Elevated serum folic acid concentrations were associated with higher mRNA expression of DHFR gene in patients with hereditary spherocytosis

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Salmonella serovars in laying hen flocks and commercial table eggs from a region of Sao Paulo State, Brazil

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Influence of soil texture in the recovery of Toxocara canis eggs by a flotation method

In epidemiological surveys, the evaluation of soil contamination by Toxocara canis eggs requires a quick and easy method for the isolation of parasite eggs from soil samples. The efficiency of flotation methods is influenced by sample size, soil texture, degree of soil contamination, pretreatment, flotation solutions and time of flotation. This investigation was designed to evaluate the influence of soil texture in the recovery of T. canis eggs with the centrifugal flotation technique of Dada (Dada, B.J.O., 1979. A new technique for the recovery of Toxocara eggs from soil. J. Helminthol., 53: 141-144). Four types of soil (clay silt, sandy, silty clay and sand) were artificially contaminated with T. canis eggs (200 eggs per gram). Zinc sulphate (specific gravity 1.20) and sodium dichromate (specific gravity 1.35) were used as flotation solutions. Twenty replicated examinations were performed for each type of soil and flotation solution. There was a statistically significant difference in the results depending on soil type. The highest recovery percentages were observed in soils rich in sand (62.5% for sand and 38.0% for sandy soil). Differences were also observed with different flotation solutions. Sodium dichromate solution was more efficient for recovering T. canis eggs, regardless of the soil texture. © 1994.

Determination of salicylate in blood serum using an amperometric biosensor based on salicylate hydroxylase immobilized in a polypyrrole-glutaraldehyde matrix

The use of an amperometric biosensor for the salicylate determination in blood serum is described. The biosensor is based on salicylate hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.1) electropolymerized onto a glassy carbon-working electrode with polypyrrole and glutaraldehyde, to improve the biosensor lifetime. The hexacyanoferrate (II) was also incorporated to work as a redox mediator to minimize possible interferences. The salicylate is enzymatically converted to catechol, which is monitored amperometrically by its electrooxidation at +0.170 V versus SCE (saturated calomel electrode). Salicylate determination was carried out maintaining the ratio between β-NADH and salicylate at 4:1 (30°C). The amperometric response of the biosensor was linearly proportional to the salicylate concentration between 2.3 x 10-6 and 1.4 x 10-5 mol l- 1, in 0.1 mol l-1 phosphate buffer (pH 7.8), containing 0.1 mol l-1 KCl and 5.0 x 10-4 mol l-1 Na2H2EDTA, as supporting electrolyte. The recovery studies, in the presence of several interfering compounds, showed recoveries between 96.4 and 104.8%. The useful lifetime of the biosensor in the concentration range evaluated was at least 40 days, in continuous use. Blood serum samples analyzed by this biosensor showed a good correlation compared to the spectrophotometric method (Trinder) used as reference, presenting relative deviations lower than 7.0%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.

Effect of inhaling cymbopogon martinii essential oil and geraniol on serum biochemistry parameters and oxidative stress in rats

The effects of the inhalation of Cymbopogon martinii essential oil (EO) and geraniol on Wistar rats were evaluated for biochemical parameters and hepatic oxidative stress. Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n = 8): G1 was control group, treated with saline solution; G2 received geraniol; and G3 received C. martinii EO by inhalation during 30 days. No significant differences were observed in glycemia and triacylglycerol levels; G2 and G3 decreased (P < 0.05) total cholesterol level. There were no differences in serum protein, urea, aspartate aminotransferase activity, and total hepatic protein. Creatinine levels increased in G2 but decreased in G3. Alanine aminotransferase activity and lipid hydroperoxide were higher in G2 than in G3. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were higher in G3. C. martinii EO and geraniol increased glutathione peroxidase. Oxidative stress caused by geraniol may have triggered some degree of hepatic toxicity, as verified by the increase in serum creatinine and alanine aminotransferase. Therefore, the beneficial effects of EO on oxidative stress can prevent the toxicity in the liver. This proves possible interactions between geraniol and numerous chemical compounds present in C. martinii EO.

Removal of total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, and helminth eggs in Swine production wastewater treated in anaerobic and aerobic reactors

The present work evaluated the performance of two treatment systems in reducing indicators of biological contamination in swine production wastewater. System I consisted of two upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors, with 510 and 209 L in volume, being serially arranged. System II consisted of a UASB reactor, anaerobic filter, trickling filter, and decanter, being also organized in series, with volumes of 300, 190, 250, and 150 L, respectively. Hydraulic retention times (HRT) applied in the first UASB reactors were 40, 30, 20, and 11 h in systems I and II. The average removal efficiencies of total and thermotolerant coliforms in system I were 92.92% to 99.50% and 94.29% to 99.56%, respectively, and increased in system II to 99.45% to 99.91% and 99.52% to 99.93%, respectively. Average removal rates of helminth eggs in system I were 96.44% to 99.11%, reaching 100% as in system II. In reactor sludge, the counts of total and thermotolerant coliforms ranged between 10(5) and 10(9) MPN (100 mL)(-1), while helminth eggs ranged from 0.86 to 9.27 eggs g(-1) TS.

Serum vitamin A and inflammatory markers in individuals with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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Improvement of an enzyme immunosorbent assay for detecting antibodies against Dioctophyma renale

An available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was studied for the detection of anti-Dioctophyma renale antibodies in the sera of dogs using, detection of parasite eggs in urine sediment as a reference test. ELISA uses a soluble antigenic preparation of esophagus of D. renale and the optimal dilutions of the antigen, serum and conjugate were determined by means of checker board titration, using positive (n=13) and negative (n=27) reference serum. The specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA were 93.8% and 92.3% respectively and the kappa index was good (0.76). These results suggest that ELISA described may prove to be an effective serological test for detecting dogs infected and exposed to this parasite mainly dogs that are not eliminating parasite eggs through their urine.

Incubation temperature manipulation during fetal development reduces adiposity of broiler hatchlings

Broilers are known as an efficient source of lean meat. Genetic selection resulted in broiler strains with large body size and fast growth, but a concomitant increase in fat deposition also occurred. Other than reducing nutrient intake, there is a lack of alternative methods to control body fat composition of broilers. The present study assessed whether incubation temperature (machine temperatures: 36ºC, 37.5ºC, and 39ºC; eggshell temperatures: 37.4 ± 0.08°C, 37.8 ± 0.15ºC, and 38.8 ± 0.33°C, respectively.) from d 13 affects broiler hatchling fat deposition. We analyzed adipocyte hypertrophy and proliferation in 3 body regions; weight and chemical composition of yolk-free chicks and yolk sacs; and serum lipid profile. Increased incubation temperature reduced abdominal and cervical adipocyte size. Independently of temperature, cervical adipocytes were smaller and showed higher proliferation than adipocytes in the abdominal and thigh regions. Smaller cervical adipocytes were observed in birds from eggs incubated at 36ºC and 39ºC. With regard to weight and composition of chicks, ash content as a percentage of dry matter was the only variable affected by temperature; it was higher in chicks from eggs incubated at 36ºC than at 39ºC and showed no significant difference between chicks incubated at 39ºC and 37.5ºC. Absolute and relative weights of yolk sacs were higher from eggs incubated at 39ºC than at 36ºC, and these two treatments did not differ from the 37.5ºC control. Absolute measures of yolk sac lipids, moisture, dry matter, and crude protein content were lower in chicks from eggs incubated at 36ºC, and no significant differences were found for these variables between chicks from eggs incubated at 37.5ºC and 39ºC. Hatchlings from eggs incubated at 36°C had significantly higher cholesterol levels than chicks incubated at the other 2 temperatures, but no additional effects on blood lipids were detected. Incubation temperature manipulation during fetal development altered cervical and abdominal adipocyte size in broiler hatchlings and could become a tool in hatcheries to manipulate chick quality, although further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term effects.

The subdomain structure of human serum albumin in solution under different pH conditions studied by small angle X-ray scattering

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to study structural characteristics of human serum albumin (HSA) in solution under different pH conditions. Guinier analysis of SAXS results yielded values of the molecular radius of gyration ranging from 26.7 Å to 34.5 Å for pH varying from 2.5 to 7.0. This suggests the existence of significant differences in the overall shape of the molecule at different pH. Molecular models based on subdomains with different spatial configurations were proposed. The distance distribution functions associated with these models were calculated and compared with those determined from the experimental SAXS intensity functions. The conclusion of this SAXS study is that the arrangement of molecular subdomains is clearly pH dependent; the molecule adopting more or less compact configuration for different pH conditions. The conclusions of this systematic study on the modification in molecular shape of HSA as a response to pH changes is consistent with those of previous investigations performed for particular pH conditions.

Protein phosphatase activities in the serum and saliva of healthy children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activities of the total acid phosphatase (TAP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes, as well as the possible correlation in the serum and in unstimulated whole saliva of children. Enzymatic activities were measured in pairs of concurrently obtained serum and salivary samples from 32 children in good oral and systemic health (16 of each sex) with a median age of 6.4 ± 3.3 years (range 1.08 – 12.92 years). All collections were made between the hours of 08:00 – 10:00 a.m. We used p-nitrophenyl phosphate as the substrate in the enzymatic assay for TAP, TRAP and LMW-PTP, and thymolphthalein monophosphate as the substrate for ALP. The enzymatic activities of all the studied enzymes were higher in serum than in saliva. The mean of enzymatic activities of serum TAP, TRAP, LMW-PTP and ALP were 36.51 ± 8.21, 23.99 ± 5.73, 11.16 ± 5.65 and 76.50 ± 17.32 U/L, respectively, while the mean salivary TAP, TRAP, LMW-PTP and ALP enzymatic activities were 9.60 ± 5.04, 1.36 ± 0.87, 5.65 ± 3.07 and 4.08 ± 1.83 U/L in this order. The TRAP revealed a positive linear correlation between its activity in the serum and saliva (Spearman r = 0,4685, p < 0,05). We concluded that the salivary TRAP has a potential to be use as biomarkers of pathologies and states that modify its activity in the serum.

Daily intake of pasteurized orange juice decreases serum cholesterol, fasting glucose and diastolic blood pressure in adults

Previous studies have shown that fresh squeezed orange juice or juice from reconstituted concentrate can help prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Pasteurized orange juice presently represents the major orange juice available in the market, and because of this, it becomes necessary to determine the healthy benefits associated with this product. In this study we investigated the effect of regular consumption of pasteurized orange juice on the nutritional status, biochemical profile, and arterial blood pressure in healthy men and women. Men and women volunteered to consume pasteurized orange juice (500 mL·d–1 and 750 mL·d–1, respectively), for 8 weeks. Anthropometric, biochemical, hemodynamic, and dietary assessments were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the experimental period. Total cholesterol and LDL-C significantly decreased in both men and women after the consumption of orange juice, and an increase in HDL-C level was detected exclusively in women. Fasting glucose, diastolic blood pressure, and triglyceride levels dropped in men after the consumption of orange juice. Anthropometric variables did not change with orange juice consumption, only waist circumference decreased significantly in women. Consumption of orange juice increased the energy and carbohydrate intake for women; however, vitamin C and folate increased after the orange juice period for both men and women. Regular consumption of pasteurized orange juice by men (750 mL·d–1) and women (500 mL·d–1) reduced the risk of developing atherosclerosis, and increased the nutritional quality of their diets.

Serum myeloperoxidase level is Increased in heavy smokers

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Effect of oral infections on serum creatinine levels in diabetic rats

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pulpal and/or periodontal disease and serum creatinine levels in a rat model of diabetes mellitus. Methods: Eighty male rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar) were divided into the following 8 groups compris-ing 10 animals each: normal (G1), with pulpal disease (G2), with periodontal disease (G3), with both pulpal and periodontal disease (G4), diabetic (G5), diabetic with pulpal disease (G6), diabetic with periodontal disease (G7), and diabetic with both pulpal and periodontal disease (G8). Diabetes was induced by injecting streptozotocin, pul-pal disease were induced by exposing pulpal tissue to the oral environment, and periodontal disease was induced by periodontal ligature. After 30 days, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and the animals were killed. The maxillae were processed for histopathology. Serum creatinine levels were measured by the enzymatic method. The total assessed values were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). Results: Serum creatinine levels were significantly higher in diabetic rats than that in all normoglycemic rats (p < 0.05). The presence of pulpal and periodontal disease increased the serum creatinine levels in normoglycemic and diabetic rats, but there was no statistical difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: We found that the serum creatinine level was higher in diabetic rats and may be related to the pres-ence of oral infections. Clinical significance: Changes in serum creatinine level may be related to the presence of oral infections and diabetes.

Detection of serum antibodies to parainfluenza type 3 virus, respiratory syncytial virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and herpes virus type 1 in sheep in the region of Botucatu, São Paulo - Brazil

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