Produção e composição do leite de vacas de quatro grupos genéticos submetidas a dois manejos alimentares no período de lactação

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção e composição do leite de vacas de corte das raças Charolês (C), Nelore (N), mestiças CN filhas de touros C e mestiças NC filhas de touros N, mantidas em pastagem nativa e submetidas a diferentes manejos no pré-desmame: suplementadas com farelo de arroz integral (0,7% do peso vivo) e que desmamaram aos 42 ou 63 dias pós-parto, ou não suplementadas e que desmamaram aos 63 dias. A idade das vacas variou de 3 a 12 anos, sendo agrupadas em quatro classes: primíparas, jovens, adultas e velhas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância, cujo modelo estatístico incluiu os efeitos de manejo, grupo genético e idade da vaca, período e as interações entre esses fatores. Os teores de lactose e gordura não foram influenciados pelos fatores estudados. Houve interação significativa entre idade da vaca e período para a produção de leite e entre manejo e idade da vaca para o teor de proteína. Vacas suplementadas apresentaram maior produção de leite (3,85 contra 3,25 L/dia), teor de extrato seco total - EST (12,18 contra 11,83%) e teor de extrato seco desengordurado - ESD (8,75 contra 8,57%). A produção de leite decresceu com o avanço do período de lactação, sendo a queda mais acentuada nas vacas não suplementadas. Vacas CN produziram mais leite (4,17 L/dia) do que as puras, não diferindo das NC (3,76 L/dia). Vacas N apresentaram produção de leite similar (3,76 L/dia) às C (3,11 L/dia). No entanto, as primeiras apresentaram leite com melhor qualidade, incluindo proteína (3,16 contra 2,86%), EST (12,52 contra 11,46%) e ESD (8,87 contra 8,49%). Vacas adultas apresentaram maior teor de ESD, seguidas das vacas jovens, das primíparas e das velhas, com valores de 8,86; 8,62; 8,62; e 8,54%, respectivamente.

Estabilidade física de péletes protegidos por diferentes produtos impermeabilizantes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Partilha de Recursos Alimentares em Peixes em um Riacho de Serra do Sudeste do Brasil

We studied the diet and food resources partitioning by fishes from the Itaúna stream, municipality of Itatinga, Southeastern Brazil. Eighteen species of fish were collected, being Microlepidogaster sp., Hypostomus sp., Astyanax sp., Phalloceros caudimaculatus and Heptapterus sp. the most frequent and abundant ones. Regarding diet, the majority of the species were observed to be insectivorous (61%), while insectivorous-herbivorous and periphyton feeders ranked 22 and 17%, respectively. The food overlap analysis revealed many cases of similarity between the diets. For most cases, however, a detailed analysis of food items and spatial distribution of the species showed differences between the couples under analysis which points toward a reduction in competition for food.

Avaliação dos produtos de degradação oxidativa da Hb S em eritrócitos de doentes falcêmicos

Analysis of the products of oxidative degradation of Hb S was made by methahemoglobin measurement and a count of red blood cells with Heinz bodies. Free radicals originating from oxidation cause extensive injury to erythrocytes, decreasing their useful survival period especially in Hb S carriers. The Superoxide ion (O 2) is the most responsible for the oxidation process of Hb forming membrane-bound haemachromes which afterwards evolve to Heinz bodies, damaging the membrane and provoking erythrocytes hemolysis. The results from this work showed that the SS genotype is more susceptible to the action of the free radicals than the S/Tal genotype. The β genotype has a lower oxidative susceptibility than the SS because it has only one β s mutation. The results allowed us to conclude that: a) the simple presence of Hb S, independent of its genotype and its concentration, is sufficient to produce methaemoglobin from this Hb; b) there is not a direct relationship between methaetnoglobin concentration and the Heinz bodies count; c) the intensity of Heinz bodies in the sickled erythrocytes seems to be independent of the Hb Fetal concentration; d) The genotype SS is more susceptible to Hb oxidation with the release of products of oxidative degradation; e) methaemoglobin formation in blood of people with Hb AA and Hb AS, assessed over 24, 48, 72 and 163 hourly-periods, showed greater oxidative intensity in the Hb AS compared with Hb AA.

Abundância natural do isótopo estável de carbono (13C) de alguns itens alimentares e sua contribuição no crescimento de juvenis de pintado, Pseudoplatystoma corruscans (Agassiz, 1829) (Osteichthyes, Pimelodidae)

The aim of this study is to determine the natural abundance of carbon stable isotope (13C) of some food components and determine its contribution to the pintado juvenile growth, in laboratory conditions. 150 fishes were used with average weight of 1.39 g, and stocked in two net ponds with 125L each, during 60 days. Every 10 days a water sample was collected to analyse phytoplakton and zooplankton. Clacocera was dominant in the analysis of the stomach contents, following Chironomidae and Copepoda. A fish sample was collected in the beginning, and at the end of the experiment to analyses the isotopic signal. An average value of -20.94; -15.36 and -18.81 δ13C%o was obtained for phytoplankton, Cladocera and Chironomidae, respectively. Cladocera was the main carbon source and contribution with carbon average 89.24% in feeding this species, while the Chironomid contribution was 10.76%. The δ13C was effective as carbon tracer in food chain, because the consumer reflects its diet isotopicly.

Analise citotoxica de esparfloxacino e seus produtos de degradaçao em células mononucleares humanas

Sparfloxacin, a difluorquinolone derivative, is a potent antibacterial agent active against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin resistant S. aureus, Legionella spp, Mycoplasma spp; Chlamydia spp. and Mycobacteria. A drawback of fluorquinolones is their photoreactivity. Sparfloxacin has been studied in terms of therapeutic activities. However, few reports about analytical methods of sparfloxacin are available in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine cytotoxic effects, using sparfloxacin reference substance (SPAX-SR), sparfloxacin tablets (SPAX-COMP) and sparfloxacin tablets submitted UV light during 36 hours (SPAX-COMP.36) solution, and two isolated products (7 and 9) of SPAX-SR submitted UV-C light, in concentrations of 31.25, 62.5, 125 and 250 μg/mL by in vitro mononuclear humane culture cells. The results, statistically analyzed by Teste de Tukey, showed SPAX, SPAX-COMP and SPAX-COMP.36 solutions could reduce the cells number in these conditions. These results could not be observed for products 7 or 9. These results can suggest that isolated product can be less cytotoxic than SPAX-SR, is method can also be used to identified products degradation of sparfloxacin in stability study. However, the low activity achieved with sparfloxacin submitted to UV-light is a source of concern and requires further investigation about its photodegradation mechanism.

Ativação de macrófagos por produtos naturais obtidos da Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae)

Plants are a valuable source of natural products for the maintenance of human health. The purpose of this paper was the study of immunologic activity of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), a largely used plant in popular medicine that has many different properties such as: antiinflammatory, astringent, antiseptic and antispasmodic. Macrophages stimulation was evaluated by the determination of H2O2, NO and TNF-α in supernatants of peritoneal macrophages cultures of mice in the presence of the yarrow leaves extract. The thin layer chromatography of extract was also analyzed, showing rutin. All concentrations showed a moderate release of H2O2 and the concentrations of 6, 8 and 10mg/mL had a higher release of NO. The TNF-a was produced in all concentrations, but the best result was obtained at 4mg/mL. Analyzing the results, it is suggested that the yarrow ethanolic extract can modulate the macrophages activation.

Produtos naturais como candidatos a fármacos úteis no tratamento do mal de Alzheimer

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative pathology with severe economic and social impact. There is currently no cure, although cholinesterase inhibitors provide effective temporary relief of symptoms in some patients. Nowadays drug research and development are based on the cholinergic hypothesis that supports the cognition improvement by regulation of the synthesis and release of acetylcholine in the brain. There are only four commercial medicines approved for treatment of AD and natural products have played an important role in the research for new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

OS produtos naturais e a química medicinal moderna

Natural products have been utilized by humans since ancient times and the relief and cure of their diseases was the first purpose for using natural products in medicine. The history of the oriental and occidental civilizations is very rich in examples of the utilization of natural products in medicine and health care. Chinese traditional medicine is one of the most important examples of how natural products can be efficient in the treatment of diseases, and it points to the importance of scientific research on natural products, concerning the discovery of new active chemical entities. The complexity, chemical diversity and biological properties of natural products always fascinated people, and during the last 200 years, this led to the discovery of important new drugs. In the last 30 years, the development of new bioassay techniques, biotechnology methods, bio-guided phytochemical studies, automated high throughput screening and high performance analytical methods, have introduced new concepts and possibilities of rational drug design and drug discovery. In this context, natural products have played an important and decisive role in the development of modern medicinal chemistry.

Multiplicadores reflexivos: Uma experiância do Instituto Familiae junto ao Grupo de Assistância em Transtornos Alimentares (GRATA) do HC-FMRP-USP

This article describes the Reflecting Practitioners Program developed by Instituto Familiae at GRATA (Grupo de Assistência em Transtornos Alimentares) placed at the Clinical Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto - University of Sao Paulo (HC-FMRP-USP). The aim of this program was to take care of the caretakers - the GRATA interdisciplinary team - through the development of their reflecting ability, the appropriation of their own resources and the support on constructing alternative histories and on solving situations defined by them as problematic. Thirteen monthly meeting had been carried out among Familiae members and GRATA interdisciplinary team. The changes described by the participants had occurred through sessions developed with interdisciplinary pairs and through the development of their capacity to construct more comfortable positions - as members of the team and in the relationship among professional/client/ family. This triad became to be seen by the team through its resources and abilities, instead of its flaws and lacks. As a result, horizontal relationships could be privileged instead of hierarchical ones.

Efeitos de parâmetros de extrusão nas propriedades físicas de produtos expandidos de inhame

Effect of extrusion parameters was studied on the expansion index, specific volume, water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI) of expanded yam snacks. The central composite design was used to study the parameters effect. It was verified three levels of temperature in the barrel (100, 115 and 130°C), three levels of screw speed (163, 204 and 245 rpm) and three levels of flour moisture (12, 15 and 18%). The results showed that expansion properties (expansion index and specific volume) depend on flour moisture and extrusion temperature. The WSI was dependant of three parameters. Higher levels of temperature and screw speed increase the water solubility index (WSI). The studied parameters did not influence the water absorption index (WAI).

Um método de gestão de fornecedores baseado na avaliação da eficácia de auditorias realizadas na fase de desenvolvimento de produtos

The main goal of this work is to present a supplier's management method based on evaluation of audits performed at suppliers during products development phase. Audits are prioritized according to the impact of supplied parts on the development and its main goals are identification of risks, to propose and perform action plans and to evaluate periodically the supplier's performance to prevent problems. It is proposed that if the audits in the development phase be efficient, the supplied products will have good maturity to entry into service and stable performance. This issue was evaluated in a aeronautic company and the analyzed results in 2006 were considered good.