Thesis Abstract Fermented milk elaborated with Camellia sinensis.

This study aimed to develop and to characterize fermented dairy beverage formulated with Camellia sinensis. The infusion was elaborated with the addiction of dehydrated leaves of C. sinensis in whey (1g/100g) which added in sweetened milk (10% sucrose w/w) coagulated by Streptococcus salivarius subspecies thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus in proportions of 10, 20, 30 and 40% (v/w). The control treatment consisted of yogurt added with sucrose (10% w/w). Analysis were performed to quantify dry mass, moisture, ash, protein, fat, sodium, acidity, total quantification of lactic acid bacteria, total antioxidant activity and viscosity at the initial time of production and at 15 and 30 days of storage. Chromatographic determination of volatile compounds and sensory tests of acceptance and consumption intention were conducted at the initial time of production. Dry matter content, moisture, ash and total count of lactic acid bacteria from fermented milk drink formulations were not significantly affected by the amount of infusion of C. sinensis. However, the content of protein, fat and sodium were significantly lower with the increase of the proportion of infusion incorporated into the product. Significant reduction in apparent viscosity occurs with the increase in the amount of infusion added. The total antioxidant activity of the formulations was significantly higher as higher were the amount of added infusion. The addition of infusion contributed to the diversification of volatile aroma and taste makers in the product. The formulation of fermented dairy drink with addition of 30% infusion C. sinensis was better evaluated in sensory tests, with greater acceptance and greater consumer intent of consumption.

Modelos de norma de reação para estudo das características de qualidade da carne de codornas de corte em função das razões (metionina + cistina): lisina da dieta / Reaction norm models for the study of meat quality of european quail in function of (methionine + cysteine): lysine diet ratio

Objetivou-se avaliar a sensibilidade dos valores genéticos para características de qualidade da carne em codornas de corte alimentadas com dietas contendo diferentes relações de (metionina + cistina): lisina, do nascimento aos 21 dias de idade, por meio de modelos de normas de reação. Utilizaram-se 9011 informações de qualidade de carne referentes a 1400 progênies de 80 reprodutores e 160 matrizes de duas linhas (LF1 e LF2). Para o ajuste dos modelos de regressão aleatória, foi usado o programa WOMBAT, considerando-se nas análises homogeneidade de variância residual. As codornas foram alimentadas do nascimento aos 21 dias de idade com dietas contendo as relações 0,61; 0,66; 0,71; 0,76 e 0,81 de (metionina + cistina): lisina, mantendo os níveis de proteína bruta de 26,12% e de energia em 2900 kcal EM/kg da dieta. Dos 22 aos 35 dias de idade, todas as codornas foram alimentadas com dieta contendo 22% de proteína bruta e 3050 kcal EM/kg da dieta. As estimativas da variância genética e da herdabilidade foram influenciadas pelo gradiente ambiental e pela linha, com mudanças nessas estimativas com o aumento do gradiente ambiental. Os valores genéticos das características de qualidade de carne referentes a cada uma das linhas se alteraram com o aumento das relações de aminoácidos das dietas em razão das mudanças no ordenamento dos valores genéticos, evidenciando a existência da interação genótipo x nível de relação dos aminoácidos da dieta para características de qualidade de carne. Predições de valores genéticos de características de qualidade de carne com base em determinada relação de (metionina + cistina): lisina da dieta não são válidas para outras relações desses aminoácidos.

This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of breeding values for meat quality traits of European quails fed different (methionine + cystine): lysine ratio diets from hatch to 21 days of age, using reaction norm models. A total of 9011 meat quality records from 1400 progenies of 80 sires and 160 dams from two lines (LF1 and LF2) were used in the analyses considering homogeneity of residual variance. The quails from hatch to 21 days of age were fed diets containing 0.61, 0.66, 0.71, 0.76 and 0.81 (methionine + cystine): lysine ratios, 26.12% of crude protein and 2900 ME/kcal of diet. From 22 to 35 days of age all quail were fed a diet containing 22% of crude protein and 3050 kcal ME/kg of diet. The random regression model analyses was performed using the WOMBAT program considering homogeneity of residual variance. Genetic variance and heritability estimates were affected by the environment gradient of diet and line, increasing these estimates with the increase of the (methionine + cystine): lysine ratio of the diet. The breeding values changed with the increase of the environment gradient of the diet with changes in the rank of genetic breeding values characterizing the existence of genotype by environment interaction for meat quality traits. Predictions of meat quality trait breeding values based on a given (methionine + cystine): lysine ratio are not valid for other levels of the amino acid ratio.

[Emergency ultrasound cardiography in acute precordial pain of cardiovascular origin]. / Ultrasuonocardiografia d'urgenza nelle precordialgie acute di origine cardiovascolare.

In emergency surgery, the essential prerequisites for success are speed, promptitude and precision. For this reason diagnosis must be equally prompt and precise and may require not only clinical examination but also a number of instrumental examinations designed to confirm or even to formulate the diagnosis which is usually the case in precordialgias of cardiovascular origin. In such syndromes ultrasound cardiography is particularly advantageous for the following reasons: it is non-invasive, provides immediate results and any number of examinations can be performed on the patient in bed. Since such ultrasound techniques are also reliably accurate, they constitute the method of choice when the patient's condition is critical, when a serial study of a single patient is required and when the results are required immediately, as is the case in emergency heart surgery. Four types of ultrasound cardiography are currently available for the diagnosis of precordialgias of cardiovascular origin: 1) one dimensional M-mode echocardiography; 2) two dimensional real time echocardiography; 3) Doppler ultrasound cardiography; 4) the echo-Doppler system in which Doppler ultrasound cardiography is combined with one or two dimensional echocardiography. Acute precordial pain of cardiovascular origin may be due to the following pathological conditions: 1) ischaemic cardiopathy especially acute myocardial infarction and transitory myocardial ischaemia; 2) acute pericarditis; 3) aortic stenosis; 4) idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis; 5) mitral prolapse; 6) dissecting aneurysm of the aorta; 7) pulmonary thromboembolism. In all these cases the single and two dimensional image and Doppler ultrasound cardiography provide highly sensitive and specific information that is, in some cases, decisive for diagnosis and in others confirms the diagnosis already formulated. In addition these techniques may provide valuable prognostic data. Ultrasound cardiography is indeed useful in all cardiological emergencies, such as those caused by cardiomegaly, new and developing murmurs, peripheral embolisms, cardiac traumas and arrhythmias. It is therefore suggested that every Emergency and Intensive Care Unit should be able to use the resources offered by ultrasound cardiography in diagnosis.

[Behavior of blood gamma glutamyltransferase in workers exposed to hepatotoxic agents]. / Comportamento della gamma-GT sierica in alcune categorie di lavoratori esposti ad agenti epatotossici.

The behaviour of serum GT is evaluated as an indicator of exposure to enzymatic inductors that are potentially hepatotoxic. Serum GT was measured in 437 exposed workers and 149 controls. The statistically significant variation observed in the exposed group probably indicates enzymatic induction.

[Possible risk of liver diseases from exposure to bitumen]. / Possibile rischio di epatopatie da esposizione a bitumi.

The influence of exposure to bitumen on hepatic enzymatic induction was examined. Measurement of serum GT in a group of exposed workers and a control group produced statistically significant results, indicating that exposure to bitumen causes enzymatic induction.

[Food poisoning with marine animal toxins of invertebrate origin]. / Intossicazione alimentare da zootossine marine di origine invertebrata.

The consumption of seafood is increasing and hence the risk of poisoning. For this reason, the study of food poisoning caused by zootoxins from marine invertebrates has become of signal importance. These toxins come from bivalve molluscs and other species. Depending on the type of toxin concerned, poisoning attributable to molluscs may give rise to paralysis, caused by saxitossin, neurotoxic effects (gimbretoxin), or haemolysis (venerupin). Poisoning caused by coelenterates, echinoderms, cephalopods, Neptunea, abalone, crabs and lobsters is less common, and its clinical pictures and pathogenesis have not been fully established. In some instances, toxins presented in the phytoplankton ingested by these animals appear to be responsible, whereas in others its would seem that they themselves elaborate the active principles directly.

[Toxic occupational liver diseases. Therapeutic effects of silymarin]. / Epatopatie tossiche professionali. Effetti terapeutici della silimarina.

We considered two groups, one of 35 and the other of 20 patients, with occupational toxic hepatopathy caused by various toxic substances (mostly solvents, paints and glues). The patients were mostly suffering from chronic or subacute forms. We considered the work conditions in the anamnesis, the period of exposure and most important laboratory parameters of hepatic function checked before and after treatment with Silymarin (420 mg/die/os) for the first group and with "placebo" for the second group. Five patients of the first group were diagnosed by biopsy. The treatment with Silymarin has shown slight variations in some parameters. The therapeutic effect is probably not dependent upon the kind of pathogen noxa; it seems instead to be more evident when the exposure period is shorter. The group "placebo" does not show significant variations.

[Evaluation of various renal function indices in a group of workers in the shoe industry]. / Valutazione di alcuni indici di funzionalità renale in un gruppo di lavoratori calzaturieri.

The possible chronic nephrotoxicity of solvents has been investigated in a group of workers in the footwear industry. A number of indices of renal function were assessed in all subjects and a qualitative study of proteinuria carried out. The noted reduction in VFG would appear to be proportional to exposure doses. The other parameters, particularly the electrolytic balance, do not lend themselves to pathogenetic interpretations. The existence of a chronic nephrotoxicity of solvents cannot, however, be excluded.

[Echocardiographic study of the left ventricle in chronic alcoholism]. / Studio ecocardiografico del ventricolo sinistro nell'etilismo cronico.

Echocardiographyc has been used to study clinical signs of cardiopathy in 25 chronic alcoholics. Compared to normal control subjects, the alcoholics presented an increase in the left ventricular wall and an increase in the cross section and volume of the left myocardium. The left ventricular cavity was also increased. On the other hand, echocardiographic indices of myocardial contractility, represented by the ejection fraction, rate of circumferential shortening and rate of increase of the thickness of the left ventricular wall from telediastole to telesystole, were within normal limits.