Serum transaminases and isocitric dehydrogenase in kwashiorkor

Enzymes and the assessment of protein nutrition

This symposium is concerned with the assessment of protein nutritional status in man. The question we have to examine is whether measurements of enzyme activity are, or may be in the future, of any value for this purpose. There are several concepts which may be useful in considering this problem, such as the nature of enzymes and the regulation of their amount in the body, the effect on activity of a biochemical lesion at the cellular level, and the adaptive changes that reflect an altered balance of metabolic pathways.

Cystic fibrosis and coeliac disease: coexistence in two children

Two children, unrelated, in whom cystic fibrosis had been diagnosed at the ages of 14 weeks and 10 months, respectively, were found subsequently to suffer from coeliac disease as well. Both children are responding well to dietary gluten withdrawal and to conventional treatment for cystic fibrosis. It is suggested that cystic fibrosis may predispose to the development of coeliac disease. Therefore, jejunal biopsy may be a useful investigation in the occasional child with cystic fibrosis, who presents with unusual features, and who fails to thrive as well as expected.

Enzymes and the assessment of protein nutriton

This symposium is concerned with the assessment of protein nutritional status in man. The question we have to examine is whether measurements of enzyme activity are, or may be in the future, of any value for this purpose. There are several concepts which may be useful in considering this problem, such as the nature of enzymes and the regulation of their amount in the body, the effect on activity of a biochemical lesion at the cellular level, and the adaptive changes that reflect an altered balance of metabolic pathways.