RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a composição nutricional, atividade antioxidante e teor de compostos fenólicos totais de farinhas de batata-doce de diferentes cultivares: batata-doce Beauregard (FB) e batata-doce comum, cv. Brazlândia Rosada (FC). Foram realizadas as análises de lipídeos, proteínas, umidade, carboidratos, pH, acidez titulável, fibras, cinzas, ferro, zinco, betacaroteno, vitamina A e determinação do valor calórico. Também foram determinadas a atividade antioxidante, pelos métodos DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazil), ABTS (2,2-azinobis (3-etilbenzotiazolina-6-ácido sulfônico) e FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), e compostos fenólicos totais. A FC apresentou maiores teores de carboidratos, cinzas, fibras, pH e atividade antioxidante pelo método ABTS. Os teores de proteínas e zinco foram semelhantes entre as duas farinhas. A FB apresentou maiores teores de umidade, valor calórico, lipídeos, ferro, capacidade sequestradora de radicais DPPH e atividade antioxidante pelo método FRAP, compostos fenólicos totais, conteúdo de betacaroteno e vitamina A. Os dados revelaram uma boa composição nutricional para ambas as farinhas analisadas. O destaque para a farinha da batata-doce Beauregard é maior em relação ao seu teor de betacaroteno e ferro. Sendo a farinha obtida pela batata-doce Beauregard uma boa fonte de pró-vitamina A, além de ser fonte de fibras.

ABSTRACT: This research determined the nutritional composition, antioxidant activity and total phenolic compound content of sweet potato flour from different cultivars: Beauregard cv. sweet potato (BF) and the common sweet potato Brazlândia Rosada cv. (CF). Total lipids, proteins, moisture, carbohydrates, pH, titratable acidity, fiber, ash, iron, zinc, beta-carotene, vitamin A and determination of caloric value were analyzed. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds were also determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) methods. CF showed higher levels of carbohydrates, ash, fiber, pH and antioxidant activity by the ABTS method. Protein and zinc contents were similar between the two flours. BF had higher moisture content, caloric value, lipids, iron, DPPH radical scavenging capacity and antioxidant activity by the FRAP method, as well as total phenolic compounds, beta-carotene and vitamin A content. The data revealed good nutritional composition for both analyzed flours. The Beauregard flour can be highlightedregarding its higher beta-carotene and iron content. Moreover, the Beauregard sweet potato flour is a good source of provitamin A, in addition to being a source of fiber.

Abstract The spittlebugs Mahanarva spectabilis economically challenges cattle production of neotropical regions, due to its voracious feeding on tropical grasses. Here, we evaluated biochemical responses of the interaction between M. spectabilis and the widely cultivated tropical grasses Brachiaria spp. (i.e., brizantha and decumbens) and elephant grasses (cvs. Roxo de Botucatu and Pioneiro), regarding lipoxygenases, protease inhibitors, phytohormones, and proteolytic activities in the midgut of M. spectabilis. The M. spectabilis-infested grasses increased lipoxygenases activity, except for cv. Pioneiro. The levels of the phytohormones jasmonic and abscisic acids were similarly low in all genotypes and increased under herbivory. Furthermore, salicylic acid concentration was constitutively higher in Brachiaria sp., increasing only in spittlebug-infested B. decumbens. M. spectabilis infestations did not induce increases of protease inhibitors in any forage grass type. The trypsin activity remained unaltered, and the total proteolytic activity increased only in B. decumbens-fed insects. Our findings revealed that most forage grasses exposed to spittlebugs activate the lipoxygenases pathway, resulting in increased abscisic and jasmonic acids. However, greater amounts of these hormones do not induce protease inhibitory activity in response to spittlebug attack. This knowledge certainly helps to guide future projects aiming at reducing the impact of spittlebugs on forage production.

Objective: Amantadine blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and has dopaminergic and noradrenergic action, a neurochemical profile that suggests its potential as an antidepressant drug. We conducted a systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies addressing the effects of amantadine in animal models of depression and in patients with depression. Methods: PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science were searched up to September 1, 2017 to identify clinical and preclinical studies. The following search terms were used: “amantadine AND depress*”; “amantadine AND mood”; “amantadine AND animal models AND antidepres*”; and “amantadine AND (forced swim, learned helplessness, reserpine, chronic mild stress, anhedonia, sucrose preference).” Results: Amantadine had antidepressant-like effects in animal models and appeared to potentiate the antidepressant effects of other antidepressants. These preclinical findings have received some support from the results of small open-label clinical trials, suggesting that amantadine can reduce depressive symptomatology and potentiate the antidepressant effects of monoaminergic drugs. In addition to its glutamatergic and dopaminergic effects, the potential antidepressant-like effects of amantadine have been linked to molecular and cellular actions, such as increased expression of neurotrophic factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor), activation of σ1 receptors, decreased corticosterone levels, and decreased inflammatory response to stress. Conclusion: Amantadine is an interesting candidate as new antidepressant drug for the treatment of depression.

No semiárido brasileiro a falta de água de boa qualidade tem justificado o desenvolvimento de pesquisas científicas no aproveitamento de águas salobras. No presente trabalho avaliaram-se os efeitos de águas salobras em relação ao crescimento e à produção de plantas de manjericão em hidroponia, de outubro a novembro de 2012. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro níveis de salinidade da água (1,45; 3,80; 6,08 e 8,48 dS m-1) obtidos pela adição de NaCl à água doce local, de um tratamento controle com essa água doce (0,29 dS m-1) e de um rejeito de osmose reversa (8,39 dS m-1) de um município do semiárido. Foram usadas 36 parcelas experimentais aleatorizadas em seis blocos. Os dados foram analisados mediante análise de variância e de regressão. Houve redução linear da produção de massa de matéria fresca e seca da parte aérea (MFPA e MSPA), com o aumento da salinidade, de 7,86 e 6,76% por acréscimo unitário na condutividade elétrica da água (dS m-1), respectivamente; não ocorreu diferença entre águas isosmóticas de NaCl e rejeito de dessalinização em referência à produção de MFPA. A altura de planta e a taxa de crescimento não indicaram a influência da salinidade no manjericão. As águas salobras não produziram sintomas depreciativos nas plantas.

The scarcity of good quality water in the Brazilian semiarid region has justified the growth of scientific researches on the use of brackish water. In the present study the effects of brackish water on growth and production of basil plants were evaluated in hydroponic system during October-November 2012. The treatments consisted of four levels of salinity (1.45, 3.80; 6.08 and 8.48 dS m-1) obtained by adding NaCl to the local fresh water, a control prepared with the fresh water (EC=0.29 dS m-1) and a reverse osmosis reject (EC=8.39 dS m-1) of a municipality in the semiarid region. Thirty six plots were randomized into six blocks. Data were analysed by analysis of variance and regression. There was a linear reduction in the production of fresh and dry matter of shoots (FMS and DMS) with increase in salinity, corresponding to respectively, 7.86 and 6.76% with per unit increase in electrical conductivity (dS m-1); there was no difference between NaCl and isosmotic water of desalination reject in reference to the production of FMS. The plant height and growth rate did not indicate the influence of salinity on basil. The brackish waters produced no damage symptoms in plants.

Objetivou-se avaliar, neste trabalho, os efeitos da irrigação com água de esgoto doméstico sobre as variáveis de crescimento e produtividade da mamoneira, genótipo EBDA MPB 01, em condições de campo. A pesquisa foi realizada no período de dezembro de 2009 a junho 2010, na Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Campus de Cruz das Almas. Foram estudadas quatro diferentes proporções de diluição de esgoto doméstico tratado em comparação com o tratamento testemunha (adubação e irrigação convencional), da seguinte forma: T1 - 100% do efluente tratado; T2 - 75% do efluente tratado mais 25% de água de poço artesiano; T3 - 50% do efluente tratado mais 50% de água de poço artesiano; T4 - 25% do efluente tratado mais 75% de água de poço artesiano e T5 - manejo convencional (adubação química e irrigação suplementar com água de poço artesiano). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados (DBC) com quatro blocos cada tratamento, constituindo de 20 parcelas experimentais. A produtividade da mamoneira não apresentou diferença estatística entre os tratamentos. O uso de água residuária de esgoto doméstico na cultura da mamoneira, não afetou as variáveis de crescimento analisadas.

The effects of the irrigation with domestic wastewater effluent on the growth variables and the productivity of castor bean, genotyps EBDA MPB 01, were evaluated under field conditions. The research was carried out from December 2009 to June 2010, at UFRB experimental area, in Cruz das Almas, BA. Four different proportions of dilution of domestic wastewater effluent in comparison with the conventional treatment were studied, in the following way: T1 - 100% of the treated effluent; T2 - 75% of the effluent +25% of artesian well water; T3 - 50% of the efluent +50% of artesian well water; T4 - 25% of the effluent +75% of artesian well water; T5 - conventional treatment (chemical fertilization and supplementary irrigation with water of artesian well). A randomized block design was used with four replications, totaling 20 experimental units. The productivity of the castor been did not show statistical differences among the treatments. The use of wastewater in castor been crop did not affect the growth variables analyzed.

Paciente do sexo feminino, com 31 anos, procedente da Paraíba, apresentava envolvimento severo de ambos os globos oculares, com perda da visão à esquerda, comprometimento da audição e das meninges. Após enucleação do olho esquerdo fragmento de helminto identificado como Lagochilascaris minor foi observado em processo inflamatório granulomatoso. Inicialmente a paciente foi tratada com levamisol e cambendazol, com bom resultado. Verificou-se, todavia, piora do quadro após cinco meses, com eliminação de larvas do ascarídeo em lesão presente na órbita esquerda, embora a medicação fosse mantida com administração periódica. Houve boa resposta terapêutica, com regressão do quadro, após substituição dos anti-helmínticos anteriores pela associação ivermectina e albendazol.

A case report of a 31 year-old woman from Paraíba State (North-Eastern Brazil) that presented severe involvement of ocular globes, ears and meninges. Diagnosis was established after enucleation of her left eye, when adult worms were seen in the midst of a granulomatous inflammatory process. Her response to the initial treatment with levamisole and cambendazole was good, but there was a relapse after the fifth month of treatment even with maintenance doses of both medications. She later received ivermectin and albendazol and responded well.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a dietilpropiona (DEP), um derivado fenetilamínico utilizado como anorexígeno, e dietas de diferentes densidades calóricas, utilizando ratos de ambos os sexos. O experimento contou com 72 ratos Wistar distribuídos por sexo, bloqueados por peso inicial e alocados dois a dois em 36 gaiolas experimentais. As dietas e a água foram fornecidas ad libitum e atenderam a todas as exigências dos animais, sendo que a dieta de alta energia continha 3.700kcal de energia metabolizável (EM)/kg, a média 3.350kcal EM/kg e a baixa 3.000kcal EM/kg de ração. A droga foi administrada com uma dose diária de 20mg/kg, durante 36 dias, por via intraperitonial. A análise estatística considerou os efeitos da droga, energia da dieta, sexo, triplicata e a interação entre essas variáveis. Os resultados mostraram que houve interação entre dieta e droga (p<0,0195) e que o uso da droga diminuiu o consumo alimentar apenas em dietas de baixa e média energias. A interação entre sexo e droga (p<0,0253) mostrou que a droga reduziu o ganho de peso em ambos os sexos. Concluiu-se que a DEP reduziu o ganho de peso dos machos e das fêmeas, com redução de gordura depositada em ambos os sexos, sendo que as percentagens de deposição de gordura foram maiores nas fêmeas do que nos machos, os quais depositaram mais proteína. A DEP foi responsável pela redução no consumo de dietas de baixa e média energia metabolizável, não havendo efeito em dietas de alta energia.

This aim of this work is to evaluate diethylpropion (DEP), a phenethylamine like drug used as an anorectic, and different caloric density diets using rats of both sexes. The experiment used 72 Wistar rats distributed by sex blocked by initial weight and separated two by two in 36 experimental cages. The diets and water were permitted ad libitum and attended to animal needs. The high-energy diet had 3,700kcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/kg, the medium energy diet had 3,359kcal ME/kg and the low energy diet had 3,000kcal ME/kg of feed. The drug was administered intraperitonealy daily during 36 days. The statistical analysis considered the effects of the drug, energy of the diet, sex, replicates and the interaction between these factors. There was an interaction between diet and drug (p<0.0195) and the use of the drug reduced only the food intake of low and medium energy diets. An interaction between sex and drug (p<0.0253) showed that the weight gain was reduced in both sexes. We conclude that DEP reduces the weight gain in male and in female rats, with a reduction in fat deposition in both sexes. The percentages of fat reduction were higher on females than on males while the latter had higher deposition of protein on the carcass. DEP was responsible for a reduction on food intake of low and medium energy diets, having no effect on the high energy diet.