Efecto de la suplementación parenteral con cobre durante el último tercio de gestación de vacas en zona de hipocuprosis

En una zona con incidencia endémica de hipocuprosis se evaluó el efecto terapéutico de la suplementación parenteral con Cu en vacas con carencia moderada y severa durante su último tercio de gestación. El grupo suplementado (n = 20) recibió 125 mg de edetato de Cu, mientras que el grupo control permaneció sin suplementación (n = 20). Se evaluaron las cupremias de las madres antes de la suplementación, al parto y cuando los terneros promediaban los tres meses de edad. Los terneros provenientes de ambos grupos se identificaron y pesaron al nacimiento y se sangraron a los tres meses para evaluar su estatus de Cu. Cuando se suplementaron madres con carencia moderada (ensayo A), las cupremias resultaron normales al parto pero descendieron a valores de deficiencia severa a los tres meses (< 30 ug/dl). En ese momento los terneros de madres suplementadas presentaron mayores concentraciones de Cu en plasma y glóbulos rojos, pero igualmente eran indicativas de carencia severa debido al agotamiento de sus reservas hepáticas. Cuando se suplementaron madres con carencia severa (ensayo B) los terneros ya no se diferenciaban por su estatus de Cu a los tres meses de edad. En ambos ensayos los terneros nacieron y crecieron hasta los tres meses sin diferenciarse por su peso, pero sus estatus de Cu indicaron la existencia de un riesgo clínico y productivo importante en una zona donde la primera suplementación se realiza al destete, con 6 a 7 meses de edad. Se concluye que la suplementación de las madres con 125 mg de Cu en el último tercio de la gestación puede resultar insuficiente en la protección de los terneros, especialmente si éstos no son suplementados durante su período de cría

Post-harvest physicochemical profile and bioactive compounds of 19 bananas and plantains genotypes.

Bragantia, Campinas, v. 78, n. 2, p.284-296, 2019284C.V. Borges et al.ABSTRACT:Nineteen genotypes of bananas and plantains were analysed in order to differentiate the subgroups and/or groups of consumption or industrial use. Genotypes of banana and plantain from different genomic groups and in three ripening stages (2, 5 and 7) were studied in relation to physical and physicochemical characteristics, including bioactive compounds. Furthermore, with the obtained data analysed by multivariate statistical analyses (Principal Component Analysis) it was possible to relate all analysed characteristic profile of samples with the different genotype. The three ripening stages were differentiate by total soluble solids, titratable acidity, chrome (C*) and the carotenoids contents. ‘Ney Poovan’ contain high total soluble solid content and pulp-to-peel ratio, an interesting result for the promotion of this genotype for in natura consumption. ‘Ney Poovan’, ‘Ouro da Mata’, ‘Pelipita’ and ‘Tiparot’ are sources of antioxidant compounds. The genotypes ‘Pelipita’ and ‘Samurá B’ are promising for the industrial use, mainly for the processing of banana chips, for both green and ripe frui

Root growth and crop performance of soybean under chemical, physical, and biological changes after subsoiling.

Chemical, physical and biological soil attributes can facilitate soybean root growth in greater volume and depth in the soil, which can minimize yield reduction caused by water deficit. Soil management can contribute positively or negatively to these soil attributes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the root growth and crop performance of soybean, in response to chemical, physical and biological changes after subsoiling at different depths. At the R5 phenological stage, trenches were made for sampling and soil collection for chemical, physical and biological analysis and root growth was carried out. At V5, V7, R2 and R5 stages, plants were collected to evaluate height, leaf area and dry mass. At V5, stage number and dry mass of the nodules were evaluated. Subsoiling increased pH and Ca, and decreased Al in the soil, resulted in higher relative density and did not affect in mechanical penetration resistance compared to non-subsoiled soil. Basal respiration and soybean nodulation were higher in the subsoiled soil. Up to 15 cm depth, there were 87.91% of the total root dry mass and 78.79% of the total root volume. Initial and final plant growth were the same in subsoiled and non-subsoiled soil. Number of nodules in the subsoiled soil was 28% higher than in the non-subsoiled soil. Under these study conditions, subsoiling provides lower root growth but benefits grain yield

The COVID-19 pandemic and its global effects on dental practice. An international survey

Objectives A multicentre survey was designed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on dental practice worldwide, estimate the COVID-19 related symptoms/signs, work attitudes and behaviour and the routine use of protective measures and personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods A global survey using a standardized questionnaire with research groups from 36 countries was designed. The questionnaire was developed and pretested during April 2020 and contained three domains: 1) personal data; 2) COVID-19 positive rate and symptoms/signs presumably related to the coronavirus; 3) working conditions and PPE adopted after the outbreak. Countries’ data were grouped by the country positive rate (CPR) during the survey period and by Gross-National-Income per capita. An ordinal multinomial logistic regression model was carried out with COVID-19 self-reported rate referred by dental professionals as dependent variable to assess the association with questionnaire items. Results A total of 52,491 questionnaires were returned with a male/female ratio of 0.63. Out of the total respondents, 7,859 dental professionals (15%) reported symptoms/signs compatible with COVID-19. More than half of the sample (n=27,818; 53%) stated to use FFP2/N95 masks, while 21,558 (41.07%) used eye protection. In the bivariate analysis, CPR and N95/FFP2 were significantly associated (OR=1.80 95%CI=1.60/2.82 and OR=5.20 95%CI=1.44/18.80, respectively), while Gross-National-Income was not statistically associated with CPR (OR=1.09 95%CI=0.97/1.60). The same significant associations were observed in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions Oral health service provision has not been significantly affected by COVID-19, although access to routine dental care was reduced due to country-specific temporary lockdown periods. While the dental profession has been identified at high-risk, the reported rates of COVID-19 for dental professionals were not significantly different to those reported for the general population in each country. These findings may help to better plan oral health care for future pandemic events

Lowering body temperature with a cooling suit as symptomatic treatment for thermosensitive multiple sclerosis patients

A cooling system (Mark VII Microclimate System) was used to give six thermosensitive multiple sclerosis patients two 45-minute daily coolings for a period of one month. Before the first cooling, a baseline clinical and electrophysiological examination was performed. The same tests were repeated after the first application and after the thirtieth cooling day, thus providing information relating to acute and chronic efficacy. A clinical improvement was observed after both acute and, more unexpectedly, chronic cooling, whereas a significant improvement in central somatosensory conduction was recorded only under acute conditions. Our data suggest that cooling with this device leads to an improvement in some functional performances (mainly fatigue and strength) of about two hours' duration in thermosensitive patients

Radical Radiation Therapy after Lung-Sparing Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma : Survival, Pattern of Failure, and Prognostic Factors

Purpose To prospectively assess the survival, patterns of failure, and prognostic factors in a large cohort of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who had undergone a novel trimodal therapeutic approach, including lung-sparing surgery, chemotherapy, and subsequent treatment with high doses of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to the whole hemithorax. Methods and Materials The analysis was conducted on the data from 69 patients. Of the 69 patients, 35 underwent extended pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), with resection of the entire pleura, along with portions of the pericardium and diaphragm and 34, partial pleurectomy, defined as partial removal of parietal or visceral pleura for diagnostic purposes, leaving gross tumor behind in all cases. All patients received cisplatin/pemetrexed chemotherapy. Postoperative IMRT was delivered to the entire hemithorax, excluding the intact lung. The IMRT dose was 50 Gy in 25 fractions. Any fluorodeoxyglucose-avid areas or regions of particular concern for residual disease were given a simultaneous boost to 60 Gy. Results The median follow-up duration was 19 months. No difference was seen in overall survival and locoregional control between the extended P/D group and the partial pleurectomy group. The 2-year overall survival was 65% and 58% in the extended P/D and partial pleurectomy groups, respectively (P=.94). Locoregional control at 2 years was 65% and 64% in the extended P/D and partial pleurectomy groups, respectively (P=.75). The predominant pattern of failure was distant: 19 patients (27.5%) developed distant metastases as the first site of relapse. Gross residual disease after surgery was significantly associated with overall survival (hazard ratio 3.45). One fatal pneumonitis was reported; 14 cases (20%) of grade 2 to 3 pneumonitis were documented. Conclusions Radical IMRT after lung-sparing surgery and chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma leads to promising survival results and acceptable toxicity rates. The similarity of survival between patients treated with extended P/D or partial pleurectomy observed in our study is intriguing

New beverage based on grapes and purple-fleshed sweet potatoes: Use of non-standard tubers

Grapes and sweet potatoes are two different plant species that have distinct bioactive composition and the use of both in a non-alcoholic mixed beverage may be an interesting source of phytochemicals. Physicochemical and sensory characteristics, profile of phenolic compounds and biogenic amines of mixed juices of grapes (‘BRS Violeta’, ‘BRS Cora’ and ‘Bordô’) and purple-fleshed sweet potato (‘JNRX12’) (0, 10 and 30%) were determined. The beverage with sweet potato had high antioxidant activity attributed to the phytochemical compounds (e.g. anthocyanins, gallic acid, catechin, tryptophan, melatonin, serotonin and dopamine). Low levels of unwanted amines (histamine, tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine) were detected, showing that their consumption is safe. Purple-fleshed sweet potato had high levels of desirable amines, mainly melatonin, making the addition of sweet potato attractive for enriching beverages. The color, texture and sensory aspects were similar in whole grape juice and in mixed juices. Juices from ‘BRS Violeta’, with or without sweet potato showed high levels of bioactive compounds but were the least appreciated. The overall appearance and aroma of juices elaborated from ‘BRS Cora’ or ‘Bordô' grapes had similar acceptance, regardless of the addition of sweet potato. Beverages from ‘BRS Cora’ and 30% purple-fleshed sweet potato are the most interesting mixture due to tryptophan and melatonin contents. Mixed juices of grapes and sweet potatoes (10% and 30%) are viable options for the use of tubers outside the commercial standard, as they add interesting bioactive compounds to beverages and please the consumer