We investigated the effects of the juçara fruit (Euterpe edulis Martius) pulp and lyophilized extract on the expression of cytoprotective genes nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (NRF2), kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX2) in human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29 and Caco-2). Cells were cultured for 24 h in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium containing juçara fruit pulp (5, 10, or 50 mg/mL) or lyophilized extract (0.05, 0.1, or 0.5 mg/mL), and gene expression was quantified using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. All studied genes showed significant variation in gene expression among different concentrations of pulp or lyophilized extract. Overall, the expression of the selected genes decreased in both cell lines following exposure to the pulp or lyophilized extract in a dose-dependent manner for most of the concentrations studied. In summary, our study showed that the compounds in juçara fruit inhibited the expression of cytoprotective genes associated with the antioxidant response and that, although not cytotoxic at the concentrations studied, they could potentially block the activation of the NRF2/KEAP1 pathway.

RESUMO Avaliou-se a troponina I como biomarcador de lesão cardíaca na sepse, além de outros parâmetros hematológicos, em cadelas com piometra. Os grupos avaliados não diferiram estatisticamente na avaliação da concentração sérica da troponina I cardíaca. A quantidade total de leucócitos (mm3) e a porcentagem de bastonetes foram significativamente maiores no grupo sepse (23.221,74±16.848,80mm3 e 5,91±10,18%) quando comparado ao grupo não sepse (14.492,86±6.828,26mm3 e 1,93±1,64%) e ao grupo controle (10.320,00±3.999,02mm3 e 1,65±2,05%). Houve diferença significativa nas concentrações séricas da proteína C reativa (mg/dL) no grupo sepse (19,57±41,69md/dL) se comparado ao grupo não sepse (10,29±12,02mg/dL) e ao grupo controle (3,60±3,53mg/dL). Na avaliação da concentração sérica do lactato, houve diferença significativa entre cães com piometra e cães saudáveis, porém não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos sepse e não sepse. Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que a troponina I cardíaca não pôde ser considerada um biomarcador precoce para injúria miocárdica nos casos de cadela com piometra, pois os resultados das mensurações foram semelhantes entre os grupos, o que indica que pode não ter ocorrido lesão dos cardiomiócitos nessa fase. Já a proteína C reativa e o lactato são possíveis marcadores para inflamação sistêmica, uma vez que demonstraram concentrações séricas significativamente maiores em cadelas com piometra.

ABSTRACT Troponin I as a biomarker of cardiac injury in sepsis, and other hematological parameters in female dogs with pyometra were evaluated. The groups did not differ in the assessment of serum cardiac troponin I. The total amount of leukocytes (mm3) and percentage of band cells was significantly higher in the sepsis group (23,221.74±16,848.80mm3 and 5.91±10.18%) compared to the non-sepsis group (14,492.86±6,828.26mm3 and 1.93±1.64%) and the control group (10,320.00±3,999.02mm3 and 1.65±2.05% respectively). There were significant differences in serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (mg / dL) in the sepsis group (19.57±41.69md / dL) compared to the non-sepsis group (10.29±12.02mg / dL) and control group (3.60±3.53mg / dL). In the evaluation of serum lactate concentration, there was a significant difference between dogs with pyometra and healthy dogs, but there was no significant difference between the sepsis and non-sepsis groups. The results of this study indicate that troponin I could not be considered an early biomarker of myocardial injury in cases of dogs with pyometra, because the results of the measurements were similar between groups, inferring that there may not have been an cardiomyocytes injury at this stage. C-reactive protein and lactate are potential markers for systemic inflammation, as demonstrated by significantly higher serum concentrations in dogs with pyometra.

This work evaluated different ways to include residues from coffee in Nile tilapia ration. Three assays were conducted: 1-rations chemical composition; 2-digestibility and 3-tilapia performance fed with different ways to include residues of coffee on ration. The following treatments were tested: T1-basal ration; T2-stove pre-dried coffe residue ration; T3-ration with residue from coffee maintained under aerobic conditions added serum of milk and nolasses; T4-ration with acid ensilage of residue from coffee with formic acid; T7-ration with ensilage of residue from coffee with serum of milk. Those residues replaced 30% of the basal ration. The physical form of the ration was pelleted. The treatment T5 resulted in greater weight gain and feed consumption and lesser feed conversion. The treatments T1 and T2 did not defer between itself presenting close values to the T5. The treatments T6 and T7 presented lesser weight gain and ration consumption and greater feed conversion.

O trabalho propôs avaliar formas de inclusão de resíduos de café na ração para alimentação de tilápia do Nilo. Foram realizados três ensaios: 1-composição química das rações; 2-digestibilidade das rações e 3-desempenho de tilápias recebendo as rações contendo diferentes formas de inclusão dos resíduos de café. Foram testados os seguintes tratamentos: T1-ração referência; T2-ração com resíduo de café pré-seco em estufa; T3-ração com resíduo de café mantido em condições aeróbicas acrescido de soro de leite e melaço; T4ração com silagem ácida de resíduo de café com ácido fórmico; T5-ração com silagem de resíduo de café com soro de leite. Esses resíduos substituíram 30% da ração referência, sendo as rações posteriormente peletizadas. O tratamento T5 foi o que resultou em maior ganho de peso e consumo de ração. Os tratamentos T1 e T2 não diferiram entre si, apresentando valores próximos ao T5. Os tratamentos T6 e T7 apresentaram menor ganho de peso e consumo de ração e ainda maior conversão alimentar.

Os objetivos neste estudo foram avaliar um modelo animal multirracial (MAMR) heterocedástico para estimar a heterogeneidade de variância residual devida à raça, à heterozigosidade, ao sexo e ao grupo de contemporâneos (GC) e a robustez a dados extremos. Foram avaliadas diferenças nas estimativas de componentes de variância, herdabilidades e valores genéticos. Foram utilizados 4.016 registros de ganho de peso pós-desmame (GPD) do rebanho de formação da raça Brangus-Ibagé da Embrapa Pecuária Sul. Os dados foram analisados por um MAMR com quatro especificações diferentes da distribuição dos resíduos, definidas pela natureza da variância residual homocedástica (HO) ou heterocedástica (HE) e pela distribuição marginal dos resíduos Gaussiana (G) ou t de Student (T). O melhor ajuste aos dados foi pelo MAMR-T-HE e foi observada heterocedasticidade devida ao sexo e à heterozigosidade dos animais e entre grupos de contemporâneos. Houve diferenças substanciais nas variâncias genéticas de grupos raciais estimadas utilizando-se diferentes modelos e nos heterocedásticos, MAMR-G-HE e MAMR-T-HE. As maiores diferenças nas estimativas de herdabilidade ocorreram entre grupos raciais diferentes. Também foram observados reordenamentos na classificação de animais superiores quanto ao mérito genético quando variâncias residuais heterogêneas e robustez a dados extremos foram consideradas. Avaliações genéticas multirraciais utilizando o modelo t de Student para descrever resíduos e assumindo variâncias residuais heterogêneas são mais apropriadas para realizar interferência no mérito genético de animais produtos de cruzamento entre as raças Angus e Nelore.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate a multibreed heteroskedastic animal model (MAMR) to estimate residual variance heterogeneity due to breed, heterozigosity, sex and contemporary groups (CG) and robustness to outliers. Differences on variance components, heritability and genetic values estimates were evaluated. It was used 4,016 records of post weaning weight gain (PWG) from Brangus foundation herd of Embrapa Pecuária Sul. Data were analyzed by MAMR with four different residual distribution specifications, which were defined by the nature of residual variance, homoskedastic (HO) or Heteroskedastic (HE) and by the Gaussian (G) or Student t marginal residual distribution. The best data fit was achived by using MAMR-T-HE and it was observed heteroscedasticity due to sex and animal heterozigosity and among contemporary groups. There were substantial differences in genetic variances of breed groups estimated by using different models and in the heteroskedastic, MAMR-G-HE and MAMR-T-HE. The greatest differences on heritability estimates occured among different breed groups. It was also noted a reordering in the ranking of superior animals regarded to genetic merit when heterogenous residual variances and robustness to outliers were considered. Multibreed genetic evaluations by using the Student t distribution model to describe residuals and assuming heterogenous residual variances are more appropriate to perform inference on genetic merit of animals from crossbreeding progenies of Angus and Nelore purebred animals.

We bacteriologically analyzed 156 species of Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from 138 patients with community-acquired diabetic foot ulcers, in a prospective study made at a diabetic center and at the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, from March, 2000, to November, 2001.The samples were cultured using selective media, and identification, susceptibility tests and detection of plasmid-mediated-extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing strains were made with conventional and automated methods. The most frequently occurring pathogens were K. pneumoniae (21.2%), Morganella morganii (19.9%) and E. coli (15.4%). High resistance rates were noted for ampicillin, first generation cephalosporin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and chloramphenicol. ESBL-producing strains were detected in 6% of the patients. Resistance among gram-negative bacteria has become increasingly common, even in community-acquired infections.