Selenium-Enriched Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii CCT 4308 Biomass Production Using Low-Cost Sugarcane Molasses Medium

Abstract Food supplements have been increasingly investigated. Probiotics have several benefits for human and animal health and selenium (Se) is widely recommended against oxidative stress. In this context, the aim of this study was to develop a low-cost bioprocess to produce a functional food product comprising both probiotic and Se accumulation. Yeast cells of Saccharomyces boulardii CCT 4308 were cultivated using sugarcane molasses as substrate. Optimization studies were performed to evaluate the best medium composition for biomass production and Se-accumulation in batch and fed-batch systems. Optimized conditions were defined with a medium composed of 150 g L-1 sugarcane molasses and 12 g L-1 yeast extract, with feeding of 100 g L-1 sugarcane molasses and 100 μg mL-1 of Se incorporation after 4 h and 10 h of fermentation, respectively, during 48 h in STR (stirred tank reactor). Best biomass production reached 14.52 g L-1 with 3.20 mg Se g-1 biomass at 12 h. Process optimization led to 4.82-fold increase in biomass production compared to initial condition. A final Se-enriched S. boulardii CCT 4308 biomass was obtained, which is comparable to commercial products. An alternative probiotic yeast biomass was efficiently produced as a new food-form of Se supplement in a sustainable process using an inexpensive agro-industrial residue.

Crude Fermented Extract Containing Gibberellic Acid Produced by Fusarium moniliforme is an Alternative to Cost Reduction in Biofactories

ABSTRACT Nidularium procerum and Nidularium innocentii (Bromeliaceae) were cultivated in vitro on media supplemented with different sources and levels of GA3 (gibberellic acid). These sources were the commercial powder (analytical degree) and fermented extract obtained by Fusarium moniliforme via solid state fermentation. The in vitro elongation and rooting of these plants were evaluated after 50 days of cultivation. The GA3 present in the fermented extract possess the same effect of purified GA3 (analytical degree) for the increase of the height of aerial part of shoots of N. innocentii, but not for the N. procerum being the GA3 fermented extract in a lesser degree. The GA3 fermented extract influences negatively the rooting in N. innocentii, while GA3 analytical degree practically does not interfere in the rooting. On the other hand, in N. procerum, both the GA3 sources reduce the root number and do not interfere in rooting percentage. GA3 crude fermented extract is an alternative to reduce costs, however, its results can vary depending on the species and parameter evaluated. The fermented extract was stored at temperature during 260 days and its shelf life presented a suitable stability, maintaining 92% of its initial GA3 amount.

Evaluation of common mental disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with body mass index / Avaliação dos transtornos mentais comuns em mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos e sua relação com o índice de massa corporal

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of common mental disorders in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome as compared with paired controls without this syndrome. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with a Control Group examining women between the ages of 18 and 30 who did not use antidepressants and who sought the Gynecology Service of the researched sites. For every woman diagnosed with the polycystic ovary syndrome, another with the same age, educational status and presence or absence of sexual partners was sought without this diagnosis. In total, 166 patients agreed to participate, consisting of 95 diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and 71 in the Control Group. The diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome was made by the presence of two from three criteria: oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries on transvaginal ultrasound, following exclusion of patients with Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and androgen-secreting tumors. Weight and height were measured to calculate the body mass index. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire, which evaluated 20 items, was used as an indicator of common mental disorders. A χ² analysis stratified by the category of body mass index was used to compare the prevalence of common mental disorders, between the groups of women with and without the polycystic ovary syndrome. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, education, presence of sexual partners, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, use of psychiatric medication, and search for consultation in mental health between the studied groups. The prevalence of obese women with indications of common mental disorders was significantly higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome than in the Control Group. In the group with healthy body mass index, the incidence of common mental disorders was statistically significant different between women with polycystic ovary syndrome and normal controls (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Women with diagnosis of this disease have an almost three-fold increased likelihood of common mental disorders as compared with those without polycystic ovary syndrome. Although obesity is often observed in polycystic ovary syndrome, even women with a healthy body mass index have an increased risk of psychiatric comorbidity.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a prevalência dos transtornos mentais comuns em mulheres diagnosticadas com síndrome dos ovários policísticos e compará-las com controles pareadas sem a doença. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com Grupo Controle. Participaram mulheres entre 18 e 30 anos que não faziam uso de antidepressivos e procuraram o Serviço de Ginecologia dos locais de pesquisa. Para cada mulher diagnosticada com a síndrome dos ovários policísticos, buscou-se outra sem este diagnóstico com mesma idade, condição de escolaridade e presença ou ausência de parceiro sexual fixo. No total, 166 pacientes aceitaram participar, sendo 95 diagnosticadas com a síndrome e 71 no Grupo Controle. Para o diagnóstico da síndrome dos ovários policísticos, foi necessário existir dois dos três critérios: oligomenorreia ou amenorreia; hiperandrogenismo clínico ou bioquímico; ovários policísticos na ecografia transvaginal e excluir presença da síndrome de Cushing, hiperplasia adrenal congênita e tumores secretores de androgênio. Peso e altura foram aferidos para calcular o índice de massa corporal, enquanto o indicativo de transtorno mental comum foi avaliado pelo Self-Reporting Questionnaire com 20 itens. Foi realizado o teste do χ²em análise estratificada por categoria de índice de massa corporal para comparar as prevalências dos transtornos mentais comuns no grupo de mulheres com e sem a síndrome. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferenças significativas quanto à idade, escolaridade, presença de parceiro sexual fixo, cor da pele, nível socioeconômico, uso de medicação psiquiátrica e procura por consulta em saúde mental entre os grupos estudados. A prevalência de mulheres obesas e com indicações de transtornos mentais comuns foi significativamente maior no grupo de mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos do que no Grupo Controle. No grupo com índice de massa corporal saudável, a diferença de proporções referentes ao indicativo de transtorno mental comum entre mulheres com e sem a síndrome foi estatisticamente significativa (p=0,008). CONCLUSÕES: As mulheres com o diagnóstico desta síndrome apresentam proporção quase três vezes maior de transtornos mentais comuns quando comparadas com àquelas sem a doença. Mesmo as mulheres com a síndrome e o índice de massa corporal saudáveis apresentam maior risco de comorbidade psiquiátrica.

Fatores associados à idade da primeira relação sexual em jovens: estudo de base populacional / Factors associated with age at first intercourse: a population-based study

A primeira relação sexual é considerada um evento importante na vida dos jovens e tem iniciado cada vez mais cedo. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever os fatores relacionados à idade precoce da primeira relação sexual, de jovens de 18 a 24 anos na cidade de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Este é um estudo transversal de base populacional, em uma amostra representativa de 1.621 jovens que ocorreu entre agosto de 2007 e dezembro de 2008. Foram aplicados questionários sobre comportamentos de saúde que continham itens relativos à sexualidade. A regressão de Cox foi utilizada para aferir a associação com a idade precoce de início da vida sexual. Após a análise multivariada, as variáveis diretamente relacionadas com a iniciação sexual precoce foram: sexo masculino, baixo nível socioeconômico, baixa escolaridade, ter pais separados, morar com companheiro(a), não praticar uma religião, uso de tabaco e drogas, e o não uso da camisinha na última relação. Considerando o contexto social atual, evidencia-se a necessidade de uma adequada orientação sexual com aspecto preventivo.

First sexual intercourse is considered an important event in young people's lives and has occurred at an increasingly early age. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with early age at first intercourse in individuals 18 to 24 years of age in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. This was a population-based cross-sectional study in a representative sample of 1,621 young people from August 2007 to December 2008. Subjects answered a questionnaire on health behaviors, including items related to their sexual lives. Cox regression was used to assess the association between early age at sexual initiation. After multivariate analysis, variables that are directly related to early sexual initiation were: male gender, low socioeconomic status, low schooling, divorced parents, living with a partner, not practicing a religion, smoking, drug use in the previous three months, and non-use of condoms during last intercourse. Considering the current social context, the study highlights the need for adequate sexual orientation with a preventive approach.

A new alternative to produce gibberellic acid by solid state fermentation

Gibberellic acid (GA3) is an important hormone, which controls plant's growth and development. Solid State Fermentation (SSF) allows the use of agro-industrial residues reducing the production costs. The screening of strains (four of Gibberella fujikuoroi and one of Fusarium moniliforme) and substrates (citric pulp, soy bran, sugarcane bagasse, soy husk, cassava bagasse and coffee husk) and inoculum preparation study were conducted in order to evaluate the best conditions to produce GA3 by SSF. Fermentation assays were carried out in erlenmeyers flasks at 29°C, with initial moisture of 75-80 percent. Different medium for inoculum production were tested in relation to cells viability and GA3 production by SSF. F. moniliforme LPB 03 and citric pulp were chosen for GA3 production. The best medium for inoculum production was citric pulp extract supplemented with sucrose. GA3 production by SSF reached 5.9 g /kg of dry CP after 3 days of fermentation.

O ácido giberélico (GA3) é um importante hormônio vegetal. A fermentação no estado sólido (FES) utiliza resíduos agro-industriais reduzindo os custos de produção. Neste trabalho a seleção de cepas (quatro de Gibberella fujikuoroi e uma de Fusarium moniliforme) e substratos (polpa cítrica, casca de soja, bagaço de cana, farelo de soja, bagaço de mandioca e casca de café) e o estudo da preparação do inóculo foram conduzidos para otimizar as condições de produção de GA3 por FES. Os ensaios foram realizados em frascos de erlenmeyer a 29°C, com umidade inicial de 75-80 por cento. Diferentes meios para a produção do inóculo foram testados em relação à viabilidade das células e produção de GA3 por FES. F. moniliforme LPB03 e polpa cítrica foram escolhidos. O melhor meio para a produção de inóculo foi o extrato de polpa cítrica. A produção por FES alcançou 5.8 g de GA3/kg de polpa cítrica após 3 dias de fermentação.