Degradação de compostos fenólicos por estirpes de Lactobacillus isoladas de águas russas

Comunicação apresentada no III Simpósio Nacional de Olvicultura que decorreu em Castelo Branco, na Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, de 289 a 31 de Outubro de 2003.As águas russas, principal resíduo da indústria de extracção do azeite, são caracterizadas por uma elevada carga orgânica poluente constituindo, por esta razão, um dos mais graves problemas ambientais dos países da bacia mediterrânea. São particularmente ricas em compostos fenólicos, lípidos e açúcares e apresentam teores mínimos de compostos azotados. O seu potencial biológico e energético é importante, pelo que se estudou a possibilidade de serem usadas como meio de cultura para produção de inóculos lácticos para a indústria de preparação de azeitona de mesa. Foram estudadas várias fontes de compensação de azoto, bem como vários tipos de meio, líquido ou sistema bifásico, com vista à maximização da capacidade de degradação de compostos fenólicos por bactérias lácticas (BL). Foram também estudados alguns dos factores de adaptação das BL às condições de stress fenólico. Concluiu-se que a degradação dos compostos fenólicos e a produção de ácido láctico depende do tipo e da concentração de azoto. Verificou-se que as BL possuem um mecanismo de adaptação ao stress fenólico, baseado em alterações dos seus componentes celulares

Rat skin physiology is modified by age

Animal models have been useful in the study of specific mechanisms affecting human skin. Such is the case with ageing and the micromechanical changes determining wrinkles in UV- irradiated mice. These models enabled us to understand that ageing encompasses many peculiar mechanical responses which cannot be explained by homogeneous deformation of the skin. Moreover, a major aspect to consider is that ageing processes differ among species and direct inferences are rarely possible. This project aimed to compare age-induced changes in skin properties by studying two Wistar rat groups of different ages – young adult rats (n=7, 20–24 week-old) and old adult rats (n=5, 48–72 week-old). Non-invasive measuring approaches involving transepidermal water loss (TEWL), superficial hydration (MoistureMeter), and biomechanics (Reviscometer, and Cutometer by MPA80) were taken in the animal dorsum (neck, bottom) over a period of five days, allowing statistical comparisons between groups. Results revealed no significant differences for TEWL, firmness or viscoelasticity between the two groups. However, a significant hydration decrease, of nearly 40%, was noted in the old adult rats group. These results, although preliminary, if translatable to humans could be useful to address age-related changes in processes such as healing, or patch dressing efficacy/safety where hydration is a critical determinant. Their potential use for the prediction of efficacy and or safety of topically applied products for the elderly as compared to young adults may warrant further investigation.

Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America: Industrial Productivity and Corporate Governance

This paper examines the impact of industrial productivity on transnationals M&As from OECD countries towards Latin American countries in the period 1996 to 2010. It also analyzes the relationship between external mechanism of corporate governance and transnational M&As. For this purpose we use a gravitational model at the industry level. We find that industry productivity and higher standards of corporate governance in the country of origin promote transnational M&As activity. However, it is also found that higher levels of capital and technological productivity decreases transnational M&As activity

Chronic Hyperglycemia Modulates Rat Osteoporotic Cortical Bone Microarchitecture into Less Fragile Structures

The authors thank Cintramedica, Laboratorio de analises clinicas, Sintra, Portugal, for the assistance in biomarker analyses. This research has been partially financially supported with Grant UID/EMS/50022/2013, sponsored by the Portuguese Foundation for the Science and Technology ("Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia"-FCT).There is controversy concerning the diabetes impact on bone quality, notorious in type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women. One pointed cause might be uncontrolled glycemia. In this study, the effect of chronic hyperglycemia in bone turnover, morphology, and biomechanics was evaluated in female Wistar rats in the presence/absence of estrogens (ovariectomy). Animals (n=28) were divided into sham, ovariectomized (OVX), hyperglycemic (streptozotocin 40 mg/kg, single-dose i.p.-STZ), and hyperglycemic-ovariectomized (STZ + OVX) animals. Blood biomarkers were estimated 60 days postovariectomy. Body weight, vertebral microarchitecture (L4-histomorphometry), femur biomechanical properties (bending tests), tibia ultrastructure (scanning electron microscopy), and femur and urinary calcium (atomic absorption) were also evaluated. The increased PINP/CTX ratio of hyperglycemic animals and the similar ratio between STZ + OVX and healthy animals contrasting with the lower ratio of OVX (in line with its histomorphometric data) suggest a tendency for improved bone formation in hyperglycemic-ovariectomized animals. The increased tibia medullar canal, which contrasts with the unaffected cortical thickness of both hyperglycemic groups while that of OVX decreased, was associated to the increased stiffness and strength of STZ + OVX bones compared to those of OVX, in line with the observed ultrastructure. Concluding, chronic hyperglycemia in ovariectomized female rats causes bone morphological changes that translate positively in the ultrastructure and mechanical properties of cortical bones. © 2017 Cristina de Mello-Sampayo et al.publishersversionpublishe