Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism in Cancer Cachexia (Medical Intelligence Unit)

An organized overview of cancer cachexia, a complex syndrome characterized primarily by diminished nutrient intake and progressive tissue depletion that manifests clinically as anorexia and weight loss. Describes techniques and methodologies to evaluate protein and amino acid metabolism, including animal models and invasive and non-invasive techniques used with humans; summarizes the animal and human data from such studies; and reviews therapeutic interventions for the disorder, including nutritional support, hormonal modulation of protein and amino acid metabolism, and the role of specific amino acids. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.