Ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis during sucrose fermentation: Optimization of culture conditions using factorial design

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

Sucrose utilization by Zymomonas mobilis: Levan production optimization using submerged fermentation

Levan is an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), constituted by linked fructose units β (2,6), obtained by transfructosilation reaction during fermentation of microorganisms in a sucrose rich culture medium. The bacterial levan production is a good alternative of fructose source, besides having certain functional characteristics in the human body, such as a hypocholesterolemic and an anticarcinogenic agent. In the food industry, the levan can be used to fix colors and flavors, as well as to thickening and stabilizing agent in foods. This work aimed to analyze the kinetic parameters for levan production by Zymomonas mobilis CCT 4494, using submerged fermentation. The response surface methodology (RSM), was utilized to predict the optimization of medium for exopolymer production and the independent variables studied were: initial pH, incubation temperature, sucrose, KCl, K2SO4, MgSO4 and CaCl2. It was observed that the bacterium Z. mobilis CCT 4494 well adapted in medium containing high concentrations of sucrose.

Median preoptic nucleus mediates the cardiovascular recovery induced by hypertonic saline in hemorrhagic shock

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Variations in peak nasal inspiratory flow among healthy students after using saline solutions

Nasal hygiene with saline solutions has been shown to relieve congestion, reduce the thickening of the mucus and keep nasal cavity clean and moist. Evaluating whether saline solutions improve nasal inspiratory flow among healthy children. Students between 8 and 11 years of age underwent 6 procedures with saline solutions at different concentrations. The peak nasal inspiratory flow was measured before and 30min after each procedure. Statistical analysis was performed by means of t test, analysis of variance, and Tukey's test, considering p<0.05. We evaluated 124 children at all stages. There were differences on the way a same concentration was used. There was no difference between 0.9% saline solution and 3% saline solution by using a syringe. The 3% saline solution had higher averages of peak nasal inspiratory flow, but it was not significantly higher than the 0.9% saline solution. It is important to offer various options to patients.

Hydrogen peroxide centrally attenuates hyperosmolarity-induced thirst and natriuresis

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

Obesity induced by a sucrose-rich diet promotes deficits in bone mineralization and microarchitecture

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Femoral Biomechanic and microtomography from male rats submitted to dietary restricition supplemented with sucrose

Food restriction reduces body weight and influence bone mass and also is correlated with bone mineral density (BMD). Mechanisms have been proposed for the loss of BMD after body weight reduction, including reduced energy intake. Growing 8 wk-old Wistar male rats were randomly divided into Control and Calorie restriction associated with sucrose 30% (CRS). These animals were subjected to intermittent food restriction during 8 weeks and had free access to tap water and sucrose30% in distilled water. The rats were euthanized at the end of week 8, blood collected from abdominal aorta artery, femurs cleaned of adherent soft tissues, scanned using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, structural and material properties determined by three-point bending testing in the mid-diaphyseal region, bone surface tested in a microhardness tester and microstructure was assessed in a microcomputer tomography. In CRS animals body weight decreased significantly relative to the Control animals. There was a clear option for high-sucrose beverage in CRS animals. No difference was observed in biochemical, densitometric and biomechanical analyzes. Results from micro CT showed only significant difference in connectivity of trabecular bone. It has been suggested that rats submitted to food restriction consumed sugar not because of its inherent palatability, but in order to alter their macronutrient balance and animals need to meet energy demands in high-sucrose.