Synbiotics for the Management of Malnutrition (Children)

weight change observed in patients

Number of stools per day

For hematological and biochemical screening 5 mL venous blood was taken after 12 h fasting in vacutainers tubes containing ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA). Complete blood count (CBC) was carried out using haemocytometer

The assay is based on the selective interaction between BCG and albumin forming a chromophore that can be detected at 620 nm using spectrophotometer. The signal is directly proportional to the amount of albumin present in the serum. BCG does not react with other abundant plasma proteins like IgG

Serum electrolytes such as Na and K were analyzed by electrolyte analyzer (Biolyte 2000; BioCare Corporation, Taiwan). Briefly, 10 mL blood was obtained from each subject and then blood samples were allowed to stand for 1 h to clot. Thereafter, blood samples were centrifuged at 300 rpm, 15 min at room temperature. The supernatant was then separated from the settled bottom blood cells

anti-coagulated blood was allowed to stand in a narrow vertical glass tube, undisturbed for a period of time, the RBCs under the influence of gravity settled out from the plasma. The rate at which they settled was measured as the number of millimeters of clear plasma present at the top of the column after one hour (mm/h).

ALT is an important indicator of liver disease. The series of reactions involved in the assay system is as follows; L-Alanine + 2- oxoglutarate → Pyruvate + L-Glutamate; Pyruvate + NADH → Lactate+ NAD. Then this rate of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) consumption is determined photo metrically that is proportional to ALT activity in the sample.

The AST is the cellular enzyme, is found in highest concentration in heart muscle, the cells of the liver and the cells of the skeletal muscle. The rate of decrease in concentration of NADH, measured photometrically at 340 nm is proportional to the catalytic concentration of AST present in the sample.

For the determination of alkaline phosphatase, the following protocol was adopted . Alkaline phosphatase release phenol from para nitrophenylphosphate, the phenol in alkaline medium gives yellow color which can be estimated with spectrophotometer at 405 nm. The reagents required for this experiment are R1=diethanolamine (pH 9.8, 1.2 mol/L), magnesium chloride (0.6 mmol/L); R2=p-nitrophenylphosphate (50 mmol/L).