Plasma levels of branched chain amino acids in patients on regular hemodialysis before and after including a high-protein supplement in their diet.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on hemodialysis have low plasma level of the branched chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine, and valine. The abnormalities in the plasma amino acid pool can be corrected with appropriate high-protein supplements. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of a balanced protein nutritional supplement on the plasma level of BCAA.

[The composition and structure of isolectins from Arum maculatum].

The delipidized saline extract of Arum maculatum (AM) contains two selectively agglutinating human spermatozoa isolectinesphytospermoagglutinins (FSA1 and FSA2), which bind to various receptors of spermatozoon plasmalemma. It is established by means of disc polyacrilamide electrophoresis amino acid analysis and isoelectric focusing that FSA1 is tetrameter, but FSA2-octameter, which have similar amino-acid content and do not contain carbohydrates. The established structural differences probably cause also the capability of FSA1 and FSA2 to bind various receptors of spermatozoon plasmalemma.

Comparative determination of riboflavin in milk by HPLC and lumiflavin methods.

A sensitive method for the determination of riboflavin in milk is described. It involves HPLC at room temperature with fluorescence detection. The technique has good recovery, for milk 98% and for yogurt 93%.