The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations of metabolic disorders and anthropometric and biochemical biomarkers of lipid, glucose and oxidative metabolism and the habitual ingestion of guaraná (Paullinia cupana, Mart. Var. sorbilis) by an elderly population residing in the Amazon Riverine region of the Maués municipality (Brazil). A case-controlled study was performed that included 637 elderly (≥60 years of age) patients classified as either those who habitually drank guaraná (GI, n = 421) or those who never drank guaraná (NG, n = 239) based upon their self-reported intake of guaraná. Indeed, the prevalence of various metabolic disorders was associated with guaraná ingestion. The prevalence of hypertension, obesity and metabolic syndrome in the GI group was lower than the prevalence found in the NG group. The NG group exhibited lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. The males in the GI group exhibited a lower waist circumference, on average, than the circumference found in the NG group, whereas the females in the GI group had lower cholesterol (total and LDL-c) levels than the control cohort. Additionally, a significant association was found between lower levels of advanced oxidative protein product (AOPP) and habitual guaraná consumption. The results constitute the first epidemiological study to suggest a potentially protective effect of habitual guaraná ingestion against metabolic disorders in elderly subjects.

Obesity is considered a chronic low-grade inflammatory state associated with a chronic oxidative stress caused by superoxide production (O(2)(-)). The superoxide dismutase manganese dependent (SOD2) catalyzes O(2)(-) in H(2)O(2) into mitochondria and is encoded by a single gene that presents a common polymorphism that results in the replacement of alanine (A) with a valine (V) in the 16 codon. This polymorphism has been implicated in a decreased efficiency of SOD2 transport into targeted mitochondria in V allele carriers. Previous studies described an association between VV genotype and metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. However, the causal mechanisms to explain this association need to be more elucidated. We postulated that the polymorphism could influence the inflammatory response. To test our hypothesis, we evaluated the in vitro cytokines production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) carrier's different Ala16Val-SOD2 genotypes (IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ). Additionally, we evaluated if the culture medium glucose, enriched insulin, could influence the cytokine production. Higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines were observed in VV-PBMCs when compared to AA-PBMCs. However, the culture medium glucose and enriched insulin did not affect cytokine production. The results suggest that Ala16Val-SOD2 gene polymorphism could trigger the PBMCs proinflammatory cytokines level. However, discerning if a similar mechanism occurs in fat cells is an open question.

This study evaluated the molecular characteristics of Rhodococcus equi isolates obtained from horses by a multiplex PCR assay that amplifies the vap gene family (vapA, -B, -C, -D, -E, -F, -G, and -H). A total of 180 R. equi isolates were studied from four different sources, namely healthy horse feces (112), soil (12), stalls (23), and clinical isolates (33) from horse-breeding farms. The technique was performed and confirmed by sequencing of amplified vap gene family controls. Thirty-two (17.8%) of the R. equi isolates were positive for the vapA gene and carried at least three other vap genes. All 147 isolates from equine feces, stalls, and soil failed to demonstrate any genes associated with virulence-inducing proteins. About 32 (97.0%) out of the 33 clinical equine isolates tested positive for the multiplex PCR assay for the vap gene family. They demonstrated six molecular profiles: 100% featured the vapA, vapD, and vapG genes, 86.6% vapF, 76.6% vapH, 43.3% vapC, 36.6% vapE, and none vapB. The most frequent molecular profile was vap A, -D, -F, G, and -H, where this profile was present in 37.5% of the strains. Moreover, there was no molecular epidemiological pattern for R. equi isolates that uniquely mapped to each horse-breeding farm studied. Our proposed technique allows the identification of eight members of the vap gene family (vapA, B, -C, -D, -E, -F, -G, and -H). It is a practical and efficient method of conducting clinical and epidemiological studies on R. equi isolates.

The purpose of this paper was to study the etiology of mastitis, determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Staphylococcus spp. and to identify the risk factors associated with infection in dairy cows in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, Brazil. From the 2,064 milk samples analyzed, 2.6% were associated with cases of clinical mastitis and 28.2% with subclinical mastitis. In the microbiological culture, Staphylococcus spp. (49.1%) and Corynebacterium spp. (35.3%) were the main agents found, followed by Prototheca spp. (4.6%) and Gram negative bacilli (3.6%). In the antimicrobial susceptibility testing, all 218 Staphylococcus spp. were susceptible to rifampicin and the least effective drug was amoxicillin (32.6%). Multidrug resistance to three or more drugs was observed in 65.6% of Staphylococcus spp. The risk factors identified for mastitis were the extensive production system, not providing feed supplements, teat drying process, not disinfecting the teats before and after milking, and inadequate hygiene habits of the milking workers. The presence of multiresistant isolates in bovine milk demonstrates the importance of the choice and appropriate use of antimicrobial agents. Prophylactic and control measures, including teat antisepsis and best practices for achieving hygienic milking should be established in order to prevent new cases of the disease in herds.INDEX TERMS: Staphylococcus spp., multidrug resistance, mammary gland, risk factors.

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In vitro and in vivo activity of the Lippia alba essential oil (EO) against Aeromonas sp. was evaluated. In the in vitro assay the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of EO for Aeromonas cells were determined using the microdilution method. Twenty five strains of Aeromonas sp. isolated from infected fish obtained from local fish farms were used. MIC and MBC values were 2862 and 5998 µg mL-1 for L. alba EO and 0.5 and 1.2 µg mL-1 for gentamicin, respectively. In the in vivo assay silver catfish juveniles (Rhamdia quelen) (7.50 ± 1.85 g and 10.0 ± 1.0 cm) with typical injuries associated to Aeromonas infection were divided into four treatments (in triplicate n=10): untreated fish (negative control), 10 mg L-1 of gentamicin, and 20 or 50 µL L-1 of EO. Fish were maintained in aerated 20 L plastic boxes. After 10 days survival of silver catfish infected with Aermonas sp. and treated with essential oil (50 µL L-1) was greater than 90%.

This study investigated the chemical composition of five different extracts of

RESUMO.-A colibacilose, causada por Escherichia coli, é a enfermidade entérica de maior impacto na produção de suínos, podendo levar à morte do animal. Esta bactéria possui grande capacidade de desenvolver resistência a múltiplos antimicrobianos e a desinfetantes. Desta forma, estudos que abordem mecanismos de resistência e perϐil de amostras de campo tornam-se necessários. E. coli é amplamente utilizada como modelo de estudos que exploram a resistência intrín-seca e extrínseca a multidrogas. Neste trabalho, buscou-se Colibacillosis caused by Escherichia coli is the most important enteric disease in pig production, which may lead to death of the affected animal. The bacterium has a great ability to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics and disinfectants. Thus, investigation addressing mechanisms of resistance and proϐile of ϐield samples is necessary. E. coli is widely used as a model for studies that explore the intrinsic and extrinsic resistance to multidrugs. In this paper, we attempt to associate the susceptibility proϐile of 62 isolates of E. coli to three disinfectants and 13 antimicrobials. Also 31 isolates were tested for the presence of efϐlux mechanism. Of the three disinfectants tested, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride+nonyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanol was the most effective (100%), followed by glutaraldehyde+al kyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (95.2%) and alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (88.8%). Among the antimicrobials tested, there was greater resistance to tetracycline (62.2%) and higher sensitivity to ϐlorfenicol (88.6%). The high sensitivity of the isolates against disinfectants may be related to the absence of efϐlux mechanism. The average index of multiple resistance to antimicrobials was 0.52, what demonstrates a proϐile of multidrug resistant isolates, showing the need for rational use of these drugs in pig production.