Comparative Study on Nutritional Composition of Six Musa acuminata Pulp Varieties Available in Zaria, Nigeria

Banana is one of the most widely distributed and consumed fruit in tropical and subtropical countries. In this study, six Musa acuminata varieties locally available in Zaria, Nigeria,were evaluated to determine their nutritional composition. Results from proximate composition demonstrated that lipid content was profoundly (p<0.05) lower in Musa acuminata Red, calorie value was statistically (p<0.05) lower in Musa acuminataAAB (Omini white) compared to all other species analyzed. Amino acid analysis indicated that histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the M. acuminataRed compared to other varieties in this study. Vitamin study showed that Musa acuminata Red had significant (p<0.05) higher contents of vitamins A, B3, C and E but significantly (p<0.05) lower in B1. Vitamin B1was significantly (p<0.05) higher in M. acuminata AAA (Saro), while M. acuminata AAB (Omini white) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in Vitamin A. Mineral analysis showed that Musa acuminata Red was statistical (p<0.05) higher in potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium in comparison to other varieties of Musa acuminatapulp analyzed. In conclusion, high nutrient composition of Musa acuminata Red may be more advantageous over other varieties for use as functional food

Biochemical findings in the first Filipino child confirmed to have nonketotic hyperglycinemia: A case report

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">This is a report of the biochemical findings in the first diagnosed case of Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH) in the Philippines. Urine metabolic screening by high voltage electrophoresis showing grossly increased glycine necessitated  confirmation of NKH. Confirmatory analysis was done by paired plasma-cerebrospinal fluid quantitative amino acid analysis using Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). The result was compatible with the clinical picture of the patient who presented primarily with apnea, seizures, hypotonia and lethargy. This paper emphasizes the importance of locally available biochemical genetic tests in the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism.</p>

HPLC-MS/MS method for determination of glutamine in rat plasma and application to pharmacokinetic study / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To develop an HPLC-MS/MS method coupled with EZ: faast™ amino acid analysis kits for the determination of glutamine in rat plasma for the pharmacokinetic study in rats. METHODS: The plasma samples were prepared by EZ: faast™ amino acid analysis kits and then analyzed with API 3000 HPLC-MS/MS system. The analytical column was Phenomenex EZ; faast 4μ AAA-MS(4 micron, 3.00 mm × 250 mm) and the column temperature was 20℃. The mobile phase was composed of 0.2% formic acid aqueous solution (containing 5 mmol · L-1 ammonium acetate)-methanol and eluted gradiently at a flow rate of 0.4 mL· min-1. The detection was performed with multiple reactions monitoring(MRM) using positive electrospray ionization(ESI). RESULTS: The calibration curve for glutamine was linear over the concentration range of 3.003-150.2 μg · min-1 (r=0.9966). The lower limit of quantification was 3.003 μg · mL-1. The inter- and intra-day RSDs were less than 15% and the accuracy was within 85%-115%. The extraction recoveries were around 90%, and glutamine was proved to be stable under different circumstances. CONCLUSION: This method is specific:, sensitive, and accurate, and the sample preparation procedure is simple, rapid, and suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of glutamine in rats.

Increased lysine N-methylation of a 23-kDa protein during hepatic regeneration

The methylation of a 23-kDa nuclear protein increased after partial hepatectomy and methylation returned to basal levels after the initial stage of regeneration. The methylating enzyme was partially purified from rat liver by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-anion exchange chromatography and Butyl-Sepharose chromatography. The 23-kDa protein was purified from a nuclear fraction of liver tissue with SP-Sepharose. When the 23-kDa protein was methylated with the partially purified methyltransferase and analyzed on C18 high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the methylated acceptor amino acid was monomethyl lysine (MML). Previously, only arginine N-methylation of specific substrate proteins has been reported during liver regeneration. However, in this report, we found that lysine N-methylation increased during early hepatic regeneration, suggesting that lysine N-methylation of the 23-kDa nuclear protein may play a functional role in hepatic regeneration. The methyltransferase did not methylate other proteins such as histones, hnRNPA1, or cytochrome C, suggesting the enzyme is a 23-kDa nuclear protein- specific lysine N-methyltransferase.

The Amino Acid Compositions of Formula for Children with Inherited Metabolic Disorder

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the amino acids composition, safety and efficacy of formulas recently developed by Korean dairy companies for children with inherited metabolic disorder. METHODS: The determination of amino acids concentration was performed on eight Korean formula samples. The samples were hydrolyzed with 6N HCL or performic acid and analyzed by amino acid analyzer. RESULTS: No phenylalanine, methionine or leucine was observed in PKU-1 and PKU-2 Formulas, Methionine-Free and Leucine-Free Formula, respectively. BCAA-Free Formula was free from leucine, isoleucine, and valine and MPA Formula did not contain methionine and valine. Protein-Free formula did not include any amino acids. UCD Formula contained arginine but was free of alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, proline and serine. Methionine-Free Formula contained higher amounts of cystine and tyrosine was higher in PKU-1 and 2 Formulas. The amounts of isoleucine and threonine were minimal in MPA Formula. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the eight special formulas, developed for the first time by a Korean dairy company for children with inherited metabolic disorder contain appropriate amino acids with proper contents. Both the total amino acid amounts and specific amino acid concentrations of the formulas were appropriate for related diseases, which could be used safely by the patients with inherited metabolic disorder. For UCD Formula that contains arginine, we suggest that arginine be removed from the formula in order to use for any urea cycle defect patients before the specific diagnosis is made.

A Case of Citrullinemia Diagnosed at the Neonatal Period

Citrullinemia is a rare inborn error of metabolism of the urea cycle, and was first reported by McMurray, et al. in 1962. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The normal synthesis of argininosuccinic acid is blocked in this disease due to a deficiency of argininosuccinic acid synthetase(AS), which has been demonstrated in liver cells and fibroblasts. The clinical symptoms are vomiting, lethargy or irritability, convulsion and mental retardation. The diagnosis is made by the finding of an increased plasma citrulline level. Every effort should be made to reduce the blood ammonia level as rapidly as possible before irreversible brain damage occurs. This report describes a case of citrullinemia that was diagnosed through organic acid analysis and amino acid analysis, and reviews the related literatures.

Effects of Sample Pretreatment in Amino Acid Analysis / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Measurements of the concentrations of free amino acids in the blood are used as useful biochemical indicators. The sample pretreatments, including anticoagulant selection and deproteinization, are important steps in plasma-free amino acid analysis for accurate and stable results. Heparin and EDTA venous plasma in a frozen state are most commonly applied sample sources in our laboratory. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the anticoagulant and delayed deproteinization in amino acid measurement using ion-exchange chromatography. METHODS: We used Biochrom 20 amino acid analyzer (Biochrom, U.K). Blood samples were taken from 3 healthy adults after a minimum of 8 hours fasting. Two different types of vacutainer tubes, including sodium heparin and EDTA were used. To investigate variations by heparin volume, 3 mL and 6 mL of blood were drawn in 10 mL heparin tubes. We used an aqueous solution of SSA for deproteinization. To investigate variations through delayed deproteinization, we deproteinized the samples immediately and 24 hours later after plasma separation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in concentrations except for cystine, glutamic acid and taurine, and the retention time between the 6 sample groups. The concentration of taurine was higher in the groups of late deproteinized plasma. In the groups of the same deproteinization time, there were no significant differences in concentration by different heparin concentrations. When we compared the results of 3 mL EDTA plasma with that of heparin-treated 6 mL of blood, the most widely used sample type, there was a significant difference in cystine concentration in the delayed deproteinized group but there were no differences in the immediately deproteinized group. CONCLUSIONS: Both 3 mL EDTA blood and 6 mL heparin-treated blood can be used commonly in case of using high-resolution ion-exchange chromatography and an immediately deproteinized sample. But, the results in amino acids can be affected in delayed pretreatment samples. Their effects should always be considered when interpreting laboratory results. The laboratories should standardize adequate sample preparation for the accurate analysis of amino acids.

Isolation, purification and partial characterisation of prealbumin from cerebrospinal fluid.

Prealbumin from human cerebrospinal fluid was purified using a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, phenol precipitation, Polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The homogeneity of the purified protein was established by Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Immunoelectrophoresis. On the basis of its molecular weight (55,000), amino acid composition, electrophoretic mobility and immunological cross-reactivity, the prealbumin from cerebrospinal fluid showed complete identity with serum prealbumin. The cerebrospinal fluid prealbumin levels in various neurological disorders may have a diagnostic significance.