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SUMMARY: The hypotheses currently considered the most likely causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are amyloid beta peptide deposition in the cerebral cortex and hyperphosphorylation of the Tau protein, with the consequent formation of neurofibrillary tangles. In clinical practice, although not accurate, AD diagnosis is based on the exclusion of other diseases, behavioural assessments and complementary examinations, such as imaging and blood tests. Advances in the field of biotechnology have created exciting prospects for the early detection of AD via biomarker assessment, which is considered a safer and more efficient procedure. Molecules recognised as biomarkers can be expressed in some body fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid, saliva and blood. The presence of amyloid beta peptide and Tau can be confirmed in saliva, which is also an easily and non-invasively collectable material with an accessible cost. The objective was evaluate the concentrations of the t-Tau protein and Ab42 peptide in the saliva of elderly individuals with and without dementia of the AD type Method: The objective of this case-control study, involving a total of 120 individuals, was to analyse whether a correlation exists between variations in the concentrations of the t-Tau and Ab42 biomarkers in the saliva of patients with confirmed AD and individuals in the inclusion group but without AD . We found that t-Tau expression in AD patients is significantly lower than that in individuals without AD, whereas the salivary concentration of Ab42 is higher in patients with AD but not significantly different from that of the group without AD. Conclusion: Thus, we demonstrate the feasibility of using salivary biomarkers as predictive markers for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Este artículo presenta un análisis desde el punto de vista bibliográfico de marcadores y biomarcadores de la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA). Las metodologías usadas fueron los marcadores de imágenes (Resonancia Magnética y Tomografía por emisión de positrones) y biomarcadores de la proteína BA42, de la proteína Tau y de la Apoliproteína E (ALPE). De esta manera, son de importancia los niveles de BA42 disminuidos, la Tau incrementada, los polimorfismos de ALPE y las alteraciones constatadas en los marcadores de imagen, como factores de riesgo esenciales para el desarrollo de la EA. Se realiza una revisión de la literatura con respecto a los hallazgos clínicos de esta enfermedad.

The aim of this study was to characterize the preantral ovarian follicular population in agoutis (D. leporina) by estimating the number of follicles at each developmental category, and also describe the morphometry and the specific features of the follicle and the oocyte by using light and transmission electron microscopy. The length of each ovary was measured using a caliper rule, longitudinally sectioned into two halves and both were immediately fixed to perform the estimation of follicular population and ultrastructural analysis. The mean (±S.E.M.) population of follicular per pair of ovary was estimated at 4419.8±532.26 and 5397.52±574.91 for right and left ovaries, respectively, but no differences were observed between them. The diameters for follicles, oocyte and nuclei were: 18.62±3.40μm, 12.28±2.37μm and 6.10±0.93μm for primordial, 23.75±5.70μm, 14.22±3.00μm and 6.70±1.24μm for primary and 88.55±17.61μm, 52.85±17.56μm and 22.33±17.61μm for secondary follicles, respectively. The most of the follicles found belonged to the primordial category (86.63%), followed by primary (13.01%) and secondary (0.35%) one. Additionally, polyovular follicles were observed in all the animals and they represented 7.51% of the total follicles counted. The ultrastructural analysis showed that the oocyte presented a central and regular nuclei, displaying a homogenous mass. Among the organelles, the mitochondria were the most abundant and the oocyte Golgi apparatus was rarely observed. In conclusion, this work shows for the first time the characterization of the population of preantral follicles in the ovary of Dasyprocta leporina. Those information will be useful for further development and adaptation of biotechniques such as germplasm cryopreservation and in vitro gametes manipulation. RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a população folicular ovariana pré-antral em cutias (D. leporina) estimando o número de folículos em cada categoria de desenvolvimento, e também descrever a morfometria e as características específicas do folículo e oócito usando microscopia de luz e eletrônica de transmissão. O comprimento de cada ovário foi medido utilizando um paquímetro, seccionados longitudinalmente em duas metades e ambos foram imediatamente fixados para realizar a estimativa da população folicular e análise ultraestrutural. A média (±S.E.M.) da população folicular por par de ovário foi estimada em 4419,8±532,26 e 5397,52±574,91 nos ovários direito e esquerdo, respectivamente, mas não foram observadas diferenças entre eles. Os diâmetros dos folículos, oócito e núcleos, respectivamente, foram: 18,62±3,40μm, 12,28±2.37μm e 6,10±0,93μm para primordial, 23,75±5,70μm, 14,22±3,00μm e 6,70±1,24μm para primário e 88,55±17,61μm, 52,85±17,56μm e 22,33±17,61μm de folículos secundários. A maioria dos folículos encontrados pertencia à categoria primordial (86,63%), seguido pelo primário (13,01%) e um secundário (0,35%). Adicionalmente, os folículos poliovulares foram observados em todos os animais e representavam 7,51% do total de folículos contados. A análise ultra-estrutural mostrou que o oócito apresentou núcleos centrais e regulares, exibindo uma massa homogênea. Dentre as organelas, as mitocôndrias foram as mais abundantes e o aparelho de Golgi do oócito foi raramente observado. Em conclusão, este trabalho mostra pela primeira vez a caracterização da população de folículos pré-antrais do ovário da Dasyprocta leporina. Essas informações serão úteis para o desenvolvimento e adaptação de biotécnicas, como a criopreservação de germoplasma e manipulação de gametas in vitro.

RESUMO Introdução A fonoaudiologia tem assumido importante papel junto ao aleitamento materno. Objetivo Verificar a situação do aleitamento materno, considerando aspectos da díade mãe-recém-nascido, de acordo com tempo de vida do recém-nascido, mediante intervenção fonoaudiológica. Métodos Estudo realizado de maio de 2015 a setembro de 2016, com 166 díades mãe-recém-nascido, durante a situação do aleitamento materno, em uma maternidade pública de alto risco do estado de Sergipe. Foi utilizado protocolo específico, registrando-se aspectos anatômicos de bicos e mamas maternos, estado comportamental, padrão de pega e sucção dos recém-nascidos e postura das díades, para descrever a situação de aleitamento materno, nos três diferentes momentos: Momento 1 (linha de base); Momento 2 (intervenção fonoaudiológica); Momento 3 (acompanhamento). As análises foram descritas por meio de frequências simples e percentuais, utilizando o teste de Mantel-Haenzsel (M-H) e o teste da razão de verossimilhança (TRV), adotando nível de significância de 5%. Resultados Em relação ao efeito da intervenção fonoaudiológica, houve diferença significativa quanto aos parâmetros maternos, para situação das mamas (ingurgitamento). Nos parâmetros envolvendo os recém-nascidos, houve diferenças significativas, com melhora no padrão de pega, quanto aos seguintes aspectos: não abocanha somente o bico, abocanha parte da aréola, pega efetiva e consegue manter a pega. Quanto aos aspectos posturais da díade, houve diferenças significativas quanto à cabeça do recém-nascido elevada e alinhada e ao contato corporal (“barriga com barriga”). Conclusão A intervenção fonoaudiológica junto às díades mães-recém-nascidos, logo nas primeiras horas pós-parto, evidenciou melhora nos parâmetros considerados fundamentais para o sucesso da amamentação, vislumbrando uma prática de educação em saúde junto às puérperas. ABSTRACT Introduction Speech therapy has assumed an important role with breastfeeding. Purpose To verify the breastfeeding situation, considering aspects of the mother-newborn dyad, according to newborn’s lifetime through speech-language intervention. Methods Study conducted from May 2015 to September 2016, with 166 mother-newborn dyads during the breastfeeding situation, in a high-risk public maternity hospital in the state of Sergipe. A specific protocol was used registering anatomical aspects of nipples and breasts, newborn’s behavioral status, newborn suckling and breast-latch pattern and dyads posture to describe the breastfeeding situation at different times: Moment 1 (Baseline); Moment 2 (Speech-Language Intervention); Moment 3 (Accompaniment). The results were described using simple and percentage frequencies, Mantel-Haenzsel Test (M-H) and the Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT), adopting significance level of 5%. Results Regarding the effect of the speech-language intervention, there was a significant difference in the maternal parameters for the breasts situation (regorgement); While in the parameters involving the newborns there were significant differences, with improvement in breast-latch patterns aspects such as: do not only pick up the beak, snatch part of the areola, breast-latcheffectively and manage to keep breast-latchpattern. Regarding the dyad postural aspects, there were significant differences regarding newborn’s raised andaligned head and body contact (belly-to-belly). Conclusion Speech-language intervention with the mother-newborn dyads in the first hours after delivery showed an improvement in the parameters considered fundamental on a successful breastfeeding glimpsing a health education practice among the puerperal women.

A study of the magnetic and structural properties of Zn 1− x M x O powder (where x =0 or 0.01, and M=Mn, Fe or Co) produced by the proteic sol–gel process was undertaken. The sample crystal structure was analyzed by XRD and magnetic measurements were carried out in a SQUID magnetometer. Of the XRD analysis, all samples had hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with P63mc space group, and no secondary phase was observed. It is observed of the M ( H ) measures at 2 K, that the Co- and Mn-doped ZnO displayed saturation magnetizations ( M s ) of approximately 2 and 3.2 emu/g, respectively, and no remanence ( M r ) was observed, indicating a superparamagnetic behavior in these samples. However, the Fe-doped sample showed a ferromagnetic behavior with M s ∼0.34 emu/g, M r ∼0.05 emu/g, and coercivity ( H c )∼1090 Oe. Already at room temperature, the M ( H ) measurements reveal a purely paramagnetic behavior for Mn- and Fe-doped ZnO, indicating that the Curie temperature ( T c ) is below 300 K. However, a weak superparamagnetic behavior was observed in the Co-doped sample, indicating that T c >300 K.

We report the magnetic and structural properties of Fe-doped cerium oxide, obtained using the proteic sol–gel process. The samples had weak ferromagnetic behavior, with magnetization saturations of 0.05 and 0.10 emu/g for samples with 0.5% and 1% of Fe, respectively. We attribute this ferromagnetic state to the presence of dilute localized magnetic moments inside the semiconductor matrix. In fact, within the accuracy of our measurements, X-ray diffraction data reveal the formation of single-phase structurally isomorphous CeO2. Rietveld refinement carried out in Fe-doped samples showed a decreasing density of the unit cell. Furthermore, our analysis on the optical absorbance measurements and Raman scattering shows a change in the band gap of 0.18 eV and an increase in the oxygen vacancies, which was confirmed by Raman scattering peaks at 595 and 1176 cm−1.

Leg problems and resulting mortality can exceed 1% per week in turkey toms starting at approximately 15 wk of age. Dietary supplementation of organic trace minerals (MIN) and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (HyD) may improve performance, decrease incidence of leg abnormalities, and increase bone strength. Nicholas 85X700 toms were assigned to 4 treatments consisting of a factorial arrangement of 2 concentrations of MIN (0 and 0.1% of Mintrex PSe, which adds 40, 40, 20, and 0.3 mg/kg of Zn, Mn, Cu, and Se, respectively) and 2 concentrations of HyD (0 and 92 μg/kg of HyD). Diets were formulated to be equal in nutrient content and fed ad libitum as 8 feed phases. Feed intake and BW were measured at 6, 12, 15, 17, and 20 wk of age. Valgus, varus, and shaky leg defects were determined at 12, 15, 17, and 20 wk of age. Tibia and femur biomechanical properties were evaluated by torsion and bending tests at 17 wk of age. There were no treatment effects on BW. Only MIN significantly improved feed conversion ratio through to 20 wk of age. Cumulative mortality at 3 wk of age was greater among the MIN birds, but it was lower by 20 wk (P = 0.085). The MIN decreased the incidence of varus defects at 17 wk of age; shaky leg at 12, 15, and 17 wk of age; and valgus defects at 15, 17, and 20 wk of age. There were no MIN × HyD interaction effects on individual gait problems. Maximum load and the bending stress required for tibias to break in a 4-point assay were increased with MIN supplementation, especially when HyD was also added. Maximum shear stress at failure of femoral bones in a torsion assay was increased by supplementation with both MIN and HyD together. Dietary supplementation of MIN and HyD may improve biomechanical properties of bones. Dietary MIN supplementation may improve feed conversion of turkeys, likely by decreasing leg problems.

Changes in ileal bacterial populations of Salmonella-infected turkeys fed different diets were analyzed by using 16S-V3 PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Turkeys raised on litter flooring were fed wheat- and corn-based diets with and without enzyme preparations (XY1 and XY2, respectively) from 0 to 126 d. Preparation XY1 contained exclusively endoxylanase, whereas preparation XY2 contained endoxylanase, protease, and alpha-amylase (Danisco, , Wiltshire, UK). The dietary activity levels of XY1 and XY2 were 2,500 and 650 endo-1,4-beta-xylanase units/kg of feed, respectively. Microbial DNA was extracted from the ileal content of 16-wk-old turkeys, and the 16S rDNA gene was amplified by PCR and analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Diversity indexes, including richness (number of species, S), evenness (relative distribution of species, EH), diversity (using Shannon's index, H'), and Sorenson's pairwise similarities coefficient (measures the species in common between different habitats, Cs) were calculated. Additionally, diversity indexes were associated with Salmonella prevalence determined from fresh fecal droppings collected from each pen. On the basis of contrast analysis, the wheat-based diets resulted in higher microbial diversity indexes than the corn-based diets (S = 10 vs. 12; EH = 0.9 vs. 0.8; H' = 2.2 vs. 1.9, P < 0.05). Likewise, enzyme supplementation stimulated growth of the microbiota and increased the diversity indexes in comparison with unsupplemented treatments (S = 13 vs. 10; EH = 0.9 vs. 0.8; H' = 2.2 vs. 1.9, P < 0.05). Salmonella prevalence was higher (P < 0.05) at 15 wk in turkeys fed the corn-based diet (Salmonella prevalence = 50%) than in turkeys fed the corn-enzyme (Salmonella prevalence = 13%) and wheat-based (Salmonella prevalence = 0%) dietary treatments. Therefore, contrast analysis showed that birds fed the corn control diet had lower microbiota diversity but higher Salmonella prevalence than birds fed the enzyme-supplemented and wheat-based diets. In contrast, birds fed the wheat-based diets had higher diversity but lower Salmonella prevalence than birds fed the corn-based diets. High dietary nonstarch polysaccharides from wheat and dietary exogenous enzyme supplementation promoted microbial community diversity and apparently discouraged Salmonella colonization through competitive exclusion. Nonstarch polysaccharides and dietary exogenous enzyme supplementation may be practical tools to control enteric pathogens and benefit the intestinal health and food safety of the birds.

Salmonella colonization in poultry may be influenced by grain type and particle size. Broilers reared either in nonlitter cage-based housing or in a conventionally floored litter house from 0 to 42 d were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: 1) ground corn-soybean meal (C, 560 microm), 2) coarsely ground corn-soybean meal (CC, >1,700 microm), 3) ground triticale-soybean meal (T, 560 microm), or 4) whole triticale-soybean meal (WT). A 4-strain cocktail of Salmonella enterica was orally gavaged into each chick at placement. Growth performance, cecal and fecal Salmonella populations, gizzard and proventriculus pH, intestinal size, jejunum histomorphometry, and carcass yields were measured. Broilers responded differently to the dietary treatments according to the housing system used. At 42 d, birds reared on litter and fed ground grain had greater BW than those fed coarse grain (2.87 vs. 2.71 kg), whereas cage-reared broilers fed ground triticale were heavier than those fed corn (2.75 vs. 2.64 kg). Broilers raised on litter had a better feed conversion ratio than those raised in cages (1.71 vs. 1.81 g/g). Independent of the housing system, relative eviscerated carcass weights of birds fed T and C were heavier than those of CC- and WT-fed broilers (762 vs. 752 g/kg). Generally, the jejunum villus area and mucosal depth were larger, whereas the small intestine was lighter and shorter in broilers raised on litter. Relative gizzard weights of broilers raised on litter and fed the coarser diets were heavier than those of broilers reared in cages and fed finely ground diets. Feeding whole or coarsely ground grains decreased cecal Salmonella populations in 42-d-old broilers (3.8, 3.9, 4.4, and 4.4 log most probable number/g for CC, WT, C, and T, respectively). Additionally, 42-d-old broilers reared on litter had lower cecal Salmonella populations than those in cages (3.8 vs. 4.4 log most probable number/g). In conclusion, as a feed ingredient, triticale is a good alternative to corn, resulting in improved BW and reduced Salmonella colonization. Broilers raised on litter may have achieved lower cecal Salmonella populations than caged birds because access to litter may have modulated the intestinal microflora by increasing competitive exclusion microorganisms, which discouraged Salmonella colonization.

SUMMARY Diversity of the bacterial communities in the ileum of broilers was characterized using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis separation of polymerase chain reaction amplicons of the V2-V3 variable regions of the 16S rDNA is a common method to profile community diversity and has been used to assess the effects of diet and antibiotics on the ileal bacterial community of chickens. Broilers raised either on litter floor or in cage batteries were fed either a finely ground corn- (control), a finely ground triticale-, or a whole triticale-based diet from 0 to 42 d. Microbial DNA was extracted from the ileum content of 42-d-old broilers, and the 16S rDNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and the amplicons separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Diversity indexes including richness, evenness, diversity, and pairwise similarity coefficients were calculated. Diversity indexes were related to the dietary treatments, housing designs, and to changes in Salmonella colonization of broiler ceca as characterized by the most probable number method. Higher microbial diversity indexes were observed among birds fed whole triticale-based diets and reared on litter floors. In contrast, finely ground grain treatments had lower diversity and higher Salmonella prevalence than the whole triticale treatment. The data indicated that combination of high dietary fiber content and increased coarseness of the diet by feeding whole triticale stimulated microbial community diversity and discouraged Salmonella colonization, perhaps through a competitive exclusion-type mechanism.

Rearing chickens on litter floors or in cages may influence their performance, especially when they are colonized by enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella. Male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to 32 litter floor (litter) pens in a curtain-sided house or 32 cages (cages) in a total confinement house (25 birds/pen or cage). Birds were orally inoculated with 106 CFU of a cocktail of S. enterica subsp. enterica at three days of age. Salmonella populations (SP), body weights, feed conversion ratio and the weights of spleen and liver relative to body weight were determined at 14, 28 and 42 days of age. At each time point, characteristics of the intestinal segments were scored as an indicator of gut health on 32 birds per house. SP was higher in litter than cages treatment at 14 days of age which corresponded with a higher incidence of mucoid jejunum exudate. In contrast, cages had higher incidence of ileal grain chips than litter at 14 days, indicating inferior gizzard function. At 42 days of age, litter birds had higher breast meat yield, heavier body weight and improved cumulative feed conversion ratio than those in cages. Although, birds raised on litter floors showed greater 14 day Salmonella colonization than cage-reared birds, their digestion capacity appeared superior. Birds reared on litter floors had fewer undigested feed particles in their distal small intestine which correlates with enhanced growth performance and breast meat yield. Projeto: 11.11.11.111.

Mutations in the tyrosine kinase receptor FLT3 are the most common molecular abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) being detected in about 30% of AML cases. According to the protein domain altered FLT3 mutations may be classified as juxtamembrane or activation loop. The former are caused by internal tandem duplications (ITD) in exons 14 and 15 and is detected in 20–27% of AML patients. Mutations in the activation loop are mainly due to point mutations in exon 20 and is present in 5–7% of AML patients. Most of these mutations lead to changes in the aspartate in position 835 (D835), which have been detected in about 7% of AML cases. Both types of mutations cause the constitutive activation of FLT3 and are associated with bad prognosis. AML characteristics in Latin America are different from those in Europe and US. Namely, there is a higher frequency of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and the clinical outcome of adult patients with other subtypes of AML treated with standard protocols is poorer. The worse prognosis seems to be related to the biology of the disease, rather than socio-economic features, based on studies of other hematological malignancies. In order to test if a higher frequency or different FLT3 mutations might explain these observations, we performed a screening for mutations in FLT3 using PCR and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) techniques to evaluate exons 12 to 20, which encode for the intracytoplasmatic domains of the protein. Ninety-nine consecutive patients with AML (90 adults and 9 children) and 55 blood donors (controls) were analyzed. Two synonyms mutations that have not been previously described were detected: one in exon 12 (T526T) and the other in exon 17 (G697G). ITD mutations were detected in 23 (23.2%) patients with AML, therefore within the expected frequency based on the studies in developed countries. On the other hand, D835 mutations were absent, and except for a mutation detected in one patient causing the deletion of the aminoacid in the position 836 no other abnormality was detected in exon 20. No mutations were detected in exons 13, 16, 18 and 19. In adults, mutations were more frequent in acute promyelocitic leukemia and in women. There were no associations between FLT3 mutations and CBC values. Interestingly, FLT3 mutations were less frequently detected in patients whose leukemic cells expressed the CD56 marker. As described for other countries, overall survival was worse in patients with FLT3 mutations. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the frequency of ITD mutations in FLT3 gene in Brazilian patients with AML was similar to the frequency described in the European and North American populations, whereas activation loop mutations were rarely detected, especially those in D835. Thus, our results suggest that Brazilian patients with AML have a distinct profile of genetic abnormalities. In addition, this is the first study to demonstrate a negative association between FLT3 mutations and the expression of CD56 by leukemic blasts. This is a relevant observation, since CD56 expression per se has been identified as prognostic factor by other investigators. Finally, our study demonstrates that the SSCP method may be useful for screening mutations of FLT3 gene.