Intake, digestibility and feeding behaviour of grazing dairy cows supplemented with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) residue

Context In Brazil, dairy cattle pasture-based systems use grass pasture as the main feed source, with little or no supplementation. However, it is necessary to invest in nutritional technologies that allow dairy cattle systems to produce milk with a high protein and energy content, and better total bacterial counts at low costs. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding a common bean residue (CBR) to cattle diets on feed intake, digestibility and feeding behaviour of lactating dairy cows. Methods Eight lactating Holstein × Zebu crossbred cows, with an average bodyweight of 500 ± 30 kg (mean ± s.d.) and a mean daily milk yield of 13 ± 2 kg/cow were randomly assigned in a double 4 × 4 Latin square. The treatments consisted of four increasing levels of CBR (134, 240, 348 and 449 g/kg) in the concentrate. Key results The inclusion of CBR linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.034) the DM intake and neutral detergent fibre intake of pasture, sugarcane and the total diet. The inclusion of CBR did not affect (P ≥ 0.111) grazing, rumination or idle time. The feeding efficiency in kg DM/h and kg neutral detergent fibre corrected for ash and protein/h linearly decreased (P < 0.001), with an estimated decrease of 39.1 and 23.4 g/h respectively for every 10 g/kg of CBR added to the concentrate. The number of boluses per day and the time spent per ruminated bolus were not affected (P ≥ 0.086) by CBR inclusion. Conclusions The results obtained in this study indicate that the inclusion of up to 240 g/kg of CBR to the diets of lactating dairy cows with a mean daily milk yield of 13 kg, managed on pastures, is recommended. Implications The use of CBR, which has high availability in several countries, may be an alternative to supplying small ruminants.

P4772Role of anticoagulation in patients with subclinical AF and its association with cardiovascular events: a SILENT sub study

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well-established thromboembolic event risk factor. Episodes of subclinical AF (SCAF) recorded in implantable electronic cardiac devices (IECD) have been related to clinical AF and increased risk of stroke. However, there is no scientific evidence regarding the role of anticoagulation in this population. Objective: Our objective is to assess the association of SCAF with clinical AF and rate of systemic thromboembolic events, in a short-term follow-up.

Methods

This is a sub-study of SILENT, a prospective, randomized, unicentric study which included patients with sinus rhythm, IECD, with CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2, without previous history of AF. Patients were randomized to the Intervention Group and to the Control Group in the 1: 1 ratio. Patients of the Intervention Group with SCAF episodes (>6 min) received anticoagulation, as well as those with clinical AF in both groups. The primary end point was systemic thromboembolic phenomena and the secondary endpoints were SCAF rate, total and cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular hospitalization and bleeding.

Results

A total of 758 patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 72.81 years (± 9.73), of which 461 (60.8%) were female. The mean follow-up was 19.59±4.24 months. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. Only 3 patients presented the primary outcome (two of them from Intervention Group). There were 16 deaths (2,1%) and 44 cardiovascular hospitalizations (5,8%), with no difference between groups. Atrial high rate episodes (AHRE) and clinical AF were more prevalent in Control Group, leading to an equal rate of anticoagulation between groups. Clinical AF was statistically associated to previous atrial high rate episodes of any duration (p=0.001) and correlated with SCAF (p<0.01 and R: 0,60) previously recorded in the device.

Conclusion

This sub study showed that, in a short term follow-up, SCAF has a good correlation with clinical AF occurrence with low rate of thromboembolic events. The Silent study will evaluate in an extended population the role of anticoagulation, in the long term.

Acknowledgement/Funding

None

A proteomic approach to guarana seed and pericarp maturation

Paullinia cupana Kunth var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke, the cultivated guarana plant, is native to the Amazon and has been valued for its medicinal, stimulant and energetic properties for centuries. The seeds are the main commercial product of the plant and the source of high amounts of purine alkaloids (caffeine and theobromine) and polyphenols (flavonoids, catechins, and tannins). Proteins involved in the development and maturation of guarana fruits in its native habitat are interesting issues for proteomics. This study presents the proteomic profile of the seed and pericarp of healthy guarana in different maturation stages. Protein contents were higher in the mature seed compared to other stages due to the accumulation of storage proteins - 11S globulins. Proteins selected for identification by mass spectrometry are mostly related to stress responses and defense and this is not unexpected for fast growing and differentiating reproductive tissues.

Method for obtaining high-resolution proteomic analysis from pericarps of guarana

Guarana has great agricultural potential and is largely used therapeutically and in the production of non-alcoholic energy drinks. Genomic and proteomic studies are crucial to identify proteins that play central roles in the maintenance and viability of fruits, as well as to identify proteins related to the main metabolic pathways. However, the success of any protein analysis starts with the protein extract preparation, which needs to offer an extract that is free of contaminants. This study aimed to evaluate different extraction methods to obtain high-quantity and high-quality extracts that are compatible with analysis by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry protein identification. Three different methods were tested: trichloroacetic acid (TCA)/acetone, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/phenol, and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP)/SDS/phenol. The extract obtained from the TCA/acetone precipitation presented low solubility and contamination with lipids and carbohydrates. On the other hand, the quality of the extract gradually improved after using phenol and PVPP/phenol, enabling a yield up to 2 mg/g macerated tissues and the detection of 457 spots by 2-dimensional electrophoresis. The effectiveness of the procedure used was validated by identification of 10 randomly selected proteins by mass spectrometry. The procedure described here can be a starting point for applications using tissues of other organs of guarana or tissues of species that are similar to guarana.

Perfil fermentativo e valor nutritivo de silagem de capim-elefante inoculada com Streptococcus bovis

O experimento foi desenvolvido objetivando-se avaliar o efeito da inoculação de estirpes de Streptococcus bovis (HC5 e JB1) sobre o pH, a produção de amônia e o valor nutricional em silagens de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos: T1 - capim-elefante, T2 - capim-elefante inoculado com Streptococcus bovis HC5 e T3 - capim-elefante inoculado com Streptococcus bovis JB1, utilizando cinco repetições por tratamento. A menor concentração de amônia foi observada na silagem tratada com inoculante à base Streptococcus bovis JB1 (5,90 p.100 N-total). A inoculação aumentou os teores de ácido láctico e diminuiu os teores de ácidos acético, butírico e propiônico, sendo que as silagens inoculada com Streptococcus bovis JB1 e HC5 foram os que apresentaram os maiores valores de ácido láctico. Não houve diferença estatística para os teores de MS e PB. Para os valores das fibras, a silagem de capim-elefante inoculada com Streptococcus bovis JB1 apresentou o menor valor de FDN (59,77 p.100) e HEM (26,71 p.100). O maior valor da DIVMS foi observado na silagem com Streptococcus bovis JB1, mostrando superioridade de quatro pontos percentuais (64,23 p.100) em relação ao tratamento sem inoculante bacteriano (60,35 p.100). O uso Streptococcus bovis JB1 melhora o processo fermentativo além de promover melhorarias na qualidade da fibra e na DIVMS da silagem estudada.

Prognostic impact of radiology response and tumor volume among patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LASCHNC) treated with concomitant chemoradiation

e17035

Background: There are no validated prognostic factors to predict response of chemo/RT in LASCHNC. Tumor volume as well as post-treatment CT radiology response have been studied in small retrospective series. An analysis of tumor volume and CT radiology response-score to endoscopic and pathologic responses as well as disease free survival was performed. Methods: In a single institution phase I-II study LASCHNC of oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx were treated with concurrent radiation, cisplatin and erlotinib. 34 patients (pts) underwent a base line and post treatment CT (after 6 weeks), endoscopic evaluation and biopsy. Tumor volume was measured by multiplying the longest diameter by 0,523. (Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2005), CT post-treatment changes score used as proposed by Pamejier et al., using a 3-point CT-score: 1 = expected post-treatment changes; 2 = focal mass with a maximal diameter of < 1 cm and/or asymmetric obliteration of laryngeal tissue planes; 3 = focal mass with a diameter of > 1 cm, or < 50% estimated tumor volume reduction. Results: Median tumor volume (mTV) was 21cm3 (0.3 to 178), median disease free survival (mDFS) in pts with tumor volume greater than mTV was 20.4 months and not reached in patients with tumor volume lower than mTV, log-rank 5.9, p = 0.015. The median tumor volume reduction by CT was 84% (-62 a 100%), 8pts were classified as score 1 (23.5%), 1pt score 2 (2.9%), 25pts score 3 (73%). There was a tendency for shorter DFS for those with a score 3, log-rank 3.05, p = 0.08. With a median follow-up of 24 months, 88% of score 1.2 are alive, versus 56% of score 3. Conclusions: There is a great variability in TV in LASCHNC, small tumor volumes were related to longer DFS and there is no correlation between tumor reduction and post-treatment CT score.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

266 WHOLE GENOME AMPLIFICATION ON BLASTOMERS OF POST-BIOPSY BOVINE EMBRYO

Biopsy of embryos is very useful for choosing the desired sex and for production of cloned and transgenic livestock. However, only a small amount of genomic DNA is available to perform genetic studies. Alternatively, methodologies using whole genome amplification (WGA) have been developed. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of WGA on blastomeres removed from 8- to 16-cell bovine embryos and to determine the sex of blastomeres. Oocytes obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries were in vitro matured and fertilized. On the fourth day after fertilization, 8- to 16-cell bovine embryos were biopsied, and one-fourth of an embryo was removed. The blastomeres (n = 56) were submitted to WGA followed by PCR. Prior to the whole genome amplification, male and female bovine DNA samples were serially diluted (30 ng μL–1, 3.0 ng μL–1, 0.3 ng μL–1, 0.03 ng μL–1, 0.003 ng μL–1, 0.0003 ng μL–1) and embryos of various development stages (2, n = 6; 4–7, n = 5; ≥8-cell, n = 5; blastocyst n = 27) were used to standardize PCR protocols and set the amplification limits. To digest the cellular cytoplasm and release the genomic DNA, embryos and blastomeres were submitted a 3 mg mL–1 proteinase K before PCR. Next, blastomeres were submitted to the GenomiPhi DNA Amplification Kit (GE Healthcare) according to manufacturer’s instructions. The product (1 μL) was electrophoresed on a 1% agarose gel stained with 3.0 μg mL–1 ethidium bromide. The reaction mixture was added to the material to be amplified (2 mm MgCl2, 5X PCR buffer, 0.2 mm each dNTPs, 0.05 U μL–1 GoTaq DNA polymerase, 0.25 μm of primer). The products were submitted to electrophoresis on 8% polyacrilamide gel and stained with silver nitrate procedure. The chi-square test was used for statistic evaluation of the results to test the WGA efficiency and to determine the sex rates of bovine embryos and biopsied samples submitted to PCR. It was possible to achieve 98% efficiency in amplifying blastomeres using the WGA kit. Amplified samples showed approximately 400 ng of DNA generated from an estimated initial amount of 12 pg of DNA resulting from two cells per embryo. In whole embryos from different stages, no diffference was detected in the proportion of sexes (P > 0.05). However, a greater number of female samples was noted in biopsied material (76%, 25/33) (P < 0.05). PCR efficiency in blastocysts (93%, 2/27) was statistically greater (P < 0.05) than embryos in early stages of development (83%, 5/6), and biopsied material to 2, 4–7 and ≥8-cell (40%, 2/5; 60%, 3/5; and 59%, 33/56; respectively). These differences could be related to a sex-chromosomal mosaicism or absence of a nucleus in biopsied samples. The WGA creates a DNA stock sample that could be used for various gene profiling and sex determination analyses. Financial support: Fapemig, CNPq.

Embryo production in superovulated goats treated with insulin before or after mating or by continuous propylene glycol supplementation

Seventeen adult and cyclic Moxoto goats were synchronized using 60 mg MPA vaginal sponge for 11 days and 50 mug cloprostenol, 48 h before sponge removal, and superovulated with 120 mg pFSH i.m. in decreasing doses at 12 h intervals for three consecutive days. In seven goats, 0.2 IU/kg BW/day of long acting insulin was subcutaneously injected at same time as pFSH, and in the other five goats, the same dose of insulin was injected for three consecutive days starting 24 h after mating. Finally, five goats were supplemented with an oral dose of 80 ml/goat/day of propylene glycol continuously during the experiment. The animals were flushed at 7 days after mating and the embryos were classified based on International Embryo Transfer Society criteria. Blood samples were collected every 3 days for insulin assay. Administration of insulin raised the insulin levels of the goats (p < 0.05), whereas in the group treated with propylene glycol, insulin rate was different only between FSH treatment and after mating (p < 0.05). Similar rates of recovery for total (80.05 +/- 9.78%) or transferable structures (61.03 +/- 15.13%) were obtained. Treatment was not influenced (p > 0.05) by responsiveness to superovulation, which averaged 64%. By contrast, insulin treatments were shown to increase the number of embryos considered excellent with respect to goats supplemented with propylene glycol (p < 0.05). When insulin was given before mating, a strong relationship (r = 0. 90) (p < 0.05) between number of transferable embryo and ovulations was observed in the animals. In conclusion, superovulated goats treated with low doses of exogenous insulin resulted in an enhancement in embryo quality, which was related to changes in circulating insulin concentrations.

Concentrations of CXCL8, CXCL9 and sTNFR1 in plasma of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis undergoing treatment

BACKGROUND

Chemokines are a class of cytokines with chemotactic properties shown to be induced by M. tuberculosis or its antigens in vitro and in experimental infection in vivo. A few studies have also demonstrated the expression of chemokines in clinical samples of patients with active tuberculosis (TB). In the present work, we measured the concentration of chemokines in plasma samples of HIV-negative patients with pulmonary tuberculosis at different stages of chemotherapy. For comparison, we also evaluated the levels of sTNFR1 and TNF-alpha.

METHODS

Cytokines and chemokines were measured by ELISA in healthy individuals and patients with active pulmonary TB at different stages of treatment.

RESULTS

The concentrations of CXCL8, CXCL9 and sTNFR1 were elevated in patients with active pulmonary TB but returned to background levels at 4-6 months of chemotherapy. The concentration of CCL11 was elevated in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis when compared to control and remained elevated throughout the specific therapy. There was no difference in the plasma concentration of CCL2 and CXCL10 between pulmonary TB patients and control subjects.

CONCLUSION

Measurement of the CXCL8, CXCL9 and sTNFR1 may be useful to assess response to treatment in pulmonary TB patients.

B vitamins induce an antinociceptive effect in the acetic acid and formaldehyde models of nociception in mice

The effect of some B vitamins in chemical and thermal models of nociception in mice was investigated. The association thiamine/pyridoxine/cyanocobalamin (TPC, 20-200 mg/kg, i.p. or per os), thiamine, pyridoxine (50-200 mg/kg, i.p.) or riboflavin (3-100 mg/kg, i.p) induced an antinociceptive effect, not changed by naloxone (10 mg/kg, i.p.), in the acetic acid writhing model. Treatment for 7 days with thiamine/pyridoxine/cyanocobalamin (100 or 200 mg/kg, i.p.), thiamine (50 or 100 mg/kg) or pyridoxine (50 or 100 mg/kg) or acute treatment with riboflavin (6 or 12 mg/kg, i.p) inhibited the nociceptive response induced by formaldehyde. The B vitamins did not inhibit the nociceptive response in the hot-plate model. Both 7-day thiamine/pyridoxine/cyanocobalamin (100 mg/kg, i.p.) or acute riboflavin (25 or 50 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment partially reduced formaldehyde-induced hindpaw oedema. The B vitamins antinociceptive effect may involve inhibition of the synthesis and/or action of inflammatory mediators since it was not observed in the hot-plate model, was not reversed by naloxone, only the second phase of the formaldehyde-induced nociceptive response was inhibited, and formaldehyde-induced hindpaw oedema was reduced.

A strategy for the identification of T-cell epitopes on Leishmania cysteine proteinases

In this study computational analysis was used to compile sequence alignments, construct a dendrogram and calculate physical data in order to predict potential T-cell epitopes of the Leishmania cysteine proteinase. Using multiple alignment of human and Leishmania proteinase sequences deposited on data bank sequences, it was possible to predict that the extreme C-terminus of cysteine proteinase (Cyspep, 355-444) contained three peptides (pI 361-370, pII 415-422 and pIII 431-444) with charge score, hydrophobicity and isoelectric points compatible for human leucocyte-associated antigen (HLA) class II binding. The prediction was confirmed in vitro through the ability of synthetic peptides corresponding to the predicted regions to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with leishmaniasis.

[Nursing representation in the state of Goiás]

The objective of this case study report is to stress the way nursing professionals in the federal state of Goiás are represented. It was concluded the Brazilian Association of Nursing (ABEn) in Goiás and other educational institutions, have promoted changes in the practices, attitudes and behavior of the nursing professionals through the incentive and investment on courses, seminars and other kind of events. The study also shows that the efforts to qualify the nursing profession have increased the participation of these workers in areas, which were not disputed by them before.

[Health and disease among Panará (Kreen-Akarôre) Indians in Central Brazil after twenty-five years of contact with our world, with an emphasis on tuberculosis]

The Panará, who had previously lived in isolation from Brazilian national society in the Amazon forest, were first contacted in 1973. Two years later they were moved to another area in Central Brazil. During this same period they were reduced to 82 members, the survivors of a population of 400 to 500 in the mid-1960s. In 1995 they returned to a small area in their old territory still not occupied by outsiders. There, three years later, a health survey showed a presumed diagnosis of tuberculosis in 15 individuals out of a population of 181. Further tests in the town of Colider, based on clinical data and chest X-rays, confirmed the diagnosis in 10 Panará (6 children under 10 years of age and 4 adults from 40 to 50 years old). BCG scars were present in the entire population. The nutritional status of Panará children was better than that of other indigenous groups in the Amazon region. The following measures were introduced for Tb control: a) treatment follow-up in the village, under direct supervision by both a nurse and the local indigenous health worker; b) compliance with defined criteria for ending treatment; c) periodic control of contacts and non-contacts; c) and establishment of a reference system with the health services in Colider.

Gut ischemia/reperfusion activates lung macrophages for tumor necrosis factor and hydrogen peroxide production

BACKGROUND

Gut ischemia followed by reperfusion (I/R) is implicated as a prime initiating event in the mechanism of multiple organ failure after trauma and hemorrhagic shock. Several lines of evidence indicate that macrophages are involved in this prime event. Our purpose was to evaluate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production and phagocytosis by lung macrophages in a gut I/R model of multiple organ failure in rats.

METHODS

In the experimental group (I/R), Wistar rats (n = 35) were anesthetized and subjected to a median laparotomy, and the superior mesenteric artery was clamped for 45 minutes followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. In the control group (LAP) (n = 37), animals underwent sham laparotomy. After the period of reperfusion, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and the resulting BAL cells were assayed for H2O2 production using the horseradish peroxidase-mediated red phenol oxidation method. TNF release was determined using the L929 cells bioassay. Zymosan phagocytosis by BAL macrophages was quantitated using phase microscopy.

RESULTS

H2O2 release in BAL cells of I/R rats (19.90 +/- 7.98 nmol/L/2 x 10(5) cells) is statistically higher than in the LAP group (10.92 +/- 5.01 nmol/L per 2 x 10(5) cells) (p = 0.0155), and the TNF production by BAL cells of the I/R group (38.09 +/- 20.79 units per 10(6) cells) was significantly higher than that of LAP rats (17.16 +/- 13.35 units per 10(6) cells) (p = 0.0281). Phagocytic activity of BAL mac. Macrophages of I/R rats was not statistically different from LAP animals.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that BAL macrophage play a role in the mechanism of acute lung injury after trauma and hemorrhagic shock.

Surgical procedures for primary, metastatic or adjacent parotid tumours

OBJECTIVE

The retrospective analysis of the surgical procedures in primary parotid and metastatic or adjacent parotid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective review of the records of 145 patients operated on for primary, metastatic or adjacent parotid tumors revealed 85 patients with benign tumors, 24 with primary malignant tumors, 19 with squamous skin carcinomas, 12 with skin melanomas, 3 with basocellular carcinomas and 2 with sarcomas of the parotid region. The analysis included the type of parotidectomy, the need for facial nerve sacrifice (FNS), type of neck dissection and soft part reconstruction.

RESULTS

Superficial parotidectomy was performed in 81% of the benign parotid tumors and 100% of skin melanomas. Total parotidectomy was frequent in malignant parotid tumors (62%), epidermoid skin tumors (64%) and in basocellular/sarcomas of the parotid region (80%). Skin graft or flaps was infrequent in primary malignant tumors (12.5%), and frequent in epidermoid skin tumors (74%), melanomas (58%) and basocellular/sarcomas (100%). FNS was necessary in primary malignant (25%), adjacent epidermoid (37%), melanomas (17%) and basocellular/sarcomas (80%). Details on neck dissections are provided.

CONCLUSIONS

Superficial parotidectomy was an adequate procedure for most benign parotid tumors and for melanoma patients. In primary malignant and adjacent or metastatic skin tumors, total parotidectomy, neck dissection and soft part reconstruction were frequent procedures. FNS and soft part reconstruction should be anticipated more frequently in squamous/basocellular skin tumors or sarcomas adjacent to the parotid gland.

N-terminal amino acid sequences of the major outer membrane proteins from a Neisseria meningitidis group B strain isolated in Brazil

The four dominant outer membrane proteins (46, 38, 33 and 28 kDa) were detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in a semi-purified preparation of vesicle membranes of a Neisseria meningitidis (N44/89, B:4:P1.15:P5.5,7) strain isolated in Brazil. The N-terminal amino acid sequence for the 46 kDa and 28 kDa proteins matched that reported by others for class 1 and 5 proteins respectively, whereas the sequence (25 amino acids) for the 38 kDa (class 3) protein was similar to class 1 meningococcal proteins. The sequence for the 33 kDa (class 4) was unique and not homologous to any known protein.

[Nursing and the hypertensive patient. Report of experiences]

The Arterial Hypertension League (LHA), has enable the team to carry out a multiprofessional approach by highly prinzing the actions of the medical team, comprised of: doctors, nurses, nutritionists, physical education teachers and psychologists. In this working structure, nursing represents an important supporting pillar, as it participates in 50% of the actions. The nurse's work consists of attending the patients in preconsultation, consultation and pos-consultation procedures; taking part in the team meetings with the patients (The Hypertension Club); drawing up and carrying out research projects and coordinating the team's efforts. The participation of the nursing staff in the work done by the health team has afforded a greater efficiency to the work, and at same time, it is a great training field for students.