title: Studies of the free faecal amines of infants with gastroenteritis and of healthy infants.
abstract: The free primary amines present in the faeces of 44 infants (1-18 months) with gastroenteritis have been examined by field desorption mass spectrometry of the lactone form of their fluorescamine derivatives without their prior separation. p-Tyramine, 2-phenylethylamine, the diamines, putrescine and cadaverine and several of their acyl derivatives were common constituents, but a number of other amines were also characterised. Using thin layer chromatography and field desorption mass spectrometry of the amine dansyl derivatives a comparative study was made of the faecal amines of 13 selected infants with gastroenteritis (diarrhoea) and of 13 healthy infants. p-Tyramine, the most abundant amine, was significantly higher (p = 0.02) in the sick infants. The overall presence of p-tyramine was more significantly related to the diet of the infants. Faecal tyramine was low in breast fed infants but significantly higher (p = 0.01) in infants fed cow's milk.
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008892:Milk; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000032:analysis; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000032:analysis; D014439:Tyramine / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D010627:Phenethylamines; D014363:Tryptamines; D014439:Tyramine