Factor analysis as a tool to estimate association among individual proteins and other milk components with casein micelle size and cheese yield / Análise fatorial como ferramenta para estimar a associação entre proteínas individuais e outros componentes do leite com o tamanho das micelas de caseína e massa seca de queijo

The present study attempted to identify individual milk proteins and other milk components that are associated with casein micelle size (CMS) and dry matter cheese yield (DMCY) using factor analysis. Here, we used 140 bulk tank milk samples from different farms. Milk composition was determined using a Fourier transform infrared equipament. The individual milk proteins were (αS-casein, ß-casein, κ-casein, ß-lactoglobulin and α-lactoalbumin) measured by their electrophoretic profile. The CMS was estimated by photon correlation spectroscopy, and the DMCY was determined using reduced laboratory-scale cheese production. Factor analysis partitioned the milk components into three groups that, taken together, explain 68.3% of the total variance. The first factor was defined as "CMS", while the second as "DMCY" factor, based on their high loadings. The CMS was positively correlated with protein, casein, non-fat solids and αS-casein and negatively associated with κ-casein and ß-lactoglubulin. DMCY was positively correlated with fat, protein, casein, total solids and negatively correlated with αs-casein. These results indicate that the variation of individual milk proteins may be an important aspect correlated to milk quality and cheese production.(AU)

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a associação das frações proteicas individuais e de outros componentes do leite com o tamanho das micelas de caseína (TMC) e a produção de matéria seca de queijo (MSQ) utilizando-se análise fatorial. Foram coletadas 140 amostras de leite de tanque provenientes de diferentes fazendas. A determinação da composição do leite foi determinada por espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformação de Fourier. As proteínas individuais (αS-caseína, ß-caseína, κ-caseína, ß-lactoglobulina e α-lactalbumina) foram quantificadas pelo perfil eletroforético. O tamanho médio das micelas de caseína foi analisado pelo princípio de espectroscopia de correlação de fótons e pela produção MSQ a partir do modelo de coagulação do leite em escala reduzida. A análise fatorial delimitou as variáveis em três fatores, que, juntos, responderam por 68,3% da variação total dos dados. No primeiro fator foram observadas as associações mais fortes com o TMC, enquanto no segundo fator as correlações foram mais significativas com a MSQ. O TMC foi associado positivamente com o conteúdo de proteína, caseína, sólidos desengordurados e αS-caseína, e negativamente com κ-caseína e ß-lactoglubulina. MSQ foi associada positivamente com o teor gordura, proteína e caseína total, sólidos totais, e negativamente com o teor de αs-caseína. Esses resultados indicam que a variação quantitativa das proteínas do leite pode ser determinante da qualidade do leite na produção de queijo.(AU)

Uso de indicadores indigestíveis obtidos in situ e in vivo para determinar a digestibilidade de nutrientes em equinos / The use of indigestible markers obtained in situ and in vivo to determine digestibility of nutrients in equine

Objetivou-se estudar a viabilização dos indicadores internos, celulose (CELi) e lignina (LIGi) indigestíveis, obtidos pelas técnicas in situ e in vivo, para predizer a digestibilidade de nutrientes em equinos. Foram utilizados quatro cavalos castrados, por meio de delineamento em blocos ao acaso. Os tratamentos consistiram de metodologias de avaliação de digestibilidade, como a coleta total de fezes (CT) e o uso de indicadores internos, CELi e LIGi, obtidos pelas técnicas in situ (IS) na cavidade ruminal de bovinos e in vivo (IV) nos equinos, por meio da técnica do saco de náilon móvel (TSNM), totalizando cinco tratamentos. A ingestão diária de MS foi de 2,0 por cento do peso vivo de feno de coast-cross. A CELi-IV promoveu a melhor taxa de recuperação do indicador, igualando-se à CT, em 100,31 por cento, enquanto a LIGi resultou nas piores taxas, na média 76,45 por cento, para ambas as técnicas (P<0,05). As estimativas dos coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes foram adequadamente preditas pela CELi, obtidos IS e IV em que os valores observados foram de 46,41, 48,16, 46,90, 47,92 e 45,51 por cento para MS, MO, PB, FDN e EB, respectivamente. Concluiu-se que a CELi pode ser obtida in vivo por meio da TSNM em equinos, para predizer a digestibilidade de nutrientes...

The objective of this paper was to study the use of the internal indigestible cellulose (CELi) and lignin (LIGi) markers, obtained in situ or in vivo, to predict the apparent digestibility of nutrients in horses. Four castrated horses were utilized in a randomized blocks experimental design. Treatments consisted of different digestibility determination methodologies: total feces collection (TC) and use of CELi and LIGi internal markers obtained by the in situ (IS) incubation in bovine rumen and in vivo (IV) by the mobile nylon bag technique (MNBT) with horses, resulting in five treatments. The diet consisted exclusively of coast-cross hay and the average daily dry matter intake corresponded to 2.0 percent of the BW of the horses. The CELi-IV resulted in the best marker recuperation rate (100.31 percent), being similar to the control method; while the LIGi resulted in low recuperation rates (76.45 percent) for both techniques (P<0.05). The nutrients' digestibility coefficients were effectively predicted by CELi, obtained in situ or in vivo, with average values of 46.41, 48.16, 46.90, 47.92 and 45.51 percent for DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and crude energy, respectively. It can be concluded that CELi may be obtained in vivo by MNBT in horses to predict the nutrients' digestibility coefficients...

Síndrome de Heyde en un hombre de 71 años que había recibido radioterapia en el pecho de joven / Heyde syndrome in a 71-year-old man who underwent chest radiotherapy at young age

Se presenta el caso de un varón de 71 años con estenosis aórtica diagnosticada diez años antes, que acude al hospital por disnea durante dos meses y reciente hemorragia digestiva baja. La analítica y la endoscopia oral y colonoscopia realizadas en el momento de la admisión revelaron anemia y angiodisplasia cecal con sangrado activo. El ecocardiograma mostró estenosis aórtica severa. El síndrome de Heyde clásico está descrito como asociación entre estenosis aórtica y sangrado por angiodisplasia gastrointestinal, con anemia secundaria. Se destaca el antecedente de radioterapia mediastinal para tratamiento de enfermedad de Hodgkin durante su juventud, y eventuales efectos adversos tardíos que pueden incluir trastornos de las válvulas aórtica y mitral. Durante la colonoscopia se realizó la electrocoagulación con argón del punto de sangrado activo. Posteriormente se realizó cirugía de sustitución valvular aórtica utilizando una bioprótesis. El paciente permanece asintomático, realizando un seguimiento ambulatorio a largo plazo, y con exámenes de control normales. El objetivo de este estudio es enfatizar las dificultades relacionadas al diagnóstico, y resaltar el papel de los estudios endoscópicos y de imágenes para confirmar una hipótesis de esta entidad subestimada (AU)

We report the case of a 71-year-old man with diagnosis of aortic valve stenosis for ten years, who came to hospital because of breathlessness during the previous two months and recent low intestinal hemorrhage. On admission, laboratory tests and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy revealed anemia and bleeding cecal angiodysplasia. The echocardiography study showed a severe aortic stenosis. Classical Heyde syndrome is described as the association of aortic stenosis, bleeding gastrointestinal angiodysplasia and secondary anemia. The antecedent of mediastinal radiotherapy for treatment of Hodgkin’s disease during his youth, and eventual late cardiac adverse effects that may include aortic or mitral valve disturbances are highlighted. Electrocoagulation with argonium was performed on the sites of active bleeding during the colonoscopy. In sequence, surgical replacement by bioprothesis was done on the aortic valve. The patient remains asymptomatic, under long-term outpatient surveillance, with normal control evaluations. The aim of this case study is to emphasize difficulties related to diagnosis, and to highlight the role of endoscopy and imaging studies to confirm a hypothesis of this under estimated condition (AU)

Short-term effects of silage volatile compounds on feed intake and digestion in beef cattle.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate whether fermentation end products in silage affect intake and digestion in beef cattle. Six rumen-cannulated Nellore steers were randomly assigned to a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 14-d periods. Each period consisted of 9 d for adaptation and 5 d for sample collection. Steers were housed in a tie-stall barn and individually fed once daily at 0800 h. The dietary treatments in Exp. 1 were as follows: 60% corn silage plus 40% concentrate (CON), 60% corn silage with added ethanol (2.8% on a DM basis) and 40% concentrate (ET), and 60% corn silage with added lactic acid (5.4% on a DM basis) and 40% concentrate (LA). The DMI was similar (P = 0.41) across treatments (average 11.7 kg/d); however, the LA treatment increased the ruminal pH (P = 0.01) and decreased the acetate:propionate ratio (P < 0.01). Diet digestibility decreased by 2.2 to 2.5 percentage units when the DM content was determined by oven drying (at 105°C) rather than by toluene distillation. The treatments in Exp. 2 were as follows: 75% sugarcane silage with no volatile fraction (oven dried at 60°C and rehydrated) and 25% concentrate (75D), 75% sugarcane silage (original moisture content) and 25% concentrate (75W), and 40% sugarcane silage and 60% concentrate (40W). Approximately 21% of the DM content of sugarcane silage consisted of volatile compounds. The presence of these compounds did not alter the DMI (P = 0.36) but did increase both the acetate:propionate ratio (P < 0.01) and the fractional absorption rates of valerate (P < 0.01) and ethanol (P = 0.02) in the empty reticulorumen. The 40W diet led to a greater DMI (40W = 9.79 vs. 75W = 6.19 kg/d; P < 0.01), which altered most of the measured variables traditionally associated with high-concentrate diets. As in Exp. 1, diet digestibility decreased by 1.5 to 5.4 units when the DM content was determined by oven drying at 105°C rather than by toluene distillation. In this short-term study, volatile compounds did not inhibit the DMI or the digestion process of the animals. On the contrary, volatile compounds contributed to the energy content of the silage, composing up to 10% of the energy value as determined by digestibility. Due to the short experimental periods, the results from this study should be interpreted with caution.

Reutilization of Cr-Y zeolite obtained by biosorption in the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds.

This work aims at the reutilization of a Cr-loaded NaY zeolite obtained by biorecovery of chromium from water as catalyst in the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Cr-NaY catalysts were obtained after biosorption of Cr(VI) using a bacterium, Arthrobacter viscosus, supported on the zeolite. The biosorption experiments were conducted at different pH values in the range 1-4. The catalysts were characterized by several techniques, namely ICP-AES, SEM-EDS, XRD, XPS, Raman, H(2)-TPR and N(2) adsorption. The zeolite obtained at pH 4 has the highest content of chromium, 0.9%, and was selected as the best catalyst for the oxidation of different VOC, namely ethyl acetate, ethanol and toluene. For all VOC tested, the catalyst with chromium showed higher activity and selectivity to CO(2), in comparison with the starting zeolite NaY. The presence of chromium shifted also the reaction pathways. In terms of selectivity to CO(2), the following sequence was observed: ethyl acetate>toluene>ethanol.

Long-term pulmonary vascular reactivity after orthotopic heart transplantation by the biatrial versus the bicaval technique.

INTRODUCTION: Advantages of the bicaval versus the biatrial technique have been reported, emphasizing atrial electrical stability and less tricuspid regurgitation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the surgical technique on long-term pulmonary pressures, contractility, and graft valvular behavior after heart transplantation. METHODS: Among 400 orthotopic heart transplantation recipients from 1985 to 2010, we selected 30 consecutive patients who had survived beyond 3 years. The biatrial versus bicaval surgical technique groups included 15 patients each. Their preoperative clinical characteristics were similar. None of the patients displayed a pulmonary vascular resistance or pulmonary artery pressure over 6U Wood or 60 mm Hg, respectively. We evaluated invasive hemodynamic parameters during routine endomyocardial biopsies. Two-dimensional echocardiographic parameters were obtained from routine examinations. RESULTS: There were no significant differences regarding right atrial pressure, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac index, systolic blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, and mitral regurgitation (P > .05). Tricuspid regurgitation increased significantly over the 3 years of observation only among the biatrial group (P = .0212). In both groups, the right atrial pressure, pulmonary wedge capillary pressure, transpulmonary gradient, and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased significantly (P < .05) from the pre- to the postoperative examination. In both groups cardiac index and systemic blood pressure increased significantly after transplantation (P < .05). Comparative analysis of the groups only showed significant differences regarding right atrial pressure and degree of tricuspid regurgitation; the bicaval group showing the best performance. CONCLUSIONS: Both surgical techniques ensure adequate left ventricular function in the long term; however, the bicaval technique provided better trends in hemodynamic performance, as well as a lower incidence and severity of tricuspid valve dysfunction.

Mixture effects during the oxidation of toluene, ethyl acetate and ethanol over a cryptomelane catalyst.

The catalytic oxidation of two-component VOC mixtures (ethanol, ethyl acetate and toluene) was studied over cryptomelane. Remarkable mixture effects were observed on the activity and the selectivity. Toluene inhibits both ethyl acetate and ethanol oxidation, this effect being more evident in the case of ethyl acetate. For instance, the temperature for 100% conversion is about 210 °C when ethyl acetate is oxidised alone, and 250 °C or higher, when it is oxidised in mixtures with toluene. On the contrary, toluene oxidation is only slightly inhibited by the presence of ethyl acetate, while the presence of ethanol has a promoting effect. Concerning the mixtures of ethyl acetate and ethanol, both compounds have a mutual inhibitory effect, which is more evident in the case of ethyl acetate (the temperature for 100% conversion of ethyl acetate is about 45 °C higher when ethyl acetate is oxidised in mixtures with ethanol, while in the case of ethanol the corresponding increase is only 10 °C).

Decolourisation of dye solutions by oxidation with H(2)O(2) in the presence of modified activated carbons.

The decolourisation of dye solutions by oxidation with H(2)O(2), using activated carbon as catalyst, is studied. For this purpose, three different samples, mainly differing in the respective surface chemistries, were prepared and characterized. Moreover, this work involved three pH levels, corresponding to acid, neutral and alkaline solutions, and six dyes belonging to several classes. The catalytic decolourisation tests were performed in a laboratorial batch reactor. Adsorption on activated carbon and non-catalytic peroxidation kinetic experiments were also carried out in the same reactor, in order to compare the efficiencies of the three processes. The non-catalytic reaction is usually inefficient and, typically, adsorption presents a low level of decolourisation. In these cases, the combination of activated carbon with hydrogen peroxide may significantly enhance the process, since the activated carbon catalyses the decomposition of H(2)O(2) into hydroxyl radicals, which are very reactive. Based on the experiments with the different activated carbon samples, which have similar physical properties, it is proved that the surface chemistry of the catalyst plays a key role, being the basic sample the most active. This is discussed considering the involvement of the free electrons on the graphene basal planes of activated carbon as active centres for the catalytic reaction. Additionally, it is shown that the decolourisation is enhanced at high pH values, and a possible explanation for this observation, based on the proposed mechanism, is given.

[Streptococcal infections] / Estreptococcias.

OBJECTIVES: To review the main diseases caused by the different strains of streptococcus, and to discuss the practical aspects of clinical diagnosis and the range of therapeutic treatments. METHODOLOGY: A review of the literature and a selection of the most meaningful themes for the pediatricians. RESULTS: The majority of the streptococcus described here are susceptible and have sensibility to penicillin. Different kinds of treatments aim at a better support to the offered scheme, including smaller amounts of doses per day, short-lived treatment and lowcost. CONCLUSION: Streptococcus infections are very frequently seen in the pediatrician's office. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis, and if possible a more simplified therapeutic treatment.