Efeito de Diferentes Níveis de Manganês e Fósforo Sobre o Desempenho e a Qualidade da Casca dos Ovos de Poedeiras Comerciais

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the different levels of manganese and phosphorus (P) on the performance and eggshell quality and on determined blood constituents of 96 laying hens Hy-Line W36, with 60 weeks of age, distributed in 24 lots with four hens each. A completely randomized experimental design was used in a factorial arrangement (3x2), manganese levels (70, 140 and 210 ppm) and total phosphorus levels (.35 and .55%), totalizing six treatments with four replicates each. The experimental diets were isoproteic (16.0% CP), isocaloric (2800 kcal ME/kg), isocalcium (4.0% Ca) and isosodium (.16% Na). The manganese levels did not alter the production and eggshell quality. However, when hens were fed diets containing .35% of total P, there were observed decreases in the egg production, egg weight and egg mass, without alterations in eggshell quality characteristics. The supplemental manganese levels were not effective to improve eggshell quality at the final phase of production. The total phosphorus level of .35% was inadequate for the laying hens to express the normal production characteristics.

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.

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.

Comparação de métodos de determinação da gravidade específica de ovos de poedeiras comerciais

The objective of this work was to compare the results of measuring the specific gravity (SG) of laying hen eggs by using a weighing apparatus and the saline flotation method (SFM). Two hundred eggs from two genetic lines were distributed randomly into two groups of 50 eggs per genetic line and were submitted to two different sequences of SG measurement. Not significant differences were found between the two methods. The weighing apparatus measured the SG of the eggs accurately as the SFM.

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.

Testes de biocompatibilidade in vitro de duas formas comerciais do agregado de trióxido mineral

Recently, regular and white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) are being used in Dentistry as retrofilling materials. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity tests form an important part of cancer research and risk assessment of potential carcinogens. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of regular and white MTA in vitro by the single cell gel (comet) assay and trypan blue exclusion test, respectively. Mouse lymphoma cells were exposed to two presentation forms of MTA at final concentrations ranging from 1 to 1,000 μg/mL for 3 h at 37°C. The results showed that both compounds tested did not produce genotoxic effects at all concentrations evaluated. Likewise, no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in cytotoxicity. Taken together, our results suggest that regular and white MTA are not genotoxins and are not able to interfere in cellular viability as assessed by single cell gel (comet) assay and trypan blue assay, respectively.

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.

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).