The importance of bushmeat as source of food and medicine for forest peoples calls for an appropriate benefit/risk analysis in terms of human health. In this systematic review, we compiled information on the linkages between bushmeat and health, with a particular focus on the nutritional content, the zoo-therapeutic uses and the zoonotic pool of bushmeat species in tropical and sub-tropical forest regions. Despite the scarcity of data on the nutritional content of most common bushmeat species, the available studies demonstrate that bushmeat is an important source of fats, micro and macro-nutrients and has a diversity of medicinal uses. However, bushmeat may have detrimental health impacts where hunting, transportation, handling and cooking practices do not follow food safety practices. There is evidence that some bushmeat carcasses may be contaminated by toxic metals or by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Moreover, several pathogens carried by bushmeat are found to be zoonotic and potentially transmissible to humans through consumption or through exposure to body fluids and feces. We stress the need for more in-depth studies on the complex links between bushmeat and human health. The development of innovative handling, conservation and cooking practices, adapted to each socio-cultural context, should help reduce the negative impacts of bushmeat consumption on human health.

ABSTRACT. Most bushmeat studies in the Amazon region focus on hunting patterns of indigenous populations in rural settings. Our study describes the existence of urban hunters in medium-sized towns. Using a variety of data collection methods, we describe the main socioeconomic characteristics of urban hunters in Benjamin Constant and Atalaia do Norte, Brazil. We analyze the patterns and motivations of urban hunters as well as the type of prey harvested and quantities traded. All interviewed hunters are caboclos, people of mixed Brazilian indigenous and European origins from rural areas who now live in urban and peri-urban areas. Living in these more populated spaces allows these hunters better market options for their harvest and allows them to alternate hunting with other economic activities. Only 29% of the interviewed hunters relied solely on hunting. In total, 11.6 tons of bushmeat were harvested (of which 97% was traded) by four hunters during the monitoring period (60 days). The most hunted species were terecay (Podocnemis unifilis), curassow (Crax sp.), paca (Cuniculus paca), and tapir (Tapirus terrestris). The ratio of bushmeat sold to that consumed, as well as the level of participation in the bushmeat market chain, allowed us to differentiate between specialized and diversified hunters. Specialized hunters sell 81% of the bushmeat caught to known wholesalers in the city. Diversified hunters sell 21% of their total catch to families, neighbors, or friends directly as fresh meat, avoiding intermediaries. For all hunters, hunting localities are associated with peri-urban roadways that are easily reached by motorbike or bicycle from the hunters' houses in the urban areas or city fringes. Our results show that urban hunters in medium-sized towns exemplify how traditional hunting systems can be adapted in the face of globalization, by living close to the market, at relatively manageable distances from hunting grounds, and using modern methods of transportation and communication to bypass law enforcement.

The inhibitory effects of a standarized apple peel polyphenol-rich extract (APPE) against Helicobacter pylori infection and vacuolating bacterial toxin (VacA) induced vacuolation were investigated. Apple peel polyphenols significantly prevented vacuolation in HeLa cells with an IC(50) value of 390 microg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mL. APPE also displayed an in vitro antiadhesive effect against H. pylori. A significant inhibition was observed with a 20-60% reduction of H. pylori attachment at concentrations between 0.250 and 5 mg of GAE/mL. In a short-term infection model (C57BL6/J mice), two levels of APPE doses (150 and 300 mg/kg/day) showed an inhibitory effect on H. pylori attachment. Orally administered apple peel polyphenols also showed an anti-inflammatory effect on H. pylori-associated gastritis, lowering malondialdehyde levels and gastritis scores.

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In this work a short term load forecasting model and the proceeding for its application in real time are described. It is being used successfully in the Central Region Control Center in Red ElCctrica de Espaa.The model is based on Time Series Analysis Methodology and includes the action of meteorology as an explanatory variable. Information about the influence of meteorology on hourly electrical load is given to the model as an explanatory variable by using the daily electrical load forecast. This is chosen as the explanatory variable because it can be considered as the most efficient and simple way to estimate the influence of meteorology in every hour of the day. The use of the model in a Real Time Control System is also explained in this work.