Association between the environment for physical activity in public schools and childhood obesity: a view in the light of complex systems / Associação entre ambiente para atividade física em escolas públicas e obesidade infantil: um olhar à luz de sistemas complexos

Abstract This article aims to analyse the relationship between physical activity (PA) environment at schools, sex, age, and obesity in children, using a network approach. This is a cross-sectional study, with 1,200 children (8.1±1.0 years old) from eight public schools in the same municipality. Weight and height measurements were assessed to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) and classified as healthier weight or overweight. To assess the PA environment at school, a interview with the school´s manager was conducted. The association between the PA environment at school and obesity was tested using a Network Analysis performed on the Jasp software. Positive associations between BMI and Physical Education classes (0.847), physical education teacher (0.349), break duration (0.564), and indoor sports court (0.662) were observed. Negative associations were seen with sex (-0.212) age (-0.387), extracurricular PA (-0.492), and playground (-0.557). Additionally, the centrality indicators highlighted extracurricular PA (1.789) as the variables with the highest betweenness values, and BMI with the highest closeness (2.239) and strength (1.230) values. Extracurricular PA and the presence of playgrounds in school´s environment are associated with healthier weight in low-income children.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a relação entre ambiente de atividade física (AF) nas escolas, sexo, idade e obesidade em crianças, usando uma abordagem de rede. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 1.200 crianças (8,1±1,0 anos) de oito escolas públicas do mesmo município. Peso e estatura foram avaliadas para cálculo do Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e classificadas como peso saudável ou sobrepeso. Para avaliar o ambiente de AF na escola, foi aplicado um questionário por meio de entrevista com o gestor da escola. A associação entre o ambiente de AF na escola e a obesidade foi testada por meio Análise de Redes realizada no software Jasp. Foram observadas associações positivas entre o IMC e as aulas de Educação Física (0,847), professor de educação física (0,349), duração do intervalo (0,564) e quadra poliesportiva (0,662). Associações negativas foram observadas com sexo (-0,212), idade (-0,387), AF extracurricular (-0,492) e playground (-0,557). Adicionalmente, os indicadores de centralidade destacaram a AF extracurricular (1,789) como a variável com o maior valor de intermediação, e o IMC com o maior valor de proximidade (2,239) e força (1,230). A AF extracurricular e a presença de playgrounds no ambiente escolar estão associadas a um peso mais saudável em crianças de baixa renda.

Association between the environment for physical activity in public schools and childhood obesity: a view in the light of complex systems.

This article aims to analyse the relationship between physical activity (PA) environment at schools, sex, age, and obesity in children, using a network approach. This is a cross-sectional study, with 1,200 children (8.1±1.0 years old) from eight public schools in the same municipality. Weight and height measurements were assessed to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) and classified as healthier weight or overweight. To assess the PA environment at school, a interview with the school´s manager was conducted. The association between the PA environment at school and obesity was tested using a Network Analysis performed on the Jasp software. Positive associations between BMI and Physical Education classes (0.847), physical education teacher (0.349), break duration (0.564), and indoor sports court (0.662) were observed. Negative associations were seen with sex (-0.212) age (-0.387), extracurricular PA (-0.492), and playground (-0.557). Additionally, the centrality indicators highlighted extracurricular PA (1.789) as the variables with the highest betweenness values, and BMI with the highest closeness (2.239) and strength (1.230) values. Extracurricular PA and the presence of playgrounds in school´s environment are associated with healthier weight in low-income children.

Water Stress Influences Phytoestrogen Levels in Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) but Not Kura Clover (T. ambiguum).

Some forage legumes synthesize phytoestrogens. We conducted a glasshouse study to investigate how water stress (drought and waterlogging) influences phytoestrogen accumulation in red clover and kura clover. Compared to the red clover control, the 20 day drought resulted in an over 100% increase in the phytoestrogens formononetin and biochanin A, which together accounted for 91-96% of the total phytoestrogens measured. Waterlogging resulted in elevated concentrations of daidzein, genistein, and prunetin but not formononetin or biochanin A. Concentrations of phytoestrogens in kura clover were low or undetectable, regardless of water stress treatment. Leaf water potential was the most explanatory single-predictor of the variation in concentrations of formononetin, biochanin A, and total phytoestrogens in red clover. These results suggest that drought-stressed red clover may have higher potential to lead to estrogenic effects in ruminant livestock and that kura clover is a promising alternative low- or no-phytoestrogen perennial forage legume.

Biophysical characterization of the tennis serve: A systematic scoping review with evidence gap map.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the available evidence on the biophysics of the tennis serve, mapping the populations, interventions, contexts and other relevant information to highlight what is already known and to identify gaps in the literature. DESIGN: Systematic scoping review with evidence gap map. METHODS: The protocol was designed according to PRISMA 2020, Prisma-ScR guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook. The searches were conducted on July 20, 2022 and updated on April 1, 2023, in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (core collection). The risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochranes method for nonrandomized studies (RoBANS) and a narrative synthesis of the main findings was performed and supplemented with an evidence gap map. RESULTS: Most trials were found on serve kinematics and kinetics (95 %), analyzing only flat serves (84 and 72 %, respectively). Few trials focused on physiology (20 %; e.g. biomarkers), under-19, left or both-handed, female and intermediate beginner or starter players (29, 17, 8 and 7 %, respectively). We found a preponderance of low and unclear risk of bias (63 and 31 %, respectively) and only 7 % high, particularly, on the assessment of confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: The current scoping review reveals a few trials on physiological rather than biomechanical variables, as well as the absence of the kick and slice serve, foot-back and foot-up serve, and left-handed, female, and young player analyses. We did not find systematic mistakes or limitations in the design, conduct, or analysis that would distort the results, since only 7 % presented a high risk of bias.

Effect of low-glucosinolate crambe meal in diet on lactational performance, efficiency of nutrient utilization, and hepatic function of crossbred Holstein × Zebu and Jersey cows.

Crambe meal (CM) is a potential dietary protein source for ruminant, but its effects in diets for lactating dairy cows remains unknown. We evaluated the effects of inclusion of the low-glucosinolates (GIs) CM (450 mg GIs/kg DM) in partial total mixed ration (pTMR) on performance, efficiency of nutrient utilization, and hepatic function of crossbred Holstein × Zebu and Jersey cows. Eight crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows and four Jersey cows were blocked by breed and days in milk, and randomly assigned in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design, and distributed in one of four isonitrogenous TMRs (130 g CP/kg DM): 0, 45, 90, and 135 g CM/kg DM pTMR. Crambe meal was included in pTMR replacing soybean meal (SBM) and ground corn grain (GCG). The pTMRs were offered ad libitum between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Cows were kept on pasture of Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça (90.4 g CP/kg DM) between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Pasture intake was measured from external and internal fecal excretion marker. Inclusion of CM did not affect (P ≤ 0.05) the DM intakes of pTMR and pasture, apparent total-tract digestibilities of organic matter, CP and NDF, ruminal outflow microbial protein, milk yield, milk composition, urinary N excretion, milk N efficiency, and level of plasm hepatic enzymes. The effects of CM inclusion in pTMR were independent of breed. Low-glucosinolates CM can be incorporated up to 135 g/kg DM in pTMR in replacement of SBM and GCG without affecting performance, efficiency of nutrient utilization, and hepatic function of crossbred Holstein × Zebu and Jersey cows.

Maine organic dairy producers' receptiveness to seaweed supplementation and effect of Chondrus crispus on enteric methane emissions in lactating cows.

Introduction: There is a growing interest in utilizing seaweed in ruminant diets for mitigating enteric methane (CH4) emissions while improving animal health. Chondrus crispus is a red seaweed that grows in the Gulf of Maine (United States) and has shown to suppress CH4 production in vitro. Organic dairy producers in Maine are currently feeding seaweed due to herd health promoting benefits. However, large-scale adoption depends on technical and financial factors, as well as validation from pilot studies. Methods: A survey was developed to identify barriers and drivers towards the adoption of CH4-reducing algal-based feeds. Concurrently, a randomized complete block design study was conducted to investigate the effect of C. crispus on enteric CH4 emissions and milk production in a typical Maine organic dairy farm. Twenty-two organically certified Holstein and Jersey cows averaging 29 ± 6.8 kg of milk/d and 150 ± 69 days in milk, were blocked and randomly assigned to a control diet without C. crispus (0CC), or with 6% [dry matter (DM) basis] C. crispus (6CC). Samples were collected on the last week of the 2-wk covariate period, and wk 3, 5, 8, and 10 after initiation of treatments for a total of 12 weeks. Gaseous emissions were measured using a GreenFeed unit. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with repeated measures over time. Results: All survey respondents (n = 35; 54% response rate) were familiar with seaweeds as feed, and 34% were already users. Producers who were willing to pay 0.64 USD/cow/d on average for a CH4-reducing algal-based feed, also stated the need for co-benefits in terms of cattle health and performance as a requirement for adoption. Feeding 6CC decreased enteric CH4 production by 13.9% compared with 0CC (401 vs. 466 g/d). Further, milk yield (mean = 27.1 kg/d), CH4 intensity (mean = 15.2 g of CH4/kg of energy corrected milk), and concentrations and yields of milk fat and true protein were not affected by treatments. Discussion: Producer receptiveness to CH4-reducing algal-based feeds will not only be dependent on purchase price, but also on co-benefits and simplicity of integration into existing feed practices. Feeding C. crispus at 6% of the diet DM decreased CH4 production in dairy cows by 13.9% without negative effects on milk yield and composition. Identifying the bioactive compounds in C. crispus is critical to understand the effect of this red seaweed on mitigating enteric CH4 emissions in dairy cows.

Enteric methane emissions in grazing dairy systems.

Approximately 80% of agricultural CH4 comes from livestock systems, with 90% of that derived from enteric CH4 production by ruminants. Grazing systems are used worldwide to feed dairy cattle. Although quantifying enteric CH4 emissions in grazing systems has unique challenges, emerging technologies have made gaseous data collection more feasible and less laborious. Nevertheless, robust data sets on enteric CH4 emissions under various grazing conditions, as well as effective and economic strategies to mitigate CH4 emissions in grazing dairy cows, are still in high demand because data collection, feeding management, and milk market regulations (e.g., organic certification, grassfed) impose more challenges to grazing than confinement dairy systems. This review will cover management strategies to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions and applicability to pastoral dairy systems. The effects of enteric CH4 in the broader context of whole-system assessments will be discussed, which are key to assess the overall environmental impact of grazing dairies.

Feeding incremental amounts of ground flaxseed: effects on diversity and relative abundance of ruminal microbiota and enteric methane emissions in lactating dairy cows.

We evaluated the effects of incremental amounts of ground flaxseed (GFX) on diversity and relative abundance of ruminal microbiota taxa, enteric methane (CH4) emissions, and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) in lactating dairy cows in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Twenty mid-lactation Jersey cows were used in the study. Of these 20 cows, 12 were used for ruminal sampling, 16 for enteric CH4 measurements, and all for spot urine collection. Each period lasted 21 d with 14 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for data and sample collection. Diets were formulated by replacing corn meal and soybean meal with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of GFX in the diet's dry matter. Ruminal fluid samples obtained via stomach tubing were used for DNA extraction. Enteric CH4 production was measured using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique. Diets had no effect on ruminal microbiota diversity. Similarly, the relative abundance of ruminal archaea genera was not affected by diets. In contrast, GFX decreased or increased linearly the relative abundance of Firmicutes (P < 0.01) and Bacteroidetes (P < 0.01), respectively. The relative abundance of the ruminal bacteria Ruminococcus (P < 0.01) and Clostridium (P < 0.01) decreased linearly, and that of Prevotella (P < 0.01) and Pseudobutyrivibrio (P < 0.01) increased linearly with feeding GFX. A tendency for a linear reduction (P = 0.055) in enteric CH4 production (from 304 to 256 g/d) was observed in cows fed increasing amounts of GFX. However, neither CH4 yield nor CH4 intensity was affected by treatments. Diets had no effect on the urinary excretion of uric acid, allantoin, and total PD. Overall, feeding GFX decreased linearly the relative abundance of the ruminal bacterial genera Ruminococcus and Clostridium and enteric CH4 production, but no change was seen for CH4 yield and CH4 intensity, or urinary excretion of total PD, suggesting no detrimental effect of GFX on microbial protein synthesis in the rumen.

Association between the physical activity environment in schools and childhood obesity: a view under the light of complex systems

Objective: to analyse the relationship between physical activity (PA) environment at schools and obesity in children, the light of complex systems. Methods: this is a cross sectional study involved 1.200 children (8.1 ± 1.0 years old and 50% boys) from eight public schools from socially vulnerable neighbourhoods of Petrolina, Brazil. Weight and height measurements were assessed to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) and classified as normal weight and overweight. To assess the PA environment at the school, a questionnaire about the structural and organizational environment of the school was applied through a face-to-face interview with the school´s manager was conducted. The association between the PA environment at school and obesity was tested using a Machine Learning technique (Network Analysis) performed on the Jasp software. Results: positive associations between BMI and Physical Education classes (0.847), physical education teacher (0.349), break duration (0.564) and indoor sports court (0.662) were observed. Negative associations were seen with sex (-0.212) age (- 0.387), extracurricular PA (-0.492) and playground (-0.557). Additionally, the centrality indicators highlighted extracurricular PA (1.789) as the variables with the highest betweenness values, and BMI with the highest closeness (2.239) and strength (1.230) values. Conclusion: Extracurricular PA and the presence of playgrounds at school´s environment are associated with a healthier weight status low-income children.

Shoulder Torque Production and Muscular Balance after Long and Short Tennis Points.

Tennis is an asymmetric sport characterized by a systematic repetition of specific movements that may cause disturbances in muscular strength, power, and torque. Thus, we assessed (i) the torque, power, ratio production, and bilateral asymmetries in the shoulder's external and internal rotations at 90 and 180°/s angular velocities, and (ii) the point duration influence of the above-mentioned variables. Twenty competitive tennis players performed external and internal shoulder rotations; an isokinetic evaluation was conducted of the dominant and non-dominant upper limbs before and after five and ten forehands. A higher torque production in the shoulder's internal rotations at 90 and 180°/s was observed for the dominant vs. non-dominant sides (e.g., 63.1 ± 15.6 vs. 45.9 ± 9.8% and 62.5 ± 17.3 vs. 44.0 ± 12.6% of peak torque/body mass, p < 0.05). The peak torque decreased only after ten forehands (38.3 ± 15.8 vs. 38.2 ± 15.8 and 39.3 ± 16.1 vs. 38.1 ± 15.6 Nm, respectively, p < 0.05), but without impacting speed or accuracy. Unilateral systematic actions of tennis players caused contralateral asymmetries, evidencing the importance of implementing compensatory training. The forehand kinematic assessment suggests that racket and wrist amplitude, as well as speed, are important success determinants in tennis.

Feeding Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate to Lactating Dairy Goats: Milk Quality and Ruminal Fermentation Responses.

We aimed to investigate the effects of calcium-ammonium nitrate (CAN) fed to lactating dairy goats on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility of nutrients, milk properties (composition, antioxidant capacity, fatty acid profile, and nitrate residues), and ruminal fermentation parameters. Twelve lactating Saanen goats averaging 98.5 ± 13.1 days in milk, 53.5 ± 3.3 kg of body weight, and 2.53 ± 0.34 kg of milk/day were randomly assigned in four 3 × 3 Latin squares to receive the following diets: a control group (without CAN) with 7.3 g/kg DM of urea (URE), 10 g/kg DM of CAN (CAN10), and 20 g/kg DM of CAN (CAN20). Each period lasted 21 days, with 14 days for diet adaptation and seven days for data and sample collection. The DM intake, digestibility of nutrients, yields of milk, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, and energy-corrected milk were not affected by treatments. Similarly, there were no treatment effects on the yields and concentrations of milk fat, true protein, and lactose, along with minor effects on milk fatty acid profile. Total antioxidant capacity in milk was unaffected by treatments; however, concentration of conjugated dienes increased, while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in milk decreased linearly. Nitrate and nitrite residues in milk were elevated by treatments, while the total of volatile fatty acids and ammonia-N concentration in the rumen were unaffected. Collectively, feeding CAN (up to 20 g/kg of DM) to lactating dairy goats did not affect feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk composition; however, it may increase milk lipid oxidation, as evidenced by increased conjugated diene concentration.

Production performance, nutrient use efficiency, and predicted enteric methane emissions in dairy cows under confinement or grazing management system.

There has been an intense debate regarding the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of confinement versus grazing dairy systems. Our goal was to conduct a meta-analysis to compare dry matter intake, milk yield and composition, nutrient use efficiency (i.e., feed efficiency, milk N efficiency), and predicted enteric CH4 emissions using studies that simultaneously evaluated confinement and grazing. We were able to include in the meta-analysis 8 peer-reviewed articles that met the following selection criteria: (1) publication between 1991 and 2021 in English language, (2) report either SEM or SD, (3) inclusion of at least 1 confinement [total mixed ration or fresh cut herbage fed indoors (i.e., zero-grazing)] and 1 grazing treatment in the same study, and (4) use of markers (internal or external) to estimate herbage dry matter intake. Two unpublished experiments were added to the data set resulting in a total of 10 studies for comparing confinement and grazing. The magnitude of the effect (i.e., effect size) was evaluated using weighted raw mean differences between grazing and confinement systems for a random effect model. Enteric CH4 production was predicted as follows: CH4 (g/d) = 33.2 (13.54) + 13.6 (0.33) × dry matter intake + 2.43 (0.245) × neutral detergent fiber. Dry matter intake (-9.5%), milk yield (-9.3%), milk fat yield (-5.8%), milk protein yield (-10%), and energy-corrected milk (-12%) all decreased in grazing versus confined dairy cows. In contrast, concentration of milk fat and feed efficiency (energy-corrected milk/dry matter intake) were not affected by management system. Whereas milk protein concentration increased, milk nitrogen (N) efficiency (milk N/N intake) tended to decrease in grazing compared with confinement. Predicted enteric CH4 production was 6.1% lower in grazing than confined dairy cows. However, CH4 yield (g/kg of dry matter intake) and CH4 intensity (g/kg of energy-corrected milk) did not change between confinement and grazing. In conclusion, while production performance decreased in grazing dairy cows, nutrient use efficiency and predicted enteric CH4 emissions were relatively similar in both management systems. Results of our meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies that met our inclusion criteria leading to a limited number of treatment mean comparisons.

Propositure of maximum permissible limits for environmental assessment and classification of materials stabilized by solidification incorporated with oil waste.

In the present work, oil sludge was subjected to the process of stabilization by solidification, the objective was to indicate maximum permissible limits of chemical demand for oxygen and oils and greases to evaluate the resulting material. A factorial design was used with the addition of three repetitions at the central point, to evaluate the performance of different percentage of residue and different curing times. The factors adopted were the percentage of oil sludge and the curing time. This material was evaluated using contaminants immobilization tests. From the leached and solubilized liquid, the concentration of the contaminants was determined and the environmental assessment was also carried out through the analysis of chemical demand for oxygen and oils and greases. One of the contributions of this work was to propose the maximum allowable limit for chemical oxygen demand, which is 1,000 (one thousand) milligrams per litre and, for oil and grease content, 100 (one hundred) milligrams per litre, both for the leaching test. For the solubilization test, 10 (ten) milligrams per litre were proposed for chemical oxygen demand and 1 (one) milligrams per litre for the oil and grease content. It was observed that the best results are obtained, when lower values of percentage of oil sludge were used and longer cure time. This work allows to affirm that the proposal of limits of environmental evaluation contributes to assure an adequate disposition and use of the cement matrix, that is the final product of the oily residue stabilized by solidification.

Effects of cutting time and maceration on preference and nitrogen balance in beef steers fed mixed birdsfoot trefoil-timothy grass hay cut at sunrise or sundown.

Forages cut at sundown usually contain a greater concentration of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) than those cut at sunrise. Maceration can speed up the rate of moisture loss of cut forage during field drying and reduce NSC utilization by plant cells. We aimed to evaluate the effects of cutting time and forage maceration on feed preference, apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, and N balance in growing steers. A mixed sward of birdsfoot trefoil and timothy grass was divided into two halves, with the first half cut at sundown (1800 h) after a sunny day and the second half at sunrise (0600 h) the next day. Approximately 50% of the sundown- and sunrise-cut herbage were macerated. Forages were harvested as hay resulting in four treatments: 1) sunrise-cut hay (AM); 2) AM plus maceration (AM-M); 3) sundown-cut hay (PM); and 4) PM plus maceration (PM-M). Hays were offered as the sole feed source to four crossbred steers (296.1 ± 7.25 kg) according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Each period lasted 21 d with 14 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for collection. Hays cut at sundown had 15% greater NSC than those cut at sunrise. A cutting time by maceration interaction was found (P < 0.05) for intake and apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), indicating that these two variables decreased more when maceration was applied to sundown- versus sunrise-cut hays. Similarly, interaction effects were observed (P < 0.05) for total digestible nutrients and digestible energy, showing that maceration decreased the energetic value of sundown-cut hays but did not change that of sunrise-cut hays. Steers fed hays cut at sundown had decreased urinary N excretion and improved retained N (P < 0.05), whereas N retention was reduced by maceration (P < 0.05). In addition, six crossbred steers were used to assess feed preference, 2 wk before (period 1) and 1 wk after (period 2) the digestibility trial. Animals were randomly assigned to receive a sequence of the four hays combined in pairs. The intake rate was greater for sundown- than sunrise-cut hays, and it was decreased by maceration. Steers showed the greatest preference for PM hay, while AM-M was the most rejected. In conclusion, shifting forage cutting from sunrise to sundown increased hay NSC concentration, which resulted in improved N utilization and preference. Forage maceration during field drying decreased CP concentration and N retention in beef steers under the conditions of our study.

Sarcoidose como diagnóstico diferencial de mieloma múltiplo / Sarcoidosis as a differential diagnosis of multiple myeloma

A sarcoidose caracteriza-se como doença granulomatosa que acomete diferentes órgãos humanos, especialmente os pulmões, sendo sua patogênese pouco conhecida. No caso em questão, a paciente iniciou com sintomas inespecíficos, como fraqueza, perda ponderal e tosse seca esporádica, sendo internada para extensão da propedêutica. Sugeriu-se como hipótese diagnóstica inicial possível quadro de mieloma múltiplo, tendo em vista a anemia, a disfunção renal, a hipercalcemia e, sobretudo, as lesões osteolíticas apresentadas pela paciente. Todavia, o diagnóstico de sarcoidose foi selado a partir das biópsias de medula óssea e de linfonodo inguinal, que evidenciaram mielite e linfadenite granulomatosas, respectivamente. A terapêutica instituída baseou-se na administração de corticosteroides e em medidas de redução da calcemia. A paciente recebeu alta, com melhora do quadro clínico, para acompanhamento ambulatorial da doença. Conclui-se que a sarcoidose não possui tratamento curativo, mas a terapêutica imunossupressora é eficaz no controle da progressão da enfermidade, fazendo com que o paciente tenha um prognóstico favorável.

Sarcoidosis is characterized as a granulomatous disease that affects different human organs, especially the lungs, and its pathogenesis is little known. In this case, the patient started with nonspecific symptoms, such as weakness, weight loss, and sporadic dry cough, being hospitalized for extension of the propaedeutics. The initial diagnostic hypothesis suggested was a possible case of multiple myeloma, based on the anemia, renal dysfunction, hypercalcemia and, above all, the osteolytic lesions presented by the patient. However, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made after bone marrow and inguinal lymph node biopsies that showed granulomatous myelitis and lymphadenitis, respectively. The therapy instituted was based on the administration of corticosteroids and on measures to reduce the level of calcium. The patient was discharged, with clinical improvement, for outpatient follow-up of the disease. It is concluded that sarcoidosis has no curative treatment, but immunosuppressive therapy is effective in controlling the progression of the disease, giving the patient a favorable prognosis.

A Review of Lignan Metabolism, Milk Enterolactone Concentration, and Antioxidant Status of Dairy Cows Fed Flaxseed.

Lignans are polyphenolic compounds with a wide spectrum of biological functions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities, therefore, there is an increasing interest in promoting the inclusion of lignan-rich foods in humans' diets. Flaxseed is the richest source of the lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside-a compound found in the outer fibrous-containing layers of flax. The rumen appears to be the major site for the conversion of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside to the enterolignans enterodiol and enterolactone, but only enterolactone has been detected in milk of dairy cows fed flaxseed products (whole seeds, hulls, meal). However, there is limited information regarding the ruminal microbiota species involved in the metabolism of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside. Likewise, little is known about how dietary manipulation such as varying the nonstructural carbohydrate profile of rations affects milk enterolactone in dairy cows. Our review covers the gastrointestinal tract metabolism of lignans in humans and animals and presents an in-depth assessment of research that have investigated the impacts of flaxseed products on milk enterolactone concentration and animal health. It also addresses the pharmacokinetics of enterolactone consumed through milk, which may have implications to ruminants and humans' health.

Prediction of enteric methane production, yield, and intensity in dairy cattle using an intercontinental database.

Enteric methane (CH4 ) production from cattle contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. Measurement of enteric CH4 is complex, expensive, and impractical at large scales; therefore, models are commonly used to predict CH4 production. However, building robust prediction models requires extensive data from animals under different management systems worldwide. The objectives of this study were to (1) collate a global database of enteric CH4 production from individual lactating dairy cattle; (2) determine the availability of key variables for predicting enteric CH4 production (g/day per cow), yield [g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)], and intensity (g/kg energy corrected milk) and their respective relationships; (3) develop intercontinental and regional models and cross-validate their performance; and (4) assess the trade-off between availability of on-farm inputs and CH4 prediction accuracy. The intercontinental database covered Europe (EU), the United States (US), and Australia (AU). A sequential approach was taken by incrementally adding key variables to develop models with increasing complexity. Methane emissions were predicted by fitting linear mixed models. Within model categories, an intercontinental model with the most available independent variables performed best with root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) as a percentage of mean observed value of 16.6%, 14.7%, and 19.8% for intercontinental, EU, and United States regions, respectively. Less complex models requiring only DMI had predictive ability comparable to complex models. Enteric CH4 production, yield, and intensity prediction models developed on an intercontinental basis had similar performance across regions, however, intercepts and slopes were different with implications for prediction. Revised CH4 emission conversion factors for specific regions are required to improve CH4 production estimates in national inventories. In conclusion, information on DMI is required for good prediction, and other factors such as dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration, improve the prediction. For enteric CH4 yield and intensity prediction, information on milk yield and composition is required for better estimation.

Loss on drying, calcium concentration and pH of fluoride dentifrices.

INTRODUCTION: Fluoride dentifrices containing calcium carbonate have advantages such as control of dental plaque and progression of dental caries, also contributing to oral hygiene, represent most dentifrices marketed in Brazil. AIM: To evaluate the physicochemical properties of seven fluoride dentifrices containing calcium carbonate in relation to hydrogen potential (pH), loss on drying and calcium concentration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data collection was performed using the potentiometric method for pH ranges, gravimetric analysis for loss on drying and atomic absorption spectrometry for the concentration of calcium ions. All tests were performed in triplicate and the analysis was performed entirely at random according to one-way analysis of variance at 5% significance level. RESULTS: The pH values were alkaline and ranged from 8.67 (Oral-B 123(®)) to 10.03 (Colgate Máxima Proteção Anticáries(®)). The results of loss on drying ranged from 33.81% (Oral-B 123(®)) to 61.13% (Close Up(®)), with significant differences between brands tested. In relation to the calcium content, the highest and lowest concentrations were found in dentifrices Even(®) (155.55 g/kg) and Colgate Ultra Branco(®) (129 g/kg), respectively, with significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Fluoride dentifrices analyzed showed alkaline pH and high levels of loss on drying and calcium concentration. However, these physicochemical characteristics differed according to the different brands tested.