation. Microbiological and acceptance testing were performed at the beginning and after 120 days of storage. Determination of pH, instrumental color and lipid oxidation (TBARS) were performed at 1, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of storage. All samples showed physical-chemical and microbiological tests in accordance with the Brazilian legislation. pH measurements were between 5.48 and 5.90; however, the intensity of red has changed according to the treatments and storage periods. The addition of Moringa leaves flour had no antioxidant effect on burgers, but its inclusion not only contributed to the improvement of nutritional quality, but also did not harm product acceptance.

Determinação do valor energético em bebidas de maracujá

The objective of this work was to calculate the energetic values in passion fruit commercial beverages (whole juices, reconstituted juices, tropical juices, and nectars) by their centesimal composition. Then, the energetic values were compared to the caloric values as described on the nutritional facts from the beverageslabels. Analyses of moisture, protein, lipids, ashes, and carbohydrates were done in 25 commercialbeverages samples. In order to calculate the energetic value of each sample, the following conversion factors were used: 4 kcal.g-1 for carbohydrates, 4 kcal.g-1 for proteins and 9 kcal.g-1 for lipids. To allow the comparison of the results, the energetic values printed on the labels were converted into kcal.100g-1 usingthe beverages density. Overall, the commercial beverages calculated energetic values were similar to the nutritional facts.

Adição de maltodextrina e farelo de mandioca na formulação de sorvetes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Exercise training improves relaxation response and SOD-1 expression in aortic and mesenteric rings from high caloric diet-fed rats

Background. Obesity has been associated with a variety of disease such as type II diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Evidences have shown that exercise training promotes beneficial effects on these disorders, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether physical preconditioning prevents the deleterious effect of high caloric diet in vascular reactivity of rat aortic and mesenteric rings. Methods. Male Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (SD); trained (TR); sedentary diet (SDD) and trained diet (TRD) groups. Run training (RT) was performed in sessions of 60 min, 5 days/week for 12 weeks (70-80% VO2max). Triglycerides, glucose, insulin and nitrite/nitrate concentrations (NOx -) were measured. Concentration- response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were obtained. Expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) was assessed by Western blotting. Results. High caloric diet increased triglycerides concentration (SDD: 216 ± 25 mg/dl) and exercise training restored to the baseline value (TRD: 89 ± 9 mg/dl). Physical preconditioning significantly reduced insulin levels in both groups (TR: 0.54 ± 0.1 and TRD: 1.24 ± 0.3 ng/ml) as compared to sedentary animals (SD: 0.87 ± 0.1 and SDD: 2.57 ± 0.3 ng/ml). On the other hand, glucose concentration was slightly increased by high caloric diet, and RT did not modify this parameter (SD: 126 ± 6; TR: 140 ± 8; SDD: 156 ± 8 and TRD 153 ± 9 mg/dl). Neither high caloric diet nor RT modified NO x - levels (SD: 27 ± 4; TR: 28 ± 6; SDD: 27 ± 3 and TRD: 30 ± 2 μM). Functional assays showed that high caloric diet impaired the relaxing response to ACh in mesenteric (about 13%), but not in aortic rings. RT improved the relaxing responses to ACh either in aortic (28%, for TR and 16%, to TRD groups) or mesenteric rings (10%, for TR and 17%, to TRD groups) that was accompanied by up-regulation of SOD-1 expression and reduction in triglycerides levels. Conclusion. The improvement in endothelial function by physical preconditioning in mesenteric and aortic arteries from high caloric fed-rats was directly related to an increase in NO bioavailability to the smooth muscle mostly due to SOD-1 up regulation. © 2008 de Moraes et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.