Sedentary behavior : a key component in the interaction between an integrated lifestyle approach and cardiac autonomic function in active young men

This study aimed to verify the association between autonomic cardiac function (CAF) and the integration of caloric expenditure by physical activity (PA) intensity, sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep quality (PSQI) in active young men. Thirty-five subjects were included, and caloric expenditure in moderate-to-vigorous and light-intensity PA, SB, and PSQI were assessed using questionnaires. Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded for short periods of time in the supine and orthostatic positions. Multiple linear regression was realized unadjusted and adjusted for covariables, such as age, body mass index, and fat mass. No adjusted analysis indicated that, in the supine position, there were negative associations between the SB and the TP, HF, and NorHF indices, and positive associations between SB and NorLF and LF/HF. In the orthostatic position, an interaction between SB and NorLF was found. Significance of proportion with the TP, HF, and LF/HF indices was confirmed. When adjusted, for the supine position, negative interactions were documented between SB and the TP as well as the HF indices, and between PSQI and the LF/HF index, with interference under the HF and LF/HF indices. Finally, our findings indicate that the proposed approach interacts with CAF, and SB is significantly related to CAF in young active men

Phenology and ripening of Vitis vinifera L. grape varieties in São Joaquim, southern Brazil: a new South American wine growing region

This study investigated the phenology and the ripening characteristics of Vitis vinifera grapes Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah in two consecutive vintages (2006 and 2007) in order to evaluate the adaptation of these recently cultivated varieties in São Joaquim, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The phenological data observed, budburst, blooming, setting, véraison and harvest were monitorated. In order to monitor the ripening levels of pH, total acidity, total soluble solids, maturation Índex, total monomeric anthocyanins, total polyphenols index and color index were analyzed.The results show that the phenological cycle from budburst to harvest occurred within a frame time of 191 and 219 days and the heat summation requirements varied between 1,161 and 1,340 GDD. The summing of the GDD results during the phenological cycle of the grapevines (budburst - harvest) characterizes São Joaquim-SC as "Region I" (< 1,389 GDD), that is, a "cold region" in terms of the Winkler Regions.The climatic parameters influenced the grapevine phenology and the grape ripening. The results showed that these different grape varieties had typical characteristics at maturity and indicated that they have potential for the production of fine wines, suggesting that São Joaquim-SC is suitable for Vitis vinifera grape growing.Se estudio la fenología y las características de maduración de uvas Vitis vinifera Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese y Syrah en dos vendimias consecutivas (2006 y 2007), con el fin de evaluar la adaptación de estas variedades cultivadas recientemente en San Joaquim, Santa Catarina (Brasil). Las características fenológicas observadas fueron: brotación, floración, cuajado, envero y vendimia. Se analizaron los niveles de maduración de pH, acidez total, sólidos solubles totales, índice de maduración, el total de antocianos, índice de los polifenoles totales y el índice de color. Los resultados muestran que el ciclo fenológico desde la brotación hasta la vendimia se produjo entre 191 y 219 días y con requerimientos de acumulación de calor de 1.161 y 1.340 grados día. El resumen de los resultados de suma térmica durante el ciclo fenológico de la vid (brotación -cosecha) caracteriza a São Joaquim-SC como "Region I" (<1.389 grados día), es decir, una "zona fría", en términos de las Regiones Winkler. Los parámetros climáticos influyeron en la fenología de la vid y la maduración de la uva. Los resultados mostraron que estas variedades de uva tenían características típicas en la madurez y que ellos tienen un potencial para la producción de vinos finos, lo que sugiere que San Joaquim-SC es adecuado para el crecimiento de uvas Vitis vinifera

Antimicrobial properties of the mushroom Agaricus blazei : integrative review

Infectious diseases associated with antimicrobial resistance are considered to represent an important public health problem. In this regard, the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill contains several bioactive substances that promote significant functional properties, among them, antimicrobial activity, which has attracted the interest of the scientific community. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether evidence of the antimicrobial action of A. blazei has been reported in the literature. In this integrative review, manuscripts held in research databases available online were examined with a view to answering the question “Does the mushroom A. blazei exert antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and/or Gram-positive bacteria?” Only eight scientific articles that have addressed the antimicrobial properties of A. blazei, in vitro and in vivo, were found, all characterized as pre-clinical, i.e., with level VII evidence. Most authors have found that the A. blazei extract promotes an antimicrobial effect against peritonitis, as well as deadly oral infections, especially those caused by Gram-positive bacteria. However, the scientific data currently available are not sufficient to verify the antimicrobial aspect of the mushroom A. blazei and thus further investigation is required

Maturity of Cabernet Sauvignon berries from grapevines grown with two different training systems in a new grape growing region in Brazil

The wine grape (Vitis vinifera) cv. Cabernet Sauvignon has recently been introduced at a 1160 m altitude in the São Joaquim área (Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil). The aim of this work was to evalúate the maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes subjected to a Y training system or a vertical shoot positioning trellis (VSP). Grapes were sampled at 10-day intervals throughout their maturation during two consecutive vintage years (2004-2005 and 2005-2006). Climate data were assessed. Based on the results obtained in both vintage years at maturity, titratable acidities (TA) ranged from 0.67 to 0.85 g-100 mL-1 of tartaric with the pH fluctuating between 3.49 and 3.77. The maturation Índex (total soluble solids/TA) at maturity ranged from 26 to 35, and was always higher for berries from the VSP system. Significant differences were observed for the anthocyanin content (TMA) and total polyphenol Índex (TPI) valúes that may be attributed to differences in vintage year and climate conditions. Climatic conditions strongly influenced the grape quality, and it is important to note that São Joaquim is a warm región according to the Winkler scale, with 1668-1944 GDD °C. Under these environmental conditions, the VSP system provided better results for TSS, berry weight and acidity than the Y system, which could be seen more clearly in 2005-2006 due to lower rainfall.El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la maduración de uvas Cabernet Sauvignon bajo dos sistemas de conducción: sistema en Y y sistema de espaldera alta (VSP). Las viñas han sido cultivadas recientemente en la ciudad de São Joaquim, Estado de Santa Catarina (Brasil), a 1160m de altitud. Las uvas fueron muestreadas para el análisis de su maduración en dos vendimias consecutivas, 2004-2005 y 2005-2006, cada 10 días, desde envero a cosecha. Parámetros del mesoclima también fueron determinados. Los resultados muestran que a madurez, en ambas vendimias los valores de acidez total (TA) fluctuaron entre 0,67 y 0,85 g-100 mL-1 de ácido tartárico y el pH entre 3,49 y 3,77. En general, TA a madurez fue más baja en 2004-2005 que en 2005-2006. El índice de maduración (sólidos solubles totales/TA) en la madurez varió desde 26 a 35, y fue más alto para bayas cultivadas en VSP. Se observaron diferencias significativas en los valores de antocianas y en el índice de los polifenoles totales (TPI); la vendimia y el clima explicaron las fuertes diferencias entre los niveles de antocianas y TPI. Las condiciones climáticas influyeron fuertemente en la calidad de la uva. En Sao Joaquim, el clima fue clasificado como 'Región III', según la Escala de Winkler, una región cálida (1668 a 1944 °C). En general, el sistema VSP dio mejores resultados en lo referente a TSS, peso de la baya y acidez los que se percibieron más claramente en 2006 debido al menor nivel de precipitaciones

Stilbenes and tyrosol as target compounds in the assessment of antioxidant and hypolipidemic activity of Vitis vinifera red wines from Southern Brazil

The contents of stilbene monomers, cis-resveratrol, trans-resveratrol, cis-piceid, trans-piceid, and tyrosol, were quantified in Vitis vinifera red wines, cvs. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Syrah, 2006 and 2007 vintages, from the So Joaquim region, a new grape-growing region at southern Brazil. Moreover, the effect of chronic consumption of these wines on the antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities was monitored in C57BL6 LDL receptor knockout mice and treated with a hypercholesterolemic diet. Red wines from this region had substantial levels of resveratrols (the predominant forms were glycoside and trans) and tyrosol. Biomonitoring of antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities in vivo revealed that consumption of these wines increased the antioxidant capacity and reduced the hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia promoted by the hypercholesterolemic diet. Significant correlations were found between the increase of antioxidant capacity markers, the decrease of lipid levels promoted by wine consumption, and the contents of stilbenes and tyrosol, supporting the important biological activity of these compounds