Nuclear Medicine Technology and Other Health Applications
Project Title: Metabolism of Carbon Labeled Compounds
L6.
Technical Progress in FY 1973:
(Contd)
RxX-01-03- (e)
studies of the American Negro and African Bantu.
Some subjects were
given 400 mg doses of carbon-14 labeled Irkynurenine and the study
requires several more subjects receiving 200 mg doses.
Observations reported
last year suggest that South African pellagrins
have subnormal vitamin Bg coenzyme levels in addition to the previously
proposed stress-induced increase in the activity of tryptophan pyrrolase
or a lack of feedback control of this enzyme by low pyridine nucleotides.
A grant (strongly recommended by the Japanese-American Study Commission)
has been obtained from the DHEW to provide two technicians to continue this
internationally important project.
In 1972 a iimited number of pellagra patients were studied during
the pellagra season in SouthAfrica. At the request of Dr. Roux, President,
and Dr. Jansen, Head of the Life Sciences Division, SAAEB, the study will
be completed in 1973 with travel and laboratory expenses paid by SAAEB.
In addition, patients with primary hepatoma
will aiso be studied.
This
hepatoma is nutritionally based, causes death within three months, and
has a mortality rate of more than 150 per hundred thousand per year among
the Bantu.
A BNL research collaborator, Dr..Ludwig Feinendegen, Director of
The Institut for Medicine, KFA, Julich, Germany, has requested a week's
visit by the Principal Investigator to set up a collaborative study at
Julich utilizing double labeled tryptophan.
17.
.
(Hankes)
Expected Results in FY 1974;
Due to the resignation of the Principal Investigator on carbohydrate
and lipid metabolism to accept a position as Head, Nuclear Medicine,
Veterans Administration Hospital, Northport, New York, this area of the
medical research program will be phased out.
During the fiscal year,
there will be continuing expenses in order to complete the clinical
responsibilities to patients participating in the study.
(Shreeve)
Work on the mechanism of formation of the 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic
‘acid in humans is planned. Before conclusive statements can be made
con
ing mechanisms, studies of enzyme methylation reactions forming
me
kynurenine and methoxyanthranilic acid are required. Difficulties
in {
Mining fresh human autopsy material may delay completion of this
pro
> The relationship of these xanthurenic acid compounds to insulin
and its control of carbohydrates will be investigated by Dr. de Bruin.
Additional compounds will be prepared, resolved and standardized
for further studies of pellagra, scurvy and hepatic cancer patients in
South Africa and malaria patients at Stateville Prison in Illinois.
(See Continuation Sheet)
RX-85
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