The objective of this study was to assess the effects of oral ingestion of β-glucans isolated from Saccharomyces cereviseae on the metabolic profile, expression of gingival inflammatory markers and amount of alveolar bone loss in diabetic rats with periodontal disease. Diabetes mellitus was induced in 48 Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (80 mg/kg). After confirming the diabetes diagnosis, the animals were treated with β-glucans (by gavage) for 28 days. On the 14th day of this period, periodontal disease was induced using a ligature protocol. β-glucans reduced the amount of alveolar bone loss in animals with periodontal disease in both the diabetic and non-diabetic groups (p < 0.05). β-glucans reduced blood glucose, cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels in diabetic animals, both with and without periodontal disease (p < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with β-glucans reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand and increased osteoprotegerin expression in animals with diabetes and periodontal disease (p < 0.05). It was concluded that treatment with β-glucans has beneficial metabolic and periodontal effects in diabetic rats with periodontal disease.

This study evaluated the effect of the consumption of different levels and sources of lipids on metabolic parameters of Wistar rats. Animals were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) containing 20% of lard for 12 weeks to cause metabolic obesity. Subsequently, the animals were divided into six groups and were fed diets with lipid concentrations of 5% or 20% of lard (LD), soybean oil (SO) or fish oil (FO), for 4 weeks. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (two-way) followed by Tukey post hoc test (p < 0.05). The groups that consumed FO showed less weight gain and lower serum levels of triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol and fractions, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, atherogenic index, less amount of fat in the carcass, decreased Lee index and lower total leukocyte counting (p < 0.05). These same parameters were higher in LD treatment (p < 0.05). In the concentration of 20%, carcass fat content, blood glucose levels, as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) decreased in FO groups (p < 0.05). The SO group had intermediate results regarding the other two treatments (FO and LD). We concluded that fish oil intake was able to modulate positively the metabolic changes resulting from HFD.

RESUMO.O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o uso de ractopamina em diferentes níveis de inclusão na dieta para suínos em terminação. Foram utilizados 50 suínos híbridos comerciais com peso inicial de 74,08 (1,42) kg, aleatoriamente distribuídos em cinco blocos casualizados. Havia dois animais em cada parcela experimental, macho e fêmea, alimentados com dieta suplementada com ractopamina (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20 ppm) durante 28 dias. Foram avaliados desempenho e características de carcaça dos animais. A ractopamina melhorou o desempenho, espessura de toucinho, profundidade, área de olho de lombo e rendimento de carne na carcaça, porém sem influenciar no consumo de ração, rendimento de cortes e qualidade da barriga. Exceto a dose de 0 ppm, não houve diferença entre as doses de ractopamina utilizadas. O modelo de regressão Linear Response Plateau, aplicado nas variáveis onde houve significância, estimou o ponto ótimo de suplementação deste aditivo entre 4,09 a 5,14 ppm. Houve aumento de 6,09% no índice de bonificação quando foi utilizado o nível de 5 ppm de ractopamina. Conclui-se que a ractopamina é eficaz em melhorar o desempenho e as características de carcaça de suínos em terminação.Palavras-chave: agonista β-adrenérgico, carcaça, desempenho, partidor de nutrientes, qualidade de carne.ABSTRACT. Ractopamine hidrochloride in diets for finishing pigs. The present work was carried out to evaluate different inclusion levels of ractopamine in diets for finishing pigs. Fifty animals with initial weight of 74.08 (1.42) kg selected for high meat deposition were used, randomly allotted in five blocks. Each experimental unit had two animals, barrow and gilt, fed diets with ractopamine (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ppm) for 28 days. Growth performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Ractopamine improved final weight, average daily gain, feed:gain ratio, backfat thickness, loin depth, loin eye area and lean tissue yield, but did not influence feed intake, cut yields and belly quality. No differences were found among the doses of ractopamine utilized. The optimum level of supplementation of this additive, as estimated by the Linear Response Plateau regression model, was between 4.09 and 5.14 ppm. There was an average increase of 6.09% in the bonus index when ractopamine was used. It was concluded that ractopamine is efficient in increasing the performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs.

The probiotic influence on the immune system, especially under pathogenic challenge conditions, still remains controversial. To address this, a systematic review of current studies concerning the efficacy of probiotics on the immune response of rats subjected to experimental challenges was conducted. The survey was conducted using PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Scielo databases. Only studies which tested probiotics in vivo in rats were included. The experimental design, methodological quality, and results of the articles were analyzed. In total 21 articles were selected for this study. The most commonly used microorganisms in the experiments were those of the genus Lactobacillus, which was reported in 12 articles. The second most often used genus was Bifidobacterium (B. animalis and B.longum). In general, the probiotics use against experimental pathogenic challenges was successful: 86% of the selected articles reported a beneficial effect on the immune response associated with the use of probiotics

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of β-glucan on the expression of inflammatory mediators and metabolomic profile of oral cells [keratinocytes (OBA-9) and fibroblasts (HGF-1) in a dual-chamber model] infected by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The periodontopathogen was applied and allowed to cross the top layer of cells (OBA-9) to reach the bottom layer of cells (HGF-1) and induce the synthesis of immune factors and cytokines in the host cells. β-glucan (10 μg/mL or 20 μg/mL) were added, and the transcriptional factors and metabolites produced were quantified in the remaining cell layers and supernatant.ResultsThe relative expression of interleukin (IL)-1-α and IL-18 genes in HGF-1 decreased with 10 μg/mL or 20 μg/mL of β-glucan, where as the expression of PTGS-2 decreased only with 10 μg/mL. The expression of IL-1-α increased with 20 μg/mL and that of IL-18 increased with 10 μg/mL in OBA-9; the expression of BCL 2, EP 300, and PTGS-2 decreased with the higher dose of β-glucan. The production of the metabolite 4-aminobutyric acid presented lower concentrations under 20 μg/mL, whereas the concentrations of 2-deoxytetronic acid NIST and oxalic acid decreased at both concentrations used. Acetophenone, benzoic acid, and pinitol presented reduced concentrations only when treated with 10 μg/mL of β-glucan.ConclusionsTreatment with β-glucans positively modulated the immune response and production of metabolites.