Abstract This study aimed to develop and evaluate fermented milk by Lactobacillus reuteri LR92 with addition of juçara pulp (FMJ) and reuterin production in situ. The fermentation process was analyzed for 24 hours and the storage of FMJ for 30 days at 4 °C. During the fermentation, there was consumption of 25% (w / v) of lactose and increase of 0.01 to 0.85% (w / v) of lactic acid. The FMJ presented 0.43 ± 0.01 mM of reuterin, inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus strains under in vitro test. For the carbohydrates, the percentages (g.100g-1) found were 7.31 ± 1.07; 9.19 ± 0.82; 1.60 ± 0.50 and 0.08 ± 0.00 for sucrose, lactose, galactose and fructose respectively. The survival of L. reuteri, present in FMJ, was 2.47 log CFU / mL after 6 hours of gastrointestinal simulation. In sensory analysis FMJ received a grade 7 for global acceptance indicating good acceptance of the product.

The rises of toxic effects caused by pesticides are of concern. However, Brazilian legislation still needs scientific subsides to improve the water quality requirements. This can be attributed in part to the few existing studies showing the occurrence and levels of multi-residue pesticides. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the presence and the residue-levels of pesticides in surface, ground and drinking water of Tibagi River micro-basin in Paraná State, Brazil. Data obtained over a year for the physical-chemical parameters, screening and quantification, made by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), confirmed the contamination by several pesticides. Alarming concentrations of diuron and imazethapyr in a permanent preservation area and in groundwater were observed. The absence of legislation for most pesticides under study makes difficult the prohibition of their use and the control of their residue-levels on the environment. The results draw attention to further discussion and engagement around the pesticide regulations.

Commercial Brazilian regular and decaffeinated instant coffees (33 brands) were studied. The levels ranged from 0.47 to 2.15 g 100 g-1 for trigonelline, 0.38 to 2.66 g 100 g-1 for 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), 0.24 to 4.08 g 100 g-1 for caffeine, and 0.253 to 0.476 (420 nm) for melanoidins. Variations in bioactive compound levels among batches were observed. There was no relationship between the drying process and the composition of the products. In general, Gourmet and decaffeinated coffees had higher trigonelline and 5-CQA but lower caffeine and melanoidin content than regular products.

A exposição às aflatoxinas (AFs) na dieta é um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento do carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC) e a exacerbação da hepatite aguda em indivíduos portadores do vírus da hepatite B (VHB). O uso de biomarcadores, como a aflatoxina M1 (AFM1) na urina, produto de biotransformação da aflatoxina B1 (AFB1), permite avaliar se a população está exposta às AFs. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar ocorrência de AFM1 na urina de portadores e não portadores crônicos do VHB. Foi selecionado um grupo, de forma aleatória, representado por 43 portadores do VHB atendidos em dois hospitais da cidade de Maringá, Brasil, no período de Março a Junho/2008. O grupo controle foi composto por 29 voluntários adultos saudáveis anti-HBs positivo e HBsAg negativo. A determinação de AFM1 foi realizada por meio de detecção por fluorescência em sistema de cromatografia a líquido de alta eficiência com derivação pós-coluna utilizando Kobra Cell®. Das 72 amostras analisadas, 05/29 (17,2%) foram positivas para AFM1 em indivíduos não portadores do VHB, e 16/43 (37,2%) de pacientes portadores do VHB. Este estudo demonstrou a ocorrência de AFM1 na urina dos dois grupos estudados. Entretanto, há evidências de que os portadores do VHB possuam alto risco no desenvolvimento do CHC devido ao efeito aditivo pela interação entre aflatoxinas e VHB.

Exposure to aflatoxins (AFs) in the diet may favour the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the acute exacerbation of hepatitis in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. Measurement of biomarkers such as aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a metabolite of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), in urine allows for the assessment of populations exposed to aflatoxins. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in the urine of HBV carrier and non-carrier patients. One group included 43 randomly selected HBV carriers treated at two hospitals in the city of Maringa, Brazil, from March to June 2008. Control group consisted of 29 healthy adult volunteers with anti-HBs positive and HBsAg negative test results. Detection of AFM1 was performed by fluorescence using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and post-column derivation with the Kobra Cell®. Of the 72 samples analysed, 05/29 (17.2%) AFM1 positive samples were from HBV non-carriers, and 16/43 (37.2%) of samples were from chronic HBV carriers. This study showed AFM1 in the urine of the two surveyed population. However, there is evidence that the chronic HBV carriers have a higher risk of developing HCC due to additive interaction between AFs and HBV.

The objective in this work was to validate a chromatography method for the determination of total carbohydrates in soluble coffee, using a HPLC-UV-VIS with postcolumn derivatization system, in order to verify adulterant additions. The validated method was accurate and robust. Adulteration could be observed by increasing xylose and glucose levels in samples with addition of coffee husks and starchy products while decreasing of galactose and mannose characteristic carbohydrates presenting in high concentration in soluble coffees produced by arabica and robusta coffee beans.

Avaliou-se o efeito de baixas temperaturas sobre a sobrevivência de mudas de camomila (originadas de sementes importadas e coletadas localmente) e sobre a produtividade da matéria-prima vegetal. Quarenta mudas com 7 a 10 cm de altura foram transferidas para câmara de germinação, tipo BOD, de duas procedências, onde permaneceram por 24 h nas condições: 10 h, com luz e 15ºC; 8 h, sem luz e 10ºC; 3 h, sem luz e 5ºC; 3 h; sem luz e temperaturas de 0ºC (testemunha), -2ºC, -4ºC e -6ºC. As mudas de sementes local apresentaram maior número de plantas mortas quando aplicadas às temperaturas de -4 e -6ºC, do que as importadas. O número de flores por planta e o acúmulo de matéria seca de flores por planta foram 462% e 226% superior, respectivamente, nas plantas originadas de sementes local comparadas com as importadas. O tratamento térmico de -6ºC proporcionou retomada do crescimento e aumento da produção das plantas de camomila, contrastando com aquelas submetidas às temperaturas de -2ºC e -4ºC. Os extratos das flores das plantas originadas de sementes local e importada mostraram igual quantidade de quercetina (substância marcadora).

In the present trial the effects of low temperatures on the surviving of chamomile seedlings originated from two different origins (local and imported seeds) was evaluated on the development, yield and concentration of quercetin. Forty to 10 cm high seedlings from the two origins were transferred to a germination chamber (BOD) during 24 hours and submitted to the conditions: 10 h with light and 15ºC; 8 h without light and 10ºC; 3 h without light and 5ºC; 3 h without light and temperatures ranging from 0 (check), -2, -4, and -6ºC. The seedlings from national seeds were more susceptible to the temperatures of -4 and -6ºC. There were 462% more flowers per plant and 226% more dry matter accumulation per plant in the plants originated from national seeds compared to the plantlets from imported seeds. Chamomile plants regrew and showed higher yield when submitted to temperatures of -6ºC. The national and imported plants showed the same concentration of quercetin.