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Nowadays, consumers demand high quality food products with an extended shelf-life without chemical additives. Edible coatings (EC) containing natural compounds are a promising preservation technology for raw seafood without compromising fresh-like appeal and nutritional content. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Thunnus obesus skin gelatin-based EC containing Codium spp. or Fucus vesiculosus extracts on raw tuna preservation. Three gelatin-based EC (gelatin (5 %) + glycerol (25 %); gelatin (5 %) + Codium spp. (1 %) + glycerol (25 %); gelatin (5 %) + Fucus vesiculosus (1 %) + glycerol (25 %)) were applied directly on the surface of tuna fillets. Functional properties of gelatin and gelatin-based EC containing seaweed extracts were also studied. The gelatin was extracted by an acid-swelling process in the presence/absence of pepsin, followed by subsequent heating/refrigeration, after a pre-treatment with NaOH. The type of acid, temperature and concentration of NaOH greatly influence the process yield. The higher extraction yield was achieved using acetic acid in the presence of pepsin by subsequent refrigeration, especially when skins were previously treated with NaOH (0.2 M). Tuna quality was assessed over 12 days of storage at 4 ± 1 °C in terms of chemical and microbial indices. Results showed that tuna skin gelatin-based EC avoids tuna deterioration. Microbial growth, assessed by total viable counts, and total volatile basic nitrogen were maintained below the maximum limits recommended, contrarily to the control. Additionally, the use of EC increased the stability of red colour during storage.

AbstractBackground: Iron deficiency is one of the leading causes of anaemia, with those most affected being children and women of childbearing age, in Brazil there is a scarcity of studies involving the local prevalence of anaemia. Aim: To evaluate anaemia and associated factors in schoolchildren in Santa Cruz do Sul through the analysis of biochemical and haematological markers and parasitological examination of faeces. Subjects and methods: School children from 10 to 12 years of age were evaluated through complete blood count, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein and stool parasitological examination, as well as socio-demographic characteristics and prophylaxis with ferrous sulphate in childhood. Results: It was found that 13.0% of the population was anaemic, girls were very slightly overrepresented among the anaemic children. Only 5.3% had altered haematocrit levels; 26.6% had low Mean Corpuscular Volume levels; 18.4% had low ferritin levels; 2.4% had increased C-reactive protein levels, and 21.7% had altered eosinophils. As for the socioeconomic level, classes A2 and D presented lower haemoglobin levels, as well as class D presenting lower ferritin levels, although without statistical significance. Only 6.0% of the population presented iron-deficiency anaemia and 46.0% of the schoolchildren had used ferrous sulphate supplementation in childhood. Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in the studied municipality is low, probably due to the high municipal human development index. Epidemiological studies are essential to characterise the population in a systematic form, to prevent future problems.

Infectious diseases continue to be a major public health problem and consequently there is perpetual need for new drugs. In this current study, the antimicrobial potential of isolated fractions from Bifurcaria bifurcata collected in Peniche coast was evaluated. Nine fractions of Bifurcaria bifurcata dichloromethane extracts were produced by Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC) using cyclohexane with increasing amounts of 10% of ethyl acetate. All of the VLC fractions were tested against four microorganisms, namely Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 12600), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633). Ampicillin, Chloramphenicol and Amphotericin B was used as positive control. In antimicrobial assays, the F4 fraction showed the best result with IC50 38.28 µg/ml (20.18-72.60) against B. subtilis growth. In same microorganism, the fractions F2 (IC50:183.1 µg/ml (110.5-305.6)), F3 (IC50: 71.56 µg/ml (48.10-106.4)) and F5 ((IC50: 95.23 µg/ml (60.02-151.1)) also inhibited the B. subtilis growth. The fractions F3 (IC50: 184.3 µg/ml (94.82-358.1)), F4 (IC50: 113.5 µg/ml (67.76-190.0)) and F5 (IC50: 439.6 µg/ml (249.4-774.8)) exhibited the highest activity against S. aureus. The fractions F3 and F4 inhibited the C. albicans growth with IC50 of 285.2 µg/ml (146.1-557.1) and 133.6 µg/ml (66.73-267.5), respectively. By contrast, all fractions need more than 1mg/ml to inhibit 50% of E. coli growth. In conclusion, the Bifurcaria bifurcata fractions, collected in Peniche, can be used as source of molecules with a great antimicrobial activity.

ABSTRACT The indiscriminate use of carbapenems in the fight against multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria leads to the emergence of resistance to these antimicrobial agents. We examine the in vitro activity of carbapenems and tigecycline against ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolated in a single hospital at two different periods eight years apart. Overall resistance to carbapenems ranged from 18.7% in 2007 to 19.1% in 2015/2016. We found no isolates resistant to tigecycline, but two intermediary profiles in the 2015/2016 period. Tigecycline is an important option for treating multidrug resistant Gram-negative infections and helps in the fight against global dissemination of resistance to carbapenems.

Justificativa e objetivos: O estresse ocupacional pode estar relacionado ao surgimento de doenças físicas e psíquicas. Objetiva-se avaliar a associação dos aspectos psicossociais do trabalho, de acordo com o Modelo Demanda-Controle, com a ocorrência de transtornos mentais entre os trabalhadores das Estratégias de Saúde da Família em Santa Cruz do Sul, RS. Métodos: estudo com abordagem epidemiológica, de corte transversal e quantitativo. A população alvo do estudo foi constituída por 89 profissionais, entre médicos, enfermeiros, técnicos/auxiliares de enfermagem (TE) e agentes comunitários de saúde, pertencentes às equipes das 11 Estratégias de Saúde da Família do município de Santa Cruz do Sul. Utilizou-se um questionário contendo questões sociodemográficas, ocupacionais e outras pertencentes à Job Stress Scale e ao Self Reporting Questionnaire. Resultados: Constatou-se que 30,1% dos profissionais apresentavam alta demanda e baixo controle sobre o trabalho, resultando em alta exposição ao desenvolvimento de estresse ocupacional. A prevalência de transtorno mental comum nos profissionais submetidos ao trabalho de alta exigência foi de 38%. Conclusão: Frente a esses resultados preocupantes faz-se necessário que se tomem atitudes visando a prevenção ou redução do estresse laboral e do adoecimento no trabalho. DESCRITORES: Estresse Psicológico. Saúde do Trabalhador. Saúde Mental. Atenção Primária à Saúde.

ABSTRACT The yeast-like pathogen Cryptococcus gattii is an etiological agent of cryptococcosis. The major cryptococcal virulence factor is the polysaccharide capsule, which is composed of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), galactoxylomannan (GalXM), and mannoproteins (MPs). The GXM and GalXM polysaccharides have been extensively characterized; however, there is little information about the role of mannoproteins in capsule assembly and their participation in yeast pathogenicity. The present study characterized the function of a predicted mannoprotein from C. gattii, designated Krp1. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutants were generated, and phenotypes associated with the capsular architecture were evaluated. The null mutant cells were more sensitive to a cell wall stressor that disrupts beta-glucan synthesis. Also, these cells displayed increased GXM release to the culture supernatant than the wild-type strain did. The loss of Krp1 influenced cell-associated cryptococcal polysaccharide thickness and phagocytosis by J774.A1 macrophages in the early hours of interaction, but no difference in virulence in a murine model of cryptococcosis was observed. In addition, recombinant Krp1 was antigenic and differentially recognized by serum from an individual with cryptococcosis, but not with serum from an individual with candidiasis. Taken together, these results indicate that C. gattii Krp1 is important for the cell wall structure, thereby influencing capsule assembly, but is not essential for virulence in vivo. IMPORTANCE Cryptococcus gattii has the ability to escape from the host’s immune system through poorly understood mechanisms and can lead to the death of healthy individuals. The role of mannoproteins in C. gattii pathogenicity is not completely understood. The present work characterized a protein, Kpr1, that is essential for the maintenance of C. gattii main virulence factor, the polysaccharide capsule. Our data contribute to the understanding of the role of Kpr1 in capsule structuring, mainly by modulating the distribution of glucans in C. gattii cell wall.

Objetivo: Descrever os fatores sociodemográficos e ocupacionais e avaliar a prevalência de transtornos mentais comuns em trabalhadores das Estratégias de Saúde da Família (ESF) em Santa Cruz do Sul, RS. Métodos: Estudo com abordagem epidemiológica, de corte transversal e quantitativo, realizado no período de junho a agosto de 2013. Foram avaliados 83 trabalhadores, entre médicos, enfermeiros, técnicos/auxiliares de enfermagem e agentes comunitários de saúde, atuantes nas 11 unidades de saúde da família do município. O instrumento de pesquisa constituiu-se em um questionário autoaplicável, englobando aspectos sociodemográficos, ocupacionais e questões pertencentes ao Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Resultados: A idade média dos participantes foi de 37,1±8,9 anos, sendo a maioria agentes comunitários de saúde, do sexo feminino, casadas, com filhos, renda per capita de até 2 salários mínimos e ensino médio completo. A prevalência geral de transtorno mental comum foi de 19,7%, estando presente em todas as categorias profissionais, e mais frequente entre os enfermeiros (25%), porém sem diferenças estatísticas. Conclusão: O presente estudo, além de caracterizar a população de trabalhadores das ESF de Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, em seus aspectos sociodemográficos e ocupacionais, identificou que o sofrimento psíquico está presente, embora em graus variados, em todas as categorias profissionais avaliadas. Frente a esses achados relevantes, sugerem-se providências que visem à prevenção e promoção da saúde mental desses profissionais

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate the neuropsychomotor development and the genomic stability associated to folate and blood iron levels in preschool children. Methods: a cross-sectional study in which evaluated the biochemical exams (complete hemogram, serum ferritin, iron and folate), neuropsychomotor development (Denver II Test) and genotoxicity (micronuclei cytome in buccal mucosa cells) of 55 children aging 36-59 months old. Student´s T test, Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson's or Spearman's correlation tests were applied with a significance level of p

Abstract Background: Little has been studied on heart rate and its relationship with metabolic disorders. Objective: To identify possible association between heart rate (HR) and metabolic disorders in children and adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 2.098 subjects, aged between 7 and 17 years. The variables evaluated were: HR, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), double-product (DP), myocardial oxygen consumption (mVO2), lipids, glucose and uric acid levels, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). The values of HR at rest and effort were divided into quartiles. The association between continuous values of HR and cardiometabolic indicators was tested by linear regression. Results: LDL cholesterol presented a significantly higher mean (p = 0.003) in schoolchildren with resting HR greater or equal to 91 bpm, compared to students with less than 75 bpm. Compared with the quartiles of effort HR, SBP, DBP, glucose and uric acid presented high values when HR was greater or equal than 185 bpm. SBP, glucose and HDL cholesterol demonstrated a significant association with resting HR. Uric acid was observed as a predictor of increased effort HR. Conclusion: Schoolchildren with a higher resting HR have higher mean of LDL cholesterol. For effort HR, there was an increase in blood pressure, glucose and uric acid levels. Uric acid has been shown to be a predictor of elevated effort HR.