title: Kwashiorkor: an electron histochemical study of the hair shaft.
abstract: Previous studies on hair in kwashiorkor have been equivocal regarding the normal or abnormal incorporation of amino acids into the hair shaft. In this study we have applied a sensitive electron histochemical technique to transverse sections of scalp hair from children with severe kwashiorkor in order to study its ultrastructure and the incorporation of sulphur-containing amino acids (cystine). We have found no evidence to support the idea that a protein deficient diet in the weaning or post-weaning period directly affects the distribution and relative amounts of sulphur-containing amino acids in the hair shaft in this disease.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003553:Cystine / Q000378:metabolism; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007732:Kwashiorkor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
chemical_list: D003553:Cystine