A viable and cost-effective approach to managing P on dairy farms is to minimize excess P in diets, which in turn leads to less excretion of P in manure without impairing animal performance. A questionnaire survey was conducted, coupled with on-site feed and fecal sample collection and analysis on dairy farms in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The purpose was to assess dietary P levels and to identify critical control points pertaining to P feeding management. Survey responses, 612 out of 2500 randomly selected farms, revealed a wide range of dietary P concentrations for lactating cows, from 3.6 to 7.0 g/kg of feed DM. The mean was 4.4 g/kg, which was 34% above the level recommended by the NRC for 27.9 kg milk/d, the mean milk yield in the survey. Higher P concentrations in diets were not associated with higher milk yields (n = 98, R2 = 0.057 for the survey farms; n = 92, R2 = 0.043 for farms selected for on-site sampling). However, higher dietary P led to higher P excretion in feces (n = 75, R2 = 0.429), with much of the increased fecal P being water soluble. Phosphorus concentrations in diet samples matched closely with P concentrations in formulated rations, with 67% of the feed samples deviating <10% from the formulations. On 84% of the survey farms, ration formulation was provided by professionals rather than producers themselves. Most producers were feeding more P than cows needed because it was recommended in the rations by these consultants. In conclusion, P fed to lactating cows averaged 34% above NRC recommendations; to reduce excess dietary P, ration formulation is the critical control point.

Objective : To compare the caries experience of adolescents and young adults with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) with a noncleft control group. Design : Thirty CL/P subjects and 30 controls were clinically examined to obtain the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) and the decayed, missing and filled surfaces (DMFS) indices, gingival bleeding index, plaque index, and active caries lesions. Data concerning oral hygiene, access to fluoridated water, mother's education level, and family income were also collected. Setting : Pro-Smile Center, a reference center for the treatment of facial deformities, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Subjects : Subjects aged 12 to 21 years with CL/P and without associated syndromes were matched to noncleft controls by sex, age, living habits, and use of orthodontic devices. Null Hypothesis Formulated Prior to Data Collection : Caries experience in CL/P adolescents and young adults is similar to that observed in noncleft controls. Statistical Analysis : Data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 software for Windows Data Editor. The CL/P and control groups were compared using the McNemar test, paired t test and Wilcoxon test. A significance level of 5% was adopted for all tests. Results : There were no significant differences between the groups for oral hygiene and contact with fluoride. Significant differences were found in per capita income, presence of active caries, decayed surfaces, plaque index, and gingival bleeding. Conclusions : The caries experience of CL/P subjects was higher than that of the noncleft individuals.

Recent data from phosphorus (P) feeding trials have demonstrated that P concentration in dairy feces is directly affected by P levels in diets and that farm P surpluses as well as potential environmental losses can be reduced through dietary manipulation. The current study was conducted to examine the variability of fecal P under farm conditions and to elucidate factors affecting the concentration and solubility of fecal P. Feed and fecal samples from >30 commercial dairies in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions were analyzed. Dietary P concentrations ranged from 3.45 to 5.78 g/kg of feed DM (DM), and P determined in acid digests (TP) of feces from 5.84 to 12.84 g/kg of fecal DM. On average, 50% of fecal TP was water soluble; of the latter, 83% was inorganic (Pi). Across-farm variability (n=33) had CV averaging 18.9% for fecal TP and >20% for Pi and total P (Pt) in water extracts. Within-farm variability based on multiple samples per herd had the same magnitude as across-farm and was independent of sample numbers from individual farms (n=7 to 30). Of all fecal parameters determined, pH and DM had the lowest variability (CV <10%), water-soluble Pi, Pt, and Ca the highest (CV of 20 to 30%), and total P, Ca, and Mg determined by acid digests were intermediate (CV 10 to 20%). Water-soluble Pi concentrations determined in dried-ground fecal samples were lower than in wet samples. The drying-grinding process changes Pi solubility and the change is not linear. This study confirms that dietary P concentration is the dominating factor affecting fecal P excretion; however, Ca concentration, DIM, and fecal pH also made small, but statistically significant contributions, although some of the mechanisms remain to be thoroughly investigated.

This study evaluated the inhibitory activity of copaiba oil (Copaifera officinalis against the cariogenic microorganism, Streptococcus mutans. For such purpose, a minimum inhibition concentration test of copaiba oil against S. mutans was performed, using the serial dilution in broth technique, with a negative control, a positive control (0.12% chlorhexidine) and a 10% copaíba oil solution as a test. A minimum bactericidal concentration test with tubes presenting microbial inhibition was also conduced. In the minimum inhibitory concentration test, copaiba oil showed inhibition of bacterial growth at all concentrations tested up to 0.78 µL/mL of the 10% copaiba oil solution in the broth. In addition, the negative control had no inhibition, and the 0.12% chlorhexidine solution was effective up to 6.25 µL/mL in the broth. Copaiba oil showed a bacteriostatic activity against S. mutans at low concentrations, and could be a an option of phytotherapic agent to be used against cariogenic bacteria in the prevention of caries disease.

This paper reports the study of drug consumption carried out within the population of undergraduate students from 2 colleges of Alfenas, in the state of Minas Gerais state. Both licit and illicit drugs were studied, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, crack, inhalants, glue, tranquilizers, stimulants, and others.METHODOLOGY: The research included a wide bibliographical search and the application of a questionnaire to approximately 23% of the students (total of 6500 students).RESULTS: A total of 1500 students participated in this investigation. The results demonstrated that there was a significant consumption of both licit and illicit drugs. The pattern of drug consumption in the research sample was similar to other investigations conducted in Brazil and in other countries.DISCUSSION: It was observed that 55% of the university students use drugs. However, the most surprising finding was that most of the students (88%) answered "yes" to the inquiry, "Have you already tried any type of drug, including alcohol and cigarettes?" The students revealed that they had taken drugs even prior to the admission to the university. The results suggest clearly that the university environment does not necessarily represent the starting point for student drug consumption. DESCRIPTORS: Drugs. Toxics. University. Students. Youth.During the past few years, the consumption of illicit drugs has been increasing considerably among the young Brazilian population. The precocious relationship between drugs and the consumer can be found in several papers in the literature. Among the several factors that account for the growth of distribution and consumption of drugs in this country include the psychosocial factors of youth that are related to the search for freedom and fast, easy pleasure [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] . The individuals involved with the sale and distribution of drugs seek high school and undergraduate students. Studies were performed concerning the influence of gender and age regarding the consumption of drugs in Brazil; the authors verified that the male population had greater preference for non-prescription drugs, whereas female users tended to prefer psychotropic medications. With regard to the correlation between cigarette use and alcohol abuse, the authors found greater consumption in the male population, with the consumption of alcohol being more frequent than tobacco use 6,7 . It was also observed that of 63 people hospitalized for drug abuse, 86% were male, with ages ranging from 12 to 25 years. Except for tobacco and alcohol, marijuana was reported by 66% of the interviewees as the first psychoactive drug used, serving as the starting point for the use of other drugs 7 . In São Paulo, the incidence of alcoholism is 8 times greater in adult men, but it has grown faster among the women 2,3 . Among the main effects caused by drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, mushrooms, glues, and amphetamines are mydriasis, euphoria and a sensation of well being, hallucinations, delirium, excitement, anguish, ...