Effects of gamma radiation on raspberries: safety and quality issues.

There is an ever-increasing global demand from consumers for high-quality foods with major emphasis placed on quality and safety attributes. One of the main demands that consumers display is for minimally processed, high-nutrition/low-energy natural foods with no or minimal chemical preservatives. The nutritional value of raspberry fruit is widely recognized. In particular, red raspberries are known to demonstrate a strong antioxidant capacity that might prove beneficial to human health by preventing free radical-induced oxidative stress. However, food products that are consumed raw, are increasingly being recognized as important vehicles for transmission of human pathogens. Food irradiation is one of the few technologies that address both food quality and safety by virtue of its ability to control spoilage and foodborne pathogenic microorganisms without significantly affecting sensory or other organoleptic attributes of the food. Food irradiation is well established as a physical, nonthermal treatment (cold pasteurization) that processes foods at or nearly at ambient temperature in the final packaging, reducing the possibility of cross contamination until the food is actually used by the consumer. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of gamma radiation on raspberries in order to assess consequences of irradiation. Freshly packed raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) were irradiated in a (60)Co source at several doses (0.5, 1, or 1.5 kGy). Bioburden, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, physicochemical properties such as texture, color, pH, soluble solids content, and acidity, and sensorial parameters were assessed before and after irradiation and during storage time up to 14 d at 4°C. Characterization of raspberries microbiota showed an average bioburden value of 10(4) colony-forming units (CFU)/g and a diverse microbial population predominantly composed of two morphological types (gram-negative, oxidase-negative rods, 35%, and filamentous fungi, 41%). The inactivation studies on the raspberries mesophilic population indicated a one log reduction of microbial load (95% inactivation efficiency for 1.5 kGy), in the surviving population mainly constituted by filamentous fungi (79-98%). The total phenolic content of raspberries indicated an increase with radiation doses and a decrease with storage time. The same trend was found for raspberries' antioxidant capacity with storage time. Regarding raspberries physicochemical properties, irradiation induced a significant decrease in firmness compared with nonirradiated fruit. However, nonirradiated and irradiated fruit presented similar physicochemical and sensory properties during storage time. Further studies are needed to elucidate the benefits of irradiation as a raspberries treatment process.

Análise do padrão eletromiográfico durante os agachamentos padrão e declinado / Analysis of electromyographic patterns during standard and declined squats

OBJETIVO: Identificar e comparar o padrão eletromiográfico (EMG) dos principais músculos do membro inferior com apoio bilateral durante o agachamento padrão e declinado. MÉTODOS: Foram recrutados oito sujeitos (três homens e cinco mulheres), todos destros, atletas de final de semana e saudáveis (médias: 20,57 anos; 69,5±15kg; 1,73±0,15m). Foram registrados os sinais eletromiográficos dos músculos vasto medial oblíquo (VMO), vasto lateral (VL), bíceps femoral (BF), sóleo (SO), tibial anterior (TA) e eretor espinhal (EE) durante a fase ascendente (70º-0º) e descendente (0º-70º) dos agachamentos padrão (plano horizontal) e declinado (a 25º). A integral da atividade EMG de cada músculo foi calculada no intervalo de 300 milisegundos (ms) antes do início e do final do movimento. A média de cada músculo para cada sujeito foi analisada pelo teste de análise de variância para medidas repetidas (ANOVA) para verificar o efeito da tarefa de agachar. RESULTADOS:A análise qualitativa revelou que o padrão de atividade muscular durante os agachamentos padrão e declinado foram similares, e a análise quantitativa não revelou diferenças na atividade EMG. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados demonstram que a atividade EMG dos músculos estudados foi similar entre as tarefas propostas.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and compare the electromyographic (EMG) pattern of the main muscles of the lower limbs with bilateral support during standard and declined squats. METHODS:Eight healthy subjects were recruited (three men and five women), all right-handed and weekend athletes (means: 20.57 years; 69.5±15kg; 1.73±0.15m). Electromyographic (EMG) signals from the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), soleus (SO), tibialis anterior (TA) and erector spinae (ES) muscles were recorded during the ascending (70º-0º) and descending (0º-70º) phases of the standard squat (horizontal plane) and declined squat (at 25º). The integral of the EMG activity for each muscle was calculated over an interval between 300 ms before the start of the movement and its end. The mean for each muscle for each subject was analyzed using analysis of variance for repeated measurements (ANOVA) to investigate the effect of the squatting task. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis revealed that the muscle activity patterns during standard and declined squats were similar, and quantitative analysis did not reveal any differences in EMG activity. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the EMG activity of the muscles studied was similar in these tasks.

Effects of losartan combined with exercise training in spontaneously hypertensive rats

We investigate whether combined treatment with losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, and exercise training (ET) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) would have an additive effect in reducing hypertension and improving baroreflex sensitivity when compared with losartan alone. Male SHR (8 weeks old) were assigned to 3 groups: sedentary placebo (SP, N = 16), sedentary under losartan treatment (SL, N = 11; 10 mg kg-1 day-1, by gavage), and ET under losartan treatment (TL, N = 10). ET was performed on a treadmill 5 days/week for 60 min at 50 percent of peak VO2, for 18 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) was measured with a catheter inserted into the carotid artery, and cardiac output with a microprobe placed around the ascending aorta. The baroreflex control of heart rate was assessed by administering increasing doses of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside (iv). Losartan significantly reduced mean BP (178 ± 16 vs 132 ± 12 mmHg) and left ventricular hypertrophy (2.9 ± 0.4 vs 2.5 ± 0.2 mg/g), and significantly increased baroreflex bradycardia and tachycardia sensitivity (1.0 ± 0.3 vs 1.7 ± 0.5 and 2.0 ± 0.7 vs 3.2 ± 1.7 bpm/mmHg, respectively) in SL compared with SP. However, losartan combined with ET had no additional effect on BP, baroreflex sensitivity or left ventricular hypertrophy when compared with losartan alone. In conclusion, losartan attenuates hypertension and improves baroreflex sensitivity in SHR. However, ET has no synergistic effect on BP in established hypertension when combined with losartan, at least at the dosage used in this investigation.

Effects of losartan combined with exercise training in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We investigate whether combined treatment with losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, and exercise training (ET) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) would have an additive effect in reducing hypertension and improving baroreflex sensitivity when compared with losartan alone. Male SHR (8 weeks old) were assigned to 3 groups: sedentary placebo (SP, N = 16), sedentary under losartan treatment (SL, N = 11; 10 mg kg-1 day-1, by gavage), and ET under losartan treatment (TL, N = 10). ET was performed on a treadmill 5 days/week for 60 min at 50% of peak VO2, for 18 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) was measured with a catheter inserted into the carotid artery, and cardiac output with a microprobe placed around the ascending aorta. The baroreflex control of heart rate was assessed by administering increasing doses of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside (iv). Losartan significantly reduced mean BP (178 16 vs 132 12 mmHg) and left ventricular hypertrophy (2.9 0.4 vs 2.5 0.2 mg/g), and significantly increased baroreflex bradycardia and tachycardia sensitivity (1.0 0.3 vs 1.7 0.5 and 2.0 0.7 vs 3.2 1.7 bpm/mmHg, respectively) in SL compared with SP. However, losartan combined with ET had no additional effect on BP, baroreflex sensitivity or left ventricular hypertrophy when compared with losartan alone. In conclusion, losartan attenuates hypertension and improves baroreflex sensitivity in SHR. However, ET has no synergistic effect on BP in established hypertension when combined with losartan, at least at the dosage used in this investigation.

[Camouflage and transparency]. / Camuflagem e transparência.

This study establishes analogies between some universal symbols and death rituals developed in nursing, based on the comprehension of ELIADE. It shows the existent camouflage of these rituals in the nursing profession and points out to the need of eliciting (making transparent) these practices in order to enrich nursing practice, thus benefitting caretakers and patients.