Inhibition of Protein and Lipid Oxidation in Ready-to-Eat Chicken Patties by a Spondias mombin L. Bagasse Phenolic-Rich Extract.

This study evaluated the impact of yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.) bagasse extract (YMBE) on the color degradation, protein and lipid oxidation in ready-to-eat chicken patties during 15 days of refrigerated storage. Two formulations of chicken patties were developed: chicken patties control - PCON (without the antioxidant extract) and chicken patties with yellow mombin extract - PYME (with the antioxidant extract). The extract was effective in maintaining red color and inhibiting myoglobin degradation in the evaluated samples. The generation of lipid oxidation compounds during storage of the treated samples was delayed by 92.37% for peroxide index, 89.89% for conjugated dienes, 74.29% for tiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and 92.55% for ρ-anisidine compared to the control samples. Moreover, the addition of YMBE inhibited the formation of carbonyl compounds during cold storage compared to the control samples. Extracts obtained from the yellow mombin bagasse act as a good natural antioxidant for ready-to-eat chicken patties inhibiting protein and lipid oxidative damage during cold storage, being a potential preservative to replace synthetic antioxidants in meat products.

Effect of nanohydroxyapatite associated with photobiomodulation in the control of dentin hypersensitivity: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of nanohydroxyapatite ( nHAP) associated with photobiomodulation (PBM) in the control of dentin hypersensitivity (DH). (C-Shape It). METHODS: 32 subjects with 83 hypersensitive teeth were randomized into four groups (N =8) : GPlacebo - simulated PBM (without light emission) followed by the application of nHAP-free toothpaste; GLaser - PBM followed by the application of nHAP-free toothpaste; GnHAP - simulated PBM followed by the application of nHAP; GLasernHAP - PBM followed by the application of nHAP. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure DH after a tactile and evaporative stimulus. DH evaluations were performed at four times: baseline, 1st, and 2nd treatment sessions, and 1 month. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with DH intensity. Mixed-design ANOVA followed by Tukey test and logistic regression were used. RESULTS: The mechanical stimulus showed a significant reduction in DH in all experimental groups (P< 0.05) at the 2nd treatment session. For the evaporative stimulus, the GLasernHAP group presented a significant reduction in DH at the 1st treatment session (P< 0.05). Intragroup analysis showed that only the GnHAP group showed regression of DH at 1 month for the two applied stimuli. The variables of parafunctional habits, diets rich in acidic drinks and anxiety had significant relationships with the intensity of DH (P< 0.05). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of nHAP and application of PBM to laser are effective in the control of dentin hypersensitivity. However, their association did not enhance the desensitizing effect.

Lipid and protein oxidation of emulsified chicken patties prepared using abdominal fat and skin.

Skin (SK) and abdominal fat (AF) are by-products that are abundantly produced in poultry slaughterhouses. Skin is used in meat products, especially in sausages, but its use is related to microbiological contamination and susceptibility to oxidation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of SK replacement with AF on the quality characteristics of emulsified patties stored under freezing conditions (-18°C) for 90 D. The AF showed higher lipid content than did the SK, but the SK had a higher predominance of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Regarding the partial chemical composition, the treatments showed differences in moisture, lipids, and total collagen. The values for para-anisidine and carbonyl compounds at the end of 90 D of storage were not influenced by the incorporation of SK or AF. The judges also did not observe differences in the color and aroma of the emulsified products during the 90 D. Furthermore, volatile compounds considered oxidation markers were not detected at the end of the storage period. Given these results, emulsified patties made with SK or AF undergo, to a similar degree, low levels of lipid and protein oxidation when stored under freezing conditions (-18°C) for 90 D, which allows the use of some of these lipid sources in meat products.

Detection of mycobacterial infection in non-human primates using the Xpert MTB/RIF molecular assay.

Tuberculosis is a major public health concern, and diagnostic strategies applied to animal populations are scarce. As part of ongoing efforts to control tuberculosis dissemination at our animal facility, two non-human primates (NHP, Saimiri sciureus) presenting cutaneous lesions were examined for mycobacterial infection. Both animals tested positive for acid-fast bacilli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a molecular assay (IS6110 PCR). Animals were euthanized and several samples were tested for M. tuberculosis using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Many samples were positive for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, and some produced mycobacterial growth. Oral swabs from cage mates were then tested with Xpert MTB/RIF, and the majority tested positive for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, and produced growth in culture. To our knowledge, this is the first report of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial infection in NHP. Additionally, our data shows that the Xpert MTB/RIF assay can be useful as a screening tool for tuberculosis infection in NHP.

Antioxidant Extracts from Acorns (Quercus ilex L.) Effectively Protect Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Chicken Patties Irrespective of Packaging Atmosphere.

This study evaluated the impact of a phenolic-rich acorn extract (200 ppm gallic acid equivalents) and the concentration of oxygen in the packaging system (low-oxygen modified atmosphere; 5% vs. normal-oxygen; 21%) on lipid and protein oxidation and consumers acceptance of the ready-to-eat chicken patties. Samples were subjected to cooking (electric oven, 170 °C/16 min), cold storage (14 d at 4 °C), and reheating (microwave, 600 mW/1 min). Samples treated with acorn extract kept thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances numbers and lipid-derived volatiles at basal levels throughout the whole processing irrespective of the oxygen concentration in the packaging atmosphere. Consistently, treated patties had lower protein carbonyls than control ones. The acorn extract also controlled color and texture deterioration during chilled storage and reheating and improved the color and odor acceptance of the products. Formulating with acorn extract is a feasible strategy to inhibit the oxidation-driven changes and preserve the quality of reheated samples as if there were freshly cooked. Compared to the effect of the antioxidant extract, the concentration of oxygen in the packaging system was negligible in terms of quality preservation.

Effect of the cooking method (grilling, roasting, frying and sous-vide) on the oxidation of thiols, tryptophan, alkaline amino acids and protein cross-linking in jerky chicken.

Broiler breast (pectoralis major) meat was submitted to salting with NaCl + NaNO3 followed by a drying process to produce jerky-type chicken. The final product (raw broiler charqui) was desalted and then cooked using grilled, roasted, fried and sous-vide techniques. Sous-vide cooked samples showed lowest results of moisture loss compared to roasted and fried ones. Fatty acid profile suffered minor changes after cooking of broiler charqui. Regarding to protein oxidation, tryptophan fluorescence, protein carbonylation and disulphide bonds formation of chicken charqui were affected by cooking temperature while free thiol groups, Schiff base formation and hardness were mostly impacted by the length of cooking. Instrumental color of broiler charqui was affected by the type of cooking, being closely related with Maillard products formation. In conclusion, sous-vide technique seems to be the most advantageous cooking method to obtain high-quality ready-to-eat chicken charqui.

Effect of pre-cooking methods on the chemical and sensory deterioration of ready-to-eat chicken patties during chilled storage and microwave reheating.

The effects of pre-cooking methods, namely, boiling (BL), roasting (RT) and grilling (GR), refrigerated storage (14 days/+4 °C) and microwave reheating on chicken patties were studied. Physical, chemical and sensory parameters were evaluated in order to correlate the chemical deterioration of ready-to-eat chicken patties with the acceptance of the odor. Chemical deterioration was evaluated through the chemical composition, Maillard compounds, Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and volatiles. Sensory deterioration (odor liking) was performed by an acceptance test with hedonic scale. According to the TBARS values and volatile compounds generated in the head space during the examined stages, the pre-cooking method and the storage time had a significant effect on lipid oxidation, whereas reheating in a microwave had a negligible impact. At each succeeding processing stage, panelists gave lower odor scores to all samples and no significant differences were found between treatments at any stage. RT and GR patties showed less intense chemical changes and presented higher acceptation scores by the sensory panel than BL patties. Thus, the choice of pre-cooking method and control of storage conditions plays a key role in the inhibition of oxidative changes in ready-to-eat chicken patties.

Adsorption of cadmium ions on thiol or sulfonic-functionalized poly(dimethylsiloxane) networks.

Thiol or sulfonic-functionalized poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomeric networks were prepared from 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane or the oxidized silane. The characterization of these materials using infrared spectroscopy (IR) and (13)C/(29)Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) suggested that the materials were functionalized with the aforementioned groups and that the networks are composed of linear segments of PDMS crosslinked by nodes of silsesquioxanes, which contain T(3) and/or T(2) type silicon. The thermogravimetric analysis of the polymeric networks revealed that they exhibit good thermal stability. The adsorption capacities for cadmium ions in ethanolic solutions were 0.33 and 0.89 mmol g(-1) for the thiol- and sulfonic-functionalized PDMS networks, respectively. In water solution the material with thiol group do not adsorbed Cd (II), however, the network with sulfonic group adsorbed 0.70 mmol g(-1). In ethanol, the linearization of the adsorption isotherms revealed that the Langmuir model describes the interaction between the adsorbate-adsorbent, in water, the Freundlich adsorption model described the metal adsorption for the sulfonic-functionalized PDMS.

Study of the Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn dynamics in soil, plants and bee pollen from the region of Teresina (PI), Brazil.

The purpose of this study is to characterize native bee plants regarding their capacity to extract and accumulate trace elements from the soil and its consequences to the sanity of the produced pollen. The trace elements Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn were analyzed in soil, plants and bee pollen from Teresina region (PI), Brazil, by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Considering the studied plant species, Cu and Pb metals presented in the highest levels in the roots of B. platypetala with 47.35 and 32.71 µg.mL(-1) and H. suaveolens with 39.69 and 17.06 µg.mL(-1), respectively, while in the aerial parts Mn and Zn metals presented the highest levels in S. verticillata with 199.18 and 85.73 µg.mL(-1). In the pollen, the levels of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn vary from 5.44 to 11.75 µg.mL(-1); 34.31 to 85.75 µg.mL(-1); 13.98 to 18.19 µg.mL(-1) and 50.19 to 90.35 µg.mL(-1), respectively. These results indicate that in the apicultural pasture the translocation (from soil to pollen) of Mn and Zn was more effective than in case of Cu and Pb, therefore, the bee pollen can be used as food supplement without causing risks to human health.

Breast phantom with silicone implant for evaluation in conventional mammography.

With the increased incidence of cancer and a similarly increased number of surgeries for insertion of silicone breast implants, it is necessary to assess the effect of such material within the breast tissue, particularly in mammography, because of the reduction in the power of breast cancer diagnosis. In this work, we introduce a breast phantom with silicone implants in order to evaluate the influence of the implant on the visibility of the main mammographic findings: fibers, microcalcifications and tumor masses. In this proposed phantom, the breast tissue was simulated using gel paraffin. In the optical density of phantom mammograms with implants, a reduction in breast tissue visibility was seen corresponding to 23% when compared to a phantom without silicone implants. This poor visibility was due to the X-ray beam scattering on silicone material; this effect produced a loss of visibility in the areas adjacent to the implant. It is expected that the proposed phantom model may be used as a device for the establishment of a technical standard for these types of procedures.

ALDH1A2 (RALDH2) genetic variation in human congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Signaling by the vitamin A-derived morphogen retinoic acid (RA) is required at multiple steps of cardiac development. Since conversion of retinaldehyde to RA by retinaldehyde dehydrogenase type II (ALDH1A2, a.k.a RALDH2) is critical for cardiac development, we screened patients with congenital heart disease (CHDs) for genetic variation at the ALDH1A2 locus. METHODS: One-hundred and thirty-three CHD patients were screened for genetic variation at the ALDH1A2 locus through bi-directional sequencing. In addition, six SNPs (rs2704188, rs1441815, rs3784259, rs1530293, rs1899430) at the same locus were studied using a TDT-based association approach in 101 CHD trios. Observed mutations were modeled through molecular mechanics (MM) simulations using the AMBER 9 package, Sander and Pmemd programs. Sequence conservation of observed mutations was evaluated through phylogenetic tree construction from ungapped alignments containing ALDH8 s, ALDH1Ls, ALDH1 s and ALDH2 s. Trees were generated by the Neighbor Joining method. Variations potentially affecting splicing mechanisms were cloned and functional assays were designed to test splicing alterations using the pSPL3 splicing assay. RESULTS: We describe in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) the mutations Ala151Ser and Ile157Thr that change non-polar to polar residues at exon 4. Exon 4 encodes part of the highly-conserved tetramerization domain, a structural motif required for ALDH oligomerization. Molecular mechanics simulation studies of the two mutations indicate that they hinder tetramerization. We determined that the SNP rs16939660, previously associated with spina bifida and observed in patients with TOF, does not affect splicing. Moreover, association studies performed with classical models and with the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) design using single marker genotype, or haplotype information do not show differences between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: In summary, our screen indicates that ALDH1A2 genetic variation is present in TOF patients, suggesting a possible causal role for this gene in rare cases of human CHD, but does not support the hypothesis that variation at the ALDH1A2 locus is a significant modifier of the risk for CHD in humans.

Determination of selenium by GFAAS in slurries of fish feces to estimate the bioavailability of this micronutrient in feed used in pisciculture.

This paper presents a simple, fast and sensitive method to determine selenium in samples of feces and of fish feed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) through the direct introduction of slurries of the samples into the spectrometer's graphite tube. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) calculated for 20 readings of the blank of the standard slurries (0.50% m/v of feces or feed devoid of selenium) were 0.31 microg l(-1) and 1.03 microg l(-1), respectively, for the standard feces slurries and 0.35 microg l(-1) and 1.16 microg l(-1), respectively, for the standard feed slurries. The proposed method was applied in studies of bioavailability of selenium in different fish feeds and the results proved consistent with that obtained from samples mineralized by acid digestion using the microwave oven.

Determination of cadmium in river water samples by flame AAS after on-line preconcentration in mini-column packed with 2-aminothiazole-modified silica gel.

A rapid and sensitive method was developed to determine trace levels of Cd2+ ions in an aqueous medium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, using on-line preconcentration in a mini-column packed with 100 mg of 2-aminothiazol modified silica gel (SiAT). The Cd2+ ions were sorbed at pH 5.0. The preconcentrated Cd2+ ions were directly eluted from the column to the spectrometer's nebulizer-burner system using 100 microL of 2 mol L(-1) hydrochloric acid. A retention efficiency of over 95% was achieved. The enrichment factor (calculated as the ratio of slopes of the calibration graphs) obtained with preconcentrations in a mini-column packed with SiAT (A = -1.3 x 10(-3) + 1.8 x 10(-3)[Cd2+]) and without preconcentrations (A = 4 x 10(-5) + 3.5 x 10(-5)[Cd2+]), was 51 and the detection limit calculated was 0.38 microg L(-1). The preconcentration procedure was applied to determine trace levels of Cd in river water samples. The optimum preconcentration conditions are discussed herein.

Proposta para conteúdo de um cartäo do diabético / Proposed to content of a diabetes card

Este trabalho propõe a implementação de um cartão eletrônico identificador de pacientes diabéticos, empregando cartões inteligentes. Os catões pretendem ser os identificadores dos diabéticos, contendo seus dados pessoais, os dados relativos ao diabetes, a terapêutica adotada e os dados laboratoriais.