Previous studies have reported on the glucose and lipid-lowering effects of ferulic acid (FA) but its anti-obesity potential has not yet been firmly established. This study investigated the possible anti-obesitogenic effects of FA in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 15 weeks. To assess the antiobesity potential of FA, 32 male Swiss mice, weighing 20–25 g (n=6–8 per group) were fed a normal diet (ND) or HFD, treated orally or not with either FA (10 mg/kg) or sibutramine (10 mg/kg) for 15 weeks and at the end of this period, the body weights of animals, visceral fat accumulation, plasma levels of glucose and insulin hormone, amylase and lipase activities, the satiety hormones ghrelin and leptin, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCH-1) were analyzed. Results revealed that FA could effectively suppress the HFD-associated increase in visceral fat accumulation, adipocyte size and body weight gain, similar to sibutramine, the positive control. FA also significantly (P<0.05) decreased the HFD-induced elevations in serum lipid profiles, amylase and lipase activities, and the levels of blood glucose and insulin hormone. The markedly elevated leptin and decreased ghrelin levels seen in HFD-fed control mice were significantly (P<0.05) reversed by FA treatment, almost reaching the values seen in ND-fed mice. Furthermore, FA demonstrated significant (P<0.05) inhibition of serum levels of inflammatory mediators TNF-α, and MCH-1. These results suggest that FA could be beneficial in lowering the risk of HFD-induced obesity via modulation of enzymatic, hormonal and inflammatory responses.

ABSTRACT The study aimed at evaluating the effect of litter substrates on the performance, carcass traits, and environmental comfort of red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens). In this experiment, 160 birds, with 100 and 300 days of age, were housed into 20 pens, and distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design into five treatments with four replicates of eight birds each. Treatments consisted of five litter substrates: wood shavings, rice husks, peanut hulls, grass hay, or sand. Feed intake; weight gain; breast, hock, and footpad lesions; back feathering; total meat production; carcass and parts yield; and leukocyte counts were evaluated. Litter substrates were analyzed for dry matter content, standard microbial count, ammonia volatilization potential, water content, water holding capacity, temperature, and radiant heat load. The results showed that litter substrate did not influence the evaluated bird parameters, despite the higher microbial counts and released ammonia values determined in peanut hulls and sand, respectively. Sand also tended to have higher average temperature than the other litter substrates. It was concluded that litter substrate should be chosen at farmer discretion, taking into consideration its cost and utilization after use.

<p>O objetivo com este trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação protéico-energética e diferentes ofertas de forragem (OF) durante o período das águas, sobre o ganho de peso de bovinos da raça Gir manejados em sistema de lotação rotacionada em <italic>Brachiaria brizantha</italic> cv. Marandu. Avaliou-se a disponibilidade e a composição química do capim <italic>Brachiaria brizantha</italic> cv. Marandu. Foram utilizados 24 bovinos da raça Gir com peso médio de 223kg, distribuídos em um delineamento em blocos ao acaso, em parcela subdividida, alocando os tratamentos nas parcelas e os períodos nas subparcelas, com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições. Os tratamentos foram: novilhos sem suplementação (SS) mantidos em pastos com 4,0% do peso corporal (PC) de OF (SS + 4,0% OF); tourinhos suplementados (SO) com concentrado em 0,5% do peso corporal (PC) e 4% do PC de OF (SO + 4,0%OF); tourinhos suplementados com concentrado em 0,5% do PC e 3,5% do PC de OF (SO + 3,5% OF) e tourinhos suplementados com concentrado em 0,5% do PC e 4,5% do PC de OF (SO + 4,5%OF). Foi verificado, durante o período das águas, aumento (P < 0,05) no ganho de peso dos novilhos suplementados (0,848, 0,813 e 0,905kg/dia, respectivamente nos tratamentos SO + 4%OF; SO + 3,5%OF e SO + 4,5%OF) comparado aos novilhos que não receberam suplementação (0,567kg/dia). Os animais do tratamento SO + 4,5%OF apresentaram maior ganho comparados aos do SO + 4%OF e SO + 3,5%OF. Não houve efeito dos tratamentos sobre a composição química da forragem (P>0,05).</p>

<p>This research aimed to evaluate the effect of protein and energy supplementation and different herbage allowances (OF) during the rainy season, on the weight gain of Gir young bulls grazing <italic>Brachiaria brizantha</italic> maintained in a rotational grazing system. Evaluated forage allowance and chemical composition of <italic>Brachiaria brizantha</italic>pasture. We used 24 Gir young bulls with an average weight of 223kg, distributed in a randomized block design in a split plot scheme, treatments was distributed in plots, and periods in subplots, with six replications. Treatments were not supplemented (SS) young bull grazing in pasture with 4.0% of forage allowance (SS + 4% FA); supplementation with 0.5% body weight (SO) and 4.0% of FA (SO + 4.0 % FA); supplementation with 0.5% body weight and 3.5% FA (SO + 3.5% FA) and supplementation with 0.5% body weight and 4.5% FA (SO + 4.5% FA). During the rainy season, the young bulls weight gain increased (P <0.05) in response to supplementation (0.848, 0.813 and 0.905kg/ day), respectively in the animals of the S0 + 4% OF; SO + 3.5 and SO OF% OF + 4.5, compared to those not supplemented (0.567kg/day). Animals of the SO+ 4.5% OF showed higher gain compared to the SO + 4.0% OF and SO + 3.5% OF. Pasture management strategies and supplementation did not affect the forage chemical composition (P>0.05).</p>

Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) is a native bird of the Brazilian fauna and has great potential to become a domesticated species. From this perspective, the objective of this study was to evaluate the carcass and main parts yield and to assess meat quality of that bird. Two trials, one studying stocking density and the other litter materials, lasting 60 days each, were conducted. The studied traits were evaluated in two birds/replicate/treatment. Performance was evaluated by the least square method. The results showed that bird age at slaughter significantly influenced carcass and breast yields (p<0.05). Mean carcass, breast, thighs+drumstick and wing yields were 86.50±2.78%, 32.84±1.50%, 27.71±1.44%, and 13.21±0.94%, respectively. Shear force, pH, water holding capacity, lightness, redness and yellowness means and standard deviations were 1.92±0.98 kgf.cm-2, 6.07±0.12; 70±0.53%, 48.30±0.96, 1.96±1.01, and 1.61±1.0, respectively. Moisture, ash, crude protein, fat, and cholesterol contents were 72.35±0.16%, 1.12±0.06%, 25.53±0.50%, 0.17±0.01%, and 18.87±2.76 mg/10g, respectively. Results showed carcass and parts yields and the physical-chemical traits of tinamou meat are similar to chicken meat; however, tinamou meat is less acidic and has higher protein level combined with less calories and lower cholesterol levels.

FUNDAMENTO: Através de mapeamento espectral-(ME) endocárdico em ritmo sinusal, observam-se dois tipos de miocárdio atrial: o compacto de espectro liso e o fibrilar de espectro segmentado ("Ninho de FA" [NFA]). Durante a FA o compacto tem ativação organizada e baixa freqüência (passivo) enquanto o fibrilar apresenta ativação bastante desorganizada e alta freqüência (ativo/ressonante) sendo ambos ativados por uma taquicardia protegida de alta freqüência, taquicardia de background (TB). OBJETIVO: Descrever o tratamento da FA pela ablação dos NFA e da TB. MÉTODOS: 1) Ablação por cateter-RF [4/8mm-60º/30-40J/30s] dos NFA guiada por ME em ritmo sinusal, fora das veias pulmonares; 2) Estimulação atrial-300ppm; 3) Ablação adicional de NFA se induzida FA; 4) Ablação focal se induzida TB e/ou Flutter; 5) Seguimento clínico+ECG+Holter. RESULTADOS: Foram tratados 50±18 NFA/paciente. Após 11,3±8m 81p (88%) estavam sem FA (28,3% com antiarrítmico). Após a ablação dos NFA: a FA não foi reinduzida em 61p(71%); TB foi induzida e tratada em 24p(26%). Ocorreram 2 sangramentos pericárdicos (1 tratado clinicamente e 1 cirurgicamente) ocasionados por bainhas não mais utilizadas. CONCLUSÃO: O ME em ritmo sinusal ablaciona os NFA. Durante a FA os NFA apresentam um padrão reativo-ressonante e o miocárdio compacto apresenta-se passivo, estimulados pela alta freqüência da TB. Após a ablação dos NFA e da TB não foi possível reinduzir FA sustentada. A ablação dos NFA fora das VP se mostrou segura e altamente eficiente para a cura e/ou o controle clínico da FA.

BACKGROUND: Two types of myocardia can be observed through the endocardial spectral mapping (SM) in sinus rhythm: the compact type with a smooth spectrum and the fibrillar type with a segmented spectrum (atrial fibrillation nests). During the atrial fibrillation (AF), the compact type has an organized activation and low frequency (passive), whereas the fibrillar type has a rather disorganized activation and high frequency (active/resonant), with both being activated by high-frequency sustained tachycardia - the background tachycardia (BT). OBJECTIVE: To describe the treatment of AF by the ablation of the AF nests and BT. METHODS: 1) Catheter ablation of the AF nests with RF [4/8mm-60º/30-40J/30s] guided by SM in sinus rhythm, outside the pulmonary vein; 2) atrial stimulation -300ppm; 3) Additional ablation of the AF nests if AF is induced; 4) Focal ablation if BT and/or Flutter is induced; 5)Clinical follow-up+ ECG+ Holter. RESULTS: A total of 50±18 AF nests/patient were treated. After 11.3±8m, 81 patients (88%) did not present AF (28.3% with antiarrhythmic drugs). After the ablation of the AF nests, AF was not reinduced in 61 patients (71%) and BT was induced and treated in 24 patients (26%). There were two episodes of pericardial bleeding (1 treated clinically and 1 surgically), caused by sheaths that are no longer used CONCLUSION: The SM in sinus rhythm can be used in the ablation of AF nests. During the AF, the AF nests present a reactive-resonant pattern and the compact myocardium is passive, stimulated by the high frequency of the BT. After the ablation of the AF nests and the BT, it was not possible to reinduce the sustained AF. The Ablation of AF nests outside the pulmonary veins showed to be safe and highly effective in the cure and/or clinical control of the AF.