[Microparasitocenosis of the intestines and the activity of intestinal enzymes in patients with trichocephaliasis during treatment]. / Mikroparazitotsenoz kishechnika i aktivnost' kishechnykh fermentov u bol'nykh trikhotsefalezom v protsesse lecheniia.

Results of the studies of large intestine microflora, enterokinase and alkaline phosphatase activity in the feces of 298 children and adults suffering from trichocephaliasis are presented. Intestinal dysbacteriosis was observed in 51.7% cases, increased enterokinase activity, in 57.6% cases and increased alkaline phosphatase activity, in 55% cases. Enteric enzyme activity relation to the state of enteric microflora is demonstrated. Specific bephenium hydroxynaphthoate and mebendazole treatment was followed by increased dysbacteriosis and higher intestinal enzyme activity, especially in case of bephenium hydroxynaphthoate treatment. Normalization of the above-mentioned parameters was observed 90-120 days after the end of the treatment.

Intestinal beta-galactosidases. II. Biochemical alteration in human lactase deficiency.

Despite the high prevalence of intestinal lactase deficiency in some racial groups and in patients with intestinal disease, the biochemical defect has not been characterized. In the preceding paper normal intestine was found to have two lactases with distinctly different pH optima. Therefore, pH activity curves of homogenates from lactase-deficient intestine were studied, and the pH optimum was found to be shifted from the normal of 5.8 to 4.8. Density gradient ultracentrifugation of intestinal material from five lactase-deficient patients demonstrated absence of a lactase with pH optimum 6.0 and molecular weight 280,000. A second lactase with pH optimum 4.5 and molecular weights of 156,000 and 660,000 remained at normal levels accounting for the shift in the pH optimum in whole intestinal homogenates. In addition, three of the five patients had absence of a smaller beta-galactosidase (molecular weight 80,000) that had specificity only for synthetic substrates. Although not a lactase, this enzyme had a pH optimum identical with the missing lactase, and its activity was inhibited by lactose in a partially competitive manner suggesting that it is capable of binding lactose. It is possible that this enzyme is a precursor or fragment of the missing lactase.The residual lactase activity provided by the lactase with low pH optimum represents 20-70% of the activity of the missing enzyme, and yet these patients are not able to digest dietary lactose. Thus it appears that the residual enzyme plays no significant role in the hydrolysis of ingested lactose.