Qualidade microbiológica de açaí industrializado.

Amostras de açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) tipo fino congeladas e sem adição de quaisquer outros ingredientes foram adquiridas no comércio varejista da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Foram analisadas microbiologicamente 54 amostras, pertencentes a 6 diferentes marcas (A, B, C, D, E e F). Todas as amostras analisadas encontravam-se dentro do prazo de validade estabelecido pelo fabricante e as empresas eram registradas no MAPA. Os micro-organismos analisados foram: Salmonella, Escherichia coli, fungos filamentosos e leveduras, de acordo com o preconizado pela legislação brasileira vigente. Considerando-se o limite máximo possível estabelecido pela lei, 2 lotes de cada marca B, E e F e 1 lote de cada marca C e D apresentaram contagens acima do permitido para fungos filamentosos e leveduras. Apenas 2 amostras apresentaram contagens de Escherichia coli, ambas estando fora do máximo estabelecido pela legislação vigente. Constatou- -se ausência de Salmonella em todas as amostras analisadas. A presença de fungos filamentosos, leveduras e Escherichia coli pode ser um indicativo de práticas inadequadas durante a fabricação do açaí. Assim, é importante ressaltar a necessidade de um controle rigoroso da cadeia do frio, uma vez que esses micro-organismos podem ser responsáveis pela deterioração do produto. --- Samples of frozen thin type acai berries (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) were purchased in Rio de Janeiro. Samples from 6 different brands (A, B, C, D, E and F) (9 samples from each brand) were analyzed microbiologically. All samples were within the expiration date established by the manufacturer and the companies were registered in MAPA. The samples were analyzed for Salmonella, Escherichia coli, yeast and mold (YM), according to the criteria of the current Brazilian law. Considering the maximum possible limit established by law, 2 batches of each brand B, E and F and 1 batch of each C and D brands presented counts above the allowed for YM. Only two samples had counts of Escherichia coli off limits established by law. It was not found Salmonella in any of the samples. The presence of YM and Escherichia coli may be indicative of inadequate practices during manufacturing of assai. Thus, it is important to emphasize the need for strict control of the cold chain, since these microorganisms may be responsible for the deterioration of the product

Evaluation of nutritional characteristics and consumers? acceptance of gluten-free sweet biscuits made from rice-based pregelatinized composite flours containing orange pomace and soy protein isolate.

Gluten-free bakery products are usually deficient in dietary fiber and inferior sources of protein. Studies that have assessed sensory characterization of products prepared with orange pomace are scarce. This study evaluated the employment of 30% of rice-based pregelatinized composite flours (containing 15, 25 or 35% orange pomace blended with 5% soy protein isolate) on gluten-free biscuits. The target was the investigation of the nutritional profile and consumer?s acceptance of three short dough sweet biscuit samples. Thermoplastic extrusion was an efficient unit operation for the elaboration of a new gluten-free ingredient in which a by-product rich in total dietary fiber and a component with a high level of protein were employed. All pregelatinized composite flours in this study can be labeled as protein sources and can be claimed as high in total dietary fiber content, as well as two biscuit samples that can be labeled as total dietary fiber source. Also, all pregelatinized composite flours and biscuits presented low moisture and water activity, being microbiologically stable to room temperature (25?±?2 °C). Complementarily, the results of the microbiological evaluations [(coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, thermotolerant coliform (45 °C) and Salmonella sp. (absence in 25 g)] of the biscuits and their comparison with the Brazilian microbiological standards legislation attested their safety. Concerning the sensory analysis, adults? results showed that the flavor attribute might be responsible for increasing the overall impression score of a sample. In contrast, children?s results showed that they did not distinguish (p???0.05) two of three samples of biscuits analyzed

Resting heart rate as a predictor of metabolic dysfunctions in obese children and adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent studies have identified that a higher resting heart rate (RHR) is associated with elevated blood pressure, independent of body fatness, age and ethnicity. However, it is still unclear whether RHR can also be applied as a screening for other risk factors, such as hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Thus, the purpose of the presented study was to analyze the association between RHR, lipid profile and fasting glucose in obese children and adolescents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample was composed of 180 obese children and adolescents, aged between 7-16 years. Whole-body and segmental body composition were estimated by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Resting heart rate (RHR) was measured by heart rate monitors. The fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glucose, using the colorimetric method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fasting glucose, TC, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C and RHR were similar in both genders. The group of obese subjects with a higher RHR presented, at a lower age, higher triglycerides and TC. There was a significant relationship between RHR, triglycerides and TC. In the multivariate model, triglycerides and TC maintained a significant relationship with RHR independent of age, gender, general and trunk adiposity. The ROC curve indicated that RHR has a high potential for screening elevated total cholesterol and triglycerides as well as dyslipidemia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Elevated RHR has the potential to identify subjects at an increased risk of atherosclerosis development.</p

Infectious Agents As Markers of Human Migration toward the Amazon Region of Brazil

Infectious agents are common companions of humans and since ancient times they follow human migration on their search for a better place to live. The study of paleomicrobiology was significantly improved in its accuracy of measurement with the constant development of better methods to detect and analyze nucleic acids. Human tissues are constantly used to trace ancient infections and the association of anthropological evidences are important to confirm the microbiological information. Infectious agents which establish human persistent infections are particularly useful to trace human migrations. In the present article, the evidence of infection by viral agents such as human T-lymphotropic virus 1, human T-lymphotropic virus 2, human herpes virus-8, JC virus, and a bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, was described using different methodologies for their detection. Their presence was further used as biomarkers associated with anthropological and other relevant information to trace human migration into the Amazon region of Brazil. The approach also evidenced their microbiological origin, emergence, evolution, and spreading. The information obtained confirms much of the archeological information available tracing ancient and more recent human migration into this particular geographical region. In this article, the paleomicrobiological information on the subject was summarized and reviewed