ABSTRACT Lettuce bacterial leaf spot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians is an aggressive disease that is difficult to control. So far there are no reports of the reaction of biofortified lettuce genotypes to different isolates of the bacteria. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the aggressiveness of X. campestris pv. vitians, as well as the reaction of biofortified lettuce genotypes to bacterial spot. Two experiments were performed in two distinct seasons (winter and summer), in greenhouse at the Vegetable Experimental Station of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU). The experimental design in both experiments was a randomized block design, in a factor scheme of 5 × 4 (five genotypes and four strains), with four repetitions. Were evaluated the severity and the area under the disease progress curve. In general, the biofortified lettuce ‘Uberlândia 10000’ was more resistant to most bacterial strains in the summer cultivation, and in the winter period UFU ‘Crespa 206’. The commercial cultivar Robusta was the most susceptible to the strains during both seasons. The UFU E125 strain was the most aggressive for most genotypes in both seasons.

OBJECTIVES: Seeds are excellent sources of proteinase inhibitors, some of which may have satietogenic and slimming actions. We evaluated the effect of a trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus indica L. seeds on weight gain, food consumption and cholecystokinin levels in Wistar rats. METHODS: A trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus was isolated using ammonium sulfate (30-60%) following precipitation with acetone and was further isolated with Trypsin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Analyses were conducted to assess the in vivo digestibility, food intake, body weight evolution and cholecystokinin levels in Wistar rats. Histological analyses of organs and biochemical analyses of sera were performed. RESULTS: The trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus reduced food consumption, thereby reducing weight gain. The in vivo true digestibility was not significantly different between the control and Tamarindus trypsin inhibitor-treated groups. The trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus did not cause alterations in biochemical parameters or liver, stomach, intestine or pancreas histology. Rats treated with the trypsin inhibitor showed significantly elevated cholecystokinin levels compared with animals receiving casein or water. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the isolated trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus reduces weight gain by reducing food consumption, an effect that may be mediated by increased cholecystokinin. Thus, the potential use of this trypsin inhibitor in obesity prevention and/or treatment should be evaluated.

OBJETIVO: Identificar dados clínicos e laboratoriais que diferenciam os casos com síndrome de Klinefelter de acordo com a faixa etária. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos todos os casos de hipogonadismo, ginecomastia e/ou infertilidade avaliados em hospital universitário cujo cariótipo foi realizado entre janeiro de 1989 e dezembro de 2011, totalizando 105 pacientes. Foram avaliados: idade na primeira consulta, relação entre envergadura e altura, pilificação pubiana, ginecomastia, tamanho testicular, hormônio luteinizante (LH), hormônio folículo-estimulante (FSH), testosterona e espermograma. RESULTADOS: Foram diagnosticados três casos com síndrome de Klinefelter (SK+) e 72 sem a síndrome (SK-). Dos casos com síndrome de Klinefelter, apenas sete (21,2%) foram diagnosticados antes dos 20 anos e dois (6,1%) antes dos 10 anos de idade. A idade na primeira consulta (em anos) foi semelhante nos dois grupos (SK+ = 31,3±12,9 e SK- = 27,6±12,1), o mesmo ocorrendo com a relação entre envergadura e altura e a presença de ginecomastia. No entanto, a pilificação pubiana foi menor no grupo SK+, o mesmo ocorrendo com a média do volume bitesticular e a testosterona, enquanto que o LH e o FSH foram mais elevados neste grupo, o mesmo ocorrendo com a frequência de azoospermia. CONCLUSÕES: A síndrome de Klinefelter ainda é pouco e tardiamente diagnosticada em nosso meio, sendo os dados de tamanho testicular, LH, FSH, testosterona e presença de azoospermia no espermograma os mais importantes para o seu diagnóstico, principalmente na puberdade e na vida adulta.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and laboratory data which differentiate Klinefelter syndrome (KS) patients according to age group. METHODS: The study included all cases of hypogonadism, gynecomastia and/or infertility whose karyotype was performed at a university hospital from January 1989 to December 2011, in a total of 105 subjects. The following data were retrospectively analyzed: age at first visit, ratio of arm span to height, pubic hair, gynecomastia, testicular volume, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (T), and spermiogram. RESULTS: During the study period, 33 patients were diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome (KS+) and 72 were not (KS-). Out of all KS cases, only seven (21.2%) were diagnosed before 20 years old and two (6.1%) before 10 years old. Age at first consultation (in years) was similar in both groups (KS+ = 31.3±12.9 and KS- = 27.6±12.1), as were ratio of arm span to height and frequency of gynecomastia. However, in KS+ patients, pubic hair was less developed, testicular volume was smaller and testosterone levels were lower, while LH and FSH levels and frequency of azoospermia were higher. CONCLUSIONS: Klinefelter syndrome is both an under and late diagnosed condition. The most important data for diagnosis are testicular volume, hormone levels and presence of azoospermia in spermiogram, especially in puberty and adult life.

Listeria monocytogenes é um patógeno transmitido por alimentos que apresenta a capacidade de sobreviver em biofilmes e persistir em plantas de processamento de alimentos. O presente trabalho avaliou a habilidade de Leuconostoc mesenteroides (bac+ e bac-) de inibir a formação de biofilme por L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115 em lâminas de aço inoxidável imersas em caldo BHI com ou sem sacarose em combinação com bactérias láticas (BAL). As células aderidas nas lâminas foram coletadas com swabs e enumeradas em meios seletivos (Oxford para listeria e MRS para leuconostoc). Leuconostoc mesenteroides bac+ foi efetivo na inibição da formação de biofilme por L. monocytogenes por até 3 horas de incubação. Entretanto, após 24 horas de incubação, foi verificada a formação de biofilme em todas as condições testadas, conforme evidenciado pelas imagens obtidas por meio de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). Adicionalmente, foi observado um elevado número de células de L. monocytogenes alongadas na presença de L. mesenteroides bac+ em BHI adicionado de sacarose, indicando uma resposta de adaptação do patógeno às condições de estresse, com importantes implicações para a segurança alimentar.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen which may survive in biofilms and persist in food processing plants. In this study, the ability of Leuconostoc mesenteroides (bac+ and bac-) to inhibit biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115 was studied with stainless steel coupons immersed in BHI broth and BHI broth plus sucrose in combination with the Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). Adhered cells were collected with swabs and enumerated on selective agars (Oxford for listeria and MRS for leuconostoc). Leuconostoc mesenteroides bac+ in co-culture with L. monocytogenes was effective to inhibit biofilm formation by listeria for up to 3 hours of incubation, but at 24 hours, biofilm was present in all conditions tested, as confirmed by observations of stainless steel coupons under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was also observed that in the presence of L. mesenteroides bac+ in BHI plus sucrose, a high number of elongated cells of L. monocytogenes was present, which may indicate an adaptation response of the pathogen to stress conditions with important implications for food safety.