Levantamento sorológico e detecção de Salmonella sp. em granjas de postura comercial de pequeno porte em um município do estado do Rio Grande do Sul

Este trabalho teve o intuito de detectar a presença de  Salmonella sp. em aves de postura comercial em granjas com pequena produção de um município do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Para o isolamento foi utilizado o método microbiológico convencional, com amostragens pelo swab de cloaca e pelo swab de arrasto. Concomitantemente, foi realizada a soroaglutinação rápida em placa (SARP) em todas as aves, com antígenos para Salmonella pullorum  e Salmonella enteritidis. O swab de cloaca foi realizado em 360 aves de 6 granjas diferentes, onde também foi executado um swab de arrasto. Das granjas analisadas, três delas (1, 3 e 6) foram negativas para a presença de Salmonella sp. por ambas técnicas. Na granja 2, houve isolamento de S. Ohio em um swab de cloaca, sendo que o respectivo lote apresentou resultado negativo pelo swab de arrasto. Na granja 4, a S. Senftenberg foi detectada em uma ave, e o mesmo sorovar foi isolado por swab de arrasto. A granja 5 teve detecção de S. Schwarzengrund pelo swab de cloaca, e de S. Schwarzengrund e S. Ohio pelo swab de arrasto. Os resultados demonstrados acima corresponderam a 0,83% de aves positivas no isolamento em 360 amostras analisadas. A SARP para Salmonella pullorum teve 34 soros positivos em 360 análises, representando 9,44% do total. Os resultados da SARP com o antígeno para Salmonella Enteritidis tiveram 5,56% de reações fracas com poucos grumos, consideradas negativas. Finalmente, os resultados finais demonstrados neste experimento permitiram concluir que: 1o) a SARP realizada obteve baixa quantidade de soros positivos, de certa forma correspondendo à ausência dos isolamentos destes sorovares; 2o) A SARP não deve ser uma técnica utilizada para a confirmação de aves positivas para Salmonella sp. em um lote, mas somente como um  teste de triagem; 3o) A metodologia de isolamento para o swabs de cloaca e de arrasto permitiu detectar a presença de Salmonella sp. nas amostras coletadas; 4o) O status sanitário destas criações de pequeno porte, em relação à pesquisa de Salmonella sp., parece ser muito superior ao que poderia fazer concluir sua baixa tecnificação

NADPH- Diaphorase positive cardiac neurons in the atria of mice. A morphoquantitative study

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to determine the location, the morphology and distribution of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in the cardiac nerve plexus of the atria of mice (ASn). This plexus lies over the muscular layer of the atria, dorsal to the muscle itself, in the connective tissue of the subepicardium. NADPH- diaphorase staining was performed on whole-mount preparations of the atria mice. For descriptive purposes, all data are presented as means ± SEM. RESULTS: The majority of the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons were observed in the ganglia of the plexus. A few single neurons were also observed. The number of NADPH-d positive neurons was 57 ± 4 (ranging from 39 to 79 neurons). The ganglion neurons were located in 3 distinct groups: (1) in the region situated cranial to the pulmonary veins, (2) caudally to the pulmonary veins, and (3) in the atrial groove. The largest group of neurons was located cranially to the pulmonary veins (66.7%). Three morphological types of NADPH-diaphorase neurons could be distinguished on the basis of their shape: unipolar cells, bipolar cells and cells with three processes (multipolar cells). The unipolar neurons predominated (78.9%), whereas the multipolar were encountered less frequently (5,3%). The sizes (area of maximal cell profile) of the neurons ranged from about 90 μm(2)to about 220 μm(2). Morphometrically, the three types of neurons were similar and there were no significant differences in their sizes. The total number of cardiac neurons (obtained by staining the neurons with NADH-diaphorase method) was 530 ± 23. Therefore, the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons of the heart represent 10% of the number of cardiac neurons stained by NADH. CONCLUSION: The obtained data have shown that the NADPH-d positive neurons in the cardiac plexus of the atria of mice are morphologically different, and therefore, it is possible that the function of the neurons may also be different

Phenolic compounds in fisalis (Physalis peruviana Linneus) extracts and action of the extracts on the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea Pers / Compostos fenólicos em extratos fisalis (Physalis peruviana Linneus) e ação dos extratos sobre o fitopatógeno Botrytis cinerea Pers

Phenolic acids and flavonoids naturally protect plants against phytopathogenic fungi and, therefore, plant extracts containing phenolic compounds are considered a natural alternative to conventional fungicides. Goldenberry extract was evaluated for its ability to inhibit the growth of the fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. in vitro and in strawberries, cultivar Albion. Caffeic, chlorogenic and ferulic acids and flavonoid quercetin were identified in the goldenberry extract at different concentrations. The different concentrations of the extract tested in vitro resulted in variations in the percentage inhibition of fungal mycelial development. The fungicidal effect was observed when the 5 mL volume of the extract at 20% (v/v) concentration was tested in vitro. The phenolic compounds present in goldenberry extract represents a preventive natural method of control of B. cinerea in vitro and it can be alternative method of control for postharvest strawberries of cultivar Albion

Perception of food patterns among adults using restrictive diets: a prospective observational cross-sectional study

Introduction: Obesity is a disease of increasing prevalence among adults in Brazil. It is an undesirable condition both from a health and an aesthetic point of view. The cult of the thin body sometimes motivates the adoption of restrictive diets, which significantly limit the menu. However, the use of this type of diet may be associated with unhealthy repercussions on food, well-being, and weight loss. Objective: To evaluate the perception of the dietary pattern of adult users of restrictive diets in a city in the northwest of São Paulo. Methods: Prospective observational cross-sectional study, carried out through an online questionnaire, with 108 subjects of both genders who perform/have already performed restrictive diets. Results: Predominance of female individuals (84.3%) aged between 18 and 21 years (49.1%). Regarding the Body Mass Index (BMI), 48.1% were classified within the normal range and 31.5% as preobese. In the period before the diet, 72.2% of the participants believed they were overweight. The beginning of the diet was motivated mainly by the desire to lose weight (87%) and its accomplishment happened, in most cases, without professional supervision (58.3%). Excessive eating episodes during the diet period were significant (only 14.8% never experienced it), with feelings of guilt associated in 71.3% of the cases. Conscious control during meals to avoid weight gain occurred with high frequency in 72.3% of cases. Conclusion: A portion of the population presents problematic perceptions about the experience with restrictive diets, which are associated with eating and psychological disorders

The influence of technical skills on decision making of novice volleyball players

The aim of this study was to verify the influence of the technical skills level on the decision making of novice volleyball players on service, reception and set actions. The sample was composed of 80 novice athletes of school volleyball teams of both sexes. Based on the results from the Volleyball Skills Test Battery, the sample was divided into three groups: low, intermediate and high technical level, by means of One-Way ANOVA. The intermediate group was excluded from further analyses. Decision making was assessed with the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI). For data analysis purposes, the independent student-t test was used, adopting significance level of p≤0.05. The results showed that players with low skill level in service and set actions also had lower performance on the decision-making test when compared to players with high technical level. On the other hand, in the reception action, no differences were found among groups. It was therefore concluded that the technical level seems to influence the decision making in service and set actions in novice volleyball players.O estudo objetivou verificar a influência do nível da habilidade técnica na tomada de decisão de jogadores iniciantes de voleibol nas ações de saque, recepção e levantamento. A amostra foi composta por 80 atletas iniciantes de equipes escolares de voleibol de ambos os sexos. Com base nos resultados na Bateria de Testes de Habilidades de Voleibol, a amostra foi dividida em três grupos: baixo, intermediário e alto nível técnico, por meio da ANOVA One Way. O grupo intermediário foi excluído das análises posteriores. A tomada de decisão foi avaliada por meio do Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI). Utilizou-se o teste t student independente para análise dos dados, adotando um nível de significância de p≤0,05. Os resultados encontrados demonstraram que os jogadores com baixo nível de habilidade nas ações de saque e levantamento, também obtiveram um pior desempenho no teste de tomada de decisão quando comparado aos jogadores de alto nível técnico. Por outro lado, na ação de recepção, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos. Conclui-se que o nível técnico parece influenciar na tomada de decisão na ação de saque e levantamento dos jogadores iniciantes de voleibol

SEROVARS AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF Salmonella spp. ISOLATED FROM TURKEY AND BROILER CARCASSES IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL BETWEEN 2004 AND 2006

Salmonella spp. causes diseases in fowls, when species-specific serovars (Salmonella Pullorum and S.Gallinarum) are present in flocks, and public health problems, when non-typhoid serovars are isolated, as well as possible bacterial resistance induced by the preventive and therapeutic use of antimicrobials in animal production. This study describes the serovars and bacterial resistance of 280Salmonella spp. strains isolated from turkey and broiler carcasses in Southern Brazil between 2004 and 2006. SalmonellaEnteritidis was the most prevalent serovar (55.7%), followed by Heidelberg (5.0%), Agona (4.3%), Bredeney (3.9%), Hadar (3.2%), and Typhimurium (2.9%). Tennessee and S. Enterica subspecies enterica(O: 4.5) were isolated only in turkeys, and Hadar (18.6%) was the most prevalent serovar in this species. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed in 178 isolates (43 from turkeys and 135 from broilers). All isolates were sensitive to amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, polymyxin B, ciprofloxacin, and norfloxacin, and were resistant to bacitracin and penicillin. Broiler carcass isolates showed resistance to nalidixic acid (48.9%), nitrofurantoin (34.3%), neomycin (9.6%), tetracycline (5.2%), and kanamycin (8.9%); and turkey carcass isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid (62.8%), tetracycline (34.9%), and neomycin (30.2%), with a significant difference in turkeys when compared to broiler carcass isolates. These results indicate the need for judicious use of antimicrobials in livestock production, given that the serovars identified are potential causes of food poisoning

In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Activity of Ruthenium 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione Arene Complexes

Funding Information: We are grateful to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., through MOSTMICRO-ITQB R&D Unit (UIDB/04612/2020, UIDP/04612/2020) and LS4FUTURE Associated Laboratory (LA/P/0087/2020). The NMR spectrometers at CERMAX are integrated in the national NMR Network and partially supported through project 022162. Oscar A. Lenis-Rojas acknowledge national funds through FCT, POPH-Programa Operacional Potencial Humano, and FSE (European Social Fund) for the CEEC 2017 Initiative. Additionally, this work is financed by national funds from FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences—UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy—i4HB. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.Ruthenium(II) arene complexes exhibit promising chemotherapeutic properties. In this study, the effect of the counter anion in Ru(II) complexes was evaluated by analyzing the biological effect of two Ru(II) p-cymene derivatives with the 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione ligand of general-formula [(η6-arene)Ru(L)Cl][X] X = CF3SO3 (JHOR10) and PF6 (JHOR11). The biological activity of JHOR10 and JHOR11 was examined in the ovarian carcinoma cell line A2780, colorectal carcinoma cell line HCT116, doxorubicin-resistant HCT116 (HCT116-Dox) and in normal human dermal fibroblasts. Both complexes JHOR10 and JHOR11 displayed an antiproliferative effect on A2780 and HCT116 cell lines, and low cytotoxicity in fibroblasts. Interestingly, JHOR11 also showed antiproliferative activity in the HCT116-Dox cancer cell line, while JHOR10 was inactive. Studies in A2780 cells showed that JHOR11 induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger autophagy and cellular senescence, but no apoptosis induction. Further analysis showed that JHOR11 presented no tumorigenicity, with no effect in the cellular mobility, as evaluated by thye wound scratch assay, and no anti- or pro-angiogenic effect, as evaluated by the ex-ovo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Importantly, JHOR11 presented no toxicity in chicken and zebrafish embryos and reduced in vivo the proliferation of HCT116 injected into zebrafish embryos. These results show that these are suitable complexes for clinical applications with improved tumor cell cytotoxicity and low toxicity, and that counter-anion alteration might be a viable clinical strategy for improving chemotherapy outcomes in multidrug-resistant (MDR) tumors.publishersversionpublishe

INDICADORES OPERACIONAIS DO CONTROLE DA TUBERCULOSE NO MUNICÍPIO DE BELÉM-PARÁ

Objective: to describe the operational indicators of tuberculosis control in the municipality of Belém in the 2013-2017 period.Method: a quantitative and descriptive study, whose data came from the Notifiable Diseases Information System in the municipality of Belém, obtained together with the Municipal Health Secretariat in June 2019 and relating to the operational indicators of the National Program for Tuberculosis Control. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics.Results: weaknesses in the control of the disease were identified in the municipality of Belém. All the indicators, whether referring to early diagnosis, treatment or outcome, showed low capacity for disease control in the municipality.Conclusion: failure to meet the targets set implies maintaining the disease in the community and favoring cases of drug resistance, increasing costs, and human suffering. The results make it possible to reflect on the need to monitor the control actions.Objetivo: descrever os indicadores operacionais do controle da tuberculose no município de Belém no período 2013-2017.Método: estudo quantitativo, descritivo, cujos dados foram oriundos do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação do município de Belém, obtidos junto à Secretaria Municipal de Saúde em junho de 2019 e dizem respeito aos indicadores operacionais do Programa Nacional de Controle da Tuberculose. A análise se deu por meio de estatística descritiva.Resultados: identificou-se fragilidades no controle da doença no município de Belém. Todos os indicadores, sejam os referentes ao diagnóstico precoce, tratamento e desfecho, mostraram baixa capacidade para o controle da doença no município.Conclusão: o não cumprimento das metas previstas implica na manutenção da doença na comunidade e favorecimento de casos de resistência às drogas, aumentando custos e sofrimento humano. Os resultados possibilitam reflexão acerca da necessidade do monitoramento das ações de controle.Objetivo: describir los indicadores operativos del control de la tuberculosis en el municipio de Belém durante el período 2013-2017.Método: estudio cuantitativo y descriptivo, cuyos datos fueron extraídos del Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Notificación Obligatoria del municipio de Belém, obtenidos con la intervención de la Secretaría Municipal de Salud en junio de 2019, relacionados con los indicadores operativos del Programa Nacional de Control de la Tuberculosis. El análisis se realizó por medio de estadística descriptiva.Resultados: se identificaron debilidades en el control de la enfermedad en el municipio de Belém. Todos los indicadores, ya sea referidos al diagnóstico precoz, tratamiento o resultado, presentaron escasa capacidad para controlar la enfermedad en el municipio. Conclusión: la falta de cumplimiento de las metas previstas implica la permanencia de la enfermedad en la comunidad, el favorecimiento de los casos de resistencia a los fármacos, con el consiguiente aumento de costos y sufrimiento humano. Los resultados permiten reflexionar acerca de la necesidad de monitorear las acciones de control

Biofilm formation by Salmonella enteritidis at different incubation temperatures

Background: The genus Salmonella, associated with poultry products, is considered the leading cause of foodborne outbreaks in humans in many countries. In Brazil, Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) is the serovar remains as one most frequently isolated from humans, and it is also a major serovar found in animals, food, animal feed, and environmental samples, despite all the efforts to control this pathogen. Also, the bacterium is able to form biofilms on different surfaces, protecting cells from both cleaning and sanitizing procedures in the food industries. This study aimed to verify the ability of Salmonella Enteritidis isolates to form biofilm on polystyrene at different incubation temperatures. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 171 SE samples were isolated from foodborne outbreaks (foods and stool cultures) and poultry products between 2003 and 2010. The biofilm-forming ability of samples was measured at four different temperatures (3°C, 9ºC, 25ºC, and 36ºC), for 24 h, simulating temperatures usually found in poultry slaughterhouses. Later, 200 μL of each bacterial suspension was inoculated, in triplicate, onto 96-well, flat-bottomed sterile polystyrene microtiter plates, washed, after that, the biofilm was fixed with methanol. The plates were dried at ambient temperature, stained with 2% Hucker’s crystal violet. Afterwards, absorbance was read using an ELISA plate reader and the optical density (OD) of each isolate was obtained by the arithmetic mean of the absorbance of three wells and this value was compared with the mean absorbance of negative controls (ODnc). The following classification was used for the determination of biofilm formation: no biofilm production, weak biofilm production, moderate biofilm production and strong biofilm production. Results demonstrated all isolates from stool cultures and foods involved in foodborne outbreaks, at least one of the four temperatures tested, were able to form biofilm, even at 3°C, undescribed as possible for the growth of SE. SE strains from poultry products also formed biofilm at least at one of the temperatures. Discussion: The prevention of biofilms formation is very important, once they can be difficult to remove from utensils and food equipment surfaces, becoming a chronic source of microbial contamination of foods, possible dissemination of diseases, and increase of resistance to cleaning and sanitization procedures. A high ability for biofilm formation on plastic surfaces was observed. We may consider that Salmonella has the capacity to bind to surfaces, with relevant impacts on public health. Although biofilm formation could be affected by temperature, most of the SE isolates analyzed in our study were strong biofilm producers at all temperatures, including at 3°C, a temperature used for food preservation and until then not acknowledged as worrisome regarding the development of Salmonella spp. There is a common sense that maintenance of food at low temperatures, particularly below 5°C, is safer to consumers as low temperatures reduce microbial multiplication. However, our results show that the growth of SE in its sessile form is possible under refrigeration. These findings lead to the assumption that the ability of SE to form biofilms, especially at low temperatures, is related to its endurance in inhospitable environments, eventually infecting humans, and that may be one of the factors associated with the high prevalence of this serovar in outbreaks of foodborne diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first publication about biofilm formation by Salmonella Enteritidis at 3ºC