Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the isoflavones accumulation in soybean pods and grains during the filling period in field conditions. Pods of the same phenological stage (marked in R5, i.e. beginning of grain filling period) were collected at R5, R6 (full grain), and R7 (beginning of physiological maturity) stages. At each analyzed stage, grains always exceed pods isoflavone concentrations. A decreasing tendency of isoflavone concentration was observed in pods towards the late grain filling. In this maternal tissue, no acetyl glucosides at any stage or aglycones at physiological maturity were detected. In grains, glucosides, malonyl glucosides, and total isoflavones increased and acetyl glucosides decreased from R5 to R7, whereas aglycones increased to R6, but then decreased. It is concluded that grains are the main accumulation tissue of these bioactive compounds, whereas pods seem to contribute to their accumulation in advanced stages of grain development.

Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la acumulación de isoflavonoides en vainas y granos de soja durante el período de llenado en condiciones de campo. Vainas de la misma fenología (marcadas en R5, es decir, inicio del llenado de granos) fueron colectadas en los estadíos R5, R6 (máximo tamaño de grano) y R7 (inicio de madurez fisiológica). En cada estadio analizado, los granos siempre superaron la concentración de isoflavonoides de las vainas. Se observó una tendencia decreciente de la concentración de isoflavonoides en las vainas hacia el llenado tardío de granos. En este tejido materno no se detectaron acetil glucósidos en ningún estadio ni agliconas a madurez fisiológica. En los granos los glucósidos, los malonil glucósidos y los isoflavonoides totales aumentaron y los acetil glucósidos disminuyeron de R5 a R7, mientras que las agliconas aumentaron a R6, pero luego disminuyeron. Se concluyó que los granos son el principal tejido de acumulación de estos compuestos bioactivos, mientras que las vainas parecen contribuir a su síntesis más tarde en el desarrollo de los granos.

Low-grade inflammation adversely influences metabolism and cardiovascular prognosis, nevertheless increased intake of fruits and vegetables has rarely been studied in this context. Objective: In a prospective controlled study, the effect on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was assessed. Methodology: Sixty consecutive women undergoing cosmetic abdominal surgery were instructed to consume six servings each of fruits and vegetables during the first postoperative month. Detailed 24h interviewer-administered dietary recall was conducted at baseline and at the end of the study, with weekly returns to monitor unscheduled dietary changes and compliance with the protocol. Variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA) were evaluated to confirm significance and minimize confounding variables. Results: No differences concerning age (42.2 ± 5.3 vs 41.1 ± 6.0 years) or BMI (25.5± 3.1 vs 25.0± 3.0 kg/m²) occurred. Ingestion of fruits increased to approximately 5.2 vs 3.9 and of vegetables 5.9 vs 3.4 servings/ day, respectively. CRP decreased more conspicuously in the treated group (P=0.028), and correlation between vitamin C input and CRP in supplemented participants was demonstrated (P=0.014). Conclusions: Higher intake of antioxidant foods was feasible, and an antiinflammaotory effect occurred. Further studies with longer administration and follow-up period are recommended.

Inflamación subclínica influencia adversamiente el metabolismo y el pronóstico cardiovascular, pero ingestión elevada de vegetales y frutas há sido pocas veces investigada en este contexto. Objetivo: En un estúdio prospectivo y controlado, el impacto sobre la proteina C-reactiva fue determinado. Metodología: Sesenta pacientes consecutivas sometidas a cirugía cosmética abdominal fueron instruídas a consumir seis porciones diárias de frutas y mais seis de vegetales, en el primero més de postoperatório. Un recordatório alimentar detallado registrado por dietista fue conducido inicialmiente y al cabo del estúdio, con retornos semanales para monitorar aderéncia y cámbios eventuales de la dieta. Análisis de variáncia (ANOVA) y covariáncia (ANCOVA) fueron realizadas para evaluar resultados y minimizar variables de confusión. Conclusiones: Un consumo mas alto de alimientos antioxidantes fue posible, y una respuesta antiinflamatória fue documentada. Estúdios adicionales com suministración y seguimiento mas prolongados son recomendados.

RESUMO Foi realizada a estimativa de freqüência de infecção por Leptospira sp. em bovinos do Estado da Paraíba, Brasil. Seis municípios foram escolhidos ao acaso em cada uma das 3 ecorregiões do Estado: Agreste/Litoral, Cariri/Curimatau e Sertão. Estes 18 municípios foram divididos em quadrantes e uma propriedade foi selecionada por quadrante. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas aleatoriamente de, pelo menos, 32 animais por propriedade. Todos os municípios incluídos no estudo (100%) e 87,75% das propriedades apresentaram no mínimo uma amostra positiva para pelo menos uma das 15 diferentes sorovariedades de Leptospira sp. (16 amostras) testadas. Dos 2.343 animais examinados, 759 reagiram positivamente para pelo menos uma das 16 amostras de Leptospira sp. testadas. Quatrocentos e setenta animais reagiram positivamente para múltiplas amostras. A sorovariedade Hardjo, do sorogrupo Sejroe, foi a mais freqüente com 16,05% (95% IC – 12,69% a 19,41%) dos resultados positivos (376 reações positivas). Houve diferenças na freqüência dos resultados positivos para as amostras da sorovariedade Hardjo testadas: amostra Norma (15,62% 95% IC – 12,38% a 18,86%), isolada no Brasil, e a amostra de referência Hardjoprajitino (2,43% 95% IC – 1,12% a 3,75%). As demais sorovariedades apresentaram freqüências inferiores a 2,8%. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo confirmam que Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo é amplamente distribuída no Estado da Paraíba, Brasil.

ABSTRACT A survey was conducted to estimate the frequency of Leptospira sp. infection in cattle in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. A random sample of 6 municipalities was chosen from each of 3 ecoregions of the state: the Agreste/Litoral, the Cariri/Curimatau and the Sertão. These 18 municipalities were broken down into quadrants and one property was selected at random from each quadrant. Random samples were collected from at least eight animals at each property, in four-age categories, summing at least 32 animals per property. All municipalities that were included in the study (100%) and 87.75% of the properties had at least one positive sample for one of the 15 different Leptospira sp. serovars (16 strains) studied. From 2,343 samples, 759 showed positive reaction to, at least, one of the 16 strains tested. Four hundred and seventy animals were positive to multiple strains. The serovar Hardjo, of the Sejroe serogroup, was the most frequent and accounted for 16.05% (95% CI 12.69% to 19.41%) of the positive results (376 positive reactions). There were differences in the frequency of positive results according to the two strains of serovar Hardjo used: strain Norma (15.62% 95% CI 12.38% to 18.86%), isolated in Brazil, and reference strain Hardjoprajitino (2.43% 95% CI 1.12% to 3.75%). The remaining serovars tested had frequencies lower than 2.8%. Results obtained in the present study confirmed that Leptospira interrogans serovar Hardjo is widely spread in the State of Paraíba, Brazil.

O setor agrícola nacional, em fase da reorganização e adequação aos novos padrões de produção e comercialização, enfrenta o desafio de crescer de modo competitivo e sustentável, para atender a demanda interna e conquistar e manter espaço de mercado externo, fornecendo produtos e processos de qualidade, com sustentabilidade e a preços competitivos. Para atender as novas demandas de uma agricultura mais equilibrada, ecológica e econômica, é necessário a prática de uma produção coerente com o desenvolvimento sustentável, o que o sistema de plantio direto desde a década de 60 vem demonstrando no País. Assim sendo, é objetivo deste trabalho analisar, utilizando a Matriz de Análise de Políticas, a lucratividade e competitividade da produção de soja no sistema de plantio direto, na região do cerrado de Mato Grosso do Sul que, como se pode observar pelos resultados obtidos, foi maior do que a do sistema de plantio convencional.

The national agricultural section, in phase of reorganization and adaptation to the new production and sale standards, faces the challenge of growing in a competitive and sustainable way, to meet the internal demand and to conquer and to maintain foreign market space, supplying products and quality processes with sustainability and at competitive prices. To meet the new demands of a more ecologically and economically balanced agriculture, it requires the practice of a production consistent with the sustainable development.

We investigated the angiotensin II (Ang II)-generating system by analyzing the vasoconstrictor effect of Ang II, angiotensin I (Ang I), and tetradecapeptide (TDP) renin substrate in the absence and presence of inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system in isolated rat aortic rings and mesenteric arterial beds with and without functional endothelium. Ang II, Ang I, and TDP elicited a dose-dependent vasoconstrictor effect in both vascular preparations that was completely blocked by the Ang II receptor antagonist saralasin (50 nM). The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril (36 µM) completely inhibited the vasoconstrictor effect elicited by Ang I and TDP in aortic rings without affecting that of Ang II. In contrast, captopril (36 µM) significantly reduced (80-90%) the response to bolus injection of Ang I, without affecting those to Ang II and TDP in mesenteric arteries. Mechanical removal of the endothelium greatly potentiated (70-95%) the vasoconstrictor response to Ang II, Ang I, and TDP in aortic rings while these responses were unaffected by the removal of the endothelium of mesenteric arteries with sodium deoxycholate infusion. In addition, endothelium disruption did not change the pattern of response elicited by these peptides in the presence of captopril. These findings indicate that the endothelium may not be essential for Ang II formation in rat mesenteric arteries and aorta, but it may modulate the response to Ang II. Although Ang II formation from Ang I is essentially dependent on ACE in both vessels, our results suggest the existence of an alternative pathway in the mesenteric arterial bed that may play an important role in Ang II generation from TDP in resistance but not in large vessels during ACE inhibition