Degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca e proteína bruta de subprodutos da agroindústria, da pesca e de abatedouros em caprinos.

Caprinos foram utilizados num delineamento change-over 2 (5 x 5) para estudar a degradabilidade da matéria seca e proteína bruta dos subprodutos: farelo de soja1 (FS1), soja integral tostada (SIT), farelo de algodão (FA), farinha de carne e ossos 1 (FCO1), farinha de carne e ossos 2 (FCO 2), farelo de soja 2 (FS2), farinha de peixe (FP), torta de babaçu (TB), farinha de sangue (FSA) e farinha de vísceras de frango (FVF), pela técnica dos sacos de náilon in situ. O capim napier foi o único volumoso. A degradabilidade efetiva da PB foi de 68,47% para o FS1; 65,60% para o FS2; 60,71% para o FA; 65,69% para a SIT; 61,59% para a FCO1; e 62,58% para a FCO2, enquanto a degradabilidade efetiva da MS foi 75,48% para o FS1; 73,05% para o FS2; 52,39% para o FA; 70,38% para a SIT; 44,45% para a FCO1; 47,01% para a FCO2; 48,43% para a FP; 38% para a TB; e 53,82% para FVF, com r de 0,05/h

Vulnerabilidade ambiental e alternativas de produção sustentável em cultivos de açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) na área de proteção ambiental da ilha do Combu, estado do Pará.

Fez-se um levantamento socioambiental para identificar os principais agentes de mudança para embasar recomendações para produção sustentável de açaí na ilha do Combu compatibilizando as necessidades de subsistência com oportunidades de mercado e conservação ambiental

Divergência genética e correlações entre variáveis tecnológicas da população de trabalho de bacuri da Embrapa Meio-Norte.

Estudou-se a divergência genética e as correlações entre as variáveis agroindustriais dos genótipos da coleção de trabalho do bacuri visando à obtenção de população-base para o seu programa de melhoramento genético na Embrapa Meio-Norte. Essa coleção é constituída de 49 genótipos coletados em áreas de ocorrência natural da espécie nos Estados do Piauí e Maranhão. O experimento foi delineado em blocos completos casualizados com 1 planta por parcela e 5 repetições. As variáveis avaliadas foram: peso, comprimento e diâmetro de frutos; relação comprimento/diâmetro de fruto; número de sementes; porcentagens de polpa, de casca e de sementes; sólidos solúveis totais (SS) e acidez total titulável (ATT). Utilizou-se a análise de agrupamento UPGMA para a separação dos genótipos. Considerando-se a distância média entre clusters de 1,0, os genótipos formaram quatro grupos dissimilares. As variáveis diâmetro e comprimento do fruto podem gerar inferências para a variável peso do fruto e promover uma seleção indireta para esta variável

Comparison between CDC and WHO BMI z-score and their relation with metabolic risk markers in Northern Portuguese obese adolescents

Growth-curves are an important tool for evaluating the anthropometric development in pediatrics. The different growth-curves available are based in different populations, what leads to different cut-offs. Pediatric obesity tracks into adulthood and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The accurate assessment of a child nutritional status using growth-curves can indicate individuals that are either obese or in risk of becoming obese, allowing an early intervention. Moreover, the association between the data obtained from growth-curves with specific metabolic risk factors further highlights the importance of these charts. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between body mass index z-score (BMIzsc), determined using the growth-curves from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from the World Health Organization (WHO), with cardiovascular risk factors, represented here by metabolic syndrome (MS) and insulin resistance (IR) related parameters. The study involved 246 obese adolescents (10-18 years, 122 females). MS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation. IR was considered for HOMA-IR greater than 2.5

Body fat percentage is a major determinant of total bilirubin independently of UGT1A1*28 polymorphism in young obese

OBJECTIVES: Bilirubin has potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The UGT1A1*28 polymorphism (TA repeats in the promoter region) is a major determinant of bilirubin levels and recent evidence suggests that raised adiposity may also be a contributing factor. We aimed to study the interaction between UGT1A1 polymorphism, hematological and anthropometric variables with total bilirubin levels in young individuals. METHODS: 350 obese (mean age of 11.6 years; 52% females) and 79 controls (mean age of 10.5 years; 59% females) were included. Total bilirubin and C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels, hemogram, anthropometric data and UGT1A1 polymorphism were determined. In a subgroup of 74 obese and 40 controls body composition was analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The UGT1A1 genotype frequencies were 49.9%, 42.7% and 7.5% for 6/6, 6/7 and 7/7 genotypes, respectively. Patients with 7/7 genotype presented the highest total bilirubin levels, followed by 6/7 and 6/6 genotypes. Compared to controls, obese patients presented higher erythrocyte count, hematocrit, hemoglobin and CRP levels, but no differences in bilirubin or in UGT1A1 genotype distribution. Body fat percentage was inversely correlated with bilirubin in obese patients but not in controls. This inverse association was observed either in 6/7 or 6/6 genotype obese patients. UGT1A1 polymorphism and body fat percentage were the main factors affecting bilirubin levels within obese patients (linear regression analysis). CONCLUSION: In obese children and adolescents, body fat composition and UGT1A1 polymorphism are independent determinants of total bilirubin levels. Obese individuals with 6/6 UGT1A1 genotype and higher body fat mass may benefit from a closer clinical follow-up.This work was funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Competitiveness Programme – COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028613 (PTDC/DTP-DES/0393/2012). A PhD grant was attributed to H. Nascimento by FCT (SFRH/BD/48060/2008). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Bilirubin is independently associated with oxidized LDL levels in young obese patients

BACKGROUND: Bilirubin can prevent lipid oxidation in vitro, but the association in vivo with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) levels has been poorly explored. Our aim is to the association of Ox-LDL with total bilirubin (TB) levels and with variables related with metabolic syndrome and inflammation, in young obese individuals. FINDINGS: 125 obese patients (13.4 years; 53.6% females) were studied. TB, lipid profile including Ox-LDL, markers of glucose metabolism, and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and adiponectin were determined. Anthropometric data was also collected. In all patients, Ox-LDL correlated positively with BMI, total cholesterol, LDLc, triglycerides (TG), CRP, glucose, insulin and HOMAIR; while inversely with TB and HDLc/Total cholesterol ratio (P < 0.05 for all). In multiple linear regression analysis, LDLc, TG, HDLc and TB levels were significantly associated with Ox-LDL (standardized Beta: 0.656, 0.293, -0.283, -0.164, respectively; P < 0.01 for all). After removing TG and HDLc from the analysis, HOMAIR was included in the regression model. In this new model, LDLc remained the best predictor of Ox-LDL levels (β = 0.665, P < 0.001), followed by TB (β = -0.202, P = 0.002) and HOMAIR (β = 0.163, P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Lower bilirubin levels may contribute to increased LDL oxidation in obese children and adolescents, predisposing to increased cardiovascular risk