Úlcera de pressão e estado nutricional: revisão da literatura Ulcera de presión y estado nutricional: revisión de la literatura Decubitus ulcer and nutritional status: literature review

Para melhor compreender os aspectos envolvidos na avaliação nutricional de pacientes em risco para úlcera de pressão, desenvolvemos uma revisão bibliográfica da literatura nacional e internacional indexada nas bases de dados bibliográficos LILACS e MEDLINE, no período de 1987 a 2001. O objetivo foi investigar a produção do conhecimento sobre úlcera de pressão e estado nutricional, assim como a autoria principal e o enfoque das publicações. Concluiu-se que os pacientes que apresentam risco para o desenvolvimento de úlcera de pressão podem ser identificados precocemente através da avaliação nutricional, incluindo os dados bioquímicos, mensurações antropométricas, sinais clínicos, história dietética e gasto energético. As alterações são mais freqüentes em pacientes idosos, hospitalizados, portadores de doenças crônicas como acidente vascular cerebral, câncer e lesão de medula espinhal.<br>Para una mejor compresión de los aspectos envueltos en la evaluación nutricional de enfermos en peligro de úlcera por decúbito, los autores desarrollaron una revisión bibliográfica de la literatura nacional e internacional indexada en las basis de datos LILACS y MEDLINE durante el período de 1987 a 2001. El objetivo fue investigar la producción del conocimiento sobre úlcera de presión y estado de nutrición, así como la autoría principal y el enfoque de las publicaciones. Los autores concluyeron que los enfermos presentando peligro para el desarrollo de úlcera de presión pueden ser identificados de modo prematuro vía la evaluación nutricional, incluyendo los datos bioquímicos, mensuraciones antropométricas, indicios clínicos, historia dietética y expensas energéticas. Las alteraciones son más frecuentes en enfermos ancianos, hospitalizados, portadores de enfermedad crónica como accidente vascular cerebral, cáncer y lesión de la medula espinal.<br>In order to better understand aspects related to the nutritional assessment of patients in risk for pressure ulcers, we reviewed the national and international literature indexed on Medline and LILACS bibliographic dadtabases, from 1987 to 2001. The aim of this research was to investigate the knowledge production on pressure ulcers and nutritional status, as well as to learn about the authors and the publication focus. We concluded that patients in risk for pressure ulcers can be early identified based on nutritional assessment, including biochemical data, anthropometric evaluation, clinical data, diet history and energetic consumption. The alterations are frequent in elderly patients, hospitalized patients, patients with a chronic disease such as a vascular cerebral accident, cancer and spinal cord injury

Phenolic profile, antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibitory activities of extracts from aromatic plants used in Mediterranean diet

The antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties of methanolic extracts from four aromatic plants used in traditional medicine and food [Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi subsp. nepeta, Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii Franco, Mentha spicata L. and Origanum vulgare subsp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Bonnier & Layens] were evaluated. The extract from O. vulgare exhibited the strongest DPPH (IC50 of 4.65 +/- 0.12 mu g/ml) and ABTS (1479.56 +/- 12.29 mu mol(TE)/g(extract)) scavenging capacities, as well as the largest ferric reducing ability (1746.76 +/- 45.11 mu mol(AAE)/g(extract)). This extract also showed the highest total phenolic content (1597.20 +/- 24.10 mu mol(GAE)/g(extract)) and although HPLC-DAD analysis revealed rosmarinic acid as the main compound of the extract, other compounds seem to be involved in the antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the extract from H. italicum, which was found to be rich in caffeoylquinic and dicaffeoylquinic acids and in pinocembrin, showed the highest inhibitory potential against acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase and alpha-glucosidase. Overall, the results obtained validate the usefulness of the studied plants as valuable sources of natural agents beneficial for human health.European Union; National Funds (FCT/MEC, Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia/Ministerio da Educacao e Ciencia) [UID/QUI/50006/2013]; Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000024]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/84112/2012, IF/01332/2014]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phlebotominae distribution in Janaúba, an area of transmission for visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil

In Brazil, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by Leishmania chagasi parasites that are transmitted to man through the bites of infected females of Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies. In order to evaluate transmission risk and to clarify the epidemiology of this tropical disease, studies focused on the vector and favorable environmental conditions are of fundamental importance. In this work, we surveyed the phlebotomine sand fly fauna in Janaúba, a Brazilian municipality that is endemic for VL. During a two-year period, entomological captures were performed monthly in 15 districts with high, moderate and low profiles of VL transmission. A total of 14,591 phlebotomine sand flies were captured (92% L. longipalpis), with a predominance of males. Most specimens were captured in the peri-domicile setting, although the number of specimens captured in the intra-domicile setting emphasises the anthropophilic behaviour of this insect. The population density of L. longipalpis was modulated by climate variations, particularly with clear increases immediately after the rainy season. However, the pattern of distribution did not coincide with the occurrence of human or canine cases of VL. This suggests that the eco-epidemiology of VL is particular to each area of transmission and must be taken into account during the design of public health control actions

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Potential of Mixed Fruit-Based Beverages: a New Insight on the Folin-Ciocalteu Method

Definition of a standard method for measuring antioxidant capacity is still a necessity for both researchers and food industry. This study is aimed to evaluate if Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) method could be reconsidered as suitable for antioxidant potency comparison purposes in food matrices. F-C and four other common tests for measuring antioxidant capacity (ORAC, TEAC, FRAP, CUPRAC) were applied to mixed fruit-based beverages. An overall antioxidant potency composite index (API composite) was calculated by assigning each test equal weight, in order to establish the ranking of antioxidant capacity in the analyzed samples. In addition, the study provides an evaluation of the compounds related to the antioxidant potential of these beverages (total phenolics, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid) through principal component analysis (PCA). Total phenolics were the principal component influencing the antioxidant capacity of these samples. This is highlighted with the high correlation found between FBBB and all the antioxidants assays performed (P orange fruit formulated juices > mixed fruit nectars. As a result, the use of F-C for antioxidant potency comparison of fruit-based beverages is encouraged.This work has been possible thanks to the funding from ALIMNOVA research group (UCM-GR3/14).Peer reviewe