Sodium bicarbonate and beta-alanine supplementation: Is combining both better than either alone? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of combined beta-alanine (BA) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation on exercise capacity and performance. Four databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web Of Science and MEDLINE) were searched using relevant terms for studies involving healthy (e.g. no chronic diseases or conditions) male or female adults of any training status (athletes, physically active and non-athletes) and that investigated BA and SB in isolation and combination at any dose on an exercise outcome. Ten studies, totalling 243 individuals, met the criteria with 12 outcomes for each nutritional supplement. No ergogenic effect was detected in this meta-analysis for BA (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI: -0.06; 0.43, p = 0.13, tau2 = 0, tau = 0, I2 = 0.0%) or SB (SMD = 0.17, 95% CI: -0.08; 0.41, p = 0.16, tau2 = 0, tau = 0, I2 = 0.0%) in isolation. However, there was a beneficial effect for the combination of BA and SB (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.07; 0.57, p = 0.02, tau2 = 0, tau = 0, I2 = 0.0%). Meta-regression identified no differences between supplementing with BA or SB separately (F = 0.58; p = 0.57). Combining BA and SB improved exercise performance, however, there was no benefit in taking these supplements individually.

Federal transfers to municipalities through parliamentary amendments: implications for SUS funding. / Transferências federais por emendas parlamentares aos municípios: implicações para o financiamento do SUS.

The present article analyzes the transfers from parliamentary amendments by the Ministry of Health to municipalities to finance public health actions and services from 2015 to 2021. A descriptive and exploratory study was carried out with secondary data, including all Brazilian cities. Resources from amendments showed an increase, particularly from 2018 onwards, indicating the expansion of their relevance for financing SUS. From 2016 to 2021, over 80% was allocated to municipalities, representing 9.5% of all federal transfers, with 91.2% for operational expenses. Transfers from amendments differ from regular transfers due to greater instability and per capita variation among the amounts collected by municipalities and due to the fact that they allocate most resources to the Northeast and primary care to the detriment of the Southeast and medium and high complexity care. These transfers represent a differentiated modality of resource allocation in SUS that produces new distortions and asymmetries, with implications for intergovernmental relations, as well as between the executive and legislative powers, increasing the risk of the discontinuity of actions and services and imposing challenges for the municipal management.

O artigo tem como objetivo analisar as transferências por emendas parlamentares do Ministério da Saúde aos municípios para o financiamento de ações e serviços públicos de saúde, de 2015 a 2021. Foi realizado estudo descritivo e exploratório com dados secundários, abrangendo a totalidade de municípios brasileiros. Os recursos provenientes de emendas apresentaram aumento, em especial a partir de 2018, indicando a expansão de sua relevância para o financiamento do SUS. No período de 2016 a 2021, mais de 80% foram alocados aos municípios, representando 9,5% dos repasses federais, com 91,2% de natureza de custeio. As transferências por emendas diferem dos repasses regulares por possuir maior instabilidade e variação per capita entre os montantes captados pelos municípios, e por destinar a maior parte dos recursos ao Nordeste e à atenção primária, em detrimento do Sudeste e da média e alta complexidade. Configura-se uma modalidade diferenciada de alocação de recursos no SUS que produz novas distorções e assimetrias, com implicações para as relações intergovernamentais e entre os poderes executivo e legislativo, ampliando o risco de descontinuidade de ações e serviços e impondo desafios para as gestões municipais.

Clinical and molecular characterization of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2G/R7 in a large cohort of Brazilian patients.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2G/R7 (LGMD2G/R7) is an ultra-rare condition initially identified within the Brazilian population. We aimed to expand clinical and genetic information about this disease, including its worldwide distribution. A multicenter historical cohort study was performed at 13 centers in Brazil in which data from index cases and their affected relatives from consecutive families with LGMD2G/R7 were reviewed from July 2017 to August 2023. Additionally, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify case reports and series of the disease worldwide. Forty-one LGMD2G/R7 cases were described in the Brazilian cohort, being all subjects homozygous for the c.157C>T/(p.Gln53*) variant in TCAP. Survival curves showed that the median disease duration before individuals required walking aids was 21 years. Notably, women exhibited a slower disease progression, requiring walking aids 13 years later than men. LGMD2G/R7 was frequently reported not only in Brazil but also in China and Bulgaria, with 119 cases identified globally, with possible founder effects in the Brazilian, Eastern European, and Asian populations. These findings are pivotal in raising awareness of LGMD2G/R7, understanding its progression, and identifying potential modifiers. This can significantly contribute to the development of future natural history studies and clinical trials for this disease.

Reduction of osteoclast formation and survival following suppression of cytokines by diacerein in periodontitis.

Periodontitis causes an increase in several bioactive agents such as interleukins (IL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL), which induce the osteoclast formation and activity. Since diacerein exerts anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-1 effects, alleviating bone destruction in osteoarthritis, we investigated whether this drug inhibits the formation and survival of osteoclast in the periodontitis. Rats were distributed into 3 groups: 1) group with periodontitis treated with 100 mg/kg diacerein (PDG), 2) group with periodontitis treated with saline (PSG) and group control (CG) without any treatment. After 7, 15 and 30 days, the maxillae were collected for light and transmission electron microscopy analyses. Gingiva samples were collected to evaluate the mRNA levels for Tnf, Il1b, Tnfsf11 and Tnfrsf11b by RT-qPCR. In PDG, the expression of Tnf and Il1b genes reduced significantly compared to PSG, except for Tnf expression at 7 days. The number of osteoclasts reduced significantly in the PDG in comparison with PSG at 7 and 15 days. In all periods, the IL-6 immunoexpression, RANKL/OPG immunoexpression and mRNA levels of Tnfsf11/Tnfrsf11b ratio were significantly lower in PDG than in PSG. PDG exhibited significantly higher frequency of TUNEL-positive osteoclasts than in PSG and CG at all time points. Osteoclasts with caspase-3-immunolabelled cytoplasm and nuclei with masses of condensed chromatin were observed in PDG, confirming osteoclast apoptosis. Diacerein inhibits osteoclastogenesis by decreasing Tnf and Il1b mRNA levels, resulting in decreased RANKL/OPG ratio, and induces apoptosis in osteoclasts of alveolar process of rat molars with periodontitis.

Submandibular Gland Pathogenesis Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Implications for Xerostomia.

Although SARS-CoV-2 induces mucin hypersecretion in the respiratory tract, hyposalivation/xerostomia has been reported by COVID-19 patients. We evaluate the submandibular gland (SMGs) pathogenesis in SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice, focusing on the impact of infection on the mucin production and structural integrity of acini, ductal system, myoepithelial cells (MECs) and telocytes. The spike protein, the nucleocapsid protein, hACE2, actin, EGF, TNF-α and IL-1ß were detected by immunofluorescence, and the Egfr and Muc5b expression was evaluated. In the infected animals, significant acinar hypertrophy was observed in contrast to ductal atrophy. Nucleocapsid proteins and/or viral particles were detected in the SMG cells, mainly in the nuclear membrane-derived vesicles, confirming the nuclear role in the viral formation. The acinar cells showed intense TNF-α and IL-1ß immunoexpression, and the EGF-EGFR signaling increased, together with Muc5b upregulation. This finding explains mucin hypersecretion and acinar hypertrophy, which compress the ducts. Dying MECs and actin reduction were also observed, indicating failure of contraction and acinar support, favoring acinar hypertrophy. Viral assembly was found in the dying telocytes, pointing to these intercommunicating cells as viral transmitters in SMGs. Therefore, EGF-EGFR-induced mucin hypersecretion was triggered by SARS-CoV-2 in acinar cells, likely mediated by cytokines. The damage to telocytes and MECs may have favored the acinar hypertrophy, leading to ductal obstruction, explaining xerostomia in COVID-19 patients. Thus, acinar cells, telocytes and MECs may be viral targets, which favor replication and cell-to-cell viral transmission in the SMG, corroborating the high viral load in saliva of infected individuals.

Surrounding and background shades effect on color adjustment of single-shade composites.

This study evaluated the effects of surrounding and background shades on the color adjustment potential (CAP) and visual color match of two single-shade composites, Vittra APS Unique and Charisma Diamond One. Cylinder-shaped specimens were constructed, consisting of either single-shade composites alone (simple) or composites surrounded by the Forma material at shades A1 or A3 (dual). Simple specimens using only the Forma at the specified shades were also prepared. Color measurements of simple specimens were taken against a gray background using a spectrophotometer. For dual specimens, the color of the inner composite was measured against a gray or chromatic (the same shade as the outer composite) background. Color differences (ΔE00) between the single-shade composites and the A1/A3 composite were calculated. CAP was determined by comparing data from simple and dual specimens. Four experienced dentists scored the color match (perfect to unacceptable) for each specimen using a viewing booth illuminated by an illuminant D65. Data were analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results showed that both single-shade composites showed the lowest color discrepancies when they were compared to A1 and A3. Using a chromatic background only significantly affected the CAP when the outer composite was A3. The visual analysis showed poor color matches between the single-shade and control chromatic composites, except for Charisma Diamond One surrounded by A1. In conclusion, the CAP values of the evaluated single-shade composites were impacted by both surrounding shade and background color, and the color match of these materials tended to be poor.

Bitter taste of the tobacco industry interference in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Although Brazil became the first country worldwide to ban the sale of all tobacco products with any additive that could alter their flavours and tastes in 2012, its implementation was effectively halted by tobacco industry lawsuits, including a constitutional challenge filed in the Federal Supreme Court in 2013. This study aimed at examining, for the first time in the country, the evolution over time of the new registrations of tobacco products with additives that would have been banned if not for the tobacco industry's interference ('counterfactual scenario'). METHODS: We used the newly available public database on the registration of tobacco products developed by the Health Regulatory Agency (from 2008 onwards). All types of tobacco products intended for the domestic market that contained 'banned additives in a counterfactual scenario' and were registered between January 1 and December 31 of each year were selected. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2023, a total of 1112 new registrations of tobacco products with 'banned additives' were recorded. The spread of hookah tobacco registrations started in 2014, and by 2023, the cumulative incidence of registrations containing 'banned additives' was 641. Both manufactured cigarettes and hookah products reached their peaks in new registrations in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: After 12 years since the resolution intended to ban all additives that change the aroma and taste of tobacco products in Brazil, primarily to prevent smoking initiation, the tobacco industry's interference continues to successfully block its implementation. Countries facing similar challenges in tobacco control could consider generating comparable national data that might help expose the adverse impacts of tobacco industry interference on public health.

Optimization of the process of preparation of liver pâtés and omental fat of lambs fed with lipid cakes.

The aim of this work was to optimize the process of elaborating liver pâtés and omental lamb fat and to evaluate the quality of the products. Livers and fats were obtained from lambs fed with diets composed of corn and soybean meal that were partially replaced by cupuaçu, tucumã and palm kernel cake. To prepare the pâtés, livers were baked for 20 minutes at 100°C, weighed, seasoned, crushed, packaged and pasteurized. The best formulation of the pâté was with 40% liver, 10% fat, 35% water, and pasteurized for 20 minutes at 65°C. The pâté from the livers of lambs fed with palm kernel cake obtained a higher caloric value of 193.05 kcal/100 g and all pâtés met the recommended microbiological quality. There was a significant effect (p< 0.05) of the diets on the aroma and texture of the liver pâtés of lambs fed corn and soybean meal and palm kernel cake, and these were 6.38 and 3.37, respectively. Thus, the pâtés can be considered an alternative to increase the options for consumption of liver from lambs, and also for adding commercial value to lamb viscera.

Measurement properties of the Regular Physical Exercise Adherence Scale (REPEAS) in individuals with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the measurement properties of the Regular Physical Exercise Adherence Scale (REPEAS) in Brazilians with chronic pain. METHODS: Cross-sectional and longitudinal design (washout period for reliability). The study was conducted in two Brazilian states, Maranhão and São Paulo, and included Brazilian adults, irregular exercisers, former exercisers or non-exercise practitioners, aged 18 to 59 years and with chronic pain. The instruments used in this study were: the REPEAS, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire (BHPAQ), the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for general pain (RMDQ-g). The evaluation focused on structural validity, construct validity, reliability (with standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change), internal consistency, and floor and ceiling effects. RESULTS: The two-dimensional structure was tested through confirmatory factor analysis, which resulted in adequate fit indeces: chi-square values/degrees of freedom = 1.541, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.966, comparative fit index = 0.974, root mean square error of approximation = 0.074, and standardized root mean square residual = 0.068. Additionally, satisfactory factor loadings (> 0.40) were obtained. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were adequate for the environmental factors domain (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.79, Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) and the personal factors domain (ICC = 0.97, Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). In hypothesis testing for construct validity, we observed a significant correlation with magnitude below 0.30 of the environmental factors domain of the REPEAS with RMDQ-g, PSEQ and sport domain of the BHPAQ. For the personal factors domain, we observed a significant correlation with a magnitude of 0.30 to 0.50 with RMDQ-g, PSEQ, and sport domain of the BHPAQ, and below 0.30 with leisure domain of the BHPAQ. No floor or ceiling effects were found for the REPEAS domains. CONCLUSION: The REPEAS is a valid instrument with a two-dimensional internal structure consisting of 12 items. It has a reliable construct and is suitable for use in the clinical and epidemiological context for adults with chronic pain in Brazil.

Loading of bacterial cellulose dressing with frutalin, a lectin from Artocarpus incisa L.

Bacterial cellulose (BC), produced by bacterial fermentation, is a high-purity material. BC can be oxidized (BCOXI), providing aldehyde groups for covalent bonds with drugs. Frutalin (FTL) is a lectin capable of modulating cell proliferation and remodeling, which accelerates wound healing. This study aimed to develop an FTL-incorporated dressing based on BC, and to evaluate its physicochemical properties and biological activity in vitro. An experimental design was employed to maximize FTL loading yield onto the BC and BCOXI, where independent variables were FTL concentration, temperature and immobilization time. BCOXI-FTL 1 (44.96 % ± 1.34) had the highest incorporation yield (IY) at the experimental conditions: 6 h, 5 °C, 20 µg mL-1. The second highest yield was BCOXI-FTL 6 (23.28 % ± 1.43) using 24 h, 5 °C, 100 µg mL-1. Similarly, the same reaction parameters provided higher immobilization yields for native bacterial cellulose: BC-FTL 6 (16.91 % ± 1.05) and BC-FTL 1 (21.71 % ± 1.57). Purified FTL displayed no cytotoxicity to fibroblast cells (<50 µg mL-1 concentration) during 24 h. Furthermore, BCOXI-FTL and BC-FTL were non-cytotoxic during 24 h and stimulated fibroblast migration. BCOXI-FTL demonstrated neutrophil activation in vitro similar to FTL. These promising results indicate that the bacterial cellulose matrices containing FTL at low concentrations, could be used as an innovative biomaterial for developing wound dressings.

Gut Microbiota and Liver Regeneration: A Synthesis of Evidence on Structural Changes and Physiological Mechanisms.

Liver regeneration (LR) is a unique biological process with the ability to restore up to 70% of the organ. This allows for the preservation of liver resections for various liver tumors and for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, in some cases, LR is insufficient and interventions that can improve LR are urgently needed. Gut microbiota (GM) is one of the factors influencing LR, as the liver and intestine are intimately connected through the gut-liver axis. Thus, healthy GM facilitates normal LR, whereas dysbiosis leads to impaired LR due to imbalance of bile acids, inflammatory cytokines, microbial metabolites, signaling pathways, etc. Therefore, GM can be considered as a new possible therapeutic target to improve LR. In this review, we critically observe the current knowledge about the influence of gut microbiota (GM) on liver regeneration (LR) and the possibility to improve this process, which may reduce complication and mortality rates after liver surgery. Although much research has been done on this topic, more clinical trials and systemic reviews are urgently needed to move this type of intervention from the experimental phase to the clinical field.

Global genomics of Aedes aegypti unveils widespread and novel infectious viruses capable of triggering a small RNA response.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is a prominent vector for arboviruses, but the breadth of mosquito viruses that infects this specie is not fully understood. In the broadest global survey to date of over 200 Ae. aegypti small RNA samples, we detected viral small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and Piwi interacting RNAs (piRNAs) arising from mosquito viruses. We confirmed that most academic laboratory colonies of Ae. aegypti lack persisting viruses, yet two commercial strains were infected by a novel tombus-like virus. Ae. aegypti from North to South American locations were also teeming with multiple insect viruses, with Anphevirus and a bunyavirus displaying geographical boundaries from the viral small RNA patterns. Asian Ae. aegypti small RNA patterns indicate infections by similar mosquito viruses from the Americas and reveal the first wild example of dengue virus infection generating viral small RNAs. African Ae. aegypti also contained various viral small RNAs including novel viruses only found in these African substrains. Intriguingly, viral long RNA patterns can differ from small RNA patterns, indicative of viral transcripts evading the mosquitoes' RNA interference (RNAi) machinery. To determine whether the viruses we discovered via small RNA sequencing were replicating and transmissible, we infected C6/36 and Aag2 cells with Ae. aegypti homogenates. Through blind passaging, we generated cell lines stably infected by these mosquito viruses which then generated abundant viral siRNAs and piRNAs that resemble the native mosquito viral small RNA patterns. This mosquito small RNA genomics approach augments surveillance approaches for emerging infectious diseases.

More than a "characterizing flavor": Menthol at subliminal levels in tobacco products.

INTRODUCTION: In addition to imparting flavor, menthol in menthol-flavored cigarettes enhances nicotine addiction and increases experimentation, initiation, and progression to regular smoking. Menthol can be added to cigarettes at perceptible levels (so-called flavored cigarettes or characterized flavored cigarettes) or non-perceptible levels (subliminal). Our objective was to understand the reasons that tobacco companies use subliminal menthol. METHODS: We identified previously secret internal tobacco company documents dated 1955-2012 in the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents archive on menthol at subliminal levels. RESULTS: Beginning in at least the 1950s, tobacco companies used subliminal menthol to compensate the flavor loss caused by filters, reduce smoke harshness, reduce dryness, and increase smoke coolness. Varying menthol concentrations were considered to help convert people who smoke non-menthol to menthol brands, possibly because people who use menthol cigarettes have more harship quitting than people who use non-menthol cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: Menthol is an important additive beyond its function as a "characterizing flavor." Tobacco companies use menthol in "non-menthol" cigarettes at subliminal (non-perceptible by the people who smoke cigarettes) levels to improve taste, make them easier to smoke and facilitate initiation, and possibly convert people who smoke non-menthol cigarettes to menthol cigarettes.

Exergames as an Effective Alternative to Real Environmental Tennis Training for Adolescents.

(1) Background: The popularity of motion-sensing computer-based games, like virtual reality (VR) exergames, is increasing among adolescents. However, their efficacy compared to conventional physical training methods remains unclear. This study investigated whether VR exergames produce effects on reaction time (RT) comparable to traditional tennis training in school-aged adolescents. (2) Methods: In total, 130 adolescents (mean age: 15.6 ± 2.0 years; 67 boys: 15.5 ± 2.2 years; 63 girls: 15.7 ± 1.8 years) were recruited in schools and assigned to one of three groups: VR exergame (G1, n = 39), tennis training (G2, n = 25), or control (G3, n = 66). Participants' RTs were evaluated before and after the interventions. G1 engaged in VR exergames for 8 min, G2 underwent traditional tennis training for 30 min, and G3 did not participate in any physical activity. (3) Results: Our results indicated that in G3, girls exhibited slower RTs compared to boys (p < 0.0). No differences were observed in RTs when comparing G1 and G2. (4) Conclusions: Sex appeared to influence RT, with girls showing slower RTs than boys in G3. The findings suggest that VR exergames and traditional tennis training have similar impacts on RT. This indicates the potential of VR exergames as an alternative to conventional physical training for improving RT in adolescents.

Use of Ceftazidime-Avibactam in Children Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Units.

BACKGROUND: Ceftazidime-Avibactam (CAZ-AVI) is one of the new antibiotics available to treat infections due to carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria (CRB). Our aim was to describe the use of CAZ-AVI in children admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), with suspected or proven CRB infections. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in two PICUs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between January 2020 and January 2024. Children aged 0 to 18 years who received CAZ-AVI for more than 24 h were included. RESULTS: CAZ-AVI was used in 37 patients. The median age was 28 months (range 1-215), 17 (45.9%) being male. The median time from the patient admission to the initial prescription of CAZ-AVI was 39.9 days (range 1-138). Thirty-four (91.9%) children had at least one comorbidity at admission and (91.9%) used at least one invasive device prior to the CAZ-AVI prescription, and 89.2% had received carbapenem before; and fifteen (40.5%) had healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prior to CAZ-AVI use. The mean time of CAZ-AVI use was 11 days (range 1-22). Gram-negative bacteria were isolated in cultures from 12 (32.4%) patients in the 24 h prior to prescription or on the day of prescription. In five patients, CRB was confirmed in cultures, and in four (80%) of them, microbiological clearance was verified after 7 days of treatment. The 30-day mortality rate was 37.8%. CONCLUSION: Almost all patients who used CAZ-AVI were critically ill children with multiple comorbidities and previous use of carbapenems. Among CRB confirmed infections, microbiology clearance in 7 days was high.

Recovery of Full Hyperextension after ACL Reconstruction Is Associated with Better Functional Outcomes but Greater ACL-Related Laxity after a minimum of 24 months follow up.

PURPOSE: Evaluate patients submitted to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with preoperative hyperextension and compare physical examination (KT-1000 and pivot shift) and patient reported outcomes measures of patients who recovered the entire hyperextension with patients who did not. METHODS: Patients aged 18 to 60 years with more than 5 degrees of knee hyperextension submitted to anatomical ACL reconstruction with any graft from June 2013 to June 2021 and at least 24 months of follow-up were evaluated retrospectively. Hamstrings and patellar tendon grafts were fixed around 20 to 30 degrees of flexion and in full extension, respectively. Patients who could recover hyperextension were compared with patients who did not. Pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative data, including physical examination and patient reported outcomes measures, was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 225 patients were evaluated, 48 (21.3%) did not recover hyperextension, and 177 recovered full range of motion. Patients who did not recover hyperextension had a larger graft diameter (8.7 ± 0.7mm (confidence interval 8.502-8.898) vs. 8.3 ± 0.7mm (confidence interval 8.197-8.403); p = 0.018). Regarding the postoperative subjective variables, patients who recovered hyperextension showed improvement on all scales (IKDC, Lysholm, FJS, and GPE) evaluated compared to patients who did not recover the range of motion. Patients who recovered hyperextension also showed more laxity on physical examination, measured by the KT-1000 (1.8 ± 0.8 vs. 1.1 ± 1.0; p= 0.0006) and the pivot-shift (Grade 0 - 62.1%;Grade 1 - 37.9% vs. Grade 0 - 79.2%;Grade 1 - 20.8%; p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Patients with knee hyperextension who regained range of motion after ACL reconstruction have worse knee laxity than patients who regained full extension but not hyperextension. However, patients who recover full range of motion showed higher scores on subjective function scales, including a greater number of patients who achieved PASS IKDC.

Effect of transportation distance and lairage time on selected behaviors and carcass parameters in zebu cattle-a study using the animal focal sampling method.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the transport distance and lairage time on behavioral indicators of zebu beef cattle in the resting pen of a slaughterhouse using the focal animal technique. Eight lots of male zebu cattle, Nelore, aged approximately 4 years old, weighing on average 500 ± 28.5 kg-1, from different municipalities, transported by land, were evaluated. The lots were grouped into two categories: short distance (> 500 km) and long distance (> 500 km). Five focal animals per evaluated lot were used in each cycle of behavior observation, randomly chosen, and visually identified. The animal focal sampling method was used, with instantaneous recording, every 5 min per animal/h. A video camera was used and placed at a fixed point in the corral. After slaughtering, bruises and carcass pH were evaluated. The respiratory rate (RR) was measured in two moments, 30 min after unloading (RR_I) and 1 h before slaughtering (RR_F); behavioral data were divided into four lairage periods (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th) equally and evaluated as repeated measures over time. The lairage time lowered the behaviors of headbutting (NCHBs), pushing (PsH), mounting (MT), and chasing away (CA), (p = 0.0001), and these behaviors were more evident in animals transported for short distances in the initial resting times, decreasing as they remained in the resting pen. There was effect of distance on the initial and final pH of the carcass, being greater in the short distance (p = 0.047). There was no effect of distance or lairage time on initial or final RR (p > 0.05). In addition, animals transported over long distances showed less carcass injuries, which were observed during post mortem inspection. It is concluded that animals transported over short distances present a greater number of agonistic behaviors, such as NCHBs, MT, PsH, and CA, predisposing to higher rates of bruising during lairage and more accentuated changes in the final pH of the meat.

Prevalence of STEC virulence markers and Salmonella as a function of abiotic factors in agricultural water in the southeastern United States.

Fresh produce can be contaminated by enteric pathogens throughout crop production, including through contact with contaminated agricultural water. The most common outbreaks and recalls in fresh produce are due to contamination by Salmonella enterica and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Thus, the objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of markers for STEC (wzy, hly, fliC, eaeA, rfbE, stx-I, stx-II) and Salmonella (invA) in surface water sources (n = 8) from produce farms in Southwest Georgia and to determine correlations among the prevalence of virulence markers for STEC, water nutrient profile, and environmental factors. Water samples (500 mL) from eight irrigation ponds were collected from February to December 2021 (n = 88). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to screen for Salmonella and STEC genes, and Salmonella samples were confirmed by culture-based methods. Positive samples for Salmonella were further serotyped. Particularly, Salmonella was detected in 6/88 (6.81%) water samples from all ponds, and the following 4 serotypes were detected: Saintpaul 3/6 (50%), Montevideo 1/6 (16.66%), Mississippi 1/6 (16.66%), and Bareilly 1/6 (16.66%). Salmonella isolates were only found in the summer months (May-Aug.). The most prevalent STEC genes were hly 77/88 (87.50%) and stx-I 75/88 (85.22%), followed by fliC 54/88 (61.63%), stx-II 41/88 (46.59%), rfbE 31/88 (35.22%), and eaeA 28/88 (31.81%). The wzy gene was not detected in any of the samples. Based on a logistic regression analysis, the odds of codetection for STEC virulence markers (stx-I, stx-II, and eaeA) were negatively correlated with calcium and relative humidity (p < 0.05). A conditional forest analysis was performed to assess predictive performance (AUC = 0.921), and the top predictors included humidity, nitrate, calcium, and solar radiation. Overall, information from this research adds to a growing body of knowledge regarding the risk that surface water sources pose to produce grown in subtropical environmental conditions and emphasizes the importance of understanding the use of abiotic factors as a holistic approach to understanding the microbial quality of water.

Impact of Production Systems on the Levels of Vitamin E, ß-Carotene, and Cholesterol in the Liver of Cattle Raised in the Eastern Amazon.

The nutritional composition of bovine liver, particularly in terms of vitamins E, ß-carotene, and cholesterol concentration, is significantly influenced by the cattle-rearing system and diet. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of four predominant cattle-rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon region on the vitamin E, ß-carotene content, and cholesterol levels in bovine liver during the rainy season. Liver-tissue samples were collected from 48 cattle, with twelve specimens representing each rearing system. The systems encompassed two native pastures located in flood-prone areas, cultivated pastures on upland terrain and a confinement-rearing system. Our findings indicate that, when considering all rearing systems collectively, there were no significant differences in the levels of vitamins and cholesterol in the liver tissues (p > 0.05). However, a marked disparity in cholesterol levels emerged when comparing intensive rearing systems to extensive ones, with the former demonstrating notably higher concentrations (p = 0.01). Additionally, the intensive rearing system was associated with elevated levels of ß-carotene (p < 0.01), α-tocopherol (p = 0.01), and ß-tocopherol (p = 0.01) relative to the extensive systems. No significant variations were observed amongst the different extensive systems (p > 0.05). These results suggest that, while all rearing systems yielded liver tissues with typical concentrations of vitamins and cholesterol, the intensive rearing system led to a higher accumulation of certain vitamin compounds. This study highlights the substantial nutritional implications of different cattle-rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon and provides valuable insights for developing dietary strategies to optimize the nutritional quality of bovine liver. Therefore, the generated results are groundbreaking in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil, and inspire the development of new research projects to address other demands in this field and achieve additional outcomes.