Capability of in vitro digestibility methods to predict in vivo digestibility of vegetal and animal proteins

The purpose of this work was to establish predictive equations for the digestibility of proteins of animal and vegetal origin by correlating in vitro and in vivo methods. Proteins sources for animal and vegetable were used. To calculate in vitro digestibility, we used pH values obtained 10 min after a solution of enzymes was added to a protein solution (pH-drop method). We also used the pH-static method, which measures the volume of additional NaOH that is necessary to maintain a pH of 8.0 after the addition of an enzymatic solution. In vivo digestibility was measured in newly weaned male rats that were fed a diet of AIN-93G for growth with a modified protein content of 9.5% for 14 days. The equations developed using the pH-drop method allowed us to predict in vivo digestibility amounts that were more closely correlated with real in vivo digestibility than those obtained with equations using the pH-static method. In vitro techniques are less expensive, require less manpower and physical space, and use a smaller quantity of protein(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estabelecer equações de predição para a digestibilidade das proteínas de origem animal e vegetal, correlacionando métodos in vitro e in vivo. Foram utilizadas proteínas de origem animal e vegetal. Para o cálculo da digestibilidade in vitro foram utilizados os valores de pH obtidos em 10 min após a adição da solução de enzimas (método de queda de pH). Também foi utilizado o método de pH estático, o qual mede o volume de NaOH adicionado, necessário para manter o pH em 8,0 após a adição de uma solução enzimática. A digestibilidade in vivo foi medida em ratos machos recémdesmamados que foram alimentados com uma dieta AIN- 93G para crescimento com teor de proteína modificada de 9,5% durante 14 dias. As equações desenvolvidas utilizando o método de queda de pH permitiram prever em quantidades digestibilidade in vitro que foram mais estreitamente correlacionadas com a digestibilidade in vivo do que aqueles obtidas utilizando equações do método de pH estático. As técnicas in vitro são menos dispendiosas, exigem menos mão-de-obra e espaço físico, e utiliza uma menor quantidade de proteína(AU)

Probable chronic renal failure caused by Lonomia caterpillar envenomation

Erucism is a skin reaction to envenomation from certain poisonous caterpillar bristles. In Brazil, most reports of erucism provoked by Lonomia caterpillars are from the southern region. Most manifestations of erucism are local and include burning pain, itching, local hyperthermia and, rarely, blisters (benign symptoms with spontaneous regression in a few hours). General symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, headache, fever, myalgia, abdominal pain and conjunctivitis may also occur. Uncommon symptoms include arthritis, coagulation disorders (manifested as bruising and bleeding), intracerebral hemorrhage and acute renal failure, which comprise serious complications. The present study reports the case of 60-year-old patient from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, who came into contact with a caterpillar and developed, a few days later, chronic renal disease.

Biology of Trypanosoma cruzi: An update / Biología del Trypanosoma cruzi: Actualización

Chagas disease, an illness caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is clinically and epidemiologically important in Latin America, and particularly in Brazil. This article presents the main biological characteristics of Trypanosoma cruzi, emphasizing ultrastructural, morphological, evolutionary, transcriptomic, and proteomic aspects. With this purpose a literature review was conducted, which allowed for the construction of different sections of the text. The efforts to expand the knowledge of this protist biology may bring positive implications for the understanding of the pathogenesis, control, and above all, treatment of patients affected by this disease.

A moléstia de Chagas, enfermidade causada pelo protozoário Trypanosoma cruzi, apresenta grande relevância clínica e epidemiológica na America Latina, com destaque para o Brasil. Neste artigo serão apresentadas as principais características biológicas do Trypanosoma cruzi, enfatizando-se os aspectos ultra-estruturais, morfológicos, evolutivos, transcriptômicos e proteômicos. Para tanto, foi realizada revisão da literatura, a qual subsidiou a construção de diferentes seções do texto. As investidas para ampliar o conhecimento acerca da biologia do protista poderão trazer implicações positivas para a compreensão da patogênese, do controle e, sobretudo, do tratamento dos pacientes portadores da moléstia.