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Fabíola Rainato Gabriel, Vivian MM Suen, Julio Sergio Marchini, José Eduardo Dutra de OliveiraDivision of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, São Paulo University, São Paulo, BrazilObjective: The present study aimed to determine the influence of vitamin A on iron absorption when vitamin A and iron are administered together orally compared with the administration of iron alone.Methods: This was a randomized double-blind clinical trial conducted on healthy men with normal red blood cell indices. Five experiments were performed, with iron (10 mg); iron (10 mg) plus vitamin A (450, 900 and 1800 µg), and placebo. After an 8-hour fast, basal (T0) blood samples were collected: basal (T0), 2 hours (T1), and 4 hours (T2) after the ingestion of the compounds to be studied. Iron was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Serum ferritin was determined by an immunometric method, ie, by chemoluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Plasma retinol was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Serum curves and the sum of the area under the curve adjusted to the mixed effects linear model were determined (P < 0.05).Results: Vitamin A at the doses of 450 and 900 µg had a stimulating effect, which, however, did not differ significantly from that of experiment 1 in which iron was used alone. At the dose of 1800 µg, vitamin A had a negative effect on iron absorption.Conclusion: High doses of vitamin A may cause lower serum iron levels, whereas a low dose favors iron absorption.Keywords: iron absorption, serum iron, vitamin A, oral iron, oral supplement

Emulsions were prepared from T. vulgaris essential oil using the surfactants Pluronic F127 and Tween 80 by mechanical agitation (Emulsion&#95;Tw and Emulsion&#95;Pl) and sonication using an ultrasonic tip (Sonicated&#95;emulsion&#95;Tw and Sonicated&#95;emulsion&#95;Pl). These emulsions were incorporated into pectin films. The use of different surfactants reduced the volatility of T. vulgaris essential oil and, consequently, ensured the maintenance of its antioxidant activity for a longer period of time. Salami samples packaged with pectin films containing essential oil emulsions contained less oxidative aldehydes (51 and 54 total ion count × 10 5 ) compared to salami samples packaged with films without essential oil (72 and 92 total ion count × 10 5 ), demonstrating the fact that these active films can preserve product quality regardless of the surfactant used., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Food contamination by mycotoxigenic fungi is one of the principal factors that cause food loss and economic losses in the food industry. The objective of this work was to incorporate the essential oil from Corymbia citriodora Hook and its constituents citronellal and β-citronellol into poly(lactic acid) nanofibers; to characterize the nanofibers by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry; to evaluate the antifungal activity by the fumigation method; to evaluate the antimycotoxigenic activity against Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus westerdijkiae, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus parasiticus; and to evaluate the morphology of these microorganisms. All the nanofibers had a regular, smooth, and continuous morphology. FTIR analyses confirmed that the active ingredients were incorporated into the polymer matrix. All samples exhibited antifungal and ochratoxigenic inhibitory activities of up to 100% and 99%, respectively, with the best results observed for (PLA + 30 wt% β-citronellol) nanofibers and (PLA + 30 wt% citronellal) nanofibers. However, 100% inhibition of the production of aflatoxin B1 and B2 was not observed. The images obtained by SEM indicated that the nanofibers caused damage to the hyphae, caused a decrease in the production of spores, and caused deformation, rupture, and non-formation of the conid head, might be an alternative for the control of mycotoxigenic fungi., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)

Important changes in glucose transporter (GLUT) expression should be expected if the glucose influx plays a pivotal role in fuelling or connecting metabolic pathways that are upregulated in response to exercise. The aim was to assess GLUT4, 8, and 12 dynamics in response to training and acute exercise. Methods: Sixteen untrained Standardbred mares (3-4 year) performed an incremental SET at the start and end of 8 weeks harness training. M. pectoralis (PM) and M. vastus lateralis (VL) muscle biopsies were taken before and after each SET, allowing for comparing rest and acute samples in untrained (UT) and trained (T) condition using Western Blot for GLUT quantification and Image Pro v.10 for Blot analysis. Data were normalized against GAPDH. Basal GLUT-levels of PM versus VL were analysed with the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. The effect of acute exercise or training was assessed using the Friedman test with a post hoc Dunn's. Results: Basal GLUT4 and GLUT12 protein expression were significantly higher in the VL compared to the PM (P GLUT4 = 0.031 and P GLUT12 = 0.002). Training had no effect on basal GLUT4 expression, neither in the VL ( p > 0.9999), nor the PM ( p > 0.9999). However, acute exercise in trained condition significantly decreased GLUT4 expression in the VL ( p = 0.0148). Neither training nor acute exercise significantly changed total GLUT8 protein expression. Training significantly decreased total GLUT12 protein expression in rest biopsies, only visible in the VL ( p = 0.0359). This decrease was even more prominent in the VL after acute exercise in trained condition (P VL = 0.0025). Conclusion: The important changes seen in GLUT12 expression downregulation, both in response to training and acute exercise in the horse, the downregulation of GLUT4 expression after acute exercise in trained condition and the lack of differential shifts in GLUT8 expression in any of the studied conditions, questions the importance of glucose as substrate to fuel training and exercise in healthy horses. These findings encourage to further explore alternative fuels for their involvement in equine muscular energetics., Competing Interests: JO and GH were employed by the Cargill R&D Centre Europe. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Vidal Moreno de Vega, Lemmens, de Meeûs d’Argenteuil, Boshuizen, de Maré, Leybaert, Goethals, de Oliveira, Hosotani, Deforce, Van Nieuwerburgh, Devisscher and Delesalle.)

Free formaldehyde is a carcinogen whose emission reduction in particleboard has been studied recently to mitigate this environmental and human health problem. One alternative to reduce the emission of formaldehyde in particleboards is by using adhesives produced from natural sources. Cardanol-formaldehyde is an environmentally friendly adhesive made with cashew nut liquid, a byproduct from the cashew chain. This work aimed to produce particleboard using cardanol-formaldehyde in place of urea. In addition, different proportions of bean straw wastes were used to replace pine wood. The combination of eco-friendly adhesive and lignocellulosic waste particles could result in a product that meets market demands while being environmentally nonaggressive. Cardanol-formaldehyde promoted a higher modulus of elasticity (MOE) (1172 MPa) and modulus of rupture (MOR) (4.39 MPa) about panels glued with urea-formaldehyde, which presented a MOE of 764 MPa and MOR of 2.45 MPa. Furthermore, the cardanol-formaldehyde adhesive promoted a 93% reduction in formaldehyde emission, with a reduction from 16.76 to 1.09 mg/100 g oven-dry board for particleboards produced with cardanol-formaldehyde, indicating potential as an adhesive in the particleboard industry., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Arapaima gigas , known as Pirarucu in Brazil, is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Some individuals could reach 3 m in length and weight up to 200 kg. Due to extinction risks and its economic value, the species has been a focus for preservation and reproduction studies. Thyrotropin (TSH) is a glycoprotein hormone formed by 2 subunits α and β whose main activity is related to the synthesis of thyroid hormones (THs)-T3 and T4. In this work, we present a combination of bioinformatics tools to identify Arapaima gigas βTSH (ag-βTSH), modeling its molecular structure and express the recombinant heterodimer form in mammalian cells. Using the combination of computational biology, based on genome-related information, in silico molecular cloning and modeling led to confirm results of the ag-βTSH sequence by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and transient expression in human embryonic kidney (HEK293F) cells. Molecular cloning of ag-βTSH retrieved 146 amino acids with a signal peptide of 21 amino acid residues and 6 disulfide bonds. The sequence has a similarity to 39 fish species, ranging between 43.1% and 81.6%, whose domains are extremely conserved, such as cystine knot motif and N-glycosylation site. The Arapaima gigas thyrotropin (ag-TSH) model, solved by AlphaFold, was used in molecular dynamics simulations with Scleropages formosus receptor, providing similar values of free energy ΔG bind and ΔG PMF in comparison with Homo sapiens model. The recombinant expression in HEK293F cells reached a yield of 25 mg/L, characterized via chromatographic and physical-chemical techniques. This work shows that other Arapaima gigas proteins could be studied in a similar way, using the combination of these techniques, recovering more information from its genome and improving the reproduction and preservation of this prehistoric fish., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Coffee (Coffea L.) is one of the main crops produced globally. Its contamination by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix Berkeley and Broome has been economically detrimental for producers. The objective of this work was to extract and characterize the essential oils from Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn and Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden, produce and characterize nanoparticles containing these essential oils and evaluate the in vivo and in vitro antifungal activity of free and nanoencapsulated essential oils. The principal constituent of the essential oil from E. citriodora was citronellal; that from E. grandis was α-pinene; and that from E. camaldulensis was 1,8-cineol. The in vitro antifungal activity against the fungus H. vastatrix was 100% at a concentration of 1000 μl l -1 for all the oils and nanoparticles containing these natural products. The sizes of the nanoparticles produced with the essential oils from E. citriodora, E. camaldulensis and E. grandis were 402·13 nm, 275·33 nm and 328·5 nm, respectively, with surface charges of -11·8 mV, -9·24 mV and - 6·76 mV, respectively. Fourier transform infrared analyses proved that the encapsulation of essential oils occurred in the polymeric matrix of poly(ε-caprolactone). The incorporation of essential oils into biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles increased their efficiency as biofungicides in the fight against coffee rust, decreasing the severity of the disease by up to 90·75% after treatment with the nanoparticles containing the essential oil from E. grandis., (© 2022 Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Plant microbiota is usually enriched with bacteria producers of secondary metabolites and represents a valuable source of novel species and compounds. Here, we analyzed the diversity of culturable root-associated bacteria of the medicinal native plant Baccharis trimera (Carqueja) and screened promising isolates for their antimicrobial properties. The rhizobacteria were isolated from the endosphere and rhizosphere of B. trimera from Ponta Grossa and Ortigueira localities and identified by sequencing and restriction analysis of the 16S rDNA. The most promising isolates were screened for antifungal activities and the production of siderophores and biosurfactants. B. trimera presented a diverse community of rhizobacteria, constituted of 26 families and 41 genera, with a predominance of Streptomyces and Bacillus genera, followed by Paenibacillus, Staphylococcus, Methylobacterium, Rhizobium, Tardiphaga, Paraburkholderia, Burkholderia, and Pseudomonas. The more abundant genera were represented by different species, showing a high diversity of the microbiota associated to B. trimera. Some of these isolates potentially represent novel species and deserve further examination. The communities were influenced by both the edaphic properties of the sampling locations and the plant niches. Approximately one-third of the rhizobacteria exhibited antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and a high proportion of isolates produced siderophores (25%) and biosurfactants (42%). The most promising isolates were members of the Streptomyces genus. The survey of B. trimera returned a diverse community of culturable rhizobacteria and identified potential candidates for the development of plant growth-promoting and protection products, reinforcing the need for more comprehensive investigations of the microbiota of Brazilian native plants and habitats., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Essential oils encapsulated in a polymeric matrix can be used as an alternative method to control fungi and mycotoxins. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography. The nanofibres were produced from poly (acid lactic) (PLA) containing essential oils by the Solution Blow Spinning method. The antifungal and antimicotoxygenic properties were evaluated against Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus westerdijkiae by the fumigation method. Terpinen-4-ol (20·23%), sabinene (20·18%), 1·8-cineole (16·69%) and γ-terpinene (11·03%) were the principal compounds present in the essential oil from Alpinia speciosa, whereas citral (97·67%) was dominant from Cymbopogon flexuosus. Microscopy images showed that the addition of essential oils caused an increase in the diameter of the nanofibres. The infrared spectroscopy results indicated the presence of essential oils in the PLA nanofibres. Differential scanning calorimetry curves also indicated the existence of interactions between the essential oils and polymeric macromolecules through their plasticizing action. The hydrophobic character of nanofibres was revealed by the contact angle technique. An antifungal effect was observed, the mycelial growths (3·25-100%) and the synthesis of ochratoxin A (25·94-100%) were inhibited by the presence of the nanofibres. The results suggest that bioactive nanofibres hold promise for application to control toxigenic fungi., (© 2022 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibres containing different proportions of the essential oils from Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum gratissimum L. were prepared by solution blow spinning method. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography. MEV, contact angle, DSC and FTIR were used to characterize the nanofibres. The effect of bioative nanofibres on the growth of the fungus and on the production of ochratoxin A were evaluated using the fumigation test. Linalool, 1·8-cineole and camphor were the principal components of the essential oil from O. basilicum, and eugenol was the principal constituent in the oil from O. gratissimum. An increase in the average diameter of the nanofibres was observed with the addition of the essential oils. The essential oils acted as a plasticizer, resulting in a reduction in the crystallinity of the PLA. The encapsulation of essential oils in PLA nanofibres was verified by FTIR. An effective antifungal and antimicotoxygenic activity against Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus westerdjikiae was observed for the bioative nanofibres. These results confirm the potential of PLA nanofibres containing the essential oils for the control of toxigenic fungi that cause the deterioration of food and are harmful to human health., (© 2022 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

There is a great need for objective external training load prescription and performance capacity evaluation in equestrian disciplines. Therefore, reliable standardised exercise tests (SETs) are needed. Classic SETs require maximum intensities with associated risks to deduce training loads from pre-described cut-off values. The lactate minimum speed (LMS) test could be a valuable alternative. Our aim was to compare new performance parameters of a modified LMS-test with those of an incremental SET, to assess the effect of training on LMS-test parameters and curve-shape, and to identify the optimal mathematical approach for LMS-curve parameters. Six untrained standardbred mares (3-4 years) performed a SET and LMS-test at the start and end of the 8-week harness training. The SET-protocol contains 5 increments (4 km/h; 3 min/step). The LMS-test started with a 3-min trot at 36-40 km/h [until blood lactate (BL) > 5 mmol/L] followed by 8 incremental steps (2 km/h; 3 min/step). The maximum lactate steady state estimation (MLSS) entailed >10 km run at the LMS and 110% LMS. The GPS, heartrate (Polar ® ), and blood lactate (BL) were monitored and plotted. Curve-parameters (R core team, 3.6.0) were (SET) VLa 1 . 5/2/4 and (LMS-test) area under the curve (AUC >/ ), LMS and Aerobic Window (AW) via angular vs. threshold method. Statistics for comparison: a paired t -test was applied, except for LMS: paired Wilcoxon test; ( p < 0.05). The Pearson correlation ( r > 0.80), Bland-Altman method, and ordinary least products (OLP) regression analyses were determined for test-correlation and concordance. Training induced a significant increase in VLa 1 . 5/2/4 . The width of the AW increased significantly while the AUC LMS and LMS decreased post-training (flattening U-curve). The LMS BL steady-state is reached earlier and maintained longer after training. BL max was significantly lower for LMS vs. SET. The 40° angular method is the optimal approach. The correlation between LMS and V MLSS was significantly better compared to the SET. The VLa 4 is unreliable for equine aerobic capacity assessment. The LMS-test allows more reliable individual performance capacity assessment at lower speed and BL compared to SETs. The LMS-test protocol can be further adapted, especially post-training; however, inducing modest hyperlactatemia prior to the incremental LMS-stages and omitting inclusion of a per-test recovery contributes to its robustness. This LMS-test is a promising tool for the development of tailored training programmes based on the AW, respecting animal welfare., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 De Maré, Boshuizen, Vidal Moreno de Vega, de Meeûs, Plancke, Gansemans, Van Nieuwerburgh, Deforce, de Oliveira, Hosotani, Oosterlinck and Delesalle.)

The table grape is a non-climateric fruit that is very susceptible to fungal contamination, in addition to suffering an accelerated loss of quality during storage. The in vitro and in grape antifungal and antiocratoxigenic effects of the essential oils from Alpinia speciosa and Cymbopogon flexuosus against Aspergillus carbonarius and Aspergillus niger were studied. The oils were encapsulated in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers as a potential active packaging to be applied to control the degradation of grapes stored during the post-harvest period. Fungal proliferation and ochratoxin A synthesis in A. carbonarius and A. niger decreased in the presence of the active packaging. However, the nanofiber containing the essential oil from C. flexuosus was more efficient in providing a fungicidal effect against A. carbonarius (10% and 20%) and A. niger (20%). In addition, weight loss and color changes were controlled and the parameters of acidity, °Brix, softening and the texture of the grape were maintained. A very small mass loss of the essential oils encapsulated in nanofibers was observed by thermogravimetric analysis, showing that the nanofiber was efficient in enabling the controlled release. The quality and safety of table grapes were maintained for longer periods of storage in the presence of active packaging, so the incorporation of these oils in nanofibers can be a promising way to increase the shelf life of grapes., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)

The zoonotic pathogen Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) causes severe disease in young chickens. Restriction on antibiotic use requires alternative SE control strategies such as nutritional solutions to improve the resistance of chickens. In this study, chickens were fed long-chain glucomannan (GM) or standard diet and challenged with SE at seven days of age. During 21 days post-infection (dpi), we determined numbers and responsiveness of natural killer (NK) and T cells in ileum and spleen, and SE-specific antibody titers in serum. Microbiota compositions in ileum and caeca were determined, as well as correlations of these with numbers and function of immune cells. Some of the samples in the control group had numerically higher CFUs than the GM-treated group. In addition, the relative abundance of SE based on DNA assessment was significantly lower at 21 dpi upon GM supplementation. At 3 dpi, numbers of intraepithelial NK cells were significantly higher, while activation of intraepithelial NK cells (7 dpi), numbers of intraepithelial cytotoxic CD8 + T cells (14 dpi) and SE-specific antibodies (14 dpi) were numerically higher. Furthermore, relative abundance of the commensal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) significantly increased with GM supplementation post-infection. Higher relative abundance of streptococci was associated with reduced SE in ileal and caecal contents at 21 dpi. Relative abundance of streptococci negatively correlated with SE counts and positively correlated with NK cell activation and SE-specific antibodies, which suggests involvement of the commensal LAB in NK cell responsiveness. These results indicate that GM supplementation modulates the immune system, intestinal microbiota and impacts SE infection of young chickens., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

In this study, we determined the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in soil samples from public places. A total of 120 samples were collected from 24 sites, including squares, parks, university, hospitals in the city of Recife. The recovered oocysts were subjected to a nested-PCR test, and nine sites (9/24) were found to be positive for gene of apicomplexan parasites. The PCR product was sequenced, and 8.33% (10/120) of the samples showed 100% similarity to T. gondii DNA. T. gondii oocysts were detected in 75% (3/4) of the evaluated hospital soil samples and in 23.81% (5/21) soils samples from the public squares and parks. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of the soil in the areas analyzed as a source of T. gondii infection and therefore highlight the importance of devising educational strategies on the use of these sites, in addition to future cleaning protocols in public areas., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Restrictions on the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry stimulate the development of alternative nutritional solutions to maintain or improve poultry health. This requires more insight in the modulatory effects of feed additives on the immune system and microbiota composition. Compounds known to influence the innate immune system and microbiota composition were selected and screened in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo. Among all compounds, 57 enhanced NK cell activation, 56 increased phagocytosis, and 22 increased NO production of the macrophage cell line HD11 in vitro. Based on these results, availability and regulatory status, six compounds were selected for further analysis. None of these compounds showed negative effects on growth, hatchability, and feed conversion in in ovo and in vivo studies. Based on the most interesting numerical results and highest future potential feasibility, two compounds were analyzed further. Administration of glucose oligosaccharide and long-chain glucomannan in vivo both enhanced activation of intraepithelial NK cells and led to increased relative abundance of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) amongst ileum and ceca microbiota after seven days of supplementation. Positive correlations between NK cell subsets and activation, and relative abundance of LAB suggest the involvement of microbiota in the modulation of the function of intraepithelial NK cells. This study identifies glucose oligosaccharide and long-chain glucomannan supplementation as effective nutritional strategies to modulate the intestinal microbiota composition and strengthen the intraepithelial innate immune system.

Aleurone, a layer of the bran fraction, is deemed to be responsible for the positive health effects associated with the consumption of whole-grain products. Studies on rodents, pigs, and humans report beneficial effects of aleurone in five main areas: the reduction of oxidative stress, immunomodulatory effects, modulation of energy management, digestive health, and the storage of vitamins and minerals. Our study is the first aleurone supplementation study performed in horses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an increase in the dose levels of aleurone on the postprandial glucose-insulin metabolism and the gut microbiome in untrained healthy horses. Seven adult Standardbred horses were supplemented with four different dose levels of aleurone (50, 100, 200, and 400 g/day for 1 week) by using a Latin square model with a 1-week wash out in between doses. On day 7 of each supplementation week, postprandial blood glucose-insulin was measured and fecal samples were collected. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing was performed and QIIME2 software was used for microbiome analysis. Microbial community function was assessed by using the predictive metagenome analysis tool Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) and using the Metacyc database of metabolic pathways. The relative abundancies of a pathway were analyzed by using analysis of composition of microbiomes (ANCOM) in R. There was a significant dose-dependent increase in the postprandial time to peak of glucose ( p = 0.030), a significant delay in the time to peak of insulin ( p = 0.025), and a significant decrease in both the insulin peak level ( p = 0.049) and insulin area under the curve (AUC) ( p = 0.019) with increasing dose levels of aleurone, with a consideration of 200 g being the lowest significant dose. Alpha diversity and beta diversity of the fecal microbiome showed no significant changes. Aleurone significantly decreased the relative abundance of the genera Roseburia, Shuttleworthia, Anaerostipes, Faecalibacter, and Succinovibrionaceae. The most pronounced changes in the relative abundance at phyla level were seen in Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia (downregulation) and Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes (upregulation). The PICRUSt analysis shows that aleurone induces a downregulation of the degradation of L-glutamate and taurine and an upregulation of the three consecutive pathways of the phospholipid membrane synthesis of the Archaea domain. The results of this study suggest a multimodal effect of aleurone on glucose-insulin metabolism, which is most likely to be caused by its effect on feed texture and subsequent digestive processing; and a synergistic effect of individual aleurone components on the glucose-insulin metabolism and microbiome composition and function., Competing Interests: JO and GH are employed by Cargill R&D Centre Europe. Cargill has exclusivity over distribution of aleurone for feed market in Europe produced according to patents held by Buhler Company. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Boshuizen, Moreno de Vega, De Maré, de Meeûs, de Oliveira, Hosotani, Gansemans, Deforce, Van Nieuwerburgh and Delesalle.)

Studies in mammals, including chickens, have shown that the development of the immune system is affected by interactions with intestinal microbiota. Early life microbial colonization may affect the development of innate and adaptive immunity and may contribute to lasting effects on health and resilience of broiler chickens. We inoculated broiler chickens with adult-derived-microbiota (AM) to investigate their effects on intestinal microbiota composition and natural killer (NK) cells, amongst other immune cells. We hypothesized that AM inoculation directly upon hatch (day 0) would induce an alteration in microbiota composition shortly after hatch, and subsequently affect (subsets of) intestinal NK cells and their activation. Microbiota composition of caecal and ileal content of chickens of 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 35 days of age was assessed by sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons. In parallel, subsets and activation of intestinal NK cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. In caecal content of 1- and 3-day-old AM chickens, a higher alpha-diversity (Faith's phylogenetic diversity) was observed compared to control chickens, whereas ileal microbiota were unaffected. Regarding beta-diversity, caecal microbiota profiles could be clustered into three distinct community types. Cluster A represented caecal microbiota of 1-day-old AM chickens and 1- and 3-day-old control chickens. Cluster B included microbiota of seven of eight 3- and 7-day-old AM and 7-day-old control chickens, and cluster C comprised microbiota of all chickens of 14-days and older, independent of inoculation. In 3-day-old AM chickens an increase in the percentages of intestinal IL-2Rα + NK cells and activated NK cells was observed compared to control chickens of the same age. In addition, an increase in relative numbers of intestinal cytotoxic CD8αα + T cells was observed in 14- and 21-day-old AM chickens. Taken together, these results indicate that early exposure to AM shapes and accelerates the maturation of caecal microbiota, which is paralleled by an increase in IL-2Rα + NK cells and enhanced NK cell activation. The observed association between early life development of intestinal microbiota and immune system indicates possibilities to apply microbiota-targeted strategies that can accelerate maturation of intestinal microbiota and strengthen the immune system, thereby improving the health and resilience of broiler chickens., (Copyright © 2020 Meijerink, Kers, Velkers, van Haarlem, Lamot, de Oliveira, Smidt, Stegeman, Rutten and Jansen.)

Disturbances in intestinal health are a common problem affecting commercial broiler chickens worldwide. Several studies have revealed associations between health, production performance, and intestinal microbiota. This study aimed to describe the development of the intestinal microbiota of broilers within a production cycle to evaluate to what extent clinical parameters and phenotypic characteristics can explain the intestinal microbiota variation. Of four well-performing flocks within two farms, the cecal content was collected of nine broilers at 0, 2, 4, or 5, 7, 11, or 12, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 40 days of the production cycle. In total, 342 samples were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. Variables as macroscopic gut abnormalities, gut lesions, age, individual body weight, sex, footpad integrity, the color of ceca, and foam in cecal content were determined. Ileum tissue was collected for histological quantification of villus length and crypt depth. Flock infection levels of the intestinal disease coccidiosis were measured in pooled feces from the poultry house. Increases in phylogenetic diversity were observed from hatch until day 21 of age. Constrained multivariate analysis indicated that age, farm, body weight, ileum crypt depth, cecal color, and the coccidiosis lesion score were important variables to describe the variation in cecal microbiota. These results contribute to determining relevant variables in flocks that may be indicative of the intestinal microbiota composition. Moreover, this knowledge increases the awareness of interactions between the intestinal microbiota and broiler health as well as their relative importance., (© 2020 The Authors. MicrobiologyOpen published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The aim of this study was to develop polymeric nanofibers for controlled administration of Amphotericin B (AmpB), using the solution centrifugation technique, characterizing its microstructural and physical properties, release rate, and activity against Leishmania and Candida species. The core-shell nanofibers incorporated with AmpB were synthesized by Solution Blow Spinning (SBS) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry, X-Ray diffraction, and drug release assay. In vitro leishmanicidal and antifungal activity were also evaluated. Fibrous membranes with uniform morphology and smooth surfaces were produced. The intensity of the diffraction peaks becomes slightly more pronounced, assuming the increased crystallization in PLA/PEG at high AmpB loadings. Drug release occurred and the solutions with nanofibers to encourage greater incorporation of AmpB showed a higher concentration. In the results of the experiment with promastigotes, the wells treated with nanofibers containing concentrations of AmpB at 0.25, 0.5, and 1%, did not have any viable cells, similar to the positive control. Various concentrations of AmpB improved the inhibition of fungal growth. The delivery system based on PLA/PEG nanofibers was properly developed for AmpB, presenting a controlled release and a successful encapsulation, as well as antifungal and antileishmanial activity., (Copyright © 2020 Gonçalves, Rocha, Pires, Muniz, Maciel, de Lima, dos Santos, Batista, de Medeiros, de Medeiros, de Oliveira, Goulart, Bonan and Castellano.)

Objective: To measure the bond strength to zirconia subjected to different surface treatments of universal bonding agents., Materials and Methods: Eighty blocks of zirconia were obtained by CAD/CAM milling. The blocks were embedded into PVC tubes, polished sequentially with increasing granulation sandpapers and divided into two groups according to surface treatment: polished or grit-blasted with alumina particles. Each group was then subdivided by bonding agent employed: Z-Prime Plus (control); Scotchbond Universal; All Bond Universal; and Z-Prime Plus + All Bond Universal. Cylindrical composite resin build-ups were constructed atop the blocks using a two-part metal die. Specimens were stored for 24 hours and subjected to microshear bond strength testing. Statistical analyses were performed by means of the F-test (ANOVA), Student's t and Tukey's test. After sputter coating, zirconia surfaces and adhesive interfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)., Results: Bond strength was superior for grit-blasted zirconia. In specimens with this surface treatment, there were no significant differences between experimental groups. On SEM, blasted surfaces exhibited areas of micromechanical retention and adhesive interfaces exhibited areas of zirconia-adhesive interlocking., Conclusion: Universal adhesive systems were able to bond to zirconia. The interlocking promoted by grit-blasting enhanced bond strength., Clinical Significance: Universal adhesive systems simplify bonding to zirconia and enable intraoral repair of fractures., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on plant cells, since their phytotoxicity potential is not yet fully understood. In this context, the aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of AgNPs in the in vitro culture of Physalis peruviana . For this purpose, P. peruviana seeds were grown in MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of AgNPs. Growth and development of seedlings were evaluated through germination, seedling size and biomass and biochemical and anatomical analyses. At the end of 60 days of cultivation, it was observed that the in vitro germination of this species is not affected by the presence of AgNPs and that at low concentrations (0.385 mg L -1 ) it can promote an increase in seedlings biomass. However, higher concentration (15.4 mg L -1 ) leads to a reduction in seedling size and root system, but no changes were observed in the seedlings antioxidant metabolism and anatomy. These results demonstrate that the phytotoxicity of AgNPs in P. peruviana is related to the concentration of nanoparticles to which the specie is exposed., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standardsThe authors state that the present study was conducted in the absence of commercial or financial relationships that could result in a potential conflict of interest.

Bio-based chitosan/pectin blend films were prepared by solution casting and fully characterized in terms of their viscoelastic, thermo-mechanical and water affinity properties. Dynamic light scattering and rheological analyses served as a probe that polyelectrolyte complexes were formed through COO - /NH 3 + ionic cross-linking, changing the chitosan/pectin solutions from Newtonian to pseudoplastic gel-like systems. The highest degree of ionic cross-linking has been found at a specific mass ratio (chitosan/pectin 25/75) and solid-state data were obtained in detail using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Ionic cross-linking was determining on the physical properties of chitosan/pectin blends, which was demonstrated by the thermo-mechanical spectra, high water contact angle and tensile strength of films. The specific thermo-mechanical properties of the chitosan/pectin films can be specifically modulated according to the chitosan/pectin mass ratio to ensure successfully applications in medicine, drug delivery, agricultural and food coatings., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The introduction of biofortified foods such as beans with higher iron content may be a useful tool in preventing iron deficiency. The biofortification aims to reach the root of the problem of malnutrition, targets the neediest population, uses embedded distribution mechanisms, is scientifically feasible and effective in terms of cost, and complements other ongoing interventions to control micronutrient deficiency. However, to ensure effectiveness, measurement of the absorption of minerals is essential., Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the iron bioavailability of common bean BRS Pontal (PO), targeted for biofortification, compared with common bean BRS Estilo in man through reliable techniques that have not been previously used in Brazil., Methods: The study included 29 young adult volunteers divided into 2 groups: Group CB (13 subjects) received 100 g of common beans (BRS-Estilo) cooked labeled with iron-58 ( 58 Fe) and Group TBB (16 patients) received 100 g common bean target for iron biofortification (BRS-Pontal), cooked and labeled with iron58 ( 58 Fe). The next day they received the reference dose of ferrous sulfate enriched iron-57 ( 57 Fe). Isotopic evaluation of iron for measurement of iron incorporation into erythrocytes was performed 14 days after consumption. The beans used, were produced, through conventional breeding program, by EMBRAPA/Rice and Beans., Results: The iron absorption was evaluated by assessing the isotopic enrichment of the stable isotope. Mean iron absorption from the meal with common beans was 0.409% (±0.040%) and mean iron incorporation from the meal with target beans for biofortification 0.407% (±0.038%) and did not differ between the groups., Conclusions: This study tested the iron absorption from a single bean meal in healthy volunteers or non anemics, In the present study the iron absorption ratio from common bean Pontal (PO), targeted for biofortification and compared with common bean BRS Estilo was not significantly different. The iron concentration of the TBB, probably was not sufficient to improve higher bioavailability. It is recommended to evaluate the not only the absorption of iron in cultivars that present a higher difference in iron concentration but also in association with other components of the Brazilian diet, such as rice and beans., (Copyright © 2018 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Quality assessment of diesel fuel is highly necessary for society, but the costs and time spent are very high while using standard methods. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an analytical method capable of simultaneously determining eight diesel quality parameters (density; flash point; total sulfur content; distillation temperatures at 10% (T10), 50% (T50), and 85% (T85) recovery; cetane index; and biodiesel content) through attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and the multivariate regression method, partial least square (PLS). For this purpose, the quality parameters of 409 samples were determined using standard methods, and their spectra were acquired in ranges of 4000-650 cm -1 . The use of the multivariate filters, generalized least squares weighting (GLSW) and orthogonal signal correction (OSC), was evaluated to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the models. Likewise, four variable selection approaches were tested: manual exclusion, forward interval PLS (FiPLS), backward interval PLS (BiPLS), and genetic algorithm (GA). The multivariate filters and variables selection algorithms generated more fitted and accurate PLS models. According to the validation, the FTIR/PLS models presented accuracy comparable to the reference methods and, therefore, the proposed method can be applied in the diesel routine monitoring to significantly reduce costs and analysis time.

Environmental contamination caused by leakage of fuels and lubricant oils at gas stations is of great concern due to the presence of carcinogenic compounds in the composition of gasoline, diesel, and mineral lubricant oils. Chromatographic methods or non-selective infrared methods are usually used to assess soil contamination, which makes environmental monitoring costly or not appropriate. In this perspective, the present work proposes a methodology to identify the type of contaminant (gasoline, diesel, or lubricant oil) and, subsequently, to quantify the contaminant concentration using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and multivariate methods. Firstly, gasoline, diesel, and lubricating oil samples were acquired from gas stations and analyzed by gas chromatography to determine the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) fractions (gasoline range organics, diesel range organics, and oil range organics). Then, solutions of these contaminants in hexane were prepared in the concentration range of about 5-10,000 mg kg -1 . The infrared spectra of the solutions were obtained and used for the development of the pattern recognition model and the calibration models. The partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model could correctly classify 100% of the samples of each type of contaminant and presented selectivity equal to 1.00, which provides a suitable method for the identification of the source of contamination. The PLS regression models were developed using multivariate filters, such as orthogonal signal correction (OSC) and general least square weighting (GLSW), and selection variable by genetic algorithm (GA). The validation of the models resulted in correlation coefficients above 0.96 and root-mean-square error of prediction values below the maximum permissible contamination limit (1000 mg kg -1 ). The methodology was validated through the addition of fuels and lubricating oil in soil samples and quantification of the TPH fractions through the developed models after the extraction of the analytes by the EPA 3550 method adapted by the authors. The recovery percentage of the analytes was within the acceptance limits of ASTM D7678 (70-130%), except for one sample (69% of recovery). Therefore, the methodology proposed here provides faster and less costly analyses than the chromatographic methods and it is adequate for the environmental monitoring of soil contamination by gas stations.

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes are some of the most hazardous constituents found in commercial gasoline samples; therefore, these components must be monitored to avoid toxicological problems. We propose a new routine method of ultrafast gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection for the direct determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes in commercial gasoline. This method is based on external standard calibration to quantify each compound, including the validation step of the study of linearity, detection and quantification limits, precision, and accuracy. The time of analysis was less than 3.2 min, with quantitative statements regarding the separation and quantification of all compounds in commercial gasoline samples. Ultrafast gas chromatography is a promising alternative method to official analytical techniques. Government laboratories could consider using this method for quality control., (© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Citrus crops are among the most abundant crops in the world, which processing is mainly based on juice extraction, generating large amounts of effluents with properties that turn them into potential pollution sources if they are improperly discarded. This study evaluated the potential for bioconversion of effluents from citrus-processing industry (wastewater and vinasse) into hydrogen through the dark fermentation process, by applying anaerobic sewage sludge as inoculum. The inoculum was previously heat treated to eliminate H 2 -consumers microorganisms and improve its activity. Anaerobic batch reactors were operated in triplicate with increasing proportions (50, 80 and 100%) of each effluent as substrate at 37°C, pH 5.5. Citrus effluents had different effects on inoculum growth and H 2 yields, demonstrated by profiles of acetic acid, butyric acid, propionic acid and ethanol, the main by-products generated. It was verified that there was an increase in the production of biogas with the additions of either wastewater (7.3, 33.4 and 85.3mmolL -1 ) or vinasse (8.8, 12.7 and 13.4mmolL -1 ) in substrate. These effluents demonstrated remarkable energetic reuse perspectives: 24.0MJm -3 and 4.0MJm -3 , respectively. Besides promoting the integrated management and mitigation of anaerobic sludge and effluents from citrus industry, the biohydrogen production may be an alternative for the local energy supply, reducing the operational costs in their own facilities, while enabling a better utilization of the biological potential contained in sewage sludges., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ovarian stimulation with commercial preparations of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) produces extremely variable responses in domestic animals, ranging from excessive stimulation to practically no stimulation, when applied on the basis of their declared unitage. This study was conducted to analyze four commercial preparations from different manufacturers via reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) in comparison with a reference preparation and an official International Standard from the World Health Organization. The peaks obtained by this qualitative and quantitative physical-chemical analysis were compared using an in vivo bioassay based on the ovarian weight gain of prepubertal female rats. The RP-HPLC data showed one or two peaks close to a main peak (t R = 27.9 min), which were related to the in vivo bioactivity. Commercial preparations that have this altered peak showed very little or no in vivo activity, as demonstrated by rat ovarian weight and in peripubertal gilts induced to ovulate. Overall, these findings indicate that RP-HPLC can be a rapid and reliable tool to reveal changes in the physicochemical profile of commercial eCG that is apparently related to decreased biological activity of this hormone., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Nutritional iron deficiency anemia is considered the main public health problem of poor less-developed and developing countries. The World Health Organization has estimated that 1.5-2.0 billion persons are anemic. It has been said that close to 1 million deaths are linked to iron deficiency anemia. The groups most vulnerable to this form of anemia are said to be small children and women of reproductive age. Our goal is to show that iron fortification in the water, will control anemia. The method used was a literature review. Methods have been identified to control anemia, but the fortification of water is a more efficient, low cost, reaches the entire population, prevents and treats deficiency anemia. We concluded that the iron fortification of drinking water at home is a simple, effective, and low-priced approach for the prevention of iron deficiency anemia prevalent in poor and developing countries.

Background: Studies on diabetic foot and its complications involving a significant and representative sample of patients in South American countries are scarce. The main objective of this study was to acquire clinical and epidemiological data on a large cohort of diabetic patients from 19 centers from Brazil and focus on factors that could be associated with the risk of ulcer and amputation., Methods: This study presents cross sectional, baseline results of the BRAZUPA Study. A total of 1455 patients were included. Parameters recorded included age, gender, ethnicity, diabetes and comorbidity-related records, previous ulcer or amputation, clinical symptomatic score, foot classification and microvascular complications., Results: Patients with ulcer had longer disease duration (17.2 ± 9.9 vs. 13.2 ± 9.4 years; p < 0.001), and poorer glycemic control (HbA1c 9.23 ± 2.03 vs. 8.35 ± 1.99; p < 0.001). Independent risk factors for ulcer were male gender (OR 1.71; 95 % CI 1.2-3.7), smoking (OR 1.78; 95 % CI 1.09-2.89), neuroischemic foot (OR 20.34; 95 % CI 9.31-44.38), region of origin (higher risk for those from developed regions, OR 2.39; 95 % CI 1.47-3.87), presence of retinopathy (OR 1.68; 95 % CI 1.08-2.62) and absence of vibratory sensation (OR 7.95; 95 % CI 4.65-13.59). Risk factors for amputation were male gender (OR 2.12; 95 % CI 1.2-3.73), type 2 diabetes (OR 3.33; 95 % CI 1.01-11.1), foot at risk classification (higher risk for ischemic foot, OR 19.63; 95 % CI 3.43-112.5), hypertension (lower risk, OR 0.3; 95 % CI 0.14-0.63), region of origin (South/Southeast, OR 2.2; 95 % CI 1.1-4.42), previous history of ulcer (OR 9.66; 95 % CI 4.67-19.98) and altered vibratory sensation (OR 3.46; 95 % CI 1.64-7.33). There was no association between either outcome and ethnicity., Conclusions: Ulcer and amputation rates were high. Age at presentation was low and patients with ulcer presented a higher prevalence of neuropathy compared to ischemic foot at risk. Ischemic disease was more associated with amputations. Ethnical differences were not of great importance in a miscegenated population.

Chitosan is a polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed chains of β-(1-4) D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This compound is obtained by partial or total deacetylation of chitin in acidic solution. The chitosan-based hemostatic agents have been gaining much attention in the management of bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro hemagglutination activity of chitosan nanoparticles using human erythrocytes. The preparation of nanoparticles was achieved by ionotropic gelification technique followed by neutralization with NaOH 1 mol/L(-1). The hemagglutination activity was performed on a solution of 2% erythrocytes (pH 7.4 on PBS) collected from five healthy volunteers. The hemolysis determination was made by spectrophotometric analysis. Chitosan nanoparticle solutions without NaOH addition changed the reddish colour of the wells into brown, suggesting an oxidative reaction of hemoglobin and possible cell lysis. All neutralized solutions of chitosan nanoparticles presented positive haemagglutination, without any change in reaction color. Chitosan nanoparticles presented hemolytic activity ranging from 186.20 to 223.12%, while neutralized solutions ranged from 2.56 to 72.54%, comparing to distilled water. Results highlight the need for development of new routes of synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles within human physiologic pH.

CK2 is a protein kinase distributed in different compartments of Leishmania braziliensis: an externally oriented ecto-CK2, an intracellular CK2, and a secreted CK2. This latter form is constitutively secreted from the parasite (CsCK2), but such secretion may be highly enhanced by the association of specific molecules, including enzyme substrates, which lead to a higher enzymatic activity, called inductively secreted CK2 (IsCK2). Here, we examined the influence of secreted CK2 (sCK2) activity on the infectivity of a virulent L. braziliensis strain. The virulent strain presented 121-fold higher total CK2 activity than those found in an avirulent strain. The use of specific CK2 inhibitors (TBB, DRB, or heparin) inhibited virulent parasite growth, whereas no effect was observed in the avirulent parasites. When these inhibitors were added to the interaction assays between the virulent L. braziliensis strain and macrophages, association index was drastically inhibited. Polyamines enhanced sCK2 activity and increased the association index between parasites and macrophages. Finally, sCK2 and the supernatant of the virulent strain increased the association index between the avirulent strain and macrophages, which was inhibited by TBB. Thus, the kinase enzyme CK2 seems to be important to invasion mechanisms of L. braziliensis.

Aims: To investigate if thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are associated with any differences in glycaemic control or diabetes-related complications in individuals with Type 1 diabetes., Methods: This observational, cross-sectional and multicentre study included patients with Type 1 diabetes for ≥ 5 years, with a recent TSH measurement and without a known previous thyroid disease. Patients were divided into three groups according to TSH levels: 0.4-2.5 mU/l; 2.5-4.4 mU/l; and ≥ 4.5 mU/l., Results: We included 1205 individuals with a mean ± sd age of 23.8 ± 11.3 years. Seven patients had TSH levels <0.4 mU/l and were excluded from the comparison between groups. HbA1c levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and disease duration were similar in all groups (P = 0.893, P = 0.548, P = 0.461, P = 0.575 and P = 0.764, respectively). The rates of diabetic retinopathy and GFR < 60/mL/min/1.73 m(2) differed between groups (P = 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively) and were lower in those with lower TSH levels. Multivariate analysis confirmed these associations. The frequencies of retinopathy and GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) were higher not only in patients with TSH ≥ 4.5 mU/l (odds ratio 1.878 and 2.271, respectively) but also in those with TSH levels of 2.5-4.4 mU/l (odds ratio 1.493 and 2.286, respectively), when compared with patients with TSH levels of 0.4-2.5 mU/l., Conclusions: TSH levels of 0.4-2.5 mU/l are associated with a lower risk of diabetic retinopathy and renal failure in individuals with Type 1 diabetes, independently of glycaemic control and duration of the disease., (© 2014 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2014 Diabetes UK.)

The feasibility of establishing probiotic bacteria in the intestine of broiler chickens by in ovo inoculation was investigated, followed by verifying possible subsequent protection against Salmonella Enteriditis infection. In a first study, 7 commercially available probiotics were screened for compatibility with in ovo inoculation. Two of these probiotics, one being a Enterococcus faecium and the other a Bacillus subtilis, were selected for colonizing the chick gut without compromising hatchability. In a second study, these 2 products were administered in ovo and in the feed to chicks reared until 18 d in comparison with noninoculated chicks and with chicks fed an antibiotic. All chicks were orally challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis at 4 d of age. Results showed reduced performance of Salmonella Enteritidis challenged chicks fed no additives compared with challenged chicks fed antibiotic, but no significant differences in mortality was observed. Probiotics offered in ovo or through the diet could only partially recover performance compared with antibiotic-fed chicks. A significant reduction in the number of Salmonella Enteritidis positive chicks was observed when chicks were in ovo inoculated with E. faecium and continued receiving it in the diet. This work establishes standards for future in ovo colonization research and emphasizes its value as a promising method to deliver individual precise dose of probiotics to poultry in mass scale at the earliest possible age based on the competitive exclusion concept. In ovo colonization with probiotic can therefore become an important ally in combination with other approaches to combat Salmonella and other intestinal bacterial infections in poultry.

Objective: Assess drinking water fortification with iron and/or ascorbic acid as a strategy to control iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency., Methods: Randomized blind clinical study, fortifying drinking water to 153 pre-school children during 3 months, with iron and ascorbic acid (A), ascorbic acid (B) or plain water (C). Hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and ferritin were measured., Results: Within the groups, Hb raised in all three groups, MCV in A and B and ferritin in A. The difference between time points 0 and 1 was significant between A and B for Hb, when A and B were compared with C for MCV and when A was compared with either B or C for ferritin., Conclusions: Water fortification is efficient in controlling iron deficiency and anemia. Iron stores' recovery depends on a more effective offer of iron. Water fortification must be preceded by a careful assessment of the previous nutritional status.

Anti-parietal cell (APC) antibodies and pernicious anemia (PA) were evaluated in patients with type 1 diabetes (n=75) and in controls. A higher frequency of APC (13.3%) and PA (4%) was found in cases than in controls (p=0.003), associated with other autoimmune diseases (p=0.003), but not with insulin or PTPN22 polymorphisms., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)

Microbiota plays a role in the release and absorption of nutrients from feed components, thereby affecting digesta composition and moisture content of the excreta. The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of 5 different diets varying in ingredients (medium-chain fatty acids, nonstarch polysaccharides, and starch) on the microbiota composition of ileal digesta of broiler chickens and excreta DM content. Each treatment was repeated 6 times in cages each containing 18 Ross 308 broilers, with growth performance measured from 0 to 34 d of age and excreta DM and ileal microbiota composition analyzed at 34 d of age. Microbiota composition was evaluated using a novel ribosomal RNA microarray technology containing 370 different probes covering various genera, groups of microbial species, and individual species of the chicken gut microbiota, of which 321 had a signal above the background threshold. Replacing part of the animal fat and soybean oil in the wheat-based diet with medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA; 0.3% C10 and 2.7% C12) improved feed efficiency compared with the other dietary treatments. This coincided with a suppression of gram-positive bacteria belonging to the phylum of the Firmicutes, including Lactobacillus species, and species belonging to the family of the Enterococcaceae and Micrococcaceae, whereas the gram-negative bacteria belonging to the family of the Enterobacteriaceae were promoted. None of the other diets used in the present study notably changed the ileal digesta bacteria composition. Excreta DM content was not affected by dietary treatment. The variation between individual birds per dietary treatment was more pronounced than variation caused by feed composition, with the exception of the digesta microbiota of the birds fed the MCFA diet. It is concluded that a diet with MCFA significantly changes the ileal microbiota composition, whereas the effect of the other diets on the composition of the microbiota and excreta DM content is small in broiler chickens.

Background: The aim was to analyze an infant preventive program determining at what age parents take their children for their first dental visit and the reasons why they do it., Materials & Methods: A total of 844 children aged from 0 to 36 months, enrolled in the program of oral health maintenance of the Baby Clinic, participated in this study. During the first dental visit, the parents were inquired about the reasons that led them to enroll their children in the program. One trained investigator identified this reasons on the records and classified them according to the following scores: orientation/prevention, caries treatment, malpositioned teeth, dental trauma, tooth color alterations and others., Results: Orientation/prevention was the most prevalent reason from 0-6 months to 25-30 months of age, and at the age 30-36 months, the reason caries/treatment overcame orientation/prevention, becoming the most prevalent reason in that age group. The third place was occupied by dental trauma. The mean age parents seek for dental care to their children was 14, 92 months., Conclusion: This study showed a preferentially preventive/educational profile for the children. However, lots of parents still take children to the dentist preferentially for curative instead of preventive treatment. How to cite this article: Volpato LE, Palti DG, Lima JE, Machado MA, Aranha AM, Bandeca MC, Pedro FL, Borges AH. When and Why Parents Seek Dental Care for Children under 36 Months. J Int Oral Health 2013; 5(4):21-25.