RESUMO A geléia real pode conter grãos de pólen e sua presença pode ser usada para determinar a origem fitogeográfica do produto. Este estudo analisou a origem fitogeográfica de amostras comerciais de geléia real do Estado de São Paulo, com registro no Sistema de Inspeção Federal (SIF) brasileiro, que estavam contaminadas com os esporos da bactéria Paenibacillus larvae, causadora da doença Cria Pútrida Americana. Os grãos de pólen de Castanea apresentaram a maior porcentagem total, com menores percentuais de Cirsium/Carduus, Cistus, Parthenocissus, Prunus, Quercus, Robinia, Scrophulariaceae, Taraxacum, Tilia, dentre outros. Este espectro polínico é incompatível com amostras de geléia real produzidas no Brasil. O espectro polínico assemelhou- se ao de um produto importado, compatível com a origem do Hemisfério Norte. A legislação brasileira não exige que a origem fitogeográfica dos produtos apícolas importados seja analisada por procedimentos palinológicos, mas é obrigatório ter um certificado atestando a ausência de patógenos emitido pelo país de origem, monitorado com o objetivo de impedir que doenças exóticas penetrem no Brasil. A palinologia, portanto, provou ser fundamental na detecção de importações desses lotes contaminados.

ABSTRACT Royal jelly may contain pollen grains and their presence can be used to determine the phytogeographical origin of the product. This study analyzed the phytogeographical origin of commercial royal jelly samples from São Paulo State, tested as part of the Brazilian Federal Inspection System (SIF), found to be contaminated with spores of the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, that causes the American Foulbrood Disease. The pollen grains of Castanea had the highest total percentage, with lower percentages of Cirsium/Carduus, Cistus, Parthenocissus, Prunus, Quercus, Robinia, Scrophulariaceae, Taraxacum, Tilia, among others. This pollen spectrum is incompatible with royal jelly samples produced in Brazil. The pollen spectrum resembled that of an imported product, compatible with the Northern Hemisphere origin. Brazilian legislation does not require the phytogeographic origin of imported bee products to be analyzed by palynological procedures, but it is mandatory to have a certificate issued by the country of origin attesting the absence of pathogens, monitored with the objective of preventing the exotic diseases from entering Brazil. Palynology, therefore, proved to be fundamental in detecting imports of this contaminated batches.

OBJECTIVE: To utilize low-cost and simple methods to assess airway and lung inflammation biomarkers related to air pollution. METHODS: A total of 87 male, non-smoking, healthy subjects working as street traffic-controllers or office-workers were examined to determine carbon monoxide in exhaled breath and to measure the pH in nasal lavage fluid and exhaled breath condensate. Air pollution exposure was measured by particulate matter concentration, and data were obtained from fixed monitoring stations (8-h work intervals per day, during the 5 consecutive days prior to the study). RESULTS: Exhaled carbon monoxide was two-fold greater in traffic-controllers than in office-workers. The mean pH values were 8.12 in exhaled breath condensate and 7.99 in nasal lavage fluid in office-workers; these values were lower in traffic-controllers (7.80 and 7.30, respectively). Both groups presented similar cytokines concentrations in both substrates, however, IL-1β and IL-8 were elevated in nasal lavage fluid compared with exhaled breath condensate. The particulate matter concentration was greater at the workplace of traffic-controllers compared with that of office-workers. CONCLUSION: The pH values of nasal lavage fluid and exhaled breath condensate are important, robust, easy to measure and reproducible biomarkers that can be used to monitor occupational exposure to air pollution. Additionally, traffic-controllers are at an increased risk of airway and lung inflammation during their occupational activities compared with office-workers.

Este estudo longitudinal investigou a contribuição de fatores psicossociais para o desempenho em leitura de crianças. Participaram 59 mães e seus filhos aos 4 meses, 2, 5-6 e 9-11 anos. Correlacionou-se o desempenho em leitura das crianças a variáveis psicossociais. Encontrou-se correlações negativas entre morbidade psiquiátrica materna na primeira infância e leitura de palavras irregulares e entre o número de familiares que residiam com a criança aos 2 e 5-6 anos e o desempenho na leitura de palavras. A renda familiar aos 2 anos correlacionou-se positivamente com compreensão textual. Entretanto, apenas o número de familiares que residiam com a criança foi preditor do desempenho em leitura de palavras. Conclui-se que o desempenho em leitura relaciona-se a fatores psicossociais.

This longitudinal study investigated the impact of psychosocial factors on reading performance of children with low socioeconomic status. Fifty nine mothers and their children at 4 months, 2, 5-6 and 9-11 years of age participated. The children's reading performance was correlated with psychosocial variables. Negative correlations were found between maternal psychiatric morbidity in early childhood and reading of irregular words, and between the number of family members living with the child at 2 and 5-6 years and word reading performance. Family income at 2 years correlated positively with reading comprehension. However, only the number of family members who lived with the child was a predictor of reading performance. The results indicate that reading performance is related to psychosocial factors.

A biofuel was prepared from acid aqueous fraction (pH = 2) of bio-oil produced by fast pyrolysis (Bioware Technology) of lignocellulosic biomass (sugar cane residue) and tested in blends (2, 5, 10 e 20% v/v) with gasoline type C (common) marketed in Brazil. The specification tests made in the Refinery President Getúlio Vargas (PETROBRAS) showed increasing in the octane number (MON) and antiknock index (AKI) with reduction in the residue generation during the combustion. The physicochemical characteristics of the biofuel were similar that combustible alcohol allowing its use as gasoline additive.