CARACTERIZAÇÃO PÓS-COLHEITA DE SEIS CULTIVARES DE CARAMBOLA (Averrhoa carambola L.)

Avaliaram-se as qualidades física e química dos frutos de seis cultivares de carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.), propagadas pela Estação Experimental de Citricultura de Bebedouro, São Paulo, objetivando a obtenção de informações sobre a qualidade dos frutos produzidos nesta região. Foram utilizados frutos das cultivares Tean-ma, Fwang Tung, Arkin, Malásia, Golden Star e Nota-10. Os frutos foram analisados quanto à massa fresca, comprimento, largura, volume, porcentagem de suco, polpa e semente, número de sementes, coloração (L, Cromaticidade e ângulo Hue). Na polpa, determinou-se o pH, assim como o teor de umidade, sólidos solúveis totais (SST), acidez total titulável (ATT), vitamina C, açúcares solúveis totais e redutores, cinzas, proteína, pectina total e solúvel, e minerais (Ca, P, K, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn). Os resultados foram avaliados estatisticamente através de um delineamento inteiramente casualizado e revelaram que os melhores frutos são os originários das cultivares Arkin, Tean-ma e Nota-10, pois são os maiores, os mais pesados e apresentam os maiores teores de sólidos solúveis totais (SST) e açúcares solúveis (AST), assim como boa relação SST/ATT. Os frutos da 'Arkin' mostraram coloração mais amarela, enquanto os da 'Golden Star' foram considerados de coloração mais clara, ou com maior translucidez. A textura foi menor nos frutos da 'Arkin', e se relacionou com a maior solubilização de suas pectinas

Zoneamento agroclimático de nogueira-macadâmia para o Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cultivar affects browning susceptibility of freshly cut star fruit slices

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

Tratamento cirúrgico da fratura-avulsão da inserção tibial do L.C.P. do joelho: experiência de 21 casos

Avaliamos 21 pacientes, sendo 16 pacientes do sexo masculino e 5 do feminino, com idade média de 30 anos, foram submetidos à tratamento cirúrgico da fratura-avulsão do LCP. em 57% dos casos a lesão foi secundária a acidente motociclístico e 19% a acidente automobilístico. em 72% dos casos foi identificada uma lesão na face anterior do joelho. O tratamento cirúrgico consistiu na abordagem posterior do joelho e fixação do fragmento ósseo com parafuso e arruela em 18 casos; e amarrilhas trans-ósseas em 3 casos, onde o fragmento ósseo era muito pequeno. em 91% dos casos, a cirurgia foi realizada dentro dos primeiros 15 dias apos a lesão. Os pacientes foram avaliados objetivamente (teste de gaveta posterior) e subjetivamente (Escala de Lysholm), apos um seguimento pós-operatório mínimo de 12 meses. A análise estatística não mostrou diferença significativa, ao nível de 5%, entre as avaliações objetiva e subjetiva. A ausência de lesão ligamentar periférica pode ter contribuído para que os resultados clínicos pós-operatórios tenham avaliação subjetiva satisfatória; entretanto, a presença de uma posteriorização tibial residual sugere que a fratura-avulsão do ligamento cruzado posterior deve ser abordada não como uma lesão óssea pura, mas sim, como uma lesão ósteo-ligamentar.

Effects of a leucine-rich diet on body composition during nutritional recovery in rats

OBJECTIVE: Protein malnutrition is characterized by a number of morphologic and physiologic alterations, including intestinal mucosal atrophy and impaired nutrient absorption. Impaired absorption accentuates nutritional deficiency and accelerates body weight loss and changes in body chemistry. Because leucine is a ketogenic and oxidative amino acid and stimulates the protein synthesis, we examined the ability of young rats to recover from protein malnutrition by feeding them a control balanced or a leucine-rich diet for 60 d.METHODS: At the end of the 60-d period, body, liver, and muscle weights; glucose, methionine, and leucine intestinal absorption; and carcass chemical composition were evaluated.RESULTS: Body weight gain was higher in the control balanced and leucine-rich groups than in control rats, indicating that adequate refeeding allows body weight to recover in these groups. Methionine and glucose absorptions were impaired in malnourished rats but were restored after nutritional recovery. The leucine-rich diet resulted in an increase in carcass collagen nitrogen but maintained the carcass structural nitrogen.CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that leucine supplementation during nutritional recovery from protein malnutrition improves protein carcass restoration. However, the precise mechanism of the leucine effects involved in this response remains to be elucidated.

Production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI rhamnolipids following growth on Brazilian native oils

Oils from Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), Cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflora), Passion Fruit (Passiflora alata), Andiroba (Carapa gitianensis), Brazilian Nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and Babassu (Orbignya spp.) were evaluated as carbon sources for rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI. The highest rhamnolipid concentrations were obtained from Brazilian Nut (9.9 l(-1)) and Passion Fruit (9.2 g l(-1)) oils. Surface tension varied from 29.8 to 31.5 mN m(-1), critical micelle concentration from 55 to 163 mg l(-1) and the emulsifying activity was higher against toluene (93-100%) than against kerosene (70-92%). Preliminary characterization of the surfactant mixtures by mass spectrometry revealed the presence of two major components showing m/z of 649 and 503, which corresponded to the dirhamnolipid (Rha(2)C(10)C(10)) and the monorhamnolipid (RhaC(10)C(10)), respectively. The monorhamnolipid detected as the ion of m/z 503 is predominant in all samples analyzed. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Diets rich in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids: Metabolic shifting and cardiac health

OBJECTIVE: the aim of this study was to determine the effects of diets rich in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids on metabolic pathways and the relation of metabolic shifting to oxidative stress in cardiac tissue.METHODS: Male Wistar rats (age, 60 d; n = 10) were fed with a control low-fat diet, a diet rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs), or a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). After 5 wk of treatment, sera were used for protein and lipid determinations. Protein, glycogen, triacylglycerol, lactate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, beta-hydroxyacyl coenzyme-A dehydrogenase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, lipoperoxide, and lipid hydroperoxide were measured in cardiac tissue.RESULTS: the SFA group had higher triacylglycerol, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and atherogenic index (ratio of cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein) than did the PUFA and control groups. The PUFA group had low serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as compared with the SFA group. SFA increased myocardial lipid hydroperoxide and diminished glutathione peroxidase. Despite the beneficial effects on serum lipids, the PUFA diet led to the highest levels of myocardial lipoperoxide and lipid hydroperoxide and diminished superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. The PUFA effects were related to increased feed efficiency, increased susceptibility to lipoperoxidation, and metabolic shifting in cardiac tissue. PUFA elevated triacylglycerol levels and decreased myocardial glycogen concentrations. The ratios of lactate dehydrogenase to citrate synthase and beta-hydroxyacyl coenzyme-A dehydrogenase to citrate synthase were increased, indicating myocardial reduction of tricarboxylic acid cycle.CONCLUSIONS: PUFAs have been recommended as a therapeutic measure in preventive medicine to lower serum cholesterol, but PUFAs increased oxidative stress in the heart by providing cardiac susceptibility to lipoperoxidation and shifting the metabolic pathway for energy production. The control diet, which was much lower in calories and fat, produced better overall clinical outcomes, better fat profiles, and less oxidative stress than did the diets rich in fatty acids.

Is oral nutritional therapy effective for the treatment of chylothorax? A case report

We report a case of a female patient who underwent corrective aortic coarctation surgery that progressed to chylothorax on the fifth postoperative day. Because the patient was clinically stable and had a functioning digestive tract, the nutritional team decided to treat her by oral nutritional support with a low-lipid diet, rich in medium-chain triacylglycerols. After 20 d, the patient returned to her habitual home diet and did not develop pleural spilling, showing full healing of the thoracic duct. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potencialidade energética em diferentes extratores e tempos de extração do óleo de pinhão-manso (jatropha curcas l.) em soxletter

The current rhythm of petroliferous exploration is esteem that the existing reserves will be depleted in next the 45 years. Thus being, it has that to study intensely, what it has come to be fact, the alternative power plants, as well as the technologies economically capable to ultilizar them. The potential demand of biodiesel for 2020 is taken in consideration that, in accordance with the International Agency of Energia (AIE), in only eight countries, will jump of 34,7 million tons in 2010 for 133,8 million in 2020, with an increment next to 300%. The tame nut is a producing oil plant with all the qualities necessary to be transformed into oil diesel. Beyond perennial and of easy culture, it presents good conservation of the harvested seed, being able to become great producer of substance cousin as optional fuel source. For these authors, this is a culture that can be developed in the small properties, with the available familiar man power, being plus a source of income for the country properties of the Northeast Region. The objective of this work is to evidence the capacity of oil production of the nut-bellwether, and the quality of extration with hexano and methanol in 6 distinct times.

Evidence of zinc deficiency in competitive swimmers

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional zinc (Zn) status of elite swimmers during different training periods.Methods: A longitudinal paired study was performed at the University of São Paulo in eight male swimmers 18 to 25 y old who had been swimming competitively at the state and national levels for at least 5 y. The swimmers were evaluated over a total period of 14 wk: before the basic and specific preparatory period (BSPP-baseline), at the end of the basic and specific preparatory period (post-BSPP), and at the end of the polishing period (PP). Levels of Zn were determined in the plasma, erythrocyte, urine, and saliva by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Anthropometric measurements and a 3-d food record were also evaluated.Results: The median plasma Zn concentration was below the reference value in all training periods (BSPP-baseline 59 mu g/dL, post-BSPP 55.9 mu g/dL, after PP 58.8 mu g/dL, P > 0.05), as were threshold values for erythrocytes (BSPP-baseline 36.5 mu g of Zn/g of hemoglobin, post-BSPP 42 mu g of Zn/g of hemoglobin, after PP 40.7 mu g of Zn/g of hemoglobin, P > 0.05), urinary Zn (BSPP-baseline 280 mu g/24 h, post-BSPP 337 mu g/24 h, after PP 284 mu g/24 h, P > 0.05), and salivary Zn (BSPP-baseline 66.1 mu g/L, post-BSPP 54.1 mu g/L, after PP 79.7 mu g/L, > 0.05). Salivary Zn did not correlate with plasma and erythrocyte Zn levels.Conclusion: The results suggest that the elite swimmers studied presented a possible Zn deficiency and that salivary Zn was not adequate to evaluate the Zn nutritional status. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Capacidade combinatória para frutificação em cultivares de nogueira macadâmia

A 5 × 5 diallel experiment was conducted at Experimental Station of Tietê, SP, aiming to evaluate the combining ability amongst macadamia nut trees (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche) cultivars IAC Campinas A, IAC 2-23 A, IAC 4-12 B, IAC 4-20 e IAC 5-10. The initial fruit set was evaluated 14 days after manual pollination and showed that every cultivar presented self incompatibility. There were significant general and specific combining ability amongst cultivars and reciprocal effects. The cultivar IAC Campinas A reduced the initial fruit set at all crossing in which was used as female progenitor. The best results for initial fruit set were showed by crossings between following cultivars: IAC 4-20 × IAC Campinas A, IAC 4-12 B × IAC 2-23 A, IAC 4-20 x× IAC 4-12 B, IAC 5-10 × IAC 2-23 A, IAC 5-10 × IAC 4-20, IAC 4-20 × IAC 2-23 A e IAC 5-10 × IAC 4-12 B.

Comparison of uroplakin expression during urothelial carcinogenesis induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in rats and mice

The expression of uroplakins, the tissue-specific and differentiation- dependent membrane proteins of the urothelium, was analyzed immunohistochemically in N butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN)-treated rats and mice during bladder carcinogenesis. Male Fischer 344 rats were treated with 0.05% BBN in the drinking water for 10 wk and were cuthanatized at week 20 of the experiment. BBN was administered to male B6D2F1 mice; it was either provided at a rate of 0.05% in the drinking water (for 26 wk) or 5 mg BBN was administered by intragastric gavage twice weekly for 10 wk, followed by 20 wk without treatment. In rats, BBN-induced, noninvasive, low grade, papillary, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) showed decreased uroplakin-staining of cells lining the lumen but showed increased expression in some nonluminal cells. In mice, nonpapillary, high-grade dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive carcinoma were induced. There was a marked decrease in the number of uroplakin-positive cells lining the lumen and in nonluminal cells. This occurred in normal-appearing urothelium in BBN-treated mice and in dysplasic urothelium, in carcinoma in situ, and in invasive TCC. The percentage of uroplakin-positive nonluminal cells was higher in control mice than in rats, but it was lower in the mouse than in the rat after BBN treatment. Uroplakin expression was disorderly and focal in BBN-treated urothelium in both species. These results indicate that BBN treatment changed the expression of uroplakins during bladder carcinogenesis, with differences in rats and mice being related to degree of tumor differentiation.

Monosodium glutamate in standard and high-fiber diets: Metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress in rats

Objective: This study determined the effects of adding monosodium glutamate (MSG) to a standard diet and a fiber-enriched diet on glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats (65 ± 5 g, n = 8) were fed a standard diet (control), a standard diet supplemented with 100 g of MSG per kilogram of rat body weight, a diet rich in fiber, or a diet rich in fiber supplemented with 100 g of MSG per kilogram of body weight. After 45 d of treatment, sera were analyzed for concentrations of insulin, leptin, glucose, triacylglycerol, lipid hydroperoxide, and total antioxidant substances. A homeostasis model assessment index was estimated to characterize insulin resistance. Results: Voluntary food intake was higher and feed efficiency was lower in animals fed the standard diet supplemented with MSG than in those fed the control, fiber-enriched, or fiber- and MSG-enriched diet. The MSG group had metabolic dysfunction characterized by increased levels of glucose, triacylglycerol, insulin, leptin, and homeostasis model assessment index. The adverse effects of MSG were related to an imbalance between the oxidant and antioxidant systems. The MSG group had increased levels of lipid hydroperoxide and decreased levels of total antioxidant substances. Levels of triacylglycerol and lipid hydroperoxide were decreased in rats fed the fiber-enriched and fiber- and MSG-enriched diets, whereas levels of total antioxidant substances were increased in these animals. Conclusions: MSG added to a standard diet increased food intake. Overfeeding induced metabolic disorders associated with oxidative stress in the absence of obesity. The fiber-enriched diet prevented changes in glucose, insulin, leptin, and triacylglycerol levels that were seen in the MSG group. Because the deleterious effects of MSG, i.e., induced overfeeding, were not seen in the animals fed the fiber-enriched diets, it can be concluded that fiber supplementation is beneficial by discouraging overfeeding and improving oxidative stress that is induced by an MSG diet. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fermented soy product supplemented with isoflavones affected fat depots in juvenile rats

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of soy product fermented by Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus jugurti supplemented with isoflavones on adipose tissue, blood lipid, and glucose levels on juvenile rats. Methods: Rats were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet for 3 wk as a preliminary treatment to create hypercholesterolemia. They were then fed a chow diet (HC), a chow diet plus fermented soy product supplemented with isoflavones (HCFI), a chow diet plus placebo (HCP), or a chow diet plus placebo supplemented with isoflavones (HCPI), respectively, for an additional 3 wk. Results: The beneficial effects of fermented soy product supplemented with isoflavones on epididymal (EPI) and retroperitoneal (RET) fat pads was likely due to isoflavones because adipocyte circumference (micrometers) in the HC group was significantly larger (EPI: 105.66 ± 13.36; RET: 134.95 ± 25.40) than that in the HCFI group (EPI: 93.17 ± 12.80; RET: 108.62 ± 15.50) and HCPI group (EPI: 93.06 ± 15.10; RET: 112.34 ± 18.21). The probiotic micro-organism accentuated the antilipogenic effect of isoflavones on RET (HCFI: 108.62 ± 15.50 micrometers versus HCPI: 112.34 ± 18.21 micrometers). Moreover, the fermented product increased glucose concentration similar to that in the chow group but did not change blood lipids. Conclusion: This product may offer new approaches to obesity prevention. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

β-Carotene supplementation results in adverse ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction

Objective: We studied the effects of β-carotene (BC) on ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. Methods: Myocardial infarction was induced in Wistar rats that were then treated with a BC diet (500 mg/kg of diet per day; MI-BC; n = 27) or a regular diet (MI; n = 27). Hearts were analyzed in vivo and in vitro after 6 mo. Results: BC caused decreased left ventricular wall thickness (MI = 1.49 ± 0.3 mm, MI-BC = 1.23 ± 0.2 mm, P = 0.027) and increased diastolic (MI = 0.83 ± 0.15 cm2, MI-BC = 0.98 ± 0.14 cm2, P = 0.020) and systolic (MI = 0.56 ± 0.12 cm2, MI-BC = 0.75 ± 0.13 cm2, P = 0.002) left ventricular chamber areas. With respect to systolic function, the BC group presented less change in fractional area than did controls (MI = 32.35 ± 6.67, MI-BC = 23.77 ± 6.06, P = 0.004). There was no difference in transmitral diastolic flow velocities between groups. In vitro results showed decreased maximal isovolumetric systolic pressure (MI = 125.5 ± 24.1 mmHg, MI-BC = 95.2 ± 28.4 mmHg, P = 0.019) and increased interstitial myocardial collagen concentration (MI = 3.3 ± 1.2%, MI-BC = 5.8 ± 1.7%, P = 0.004) in BC-treated animals. Infarct sizes were similar between groups (MI = 45.0 ± 6.6%, MI-BC = 48.0 ± 5.8%, P = 0.246). Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggest that BC has adverse effects on ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.