Os ácidos graxos poliinsaturados abrangem as famílias de ácidos graxos ômega-3 e ômega-6. Os ácidos graxos de cadeia muito longa, como os ácidos araquidônico e docosaexaenóico, desempenham importantes funções no desenvolvimento e funcionamento do cérebro e da retina. Esse grupo de ácidos graxos não pode ser obtido pela síntese de novo, mas pode ser sintetizado a partir dos ácidos linoléico e alfa-linolênico presentes na dieta. Neste artigo são considerados os principais fatores que podem inibir a atividade das enzimas dessaturases envolvidas na síntese dos ácidos graxos de cadeia muito longa. São apresentadas as recomendações da razão ômega-6/ômega-3 na dieta, propostas em diversos países, sendo verificada a convergência para o intervalo de 4 a 5:1. São relacionados alimentos que podem contribuir para aumentar a ingestão do ácido alfa-linolênico e dos ácidos graxos de cadeia muito longa. A essencialidade dos ácidos graxos de cadeia muito longa é muito dependente do metabolismo do indivíduo, sendo que a razão n-6/n-3 da dieta exerce grande influência nesse sentido.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) fusion protein vaccine vs. surgical castration on the chemical composition and fatty acid profile of beef cattle (Bos indicus) slaughtered at three years of age. Thirty bulls (Nellore-cross) were divided into three groups: immunized against LHRH fusion protein, castrated or left intact (control). These animals were 24 months old at the initiation of the study and ranged on Brachiaria grass in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Meat of intact bulls presented a lower fat content compared to castrated or surgically castrated animals. For the immunized and surgically castrated animals there were differences in fat and cholesterol concentrations. Although the fatty acid profiles of the three treatments were similar in composition, there were differences in the concentrations of some fatty acids (miristic, C14:0; stearic, C18:0; linolenic, C18:3n-3; and eicosapentaenoic, C22:5n-3). Meat samples of surgically castrated animals had less polyunsaturated (PUFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acids (8.2 and 37.7%, respectively), higher saturated (SFA) fatty acids (52.2%) and a lower PUFA/SFA ratio (0.16) and were different compared to intact and immunized bulls. The PUFA/SFA ratio increased as the fat content decreased. On the other hand, surgically castrated bulls had a higher lipid and lower cholesterol contents. It is concluded that immunization against LHRH using new recombinant LHRH fusion proteins could be an alternative to physical castration to improve carcass quality in cattle production.

In recent decades, the production chain of beef and bovine leather has grown significantly because of an increase in the world's population and improved access to consumption. However, the generation of waste derived from this sector has grown simultaneously, and consequently, improved ways of adding value, reusing, and disposing these waste materials are being sought. In this article, we present a new and innovative composite material based on vulcanized natural rubber (NR), carbon black (CB), and leather waste (NR/CB/leather). The NR/CB/leather composites were prepared by thermal compression with 60 phr of CB and 60 or 80 phr of leather waste. In accordance with Brazilian sanitary laws, we exposed these composites for 24 h to bleach (B) and a disinfectant with the aim of simulating a true everyday cleaning use. The deconvolution of the impedance semicircles was carried out, and two relaxation phenomena around linear relaxation frequencies of about 10 5 and 10 6 Hz were found and associated mainly with charge carriers from CB and leather waste. With the addition of leather, the electrical conductivity of the composites increased two orders of magnitude from 5.70 3 10 26 for the NR/CB to 7.97 3 10 24 S/cm for NR/CB/leather-60 phr B. These results point to the possibility of using these composites as an antistatic flooring once they exhibit acceptable values of electrical conductivity and once they withstand, from the structural, morphological, and electrical point of view, exposure to sanitizing agents. Furthermore, the production of these composites will add value to and enable an environmentally acceptable disposal of leather waste.

In this study the composites which are commonly called NR/CB/Leather were developed in order to apply them as antistatic flooring and coating. They were developed using vulcanized natural rubber, carbon black to add an electric conduction property and industrial leather waste. The leather industrial waste was micronized and added to the rubber matrix in proportions of 60 and 80 phr using an opened mixing cylinder according to ASTM D 3182 standard. The composites were exposed to the sanitizing agents, (i) bleach and (ii) disinfectant, aiming to simulate a real cleaning context, and to meet the health standards of the Brazilian Ministry of health. Physical‐chemical and microbiological evaluations were carried out to determine the structural and chemical stabilities of the composites. After this, low water absorption level (<1.5%), immobilization and low chromium oxide level (<1.5), pH within the neutrality rate and an excellent resistance to microbiological contamination were identified for the composites. Thus, from a physical‐chemical perspective, the composites NR/CB/Leather displayed suitable properties and potential for application as antistatic flooring and coatings. Besides using leather industrial waste in their production, their manufacture can boost this industrial sector economically and, consequently, promote a reduction in environmental impact. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43618.

ObjectiveThere is little evidence of real-life outcomes of dietary supplementation with high-dose docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and carotenoids in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). We assessed the effect of supplementation with DHA triglyceride (1,050 mg/d) + xanthophyll carotenoid multivitamin on macular function in nonproliferative DR.MethodsAsymptomatic patients with nonproliferative DR were included in a prospective controlled study and assigned (1:1) to the DHA supplementation group or the control group. Macular sensitivity and macular integrity area were the main outcome measures. Functional vision measures (macular function [MAIA™ CenterVue], best-corrected visual acuity), structural retinal measures (central subfield macular thickness), and biochemical parameters (plasma total antioxidant capacity, DHA content of the erythrocyte membrane, and plasma IL-6) were evaluated at baseline and after 45 and 90 days of DHA supplementation.ResultsThe study included 24 patients (48 eyes) (12 patients, 24 eyes in each group). Baseline clinical characteristics of patients in both groups were similar. Macular sensitivity increased from a mean (SD) of 25.9 (2.4) dB at baseline to 27.3 (2.3) dB at 90 days (P=0.030) in the DHA group only (between-group differences P<0.19). The macular integrity index decreased from 71.2 (33.2) at baseline to 63.5 (36.4) at 45 days and to 51.6 (35.9) at 90 days (P=0.002) in the DHA group only (between-group differences P<0.05). Best-corrected visual acuity and central subfield macular thickness did not vary significantly in any of the comparisons and in none of the groups. DHA content of erythrocyte membrane and total antioxidant capacity levels increased significantly only in the DHA group. Plasma IL-6 levels decreased significantly only in the DHA group.ConclusionIn an early stage of DR, supplementation with high-dose DHA plus xanthophyll carotenoid multivitamin during 90 days was associated with a progressive and significant improvement of macular function measured by microperimetry. Biochemical changes supported the effect of DHA.

Waste recycling has been the subject of numerous scientific researches regarding the environmental care. This paper reports the redirecting of sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) as new filler to natural rubber (NR/SBA). The NR/ SBA composites were prepared using an opened cylinder mixer to incorporate the vulcanization agents and different proportions of residue (SBA). The ash contains about 70-90% of inorganic compounds, with silica (SiO 2 ) being the main compound. The SBA incorporation improved the mechanical properties of the vulcanized rubber. Based on these results, a new use is proposed for the agro-industry organic waste to be implemented in the rubber vulcanization process, aimed at improving the rubber physical properties as well as decreasing the prices of natural rubber composites.