Evaluation participative multilocale et pluriannuelle de variétés de mil [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

La méthode d’évaluation participative a été choisie pour impliquer les paysans en vue d’identifier dès le début des travaux les nouvelles variétés de mil plus performantes que les cultivars traditionnels locaux. De 1991 à 1997, des tests ont été conduits dans les zones nord-est, centre-nord et nord-ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire où le mil est l’une des céréales dominantes. Les variétés testées étaient des obtentions du programme d’amélioration variétale du mil à partir des populations locales à la station de recherche de Ferkessédougou. Ces variétés ont été obtenues après avoir fait des évaluations de rendement sur des parcelles expérimentales. Dans la majorité des essais, on a identifié un matériel végétal qui répond en grande partie aux besoins des paysans. Il s’agit de chandelles plus longues, d’un fort tallage, d’une faible sensibilité aux maladies et insectes et d’un bon rendement en grains.Mots clés: Mil, évaluation, variété, multilocal, pluriannue

Mise en place d'une collection de ressources génétiques du mil, Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR., en Côte d'Ivoire

Le mil est une céréale importante pour l'alimentation humaine. La Côte d'Ivoire représente un des centres de production et de consommation. Afin de collecter, conserver et étudier les variabilités existantes, une seconde mission a été effectuée dans les zones de culture de cette céréale en 1989 et 1990, faisant suite à la première mission de prospection et de collecte en 1979. Cent quarante quatre accessions, principalement des variétés traditionnelles locales, ont été collectés. Des données d'évaluation préliminaire ont été obtenues grâce à l'observation visuelle lors des collectes. Les critères de classification des variétés en milieu paysan, et les stratégies de gestion des ressources génétiques en milieu paysan ont été inventoriés. Des enquêtes ethnobotaniques et socioéconomiques, qui ont été réalisées auprès des agriculteurs, indiquent que la Côte d'Ivoire possède une longue tradition en matière de culture du mil. Au niveau local, un, deux voire 3 noms sont utilisés pour désigner le mil. Les pratiques traditionnelles de culture comprennent le labour en billons écartés de 0,80 cm en moyenne, avec enfouissement d'herbes. Le semis en poquet ou à la volée de variétés traditionnelles, sans utilisation d'engrais sont des pratiques courantes. Les variétés traditionnelles, dont 200 introduites et 72 accessions collectées en 1979 ont complété la collection.Millet is an important cereal food for human. Côte d'Ivoire is an important center of production and consumption. In order to collect, conserve and study the existing species variability in the country, two separate investigations were carried out in 1989 and 1990 in the production areas of this cereal as a follow up of the first prospection and collection mission carried out earlier. One hundred and forty four accessions, mainly from local varieties were collected. Preliminary evaluation data were obtained based on visual observations. Genetic resources management at -on-farm level and varietal classification criteria were listed. Socio economic and ethno botanic surveys indicated that Côte d'Ivoire has a long tradition in millet production. One, to three names are locally utilized to designate millet. Traditional cultural practices include plowing and planting on ridges 80 x 80 cm apart with weeds plowing. Broadcast or drill sowing, of local varieties, with no fertilizer application are current practices in the area. The introduction of 200 landraces and 72 collected accessions in 1972 complemented the established millet collection.Keywords: Collecting, millet, accessions, ethno-botany, granary, Côte d'Ivoir

Work according to the viewpoint of hospital food handlers

OBJETIVO: Analisar as percepções acerca da atividade profissional de um grupo de manipuladores de alimentos de um hospital público. MÉTODOS: A pesquisa, de cunho qualitativo, foi realizada em um serviço de nutrição e dietética de um hospital público de ensino da Cidade de São Paulo. Desenvolveu-se a partir de corpus obtido por técnica do grupo focal realizada com 15 funcionárias, sendo 8 vinculadas ao lactário e 7 à cozinha dietética. Os depoimentos foram gravados, transcritos e analisados sob o ponto de vista do conteúdo e das representações sociais. Posteriormente, a validação da análise foi realizada com as participantes. A caracterização socioeconômica foi realizada com uso de um formulário auto-aplicável. RESULTADOS: O trabalho é percebido como crucial para a sobrevivência, porém de grande responsabilidade social, além de implicar em rotina exaustiva. Além disso, constitui instância que possibilita apoio e relacionamento entre as trabalhadoras, embora não lhes proporcione o status que julgam merecer. O trabalho é representado como instância simultânea de sofrimento e apoio; embora importante, tanto para elas mesmas, quanto para o grupo social. Ao mesmo tempo, chefias e os superiores se mostram alheios a todas as dificuldades. CONCLUSÃO: Por conseqüência, percebe-se que há necessidade de mudanças na organização do trabalho, a fim de reduzir os fatores que ocasionam cansaço, descontentamentos e desânimo nas manipuladoras. Faz-se necessário maior investimento, por parte da chefia do serviço, na adoção de estratégias gerenciais mais descentralizadas e participativas, respeitando, na medida do possível, as opiniões e diferenças individuais, bem como investindo em treinamentos periódicos dos trabalhadores.OBJECTIVE: The objective was to analyze how a group of food handlers from a public hospital perceive their professional activities. METHODS: This qualitative research was carried out in a nutrition and dietetic service of a public hospital school in the city of São Paulo. Its development was based on a corpus obtained by doing the focus group technique with 15 employees, of which 8 worked in the milk dispensary and 7 in the dietetic kitchen. The statements were recorded, transcribed and analyzed according to content and social representations. Later, the analysis was validated together with the participants. Socioeconomic status was determined with a self-assessment form. RESULTS: Labor is perceived as crucial for survival and of great social responsibility, in addition to being exhausting. Furthermore, work represents an instance that allows workers to support and relate to each other, although it does not provide the status they believe they deserve. Labor is simultaneously represented as an instance of suffering and support while it is important for themselves and for the whole social group. Meanwhile, supervisors and managers do not seem to notice their difficulties. CONCLUSION: Consequently, the organization of the work needs changes in order to reduce factors that generate fatigue, unhappiness and discouragement among food handlers. Supervisors need to invest more in the implementation of decentralizing and more participative management strategies, respecting, whenever possible, the opinions and individual differences, as well as in the periodical training of the employees

Intestinal absorption of iron and calcium from soy and cow's milk-based infant formulas in weanling rats pups

Objective This study aimed to compare the intestinal absorption of iron and calcium between soy-based and cow's milk- based infant formulas in weanling rats. Methods Twenty male Wistar rats, twenty-one days old on the first day of weaning, were used in this experiment, divided in two Groups, one Group was fed soy protein-based infant formula the other, cow's milk protein-based infant formula. During the study period (ten consecutive days) the animals received food and water ad libitum. Hematocrit and hemoglobin were evaluated on the first, fifth, and tenth days by the Wintrobe and cyanomethemoglobin methods. Feces and urine were collected, beginning on the fifth day, for three consecutive days. On the tenth day, hepatic iron content was also analyzed. Hepatic iron as well as fecal and urinary iron and calcium analyses were performed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. At thirty-one days of age, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine and sacrificed by exsanguination via the vena cava. Results The final concentration of hemoglobin in the group soy-based infant formula and milk-based infant formula were: 10.3 +/- 1.3g/dL and 10.9 +/- 1.0g/dL (p=0.310). The apparent absorption of iron and calcium, in that order, were: 73.4 +/- 10.2% and 70.2 +/- 9.5%97.2 +/- 0.7% and 97.6 +/- 1.0% (p=0.501p=0.290). The apparent calcium retention was: 88.4%+/- 2.2 and 88.6 +/- 2.6%(p=0.848). Hepatic iron content was: 522.0 +/- 121.1mg/g and 527.8 +/- 80.5mg/g (p=0.907). Conclusion Intestinal iron and calcium absorption from soy-based infant formula is similar to that from milk-based infant formula in weanling rats.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pediat, R Coronel Lisboa,826,Vila Clementino, BR-04020041 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Lab Bromotol & Microbiol Alimentos, BR-04020041 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Departamento de Pediatria. R. Coronel Lisboa, 826, Vila Clementino, 04020-041, São Paulo, SP, BrasilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Laboratório de Bromotologia e Microbiologia de Alimentos. São Paulo, SP, BrasilWeb of Scienc

Tabelas de composição química de alimentos: análise comparativa com resultados laboratoriais

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a concordância entre os valores de macronutrientes e energia de alimentos analisados em laboratório com os dados apresentados em tabelas e softwares de composição de alimentos em uso no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados 11 alimentos totalizando 701 amostras. Foram selecionadas para comparação três tabelas e dois softwares de composição de alimentos. Foi aplicado o teste t de Student univariado, que consistiu na comparação entre a média dos valores obtidos em laboratório e o valor único e constante de cada tabela ou software, com significância no nível de 5%. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que dependendo do alimento, do nutriente estudado e da tabela ou software escolhido para a comparação, ocorreram diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os dados analisados em laboratório e os dados de tabelas e softwares. Para os alimentos estudados, foi observado: duas tabelas mostraram tendência à superestimação dos teores de proteína e HCT, enquanto uma outra superestima os teores de HCT; um dos softwares tendeu a superestimar os teores de lipídios e, consequentemente, o valor energético total, e em um outro software todos os nutrientes foram subestimados em relação aos valores obtidos em laboratório. CONCLUSÕES: Concluiu-se que é fundamental a elaboração de uma tabela brasileira de composição de alimentos, a partir de dados obtidos em laboratório, para garantir melhor exatidão das informações.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the agreement between macronutrients and food energy values analyzed in laboratory and data of food composition tables and software available in Brazil. METHODS: Eleven types of food were analyzed totaling 701 samples. Student's t-test was performed consisting of the comparison between the mean values obtained in laboratory and the unique constant value of each table or software at 5% confidence level. RESULTS: It was noted that depending on the type of food, nutrient and table or software selected for comparison, there were significant statistically differences between laboratory and tables and software data. Concerning the studied types of food it was observed a trend of overestimating protein and carbohydrate content in two tables while carbohydrate content was overestimated in a third table. One of the software programs showed overestimated lipid content and, consequently, the total energetic values while a second software program underestimated all nutrients when compared to laboratory results. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed it is essential to create a Brazilian food composition table from laboratory data to assure more accurate data

Hurdles at work: perceptions of hospital food handlers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Food handlers have a very important role in preventing food contamination during its preparation and distribution. This responsibility is even greater in hospitals, since a large number of patients have low immunity and consequently food contamination by pathogenic bacteria could be particularly harmful. Therefore, a good working environment and periodic training should be provided to food handlers by upper management.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study is qualitative research by means of focus group and thematic content analysis methodologies to examine, in detail, the statements by food handlers working in the milk and specific-diet kitchens in a hospital to understand the problems they face in the workplace.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that food handlers are aware of the role they play in restoring patients' health; they consider it important to offer a good-quality diet. However, according to their perceptions, a number of difficulties prevent them from reaching this aim. These include: upper management not prioritizing human and material resources to the dietetic services when making resource allocation decisions; a perception that upper management considers their work to be of lesser importance; delayed overtime payments; lack of periodic training; managers lacking administrative skills; insufficient dietitian staff assistants, leading to overwork, at the same time as there is an excess of dietitians; unhealthy environmental working conditions – high temperature, high humidity, loud and constant noise level, poor ventilation; lack of food, and kitchen utensils and equipment; and relationship conflicts with chief dieticians and co-workers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From these findings, improvement in staff motivation could be achieved by considering non-financial incentives, such as improvement in working conditions and showing appreciation and respect through supervision, training and performance appraisal. Management action, such as investments in intermediary management so that managers have the capacity to provide supportive supervision, as well as better use of performance appraisal and access to training, may help overcome the identified problems.</p

Trispecific antibody targeting HIV-1 and T cells activates and eliminates latently-infected cells in HIV/SHIV infections.

Agents that can simultaneously activate latent HIV, increase immune activation and enhance the killing of latently-infected cells represent promising approaches for HIV cure. Here, we develop and evaluate a trispecific antibody (Ab), N6/αCD3-αCD28, that targets three independent proteins: (1) the HIV envelope via the broadly reactive CD4-binding site Ab, N6; (2) the T cell antigen CD3; and (3) the co-stimulatory molecule CD28. We find that the trispecific significantly increases antigen-specific T-cell activation and cytokine release in both CD4 &lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; and CD8 &lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; T cells. Co-culturing CD4 &lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; with autologous CD8 &lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; T cells from ART-suppressed HIV &lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; donors with N6/αCD3-αCD28, results in activation of latently-infected cells and their elimination by activated CD8 &lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; T cells. This trispecific antibody mediates CD4 &lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; and CD8 &lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; T-cell activation in non-human primates and is well tolerated in vivo. This HIV-directed antibody therefore merits further development as a potential intervention for the eradication of latent HIV infection

Puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase protects against aggregation-prone proteins via autophagy

A major function of proteasomes and macroautophagy is to eliminate misfolded potentially toxic proteins. Mammalian proteasomes, however, cannot cleave polyglutamine (polyQ) sequences and seem to release polyQ-rich peptides. Puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA) is the only cytosolic enzyme able to digest polyQ sequences. We tested whether PSA can protect against accumulation of polyQ fragments. In cultured cells, Drosophila and mouse muscles, PSA inhibition or knockdown increased aggregate content and toxicity of polyQ-expanded huntingtin exon 1. Conversely, PSA overexpression decreased aggregate content and toxicity. PSA inhibition also increased the levels of polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 as well as mutant α-synuclein and superoxide dismutase 1. These protective effects result from an unexpected ability of PSA to enhance macroautophagy. PSA overexpression increased, and PSA knockdown or inhibition reduced microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) levels and the amount of protein degradation sensitive to inhibitors of lysosomal function and autophagy. Thus, by promoting autophagic protein clearance, PSA helps protect against accumulation of aggregation-prone proteins and proteotoxicity

The medical student

The Medical Student was published from 1888-1921 by the students of Boston University School of Medicine