Plasma amino acid concentrations in elderly patients with protein energy malnutrition.

OBJECTIVE: to compare amino acid concentrations in healthy and malnourished elderly patients. METHOD: plasma amino acid concentrations were examined in 24 men and women (80-100 years of age) with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and compared with those of 44 healthy, similarly-aged controls. Plasma samples were determined by using cation exchange columns with ninhydrin detection in an high performance liquid chromatography system. RESULTS: essential amino acid and non-essential amino acid plasma concentrations were significantly decreased in PEM (0.01 < P < 0.0001). Branched-chain amino acids and urea cycle amino acid plasma concentrations fell significantly (P < 0.0001). Plasma concentrations of alanine and glutamic acid + glutamine were also significantly reduced (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: in underweight elderly patients, the plasma amino acid pattern reflects the severity of the metabolic disturbance.

Treatment with vigabatrin may mimic alpha-aminoadipic aciduria.

PURPOSE: We describe a secondary effect of treatment with vigabatrin (VGB). A significant increase in alpha-aminoadipic acid (AAA) occurred in plasma and urine of VGB-treated children, thus mimicking a known rare metabolic disease, alpha-aminoadipic aciduria (AAAuria). METHODS: We studied eight children, aged from 3 months to 5 years, who were receiving VGB for drug-resistant partial epilepsies. Plasma and urine amino acids were assayed with ninhydrin detection on an automated Beckman 6300 analyzer. RESULTS: In eight out of eight children, there was a significant increase of AAA in plasma and in urine. Plasma values ranged from 7 to 8 microM (control values, < 5) and urinary values from 67 to 274 mmol/mol creatinine (control values, < 25). CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of AAA in these VGB-treated children were as high as the concentrations found in the inherited metabolic disease, AAAuria. This could lead to incorrect diagnosis and to inappropriate genetic counseling. Thus whenever a genetic metabolic disease is suspected, amino acid chromatography testing should be performed before initiation of treatment with VGB.

[Effect of the age and the sex on plasma concentration of amino acids]. / Effet de l'âge et du sexe sur les concentrations des acides aminés plasmatiques.

The effects of age and sex on the plasma free amino acid pattern of healthy men and women aged from 80 to 100 years were compared with those in younger adults (20 to 45 years old). Plasma amino acid concentrations were determined by ion-exchange chromatography on a 6300 Beckman analyzer. The plasma concentrations of valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, glutamine + glutamic acid and phenylalanine were higher in males than in females. Citrulline, half-cystine, histidine, glutamine+glutamic acid, lysine, ornithine and phenylalanine plasma concentrations and the total plasma amino acids were higher in elderly than in younger subjects.

Lysosomal enzymes and severity of saphen varicosis.

The severity of the varicosis estimated clinically and histologically is well correlated with the seric levels of beta-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase. No correlations are observed with the arylsulfatase level in serum nor with the levels in venous tissue for the three enzymes.

Activity of citrulline malate on acid-base balance and blood ammonia and amino acid levels. Study in the animal and in man.

An experimental evaluation of citrulline malate (Stimol, CAS 54940-97-5), an anti-fatigue compound, was undertaken in man and in the animal in order to study the pharmacological activity of the substance at hepatic and renal level. In man, the protocol involved a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over technique. The study in the animal was blind and placebo-controlled with two randomized parallel groups. Results showed that citrulline malate stimulates hepatic ureogenesis and favorizes the renal reabsorption of bicarbonates. These metabolic actions had a protective effect against acidosis and ammonia poisoning and explain the anti-fatigue properties of citrulline malate in man.

[A specific radioimmunologic assay for human placental alkaline phosphatase and its clinical applications]. / Mise au point d'un dosage radioimmunologique spécifique de la phosphatase alcaline placentaire humaine et ses applications cliniques.

A radioimmunoassay specific for placental alkaline phosphatase (PALP) has been performed. Sera from blood donors contain less than 15 micrograms of PALP per liter. The amounts of PALP found in sera of pregnant women are higher, as soon as the first trimester of the pregnancy, increasing until delivery (50-600 micrograms of PALP L I). Only 3,5% of the patients with various cancer diseases have amounts higher than 25 micrograms PALP/I.

[Ferritin and breast cancer]. / Ferritine et cancer du sein.

Studies of human breast cancers show that tumoral tissues have a much higher ferritin content (mean : 4,5 times) than normal tissues. However, only 10% of patients without metastasis present raised levels of serum ferritin, whereas hyperferritinemia is observed in almost 95% of patients with liver, bone or lung metastasis.

Study of human isoferritins from liver, spleen, heart and placenta by the microcomplement fixation technique.

Ferritin, iron storage protein, presents two types of subunits, H and L, the respective proportions of which varying with the tissue of origin and defining molecules called isoferritins. This work attempts to compare four human ferritins (from liver, spleen, heart and placenta) by means of the microcomplement fixation technique. Results show that placenta and liver ferritins are closely related, while slight but significant differences appear between liver, spleen and heart ferritins. These differences are obviously less important compared to those observed between ferritins from different species of origin, as shown by the results expressed in terms of index of dissimilarity or immunological distance. Those results are fully consistent with the elementary aminoacid composition as well as with the relative proportions of H and L subunits among the various types of human isoferritins we have studied.

[Difficulties of the microassay of plasma aminoacids (author's transl)]. / Difficultés du dosage des acides aminés plasmatiques par microméthode.

The difficulties encountered in developing a microassay of plasma aminoacids are presented. Blood was collected by capillary puncture simultaneously at the heel, finger tip and from the lobe of the ear and the results were compared with those obtained from venous blood. Capillary plasma was shown to be contaminated by free aminoacids from the skin, which causes a considerable elevation especially of the serine level. Glycine, ornithine and histidine were also often increased. Our findings suggest that caution is necessary when interpreting aminoacid results estimated on blood collected by capillary puncture.

[Effect of a tissue oxygenator (almitrine + raubasine) on the metabolism of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate of rabbits submitted by hypoxia]. / Effet d'un oxygénateur tissulaire (almitrine + raubasine) sur le métabolisme du 2,3-diphosphoglycérate du lapin soumis à une hypoxie.

In normoxic rabbits, the intravenous injection (1 mg/kg) of the product (almitrine + raubasine) do not modify the erythrocytic level of 2,3-DPG. But, after hypoxia (the rabbits being submitted to an oxygen pressure of 7,8 kPa during 20 minutes) the same dose of this product induce a durable rise of erythrocytic 2,3-DPG level which remain, 24 hours latter, + 15% above normal.

[EB 51 (Trivemil), a complete nutriment for parenteral alimentation]. / L'EB 51 (Trivemil) nutriment complet pour l'alimentation parentérale.

EB 51 (Trivemil) is an original fat emulsion containing L. aminoacids and glucids in its liquid phase in the following proportions: amino acids: 60 gl/l corresponding to 8,77 g of nitrogen or 250 calories, sorbitol: 100 g/l or 400 calories wheatgerm oil: 38 g/l or 350 calories. This preparation supplies 1000 per liter. Its objective is to furnish simultaneously the amino acids as well as the energy necessary for their anabolism. EB 51 was administered in 43 patients during several days at a dosage of 1000 or 1500 ml. The tolerance of the product was excellent. Its usefulness was appreciated by nitrogen balance studies as well lipid blood tests. The clearing of the plasma in practically all the cases was very good and the nitrogen saved was almost equivalent to the amount furnished. The indications, dosage and contreindications of EB 51 are detailed.