R.R.W. Townley

TOXICITY OF WHEAT GLIADIN FRACTIONS IN CŒLIAC DISEASE

Abstract Fraction 9, one of ten fractions obtained Summary by chromatography of a peptic-tryptic-pancreatinic digest of wheat gliadin disrupted rat-liver lysosomes, inhibited morphological improvement of cœliac mucosa in organ culture, and yielded the highest haemagglutination titres with sera of patients with cœliac disease (C.D.). Since fraction 9 is defectively digested by duodenal mucosa from patients with C.D. in remission, the results support the view that the lesion in C.D. is caused by a deficiency of an intestinal peptidase which allows the accumulation of peptides which are toxic to the mucosa.

MICROBIAL FLORA AND DISACCHARIDASE DEPRESSION IN INFANTILE GASTROENTERITIS

Abstract. Barnes, G. L., Bishop, R. F. and Townley, R. R. W. (Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). Microbial Flora and Disacharidase Depression in Infantile Gastroenteritis. Acta Paediatr Scand, 63: 423, 1974.–In infants with acute gastroenteritis, disaccharidase activity in duodenum is depressed in a majority of patients. There is a statistically significant association between abundant growth of Candida albicans in the duodenum and depression of lactase activity at the same level.