Elevated glutathione S-transferase activity in erythrocytes from malnourished children

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are principally involved in detoxication. These enzymes can be induced by an increased flux of substrate, such as occurs during pro-oxidative stress or antioxidant deficiency. We tested the hypothesis that the postulated oxidative stress in severe malnutrition would result in induction of GSTs in erythocytes. Erythrocyte GST activity towards 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was measured in 271 malnourished children (22 undernourished; 92 marasmic; 82 kwashiorkor; 75 marasmic-kwashiorkor) and 48 healthy children. GST activity in the malnourished children was significnatly higher than the control group (p < 0.01). The GST activity in the four classes of malnutrition did not differ. There was a weak relationship between GST activity and the height deficit, but not with the weight deficit, or the clinical features displayed by the children. The 11 children that died had a higher value than the survivors. There was no change in GST with anthropometric recovery. We conclude that erythrocyte GST has been induced in children with malnutrition. Induction of erythrocyte GST may be the result of exposure of the children to oxidative stress during the months prior to their presentation with severe malnutrition (AU)

Mebendazole: treatment of trichuriasis and ascariasis in Bahamian children

Mebendazole (Vermox), a new broad-spectrum anthelminthic, was used in 107 Bahamian children with trichuriasis, 88 of whom had concomitant ascariasis, in a dose of 100mg twice daily for three days. After treatment, three consecutive daily formalin-ether determinations and stool egg counts by the Stoll method were performed. Egg reduction rates of 97.6 percent and 99.5 percent were obtained for Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris Lumbricoides, respectively. Respective cure rates were 68.2 percent and 98.8 percent. Drug tolerance was excellent and side effects were nil. Mebendazole was confirmed as a safe and easily administered broad-spectrum anthelminthic, particularly useful in trichuriasis (AU)

Serum Beta-aminopropionaldehyde: identification and origin

Beta-aminopropionaldehyde is one of the serum aldehydes whose level increases on treating serum with As2O3 and methanol. In animal tissues, beta-aminopropionaldehyde can arise directly from the oxidation of spermidine or diaminopropane. A pathway linking spermidine, b-aminopropionaldehyde and malondialdehyde to the control of RNA and DNA synthesis is proposed (AU)

Hypoglycin A in biological material: its detection and assay

A procedure for detection and measurement of Hypoglycin A in biological material is described, based on reaction of the amino acid with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonyl chloride (Dansyl chloride). The desired flourescent derivative can be separated from others by paper chromatography and measured by flourimetry after elution. Less than 0.2 microgram of hypoglycin A is detectable on chromatograms (AU)

Total body protein, collagen and non-collagen protein in infantile protein malnutrition

The absolute amounts of total protein, collagen and non-collagen protein were determined in the whole bodies of ten children, aged 6-16 months. Six children died of severe protein malnutrition and four were clinically well-nourished at the time of death. In the malnourished children there was severe depletion of total protein and non-collagen protein, while collagen protein was little affected. The results show that the amount of total protein is an unreliable guide to the extent of protein depletion and suggest that catabolism of collagen is greatly reduced in severe protein malnutrition.(AU)