No abstract

In this study, we isolated Lactobacillus spp. from bovine raw milk and artisanal cheese from southern Brazil, and evaluated their technological and probiotic potential to select new isolates for producing healthy fermented dairy foods with differentiated tastes and flavours. We obtained 48 new lactobacilli isolates, which were isolated from raw milk (38) and cheese (10). These bacterial isolates were closely related with ten species: Lactobacillus paracasei (50% of the isolates), L. parabuchneri (15%), L. pentosus (13%), L. zeae (4%), L. plantarum (4%), L. otakiensis (4%), L. casei (4%), L. harbinensis (2%), L. diolivorans (2%), and L. rhamnosus (2%). Isolates CH112 and CH131 showed the greatest acidification potential, reducing the pH of milk to below 5.3 after incubation for 6 h at 32 °C. Considering proteolytic activity and diacetyl production, isolates ML88a, ML04, and ML12 showed the most promising results. Isolate ML12 showed 100% survival rate when inoculated in gastric juice at pH 2.5. The evaluation of antibacterial activity of the lactobacilli showed that the pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, and Salmonella Typhimurium were strongly inhibited by the pure lactobacilli cultures. Five Lactobacillus isolates (ML01, ML04, ML12, ML88, and CH139) showed both technological and probiotic characteristics. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to investigate correlations among technological and probiotic characteristics, and identified new promising lactobacilli isolates for exploring their characteristics. This study reveals the importance of selecting new microorganisms with potential applicability in the food industry for developing functional foods with differentiated aromas and flavours. Keyword Brazil. Fermented dairy foods. Functional foods. Lactic acid bacteria. Lactobacilli isolates. Starter culture.

SUMMARY:The transcondylar approach (TA) has been used in surgeries to access lesions in areas close to the foramen magnum (FM) and is performed directly through the occipital condyle (OC) or through the atlanto-occipital joint and adjacent portions of the same. The objective of this study is to examine anatomical variations related to the TA by morphometric parameters of the FM, OC and of the hypoglossal canal (HC) in dry skulls and in computed tomography (CT). In 111 skulls, characteristics of the HC, and measures related to the FM, the HC and to the OC were examined. In CT, the measurements obtained bilaterally in 10 patients who underwent examination of the skull base in 1 mm-thick axial helical cuts were the distances from the outer half of the clivus to the opening of the HC; from the lower portion of the OC to the middle of HC; from the inner half of the clivus to the intracranial opening of the HC and to the midpoint of the HC; from the HC extracranial opening to the lower portion of the OC and to the outer half of the clivus. The results of CT measurements are consistent to previous studies of morphometric variations related to the TA, with no significant difference between the measurements obtained in the right and in the left sides, or related to gender. The data obtained by three-dimensional CT images are important in assessing the morphometric variations of pre-surgical patientsof TA.

Introdução: No mundo, em torno de 20% das gestações apresentam uma evolução desfavorável, implicando em risco tanto para a mãe quanto para o bebê, caracterizando-se como gestação de alto risco. Objetivo: Analisar o perfil das gestantes de alto risco da l, Brasil. Metodologia: A presente pesquisa é um estudo do tipo descritivo-exploratório, transversal de caráter epidemiológico e quantitativo. A população deste estudo foram todos os prontuários das gestantes acompanhadas no ambulatório especializado região central do Rio Grande do Sul, em 2014. Resultados: Este estudo constatou que as doenças com maior prevalência são a Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica e Diabetes Mellitus Gestacional, sendo que a maioria das gestantes era branca, com idade entre 30 e 39 anos e foram encaminhadas ao serviço entre o segundo e terceiro trimestre de gestação. Conclusões: Espera-se que os resultados dessa pesquisa auxiliem os profissionais que realizam atendimento diretamente com a saúde da gestante, para que desenvolvam um olhar mais detalhado para o perfil epidemiológico e as morbidades, com a finalidade de melhorar a assistência prestada a este tipo de paciente.

Therapeutic ultrasound, with frequency of 1 MHz, intensity of 0.2 W/cm(2) (SATA) and pulsed mode, for 30 minutes, was able to increase the proliferation of preosteoblast-like bone cells. This effect was mediated by a calcium influx, with a consequent activation of the mTOR pathway, through increased NF-κB1 and p38α.

The prostate gland is under androgen control. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of two genes that are regulators of the cell cycle, the p53 and p21 genes, in human non-transformed epithelial prostatic cells (HNTEPs) treated with different concentrations of hormones. Samples of prostate tissue were obtained from 10 patients between 60 and 77 years of age. HNTEP cells were grown in basal medium and treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in different conditions for 4 h. A low concentration of DHT resulted in a significant increase in cell growth; this effect was eradicated by addition of the antiandrogen hydroxyflutamide. Furthermore, the low concentration of DHT induced lower mRNA levels in the p53 and p21 genes in HNTEP cells. In turn, high DHT concentrations induced a significant increase in the expression of the p53 and p21 genes. The present data suggest that the p53 and p21 genes play a role in the control of responsiveness and androgen dose-dependent cell proliferation in HNTEP cells. Further studies are required to assess the intracellular signaling pathway regulated by p53 and p21 under the influence of androgens and its implications for the pathophysiology of prostate diseases.

Even with long‑term glycemic control, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) remains the predominant cause of diabetic neuropathy. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C936T of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene and the SNP C242T of the p22phox (CYBA) gene have been investigated in relation to DM2 and its complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between these two SNPs and DM2, and also between the SNPs and the signs and symptoms of diabetic distal polyneuropathy. The DM2 group consisted of 98 individuals and the control group consisted of 104 individuals. The results demonstrated that there was no association between the different genotypes or alleles and increased risk of the disease (P>0.05). With SNP C242T, a significant association with body mass index between the CTxTT genotypes (P=0.043) was identified; and the greatest body mass indexes were among individuals with the TT genotype. An association between the degree of neuropathic symptoms and genotypic/allelic distribution of these polymorphisms was not observed. In conclusion, the investigated polymorphisms are not correlated with the risk of developing DM2.

RESUMOObjetivos: Verificar a prevalência e o perfil sociodemográfico de indivíduos com diabetes mellitus (DM) e hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS), cadastrados no Sistema de Informação da Atenção Básica (SIAB) do município de Lajeado-RS, no ano de 2012. Métodos: O presente estudo, transversal, descritivo-exploratório, com abordagem quantitativa, utilizou dados secundários extraídos do SIAB de 757 indivíduos. Os dados foram processados e analisados com software SPPS versão 20.0. Resultados: Da amostra de 757 indivíduos, obteve-se uma média de idade de 40,87 ± 16,15 anos, sendo 50,2% (380) do sexo masculino e 49,8% (377) do sexo feminino. Da mesma forma, 97% (734) são alfabetizados. Encontrouse uma frequência de apenas 3,1% (1.131) de DM na população total e de 4,5% (34) na amostra selecionada, e obteve-se uma prevalência de HAS de 15% (5.849) e 17,3% (131), respectivamente. Houve correlação positiva -fraca, mas significativa -entre HAS, DM e idade (p=0,000). Conclusão: Os dados obtidos indicaram uma baixa prevalência de DM e HAS em indivíduos cadastrados no SIAB em um município do interior do Rio Grande do Sul.Descritores: Hipertensão; Diabetes Mellitus; Prevalência. ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence and sociodemographic profile of individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), registered in the Primary