Seasonal influence on seminal pattern and freezability of pantaneiro bull semen

O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar o efeito da época do ano sobre a biometria testicular e qualidade do sêmen fresco e congelado de touros Pantaneiros. Seis touros foram submetidos, mensalmente, durante um ano, à mensuração testicular e à coleta e congelamento do sêmen, utilizando-se meio à base de tris-gema-glicerol. O comprimento e o volume testiculares foram maiores (P 0,05). Conclui-se que touros Pantaneiros, na região do Distrito Federal, podem ser utilizados em programas de acasalamento natural em todas as épocas do ano. Visando ao enriquecimento do Banco Brasileiro de Germoplasma Animal com maior número de doses, sugere-se o congelamento do sêmen entre os meses de junho e agosto, embora este não apresente perda de qualidade nas diferentes épocas do ano.The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of the season of the year on testicular morphology, fresh and frozen/thawed semen quality from Pantaneiro bulls bred in Brasilia, DF. Six bulls were submitted, once a month for one year, to evaluation of testicular measurements, semen collection using an artificial vagina and cryopreserved with medium containing Tris-based, egg yolk and glycerol. The testicular length and volume were greater (P 0.05). In conclusion, Pantaneiro bulls, bred in the Midwest region of Brazil, can be used in natural mating programs in all seasons. Aiming to improve the Brazilian Animal Germplasm Bank with a higher number of samples collected, we suggest that the freezing of the semen is done between June and August, although there will be no losses of semen quality at any time

Growth curve of locally adapted pantaneiro cows raised under natural conditions

The objective of this study was to use morphometric and ultrasound evaluations to estimate the growth curve of the Pantaneiro cattle breed, raised in its natural habitat, aiming at the re-insertion of this breed in production systems. One hundred and three females, aging from months to 11 years, and raised on native pastures, were evaluated. The animals belonged to the Conservation Nucleus of Embrapa Pantanal, located in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil). Weight, thoracic perimeter (TP), body length (BL), rump height (RH), height at withers (HW), hip height (HH), depth (DP), distance between the ilia (DI) (cm) and rib-eye area (REA) were measured. To relate the measurements with the age of the animals, the univariate regression model was used, assigning the variable response to gamma distribution. The Pearson correlation between variables was also estimated. The inflection point of the growth curve was 37 months for HH; between 38 and 39 months for TP and HW; between 40 and 41 months for DI, HH and DP; and 45 months for BL. The REA results could not fit in a statistical model. The majority of the variables presented a correlation above 60% among themselves, except for REA × Age, of 15.81%; REA × HW, of 34.44%; HH × Age, of 46.19; HH × DI, of 58.07%; REA × HH, of 24.57%; and REA × TP, of 39.9%. The cows showed maturity age at 40 months, which may have occurred because they were raised in natural farming conditions. In Pantaneiro cows reared in extensive systems only on natural pastures, the use of ultrasound is not effective to estimate the curve of muscular development, perhaps because this breed was not selected for weight gain

Insecticide susceptibility of Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti from Brazil and the Swiss-Italian border region

Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are two highly invasive mosquito species, both vectors of several viruses, including dengue, chikungunya and Zika. While Ae. aegypti is the primary vector in the tropics and sub-tropics, Ae. albopictus is increasingly under the public health watch as it has been implicated in arbovirus-transmission in more temperate regions, including continental Europe. Vector control using insecticides is the pillar of most control programmes; hence development of insecticide resistance is of great concern. As part of a Brazilian-Swiss Joint Research Programme we set out to assess whether there are any signs of existing or incipient insecticide resistance primarily against the larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis svar. israelensis (Bti), but also against currently applied and potentially alternative insecticides in our areas, Recife (Brazil) and the Swiss-Italian border region.; Following World Health Organization guidelines, dose-response curves for a range of insecticides were established for both colonized and field caught Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The larvicides included Bti, two of its toxins, Cry11Aa and Cry4Ba, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Vectomax CG®, a formulated combination of Bti and L. sphaericus, and diflubenzuron. In addition to the larvicides, the Swiss-Italian Ae. albopictus populations were also tested against five adulticides (bendiocarb, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, malathion, permethrin and λ-cyhalothrin).; Showing a similar dose-response, all mosquito populations were fully susceptible to the larvicides tested and, in particular, to Bti which is currently used both in Brazil and Switzerland. In addition, there were no signs of incipient resistance against Bti as larvae were equally susceptible to the individual toxins, Cry11Aa and Cry4Ba. The field-caught Swiss-Italian populations were susceptible to the adulticides tested but DDT mortality rates showed signs of reduced susceptibility.; The insecticides currently used for mosquito control in Switzerland and Brazil are still effective against the target populations. The present study provides an important reference as relatively few insecticide susceptibility surveys have been carried out with Ae. albopictus

P2X7 receptor contributes to long-term neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in sepsis-surviving mice

Introduction: sepsis is defined as a multifactorial debilitating condition with high risks of death. The intense inflammatory response causes deleterious effects on the brain, a condition called sepsis-associated encephalopathy. Neuroinflammation or pathogen recognition are able to stress cells, resulting in ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) release and P2X7 receptor activation, which is abundantly expressed in the brain. The P2X7 receptor contributes to chronic neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases; however, its function in long-term neurological impairment caused by sepsis remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the effects of P2X7 receptor activation in neuroinflammatory and behavioral changes in sepsis-surviving mice. Methods: sepsis was induced in wild-type (WT), P2X7−/− , and BBG (Brilliant Blue G)-treated mice by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). On the thirteenth day after the surgery, the cognitive function of mice was assessed using the novel recognition object and Water T-maze tests. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, microglial and astrocytic activation markers, and cytokine production were also evaluated. Results: Initially, we observed that both WT and P2X7−/− sepsis-surviving mice showed memory impairment 13 days after surgery, once they did not differentiate between novel and familiar objects. Both groups of animals presented increased AChE activity in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. However, the absence of P2X7 prevented partly this increase in the cerebral cortex. Likewise, P2X7 absence decreased ionized calcium-binding protein 1 (Iba−1 ) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) upregulation in the cerebral cortex of sepsis-surviving animals. There was an increase in GFAP protein levels in the cerebral cortex but not in the hippocampus of both WT and P2X7−/− sepsis-surviving animals. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic deletion of P2X7 receptor attenuated the production of Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and Interleukin-10 (IL-10). Conclusion: the modulation of the P2X7 receptor in sepsis-surviving animals may reduce neuroinflammation and prevent cognitive impairment due to sepsisassociated encephalopathy, being considered an important therapeutic target

SEASONAL INFLUENCE ON SEMINAL PATTERN AND FREEZABILITY OF PANTANEIRO BULL SEMEN

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of the season of the year on testicular morphology, fresh and frozen/thawed semen quality from Pantaneiro bulls bred in Brasilia, DF. Six bulls were submitted, once a month for one year, to evaluation of testicular measurements, semen collection using an artificial vagina and cryopreserved with medium containing Tris-based, egg  yolk and glycerol. The testicular length and volume were greater (P 0.05). In conclusion, Pantaneiro bulls, bred in the Midwest region of Brazil, can be used in natural mating programs in all seasons. Aiming to improve the Brazilian Animal Germplasm Bank with a higher number of samples collected, we suggest that the freezing of the semen is done between June and August, although there will be no losses of semen quality at any time. Keywords: bovine; conservation; cryopreservation; reproduction; seasonality

Adequacy of good manufacturing procedures in foodservice establishments

Objetivo: classificar 50 estabelecimentos produtores de alimentos, da região de Brasília, Distrito Federal, de acordo com o cumprimento dos itens imprescindíveis do formulário publicado pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, a fim de avaliar as boas práticas da fabricação de alimentos. Métodos: neste estudo empreendeu-se metanálise de dois trabalhos monográficos sobre estabelecimentos comerciais produtores de alimentos (hotéis e restaurantes), associados a uma amostra pesquisada por esses autores, dividida em três blocos: restaurantes, unidades de alimentação e nutrição e hotéis, para comparação da adequação dos itens presentes nos formulários da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, os quais, de acordo com as normas estabelecidas pela Agência, analisavam os itens: edificação, equipamentos, manipuladores, fluxo de produção e disponibilidade do manual de boas práticas na produção de alimentos. Ainda de acordo com o estipulado pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, os estabelecimentos foram classificados em três grupos, segundo o cumprimento percentual dos itens imprescindíveis constantes do formulário: o grupo I, com mais de 70,0% de cumprimento dos itens; o grupo II, com 30,0% a 69,9% de cumprimento; e o grupo III, cumprindo menos de 30,0% dos itens imprescindíveis. Resultados: as análises realizadas revelaram que todas as unidades hoteleiras foram classificadas no grupo II. Os restaurantes comerciais foram classificados no grupo II (33,3%) e no grupo III (66,7%). Do total de unidades de alimentação e nutrição avaliadas, 80,0% foram classificadas no grupo II e 20,0% no grupo I.Conclusão: os achados demonstraram que as unidades de alimentação e nutrição foram mais bem classificadas nos itens equipamentos e existência do Manual de Boas Práticas. Os hotéis destacaram-se nos itens edificação, manipulação e fluxo de produção. Os restaurantes comerciais obtiveram o pior resultado quando comparados às demais unidades analisadas.Objective: classify a sample of 50 food producing establishments located in the Federal District (Brasília, Brazil), according to their fulfillment of essential requisites contained in the sanitary regulation form published by the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, Brazil’s National Agency for Sanitary Regulation. Methods: a metanalysis of two monographic studies on food production establishments (hotels and commercial restaurants) was performed, and associated to results of these authors’ research evaluating ten Foodservice and Nutrition Units led by nutritionists, and five commercial restaurants. The procedures for good manufacturing were evaluated according to the norms of the mentioned Agency; to this effect, the Agency’s specific forms were utilized to analyze the adequacy of requisites such as: construction, equipments, handling, production flow, and availability of the manual for good manufacturing procedures. Still according to the Agency’s norms, the establishments were further classified into three groups, respective to their fulfillment of the essential requisite items and procedures as defined in the form: in group I, were those establishments fulfilling more than 70% of the requisites; group II, fulfilling 30 to 69.9% of them; and group III, fulfilling less than 30% of the essential items and procedures. Results: according to the analyses, all the hotel foodservices were classified in group II, while the commercial restaurants were classified either in group II (33.3%) or in group III (66.7%). As for the Foodservice and Nutrition Units with a nutritionist, 80% were classified as group II, and 20%, as group I. Conclusion: the results indicate that the Nutrition and Foodservice Units, which had nutritionists available, were better classified in requisites such as equipments and availability of a manual of good manufacturing procedures. The hotels revealed better conditions on items such as construction, manipulation and production flow. The commercial restaurants obtained the worst results when compared to the other food production services

The technical cards as quality instrument for good manufactoring process

As profundas transformações nos métodos e tecnologias de trabalho têm gerado mudanças no processo de produção de refeições. A ficha técnica de preparação foi objeto de uma análise, na perspectiva de discutila como instrumento de qualidade na produção de refeições. Foram utilizadas bases de dados, livros e formas eletrônicas de artigos para a pesquisa bibliográfica. A compreensão de que o nutricionista, na condição de profissional de saúde, possui como atribuição a atenção dietética, e de que esta deve estar associada à racionalização e à otimização do processo de produção de refeição, seguindo princípios dietéticos, faz com que a Ficha Técnica de Preparo seja um instrumento de promoção à saúde. Sua construção como ferramenta de atenção dietética é, portanto, um dos desafios com vistas à necessária mudança de atitude dos profissionais, no que tange ao aprendizado e à aplicação de novas tecnologias, e ao fornecimento de alimento seguro.The methods and techniques major changes has stimulated the good manufacturing process studies. The manufacturing technical card has been analyzed as a meal manufacturing process quality instrument, and bibliographic studies, such as database, books and articles were the theoretical instruments. The nutritionist responsibility for the diet attention as a health professional member, attempting to the diet procedures to the meal manufacturing process makes, the Manufacturing Technical Card an instrument to the health promotion. Thus, the Manufacturing Technical Card can be a dietetic practice and management issue

Características seminais e de membrana espermática em touros suplementados com tocoferol

RESUMO O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a integridade da membrana plasmática e qualidade seminal de touros suplementados com tocoferol. Foram utilizados 16 touros com idade média de 24 meses e peso médio de 462,2kg, em dois tratamentos: grupo controle (GC) e grupo suplementado com tocoferol (GE- 400 UI de tocoferol/ animal/dia) adicionados ao suplemento concentrado. Os grupos foram mantidos em pastejo com suplementação de 4,5kg/ animal/ dia de concentrado. A suplementação com tocoferol foi fornecida por 60 dias. Foram realizadas 4 coletas de sêmen, sendo: nos dias 0, 30, 60 e 15 dias após o término da suplementação. O sêmen foi coletado por eletroejaculação, aferiu-se as características físicas e morfológicas. Para avaliar a integridade de membrana utilizou-se o teste hiposmótico, coloração eosina/ nigrosina, coloração Pope e trypan blue. Os dados foram analisados através da ANOVA e do teste SNK com um nível de significância de 5%. Foi encontrado efeito da suplementação para vigor (p=0,0183) (GC=2,71±0,095 e GE=2,23±0,16). Não foram encontradas diferenças (p>0,05) para as demais variáveis: volume, motilidade, concentração, morfologia, integridade acrossomal, viabilidade espermática e integridade de membrana. Com os resultados obtidos, nas condições experimentais do presente trabalho, conclui-se que a suplementação oral com tocoferol de 400UI/dia não apresenta melhoria sobre a qualidade seminal nem a integridade da membrana espermática de touros