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A B S T R A C T ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional composition and describe the acceptability of regional culinary dishes served to students from public schools of rural and urban areas. MethodsTen Brazilian regional dishes were evaluated for acceptability and nutritional composition. The survey was conducted in schools located in rural and urban areas of two cities in the state of São Paulo. Dish acceptability was evaluated using leftover analysis and a 5-point facial hedonic scale. The adherence index was calculated and used as an indirect measure of acceptance, and the nutritional composition was calculated based on the technical files of each dish. ResultsA total of 2,384 students from 20 schools participated in the study and 1,174 tasted and evaluated the dishes. The test using the 5-point facial hedonic scale demonstrated that five dishes (Caldo verde soup, persimmon

BackgroundHeart failure prediction after acute myocardial infarction may have important clinical implications.ObjectiveTo analyze the functional echocardiographic variables associated with heart failure in an infarction model in rats.MethodsThe animals were divided into two groups: control and infarction. Subsequently, the infarcted animals were divided into groups: with and without heart failure. The predictive values were assessed by logistic regression. The cutoff values predictive of heart failure were determined using ROC curves.ResultsSix months after surgery, 88 infarcted animals and 43 control animals were included in the study. Myocardial infarction increased left cavity diameters and the mass and wall thickness of the left ventricle. Additionally, myocardial infarction resulted in systolic and diastolic dysfunction, characterized by lower area variation fraction values, posterior wall shortening velocity, E-wave deceleration time, associated with higher values of E / A ratio and isovolumic relaxation time adjusted by heart rate. Among the infarcted animals, 54 (61%) developed heart failure. Rats with heart failure have higher left cavity mass index and diameter, associated with worsening of functional variables. The area variation fraction, the E/A ratio, E-wave deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time adjusted by heart rate were functional variables predictors of heart failure. The cutoff values of functional variables associated with heart failure were: area variation fraction < 31.18%; E / A > 3.077; E-wave deceleration time < 42.11 and isovolumic relaxation time adjusted by heart rate < 69.08.ConclusionIn rats followed for 6 months after myocardial infarction, the area variation fraction, E/A ratio, E-wave deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time adjusted by heart rate are predictors of heart failure onset.

prohypertensive role via vasoconstriction in CYP4F2 TG mice. To investigate antihypertensive action of 20-HETE via natriuresis in CYP4F2 TG mice , we fed TG mice a high salt (4% NaCl) diet for 2 weeks, and measured their systolic blood pressure (SBP), urine sodium concentration, urine volume, and urinary 20-HETE excretion. The expression of renal Na þ -K þ -2Cl -cotransporter, isoform 2 (NKCC2) was detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot. The results showed that SBP was not changed, but the urinary sodium excretion and urinary 20-HETE excretion were promoted by high salt intake in TG mice. NKCC2 protein was reduced by high salt intake, but its mRNA was not. These data suggest that 20-HETE of CYP4F2 TG mice exert natriuresis in renal adaptation to elevated Na þ intake, in which reduction of renal NKCC2 protein was involved through high salt-induced posttranscriptional regulation. On behalf of the MAURO STUDY investigators. CNR-IBIM and Nephrology & Renal Transplantation Unit, Reggio Cal, ITALY.Background: Alterations in innate immunity play a role in renal damage in experimental models but the role of these alterations in the progression of CKD in humans is still poorly defined. Procalcitonin (PCT), is a biomarker of innate immunity produced by C-cells of the thyroid and by the adipose tissue. Objectives: We measured serum plasma PCT levels in a cohort of 670 patients with stage 3-5 CKD and tested the relationship between this biomarker metrics of adiposity, proteinuria, GFR and progression to kidney failure over a 3 year follow-up. None of the patients had intercurrent infectious or acute inflammatory processes. Methods: PCT was measured by an ultrasensitive immunoluminometric assay. The GFR was estimated by a Cystatin-C based equation. The relationship between PCT and renal events was tested by multivariate Cox's regression and interaction analysis. Results: Procalcitonin exceeded the upper limit of the normal range (4 0.064 ng/mL) in 492 patients (67 %) while the corresponding figure for high sensitivity CRP ( 41 mg/L) was 170 (%). PCT was higher (Po 0.001) in males and strongly associated with the GFR (r ¼ ) as well as diabetes (P ¼0.004) and a history of cardiovascular (CV) events (P ¼0.007). Furthermore PCT was inversely related with Hb (r ¼ À0.16, P o0.001) and with serum albumin (r ¼ À0.10, P ¼0.009) and directly associated with CRP (r ¼0.23, Po 0.001) and with white blood cells count (r ¼ 0.12, P ¼0.002). Of note, PCT was higher (P o0.001) in patients with large waist hip ratio (IVth quartile) than in those normal or high normal WHR (1st to 3rd quartiles).During the follow up, PCT predicted the combined renal end-point (30% GFR loss, dialysis or transplantation) (HR for 1 ng/ml increase: 2.37, 95%CI:1.25-4.48, P ¼0.009) in a model adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, BP, smoking, cholesterol, background cardiovascular events and PCT interacted with baseline GFR in predicting renal outcomes. Indeed the risk of for the combined end-point was minimal in patients with low PCT and high GFR and maximal in those...