José Aires Pereira

Cancer risk assessment of ethyl carbamate in alcoholic beverages from Brazil with special consideration to the spirits cachaça and tiquira

BackgroundEthyl carbamate (EC) is a multi-site carcinogen in experimental animals and probably carcinogenic to humans (IARC group 2A). Traces of EC below health-relevant ranges naturally occur in several fermented foods and beverages, while higher concentrations above 1 mg/l are regularly detected in only certain spirits derived from cyanogenic plants. In Brazil this concerns the sugarcane spirit cachaça and the manioc (cassava) spirit tiquira, which both regularly exceed the national EC limit of 0.15 mg/l. This study aims to estimate human exposure in Brazil and provide a quantitative risk assessment.MethodsThe human dietary intake of EC via alcoholic beverages was estimated based on WHO alcohol consumption data in combination with own surveys and literature data. This data comprises the EC contents of the different beverage groups cachaça, tiquira, other spirits, beer, wine, and unrecorded alcohol (as defined by the WHO; including alcohol which is not captured in routine government statistics nor taxed). The risk assessment was conducted using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach with benchmark doses obtained from dose-response modelling of animal experiments. Lifetime cancer risk was calculated using the T25 dose descriptor.ResultsConsidering differences between pot-still and column-still cachaça, its average EC content would be 0.38 mg/l. Tiquira contained a considerably higher average EC content of 2.34 mg/l. The whole population exposure from all alcoholic beverages was calculated to be around 100 to 200 ng/kg bw/day, with cachaça and unrecorded alcohol as the major contributing factors. The MOE was calculated to range between 400 and 2,466, with the lifetime cancer risk at approximately 3 cases in 10,000. An even higher risk may exist for binge-drinkers of cachaça and tiquira with MOEs of up to 80 and 15, respectively.ConclusionsAccording to our risk assessment, EC poses a significant cancer risk for the alcohol-drinking population in Brazil, in addition to that of alcohol alone. Model calculations show that the implementation of the 0.15 mg/l limit for cachaça would be beneficial, including an increase of the MOE by a factor between 3 to 6. The implementation of policy measures for tiquira and unrecorded alcohol also appears to be advisable.

Ethyl carbamate in cachaça (Brazilian sugarcane spirit): Extended survey confirms simple mitigation approaches in pot still distillation

In 2009, we reported an association between low levels of ethyl carbamate (EC) in pot still cachaças from Paraíba State, Brazil, and distillation in copper pot stills equipped with cooled columns. To strengthen these observations, we extended our study to Pernambuco State and assessed 13 pot still and 20 column still cachaça brands. An EC range from <40 to 532μg/l was found; 18 brands exceeded the Brazilian limit (150μg/l), 89% of which were column still types. Mean EC concentration of pot still cachaças was very low (64μg/l), and was well below the Paraíba study (220μg/l). An on-site investigation of pot still distilleries associated with <40μg/l brands showed a connection to differences in the distillation apparatus. Maximising distillation reflux ratios in the ascending parts and minimising exposure to copper in the descending parts (through the use of stainless steel) can reduce EC, and also avoid copper contamination.

Effect of pond aging on natural food availability and growth of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Abstract Most farmed prawns are cultured in earthen ponds in semi-intensive systems, with added feed. Newly dug ponds have low biomass and diversity of microbial and macroinvertebrate populations and therefore require adequate fertilization programs to improve the ponds’ natural productivity. Once established, ponds contain microbial and macroinvertebrate populations that are of high nutritional value to the prawns. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of pond aging on natural food production and its availability, and how it affects the growth performance of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Experiments were conducted in 50-m2 earthen ponds which were treated with hydrated lime, followed by organic and inorganic fertilization to obtain an adequate natural productivity level. Post-larvae were stocked in new ponds (pond age: 1–3 months) and in old ponds (pond age: 8–10 months) at a weight of 0.05 and 0.06 g, respectively, and stocking density of 80 and 72 animals/m2, respectively. The prawns were cultured for 63 days, and were subjected to one of two treatments: offering artificial feed during the last 42 days of culture (treatment 1) or during the last 21 days of culture (treatment 2). In new ponds the juveniles grew in average 22 and 11 mg/day, respectively, for the 42 and 21 days of feeding treatments. In old ponds, utilizing the same conditions, the prawns grew significantly better (P⩽0.05), averaging 48 and 21 mg/day, respectively, for the 42 and 21 days of feeding treatments. This is equivalent to prawn weight gain of 121 and 93% and biomass increase of 74 and 53% for the 42 and 21 days feeding treatments, respectively, in the older ponds over that of the new ponds. The improved growth in the old ponds correlated with an increase in the density and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate, as evidenced by the increased numbers of zoobenthos in the old ponds and in greater diversity of food items found in the stomach contents of the prawns in the old ponds. The present work demonstrates a clear advantage of pond aging as applied to the culturing of M. rosenbergii in earthen ponds. Further work is needed in order to develop innovative techniques to shorten the pond aging process as it relates to the ponds microbial and macroinvertebrates populations.

EVALUATION OF ENEMAS CONTAINING SUCRALFATE IN TISSUE CONTENT OF MUC-2 PROTEIN IN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF DIVERSION COLITIS

ABSTRACT Background: The effects of topical application of sucralfate (SCF) on the tissue content of MUC-2 protein have not yet been evaluated in experimental models of diversion colitis. Aim: To measure the tissue content of MUC-2 protein in the colonic mucosa diverted from fecal stream submitted to the SCF intervention. Methods: Thirty-six rats underwent derivation of intestinal transit through proximal colostomy and distal mucous fistula. The animals were divided into three groups which were submitted application of enemas with saline, SCF 1 g/kg/day and SCF 2 g/kg/day. Each group was divided into two subgroups, according to euthanasia was done after two or four weeks. The colitis diagnosis was established by histopathological study and the inflammatory intensity was evaluated by previously validated scale. The MUC-2 protein was identified by immunohistochemistry and the tissue content was measured computerized morphometry). Results: The application of enemas with SCF in the concentration of 2 g/kg/day reduced inflammatory score of the segments that were diverted from fecal stream. The content of MUC-2 in diverted colon of the animals submitted to the intervention with SCF, independently of intervention period and the used concentration, was significantly greater than animals submitted to the application of enemas containing saline (p< 0.01). The content of MUC-2 after the intervention with SCF in the concentration of 2 g/kg/day was significantly higher when compared to the animals submitted to the application containing SCF at concentration of 1.0 g/kg/day (p<0.01). The tissue content of MUC-2 reached the highest values after intervention with SCF in the concentration of 2 g/kg/day for four weeks (p<0.01). Conclusion: The preventive application of enemas containing SCF reduces the inflammatory score and avoids the reduction of tissue content of MUC-2, suggesting that the substance is a valid therapeutic strategy to preserve the mucus layer that covers the intestinal epithelium.

Rare perianal extramammary Paget disease successfully treated using topical Imiquimod therapy

BackgroundPerianal Paget’s disease (PPD) is a rare intraepithelial adenocarcinoma of the anal margin. Primary PPD likely represents intra-epithelial neoplasm from an apocrine source, whereas secondary disease may represent “pagetoid” spread from an anorectal malignancy.Case presentationHistologic CDX-2 and CK20 are hallmark markers for colorectal-derived Paget’s cells. Interestingly, our primary PPD patient presented both positive and no internal malignancy was identified. In addition, a negative CK7 marker was observed in our case in contrast with previously reported. Surgical excision is the standard treatment; however, previous studies have demonstrated good response with Imiquimod 5% cream in patients with vulval extramammary Paget disease (EMPD). The efficiency of Imiquimod treatment for PPD has not been well described. Our PPD patient was successfully treated using Imiquimod 5% cream.ConclusionsThis study describes a primary cutaneous PPD patient CDX-2+/CK20+/CK7- without invasion of the dermis and no associated colorectal carcinoma effectively treated using topical Imiquimod therapy, suggesting that Imiquimod might potentially be considered as a first-line treatment for PPD.