Blood-reduced glutathione, serum ceruloplasmin and mineral changes in juvenile diabetes.

In cases of juvenile diabetes, there were lower than normal levels of reduced glutathione, ceruloplasmin oxidase activity, zinc, copper and sodium, while the other elements show no significant changes. The lower level of serum zinc, copper and sodium may be due to the osmotic diuresis and consequent polyurea of diabetes.

The role of magnesium in protein-energy malnutrition.

The present study was aiming to explore further the variations in the levels of Mg in both serum and CSF of PEM children, hoping a better understanding revealed decreased values of both blood serum and CSF levels of Mg in PEM children which denote some abnormalities in brain metabolism. Such abnormalities add further support for assumption of the link between dietary insufficiency and subnormal mental performance in PEM.

Blood glucose, glutathione, and total keto-acids levels in alloxan-diabetic rats.

This study deals with investigations in diabetic disorders. Experiments were carried out on alloxan-induced diabetes in albino rats. Blood glucose, keto acids, and glutathione were determined before and after induction of alloxan diabetes. Blood glucose and keto acids showed an increase after administration of alloxan. Glutathione showed a drop after 1/2 hour, then began to increase till it reached its normal level after 48 hours from the beginning of the diabetic state. The results are discussed.

Serum proteins and amino-acid pattern in alloxan-diabetic rats.

Serum total proteins as well as its electrophoretic separated fractions were determined in alloxan-diabetic rats. The total and individual serum amino acids were estimated. Certain abnormalities, with no specific pattern, for total and individual fractions were observed in alloxan-diabetic rats. Most of the free serum amono acids showed low values which was attributed to direct reaction of alloxan with amino acids, urinary loss of amino and/or diverse hormonal and metabolic changes.

Lactate dehydrogenase and transaminase activities in the cerebrospinal fluid of protein-energy malnourished children.

The present study is aiming to assess whether there are variations in the activities of the enzymes glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children suffering from protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). In this respect, serum and CSF activities of GOT and LDH were assayed in thirteen cases suffering from kwashiorkor and ten normal cases serving as controls. Increased activities of both enzymes in sera and CSF of PEM children compared with normals were observed. The significance of these variations was discussed.

Vitamins content of fruits and vegetables in common use in Egypt.

The vitamin content, namely vitamin C, carotene, riboflavin and nicotinic acid, of some popular vegetables and fruits was determined. It was found that the green parts of the plants were the most rich in these four vitamins. Trigonella foenum-graecum (Helba) was the richest of all vegetables and fruits in vitamin C (207 mg%). Scandicium stellatum (Shabat contains the highest value for carotene (57.3 mg%). Solanum tuberosum (Batatis) was the richest in riboflavin (0.3 mg%) and Pisum sativum (Busselah) in niacin (1.8 mg%).

Effect of authentic and natural vitamin C and carotene on amino acid absorption.

The effect of vitamin C or carotene either from authentic or natural sources on absorption of lysine, glycine and methionine was evaluated. Results revealed that maximum absorption of these amino acids was reached at different intervals from the orally given dose. Addition of ascorbic acid enhanced amino acid absorption and this effect was maximum in case of methionine. Carotene brought about variable effect to the three amino acids tested. Pepper, parsley, or orange juices did not affect the extent of intestinal lysine absorption. Pepper juice enhanced absorption of methionine in contrast to orange and parsley. Glycine absorption was markedly enhanced by addition of orange juice. Ascorbic acid suppelementation to dietary constituents is recommended for better utilization of proteins.

Serum mineral changes in dithizone-induced diabetes before and after insulin treatment.

In this study, diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of dithizone. In dithizonised diabetic animals, the levels of serum zinc, iron, and potassium were found to be higher than normal, while those of serum calcium and sodium were lower. Copper and magnesium levels were unchanged. After treatment with insulin, most of these serum levels approached the normal, except for serum potassium and magnesium.

Serum and urine amino acid pattern under the effect of carbon disulfide intoxication.

The effect of carbon disulphide intoxication on amino acid pattern was studied. Five groups of rats were treated with carbon disulphide through intramuscular injection of 0.05 ml CS2 in 0.2 mg olive oil/rat/day. A number of rats were sacrificed after receiving 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 injections. As a result of intoxication, a state of hypoaminoacidemia and hyperaminoacidurea affected all the amino acids investigated, but to variable extent. Of value to add that stoppage of carbon disulphide leads to improvement of the amino-acid pattern in group six, compared to the other groups.

Protein and amino acid pattern in juvinile diabetes.

A number of 21 diabetic juveniles and 20 controls comprised the material of this study. Serum total proteins and their electrophoretic separated fractions were estimated. Serum free amino acids were also investigated. Results showed that serum proteins were within normal range. An average increase of 49.5% in total free amino acids was reported. In general, the data for all the detected amino acids showed an average increase when compared with normal values. The significance of these findings in relation to the normal values were discussed.

Serum mineral changes in alloxan diabetes before and after treatment with some hypoglycemic drugs.

In alloxan diabetes, serum zinc, copper, iron and magnesium were significantly higher than in normal rats, while the level of serum calcium, sodium, and potassium was lower than normal. Treatment with daonil or insulin led to a normalization, as expected of the level of serum glucose and most of the other elements, except for iron and potassium. When lycanol was used for treatment, the level of all elements returned to the normal except for blood glucose, zinc and potassium.

Intestinal absorption of iron alone and in combination with authentic or natural vitamin C and carotene.

The effect of vitamin C and carotene derived from authentic or natural sources on intestinal iron absorption was studied. Vitamin C caused slight enhancement to iron absorption, while carotene hindered it. The three juices tested, namely orange, parsley and pepper, which were found to be rich in these two vitamins, hindered intestinal iron absorption to different extents. It was recommended that patients suffering from iron deficiency are not supplied with nutrients rich in carotene particulary during iron therapy.

Effect of vitamin C and carotene on the absorption of calcium from the intestine.

The effect of vitamin C or carotene either in the authentic form or naturally occurring as in orange, parsley and pepper juices on calcium absorption was studied. Results obtained revealed that ascorbic acid, orange and pepper juices enhanced intestinal calcium absorption. Carotene and parsley proved to be without effect.