Salivary BPIFA1 (SPLUNC1) and BPIFA2 (SPLUNC2 A) are modified by head and neck cancer radiotherapy

Objective: To determine the effects of radiotherapy on salivary BPIFA expression and to investigate the role of BPIFA in the development of known radiotherapy side effects. Materials and Methods: Unstimulated whole-mouth saliva was collected from 45 cancer patients (1 week before treatment, during the treatment, and 1 week after completion of radiotherapy) and from 20 controls. BPIFA1 and BPIFA2 expression was detected by western blotting and analyzed along with clinicopathologic data and side effects from the radiotherapy. Results: A facial radiation field was associated with lower salivary flow during and after radiotherapy and correlated with side effects, mainly mucositis. Salivary BPIFA1 expression levels were similar between the control group and the patient group before treatment. On the other hand, BPIFA2 levels were higher in the patient group before treatment compared with the control group. BPIFA concentration was modified by radiotherapy as BPIFA1 levels increased (P = .0081) and BPIFA2 decreased (P < .0001). Higher levels of BPIFA1 were associated with the presence of mucositis (P = .0363) and its severity (P = .0500). Conclusions: The present study found that levels of BPIFA1 and glycosylated forms of BPIFA2 are affected by radiotherapy, suggesting that these proteins may play a role in the oral microenvironment in irradiated patients with head and neck cancer

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ANATOMY AND DRYING IN Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus urophylla WOOD

ABSTRACT Drying is an important step to using wood and anatomical characteristics influence this process. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship between anatomy and wood drying. Samples with 2 x 2 x 4 cm were obtained from eight Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis clones at 1.3 m height to evaluate the anatomy and drying in climate chamber during 15 days. Cell wall fraction was established as the parameter that best correlated with drying, the Pearson correlation coefficient between this parameter and moisture was -0.8986, -0.6580, 0.9216, 0.8743, 0.7131 and 0.8727 for saturated wood, and after 1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 days of drying, respectively. The frequency and vessel size, as well as the height and width of the rays showed low relation with wood drying. Wood anatomy, mainly the cell wall fraction, influences moisture losses and should be considered in wood drying programs

Características físico-químicas e perfil lipídico do leite de cabras mestiças Moxotó alimentadas com dietas suplementadas com óleo de semente de algodão ou de girassol Physico-chemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of milk of crossbred Moxotó goats supplemented with cottonseed or sunflower oil

O efeito da suplementação com óleos de algodão e de girassol sobre a composição do leite foi testado em cabras mestiças Moxotó alimentadas com cinco dietas: controle, sem adição de óleo; adição de óleo de algodão a 3%; óleo de algodão a 5%; óleo de girassol a 3%; e óleo de girassol a 5% (%MS). Foram utilizadas dez cabras em lactação, confinadas, distribuídas em dois quadrados latinos (5 &times; 5), com 12 dias de adaptação e três dias de coleta em cada período. A suplementação com óleo de algodão a 5% MS elevou o teor de gordura (4,99%) e de extrato seco total (13,48%) do leite, mas não alterou a concentração dos demais componentes. A adição de 5% de óleo de girassol, no entanto, promoveu aumento na concentração do ácido linolênico (C18:3). A adição de óleo vegetal em dietas para cabras nativas promoveu aumento do percentual de gordura no leite e aumento nos teores de ácidos graxos insaturados resultando em um produto de melhor qualidade para a saúde humana.<br>The effects of cottonseed and sunflower oil supplementation on milk composition were tested using crossbred Moxotó goats. Experimental diets were as follows: control, without addition of oil; addition of 3% cottonseed oil; 5% cottonseed oil; 3% sunflower oil and 5% sunflower oil (%DM). Ten confined lactating goats were allotted to a double Latin square experimental design (5 &times; 5). Each period was comprised by 12 days of adaptation to the diet and three days of sampling in each period. Cottonseed oil supplementation at 5 %DM increased the fat content (4.99%) and the total solid (13.48%) of milk. However, the addition of sunflower oil at 5% promoted an increase in the linolenic acid (C18:3) concentrations. Therefore, the vegetal oil addition in diets for native goats promoted an increase in the percentage of milk fat and in unsaturated fatty acid contents in milk, resulting in a product of better quality for the human health