Lipoprotein lipase in relation to inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To evaluate the impact of chronic inflammation on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) levels and triglyceride metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Design. Plasma levels of LPL activity and mass before and after heparin were determined in post-menopausal women with active RA and in controls. The results were related to lipid levels and inflammatory variables. The LPL activity and mass together with triglyceride levels were also measured before and 6 h after an oral fat load. Setting. The study was performed on in- and out-patients at a University Rheumatology clinic. The controls came from the same reference area. Subjects. Altogether 17 consecutive post-menopausal female patients with RA and 16 age and sex matched controls were enrolled for the initial determination of LPL. Fifteen of the patients and 15 of the controls agreed to take part in the fat load. Of these, one patient and one control were excluded. Main outcome measures. LPL determination: basal levels and post-heparin levels of LPL activity and mass. Correlations between LPL and blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides), lipoprotein levels (high density lipoprotein, HDL; low density lipoprotein, LDL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) acute phase proteins (orosomucoid, haptoglobin, fibrinogen mass) and cytokines (tumour necrosis factor α, TNF-α; interleukin 1β, IL-1β; and interleukin-6, IL-6). Fat tolerance test: LPL activity, mass and triglyceride levels before and 6 h after a per oral fat load. Results. Pre-heparin LPL mass (P<0.01) and activity (P<0.01) were significantly lower in the rheumatoid patients. Pre-heparin LPL mass showed no correlation to the lipid levels, but an inverse correlation to several inflammatory parameters; it was significant for orosomucoid (r_s=?0.63, P<0.05) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (r_s=?0.54, P<0.05) and close to significant for haptoglobin (r_s=?0.48, P=0.087) and IL-6 (r_s=?0.52, P=0.061). Six hours after a lipid load the LPL activity and mass were significantly lower in RA (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) but the triglyceride level was not significantly different compared to controls. Conclusion. An inverse relationship exists between inflammatory status and pre-heparin LPL mass. Pre-heparin LPL mass reflects mainly the inactive monomeric fraction of LPL. This has been shown to hinder the uptake of remnant lipoprotein particles through competition with lipoprotein bound dimeric LPL for the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP receptor) on hepatocytes and macrophages in culture. A decrease of the level of monomeric LPL in plasma may thus be beneficial for remnant catabolism. The same mechanism may on the other hand increase macrophage uptake of lipids. This may not affect global lipid metabolism but may be important in driving the atherosclerotic process in the vessel wall.     

北京市城乡乳母的营养状况、乳成分和婴儿摄入母乳量及生长发育的关系——Ⅲ母乳的脂质分析

本文报导了1983～1984年北京市城区(宣武区),近郊区(西红门)和远郊区(大皮营)母乳脂质成分的测定结果,并结合乳母营养状况给予评价。 共测定了207例母乳比重,平均范围在1.018～1.023之间;测定了216例母乳的脂肪含量(g/100g乳),城区平均值为3.78,近郊区为3.31,远郊区为3.08,城区的显著较高;测定了194例母乳胆固醇含量,初乳的最高(23.4mg/100g乳),以后逐渐减低,到第三个月后达稳定水平(约10mg/100g乳),三个调查点的情况相同,测定了221例母乳的脂肪酸组成,其主要成分为油酸(29～37％),棕榈酸(17～25％)和亚油酸(12～25％),远郊区母乳中所含的必需脂肪酸显著较高。 统计分析证明三个地区的乳脂含量(％)与乳胆固醇含量(mg/100g乳)间有显著性相关(P<0.01);188例乳母的膳食脂肪摄入量(g/日或％kcal)与乳脂含量间也有显著性相关(P<0.05),此结果表明,北京城乡母乳的乳脂含量可能受膳食脂质与量的影响,其脂肪酸组成的特点是亚油酸含量高,反映了我国人民以素食为主的饮食习惯。乳中的必需脂肪酸供给量可满足婴儿所需,胆固醇供给量为70～85mg/d,可作为同龄婴儿自母乳摄入量的参考。     

血脂代谢紊乱与冠状动脉病变严重程度的关系

目的:分析血脂代谢异常与冠状动脉狭窄程度的关系.方法:对366例因胸痛而就诊的患者行选择性冠状动脉造影,按冠状动脉狭窄程度分为正常对照组、单支病变组、双支病变组、多支病变组.同时观察患者血脂各成分,并对各组指标进行统计学分析.结果:总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三脂(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C),在各组之间存在差异,尤其多支病变组与正常组之间差异显著(P＜0.01).TC、TG、LDL-C随冠状动脉病变加重而增加,HDL-C随冠状动脉病变加重而减少,LDL-C与冠状动脉狭窄程度呈正相关,HDL-C与冠状动脉狭窄程度呈负相关.结论:血脂代谢紊乱与冠状动脉狭窄的发生发展有内在的联系,对于预测有无冠状动脉病变及其进展有一定临床意义.     

Studies on capsaicin inhibition of chemically induced lipid peroxidation in the lung and liver tissues of rat

Previous work from this laboratory has already indicated that capsaicin, stabilizes the rat lung membrane lipid system on long-term treatment. This stabilization of the membrane is further supported by our present findings that capsaicin pretreatment causes significant inhibition of various chemically induced lipid peroxidative changes at both cellular and subcellular levels. Both in vivo and in vitro studies, using whole lung and liver tissue slices and mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, have shown that capsaicin pretreatment inhibits peroxidative changes at both cellular and subcellular levels. Both in vivo and in vitro studies, using whole lung and liver tissue slices and mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, have shown that capsaicin pretreatment inhibits peroxidative changes induced by different chemical irritants such as chloroform, dichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride as well as ferrous sulphate.     

病毒性肝炎病人血浆VitE水平及其临床意义

观测了急性肝炎和重症肝炎病人血浆ＶｉｔＥ及Ｌｐｏ水平及其动态变化。急性肝炎和重症肝炎病人血浆ＶｉｔＥ低于对照组，Ｌｐｏ高于对照组，均以重症肝炎更明显，且死亡病例血浆ＶｉｔＥ低于存活者。部份病人口服ＶｉｔＥ不能提高其血浆水平，并随病情加重而逐渐降低。讨论了病毒性肝炎病人血浆ＶｉｔＥ降低与Ｌｐｏ升高的关系及其临床意义，认为动态观测血浆ＶｉｔＥ可作为判断重症肝炎病情进展及预后的参考。     

A critical assessment of allergen component-based in vitro diagnosis in cherry allergy across Europe

BACKGROUND: Food allergy to cherry occurs throughout Europe, typically with restricted oral reactions in the central and northern parts but with frequent systemic reactions in the Mediterranean region. Previous studies have demonstrated insufficient sensitivity of commercially available cherry extract reagents in the diagnosis of cherry allergy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic performance of specific IgE tests based on recombinant cherry allergens in comparison with an extract-based assay and to skin prick test (SPT). A secondary objective was to analyse the frequency of systemic reactions in cherry-allergic subjects across Europe, including the largest population of LTP-sensitized subjects from central Europe studied to date. METHODS: A total of 186 subjects from central Europe and Spain were studied. Serum IgE was analysed with ImmunoCAP tests carrying rPru av 1, 3 and 4, combined and separately, and cherry extract. RESULTS: Among the central European cherry allergics, the mix of rPru av 1, 3 and 4 had a sensitivity of 95%, compared with 65% for cherry extract, and the IgE binding capacity of the recombinant mix was considerably higher. The sensitivity of the two tests was more comparable in the Spanish population, 95% and 86%, respectively. The recombinant allergen ImmunoCAP equalled SPT in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Consistent with previous reports, major geographic differences in sensitization pattern and prevalence of systemic reactions were found. A significantly higher rate of systemic reactions was found in Spanish patients sensitized to Pru av 3 whereas German patients sensitized to LTP only had oral allergy syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The recombinant cherry allergen ImmunoCAP is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool, clearly superior to any diagnostic method based on cherry extract. Three cherry allergens are sufficient for detecting sensitization in 95% of cherry-allergic subjects. Systemic reactions are common in LTP-sensitized individuals but seem to require at least one additional causative factor.     

猕猴桃中药复方制剂对血清SOD及MDA含量的影响

猕猴桃中药复方制剂系采用猕猴桃汁为基质，配加绞股蓝、丹参等中药的有效成分制成。为了研究它的保健作用，在６３例５０岁以上、无急性疾病的中、老年人，３６例３０～４９岁健康的青年，３２例１４～１７岁健康的少年中进行试验，１０ｍｌ每日２次连续服用３０天后，中老年人血液ＳＯＤ显著增高，７０岁以上老人平均增高２．８倍，血清ＭＤＡ明显下降，７０岁以上平均下降８７．５％。     

复方通络中药改善肥胖患者血管内皮细胞功能障碍研究

目的观察复方通络中药对单纯性肥胖患者血管内皮依赖性舒张功能障碍的干预效应，探讨其作用机制。方法应用高分辨血管超声检查选择血管内皮依赖性舒张功能障碍[以血流介导的肱动脉扩张率（FMD）表示]肥胖患者（65例），随机分为通络中药治疗组和对照组。治疗组32例，对照组33例。治疗组给予辛香疏络2号胶囊，3g／次，每日3次；对照组给予淀粉胶囊，3g／次，每日3次。共用药12周，分别测定用药前后FMD、肱动脉内径（D0），同时检测辛香疏络2号治疗前后患者血清总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）的变化。结果治疗后治疗组FMD较对照组明显增加（P〈0．01），TC、TG较治疗前及对照组明显下降（P〈0．01）。结论复方通络中药辛香疏络2号胶囊可明显改善肥胖患者血管内皮障碍，调节血脂可能是其改善血管内皮功能机制之一。     

Fast decomposition of water and lipid using a GRASE technique with the IDEAL algorithm.

Three-point Dixon techniques achieve good lipid-water separation by estimating the phase due to field inhomogeneities. Recently it was demonstrated that the combination of an iterative algorithm (iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL)) with a fast spin-echo (FSE) three-point Dixon method yielded robust lipid-water decomposition. As an alternative to FSE, the gradient- and spin-echo (GRASE) technique has been developed for efficient data collection. In this work we present a method for lipid-water separation by combining IDEAL with the GRASE technique. An approach to correct for errors in the lipid-water decomposition caused by phase distortions due to the switching of the readout gradient polarities inherent to GRASE is presented. The IDEAL-GRASE technique is demonstrated in phantoms and in vivo for various applications, including pelvic, musculoskeletal, and (breath-hold) cardiac imaging.     

Adiabatic refocusing pulses for volume selection in magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging.

Because of their excellent slice profiles and high immunity to RF inhomogeneity, adiabatic full passage (AFP) pulses are ideal for use in spatial localization. The nonlinear, position-dependent phase of a single AFP pulse generated during refocusing of transverse magnetization traditionally is eliminated by using identical pairs of AFP pulses, at the expense of increased RF power deposition and increased echo time (TE). Here it is shown that one can achieve significant phase refocusing by executing single AFP pulses along non-equivalent spatial axes. When used for volume selection in MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) the remaining nonlinear phase becomes inconsequential when the phase across a spectroscopic volume is small. Selection of rectangular and octagonal volumes is demonstrated with half the number of AFP pulses used in the traditional approach. It is shown that octagonal volume selection in the human brain provides excellent suppression of extracranial lipids, and thus allows multislice (1)H MRSI at 4 Tesla to be performed within the guidelines for RF power deposition.