Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in an Endemic Area for Malaria in Manaus: A Cross-Sectional Survey in the Brazilian Amazon

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of information regarding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in endemic areas for malaria in Latin America. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This study determined the prevalence of the G6PD deficiency in 200 male non-consanguineous individuals residing in the Ismail Aziz Community, on the outskirts of Manaus (Brazilian Amazon). Six individuals (3%) were deficient using the qualitative Brewer's test. Gel electrophoresis showed that five of these patients were G6PD A(-). The deficiency was not associated with the ethnic origin (P = 0.571). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, G6PD deficiency protected against three or more episodes of malaria (P = 0.049), independently of the age, and was associated with a history of jaundice (P = 0.020) and need of blood transfusion (P = 0.045) during previous treatment for malarial infection, independently of the age and the previous malarial exposure. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The frequency of G6PD deficiency was similar to other studies performed in Brazil and the finding of a predominant G6PD A(-) variant will help the clinical management of patients with drug-induced haemolysis. The history of jaundice and blood transfusion during previous malarial infection may trigger the screening of patients for G6PD deficiency. The apparent protection against multiple malarial infections in an area primarily endemic for Plasmodium vivax needs further investigation

Phytotoxic activity of crude aqueous extracts and fractions of young leaves of Sapindus saponaria L. (Sapindaceae)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxic potential of aqueous extract of young leaves of Sapindus saponaria L. (soapberry) on the diaspore germination and seedling growth Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) and Allium cepa L. (onion), as well as to determine, by bioassay-guided fractioning, whether the fractionated extracts of those leaves are phytotoxic to Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) coleoptiles. The aqueous extract was prepared using 100 g of dried plant material dissolved in 1000 ml of distilled water, resulting in a concentration of 10.0%. Distilled water was added in order to obtain dilutions of 7.5%, 5.0%, and 2.5%. The extraction was carried out with young leaves (in powder form) and organic solvents of various polarities. We fractioned the ethyl acetate extract using column chromatography. The phytotoxic potential of the aqueous extract of young leaves S. saponaria varied according to the receiving species and the concentration-dependent inhibitory effect. The ethyl acetate extract, specifically fraction 6 (57-70), had the greatest inhibitory effect on the elongation of wheat coleoptiles, indicating that the compounds responsible for the phytotoxic effect reside within this fraction

Valores energéticos de diferentes alimentos de origem animal para aves Energetic values of different feedstuffs of animal origin for poultry

Objetivou-se determinar, utilizando-se o método tradicional de coleta total, os valores de energia metabolizável aparente (EMA), aparente corrigida (EMAn), verdadeira (EMV) e verdadeira corrigida (EMVn), bem como os coeficientes de metabolizabilidade da EB, de 11 alimentos. Avaliaram-se amostras de três farinhas de vísceras de aves (FVA), três farinhas de penas (FP), duas farinhas de carne e ossos (FCO), duas farinhas de vísceras suínas (FVS) e uma farinha de penas e vísceras (FPV) de diferentes procedências. Foram utilizados 360 frangos de corte machos Ross com 21 dias de idade, distribuídos em blocos ao acaso em 11 tratamentos e uma ração-referência, com duas repetições por bloco e cinco aves por unidade experimental. Cada alimento substituiu em 20% a ração-referência. As aves receberam ração à vontade por 12 dias, sendo os cinco dias finais destinados à coleta total de excretas. Durante os cinco dias de coleta, 30 aves (distribuídas em seis gaiolas) foram mantidas em jejum por 72 horas, sendo as 24 horas iniciais para esvaziamento do trato gastrointestinal e as 48 horas restantes para coleta das excretas, que foram quantificadas e extrapoladas para cinco dias. Os valores de EMA e EMAn, expressos em kcal/kg de MS, foram em média de 1.647 e 1.422 para a FCO, de 2.143 e 1.875 para a FP, de 3.062 e 2.844 para a FVA, de 1.889 e 1.779 para a FVS e de 2.497 a 2.209 para a FPV. Os valores de EMV e EMVn, expressos em kcal/kg de MS, foram em média de 1.753 e 1.462 para a FCO, de 2.269 e 1.452 para a FP, de 3.211 e 2.740 para a FVA, de 2.002 e 1.562 para a FVS e de 2.615 e 1.944 para a FPV.<br>The traditional method of total collection was used to determine the values of apparent metabolizable energy (AME), corrected apparent energy (AMEn), true metabolizable energy (TME) and corrected true energy (TMEn) of eleven feedstuffs and the respective coefficients of metabolizability of GE. The feedstuffs were as follows: three samples of poultry by-product (PBP), three of feather meal (FM), two of meat and bone meal (MBM), two of swine viscera meal (SVM) and one of viscera and feather meal (VFM) of different origins. Three hundred and sixty male Ross broiler chickens, with 21 days old, were assigned to a randomized block design with eleven treatments and one control, with two replicates per block and five birds per experimental unit. The feedstuffs replaced 20% of the control. The birds were fed ad libitum during 12 days (last five days for total feces collection). During the collection, 30 poultry were allotted to six cages and fasted for 72 hours (the first 24 hours were for the gastrointestinal emptying and the 48 hours remaining for feces collection, that were quantified and extrapolated for five days). The average values of AME and AMEn expressed in kcal/kg on DM basis were as follows: 1,647 and 1,422 for MBM, 2,143 and 1,875 for FP, 3,062 and 2,844 for PBP, 1,889 and 1,779 for SVM and of 2,497 and 2,209 for VFM. The average values of TME and TMEn expressed in kcal/kg of DM, were: 1,753 and 1,462 for MBM, 2,269 and 1,452 for FM, 3,211 and 2,740 for PBM, 2,002 and 1,562 for SVM and 2,615 and 1,944 for VFM