Animal Models of Obesity Characterized by Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Obesity is one of the major risk factors for the Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) development, as the leading cause of chronic liver disease. NAFLD is intrinsically related to obesity disorders, especially insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Interaction between NAFLD and obesity still needs further clarification, and it is necessary to dertemine the mechanisms of these disorders in animal models of disease. Such models are usually the result of genetic and/or nutritional modifications, considering metabolic and histological changes commonly seen in humans. Obesity induced in rodents occur mainly through HFD, HCD, FFD or genetic alterations like in Lep, Acox, KKy models. These models are analogous to NAFLD development, since the increasing visceral fat is highly associated with the accumulation of fat in the form of triglycerides in the liver. Inflammatory markers such as TNF-alpha and IR are active in the predisposition of lipolysis. Hepatic inflammation during NAFLD can also be unleashed by oxidative stress. However, the mechanisms involved in the progression from NAFLD to NASH are not yet elucidated, as some models have shown unexpected outcomes such as severe malnutrition or obesity markers absence and IR after the use of Minimal-change disease (MCD) therapies and drugs, respectively. Thus, it is important to evaluate different animal models of obesity able to induce the profile of NAFLD and NASH disease in humans, assessing their mechanisms of action. The aim of this chapter is to have a comparative analysis of animal models commongly used in the pathophysiology of obesity that present NAFLD/NASH

Biotehnološka proizvodnja i svojstva fruktoznog sirupa

In response to the growing demand for the consumption of natural, healthy and low-calorie food, a large number of so-called alternative sugars has emerged since the early 80s, among them fructose. This sugar is a ketohexose, known as D-fructose or levulose, and is considered the sweetest sugar found in nature. Currently, fructose is mostly produced through the acid hydrolysis of sucrose, or through the multi-enzymatic hydrolysis of starch. Processes involving specific enzymes like inulinases, acting on widely available fructose polysaccharides such as inulin, have been studied as alternatives to the current approaches, in order to reduce time, complexity and costs involved in this process. Fructose syrup is used worldwide, mainly because of its sweetening power and functional properties. The present work aims to provide an overview of the properties of fructose and of the present and envisaged production processes, within the scope of a biotechnological approach.Zbog sve većih zahtjeva potrošača za prirodnom, zdravom i niskokaloričnom hranom, već od ranih 1980-ih godina razvijen je veliki broj tzv. alternativnih šećera, među njima i fruktoza, ketoheksoza, poznata kao D-fruktoza ili levuloza, koja je najslađi šećer u prirodi. Trenutačno se proizvodi najčešće kiselinskom hidrolizom saharoze ili enzimskom hidrolizom škroba. Da bi se dobio što brži, jednostavniji i jeftiniji postupak, istraženi su procesi u kojima se primjenjuju specifični enzimi poput inulinaza, što djeluju na razne fruktozne polisaharide (npr. inulin). Fruktozni se sirup koristi u cijelom svijetu uglavnom zbog svoje slatkoće i funkcionalnih svojstava. Svrha je ovoga rada prikazati postupke biotehnološke proizvodnje fruktoze te opisati njezina svojstva

Sub-zero temperature enables storage of seeds of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. 1

ABSTRACT -Seeds of brazilwood usually have their germinability quickly reduced if stored under natural conditions. Low temperatures, mainly sub-zero, can extend this viability for at least two years. However, there is no information about the germination behavior of these seeds for longer periods, aiming at the germoplasm bank formation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the viability of brazilwood seeds during five-year storage period at 2, 8 and -18 °C. Before storage, seeds were subjected to artificial drying (50 °C) until the moisture content reached 10%. The germination and the normal seedling development of seeds maintained at low temperatures did not differ from other treatment during the first year of storage. However, after two years only seeds stored at -18 °C kept high germination percentage. Seeds stored for five years at -18 °C showed high values of germination and normal seedling development; however, after this period it was possible to identify some symptoms of seed deterioration. Storage at sub-zero temperatures is considered as an important initiative to maintain Caesalpinia echinata seed banks, contributing to the conservation of plant biodiversity. Index terms: brazilwood, conservation, freezing, Leguminosae. Temperatura sub-zero possibilita o armazenamento de sementes de Caesalpinia echinata Lam. RESUMO -Sementes de pau-brasil geralmente têm sua germinação rapidamente reduzida quando armazenadas em condições naturais. As temperaturas baixas, principalmente inferiores a 0 o C, podem estender essa viabilidade por até dois anos. No entanto, não há informações sobre a germinação de sementes dessa espécie, quando submetidas a períodos mais longos de armazenamento, visando à formação de banco de germoplasma. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade de sementes de pau-brasil durante o armazenamento por cinco anos em câmaras com temperaturas de 2, 8 ou -18 °C. Antes do armazenamento, as sementes foram submetidas a secagem artificial (50 °C) até atingirem 10% de água. A germinação e o desenvolvimento de plântulas a partir de sementes mantidas em ambiente com temperaturas inferiores a 0 o C não foram diferentes dos demais tratamentos, durante o primeiro ano de armazenagem. No entanto, após dois anos, as armazenadas a -18 °C mantiveram porcentagem de germinação superior às conservadas nas demais temperaturas. Sementes armazenadas por cinco anos a -18 °C apresentaram valores elevados de germinação, com elevada porcentagem de desenvolvimento das plântulas, porém com indícios de início de deterioração. O armazenamento em temperaturas inferiores a 0 o C pode ser uma ferramenta importante para manutenção de bancos de sementes de Caesalpinia echinata, contribuindo para a conservação da biodiversidade vegetal. Termos para indexação: congelamento, conservação, Leguminosae, pau-brasil

NOVOS EMPREENDIMENTOS: DIFICULDADES E BARREIRAS INSTITUCIONAIS PARA ABERTURA DE MICRO E PEQUENAS INDÚSTRIAS EM VITÓRIA DA CONQUISTA-BA

Las micro y pequeñas empresas corresponden a la mayoría de los establecimientos en Brasil, así como en Vitória da Conquista, asumiendo gran importancia económica y social. Esta investigación objetivó identificar las dificultades de los empresarios de las micro y pequeñas industrias,  en cuanto a los procesos de apertura de empresas fundadas en los años de 2015 y 2016. El estudio tuvo carácter exploratorio y descriptivo, utilizando el estudio de caso múltiple. Se observó alto grado de insatisfacción en relación a las etapas de apertura de las empresas, sobre todo en relación al exceso de burocracia, lo que implicó en mayor morosidad de las acciones. Se evidenció, por lo tanto, la necesidad de mejoras, a ejemplo de la evolución de normativas y estructuras burocráticas, en el sentido de promover la celeridad de los procesos de apertura de empresas.As micro e pequenas empresas correspondem à maioria dos estabelecimentos no Brasil, assim como em Vitória da Conquista, assumindo grande importância econômica e social. Esta pesquisa objetivou identificar as dificuldades dos empresários das micro e pequenas indústrias, quanto aos processos de abertura de empresas fundadas nos anos de 2015 e 2016. O estudo teve caráter exploratório e descritivo, utilizando-se o estudo de caso múltiplo. Observou-se alto grau de insatisfação em relação às etapas de abertura das empresas, sobretudo em relação ao excesso de burocracia, o que implicou em maior morosidade das ações. Evidenciou-se, portanto, a necessidade de melhorias, a exemplo da evolução de normatizações e estruturas burocráticas, no sentido de promover a celeridade dos processos de abertura de empresas.Micro and small enterprises correspond to most establishments in Brasil, as well as in Vitória da Conquista, assuming great economic and social importance. This study aimed to identify the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs in micro- and small-scale industries in the opening of companies founded in the years 2015 and 2016. The study was exploratory and descriptive, using the multiple case study. There was a high degree of dissatisfaction with the opening stages of the companies, especially in relation to the excess of bureaucracy, which implied a greater slowness of actions. The need for improvements, such as the evolution of regulations and bureaucratic structures, has been evidenced in order to promote the speed of business start-up

Percepção dos alunos de ensino fundamental sobre guarda responsável de animais após um programa de educação no sul do Brasil

O impacto de programas de guarda responsável que objetivam promover a saúde pública precisa ser plenamente estabelecido no Brasil. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a percepção sobre guarda responsável de animais de estudantes do ensino fundamental e professores após um programa com quatro anos de duração na cidade de Pinhais. Questionários foram distribuídos para alunos da quarta série e professores de todas as escolas públicas de ensino fundamental da cidade. No total, 1022/1332 estudantes (76,7%) participaram do programa. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos que participaram e não participaram, em relação aos conceitos de guarda responsável (p = 0,88), zoonoses (p = 0,09) e bem-estar animal (p = 0,94). Entretanto, a frequência de acertos dos conceitos de guarda responsável e zoonoses foi significativamente maior (p < 0,01) entre os estudantes do grupo que participou 1 ou 2 vezes (779/830; 93,8% e 506/813; 62,2%, respectivamente) com relação ao grupo que participou > 2 vezes (144/165; 87,3% e 64/151; 42,4%, respectivamente). E também foi significativamente maior (p < 0,01) entre o grupo ≤ 10 anos (991/1058; 93.7%) com relação ao grupo > 10 anos (158/180; 87,8%) no primeiro conceito. Apesar da maioria dos professores aprovarem a continuidade do programa (128/137; 93,4%), eles reportaram baixas taxas de participação no treinamento (41/137; 29,9%) e utilização dos materiais didáticos disponíveis (78/137; 26,9%). O estudo mostrou que a percepção sobre guarda responsável de animais em programas de educação continuada pode ser mais facilmente absorvida por crianças de até 10 anos de idade e com até duas participações.The impact of responsible ownership programs with the goal of promoting public health remains to be fully established in Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the responsible pet ownership perception of public elementary school students and teachers after a four-year outreach educational program in the city of Pinhais, Southern Brazil. Questionnaires were distributed for self-answer by fourth-grade students and teachers of all city public elementary schools. A total of 1,022/1,332 students (76.7%) referred participated in the program. No significant differences were observed between participating and non-participating groups regarding the concepts of responsible ownership (p = 0.88), zoonoses (p = 0.09) and animal welfare (p = 0.94). However, the frequency of correct answers on responsible ownership and zoonoses concepts was significantly higher (p < 0.01) among student groups who participated 1 or 2 times (779/830; 93.8% and 506/813; 62.2%, respectively) in relation to the groups that participated > 2 times (144/165; 87.3% and 64/151; 42.4%, respectively). It was also significantly higher (p < 0.01) between ≤ 10 years group (991/1058, 93.7%) compared to group >10 years (158/180; 87.8%) in the first concept. Although most teachers approved the continuing program (128/137; 93.4%), they reported low rates on training participation (41/137; 29.9%) and use of available teaching materials (78/137; 26.9%). The study has shown that perception of responsible pet ownership in outreach education programs may be more easily absorbed by children under ten years of age and up to two participations

Biochemical Aspects of a Serine Protease from Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazilwood) Seeds: A Potential Tool to Access the Mobilization of Seed Storage Proteins

Several proteins have been isolated from seeds of leguminous, but this is the first report that a protease was obtained from seeds of Caesalpinia echinata Lam., a tree belonging to the Fabaceae family. This enzyme was purified to homogeneity by hydrophobic interaction and anion exchange chromatographies and gel filtration. This 61-kDa serine protease (CeSP) hydrolyses H-D-prolyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide (Km 55.7 μM) in an optimum pH of 7.1, and this activity is effectively retained until 50°C. CeSP remained stable in the presence of kosmotropic anions (PO4 3−, SO4 2−, and CH3COO−) or chaotropic cations (K+ and Na+). It is strongly inhibited by TLCK, a serine protease inhibitor, but not by E-64, EDTA or pepstatin A. The characteristics of the purified enzyme allowed us to classify it as a serine protease. The role of CeSP in the seeds cannot be assigned yet but is possible to infer that it is involved in the mobilization of seed storage proteins