Changes in saliva proteome in response to bread odour

It is widely recognized that smelling food results in a mouth-watering feeling and influences appetite. However, besides changes in volume, little is known about the effects that food odours have on the composition of saliva. The aim of the present study was to access the effects that smelling bread has on saliva proteome and to compare such effects with those of chewing and ingesting it. Besides a significant increase in saliva flow rate, together with a decrease in total protein concentration, bread odour induced changes in the proportion of different salivary proteins. The expression levels of two spots of cystatins and two spots of amylase increased due to olfactory stimulation, similar to what happened with bread mastication, suggesting that odour can allow anticipation of the type of food eaten and consequently the physiological oral changes necessary to that ingestion. An interesting finding was that bread odour increased the expression levels of several protein spots of immunoglobulin chains, which were decreased by both bread or rice mastication. This may be of clinical relevance since food olfactory stimulation of salivary immunoglobulins can be used to potentiate the oral immune function of saliva. Moreover, the effects of bread odour in the levels of salivary proteins, previously observed to be involved in oral food processing led to the hypothesis of an influence of this odour in the sensory perception of foods further ingested. Further studies are needed to elucidate this point, as well as whether the changes observed for bread odour are specific, or if different food odours lead to similar salivary proteome responses

Economic efficiency of EMBRAPA’S research centers and the influence of contextual variables

Neste artigo é medida a eficiência econômica dos centros de pesquisa da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa). É usado o modelo DEA BCC, cuja medida de eficiência é modelada como função linear das variáveis contextuais capacidade de geração de receita, intensidade de parcerias, melhoria de processos administrativos, racionalização de custos, tamanho e tipo de centro. O modelo é do tipo painel dinâmico, assume correlação intra-temporal estruturada entre os centros de pesquisa e inter-temporal não estruturada. Para desempatar as unidades eficientes é usado um índice heurístico de eficiência que agrega os resultados de eficiência em relação às fronteiras DEA clássica e invertida. O efeito positivo das parcerias na medida de eficiência, invalida as críticas de que o processo de avaliação prejudica a integração e cooperação entre os centros de pesquisa. A melhoria de processos administrativos é a variável mais importante do ponto de vista da significância estatística das variáveis contextuais. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTIn this paper we measure, with a DEA BCC model, the economic efficiency of Embrapa’s (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) research centers. We model the DEA economic efficiency as a linear function of the contextual variables revenue generation capacity, partnership intensity, improvement of administrative processes, cost rationalization, size and type of research centers. The model used is of the type dynamic panel and assumes a structured correlation matrix intra times and unstructured inter times. In order to better discriminate the efficient units we used a heuristic efficiency score that aggregates the efficiencies in relation to the original and inverted DEA frontiers. Partnerships positive effect in the efficiency scores does not confirm the thoughts that Embrapa’s performance evaluation process discourages the integration and cooperation of its research centers. From the point of view of statistical significance, the improvement of administrative processes is the most important indicator among the contextual variables

How Individual Variations in the Perception of Basic Tastes and Astringency Relate with Dietary Intake and Preferences for Fruits and Vegetables

Background: Oral food perception plays a major role in food acceptance, although the way it relates with food preferences and final choices in adults is still debatable. The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between gustatory function, dietary habits and fruit and vegetable preferences. Methods: Recognition thresholds, suprathreshold and hedonics were accessed for sweet, bitter, sour, salty and astringency in 291 adult participants. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and a questionnaire for assessment of preferences for individual fruit and vegetables were filled by the participants. Results: Three clusters were obtained: “most sensitive”, “less sensitive” and “less sensitive only for sour”. The less sensitive cluster showed lower preferences for fruit and vegetables and higher intake of sweets and fast foods, whereas higher preferences for sweet veggies were observed in the “most sensitive” cluster. Basic tastes and astringency hedonics did not associate with fruit and vegetable preferences, but the sensitivity for these oral sensations did. Conclusions: Taste and astringency sensitivities are related with the preference for fruit and vegetables, being also associated with some dietary habits. The effectiveness of the strategies to promote plant-based healthy food consumption may benefit from the knowledge of individuals’ gustatory function.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Editorial: Nutrition and oral biology in health and disease

Daily food choices have an impact on global human health as good nutrition allows the body to function properly. People with healthy eating patterns are less likely to develop serious illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer, which can translate into a longer life expectancy. Healthy lifestyles, including balanced and nutritionally adequate diets, can also help prevent diseases of the oral cavity, such as tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. Recent research on the relationship between diet and dental caries emphasize the importance of limiting free sugars in the diet, including sucrose, glucose, and lactose, for the prevention of tooth decay; in addition, studies have pointed out the importance of soft drinks as the most important dietary factor related to enamel erosion. In this sense, dietary guidelines suggest the adoption of a diet low in fats and free sugars, but rich in fruit, vegetables, and fibers as a protective measure against the development of oral diseases. Proteins and vitamins (both fat- and water-soluble), as well as calcium, phosphorus, and fluoride, are essential nutrients for the development, maturation, and protections of oral tissues at all stages of life. It is worth mentioning that this is a two-way relationship: oral health can also affect nutrition. Healthy oral tissues—teeth, bones, mucosa, muscles and joints—are vital for proper chewing of food and ensure that ingested food is broken down into small pieces and prepared for digestion. The first steps of digestion occur in the mouth, with the humidification of the bolus by the saliva, digestion of starch, and its buffering effect. Taste receptors have a direct influence on sensory capacities, with an impact on food choice and acceptance and, consequently, on nutrition. Saliva also plays a role in maintaining oral health helping to keep the integrity of soft and hard tissues, mastication, taste, and texture perception, swallowing and initial digestion. On the contrary, oral problems influence nutrition by limiting food choices: tooth decay and tooth loss can lead to limited masticatory function and reduced food intake, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, malnutrition, and low wellbeing and quality of life, especially in the elderly population

O epitélio respiratório em ratos Wistar após 48 horas de exposição contínua ao ruído de baixa frequência

ABSTRACTPrevious studies show that exposure to low frequency noise (LFN) (≤500Hz, including infrasound) produces irreversible lesions in Wistar rat respiratory epithelia. Recovery periods for LFN-induced lesions have thus become an object of interest. Changes in the respiratory epithelia of Wistar rats after continuous short-term exposure to LFN are described. Twelve rats were exposed to continuous LFN for 48hrs, and 10 age-matched rats were kept in silence. Animals were treated in accordance with 86/609/CE. After exposure ceased, two rodents were sacrificed immediately, and another two after 6, 12, 24, 48hrs, and 7 days of post-exposure silence. Respiratory epithelial fragments were prepared for light and scanning/ transmission electron microscopy. Six hours after exposure, intense and irregular cellular tumefaction was visible and rosetta structures, formed by secretory cells (SC) centered on a brush cell (BC), were identifiable. Cilia were shorter and shaggy. BC microvilli tended to group, losing the uniform distribution seen in controls. Twelve hours after exposure, cell balooning was still present, BC shape was highly irregular and microvilli were grouped. SC microvilli were still shorter than controls. Seven days after exposure, controls and exposed were indistinguishable. LFN-induced epithelial lesions seem to be reversible if recovery periods are respected.REV PORT PNEUMOL 2003; IX (6): 473-47

Pretransplant biopsy in expanded criteria donors: do we really need it?

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Renal transplantation is the best treatment for end-stage renal disease, including when using expanded criteria donors (ECD) kidneys. However, these suboptimal kidneys should be evaluated rigorously to meet their usefulness. Opinions differ about the best way to evaluate them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed kidneys from ECD harvested by a single academic institution between January 2008 and September 2013. Needle biopsies were performed at the time of the harvest when considered relevant by the transplant team. Two pathologists where responsible for their analysis; the Remuzzi classification has been used in all cases. RESULTS: We evaluated 560 ECD kidneys. Biopsies were made in 197 (35.2%) organs, 20 of which were considered not usable and 36 good only for double transplantation. Sixty-three kidneys (11.3%) were discarded by the transplant team based on the biopsy result and clinical criteria. Donors who underwent a biopsy were older (P < .001) and had a worse glomerular filtration rate (GFR; P = .001). Comparing donors approved and rejected by the biopsy, the rejected donors were heavier (P = .003) and had a lower GFR (P = .002). Cold ischemia time was longer for the biopsy group (P < .001). Regarding graft function, the biopsy overall score correlated with the transplant outcome in the short and long term. Separately, glomeruli and interstitium scores were correlated with recipient's GFR in the earlier periods (3 months; P = .025 and .037), and the arteries and tubules correlated with GFR in the longer term (at 3 years P = .004 and .010). CONCLUSION: The decision on the usability of ECD grafts is complex. At our center, we chose a mixed approach based on donor risk. Low-risk ECD do not require biopsy. In more complex situations, especially older donors or those with a lower GFR, prompted a pretransplant biopsy. The biopsy results proved to be useful as they relate to subsequent transplant outcomes, thereby allowing us to exclude grafts whose function would most probably be less than optimal

GLOBALIZAÇÃO E CONSUMO NO CONTO “MAMÃE, COMPRA UM JACARÉ”

Numa sociedade tida como consumista, os indivíduos são levados a comprar cada vez mais e são seduzidos pelos meios de comunicação e por suas propagandas que prometem ao consumidor felicidade e sucesso ao comprar determinado produto. Esse é um dos reflexos da globalização que ao mesmo tempo trouxe vantagens como a abertura de mercados e maior difusão no fluxo informacional, mas que por outro lado trouxe algumas consequências como o consumo exagerado. &nbsp;Nesse sentido, o presente artigo faz uma reflexão acerca da globalização e suas características e da relação que esta possui com o consumo. Para exemplificar essa relação entre globalização e consumo foi feita uma Análise de Conteúdo (AC) do conto Mamãe, compra um jacaré! de Ricardo Gómez. &nbsp; PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Globalização; Consumo; Consumismo; Conto. &nbsp; &nbsp; ABSTRACT In a consumerist society, individuals buy more and are seduced by the media and their advertisements that promise the consumer happiness and success when buying a particular product. This is one of the reflexes of globalization that at the same time brought advantages such as the opening of markets and greater diffusion in the information flow, but that on the other hand brought some consequences like the exaggerated consumption. In this sense, the present article reflects on globalization and its characteristics and the relationship that it has with consumption. To exemplify this relationship between globalization and consumption, it was done a Content Analysis (AC) of the tale Mom, buy an alligator! from Ricardo Gómez. &nbsp; KEYWORDS: Globalization; Consuption; Consumism; Tale. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; RESUMEN En una sociedad tenida como consumista, los individuos son llevados a comprar cada vez más y son seducidos por los medios de comunicación y por sus propagandas que prometen al consumidor felicidad y éxito al comprar determinado producto. Este es uno de los reflejos de la globalización que a la vez trae ventajas como la apertura de mercados y una mayor difusión en el flujo informativo, pero que por otro lado trae algunas consecuencias como el consumo exagerado. En este sentido, el presente artículo hace una reflexión acerca de la globalización y sus características y de la relación que ésta posee con el consumo. Para ejemplificar esa relación entre globalización y consumo se hizo un Análisis de Contenido (AC) del cuento Mamá, compra un cocodrilo! de Ricardo Gómez. &nbsp; PALABRAS CLAVE: Globalización; Consumo; Consumismo; Cuento