Infraspecific variability in the essential oil composition of Lychnophora ericoides

Variations in the composition of the leaf essential oils of wild Lychnophora ericoides, with and without scent, which were grown in three sampling sites, were examined by GC-MS. Results were submitted to principal component and cluster analysis which allowed for two groups of essential oils to be distinguished with regard to scent: cluster I with specimens exhibiting an aromatic scent and containing a high percentage of α-bisabolol (34 ± 23%) and o-cymene (8.4 ± 6.9%); cluster II with specimens without any scent and characterised by a high percentage of caryophyllene oxide (11 ± 9%) and δ-elemene (5.7 ± 6.9%). The two types of oil coexist in all the populations under study, although patterns of aromatic samples deriving from Caldas Novas' State Park reveal chemical differences in relation to the samples from Brasília's National Park and Santo Antônio do Descoberto. Such chemical variations clearly suggest, apart from a geographical influence, genetic differences between individuals in the populations. The high content of α-bisabolol supports the folk medicinal use of arnica as anti-inflammatory

Is urinary density an adequate predictor of urinary osmolality?

Urinary density (UD) has been routinely used for decades as a surrogate marker for urine osmolality (U-osm). We asked if UD can accurately estimate U-osm both in healthy subjects and in different clinical scenarios of kidney disease. UD was assessed by refractometry. U-osm was measured by freezing point depression in spot urines obtained from healthy volunteers (N = 97) and in 319 inpatients with acute kidney injury (N = 95), primary glomerulophaties (N = 118) or chronic kidney disease (N = 106). UD and U-osm correlated in all groups (p < 0.05). However, a wide range of U-osm values was associated with each UD value. When UD was <= 1.010, 28.4% of samples had U-osm above 350 mOsm/kg. Conversely, in 61.6% of samples with UD above 1.020, U-osm was below 600 mOsm/kg. As expected, U-osm exhibited a strong relationship with serum creatinine (S-creat), whereas a much weaker correlation was found between UD and Screat. We found that UD is not a substitute for U-osm. Although UD was significantly correlated with U-osm, the wide dispersion makes it impossible to use UD as a dependable clinical estimate of U-osm. Evaluation of the renal concentrating ability should be based on direct determination of U-osm1

Inspection score and grading system for food services in Brazil: the results of s food safety strategy to reduce the risk of foodborne diseases during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

In 2014, Brazil hosted one of the most popular sport competitions in the world, the FIFA World Cup. Concerned about the intense migration of tourists, the Brazilian government decided to deploy a food safety strategy based on inspection scores and a grading system applied to food services. The present study aimed to evaluate the results of the food safety strategy deployed during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. To assess food safety, an evaluation instrument was applied twice in 1927 food service establishments from 26 cities before the start of the competition. This instrument generated a food safety score for each establishment that ranged from 0.0 (no flaws observed) to 2565.95, with four possible grades: A (0.0-13.2); B (13.3-502.6); C (502.7-1152.2); and pending (more than 1152.3). Each food service received a stamp with the grade of the second evaluation. After the end of the World Cup, a study was conducted with different groups of the public to evaluate the acceptance of the strategy. To this end, 221 consumers, 998 food service owners or managers, 150 health surveillance auditors, and 27 health surveillance coordinators were enrolled. These participants completed a survey with positive and negative responses about the inspection score system through a 5-point Likert scale. A reduction in violation scores from 393.1 to 224.4 (p < 0.001) was observed between the first and second evaluation cycles. Of the food services evaluated, 38.7% received the A stamp, 41.4% the B stamp, and 13.9% the C stamp. All positive responses on "system reliability" presented a mean of 4.0 or more, indicating that the public believed this strategy is reliable for communicating risks and promoting food safety. The strategy showed positive results regarding food safety and public acceptance. The deployed strategy promoted improvements in the food safety of food services. The implementation of a permanent policy may be well accepted by the public and may greatly contribute to a reduction in foodborne diseases (FBDs)

Inspection Score and Grading System for Food Services in Brazil: The Results of a Food Safety Strategy to Reduce the Risk of Foodborne Diseases during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

In 2014, Brazil hosted one of the most popular sport competitions in the world, the FIFA World Cup. Concerned about the intense migration of tourists, the Brazilian government decided to deploy a food safety strategy based on inspection scores and a grading system applied to food services. The present study aimed to evaluate the results of the food safety strategy deployed during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. To assess food safety, an evaluation instrument was applied twice in 1927 food service establishments from 26 cities before the start of the competition. This instrument generated a food safety score for each establishment that ranged from 0.0 (no flaws observed) to 2565.95, with four possible grades: A (0.0-13.2)B (13.3-502.6)C (502.7-1152.2)and pending (more than 1152.3). Each food service received a stamp with the grade of the second evaluation. After the end of the World Cup, a study was conducted with different groups of the public to evaluate the acceptance of the strategy. To this end, 221 consumers, 998 food service owners or managers, 150 health surveillance auditors, and 27 health surveillance coordinators were enrolled. These participants completed a survey with positive and negative responses about the inspection score system through a 5-point Likert scale. A reduction in violation scores from 393.1 to 224.4 (p < 0.001) was observed between the first and second evaluation cycles. Of the food services evaluated, 38.7% received the A stamp, 41.4% the B stamp, and 13.9% the C stamp. All positive responses on "system reliability" presented a mean of 4.0 or more, indicating that the public believed this strategy is reliable for communicating risks and promoting food safety. The strategy showed positive results regarding food safety and public acceptance. The deployed strategy promoted improvements in the food safety of food services. The implementation of a permanent policy may be well accepted by the public and may greatly contribute to a reduction in foodborne diseases (FBDs).FUNCAMP - Fundacao de Desenvolvimento da UnicampUniv Estadual Campinas, Fac Ciencias Aplicadas, Limeira, BrazilCtr Univ Franciscano, Curso Nutr, Santa Maria, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Inst Ciencia & Tecnol Alimentos, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Dept Nutr, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilAgencia Nacl Vigilancia Sanit, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Ctr Desenvolvimento Ensino Super Saude, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Ctr Desenvolvimento Ensino Super Saude, Sao Paulo, BrazilFUNCAMP: 2169/16Web of Scienc

Body composition and resting metabolic rate in obese adolescents

Objetivo: Analisar a composição corporal e taxa metabólica de repouso (TMR) de adolescentes com obesidade. Metodologia: Foram avaliados 58 adolescentes, entre 12 e 16 anos (13,7±1,2 anos), com obesidade. A composição corporal foi mensurada por meio da Absortiometria de Raios-x de Dupla Energia (DEXA). A taxa metabólica de repouso e a oxidação de glicose e lipídeos foram determinadas pela medida do oxigênio consumido e pela produção de dióxido de carbono. Foi utilizado teste t de Student para variáveis independentes, análise de regressão linear múltipla e correlação de Pearson, com significância de p&lt;5%. Resultados: Foram observadas diferenças na porcentagem de gordura corporal (p=0,01), porcentagem de massa corporal magra (MCM) (p=0,01), porcentagem de gordura do tronco (p=0,01), massa magra membro inferior (p=0,01) e taxa metabólica de repouso (p=0,04) entre os sexos masculino e feminino. No sexo masculino a MCM foi a melhor preditora de TMR (p=0,01). Houve correlação positiva entre TMR e MCM, assim como observada associação entre a oxidação lipídica e MCM. Conclusão: A composição corporal total e por segmento corporal influenciam a taxa metabólica de repouso e a oxida- ção de substratos. Além disso, a MCM pode ser considerada um fator de aumento do gasto energético de repouso de adolescentes com obesidade.Objective: Analyze body composition and resting metabolic rate (RMR) in obese adolescents. Methods: 58 obese adolescents were assessed between 12 and 16 years (13.7 ± 1.2 years). The body composition was measured dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The resting metabolic rate and oxidation of glucose and lipids were determined by measuring the oxygen consumption and the production of carbon dioxide. Student t test was used for independent data, multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation, significance was set p &lt;5%. Results: Significant differences were observed in the percentage of body fat (p = 0.01), percentage of lean body mass (LBM) (p = 0.01), percentage body fat (p = 0.01), lower limb lean mass (p = 0.01) and resting metabolic rate (p = 0.04) between males and females. The LBM is highlighted as the best predictor of RMR (p = 0.01). There was a positive correlation between RMR and LBM, as observed association between lipid oxidation and LBM. Conclusion: Total body composition and segment influence the resting metabolic rate and substrate oxidation. In addition, the LBM can be considered a factor of increased resting energy expenditure in obese adolescents

O PIBID/Química UEL - Um Relato de Experiência na Escola: Abordando o Tema Radioatividade

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Different methods of cell quantification can lead to different results : a comparison of digital methods using a pilot study of dendritic cells in HIV-positive patients

Although new digital pathology tools have improved the positive cell quantification, there is a heterogeneity of the quantification methods in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate and propose a novel dendritic cells quantification method in squamous cell carcinoma comparing it with a conventional quantification method. Twenty-six squamous cell carcinomas HIV-positive cases affecting the oropharynx, lips and oral cavity were selected. Immunohistochemistry for CD1a, CD83, and CD207 was performed. The immunohistochemical stains were evaluated by automated examination using a positive pixel count algorithm. A conventional quantification method (unspecific area method; UA) and a novel method (specific area method; SA) were performed obtaining the corresponding density of positive dendritic cells for the intratumoral and peritumoral regions. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to verify the influence of the quantification methods on the positive cell counting according to the evaluated regions. Data were subjected to the ANOVA and Student?s t-test to verify the influence of the tumour location, stage, histological grade, and amount of inflammation on the dendritic cells density counting. The cell quantification method affected the dendritic cells counting independently of the evaluated region (P-value <0.05). Significant differences between methods were also observed according to the tumour features evaluations. The positive cell quantification method influences the dendritic cells density results. Unlike the conventional method (UA method), the novel SA method avoids non-target areas included in the hotspots improving the reliability and reproducibility of the density cell quantification

Wild dogs at stake: deforestation threatens the only Amazon endemic canid, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species

Is urinary density an adequate predictor of urinary osmolality?

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Urinary density (UD) has been routinely used for decades as a surrogate marker for urine osmolality (Uosm). We asked if UD can accurately estimate Uosm both in healthy subjects and in different clinical scenarios of kidney disease.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud UD was assessed by refractometry. Uosm was measured by freezing point depression in spot urines obtained from healthy volunteers (N = 97) and in 319 inpatients with acute kidney injury (N = 95), primary glomerulophaties (N = 118) or chronic kidney disease (N = 106).\ud \ud \ud Results\ud UD and Uosm correlated in all groups (p < 0.05). However, a wide range of Uosm values was associated with each UD value. When UD was ≤ 1.010, 28.4% of samples had Uosm above 350 mOsm/kg. Conversely, in 61.6% of samples with UD above 1.020, Uosm was below 600 mOsm/kg. As expected, Uosm exhibited a strong relationship with serum creatinine (Screat), whereas a much weaker correlation was found between UD and Screat.\ud \ud \ud Conclusion\ud We found that UD is not a substitute for Uosm. Although UD was significantly correlated with Uosm, the wide dispersion makes it impossible to use UD as a dependable clinical estimate of Uosm. Evaluation of the renal concentrating ability should be based on direct determination of Uosm

PIBID/UEL:O Ensino do Tema Nanotecnologia para o Ensino Médio

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