Protein-calorie malnutrition in Egypt. I. Immunoelectrophoretic studies on urinary proteins

Red blood cells amino-acid pattern in protein energy malnutrition and the effect of oral dosing with single amino acids

R.B.C.'s amino acid pattern was investigated in control and PEM subjects. The effect of oral dosing with cysteine, tryptophan and lysine on total amino acid nitrogen level of R.B.C.s was also studied. Results revealed that in moderate and severe kwashiorkor the total essential and non-essential R.B.C.'s amino acids were decreased. In 2nd grade marasmus the total R.B.C.'s amino acids in general showed lower values than normal. After oral administration of the tested amino acids, the transport index calculated as the level of maximum value of the total R.B.C.'s amino acids reached to the fasting level was lower in malnourished cases relative to controls except in 2nd grade marasmic cases given tryptophan or lysine. This criteria was considered to indicate lower rate of amino acid transport to R.B.C.s due to lower concentration in plasma or shift of transport mechanism from active transport to exchange diffusion.

Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) in Egypt immunological changes of salivary protein in PCM

Whole saliva protein as well as the separated protein components were estimated in normal and malnourished Egyptian infants and young children. In normal, 8 protein components (Albumin, alpha1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, beta2-lipoprotein, transferrin, IgA, IgM and IgG) were detected, while in PCM cases two more components (prealbumin and alpha2-macroglobulin) were found. The results also showed that the level of salivary protein components are markedly increased in edematous cases. In non-edeomatous ones, the level of these constituents are slightly increased in 3rd marasmus, but diminished in 2nd grade. It is concluded that the elevation of protein components in saliva of edematous cases could be a result of severe glandular tissue involvement as compared to controls and non-edematous cases. The value of IgA immunoglobulin as specific antibody originated from blood plasma and/or salivary glands may be used to reflect the extent of tissue affection in salivary glands of malnourished cases.

Salivary amino acids and proteins in normal and malnourished Egyptian infants and young children

Amino acids and proteins in whole saliva of normal and malnourished Egyptian infants and young children were investigated. 16 amino acids, 7 of them are essential, could be detected in saliva of normal infants. Electrophoretic analysis revealed the existence of 10 protein components in saliva of either normal or malnourished infants. In oedematous cases, salivary aminoacids, particularly the essential ones, were increased as well as most of the protein components. In non-oedematous cases, the pattern was more or less normal, but in 3rd grade marasmus, amino acid and protein components of saliva were somewhat increased. The conclusion was drawn that such increase is mainly due to tissue degeneration which is more marked in oedematous than non-oedematous form of the disease.