Total Mercury Determination in Muscle and Liver Tissue Samples from Brazilian Amazon Fish Using Slurry Sampling

This paper presents a slurry sampling method for total mercury determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) in tissue of fish from the Amazon. The tissue samples were lyophilized and macerated, and then the slurry samples were prepared by putting 20 mg of tissue, added to a solution containing Triton X-100, Suprapur HNO3, and zirconium nitrate directly in sampling vials of a spectrometer. Mercury standard solutions were prepared under the same conditions as the slurry samples. The slurry samples and the mercury standard solutions were sonicated for 20 s. Twenty microliters of slurry samples were injected into the graphite tube, which contained an internal wall lined with tungsten carbide. Under these conditions, it was possible to thermally stabilize the mercury up to an atomization temperature of 1700 °C. The method was validated by mercury determination in reference materials DORM-4 and DOLT-4. The LOD and LOQ were 0.014 and 0.045 mg kg−1, respectively, and recovery percentages in relation to the concentration values were certified in the order of 98%

PARASITOS OBSERVADOS EM FEZES DE SUÍNOS CRIADOS EXTENSIVAMENTE EM CAMPOS NOVOS, SANTA CATARINA.

A criação extensiva de suínos tem como objetivo na subsistência familiar (produção para consumo próprio), onde são criados de forma rústica, sem manejo e controle sanitário, alimentação através de restos de culturas, sem controle técnico, sem uso de vermífugos e medicamentos. Esse tipo de criação eleva as chances de encontrar parasitos que causam prejuízos na produção, economicamente e também zoonose, como a Balantidiose, causada pelo protozoário Ballantidium. O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar a presença de parasitos nas fezes de suínos criados extensivamente. Foram coletadas três amostras de fezes de suínos criados soltos, essas amostras foram acondicionadas em caixas isotérmicas e encaminhadas ao laboratório didático de análises clínicas da Unoesc Campos Novos. As técnicas parasitológicas realizadas foram Willis Mollay, Gordon Whitlock, Robert Sulivan e Sheater.  foi utilizada para protozoários como Ballantidium e Isospora. Os resultados obtidos foram as 3 amostras de Ascaris suum, 2 amostras continham ovos de Isospora e 1 amostra ovo tipo Strongyloidea. Na diferenciação das larvas, foram positivo para larvas de Trichostrongylus, Hyostrongylus e Oesophagostumum. Esses resultados foram possíveis pela falta de manejo e controle dos parasitos. É importante realizar acondicionamento ideal dos animais, aplicação de vermífugo e controle sanitário

USO DE TÉCNICAS PARASITOLÓGICAS EM AULA PRÁTICA PARA AMOSTRAS DE FEZES DE RUMINANTES.

A pesquisa parasitológica em animais de produção representa um ponto essencial no sucesso produtivo da agropecuária, pois alguns desses agentes representam perdas econômicas e produtivas. Algumas espécies de animais são mais vulneráveis a presença parasitária, resultando em alta conversão alimentar, perda de peso, anemia e óbito em casos mais severos. Os ruminantes são expostos a diversos parasitos no ambiente e isso torna o diagnóstico parasitológico fundamental para o tratamento e prevenção desses agentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi relatar os exames parasitológicos necessários para determinar a espécie de parasito intestinais que acomete rebanhos de bovinos e ovinos. Foram coletas amostras de fezes de três bovinos e sete ovinos. As amostras foram encaminhadas ao labororatório de Parasitologia Aninal da Unoesc Campos Novos. As técnicas realizadas foram Wiilis Mollay, Gordon Withlock e Robert Sulivan. Os resultados obtidos foram 66,67% (2/3) amostras de bovino positivo com 300 ovos tipo Strongyloidea por grama de fezes (OPG) e 42,86% (3/7) amostras de ovinos positivas com 500 OPG, 3000 OPG e 3800 OPG. Ao realizarmos a técnica de diferenciação de larvas foi verificado que o parasito presente nas amostras era Haemonchus. Para bovinos, a carga parasitaria necessária para iniciar tratamento 500 OPG, enquanto em ovinos é 400 OPG. As técnicas parasitológicas foram essenciais para a detecção e a definição de qual parasito acometia os rebanhos, sendo possível realizar a terapia adequada em cada quadro clínico

ELSA-Brasil: a 4-year incidence of hearing loss in adults with and without hypertension

OBJECTIVE To compare the incidence of hearing loss among adults stratified by the occurrence of hypertension, and to investigate the association between hypertension and hearing loss. METHODS Longitudinal observational study, part of the Estudo Longitudinal da Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil, Longitudinal Study on Adult’s Health). Data from the first and second waves were analyzed, including information from audiological assessment and general health of the subjects. As outcome, we considered the presence of hearing loss (hearing thresholds above 25 dBHL at frequencies from 500 Hz to 8 kHz) and, as exposure variable, hypertension (report of medical diagnosis of hypertension; and/or use of drugs to treat hypertension; and/or pressure systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg; or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg). As covariables for adjustment were considered: sex, age, education, race / ethnicity, income, smoking, diabetes, and occupational exposure to noise. Poisson regression analysis was conducted, estimating the crude and adjusted relative risks, with 95% confidence intervals, in order to assess the factors associated with hearing loss. RESULTS In crude analyses, the incidence of hearing loss was higher for subjects with hypertension (9.7% versus 5.4%). The crude relative risks for hearing loss was almost double (1.93; 95%CI: 1.10–3.39) for subjects with hypertension in the right ear. In the adjusted analyses, the relative risks was not significant for the hypertension variable (1.42; 95%CI: 0.75–2.67). Being 60 years or older (RR: 5.41; 95%CI: 2.79–10.50) showed a statistically significant association with hearing loss, indicating that older adults have higher relative risks for hearing loss. CONCLUSION In the adjusted analyses controlled for multiple risk factors there was no association between hypertension and hearing loss. The dichotomous variable age (being 60 years or older), on the other hand, has shown a significant association with hearing loss

Feedlot diets containing different starch levels and additives change the cecal proteome involved in cattle’s energy metabolism and inflammatory response

Diets for feedlot cattle must be a higher energy density, entailing high fermentable carbohydrate content. Feed additives are needed to reduce possible metabolic disorders. This study aimed to analyze the post-rumen effects of different levels of starch (25%, 35%, and 45%) and additives (monensin or a blend of essential oils and exogenous α-amylase) in diets for Nellore feedlot cattle. The cecum tissue proteome was analyzed via two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and then differentially expressed protein spots were identified with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The use of blends of essential oils associated with α-amylase as a feed additive promoted the upregulation of enzymes such as triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglycerate mutase, alpha-enolase, beta-enolase, fructosebisphosphate aldolase, pyruvate kinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), l-lactate dehydrogenase B, l-lactate dehydrogenase A chain, l-lactate dehydrogenase, and ATP synthase subunit beta, which promote the degradation of carbohydrates in the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways and oxidative phosphorylation, support pyruvate metabolism through the synthesis of lactate from pyruvate, and participate in the electron transport chain, producing ATP from ADP in the presence of a proton gradient across the membrane. The absence of proteins related to inflammation processes (leukocyte elastase inhibitors) in the cecum tissues of animals fed essential oils and amylase may be because feed enzymes can remain active in the intestine and aid in the digestion of nutrients that escape rumen fermentation; conversely, the effect of monensin is more evident in the rumen and less than 10% results in post-ruminal action, corroborating the hypothesis that ionophore antibiotics have a limited effect on the microbiota and intestinal fermentation of ruminants. However, the increase in starch in these diets promoted a downregulation of enzymes linked to carbohydrate degradation, probably caused by damage to the cecum epithelium due to increased responses linked to inflammatory injuries

DNA damage in homocystinuria: 8-oxo‑,8‑dihydro‑2’-deoxyguanosine levels in cystathionine-β-synthase deficient patients and the in vitro protective effect of N-acetyl‑L‑cysteine

Introduction: Homocysteine (Hcy) tissue accumulation occurs in a metabolic disease characterized biochemically by cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency and clinically by mental retardation, vascular problems, and skeletal abnormalities. Previous studies indicate the occurrence of DNA damage secondary to hyperhomocysteinemia and it was observed that DNA damage occurs in leukocytes from CBS-deficient patients. This study aimed to investigate whether an oxidative mechanism could be involved in DNA damage previously found and investigated the in vitro effect of N-acety-L-cysteine (NAC) on DNA damage caused by high Hcy levels. Methods: We evaluated a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage in the urine of CBS‑deficient patients, as well as the in vitro effect of NAC on DNA damage caused by high levels of Hcy. Moreover, a biomarker of lipid oxidative damage was also measured in urine of CBS deficient patients. Results: There was an increase in parameters of DNA (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2’- deoxyguanosine) and lipid (15-F2t-isoprostanes levels) oxidative damage in CBS-deficient patients when compared to controls. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between 15-F2t-isoprostanes levels and total Hcy concentrations. Besides, an in vitro protective effect of NAC at concentrations of 1 and 5 mM was observed on DNA damage caused by Hcy 50 μM and 200 μM. Additionally, we showed a decrease in sulfhydryl content in plasma from CBS-deficient patients when compared to controls. Discussion: These results demonstrated that DNA damage occurs by an oxidative mechanism in CBS deficiency together with lipid oxidative damage, highlighting the NAC beneficial action upon DNA oxidative process, contributing with a new treatment perspective of the patients affected by classic homocystinuria. Keywords: Cystathionine-β-synthase deficiency; oxidative stress; 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro- 2’-deoxyguanosine; homocysteine; DNA damage; N-acetyl-L-cystein