BACKGROUND We previously reported an association between tryptophan (Trp) catabolism and immune dysfunction in HIV monoinfection. Coinfection with HIV is associated with more rapid evolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease despite antiretroviral therapy (ART), possibly due to immune dysregulation. We hypothesized that liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV coinfection would be associated...

The metabolism of radioiodinated IgG was studied in 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 11 normal controls using autologous IgG and homologous IgG pooled from normal donors. Fractional catabolic rates in the controls were 4.44% of the autologous- and 4.29% of the homologous-labeled protein per day. The corresponding rates in the rheumatoid patients were 9.67% of the autologous- and 8.64% ...

INTRODUCTION Severe sepsis and trauma are associated with protein catabolism, negative nitrogen balance and immunosuppression and represent a major threat to survival. Nutritional support in these circumstances maintains nitrogen balance and reduces both mortality and morbidity.1-4 However catabolism associated with sepsis is not reversed by standard hyperalimentation formulations.5 There is ev...

Following thyroidectomy the catabolism of nitrogen is accelerated, as indicated by studies both on fed and fasting rats.' "8 In an earlier report evidence was presented which showed that after thyroidectomy the rate of amino acid catabolism is elevated, while at the same time, a fall in the rate of conversion of body protein to amino acids occurs. The nitrogen output of fasting hypothyroid anim...

The effect of carbohydrate on arginine utilization by excised bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Tendergreen) leaves in the dark was studied by adding arginine to leaves differing in carbohydrate levels, and measuring the arginine content of the leaves at intervals. In nonstarved leaves, the arginine content decreased steadily after vacuum infiltration of 10 mm arginine and was essentially comple...