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Stable isotope methods have been used to study protein metabolism in humans; however, there application in dogs has not been frequently explored. The present study compared the methods of precursor (13C-Leucine), end-products (15N-Glycine), and amino acid oxidation (13C-Phenylalanine) to determine the whole-body protein turnover rate in senior dogs. Six dogs (12.7 ± 2.6 years age, 13.6 ± 0.6 kg bodyweight) received a dry food diet for maintenance and were subjected to all the above-mentioned methods in succession. To establish 13C and 15N kinetics, according to different methodologies blood plasma, urine, and expired air were collected using a specifically designed mask. The volume of CO2 was determined using respirometry. The study included four methods viz. 13C-Leucine, 13C-Phenylalanine evaluated with expired air, 13C-Phenylalanine evaluated with urine, and 15N-Glycine, with six dogs (repetitions) per method. Data was subjected to variance analysis and means were compared using the Tukey test (P<0.05). In addition, the agreement between the methods was evaluated using Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman statistics. Protein synthesis (3.39 ± 0.33 g.kg-0,75. d-1), breakdown (3.26 ± 0.18 g.kg-0.75.d-1), and flux estimations were similar among the four methods of study (P>0.05). However, only 13C-Leucine and 13C-Phenylalanine (expired air) presented an elevated Pearson correlation and concordance. This suggested that caution should be applied while comparing the results with the other methodologies.

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BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability, and its sequelae are associated with inadequate food intake which can lead to sarcopenia. The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of creatine supplementation on functional capacity, strength, and changes in muscle mass during hospitalization for stroke compared to usual care. An exploratory subanalysis will be performed to assess the inflammatory profiles of all participants, in addition to a follow-up 90 days after stroke, to verify functional capacity, muscle strength, mortality, and quality of life. METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, unicenter, parallel-group trial including individuals with ischemic stroke in the acute phase. The duration of the trial for the individual subject will be approximately 90 days, and each subject will attend a maximum of three visits. Clinical, biochemical, anthropometric, body composition, muscle strength, functional capacity, degree of dependence, and quality of life assessments will be performed. Thirty participants will be divided into two groups: intervention (patients will intake one sachet containing 10g of creatine twice a day) and control (patients will intake one sachet containing 10g of placebo [maltodextrin] twice a day). Both groups will receive supplementation with powdered milk protein serum isolate to achieve the goal of 1.5g of protein/kg of body weight/day and daily physiotherapy according to the current rehabilitation guidelines for patients with stroke. Supplementation will be offered during the 7-day hospitalization. The primary outcomes will be functional capacity, strength, and changes in muscle mass after the intervention as assessed by the Modified Rankin Scale, Timed Up and Go test, handgrip strength, 30-s chair stand test, muscle ultrasonography, electrical bioimpedance, and identification of muscle degradation markers by D3-methylhistidine. Follow-up will be performed 90 days after stroke to verify functional capacity, muscle strength, mortality, and quality of life. DISCUSSION: The older population has specific nutrient needs, especially for muscle mass and function maintenance. Considering that stroke is a potentially disabling event that can lead the affected individual to present with numerous sequelae, it is crucial to study the mechanisms of muscle mass loss and understand how adequate supplementation can help these patients to better recover. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC) RBR-9q7gg4 . Registered on 21 January 2019.

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The present study focuses on the Tamoios aquifer (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil), which is under pressure due to receiving a significant volume of urban runoff and sewage. The objective was based on a number of hydrogeochemical and isotope data to assess the aquifer functioning and establishing a conceptual model to evaluate the hydrogeochemical processes. The database consisted of groundwater samples (n = 20) and surface water samples (fluvial, lagoon, and seawater) (n = 4), analyzed for major and trace constituents plus 18O and 2H isotopes. Results demonstrate that most of the groundwater samples were classified as sodium-chloride type in the rainy season and magnesium-chloride type in the dry season. Ion ratios indicated the ion sources and chemical behavior. Groundwater remained with a relatively high salt content throughout the seasons, particularly in the samples from the southern portion of the aquifer. PHREEQC software simulations exposed dolomite and calcite in mostly undersaturated condition and halite subsaturated throughout the year. Hydrogeochemical behavior indicated the salt content in the groundwater was not related to a hypothetical saltwater intrusion and revealed a steady state condition for the groundwater interface. Groundwater samples have a similar isotopic signature and were likely influenced by evaporative effects, indicating a role for the existing ponds in aquifer recharge. Strong free surface evaporation effects, evapotranspiration, and drainage processes in the floodplains probably enhanced the high ionic concentration in the groundwater environment.

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Helico bacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is decreasing worldwide, but is still high in developing countries. We previously observed an H. pylori infection rate of 52% among children and adolescents with chronic non-ulcer dyspepsia. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection among asymptomatic children living in a single region and to evaluate the risk factors for this infection. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in which 161 children aged 5-13 years (mean age 7.8 years), at a public school in Botucatu, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, were assessed. METHOD: The children's H. pylori infection status was determined through the urea breath test and the risk factors for acquisition of the infection were determined based on a sociodemographic questionnaire. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 20.5%: 18.7% among females and 22.2% among males. The results from the sociodemographic survey did not differ between children with and without H. pylori infection. 30.9% of the children had previous records of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, which consisted of H. pylori infection in only 26.5% of these cases. Family histories of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease were found in relation to 50% and 32.3% of the children with H. pylori infection respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori infection among asymptomatic children in southeastern Brazil is lower than that recorded among symptomatic children in the same region and similar to the prevalence of H. pylori infection observed in developed countries.

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BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Helico bacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is decreasing worldwide, but is still high in developing countries. We previously observed an H. pylori infection rate of 52% among children and adolescents with chronic non-ulcer dyspepsia. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection among asymptomatic children living in a single region and to evaluate the risk factors for this infection. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in which 161 children aged 5-13 years (mean age 7.8 years), at a public school in Botucatu, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, were assessed. METHOD: The children's H. pylori infection status was determined through the urea breath test and the risk factors for acquisition of the infection were determined based on a sociodemographic questionnaire. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 20.5%: 18.7% among females and 22.2% among males. The results from the sociodemographic survey did not differ between children with and without H. pylori infection. 30.9% of the children had previous records of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, which consisted of H. pylori infection in only 26.5% of these cases. Family histories of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease were found in relation to 50% and 32.3% of the children with H. pylori infection respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori infection among asymptomatic children in southeastern Brazil is lower than that recorded among symptomatic children in the same region and similar to the prevalence of H. pylori infection observed in developed countries.

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Honey is a natural product with beneficial properties to health and has different characteristics depending on the region of production and collection, flowering, and climate. The presence of precursor amino acids of- and biogenic amines can be important in metabolomic studies of differentiation and quality of honey. We analyzed 65 honeys from 11 distinct regions of the State of Santa Catarina (Brazil) as to the profile of amino acids and biogenic amines by HPLC. The highest L-tryptophan (Trp), 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-OH-Trp), and tryptamine (Tryp) levels were detected in Cfb climate and harvested in 2019. Although we have found high content of serotonin, dopamine, and L-dopa in Cfb climate, the highest values occurred in honey produced during the summer 2018 and at altitudes above 900 m. Results indicate that the amino acids and biogenic amine levels in honeys are good indicators of origin. These data warrant further investigation on the honey as source of amino acids precursor of serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine, what can guide the choice of food as source of neurotransmitters.

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This study aimed to evaluate the use of total odd-chain fatty acids (OCFA) as a marker to estimate microbial nitrogen flow (MicN) and calculate the efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis (EMNS) in Nellore steers fed high-concentrate diets supplemented with different nitrogen supplements (NS). Ruminally and duodenally cannulated Nellore steers (n = 6; 354 ± 12 kg) were used in a 6 × 6 repeated switchback design balanced for residual effects. Treatments were arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial of three nitrogen (N) supplements (urea plus soybean meal; corn gluten meal; dried distillers' grains plus solubles) and three microbial markers (OCFA; double-labeled urea, 15N; microbial nucleic acid bases, MNAB). The total mixed ration was composed of fresh chopped sugarcane as the forage source in an 83:17 concentrate: forage ratio (dry matter basis). Linear regression was used to develop predictions of MicN from OCFA using 15N and MNAB as response variables. Microbial N flow was underestimated by the MNAB marker compared to 15N. Neither NS nor their respective interactions with the marker methods (MM) affected MicN or EMNS (P > 0.05). However, MicN was different for 15N and MNAB (P > 0.001 for both treatments). Marker methods affected EMNS in all energetic bases (total digestible carbohydrates P < 0.001; rumen-fermentable carbohydrates P < 0.001; organic matter truly degradable in the rumen P < 0.001). Equations that utilized OCFA as a regressor to predict MicN under different MM resulted in good fits of the data as observed by the coefficient of determination (R2; 15N = 0.78; MNAB = 0.69). Microbial N flow estimated from OCFA was overpredicted (15N by 7.46%; MNAB by 4.30%) compared with observed values. The OCFA model presented a small slope bias when methodological validation was applied (15N = 0.96%; MNAB = 3.90%), ensuring reliability of the proposed alternative method. Based on the conditions of this experiment, OCFA may be a suitable alternative to other methods that quantify MicN under different dietary conditions.

Nutritional strategies that maximize microbial nitrogen supply to the small intestine may improve cattle performance. Nevertheless, in vivo quantification generally requires sensitive or expensive methods and often yields highly variable results. In the present work, we investigated the use of duodenal odd-chain fatty acids (OCFA) as an alternative method to predict microbial nitrogen flow (MicN) and calculated its efficiency on different energetic bases under different dietary nitrogen supplements. We utilized total OCFA flow (TOCFAf) to predict MicN by two well-established conventional methods: 1) 15N, considered the gold standard and 2) microbial nucleic acid bases. Models presented a positive relationship between TOCFDf and response variables, and under validation, both demonstrated low estimation bias. Under the conditions of this experiment, OCFA appeared to serve as an alternative marker to quantify ruminal MicN for beef cattle.

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The present study aimed to verify whether the inclusion of other ingredients in the diet of laying hens could interfere with the traceability of bovine meat and bone meal (BMBM) in eggs through stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. Two hundred and fifty-six white laying hens were used and randomly distributed into eight treatments composed of: CONTROL: control diet; GLUTEN: control diet + corn gluten; YEAST: control diet + yeast; GLUTEN + YEAST: control diet + corn gluten + yeast; BMBM: control diet + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + GLUTEN: control diet + corn gluten + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + YEAST: control diet + yeast + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + GLUTEN + YEAST: control diet + corn gluten + yeast + 4.5 % BMBM. The isotopic results were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and LDA multivariate linear discriminant analysis. At 28 days, the eggs of the birds given diets without the addition of BMBM differed from the CONTROL group. The yolks showed that all treatments were significantly different from the CONTROL, and at 56 days, all eggs and egg yolks were different from the CONTROL. At 28 days, albumen was significantly different for all CONTROL experimental treatments; however, at 56 days, the YEAST treatment showed no difference from the control. Thus, it was concluded that even with the addition of other ingredients, the isotope technique is still able to detect the BMBM in eggs.

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ABSTRACT The present study aimed to verify whether the inclusion of other ingredients in the diet of laying hens could interfere with the traceability of bovine meat and bone meal (BMBM) in eggs through stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. Two hundred and fifty-six white laying hens were used and randomly distributed into eight treatments composed of: CONTROL: control diet; GLUTEN: control diet + corn gluten; YEAST: control diet + yeast; GLUTEN + YEAST: control diet + corn gluten + yeast; BMBM: control diet + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + GLUTEN: control diet + corn gluten + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + YEAST: control diet + yeast + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + GLUTEN + YEAST: control diet + corn gluten + yeast + 4.5 % BMBM. The isotopic results were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and LDA multivariate linear discriminant analysis. At 28 days, the eggs of the birds given diets without the addition of BMBM differed from the CONTROL group. The yolks showed that all treatments were significantly different from the CONTROL, and at 56 days, all eggs and egg yolks were different from the CONTROL. At 28 days, albumen was significantly different for all CONTROL experimental treatments; however, at 56 days, the YEAST treatment showed no difference from the control. Thus, it was concluded that even with the addition of other ingredients, the isotope technique is still able to detect the BMBM in eggs.

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The present study aimed to verify whether the inclusion of other ingredients in the diet of laying hens could interfere with the traceability of bovine meat and bone meal (BMBM) in eggs through stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. Two hundred and fifty-six white laying hens were used and randomly distributed into eight treatments composed of: CONTROL: control diet; GLUTEN: control diet + corn gluten; YEAST: control diet + yeast; GLUTEN + YEAST: control diet + corn gluten + yeast; BMBM: control diet + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + GLUTEN: control diet + corn gluten + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + YEAST: control diet + yeast + 4.5 % BMBM; BMBM + GLUTEN + YEAST: control diet + corn gluten + yeast + 4.5 % BMBM. The isotopic results were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and LDA multivariate linear discriminant analysis. At 28 days, the eggs of the birds given diets without the addition of BMBM differed from the CONTROL group. The yolks showed that all treatments were significantly different from the CONTROL, and at 56 days, all eggs and egg yolks were different from the CONTROL. At 28 days, albumen was significantly different for all CONTROL experimental treatments; however, at 56 days, the YEAST treatment showed no difference from the control. Thus, it was concluded that even with the addition of other ingredients, the isotope technique is still able to detect the BMBM in eggs.(AU)

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