Serum amino acids

Hyperammonemia has occurred during parenteral nutrition as a component of therapy for renal insufficiency (905). The hyperammonemia presented as a change in mental status, developing about 3 weeks after initiation of parenteral nutrition therapy in most cases the episodes are of increasing duration and paroxysmal. In three of the patients, serum amino acid analysis in the acute phase showed reduced concentrations of ornithine and citrulline (the respective substrate and product of condensation with carbamyl phosphate at its entry into the urea cycle). Concentrations of arginine, the precursor to ornithine, were raised. 

A 61-year-old man with epilepsy had altered consciousness after his dose of valproate was increased because of poor seizure control. Electroencephalography showed triphasic waves and high-amplitude delta-wave activity with frontal predominance. Although serum aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were normal, the serum ammonium concentration was high at 960 ng/ml (reference range 30-470). Serum amino acid analysis showed multiple minor abnormalities. Valproate was withdrawn. He improved within 4 days... 

Joelsson, B., Asinnd, U., Hultberg, B., Alwmark, A., Gullstrand, P., Bengmark, S. Portal-systemic encephalopathy. Influence of shunt surgery and relations to serum amino acids. Scand. X Gastroenterol. 1986 21 900-906... 

C2. Cawley, L. P., Goodwin, W. L., and Dibbern, P., One-dimensional paper chromatography of serum amino acids with particular reference to phenylalanine. Amer. J. Clin. Pathol. 48, 405-412 (1967). 

A newborn becomes progressively lethargic after feeding and increases his respiratory rate. He becomes virtually comatose, responding only to painful stimuli, and exhibits mild respiratory alkalosis. Suspicion of a urea cycle disorder is aroused and evaluation of serum amino acid levels is initiated. In the presence of hyperammonemia, production of which of the following amino acids is always increased ... 

Amino acids constitute the second largest source of nonprotein nitrogen in serum, urea being major source. The determination of total serum amino acids can provide valuable clinical information. Single amino acids are measured to gain access to particular enzyme activities of transaminases and peptidases for instance. Amino acids are also important in the food industry and in biotechnology. Their concentration in food can be used as a measure of the nutritive value of the food. 

In the severely ill infant, measurements of serum ammonia and lactate, urinary organic acids, urinary and serum amino acids and erythrocyle galacto.se I-phosphale uridyl transferase will be required. If the baby has a problem which is apparent intermittently, then blood and urine should be collected for analysis during the acute phase. 

In mice and rats hematopoiesis occurs in the liver during embryonic development. Besides spleen and bone marrow cell suspensions from adult animals, embryonic liver cell suspensions have been used to test substances which stimulate hematopoiesis. The cells are seeded on soft (0.3%) agar and supplemented with inactivated serum, amino acids, and vitamins for the in vitro culture (Pluznik and Sachs, 1965). Two groups of investigators have purified substances which stimulate the formation of colonies of granulocytes (leukocytes with segmented nuclei) and a cell type which has been called macrophages (or monocytes). 

N2 Nakarai, K., Sasaki, T. and Honda, T. Influence of diet on serum amino acid concentrations in alimentary fatty liver in rats. Presented at the 11th International Congress of Nutrition, August 27-September 1 (1978), Rio de Janeiro... 

Protein Growth velocity, serum liver enzyme levels, liver size by examination Urine and serum amino acid levels, serum glucose serum proteins (e.g., albumin, prealbumin, clotting factors, alpha-l-antitrypsin, transferrin), serum liver enzyme levels, liver size by examination and ultrasound... 

Gas Chromatographic Separation of DNP Amino Acids and Its Application to the Analysis of Serum Amino Acids... 

Determination of Serum Amino Acids and Urinary Organic Acids by Gas-Liquid Chromatography and Capillary Uniform Speed Electrophoresis in Patients with Various Diseases Eisei Kensa 28(l) 52-57 (1979) CA 91 171037a... 

Use of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for the Diagnosis and Study of Metabolic Disorders. I. Screening and Identification of Urinary and Serum Amino Acids... 

Results Balance data> serum amino acid patterns and triglyceride levels... 

Table IV Serum Amino Acids (Micromoles per Litre)...

Our knowledge of serum amino acid patterns during infusions is still insufficient to draw definite conclusions. However, our data are in accordance with the general view that the essential and semiessential amino acids should be supplied in a requirement adapted pattern, while the non-essential amino acids should be provided in such proportional amounts as not to distort the sertffn amino acid pattern during infusion. The interconversion of different non-essential amino acids appears not to be sufficiently rapid to abolish the effects of the infused amino acid mixture on the serum amino acid pattern during infusion. 

During the period of parenteral nutrition, we measured serum amino acid concentrations in each child at intervals of 2 - 4 days. The measurements were made in such a way that values obtained from several children were obtained during the same study period. However, since the serum concentrations of some amino acids varied in different children, concentrations of some amino acids appeared to fluctuate. 

This study has shown that large changes in serum amino acid concentrations may arise when infusions of amino acid solutions are given to premature infants. 

A screening technique which consists of the paper chromatography of serum amino acids. It is used for the detection of inborn disorders of amino acid metabolism. 

Pitkanen H, Mero A, Oja SS, Komi PV, Pontinen PJ, Saransaari P, Takala T. Serum amino acid responses to three different exercise sessions in male power athletes. J Sports Med Phys Eitness 2002 42 472-480. 

Huq F, Thompson M, Ruell P. Changes in serum amino acid concentrations during prolonged endurance running. Jpn J Physiol 1993 43 797-807. 

Halvorsen, S., Stokke, O. and Eldjarn, E. (1970), Abnormal patterns of urine and serum amino acids in methylmalonic acidemia. Acta Paediat. Scand.y 59,28. 

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