GRASS UTILIZATION IN GROWING FINISHING BÍSARO PIGS (85-107 KG). PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS COMPOSITION

The use of different quantities of vegetables, forages or fresh grass as fodder for growing-finishing pigs is an important factor of the northern Portugal traditional system. The increasing development of swine production in outdoor systems, extensive and organic production, turns to upcoming natural diets, in which grass performs a significant part. With regard to this, some investigation has been made concerning the use of fibre-rich feed ingredients in pig nutrition. Metabolic effects of its ingestion are analysed concerning different sights (economical, social, environmental and physiological ones). The aim of this work was to study the effects of grass utilization in the diets on performances of finishing Bísaro pigs. A total of 22 pigs (16 castrated males and 6 females) was housed outdoor and fed ad libitum (37 – 85 kg live weight) with a growing diet and then transferred to an indoor system (with free access to an outdoor area) for 49 days, according to 3 different treatments: 100% concentrate (C), 75% concentrate + ad libitum grass (CE75), 50% concentrate + ad libitum grass (CE50). The grass was supplied and its intake registered on a daily basis. Every 14 days, the pigs were weighted and their back fat (P2 in vivo) measured. After slaughter (average weight of 107 kg LW), yield and ½ left carcass characteristics were controlled. During the outdoor growing phase, the ADG was 513 g/day. During the indoor finishing phase, the increase grass intake was proportional to the reduction of concentrate in the diet. The ADG (g) and the fat deposition (P2 cm) were significantly different (P<0,05) in the 3 treatments (ADG: C=641, CE75=467, CE50=356 and: C=11,4, CE75=+9,5, CE50=+6,2). The empty body weight (kg) was also proportional to the intake of concentrate (C=116,2; CE75=107,7; CE50=102,2). Comparatively to the weight of the body parts, pigs that had higher intake of grass and lower of concentrate showed a higher % of shoulder (P<0,05; C=20,4, CE75=21,7, CE50=22,2) and the pH45min of CE carcasses was significantly higher (P<0,05). As a conclusion, concentrate substitution for grass showed a slower growing rate, thinner carcasses and a high technological quality. Neverthelles variability (CV %) of the productive parameters at the end of this study were higher in the treatments that included grass: live weight (C= 10,5%; C75=10,7%; C50=14,3%), finishing ADG (C=24%; C75=37%, C50=42%), and final fat (C=37%; C75=32%, C50=52%). These values suggest that the utilization of fibrous feeds in growing-finishing swine may be one of the possible explanations of the more heterogeneous products and carcasses found in the traditional or extensive systems, common users of fibrous feeds in the carcass finishing phase

Fatores de risco para mortalidade em idosos

OBJECTIVE: The risk factors for diseases and premature deaths are important in drawing up preventive measures. This study had the aim of analyzing the risk factors for death among elderly people. METHODS: This study was carried out among participants in the SABE (Health, Wellbeing and Aging) study, in the city of São Paulo in 2000. Interviews were conducted with 2,143 elderly people (60 years old or over), using a standardized questionnaire for the SABE study. The sample was obtained from census tracts, in two stages, with replacements and with probability proportional to the population, and with supplementation of the sample of people aged 75 years or over. The final data were weighted so that they could be expanded. Between the two data collection times, there were 38 deaths which comprised study sample. Logistic regression was utilized for the data analysis, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The risk factors found were: locomotion difficulty, advanced age, male gender, self-assessment of health as "bad" and difficulty in going to the bathroom, OR=3.15; 2.93; 2.90; 2.69 and 2.51, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results may contribute towards the adoption of preventive measures for elderly people, with the aim of diminishing the expected number of fatal outcomes.OBJETIVO: Os fatores de risco para as doenças e mortes prematuras são importantes para a elaboração de condutas preventivas. O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar os fatores de risco para óbito entre idosos. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi realizado no Município de São Paulo, em participantes do estudo SABE (Saúde, Bem-estar e Envelhecimento), em 2000. Foram entrevistados 2.143 indivíduos com 60 anos ou mais, utilizando-se o questionário padronizado do estudo SABE. A amostra foi obtida de setores censitários em dois estágios, com reposição e com probabilidade proporcional à população, com complementação da amostra de pessoas de 75 anos ou mais. Os dados finais foram ponderados para poderem ser expandidos. Entre os dois períodos de coleta de dados ocorreram 38 óbitos que compuseram a amostra do estudo. Para a análise dos dados, utilizou-se regressão logística, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Os fatores de risco encontrados foram: dificuldade de locomoção, idade avançada, gênero masculino, auto-avaliação de saúde como "má" e dificuldade para ir ao banheiro, OR=3,15; 2,93; 2,90; 2,69 e 2,51, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados podem contribuir para a adoção de medidas preventivas para os idosos, visando à diminuição de desfechos fatais antecipados

Anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory action of sesquiterpene lactones

Sesquiterpene lactones (SL), characterized by their high prevalence in the Asteraceae family, are one of the major groups of secondary metabolites found in plants. Researchers from distinct research fields, including pharmacology, medicine, and agriculture, are interested in their biological potential. With new SL discovered in the last years, new biological activities have been tested, different action mechanisms (synergistic and/or antagonistic effects), as well as molecular structure–activity relationships described. The review identifies the main sesquiterpene lactones with interconnections between immune responses and anti-inflammatory actions, within different cellular models as well in in vivo studies. Bioaccessibility and bioavailability, as well as molecular structure–activity relationships are addressed. Additionally, plant metabolic engineering, and the impact of sesquiterpene lactone extraction methodologies are presented, with the perspective of biological activity enhancement. Sesquiterpene lactones derivatives are also addressed. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the therapeutic potential of sesquiterpene lactones within immune and inflammatory activities, highlighting trends and opportunities for their pharmaceutical/clinical use.The authors thank the Regional Development European Foundation and the Alentejo Region Operational Program (ALENTEJO 2020) for their financial support to “MedCynaraBioTec— Selection of Cynara cardunculus genotypes for new Biotechnological applications: the value chain improvement of cardoon, a well-adapted Mediterranean crop” (ALT20-03-0145-FEDER-039495); and “ValBioTecCynara—Economic Valorization of Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus): Study of natural variability and biotechnological applications” project (ALT20-03-0145-FEDER-000038). This work was also funded through FCT under the project UIDB/05183/2020 to the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment, and Development (MED)

Occurrence and diversity of yeast species isolated from fish feed and tambatinga gut

The present study aimed to identify yeasts species isolated from fish feed and the intestinal tracts of tambatinga fish (Colossoma macropomum × Piaractus brachypomum) cultivated in a Brazilian fish farm. Twenty tambatingas and 30 fish feed samples from different brands were acquired from two commercial establishments in the state of Piauí, Brazil. The sampled guts were divided into three equal parts, namely the anterior, medium and posterior portions, totaling 60 samples. Molecular identification was performed by PCR amplification and sequencing of the D1/D2 regions of the large rRNA subunit gene. Sixteen Candida nivariensis strains in the gut were identified. The fish feed samples showed a higher variability of yeast species, with the following species isolated: Hyphopichia burtonii (23.08%), Lodderomyces elongisporus (15.39%) and Trichosporon asahii (15.39%), Candida nivariensis (7.69%), C. orthopsilosis (7.69%), C. parapsilosis (7.69%), Rhodotorula minuta (7.69%), Sterigmatomyces elviae (7.69%), Cryptococcus liquefaciens (7.69%). Yeast found in feed, however, was not always isolated from tambatinga gut. Molecular identification allowed for the isolation of yeast species not previously reported in fish feed and gut samples.Fil: Pinheiro, Raizza Eveline E.. Universidade Federal Do Piaui;Fil: Dourado Rodrigues, Aline Maria. Universidade Federal Do Piaui; BrasilFil: Santos, Julliet Teixeira de O.. Universidade Federal Do Piaui; BrasilFil: Costa, Juliana de A.. Universidade Federal Do Piaui; BrasilFil: Pereyra, Carina Maricel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Adriana Mabel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Rosa, Carlos A.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Santos, Ana Raquel de O.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Muratori, Maria Christina S.. Universidade Federal Do Piaui; Brasi

A Huge Drop in X-ray Luminosity of the Non-Active Galaxy RXJ1242.6-1119A, and First Post-Flare Spectrum - Testing the Tidal Disruption Scenario

It has been suggested that an unavoidable consequence of the existence of supermassive black holes, and the best diagnostic of their presence in non-active galaxies, would be occasional tidal disruption of stars captured by the black holes. These events manifest themselves in form of luminous flares powered by accretion of debris from the disrupted star into the black hole. Candidate events among optically non-active galaxies emerged in the past few years. For the first time, we have looked with high spatial and spectral resolution at one of these most extreme variability events ever recorded among galaxies. Here, we report measuring a factor ~200 drop in luminosity of the X-ray source RXJ 1242-1119 with the X-ray observatories Chandra and XMM-Newton, and perform key tests of the favored outburst scenario, tidal disruption of a star by a supermassive black hole. We show that the detected `low-state' emission has properties such that it must still be related to the flare. The power-law shaped post-flare X-ray spectrum indicates a `hardening' compared to outburst. The inferred black hole mass, the amount of liberated energy, and the duration of the event favor an accretion event of the form expected from the (partial or complete) tidal disruption of a star (abstract abbreviated).Comment: to appear in March 1 issue of ApJ Letters (submitted Nov. 10, accepted in Dec. 2003); background information available at http://www.xray.mpe.mpg.de/~skomossa

Looking Ahead: Health Impact Assessment of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling Schema as a Public Health Measure

This study aimed to describe the underlying process, used methods and major recommendations emerging from a comprehensive and prospective health impact assessment of the endorsement of a front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOP-NL) system by the Portuguese health authorities. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather information on the impact of four FOP-NL schemes on consumers' selection of food products according to the perception of their nutritional quality, combining a systematic literature review, focus groups (FG), in-depth individual interviews, and an open-label crossover randomized controlled study. The relevance of FOP-NL as a public health promotion policy has emerged as a consensual idea among either FGs' participants (i.e., consumers and experts), or interviewed stakeholders. Although all of the evaluated FOP-NLs result better than no system on promoting the choice of the healthiest product, the effectiveness of easy-to-interpret FOP-NL among vulnerable groups raised concerns related to the need of integrating specific nutritional information to promote a better self-management of chronic diseases, and related to the level of literacy of consumers, which could impair the usage of FOP-NL. Educational campaigns addressing skills to use FOP-NL is recommended. Furthermore, a monitoring strategy should be considered to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this policy in promoting healthier food choices, and in reducing diet-related non-communicable diseases burden