Modulation of innate immune response by the vagus nerve in experimental hepatic amebiasis in rats.

The parasympathetic nervous system has a crucial role in immunomodulation of the vagus nerve, its structure provides a pathogen detection system, and a negative feedback to the immune system after the pathogenic agent has been eliminated. Amebiasis is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, considered the third leading cause of death in the world. The rats are used as a natural resistance model to amoebic liver infection. The aim of this study is to analyze the interaction of Entamoeba histolytica with neutrophils, macrophages, and NK cells in livers of intact and vagotomized rats. Six groups were studied (n = 4): Intact (I), Intact + amoeba (IA), Sham (S), Sham + amoeba (SA), Vagotomized (V) and Vagotomized + amoeba (VA). Animals were sacrificed at 8 h post-inoculation of E. histolytica. Then, livers were obtained and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. Tissue liver slides were stained with H-E, PAS and Masson. The best development time for E. histolytica infection was at 8 h. Amoeba was identified with a monoclonal anti-220 kDa E. histolytica lectin. Neutrophils (N) were identified with rabbit anti-human neutrophil myeloperoxidase, macrophages (Mɸ) with anti-CD68 antibody and NK cells (NK) with anti-NK. Stomachs weight and liver glycogen were higher in V. Collagen increased in VA, whereas vascular and neutrophilic areas were decreased. There were fewer N, Mɸ, NK around the amoeba in the following order IA > SA > VA (p < 0.05 between IA and VA). In conclusion, these results suggest that the absence of parasympathetic innervation affects the participation of neutrophils, macrophages and NK cells in the innate immune response, apparently by parasympathetic inhibition on the cellular functions and probably for participation in sympathetic activity.

[Assessing the profile and nutritional intake of an Ibero-American group of nutrition postgraduate students]. / Valoración del perfil e ingesta de nutrientes de un grupo de estudiantes iberoamericanos de postgrados en nutrición.

INTRODUCTION: Dietary habits have a great influence on people health of, and its study is extremely important to proof adaptation to current recommendations in order to develop nutritional education and/or supplementation policies adjusted to reality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive cross study with the participation of postgraduate students. Participants were selected using non-probability accidental sampling accidental. Information was sent by e-mail, including a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics and a 3-day dietary record. We obtained a sample of n = 50 participants. The 3-day dietary records were evaluated with NutrIber software and the data obtained were treated using the statistical software SPSS 15. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The profile of the students was 80% females and 20% males, mean age 33.7 ± 9.32 years, and body mass index of 22.91 ± 4.07. All groups have an excessive consumption of proteins and lipids and carbohydrates deficit. At the macro-story is remarkable that no group covers iodine recommended nutrient intake, and that no group of women covers the recommendations for fiber, folic acid and iron intake. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to confirm the results found. However, it can be concluded that urban populations in Latin America are increasingly closer to the model of Western diet, rich in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates, fiber and micronutrients, which is indicative of poor diets in whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Introducción: Los hábitos alimentarios tienen una gran influencia sobre la salud de las personas, por ello es de suma importancia profundizar en su estudio para comprobar su adaptación a las recomendaciones actuales y poder realizar políticas de educación nutricional y/o suplementación ajustadas a la realidad. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo con la colaboración de estudiantes de postgrado. Los participantes se seleccionaron mediante muestreo no probabilístico accidental enviando vía mail la información del estudio, realizado mediante un cuestionario sobre sus características socio-demográficas y un registro dietético de 3 días. La muestra estuvo formada por n = 50 participantes. Los registros dietéticos de 3 días se valoraron con el software NutrIber y los datos obtenidos fueron tratados mediante el software estadístico SPSS 15. Resultados y discusión: El perfil de los estudiantes es de 80% mujeres y 20% hombres, con edad media de 33,7 ± 9,32 AÑOs, e índice de masa corporal de 22,91 ± 4,07. Todos los grupos presentan un consumo excesivo de proteínas y lípidos y deficitario en glúcidos. En cuanto a los micronutrientes es destacable que ningún grupo cubre las ingestas recomendadas de yodo, y que ningún grupo de mujeres cubre las recomendaciones de ingesta de fibra, ácido fólico ni hierro. Conclusiones: Son necesarios más estudios para confirmar los resultados hallado, sin embargo, se puede concluir que las poblaciones urbanas de Latinoamérica cada vez se acercan más al modelo de dieta occidental, rica en proteínas y grasas y pobre en glúcidos, fibra y micronutrientes, lo que es indicativo de dietas pobres en cereales integrales, frutas y verduras.

Nuevos recursos naturales como complemento de la dieta de caprinos durante la época seca, en el Valle de Tehuacán, México / New natural resources as diet supplement for domestic goats during the dry season, in the Tehuacán Valley, Mexico / Novos recursos naturais como complemento da dieta de caprinos durante a época seca, no Vale de Tehuacán, México

La ganadería caprina es una de las actividades más importantes para la subsistencia campesina en el Valle de Tehuacán, México Aquí, como en otras tantas zonas semiáridas del trópico, esta práctica enfrenta una marcada limitación debido a la escasez de forraje durante la época de sequía. Para evaluar las características nutricionales de la dieta del ganado caprino durante dicha época, se determinaron los principales componentes de la misma y sus características. Por otro lado, se evaluaron diferentes recursos vegetales de la zona, determinando sus propiedades bromatológicas con el objetivo de analizar su uso potencial como complemento alimenticio. Durante la época de sequía se observó una marcada limitación de forraje que obliga al ganado a consumir plantas con bajo contenido nutricional y alto contenido en metabolitos secundarios, produciendo una pérdida importante de peso. En conjunto, la dieta durante la época de sequía es deficitaria en proteína y fósforo. Los resultados indican que especies de Opuntia, Agave salmiana, los frutos de Yucca periculosa y las vainas de Prosopis laevigata y Acacia subangulata tienen un alto potencial para ser usadas, combinadas con el tradicional rastrojo de maíz, como complemento alimenticio. Estas nuevas fuentes de alimento posibilitan la estabulación o semi-estabulación del ganado durante la época de secas, como una alternativa de manejo. Ello reduciría la pérdida de energía en busca de recursos alimenticios, mejorando la productividad y disminuyendo el impacto sobre una de las vegetaciones más biodiversas de Norteamérica.

The extensive herding of goats has become the most important productive activity of subsistence for farmers at the Tehuacan Valley, Mexico. However, as in other semiarid tropical areas, the productivity of goat ranches is very low because of a very adverse period during the dry season. In order to determine the nutritional characteristics of the goats’ diet during this season, the diet was examined and the chemical characteristics of the principal species that are consumed was analyzed. On the other hand, different plant resources in the area, which can potentially be used as food supplementation, were analyzed determining their nutritional properties. A marked limitation of fodder during the dry season was found, which forces goats to eat plants with low nutritional characteristics and high content of secondary metabolites, provoking significant weight loss. Overall, grazing diet is deficient in protein and phosphorus during the dry season. The results indicate that species of Opuntia, Agave salmiana, the fruits of Yucca periculosa, and pods of Prosopis laevigata and Acacia subangulata present a high potential for use as food supplements, combined with the traditional corn stubble,. These new sources of nutrients make possible the enclosure of goats during the dry period, avoiding the high use of energy for food search, improving goat production and reducing goat impact on one of the most biodiverse area of vegetation North America.

A criação de gado caprino é uma das atividades mais importantes para a subsistência camponesa no Vale de Tehuacán, México. Aqui, como em outras tantas zonas semi-áridas do trópico, esta prática enfrenta uma marcada limitação devido à escassez de forragem durante a época de seca. Para avaliar as características nutricionais da dieta do gado caprino durante dita época, se determinaram os principais componentes da mesma e suas características. Por outro lado, se avaliaram diferentes recursos vegetais da zona, determinando suas propriedades bromatológicas com o objetivo de analisar seu uso potencial como complemento alimentício. Durante a época de seca se observou uma marcada limitação de forragem que obriga ao gado a consumir plantas com baixo conteúdo nutricional e alto conteúdo em metabólitos secundários, produzindo uma perda importante de peso. Em conjunto, a dieta durante a época de seca é deficitária em proteína e fósforo. Os resultados indicam que espécies de Opuntia, Agave salmiana, os frutos de Yucca periculosa e as vagens de Prosopis laevigata e Acacia subangulata têm um alto potencial para o uso combinado com o tradicional resíduo cultural do milho, como complemento alimentício. Estas novas fontes de alimento possibilitam a estabulação ou semi-estabulação do gado durante a época de secas, como uma alternativa de manejo. Isto reduziria a perda de energia em busca de recursos alimentícios, melhorando a produtividade e diminuindo o impacto sobre uma das vegetações mais biodiversas de Norte América.