The presence of bioaccessible potentially-toxic elements in five different brands of temporary tattoos (packaged with bubble gums) aimed at children and three product brands used by young and adult audiences were analyzed in accordance with the Brazilian Organization of Technical Standards (ABNT) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for toy’s safety standards. Bioaccessible barium, copper and strontium were found in the concentration range between 1.78-11.1 μg g-1, 0.0364-0.875 μg g-1, 0.155-9.9 μg g-1, respectively. Bioaccessible lead (2.6 ± 0.1 μg g-1 - 4.36 ± 0.06 μg g-1) and boron (2.14 ± 0.07 - 3.54 ± 0.07 μg g-1) were found in two samples whereas chromium (0.403 ± 0.004 μg g-1) in one sample aimed at children. Bioaccessible aluminum was found in six samples, mostly at products used by children. Other elements whose bioaccessibility was evaluated were Mo (< LOD), Cd (< LOD), V (0.148 ± 0.003 μg g-1) and Co (0.003 - 1.756 μg g-1). All samples met the upper limits permitted by the national toy safety standard, however, chromium, lead, cobalt and barium presented higher bioaccessibility levels than the allowed values by cosmetic regulation that controls products applied directly to the skin.

RESUMEN El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo establecer los perfiles de ácidos grasos de una variedad de alimentos tradicionales que se consumen regularmente en Paraguay. Se evaluaron treinta y dos alimentos con alto contenido de lípidos mediante cromatografía de gases acoplada a detector de ionización de llama (GC-FID). Los productos cárnicos y lácteos presentaron un elevado nivel de ácidos grasos saturados, aumentando los índices de aterogenicidad y trombogenicidad. Entre los monoinsaturados, el ácido oleico (18: 1n-9c) se encuentró principalmente en aceitunas (71,7%) y chipa (62,7%), este último preparado industrialmente por adición de ácido oleico. En cuanto al contenido de ácidos grasos trans, los valores más altos se encontraron en los helados a base de leche (5,1%) y chipa guazú (3,8%). Los valores de la relación n-6 / n-3 fueron superiores a 37:1 en sopa paraguaya y empanada (frita) debido a la adición de aceite de soja y maíz utilizado en la preparación de alimentos. Los datos evaluados y presentados en este estudio pueden contribuir a la mejora de los hábitos alimentarios de la población paraguaya, así como ayudar a combatir los factores de riesgo comúnmente asociados con los malos hábitos alimentarios y los problemas crónicos de salud.

ABSTRACT The present study aims to establish the fatty acid profile of a variety of traditional foods consumed regularly in Paraguay. Thirty-two high-lipid content foods were evaluated by gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Meat and dairy products were found to present high levels of saturated fatty acids, and this led to an increase in the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices of these products. Among the monounsaturated acids evaluated, oleic acid (18:1n-9c) was mainly found in olives (71.7%) and chipa (62.7%), which had been industrially prepared with the addition of oleic acid. Milk-based ice cream (5.1%) and chipa guazú (3.8%) presented the highest content of trans fatty acids. The n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio obtained for the traditional sopa Paraguaya and empanada (fried pasty) was higher than 37:1; this can be attributed to the addition of soybean and corn oils in the preparation of these foods. The data evaluated and presented in this study can contribute toward the improvement of eating habits among the Paraguayan population, as well as help combat the risk factors commonly associated with bad eating habits and chronic health issues.

INTRODUCTION: Medullary thyroid carcinoma may occur in a sporadic (s-medullary thyroid carcinoma, 75%) or in a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 form (MEN2, 25%). These clinical forms differ in many ways, as s-medullary thyroid carcinoma cases are RET-negative in the germline and are typically diagnosed later than medullary thyroid carcinoma in MEN2 patients. In this study, a set of cases with s-medullary thyroid carcinoma are documented and explored. PURPOSE: To document the phenotypes observed in s-medullary thyroid carcinoma cases from a university group and to attempt to improve earlier diagnosis of s-medullary thyroid carcinoma. Some procedures for diagnostics are also recommended. METHOD: Patients (n=26) with apparent s-medullary thyroid carcinoma were studied. Their clinical data were reviewed and peripheral blood was collected and screened for RET germline mutations. RESULTS: The average age at diagnosis was 43.9 years (± 10.82 SD) and did not differ between males and females. Calcitonin levels were increased in all cases. Three patients presented values that were 100-fold greater than the normal upper limit. Most (61.54%) had values that were 20-fold below this limit. Carcinoembryonic antigen levels were high in 70.6% of cases. There was no significant association between age at diagnosis, basal calcitonin levels or time of disease onset with thyroid tumor size (0.6-15 cm). Routine thyroid cytology yielded disappointing diagnostic accuracy (46.7%) in this set of cases. After total thyroidectomy associated with extensive cervical lymph node resection, calcitonin values remained lower than 5 pg/mL for at least 12 months in eight of the cases (30.8%). Immunocyto- and histochemistry for calcitonin were positive in all analyzed cases. None of the 26 cases presented germline mutations in the classical hotspots of the RET proto-oncogene. CONCLUSION: Our cases were identified late. The basal calcitonin measurements and immunostaining for calcitonin were highly useful for diagnosing s-medullary thyroid carcinoma. The rate of complete patient recovery was low, and none of the parameters analyzed were useful predictors of the thyroid tumor size. Our findings support previous recommendations for routine serum calcitonin evaluation and immunostaining analysis involving single thyroid nodules.

Parasitóides de ovos (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) do complexo de percevejos da soja (Glycine max L.) são candidatos potenciais a agentes de controle nos programas de manejo integrado de pragas da soja no Brasil. A correta identificação de espécies e/ou raças desses parasitóides é importante para implementação do uso do controle biológico. A técnica de "random amplified polymorphic DNA" (RAPD) foi usada para analisar indivíduos machos de Telenomus podisi Ashmead e Trissolcus spp. coletado em uma área de soja em Brasília em 1996. A análise de 18 oligonucleotídeos usados para os indivíduos de Trissolcus spp. revelou diferentes perfis de RAPD entre as espécies, indicando a possibilidade de utilizar esses marcadores para diferenciar T. teretis Johnson, T. urichi Crawford e T. basalis (Wollaston). Os 13 oligonucleotídeos usados para analisar 33 indivíduos de uma população de T. podisi produziram 103 bandas. Foram observados diferentes genótipos nessa população, que pela análise fenética com os dados de RAPD se agruparam com alta homogeneidade (similaridade >78,2%).

The solitary egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) of Pentatomidae species complex are potential candidates for soybean (Glycine max L.) integrated pest management programs in Brazil. The correct identification of species and strains of these parasitoids is necessary to implement the use of biological control. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to generate random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) from male individuals of Telenomus podisi Ashmead and Trissolcus spp. collected in a soybean field in Brasília, Brazil in 1996. The analysis of 18 primers used to screen Trissolcus spp. individuals revealed different patterns related to the species analyzed. These results indicate the potential of RAPD markers to differentiate T. teretis Johnson, T. urichi Crawford and T. basalis (Wollaston). The 13 selected primers used to analyze T. podisi individuals produced 103 clear polymorphic scorable markers. Different genotypes were observed within this population analyzed, although the cluster analysis applied to the RAPD data showed high homogeneity (similarity >78.2%) among individuals.