Subjects with chronic liver disease are susceptible to hypovitaminosis A due to several factors. Therefore, identifying patients with vitamin deficiency and a requirement for vitamin supplementation is important. Most studies assessing vitamin A in the context of hepatic disorders are conducted using cirrhotic patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 43 non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C to evaluate markers of vitamin A status represented by serum retinol, liver retinol, and serum retinol-binding protein levels. We also performed the relative dose-response test, which provides an indirect estimate of hepatic vitamin A reserves. These vitamin A indicators were assessed according to the stage of liver fibrosis using the METAVIR score and the body mass index. The sample study was predominantly composed of male subjects (63%) with mild liver fibrosis (F1). The relative dose-response test was <20% in all subjects, indicating vitamin A sufficiency. Overweight or obese patients had higher serum retinol levels than those with a normal body mass index (2.6 and 1.9 µmol/L, respectively; P<0.01). Subjects with moderate liver fibrosis (F2) showed lower levels of serum retinol (1.9 vs 2.5 µmol/L, P=0.01) and retinol-binding protein levels compared with those with mild fibrosis (F1) (46.3 vs 67.7 µg/mL, P<0.01). These results suggested an effect of being overweight on serum retinol levels. Furthermore, more advanced stages of liver fibrosis were related to a decrease in serum vitamin A levels.

Os efeitos da suplementação de colina em dietas para poedeiras (Dekalb White) foram avaliados nas fases de cria/recria e de postura. O delineamento foi em esquema fatorial 2x5 (duas suplementações de colina de uma a 16 semanas de idade x cinco níveis de colina suplementada de 18 a 44 semanas de idade). Os níveis de colina utilizados foram 0, 200, 400, 600 e 800mg/kg para cada grupo. A suplementação de colina em frangas com uma a 16 semanas de idade não afeta o desempenho nem as características macroscópicas e histopatológicas dos fígados durante essa fase. Os efeitos dos níveis de suplementação de colina sobre o desempenho das galinhas na fase de postura dependem da suplementação ou não dessa vitamina nas fases de cria/recria; ou seja, as aves que recebem suplemento de colina nessas fases apresentam maior exigência no período de postura.

The effects of choline supplementation in diets for laying hens (Dekalb White) were evaluated from 1 to 44 weeks-old. The experimental design was a 2x5 factorial arrangement (two choline supplementations from one to 16 weeks of age - with and without choline supplementation vs. five levels of choline supplementation from 18 to 44 weeks old. The choline level used in the diet for each group was 0, 200, 400, 600 and 800mg/kg). Choline supplementation used in birds with 1 to 16 weeks of age does not affect the performance of pullets and no gross and histological changes were observed in the liver during this phase. The effects of the choline supplementation levels in the laying phase on the hens' performance depend on the supplementation with this vitamin from 1 to 16 weeks old. The results of the experiment showed that birds reared for laying need a higher level of choline supplementation from 1 to 16 weeks old or birds reared for laying receiving higher levels of choline supplementation during 1 to 16 weeks old will need a higher level of choline supplementation in the laying phase.

O presente experimento foi conduzido em lote de matrizes Cobb desde 46 até 60 semanas de idade. Os tratamentos foram definidos pelas dietas (com e sem adição de 6ppm de cantaxantina na dieta das matrizes) e pelos períodos de armazenamento dos ovos (três e sete dias), em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 2x2 (duas dietas x dois períodos de armazenamento). A cantaxantina dietética elevou o escore de cor da gema de sete para 14. O armazenamento dos ovos por sete dias prejudicou a qualidade dos ovos, promoveu oxidação de ácidos graxos da gema e retardou o desenvolvimento embrionário.

This trial was done with Cobb broiler breeders. Treatments were defined by the diets (with and without 6ppm canthaxanthin added to broiler breeder diets) and periods of egg storage (three and seven days) in a completely randomized factorial 2 x 2 design (two diets x two periods of egg storage). The dietary canthaxanthin increased the yolk color score from 7 to 14. Egg storage for seven days reduced egg quality, promoted oxidation of yolk fatty acids and delayed embryonic development.

Foram avaliados os efeitos da suplementação de colina em dietas para frangos de corte sobre o desempenho produtivo e a composição da carcaça e do fígado e sobre as características macroscópicas e histopatólogicas do fígado na fase inicial de criação. Os tratamentos foram definidos pela suplementação de colina - zero, 100, 200, 300 e 400mg de colina/kg de ração, durante o período de criação de um a 21 dias de idade. As dietas experimentais, formuladas à base de milho, farelo de soja e farinha de carne, foram isonutritivas, com exceção dos níveis de colina. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente ao acaso, e a estimativa da suplementação de colina foi avaliada pelos modelos de regressão. A suplementação de colina apresentou efeito linear significativo para conversão alimentar, e as demais características avaliadas não foram influenciadas pela suplementação. A suplementação de 400mg colina/kg de ração melhora a conversão alimentar de frangos de corte aos 21 dias de idade.

The effects of supplemental levels of choline on performance, carcass composition and gross and histopatology characteristics of the livers in the initial phase in diets for broiler chickens were evaluated. The treatments were defined by the levels of choline supplementation (zero, 100, 200, 300 and 400mg choline/kg diet). The period of creation was one to 21 days-old. Diets formulated based on corn, soybean meal and meat meal are constituted by isonutrient except the levels of choline. The experimental design was completely randomized and the estimation of choline supplementation was evaluated by regression models. The levels of choline supplementation showed a significant linear effect for the F test (P<0.05). Values for feed and other parameters were not influenced by supplementation (P>0.05). The supplementation of 400 mg choline/kg diet improves feed conversion of broilers at 21 days old.

O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso para avaliar os efeitos de diferentes teores de glicina + serina (gli+ser) total em dietas de baixa proteína bruta (PB) sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça de frangos de corte de 22 a 35 dias de idade. Foram utilizadas 750 aves distribuídas em cinco tratamentos, cinco repetições e 30 aves por unidade experimental. As aves foram alimentadas até os 21 dias com uma dieta comum de acordo com as exigências. A partir do 21º dia, as dietas utilizadas continham 17% de PB e níveis de gli+ser de 1,50; 1,75; 2,00 e 2,25%; a dieta-controle continha 21% de PB. O teor de gli+ser teve efeito linear sobre a conversão alimentar e não sobre as demais variáveis de desempenho. Não houve efeito de tratamento sobre os rendimentos de carcaça e cortes. Houve efeito linear decrescente do teor de gli+ser sobre a matéria seca da carcaça.

A completely randomized experimental design was carried out to evaluate the effects of total glycine+serine (gly+ser) levels in low crude protein (CP) diets on performance and body composition of male broiler from 22 to 35 days of age (growing phase). A total of 750 broilers were randomly allotted to five treatments and five replicates of 30 chickens per replication. The birds were fed from 1 to 21 days of age, a common diet formulated to meet bird requirements in all nutrients. From 21 days the diets contained 17% CP and gly+ser levels of 1.50; 1.75; 2.00 and 2.25%; and a control diet with 21%CP. The gly+ser levels showed linear effect on feed: weight gain ratio during the growing phase. There was no effect of gly+ser level on carcass or main carcass part yields. Increasing levels of gly+ser decreased linearly the carcass dry matter content.

In 2000, Enterococcus faecalis resistant to vancomycin was first reported at a tertiary hospital in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. The resistance spread to other hospitals and surveillance programs were established by hospital infection committees to prevent the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. In February 2002, an isolate initially identified at the genus level as Enterococcus was obtained by surveillance culture (rectal swab) from a patient admitted to a hospital for treatment of septic arthritis in the shoulder. The isolate proved to be resistant to vancomycin by the disc diffusion method and confirmed by an E-test resulting in a minimal inhibitory concentration of > or = 256 µg/ml. This isolate was sent to a reference laboratory (Laboratório Especial de Bacteriologia e Epidemiologia Molecular, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, USP) for further study and proved to be an E. gallinarum by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers for the species. Due to the phenotype of unusually high vancomycin resistance, the isolate presumably had the resistance genes (vanA and vanB) and this was confirmed by PCR, which indicated the presence of the vanA gene. A 10.8-kb Tn1546-related transposon was also identified by long-PCR. Interspecies transfer of the vancomycin-resistance gene from the donor E. gallinarum was performed in a successful conjugation experiment in vitro, using E. faecium GE-1 and E. faecalis JH22 as receptors. This is the first report of the detection of a vanA determinant naturally acquired by E. gallinarum in Brazil, indicating the importance of characterizing VRE by both phenotype and genotype methods.