A diagnosis of the microbiological quality of dehydrated bee-pollen produced in Brazil

Bee-pollen is an apicultural product with potential for medical and nutritional applications; therefore, its microbiology quality should be monitored. In this context, the objective of this study was to diagnose the microbiological quality of 45 dehydrated bee-pollen samples collected from November 2011 to December 2013 in nine Brazilian States. All the samples were negative for sulphite-reducing Clostridium spores, Salmonella, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli, which are micro-organisms of public health concern. Total aerobic mesophilic micro-organism counts ranged from < 10 to 1·10 × 10 4 CFU g -1 , with psychrotroph counts ranging from < 10 to 1·12 × 10 3 CFU g -1 and total coliforms from < 10 to 2·80 × 10 3 CFU g -1 , while the values for yeasts and moulds were between < 10 to 7·67 × 10 3 CFU g -1 . According to the literature, the microbiota observed in this study were typical; however, it is important to consider that these micro-organisms may cause spoilage and diminish shelf life, reason by which quality control programs should be implemented. Significance and Impact of the Study: Contamination of bee-pollen can occur during production, collection and processing, but there are few studies of the microbiological quality of this product. Brazil is an important producer of dehydrated bee-pollen, therefore, a diagnosis of the microbiological status is important to ensure the safety of many consumers. Salmonella sp., genus Clostridium, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli and even some yeast species are micro-organisms of public health concern and their presence must be monitored. Furthermore, the determination of spoilage micro-organisms indicates whether the production and the processing practices carried out by beekeepers and warehouses were adequate. Significance and Impact of the Study: Contamination of bee-pollen can occur during production, collection and processing, but there are few studies of the microbiological quality of this product. Brazil is an important producer of dehydrated bee-pollen, therefore, a diagnosis of the microbiological status is important to ensure the safety of many consumers. Salmonella sp., genus Clostridium, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli and even some yeast species are micro-organisms of public health concern and their presence must be monitored. Furthermore, the determination of spoilage micro-organisms indicates whether the production and the processing practices carried out by beekeepers and warehouses were adequate.The authors are grateful to State of S~ao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for financial support (FAPESP process 2011/51741-5) and scholarship granted to Adriane Alexandre Machado de Melo (FAPESP process 2013/ 23179-6).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Produção, beneficiamento e adequação à legislação do pólen apícola desidratado, produzido no Brasil

The aim of this study was to obtain data on the production and verify the adequacy, based on Brazilian legislation, of practices adopted during the processing of bee-pollen collected in nine Brazilian states; and, to identify the perception of the beekeepers about the vegetation visited by bees. The data were obtained from the beekeepersusing a questionnaire and, in the laboratory, the moisture content and the botanical origin of the 69 samples were identified. It was observed that the number of productive hives per apiary ranged from 3 to 300.The frontal type collector was used by all producers who answered this question. The interval between the collection and the dehydration of the samples varied between apiaries and only two samples were lyophilized, while the others were dehydrated in an electric oven. Part of the samples was dehydrated under temperature above the limit established in Brazilian legislation, and 91% of the analyzed products had moisture content above 4%. No food additives were used at any stage of the process. Pollen analysis indicated that, in some cases, the producers were able to identify the plants visited by bees. It is concluded that, the production of bee-pollen was performed by small or medium beekeepers, which adopt different practices of production and processing, respecting the non-use of additives, however, with failures in terms of dehydration temperature and moisture content in the final product. Moreover, when producers carefully observe the collection of pollen by bees, they are able to perceive the polliniferous sources.El objetivo de este estudio fue obtener datos sobre la producción y verificar la adecuación, con base en la legislación brasileña, de las prácticas adoptadas durante el procesamiento del polen apícola recogido en nueve Estados brasileños; y, además, identificar la percepción de los productores de la vegetación visitada por las abejas.La recolección de los datos fue realizada junto a los apicultores por medio de un cuestionario y, en el laboratorio, se identificó el contenido de humedad y el origen botánico de las 69 muestras. Se observó que el número de colmenas productivas, por establecimiento, fue de 3 a 300. El colector tipo frontal fue utilizado por todos los productores que respondieron a esta cuestión. El intervalo entre las etapas de recolección y de deshidratación fue variable y sólo dos muestras fueron liofilizadas, mientras que las demás fueron deshidratadas en secadores por aire caliente. Una parte de las muestras fue deshidratada con una temperatura por encima del límite establecido en la legislación y el 91% de los productos analizados tenían un contenido de humedad superior al 4%. No se utilizó ningún aditivo en ninguna etapa del proceso. El análisis polínico indicó que, en algunos casos, los productores fueron capaces de percibir las plantas visitadas por las abejas apenas acompañando el forraje. Se concluyó que la producción de polen apícola fue realizada por pequeños o medianos productores, los cuales adopta prácticas variadas de producción y procesamiento, respetando la no utilización de aditivos, pero con fallas en cuanto a la temperatura de deshidratación y el contenido de humedad en el producto final. Además, cuando los productores acompañan efectivamente la recolección de polen por las abejas, son capaces de percibir las fuentes poliníferas.O objetivo deste estudo foi obter dados a respeito da produção e verificar a adequação, com base na legislação brasileira, das práticas adotadas durante o beneficiamento do pólen apícola coletado em nove Estados brasileiros; e, ainda, identificar a percepção dos produtores quanto a vegetação forrageada pelas abelhas. A coleta dos dados foi realizada junto aos apicultores por meio de questionário e, em laboratório, foram identificados o teor de umidade e a origem botânica das 69 amostras. Observou-se que o número de colmeias produtivas, por estabelecimento, foi de 3 a 300. O coletor tipo frontal foi utilizado por todos os produtores que responderam a esta questão. O intervalo entre as etapas de coleta e de desidratação foi variável e apenas duas amostras foram liofilizadas, enquanto as demais foram desidratadas em estufa. Parte das amostras foi desidratada sob temperatura acima do limite estabelecido na legislação e 91% dos produtos analisados tinham teor de umidade acima do limite de 4%. Nenhum aditivo foi utilizado em qualquer etapa do processo. A análise polínica indicou que, em alguns casos, os produtores foram capazes de perceber as plantas visitadas pelas abelhas apenas acompanhando o forrageamento. Concluiu-se que a produção de pólen apícola foi realizada por pequenos ou médios produtores, os quais adotam práticas variadas de produção e beneficiamento, respeitando o não uso de aditivos, porém, com falhas quanto a temperatura de desidratação e o teor de umidade no produto final. Além disso, quando os produtores acompanham efetivamente a coleta de pólen pelas abelhas, eles são capazes de perceber as fontes poliníferas

Produção, beneficiamento e adequação à legislação do pólen apícola desidratado, produzido no Brasil

The aim of this study was to obtain data on the production and verify the adequacy, based on Brazilian legislation, of practices adopted during the processing of bee-pollen collected in nine Brazilian states; and, to identify the perception of the beekeepers about the vegetation visited by bees. The data were obtained from the beekeepersusing a questionnaire and, in the laboratory, the moisture content and the botanical origin of the 69 samples were identified. It was observed that the number of productive hives per apiary ranged from 3 to 300.The frontal type collector was used by all producers who answered this question. The interval between the collection and the dehydration of the samples varied between apiaries and only two samples were lyophilized, while the others were dehydrated in an electric oven. Part of the samples was dehydrated under temperature above the limit established in Brazilian legislation, and 91% of the analyzed products had moisture content above 4%. No food additives were used at any stage of the process. Pollen analysis indicated that, in some cases, the producers were able to identify the plants visited by bees. It is concluded that, the production of bee-pollen was performed by small or medium beekeepers, which adopt different practices of production and processing, respecting the non-use of additives, however, with failures in terms of dehydration temperature and moisture content in the final product. Moreover, when producers carefully observe the collection of pollen by bees, they are able to perceive the polliniferous sources.El objetivo de este estudio fue obtener datos sobre la producción y verificar la adecuación, con base en la legislación brasileña, de las prácticas adoptadas durante el procesamiento del polen apícola recogido en nueve Estados brasileños; y, además, identificar la percepción de los productores de la vegetación visitada por las abejas.La recolección de los datos fue realizada junto a los apicultores por medio de un cuestionario y, en el laboratorio, se identificó el contenido de humedad y el origen botánico de las 69 muestras. Se observó que el número de colmenas productivas, por establecimiento, fue de 3 a 300. El colector tipo frontal fue utilizado por todos los productores que respondieron a esta cuestión. El intervalo entre las etapas de recolección y de deshidratación fue variable y sólo dos muestras fueron liofilizadas, mientras que las demás fueron deshidratadas en secadores por aire caliente. Una parte de las muestras fue deshidratada con una temperatura por encima del límite establecido en la legislación y el 91% de los productos analizados tenían un contenido de humedad superior al 4%. No se utilizó ningún aditivo en ninguna etapa del proceso. El análisis polínico indicó que, en algunos casos, los productores fueron capaces de percibir las plantas visitadas por las abejas apenas acompañando el forraje. Se concluyó que la producción de polen apícola fue realizada por pequeños o medianos productores, los cuales adopta prácticas variadas de producción y procesamiento, respetando la no utilización de aditivos, pero con fallas en cuanto a la temperatura de deshidratación y el contenido de humedad en el producto final. Además, cuando los productores acompañan efectivamente la recolección de polen por las abejas, son capaces de percibir las fuentes poliníferas.O objetivo deste estudo foi obter dados a respeito da produção e verificar a adequação, com base na legislação brasileira, das práticas adotadas durante o beneficiamento do pólen apícola coletado em nove Estados brasileiros; e, ainda, identificar a percepção dos produtores quanto a vegetação forrageada pelas abelhas. A coleta dos dados foi realizada junto aos apicultores por meio de questionário e, em laboratório, foram identificados o teor de umidade e a origem botânica das 69 amostras. Observou-se que o número de colmeias produtivas, por estabelecimento, foi de 3 a 300. O coletor tipo frontal foi utilizado por todos os produtores que responderam a esta questão. O intervalo entre as etapas de coleta e de desidratação foi variável e apenas duas amostras foram liofilizadas, enquanto as demais foram desidratadas em estufa. Parte das amostras foi desidratada sob temperatura acima do limite estabelecido na legislação e 91% dos produtos analisados tinham teor de umidade acima do limite de 4%. Nenhum aditivo foi utilizado em qualquer etapa do processo. A análise polínica indicou que, em alguns casos, os produtores foram capazes de perceber as plantas visitadas pelas abelhas apenas acompanhando o forrageamento. Concluiu-se que a produção de pólen apícola foi realizada por pequenos ou médios produtores, os quais adotam práticas variadas de produção e beneficiamento, respeitando o não uso de aditivos, porém, com falhas quanto a temperatura de desidratação e o teor de umidade no produto final. Além disso, quando os produtores acompanham efetivamente a coleta de pólen pelas abelhas, eles são capazes de perceber as fontes poliníferas

Phenolic profile by HPLC-MS, biological potential, and nutritional value of a promising food: Monofloral bee pollen

The objective of this study was to determine physicochemical and phenolic profiles as well the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities of monofloral bee pollen samples from Brazil. Traditional methods were used. The phenolic profile was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The protein (10.6–33.9 g/100g), lipids (3.2–8.3 g/ 100g), ashes (2.6–3.8 g/100g), total phenolic (5.6–29.7 mg GAE/g), and total flavonoid (0.3– 19.0 mg QE/g) values were variable, even between products with the same botanical origin. The minerals analyzed were found in amounts varying between 10 mg/kg and 9.1 g/kg. Each product presented specific color parameters. Myrcia bee pollen presented the greater antioxidant capacity, and Mimosa scabrella bee pollen from Santa Catarina state was the most efficient in inhibiting bacteria and yeasts. Among the compounds identified by HPLC-MS, flavonoid 3-O-glycosides predominated. The physicochemical and phenolic profiles of each sample were distinct, and there was no pattern between monofloral products of the same pollen type.The authors are grateful to beekeepers who provided samples. MM Moreira is also grateful to FCT/MEC and FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020 through the project UID/QUI/50006/2013 - POCI/01/0145/FERDER/007265.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of processing conditions on characteristics of dehydrated bee-pollen and correlation between quality parameters

The aim of the present study was to compare the physical, chemical and biological parameters and the microbiological quality of bee-pollen samples treated with different dehydration processes and to correlate the results. The samples came mainly from Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) and Eupatorium (Asteraceae) plants. The dehydration conditions of the samples influenced the L*a*b* colour parameters and the biological value. Unlike the protein and lipid content, the glucose and fructose content were unaffected. The vitamin E content (27.2 ± 0.3 μg/g, 27.5 ± 0.4 μg/g) in oven-dehydrated samples with forced air circulation was significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared with lyophilized samples (37.5 ± 0.2 g/100 g, 53.7 ± 3.9 g/100 g). Overall, the results were inconclusive for vitamin B complex, minerals and microbiological indicators. There was a positive correlation between the colour parameters L* and b* and the total phenolic content, as well as between phenolic content and the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity. The data indicate that lyophilization might be a viable alternative to the current process, resulting in dehydrated bee-pollen with higher biological activity.The authors are grateful to State of S~ao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for financial support (FAPESP process 2011/51741- 5) and scholarship granted to AAM De-Melo (FAPESP process 2011/ 11746-8 and FAPESP process 2013/23179-6). For a scholarship granted to OM Barth from the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq, Process 304067/2013-0). To the MN Pr opolis company that supplied the samples.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Alcoolismo em pacientes submetidos a cirurgia bariátrica: uma revisão sistemática: Alcoholism in patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a systematic review

A Cirurgia bariátrica tem sido uma opção de muitas pessoas que visam superar a obesidade e garantir qualidade de vida e saúde. No entanto, casos de complicações clínicas após operação tem ocorrido, sendo comum a incidência de alcoolismo. Este estudo teve como objetivo refletir sobre as causas da incidência de alcoolismo entre pacientes que foram submetidos a cirurgias bariátricas. Para o alcance dessa finalidade, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática de literatura, selecionando-se fontes das bases de dados Scielo Brasil, PubMed e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), publicados em língua portuguesa, nos anos de 2017 a 2022. Realizando-se a análise dos dados concluiu-se que o transtorno do uso de álcool em pessoas submetidas à cirurgia bariátrica tem sido recorrente, especialmente entre homens de baixa renda e que fizeram a cirurgia do tipo bypass gástrico. Observou-se também que o consumo de álcool é maior no pós-operatório e que boa parte dos pacientes que se submeteu a esse tipo de cirurgia ignorava o risco de desenvolver o referido transtorno. Em função disso, boa parte dos estudos que integraram esta revisão reconhece a necessidade do acompanhamento, pela equipe de saúde, dos pacientes logo após a cirurgia bariátrica e a adesão desses ao tratamento devido, visando prevenir o transtorno do uso de álcool

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost