Low protein

About: Low protein is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8139 publications have been published within this topic receiving 213225 citations.

The interactive effects of protein quality and macronutrient imbalance on nutrient balancing in an insect herbivore.

Abstract: The present study evaluates the interactive effects of protein quality and the ratio of protein to digestible carbohydrate on herbivore performance, various aspects of nutritional homeostasis (feeding and post-ingestive regulation) and food choice. In the first experiment, final-instar caterpillars of generalist-feeding African cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were confined to one of 20 diets varying in protein:carbohydrate (P:C) ratio (35:7, 28:14, 21:21, 14:28 and 7:35) and in the quality of dietary protein (0%, 20%, 50% and 80% replacement of casein-based protein mix with the low-quality plant protein, zein). Results indicated that the negative impact of low-quality protein on survival, development and growth was amplified as the P:C ratio of the diet fell. Consumption differences were the main underlying cause of this response. The effect of low protein quality was to reduce the efficiency of nitrogen utilization and to increase the conversion rate of ingested nutrient to lipid growth, irrespective of P:C ratio. In the second experiment, caterpillars were allowed to self-compose their preferred diet, selecting between one of four high-protein diets (all 35:7, but containing 0%, 20%, 50% or 80% zein) and one of four equal-P:C-ratio diets (21:21, again containing 0%, 20%, 50% or 80% zein). Caterpillars showed a compensatory increase in their self-selected P:C intake in response to the moderate decline in protein quality of the 35:7 food. No such response was demonstrated for the insects presented with 35:7 food with the lowest protein quality. The significance of these findings is discussed within the context of herbivore food selection.

Physicochemical composition and techno-functional properties of bee pollen collected in Serbia

Abstract: Physicochemical composition and techno-functional properties of bee pollens collected in Serbia were assessed. Analysed bee pollen contained 14.81–27.25% proteins, 1.31–6.78% lipids, 64.42–81.84% carbohydrates and 1.18–3.21% ash, with mean energy value of 375 kcal. Bee pollen showed low protein solubility (2.79–25.90 g/100 g), high carbohydrate solubility (31.2–75 g/100 g), good emulsifying properties (emulsion stability index ranged from 19.6 to 49.3 min and emulsion activity index ranged from 10.40 to 24.52 m2/g), non-foaming properties, poor water absorption capacity (0.92–2.25 g/g) and excellent oil absorption capacity (1–3.53 g/g). Protein solubility was positively correlated with carbohydrate content (r = 0.73, p

Development and Evaluation of Novel Surfactant-Based Elastic Vesicular System for Ocular Delivery of Fluconazole

Abstract: Purpose: Fluconazole is a bis-triazole antifungal agent with a low molecular weight (306 Da). It is hydrophilic in nature and has low protein binding. It is available as eye drops for the treatment of ocular mycoses, the second most common cause of blindness in developing countries. However, its administration often results in poor patient compliance and limited use due to its short half-life (15–30 min) and a low log P (0.25). Therefore, fluconazole was incorporated into a novel sorbitan (spans) based elastic (spanlastic) vesicular system with intent to achieve a prolonged and better effect. Spanlastics are to niosomes what Transfersomes® are to liposomes. Methods: Developed spanlastics consisted of spans and an edge activator prepared by the ether injection method. Developed vesicles were characterized for size, shape, and the number of vesicles/ml by optical microscopy. Entrapment efficiency was determined by the dialysis method, and the ex vivo corneal permeability study was performed using p...

Low Protein Z Levels and Risk of Ischemic Stroke: Differences by Diabetic Status and Gender

Abstract: Protein Z was recently shown to act as an essential cofactor for protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor, a potent downregulator of coagulation Factor Xa. Thus, deficiency of protein Z is hypothesized to lead to a prothrombotic state, but two publications reported opposing results for the relationship of protein Z levels with ischemic stroke in young European subjects (mean age 33–40 years). We performed a study of stroke in a different ethnic population of greater mean age (57 years) to further clarify this issue. An ELISA was developed to measure protein Z antigen in 154 patients with ischemic stroke and in 206 controls in a largely Hispanic population. Low plasma protein Z values were significantly associated with ischemic stroke except in diabetic subjects and females. The mean protein Z value was significantly lower in stroke cases than in controls for nondiabetic subjects [1.78 ± 0.77 (S.D.) versus 2.28 ± 0.88 μg/ml, P < 0.0001] and for males (1.90 ± 0.90 versus 2.42 ± 0.99 μg/ml, P = 0.0004). Stroke risk was higher in subjects with protein Z levels at or below the fifteenth percentile of controls (≤1.46 μg/ml). The odds ratios were: 2.6 for all subjects (95% C.I. = 1.5–4.3); 3.8 for nondiabetic subjects (95% C.I. = 2.2–6.8); and 3.6 for males (95% C.I. = 2.0–6.4). This study also revealed high protein Z levels associated with high triglyceride levels in controls (P = 0.015). Protein Z is suggested to be a physiologic downregulator of blood coagulation and low protein Z levels are associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke, particularly in males and in the absence of diabetes.

Cupressaceae pollinosis: identification, purification and cloning of relevant allergens.

Abstract: Allergy to Cupressaceae pollen is a worldwide pollinosis caused by several species. Pollen extracts prepared from allergenic species belonging to this family are characterised by low protein and high carbohydrate content. The allergenic components represented in the pollen extracts from different species of the Cupressaceae family show high levels of cross-reactivity when probed with human IgE from allergic subjects and share a number of common epitopes also identified by polyclonal rabbit antisera and monoclonal antibodies. A close relationship has also been described with the Taxodiaceae and Podocarpaceae families. Although both proteic and carbohydrate epitopes appear to be involved in IgE recognition and allergenic cross-reactivity, a large portion of the IgE reactivity of Cupressaceae-allergic patients seems to be associated with sugar moieties present on the relevant allergenic molecules. From this point of view, Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae allergens constitute a particularly useful model to study IgE cross-reactivity, as they have been shown to display different levels of homology. Moreover, the availability of the purified allergens, together with their recombinant counterparts, may shed light on the actual role played by carbohydrate in allergic sensitisation, IgE recognition and allergenic cross-reactivity.