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PubMed2005

Microwave-assisted protein preparation and enzymatic digestion in proteomics.

The combinations of gel electrophoresis or LC and mass spectrometry are two popular approaches for large scale protein identification. However, the throughput of both approaches is limited by the speed of the protein digestion process. Present research into fast protein enzymatic digestion has been focused mainly on known proteins, and it is unclear whether these results can be extrapolated to complex protein mixtures. In this study microwave technology was used to develop a fast protein preparation and enzymatic digestion method for protein mixtures. The protein mixtures in solution or in gel were prepared and digested by microwave-assisted protein enzymatic digestion, which rapidly produces peptide fragments. The peptide fragments were further analyzed by capillary LC and ESI-ion trap-MS or MALDI-TOF-MS. The technique was optimized using bovine serum albumin and then applied to human urinary proteins and yeast lysate. The method enabled preparation and digestion of protein mixtures in solution (human urinary proteins) or in gel (yeast lysate) in 6 or 25 min, respectively. Equivalent (in-solution) or better (in-gel) digestion efficiency was obtained using microwave-assisted protein enzymatic digestion compared with the standard overnight digestion method. This new application of microwave technology to protein mixture preparation and enzymatic digestion will hasten the application of proteomic techniques to biological and clinical research.

Chromatography, Liquid↗
PubMed2004

Co-digestion with waste activated sludge for improved methanogenesis from high solids industrial waste.

The objective of this work was to study the anaerobic digestion of an industrial waste with 84% total and 57% volatile solids content. The waste was also characterized by high total COD content, 42% by weight. The anaerobic digestion of the waste alone and its co-digestion with the waste activated sludge (WAS) that is generated at the industrial facility were investigated. Particularly, kinetics of digesting the waste alone and co-digesting it with the WAS were determined. The substrate utilization rates under varying initial substrate concentrations were determined in batch reactors by measuring the methane generation rates. Then the substrate utilization rates were modeled according to the Monod kinetics. The solution to nonlinear regression resulted in the maximum specific substrate utilization rates (k) of 0.138 and 0.165 g COD g VSS(-1).day(-1) for the waste alone and the waste co-digested with the WAS, respectively. The half velocity constants (K s) were 4.390 and 4.860 g COD 1(-1) for the same conditions. It is important to note that since the methane generation data were used to determine the substrate utilization rates, these kinetic constants are likely to represent the methanogenic Archaea rather than the entire anaerobic consortium. It is concluded that the anaerobic co-digestion of this industrial waste with the WAS is beneficial from the digestion kinetics point of view since the k increased approximately 20% with the addition of the WAS. Moreover, there will be cost savings associated with digesting the WAS anaerobically rather than aerobically, the currently used method of WAS management, if anaerobic digestion is adopted in the future.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed2006

Two-stage anaerobic digestion of energy crops: methane production, nitrogen mineralisation and heavy metal mobilisation.

Energy crops (willow, sugar beet and grass silage) were digested in pilot scale two-stage anaerobic digesters. The specific methane yields obtained were 0.16, 0.38 and 0.39 m3 kg(-1) added volatile solids (VSadded) for willow, sugar beet and grass, respectively, corresponding to yearly gross energy yields of 15, 53 and 26 megawatt-hours (MWh) per hectare. With grass and sugar beets as substrate, 84-85% of the harvestable methane was obtained within 30 days. In pilot scale two-stage digestion of willow and sugar beet, 56 and 85% of the laboratory scale methane yields were obtained, but digestion of grass in two-stage reactors yielded 5% more methane than digestion in laboratory scale completely mixed low solids systems, possibly due to the pH conditions favourable to hydrolysis in the two-stage system. In digestion of grass and sugar beet the liquid at the end of digestion was rich in ammonium nitrogen, and the nitrogen in the substrate was efficiently mineralised. The results show that heavy metal concentrations are not likely to limit the utilisation of residues from digestion of nonmetal accumulating crops. Efficient mobilisation of heavy metals during the acidic phase of digestion revealed the possibility of removing metals from leachate generated in two-stage anaerobic digestion of phytoextracting crops.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed2006

Effect of lactose on oro-cecal transit in lactose digesters and maldigesters.

BACKGROUND: The transit time of the small intestine, in addition to lactase activity, may influence lactose digestion and thus play a role in the occurrence of lactose intolerance. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of lactose on the oro-cecal transit time (OCTT) in lactose digesters and maldigesters as well as the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight Chinese subjects and 16 Dutch subjects underwent one glucose and one lactose challenge in two single-blinded tests. Twenty of the Chinese subjects without complaints after the challenge then underwent another lactose challenge. A 6-h symptom score (SSC) was recorded, breath-hydrogen concentration was measured and OCTT after consumption of glucose and lactose was determined with the lactose-[13C] ureide breath test. The lactose digestion index (LDI) was determined in both the Dutch and 20 Chinese subjects with the 13C/2H-glucose test. RESULTS: Lactose digesters (n = 13) and maldigesters (n = 20) were classified based on the results of the LDI and the breath-hydrogen test. The OCTT after the lactose and glucose challenges did not differ in the digesters, whereas in the maldigesters the OCTT, after the lactose challenge, was shorter than that after glucose. There was no difference in OCTT after the glucose challenge between the maldigesters and the digesters. However, the OCTT after the lactose challenge in the maldigesters was shorter than that in the digesters. The LDI of the digesters was significantly higher than that of the maldigesters. The OCTT after the lactose challenge was not correlated to the LDI in the maldigesters nor in the digesters. Based on the SSC after the one glucose and two lactose challenges, a tolerant (n = 7) and an intolerant (n = 5) group were classified in the Chinese subjects. The two groups did not differ in their LDI or OCTT after the lactose challenge. The OCTT after the lactose challenge was not correlated to the SSC or the LDI. CONCLUSIONS: Lactose triggers a faster oro-cecal transit in lactose maldigesters, but not in digesters. However, this could not be explained by intestinal distension resulting from the osmotic load posed by maldigested lactose, and thus suggests a direct effect of lactose on intrinsic factors regulating intestinal motility.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Survival rates of parasite eggs in sludge during aerobic and anaerobic digestion.

The effects of mesothermic anaerobic or aerobic sludge digestion on survival of eggs from the roundworms Ascaris suum, toxocara canis, Trichuris vulpis, and Trichuris suis and from the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta were studied. Destruction of eggs throughout a 15-day treatment period, as well as their viabilities after reisolation, was analyzed. The laboratory model digesters used in this study were maintained at a 15-day retention schedule, partially simulating a continuously operating system. Ascaris eggs were destroyed in the anaerobic (23%) or aerobic (38%) digesters, and 11% Trichuris eggs were destroyed in the aerobic digesters. Trichuris eggs in anaerobic digesters and Toxocara eggs in either anaerobic or aerobic digesters were not destroyed. Destruction of eggs in digesters was correlated with the state of the eggs before subjection to the treatment processes; i.e., some Ascaris and Trichuris eggs were already embryonated in host intestinal contents or feces and hence past their most resistant stage. The viabilities of Ascaris and Toxocara eggs that survived the digestion processes were greater in anaerobically treated than in aerobically treated material. Eggs from Hymenolepis were nonviable before use in the experiments. However, they were more effectively destroyed in aerobic digesters than in anaerobic digesters.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1988

Effects of alpha-L-fucosidase digestion on lectin staining in human pancreas.

We examined the effects of alpha-L-fucosidase digestion on lectin staining in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human pancreatic tissue from individuals of different blood groups. Digestion with the enzyme resulted in apparent diminished intensity of Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I) staining in the acinar cells. In addition to the decreased intensity of UEA-I staining, reactivity with soybean agglutinin (SBA) was increased in the enzyme-susceptible, UEA-I-reactive cells. The intensity of Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II (GSA-II) staining performed after beta-galactosidase digestion in UEA-I-reactive acinar cells was markedly increased by prior treatment with fucosidase. GSA-II staining following sequential digestion with fucosidase and galactosidase was completely abolished by subsequent digestion with beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase. These results therefore substantiate the previous assumption that SBA-reactive D-galactose-(beta 1-3,4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and GSA-II reactive beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine imparted following galactosidase digestion represent precursors of H antigen. The present study further demonstrated that intense peanut agglutinin (PNA) staining was imparted after digestion with fucosidase in UEA-I-reactive sites in secretors. In contrast, nonsecretors showed vivid PNA staining that was usually detected throughout the pancreas without prior enzyme digestion. Here, fucosidase digestion had if any little effect on PNA staining. These results suggest that in secretors a terminal trisaccharide, fucosylated D-galactose-(beta 1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine exhibiting positive PNA reaction after fucosidase digestion, exists in UEA-I-reactive acinar cells. It is assumed that the secretor gene could control the step of final fucosylation of D-galactose-(beta 1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine in human pancreas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

A Model of Lamina Digestibility of Orchardgrass as Influenced by Nitrogen and Defoliation.

The morphogenesis of grass-sward regrowth drives the relationship between sward management effects and herbage digestibility. Our objective was to create a model of herbage digestibility for a range of N fertilizer levels and defoliation practices on the basis of changes in vegetative grass tiller structure rather than on dates of cutting or grazing. An experiment was conducted for two spring and two summer regrowths to examine the digestibility of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) whole laminae (Lw) and youngest fully expanded laminae (Ly) for two N rates, and two defoliation patterns differing in the initial cutting date. Data were collected for lamina digestibility, dates at which a new leaf and its ligule were visible, and lamina and sheath lengths at least three times during each regrowth. There was a significant effect of N and cutting date on Ly and Lw digestibility, both variables being correlated significantly. At the ligule stage, Ly digestibility decreased between two successive leaves on a tiller, but this decrease was least when the N rate was low. For each regrowth, a single significant relationship was found between Ly digestibility and the growth duration of the lamina outside the sheath. As lamina growth duration depends both on sheath length and herbage N status, Ly digestibility was expressed according to these two easily measurable sward states. The model used to predict the green lamina digestibility at the whole canopy level could also explain the faster decline of herbage digestibility when the N rate was higher or when daily temperatures increased. In both cases, sheath length increased faster from one insertion level to the next, leading to a longer lamina growth duration.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Steam-explosion pretreatment for enhancing anaerobic digestion of municipal wastewater sludge.

This study evaluated the use of steam explosion as a pretreatment for municipal wastewater treatment sludges and biosolids as a technique for enhancing biogas generation during anaerobic digestion. Samples of dewatered anaerobic digester effluent (biosolids) and a mixture of thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) and biosolids were steam-exploded under differing levels of intensity in this study. The results indicate that steam explosion can solublize components of these sludge streams. Increasing the intensity of the steam-explosion pressure and temperature resulted in increased solublization. The steam-explosion pretreatment also increased the bioavailability of sludge components under anaerobic digestion conditions. Increasing the steam-explosion intensity increased the ultimate yield of methane during anaerobic digestion. Batch anaerobic digestion tests suggested that pretreatment at 300 psi was the most optimal condition for enhanced biogas generation while minimizing energy input. Semicontinuous anaerobic digestion revealed that the results that were observed in the batch tests were sustainable in prolonged operation. Semicontinuous digestion of the TWAS/biosolids mixture that was pretreated at 300 psi generated approximately 50% more biogas than the controls. Semicontinuous digestion of the pretreated biosolids resulted in a 3-fold increase in biogas compared with the controls. Based on capillary suction test results, steam-explosion pretreatment at 300 psi improved the dewaterability of the final digested sludge by 32 and 45% for the TWAS/ biosolids mixture and biosolids, respectively, compared with controls. The energy requirements of the nonoptimized steam-explosion process were substantially higher than the additional energy produced from enhanced digestion of the pretreated sludge. Substantial improvements in energy efficiency will be required to make the process viable from an energy perspective.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed2005

Effects of chemical hydrogenation of supplemental fat on relative apparent lipid digestibility in finishing swine.

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate lipid digestibility in finishing swine fed chemically hydrogenated fats. Dietary chromic oxide was used as an inert marker to measure the apparent digestibility of supplemental fat (SF) that consisted of fully hydrogenated (FH), partially hydrogenated (PH), or PH products blended with other fat sources. In Exp. 1, diets containing 5% SF (as-fed basis) comprising 100, 66.7, 33.3, or 0% FH animal fat (iodine value = 2.5), with the balance contributed by soy oil, were fed to gilts (n = 24). Apparent digestibility increased linearly (-12.0, 26.0, 61.2, and 72.6%; P < 0.001) as the amount of FH fat in the diet decreased, suggesting the digestibility of FH to be near zero. Experiment 2 (2 x 4 factorial; n = 48) evaluated diets containing 5% (as-fed basis) blended fat (FH tallow and yellow grease) to achieve iodine values of 20, 30, 40, or 50 compared with PH tallow with identical iodine values. Digestibility of diets formulated with PH tallow was greater than those containing blended fat (73.4 vs. 67.2%; P < 0.01), especially at lower iodine values (interaction; P < 0.10). In Exp. 3, digestibility was measured in pigs (n = 96) fed 5% (as-fed basis) PH choice white grease with iodine values of 20, 40, 60, or 80. Increasing iodine value did not alter digestibility (66.2, 69.2, 68.2, and 69.7%). Experiment 4 investigated digestibility (n = 32) of diets formulated with 8% (as-fed basis) PH fat (iodine value 20 or 50) with 0.10% lysolecithin as an emulsifier. Lipid digestibility was 14.5% greater in the 8% SF diet with an iodine value of 50 compared with the diet with an iodine value of 20 (79.15 vs. 69.12%; P < 0.001), but lysolecithin was without effect. These experiments indicate that partial hydrogenation is superior to blending unsaturated fat with saturated fat sources and that digestibility is not greatly affected by decreasing the iodine value via partial hydrogenation.

Animal Feed↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of thirteen common elements in food samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry: comparison of five digestion methods.

Five sample digestion procedures were evaluated for the determination of Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn in food samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The 5 procedures include dry ashing at 500 degrees C, wet digestion with HNO3-HClO4, microwave digestion with HNO3, microwave digestion with HNO3-H2O2, and microwave digestion with HNO3-H2O2-HF. For microwave digestion with HNO3-H2O2-HF, silicon (IV) oxide was used to eliminate the excess HF, making it possible to determine total Al, B, and other common elements accurately and simultaneously. Seven National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference materials (SRMs) were analyzed to compare the recovery of 13 elements with above digestion procedures. The results demonstrated that the microwave digestion procedure with HNO3-H2O2-HF yielded the best recoveries for all 13 elements in the selected SRMs. The determined concentrations of most elements were close for all 3 microwave digestion procedures with the exception of Al in oyster tissue, bovine liver, and spinach. Notably, the wet digestion with HNO3-HClO4 is the simplest and the most effective procedure for the selected elements except Al and B. Although there are several concerns with the dry ashing procedure, it might be a preferable procedure for those analyses where only nonvolatile elements are to be determined and the concentrations of the elements are low.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Pollution reduction at wastewater treatment facilities through thermophilic sludge digestion.

Wastewater treatment facilities produce large amounts of sludge, which is a pollutant to the environment if not properly managed. Among the three most common methods (landfills, land application, incineration) of sludge disposal, thermophilic digestion to produce Class-A biosolids for land application is recognized as the most cost-effective, environmentally sustainable option. Full-scale experience revealed that thermophilically digested biosolids consumed a higher dosage of chemicals for conditioning and dewatering than conventionally (mesophilically) digested biosolids. This paper presents findings of a recent study to investigate how major operational parameters affect dewatering properties of thermophilically digested biosolids, and to search for the inter-relationship between digestion, characteristics of digested biosolids, and dewatering properties of thermophilic biosolids. Experimental work was carried out using bench-scale aerobic digesters. This study found that feed sludge composition has a significant effect on dewaterability. A higher content of secondary sludge resulted in poorer dewaterability in undigested and digested sludge. Dewatering properties are sensitive to a temperature effect. Such an effect is physical-chemical in nature. Excessive high shear results in significant deterioration in dewaterability. Thermophilic digestion resulted in a substantial increase in ammonia and phosphate concentrations, but these two factors seem to not have much impact on dewaterability. Instead, cellular biopolymers have a significant role in affecting dewatering properties of thermophilically digested biosolids.

Biopolymers↗
PubMed2005

Digestive capabilities reflect the major food sources in three species of talitrid amphipods.

Digestive enzyme activities of three talitrid amphipods were examined to investigate the relationship between their digestive capabilities and diet. Laminarinase, cellobiase, carboxymethyl-cellulase, xylanase, alpha- and beta-glucosidase and lipase were detected in all three species suggesting talitrid amphipods can readily digest dietary carbohydrate and lipid, including complex polysaccharides. Relatively high specific enzyme activity (Units (mg(-1) digestive tract protein)(-1)) of laminarinase and lipase was detected in Talorchestia marmorata, a supralittoral kelp feeder which is coherent with the digestion of lipid-esters and beta-glucans (laminarin) which are the main lipid and storage polysaccharides of brown seaweeds. Talorchestia sp., a low shore intertidal feeder, had high enzymatic activity of alpha- and beta-glucosidase, cellobiase and xylanase, which is consistent with the digestion of diatoms. Keratroides vulgaris, a forest litter feeder had a relatively low specific activity of all enzymes. It is possible that leaf litter is partially digested prior to ingestion by bacteria and fungi present in the rotting vegetation, with bacterial and fungal enzymes contributing to this species' ability to hydrolyse its diet. This study provides the first quantitative data on digestive capacity in these three talitrid amphipods and confirms the relationship between dietary preference and digestive enzyme complement.

Amphipoda↗
PubMed1999

Apparent ileal and total-tract nutrient digestion by pigs as affected by dietary nondigestible oligosaccharides.

The effects of two types of nondigestible oligosaccharides (NDO), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and transgalactooligosaccharides (TOS) were studied on growing and weanling pigs' nutrient digestion. Dietary NDO were included at the expense of purified cellulose. Twenty-five 57-d-old growing pigs, averaging 15.9+/-.6 kg on d 0 of the experiment, were fed a corn-based control diet or the control with 6.8 or 13.5 g of FOS/kg or 4.0 or 8.0 g of TOS/kg (five pigs per diet). Feces were collected on d 28 to 32, and small-intestinal digesta were collected (slaughter technique) on d 42 to 47 of the experiment. Feeds, feces, and digesta were analyzed for DM, inorganic matter, CP, ether extract, and crude fiber. Dietary NDO did not significantly affect apparent fecal and small intestinal digestion of nutrients in growing pigs. After being fed a NDO-free diet through d 10 after weaning, 38-d-old weanling pigs (n = 20), averaging 10.4+/-.8 kg on d 0 of the experiment, were fed a control diet (based on cornstarch, casein, and oat husk meal) or the control with 10 or 40 g of FOS or TOS/kg (four pigs per diet). Feces and urine were collected on d 13 to 17, and ileal digesta were collected via a postvalve T-cecum cannula on d 33 to 37 of the experiment. Feeds, feces, and digesta were analyzed for DM, inorganic matter, CP, ether extract, starch, NDF, ADF, ADL, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn. Nonstarch neutral-detergent soluble carbohydrates (NNSC) completed the mass balance for the carbohydrates. Urine was analyzed for N and minerals. The apparent fecal digestion of NNSC increased in the NDO-supplemented diets. The TOS-fed pigs tended (P<.10) to have a higher apparent fecal digestion of CP than the FOS-fed and control pigs but excreted more N via the urine (P<.01). Nitrogen and mineral balances were not affected. The FOS was nearly completely degraded prececally. Mean fiber digestion was lower at the fecal compared with the ileal level, as was the extent of NDO effects. This indicates that fiber digestion requires more than 2 wk to adapt to dietary NDO. Apparent ileal digestion of hemicellulose increased for the NDO-supplemented diets (P<.05), but that of NNSC decreased (P<.001). Thus, under the well-controlled conditions of this experiment, dietary NDO hardly affected nutrient digestion in well-kept growing and weanling pigs. However, digestion of dietary nonstarch carbohydrates may be affected.

Animals↗
PubMed2007

Invited review: Amino acid bioavailability and digestibility in pig feed ingredients: terminology and application.

In this review, the terminology that is used to describe the bioavailability and ileal digestibility of AA in pig feed ingredients is defined. Aspects of the methodology to establish bioavailability and ileal digestibility values also are discussed, and recommendations about the use of these values are provided. Two main factors can contribute to differences between bioavailability and ileal digestibility of AA. First, some AA, such as Lys, may be absorbed in chemical complexes that preclude their use for metabolism. Second, fermentation in the upper gut may result in a net loss or gain of AA to the animal. In addition, dietary effects on the efficiency of using bioavailable AA intake for tissue growth or milk production should be considered and may be attributed to endogenous AA losses in the hindgut and the metabolic costs associated with endogenous gut protein synthesis and losses. Ileal digestibility values may be expressed as apparent ileal digestibility (AID), standardized ileal digestibility (SID), or true ileal digestibility (TID). These terms are used to specify how ileal endogenous AA losses are reflected in digestibility values. Ileal endogenous AA losses may be separated into basal losses, which are not influenced by feed ingredient composition, and specific losses, which are induced by feed ingredient characteristics such as levels and types of fiber and antinutritional factors. Values for AID are established when total ileal outflow of AA (i.e., the sum of endogenous losses and nondigested dietary AA) is related to dietary AA intake. A concern with the use of AID values is that these are not additive in mixtures of feed ingredients. This concern may be overcome by correcting AID values for defined basal endogenous losses of AA, which yields SID values. Furthermore, if the AID values are corrected for basal and specific endogenous losses, then values for TID are calculated. However, reliable procedures to routinely measure specific endogenous losses are not yet available. It is recommended that basal ileal endogenous losses of AA should be measured in digestibility experiments using a defined protein-free diet and that these losses are reported with observed AID and SID values. It is suggested that SID values should be used for feed formulation, at least until more information on TID values becomes available.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1997

Diagnostic value of the copper/zinc ratio in digestive cancer: a case control study.

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the copper/zinc ratio (Cu/Zn ratio) in the evaluation of a large group of patients with digestive cancer compared to gender and age-matched control subjects. A total of 282 patients was studied and separated into three groups: group I (n = 75), patients with digestive cancer, group II (n = 112), patients with benign digestive disease, and group III (n = 95), healthy subjects. Serum levels of copper and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the serum levels of copper (mg/dL) in patients with digestive cancer (91.6 +/- 27.3, p < 0.05) were significantly higher than in patients with benign digestive disease (75.8 +/- 19.8) or healthy subjects (54.4 +/- 8.9) and the serum levels of zinc (mg/dl) were significantly lower (68.7 +/- 21.9, p < 0.05) compared to benign digestive disease patients (80.1 +/- 18.7) or healthy subjects (100 +/- 11.4 mg/dl). The Cu/Zn ratio was also significantly higher in patients with digestive cancer (1.45 +/- .58, p < 0.05) than those with benign digestive disease (0.95 +/- 0.28) or healthy subjects (0.55 +/- 0.13). Considering a cutoff value of 0.87, the sensitivity of the copper/zinc ratio was 82.2%, with a specificity of 65.7%, a positive predictive value of 45.8% and a negative predictive value of 91.3%. In conclusion, Cu/Zn ratio was found to be considerably higher in patients with digestive cancer compared to age- and gender-matched controls, with a sensitivity of 82.2% that might be useful in the evaluation of suspected malignancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

BSD extent, an index for metal pollution screening based on the metal content within digestive cell lysosomes of mussels as determined by autometallography.

The extent of autometallographical black silver deposits (BSD) has been semiquantified at the light microscope in the gills and digestive gland of either control mussels or Zn-polluted mussels after depuration and on exposure to sublethal concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Cd. The BSD extent in the gills and digestive gland of control mussels was much reduced compared to that in other experimental mussels. The extent of BSD in the gills of depurating mussels was reduced at short depuration times due to decreased levels in the abfrontal cells while in the digestive gland it did not change with the depuration period. The extent of BSD in digestive lysosomes of Cu- and Zn-exposed mussels followed a logarithmic pattern in relation to metal concentration increasing with metal concentrations in the digestive gland. However, a reduced extent of BSD was related to the presence of high metal concentrations under Cd-exposure conditions. This is because the great extent of BSD present in the lumen of the digestive tubules was not taken into account to carry out semiquantification, but, however, the chemical analysis measured the Cd content of these BSD. As such, the extent of BSD in digestive lysosomes followed a logarithmic pattern with total metal concentrations in the digestive gland of Cd-exposed mussels. Therefore, the semiquantitative estimation of BSD in the digestive lysosomes could be considered a reliable index to reflect changes in metal bioavailability in sea water.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Pulmonary protective and vasodilator effects of a standardized Panax ginseng preparation following artificial gastric digestion.

We have previously demonstrated that purified ginsenosides produce pulmonary vasodilation and prevent effects of free radical injury on the lung. We examined the effect of artificially digested standardized ginseng preparation G115 in perfused rabbit lungs. G115 was incubated in artificial gastric juice (0.03 M NaCl + 0.08 M HCl) 37 degrees C for 1 h, and artificial intestinal juice (0.05 M KH2PO4 + 0.02 M NaOH) 37 degrees C for 5 h, neutralized with NaOH and lyophilized. Pulmonary vasoconstriction was induced with U46619, and cumulative additions of G115 in undigested, gastric digested and gastric and intestinal digested forms were made to the perfusate. In separate experiments, oxygen free radical injury by electrolysis was produced in the presence of G115 in the perfusate and ACh-induced vasodilation assessed before and after injury. Undigested, gastric digested and combined gastric and intestinal digested G115 significantly dilated lungs (44%, undigested; 26%, gastric digested; 45%, gastric and intestinal digested). In addition, both undigested (-27 +/- 5% vs. -24 +/- 5%) as well as gastric and intestinal digested G115 (-23 +/- 3% vs. -16 +/- 2%) preserved ACh-induced vasodilation following injury. Artificially digested G115 is a pulmonary vasodilator which protects against free radical injury, suggesting that oral G115 has the same effects.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

Quantitative effects of allogeneic small-bowel transplantation on nutrient digestion and on body protein balance as determined in vivo in rats.

Heterotopic and orthotopic small-bowel allotransplantation was carried out in Wistar rats using grafts reduced to one-half of the original length. Portocaval venous anastomoses and intestinal end-to-end anastomoses were performed. Animals either with complete or with partially reduced native small-bowel served as control. In a total of 51 rats, 88 quantitative in vivo measurements of apparent digestion and absorption of dietary dry matter, organic matter, energy, protein, fat, total ash, and glucose were carried out. Body protein retention was calculated from intake and losses with feces and urine. The digestion trials comprised 8 days of adaptation and 10 days of continual recording of nutrient balance data. In experiments 1 and 2, digestibility coefficients were obtained before and after transplantation within the same animals, untreated or initially treated with cyclosporine A after surgery. Similar groups of rats untreated, with partial resection and with transplantation of the small-bowel, followed by temporary cyclosporine treatment, were used in experiment 3. In experiment 4, rats with transplanted intestines from experiments 1 and 2 were subjected to a further digestion trial 4 to 6 months after the respective first trial. With transplantation of the small intestine, apparent digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as protein retention, tended to be lower. Significant depression occurred in the digestion of fat and ash. In long-term survivors all parameters decreased further. The adverse effects on fat and ash digestion seemed to be pronounced when rejection occurred. Fecal fat excretion might therefore be an indication of dysfunction of small-bowel grafts. Digestion was less imparied if cyclosporine was applied, and part of the effects on digestion and protein balance could be attributed to the shortened bowel.

Animals↗