Exaggerated blood pressure response during the exercise treadmill test as a risk factor for hypertension

Exaggerated blood pressure response (EBPR) during the exercise treadmill test (ETT) has been considered to be a risk factor for hypertension. The relationship of polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system gene with hypertension has not been established. Our objective was to evaluate whether EBPR during exercise is a clinical marker for hypertension. The study concerned a historical cohort of normotensive individuals. The exposed individuals were those who presented EBPR. At the end of the observation period (41.7 months = 3.5 years), the development of hypertension was analyzed within the two groups. Genetic polymorphisms and blood pressure behavior were assessed as independent variables, together with the classical risk factors for hypertension. The I/D gene polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme and M235T of angiotensinogen were ruled out as risk factors for hypertension. EBPR during ETT is not an independent influence on the chances of developing hypertension. No differences were observed between the hypertensive and normotensive individuals regarding gender (P = 0.655), skin color (P = 0.636), family history of hypertension (P = 0.225), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.285), or hypertriglyceridemia (P = 0.734). The risk of developing hypertension increased with increasing body mass index (BMI) and advancing age. The risk factors, which independently influenced the development of hypertension, were age and BMI. EBPR did not constitute an independent risk factor for hypertension and is probably a preclinical phase in the spectrum of normotension and hypertension.

Efeito de extratos e óleos essenciais de plantas na germinação de urediniósporos de Phakopsora pachyrhizi / Effect of plant extracts and essential oils on the germination of urediniospores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi

Métodos alternativos para o controle de doenças e pragas de plantas vêm sendo pesquisados buscando causar menores danos ao ambiente e a saúde humana. Diante disso, o objetivo deste estudo foi identificar extratos de plantas e óleos essenciais com possíveis efeitos sobre Phakopsora pachyrhizi, agente etiológico da ferrugem-asiática da soja. Assim, 61 extratos de plantas da flora nativa da região do Alto Rio Grande, Minas Gerais e cinco óleos essenciais obtidos comercialmente foram utilizados com a finalidade de testar os efeitos na germinação de urediniósporos do referido fungo. Foram utilizadas placas de Petri de 6 cm, com meio ágar-água, adicionado com 150 µL de extrato de planta ou 6 µL do óleo essencial misturado ao meio de cultura. Como testemunhas foram utilizadas 150 µL de Tween 20 a 0,7% e 150 µL de água destilada. Após, foram adicionados 50µL de uma suspensão de urediniósporos, na concentração de 2mg.5mL-1 e espalhados com alça de Drigalsky. As placas foram colocadas em BOD, a 23(±2ºC), por 4 horas. A germinação foi paralisada com adição de lactoglicerol. A avaliação da percentagem de esporos germinados foi realizada em microscópio de luz. Dentre os extratos vegetais testados, dez apresentaram percentual de germinação abaixo de 15%, tendo os extratos obtidos das plantas Pelargonium sp., Salvia officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Mentha pulegium e M. arvensis apresentado germinação de esporos de 3,0%, 3,5%, 3,0%, 2,0% e 4,0%, respectivamente. Todos os óleos essenciais avaliados foram efetivos na inibição da germinação, com destaque para o óleo essencial de Caryophilus aromaticus, que apresentou percentagem de germinação de 5%, resultando num percentual de inibição de 50,0%.

Alternative methods to control plant diseases and plagues have been studied, in order to cause less damages to the environment and human health. The purpose of this study was to identify plant extracts and essential oils as possible alternative products that affect the urediniospore germination of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of the Asian soybean rust. Plant extracts (61) from the native flora of the Alto Rio Grande region, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, as well as five commercial essential oils were used with the purpose of testing their effects on the germination of urediniospores of the referred fungus. 6cm Petri dishes were used, with water-agar medium, added with 150 µL of plant extract or 6 µL of essential oil mixed to the culture medium. As control, 150 µL of Tween 20 at 0.7% and 150 µL of distilled water were used. Then, 50 µL of a suspension of urediniospores were added, at a concentration of 2mg5mL-1 and spread with Drigalsky spatula. Then, the plates were put in BOD, at 23(±2ºC), for 4 hours. Germination was paralyzed by adding lactoglicerol. The percentage of spore germination was evaluated in a light microscope. Among the vegetal extracts tested, ten of them presented a germination percentage below 15%. The extracts from the Pelargonium sp., Salvia officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Mentha pulegium and M. arvensis plants presented 3.0%, 3.5%, 3.0%, 2.0% and 4.0% of urediniospore germination, respectively. All the essential oils evaluated were effective in inhibiting germination, especially the Caryophilus aromaticus essential oil that presented 5.0% of germination, with 50.0% of inhibition.

Selection of active plant extracts against the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) / Seleção de extratos de plantas ativos contra o bicho-mineiro-do-cafeeiro Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae)

Aiming to contribute to the development of alternative control methods of the coffee leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet, 1842) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), a search for plants able to produce active substances against this insect was carried out, with species collected during different periods of time in the Alto Rio Grande region, (Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil). Coffee leaves containing L. coffeella mines were joined with 106 extracts from 77 plant species and, after 48 hours, the dead and alive caterpillars were counted. The extracts from Achillea millefolium, Citrus limon, Glechoma hederacea, Malva sylvestris, Mangifera indica, Mentha spicata, Mirabilis jalapa, Musa sapientum, Ocimum basiculum, Petiveria alliaceae, Porophyllum ruderale, Psidium guajava, Rosmarinus officinalis, Roupala montana, Sambucus nigra and Tropaeolum majus showed the highest mortality rates.

Visando contribuir para o desenvolvimento de métodos alternativos de controle do bicho-mineiro-do-cafeeiro, Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), buscou-se selecionar plantas coletadas em diferentes épocas na região do Alto Rio Grande, (Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brasil) que contenham substâncias ativas contra este inseto. Folhas de cafeeiro com minas intactas de L. coffeella foram colocadas em contato com 106 extratos provenientes de 78 espécies vegetais e, após 48 horas, contaram-se as lagartas vivas e mortas. Os extratos de Achillea millefolium, Citrus limon, Glechoma hederacea, Malva sylvestris, Mangifera indica, Mentha spicata, Mirabilis jalapa, Musa sapientum, Ocimum basiculum, Petiveria alliaceae, Porophyllum ruderale, Psidium guajava, Rosmarinus officinalis, Roupala montana, Sambucus nigra e Tropaeolum majus, provocaram os maiores índices de mortalidade.

Sazonalidade como fator interferente na composição físico-química e avaliação microbiológica de queijos coloniais / Seasonality as an interfering factor on the chemical composition and microbiological quality of colonial cheeses

The influence of seasonality on chemical composition of cheese produced during different seasons, was verified as well as their microbiological quality. A total of 32 samples of colonial cheeses produced in the southwestern Paraná were analyzed. Although the study could be thoroughly not completed, the chemical results showed significant variations (p <0.05) among the cheeses produced during the spring and summer seasons. The microbiological results indicated that 50%, 100% and 12.5% of the samples were contaminated with fecal coliforms, Staphylococcus coagulase positive and Salmonella spp., so at odds with the microbiological standards established by the legislation.

Antibacterial activity of plant extracts from Brazil against fish pathogenic bacteria / Atividade antibacteriana de extratos de plantas do Brasil contra bactérias patogênicas para peixes

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Brazilian plants extracts against fish pathogenic bacteria. Forty six methanolic extracts were screened to identify their antibacterial properties against Streptococcus agalactiae, Flavobacterium columnare and Aeromonas hydrophila. Thirty one extracts showed antibacterial activity.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antibacteriana de extratos de plantas brasileiras contra bactérias patogênicas para peixes. A atividade antibacteriana de quarenta e seis extratos metanólicos de plantas foi avaliada contra os agentes Streptococcus agalactiae, Flavobacterium columnare e Aeromonas hydrophila. Trinta e um extratos apresentaram atividade antibacteriana.