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The present study aimed to prove the efficiency of Se or Si as relievers of the Cd toxicity in potato plants. Solanum tuberosum plants, Asterix genotype, from in vitro propagation were placed in pots with sand and irrigated with complete nutrient solution for 60 days under six treatments: T1: Control (nutrient solution); T2: 2.5 µM Se; T3: 2.5 mM Si; T4: 50 µM Cd; T5: 50 µM Cd + 2.5 µM Se; T6: 50µM Cd + 2.5 mM Si. The treatments were arranged in completely randomized design, with four replicates for each treatment and six plants per replicate. The plants were collected at 30 and 60 days after application of the treatments. Cadmium was highly toxic in all parameters (dry and fresh weight, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, root and photosynthetic parameters), in both assessments. However, Se and Si were effective in mitigating Cd toxicity in all parameters, although Si has been shown to be more efficient than Se in dry weight and plant height parameters. Thus, from data obtained in this study, it is clear that the beneficial elements tested have power to ameliorate Cd toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to verify the beneficial potential of Silicon on the growth of potato genotypes in order to select potato genotypes that best respond to Si application. Four potato genotypes were used: SMIJ319-7, Dakota Rose, SMIF212-3 and SMINIA793101, grown in hydroponic system. The plants were transferred to nutrient solutions with four Si concentrations: 0; 0.5; 2.5; and 5.0 mM as NaSiO3. After seven days of exposure to treatments, leaf area, leaf number, shoot length, and fresh and dry weight of roots, stem and leaves were determined. The application of 0.5 mM Si promoted an increase in growth parameters of plants used in this work, mainly in leaf area, leaf number, and leaf and stem dry weight. However, the application of higher concentrations of Si (2.5 mM) promoted reduction in the growth parameters, mainly in leaf area. It was also possible to observe a genotypic variation with respect to Si, SMIJ319-7 and SMIF212-3 genotypes being the most responsive to Si. Therefore, the concentration of 0.5 mM Si is considered optimal for potentiating the growth of potato plants, and SMIJ319-7 and SMIF212-3 genotypes are the most responsive to Si. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effectiveness of Uncaria tomentosa in minimizing the side effects of chemotherapy and improving the antioxidant status of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, a randomized clinical trial was conducted. Patients (43) undergoing adjuvant/palliative chemotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil/leucovorin + oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4) were split into two groups: the UT group received chemotherapy plus 300 mg of Uncaria tomentosa daily and the C group received only FOLFOX4 and served as a control. Blood samples were collected before each of the 6 cycles of chemotherapy, and hemograms, oxidative stress, enzymes antioxidants, immunologic parameters, and adverse events were analyzed. The use of 300 mg of Uncaria tomentosa daily during 6 cycles of FOLFOX4 did not change the analyzed parameters, and no toxic effects were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physicochemical properties and fatty acid profiles of meat from Bos indicus, Bos taurus and crossbred B. taurus×B. indicus bullocks (n=216), finished on pasture or grain, were used to estimate the effects of heterosis. Meat quality and fatty acid profiles generally benefited with crossbreeding, but the advantages from heterosis differed among finishing systems. The Warner-Bratzler shear-force in fresh and aged meat was reduced due to heterosis in pasture-finishing, but the effect was minor under grain-finishing. With pasture-finishing, heterosis caused an increase of 5% in CLA concentration, but few other changes in fatty acid profiles. In grain-finishing, heterosis caused a reduction in intramuscular fat and cholesterol, increased amounts of PUFA, n-6 fatty acids and PUFA/SFA ratio, and a decline in atherogenic index. The Δ(9) desaturase estimated activity in crossbreds showed a behavior close to B. indicus, suggesting the existence of few loci and a dominance genetic effect on enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis and metabolism., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A study was conducted to characterize lipid profiles in the M. longissimus thoracis of commercial Brazilian beef and to assess how those profiles are influenced by finishing system, genetic group, and their interaction. Intramuscular fat (IMF) and fatty acid (FA) profiles were determined in 160 bulls of the Bos taurus (n = 75) and Bos indicus (n = 85) genetic groups, finished on pasture (n = 46) or with grain supplementation (n = 114) and slaughtered in a commercial abattoir. Finishing system had a major impact on the deposition of IMF, as well as on the concentration of SFA, PUFA, and their ratio, but genetic groups showed important differences in the ability to convert SFA into cis-9 MUFA and to convert 16:0 into 18:0. When compared with pasture-finished animals, those finished with grain had greater content of IMF and SFA (P < 0.01), similar amounts of MUFA (P > 0.05), and about one-half the amount of PUFA (P < 0.01). Except for MUFA, differences in FA profiles among finishing systems were mostly mediated through their effect on IMF, even though the relationship of IMF with groups of FA differed among finishing systems. Under grain finishing, B. taurus had less SFA and greater MUFA than B. indicus (P < 0.01), but no differences were observed in PUFA (P > 0.05). With pasture-finishing, no differences were observed among the 2 genetic groups in SFA and MUFA (P > 0.05), but PUFA were decreased in B. taurus (P < 0.01). When genetic groups were compared in grain-finishing, B. taurus had a decreased ability for elongation and B. indicus had a decreased aptitude for desaturation of FA. On the other hand, with pasture-finishing a greater deposition of intermediate FA from ruminal biohydrogenation was observed in B. indicus than in B. taurus. Overall, FA profiles were affected more by finishing system in B. indicus than in B. taurus.

The present study was designed to study the process of stress adaptation in roots and shoot of Zea mays seedlings grown under hydroponic conditions during exposure to lead (Pb) (0-200 microM) for 1-7 d. The alterations in growth and in the level of various biochemical parameters were accessed vis-à-vis Pb accumulation. The accumulation of Pb increased in a concentration-duration-dependent manner, however its translocation from root to shoot was low. At the same time, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased with increasing Pb concentration. However, growth parameters, such as dry weight and root length did not show a significant decline to any of the Pb concentrations. In addition, the level of photosynthetic pigments decreased only upon exposure to high Pb concentrations. These results suggested an alleviation of the stress that was presumably being achieved by antioxidants viz., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as ascorbic acid (AsA), which increased linearly with increasing Pb levels and exposure time. However, the level of non-protein thiols (NP-SH) in roots, in general, showed a decline beyond 4d that could be attributed to their consumption for the purpose of Pb detoxification. In conclusion, Zea mays can be used as an indicator species for Pb, and the various antioxidants might play a key role in the detoxification of Pb induced toxic effects.