Lens opacity in patients with hypercholesterolemia and ischaemic heart disease

Lens opacity studies were performed using an electronic Lens Opacity Meter (Interzeag Opacity Lensmeter 701) in a population (n = 321) with ischaemic heart disease. These patients are participating in a trial targetting at the reduction of mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction using a cholesterol-lowering drug, simvastatin. A separate study to evaluate the reliability of the method showed good reproducibility. Repeated measurements after a short time-interval (2–10 days) gave statistically lower opacity values either due to a change in lens transparency or perhaps a change in pigment and cell dispersion in the acqueous caused by repeated mydriasis. Lens opacity values showed a highly significant positive correlation to age. Serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and smoking habits showed no significant correlations to the levels of lens opacity when adjustments for age were made.Abbreviations HMG-CoA hydroxy-methylglutarylcoenzyme A - 4S Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study - LOM lens opacity meter     

Acute infections in children are accompanied by oxidative modification of LDL and decrease of HDL cholesterol, and are followed by thickening of carotid intima-media.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis begins early in life. Infections might contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated whether acute infections in children could alter the carotid wall morphology and the lipid profile. METHODS: Mean carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by high-resolution ultrasound in 28 hospitalised children (mean age: 5+/-2 years), who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of acute infections (body temperature, >38 degrees C; C-reactive protein, >15mg/ml, and clinical), and in 20 age- and gender-matched controls. Antibodies against oxidised low-density lipoprotein (anti-oxLDL antibodies), as well as total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were analysed in all children. The infection group was investigated both during the acute illness and 3 months after clinical recovery (post-infection). RESULTS: During the acute illness, the infection group had elevated anti-oxLDL antibodies and decreased HDL-C, as compared to those obtained at 3 months and in controls (p<0.05). These changes in the infection group were followed, at 3 months, by thickening of carotid intima-media. Those who received antibiotics during their acute illness had less carotid thickening than those who were not treated with antibiotics (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acute infections in children seem to be accompanied by enhanced oxidative modification of LDL and by decrease in HDL-C. These lipid changes may be followed by thickening of carotid artery intima-media. These findings suggest that, in childhood, acute infections could be associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis, and warrant further studies on this topic.     

从TNT研究看稳定性冠心病患者的强化降脂治疗

4 背景 强化降脂使低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（low-density lipoprotein cholesterol，LDL-C）低于指南推荐的水平将使急性冠脉综合征患者获益。但强化降脂使稳定性冠心病患者的LDL-C低于100mg／dL是否安全和有效尚不清楚。     

ALTERATION OF CHOLESTEROL SULFATE IN HUMAN SERA DURING THE COURSE OF PREGNANCY

Objective To determine the concentrations of cholesterol sulfate ( CS) in human sera and pla-cental villi during the course of pregnancy. And to analyze its inhibitory activity on thrombin and further characterize the functional significance of CS. Methods The concentrations of CS were determined by thin-layer chromatog-raphy (TLC) on 60 cases of normal pregnant women and 30 cases of normal placental villi. The effect of CS in human sera on the activity of thrombin was analyzed. Results The concentrations of CS in human sera gradually increased from the first to third trimester of gestation with a correlation coefficient of 0. 69, and a correlation between the concentration of CS and weeks of gestation (P <0. 01). CS was also contained in the placental villi, and its concentrations at the second and third trimester of gestations were 4. 7 and 6. 2-fold of that at the first trimester of gestation. CS inhibited the activity of thrombin. Conclusion Placental CS is one of the sources of CS in the serum , pr     

Intake of unsaturated fatty acids and HDL cholesterol levels are associated with manifestations of atopy in adults

BACKGROUND: The increase in allergic diseases is still unexplained. It was hypothesized that the intake of unsaturated fatty acids is a contributing cause of this development. We investigated the relationship between serum cholesterol levels, intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and manifestations of atopy in a population-based setting. METHODS: A nested case-control study was performed within the population of the 3rd MONICA survey in Augsburg (Germany). The serum levels of total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of 1537 adults (aged 28-78 years, response 61.4%) and the estimated intake of PUFA in a subset of 139 men were compared with the frequency of a doctor's diagnosis of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR), atopic eczema (AE) and allergic sensitization as measured by skin prick and Radio Allergo Sorbent Test. FINDINGS: In bivariate analyses, we obtained a negative linear association between total and LDL cholesterol levels and the frequency of AR and sensitization, which was no longer significant after adjustment for important confounders. In contrast, positive linear associations were found between HDL cholesterol levels and AR and AE and, furthermore, between the intake of PUFA and allergic sensitization in men (P<0.01). After adjustment, an increasing risk for atopic diseases with increasing levels of HDL cholesterol and an increasing risk for allergic sensitization with increasing intakes of PUFA remained statistically significant. INTERPRETATION: There is indication that HDL cholesterol also plays a role in the complex interaction of fat intake, metabolism and the manifestation of atopy in adults. These findings may contribute to the understanding of time trends and regional differences of allergies.     

Close correlation between high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides in normotriglyceridaemia.

The relationship between high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) particle size subclasses and the levels of the major lipoprotein lipids was studied in 74 men consecutively referred to the lipid clinic. HDL (density 1.070-1.21 kg l-1) was separated by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis (GGE) into five size-defined subclasses, in order of decreasing size as follows: HDL2b, HDL2a, HDL3a, HDL3b and HDL3c. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in very-low-density (VLDL), low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins were determined. The level of VLDL triglycerides was negatively correlated with HDL2b (r = -0.66, P less than 0.0001), and positively correlated with HDL3b concentrations (r = 0.65, P less than 0.0001). Both correlations were restricted to subjects with VLDL triglyceride concentrations of less than 1.80 mmol l-1, i.e. those with normotriglyceridaemia. Patients with a history of myocardial infarction and/or angina pectoris (n = 18) had significantly lower HDL2b levels than subjects with asymptomatic hyperlipidaemia (n = 50), i.e. 0.16 vs. 0.22 mg protein ml-1 (P less than 0.05), despite essentially similar cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the VLDL, LDL and HDL fractions, including HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol.     

The Levels of Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Using Direct Measurement in Healthy Japanese School Children

This study aimed to investigate the levels of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) using direct measurement in healthy Japanese school children. The subjects were 621 children (325 boys and 296 girls) aged 9 to 10 in the 4th grade, and 688 children (334 boys and 354 girls) aged 12 to 13 in the 7th grade. The levels of serum LDLC and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured by direct determination (Cholestest LDL and Cholestest NHDL; Daiichi Pure Chemicals Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). In boys in the 4th grade, the mean, the 75th, the 90th and the 95th percentiles of LDLC levels (mg/dl) were 91.6, 104, 124 and 134, respectively. In girls in the 4th grade, they were 92.8, 108, 122 and 130. In boys in the 7th grade, they were 83.4, 96, 113 and 123. In girls in the 7th grade, they were 93.0, 106, 126 and 137. Serum LDLC levels in boys in the 7th grade were lower than those of other groups. The direct measurement of serum LDLC level is useful for evaluation of dyslipidemia in healthy school children, because the method is applicable to non-fasting serum.     

高脂血症对血浆t-PA和PAI-1活性的影响

目的 探讨高脂血症患者的纤溶系统的变化。方法 选取正常人及高脂血症者，测定其血脂、血浆t—PA和PAI-1活性。结果 高脂血症组比正常人血浆t—PA活性下降，而PAI-1的活性有升高；在TG及LDL-C升高者，其血浆t—PA活性比正常人血浆t—PA活性降低，而血浆PAI-1活性比正常人升高；单纯TC升高者血浆PAI-1活性接近正常人组，而血浆t—PA活性比正常人组明显降低。结论 高脂血症对纤溶系统有一定的影响，其中甘油三酯和LDL-C对纤溶系统的影响更明显，而胆固醇对纤溶系统也有一定的影响。     

小肠吸收胆固醇的分子生物学研究进展

胆固醇通过分布于十二指肠和近段空肠黏膜上皮细胞刷状缘膜的Niemann—Pick C1样蛋白1摄取，ATP结合盒G5、G8抑制小肠对胆固醇的摄取过程。进入上皮细胞的胆固醇大多数被乙酰辅酶A，胆固醇转乙酰基酶2酯化，随后通过组装形成乳糜微粒，经淋巴管进入血循环；另一部分胆固醇则以未酯化形式直接进入血循环形成高密度脂蛋白颗粒。这些过程受核受体——肝脏X受体的调控。年龄、性别、黏膜屏障和小肠传输速度也影响胆固醇的吸收。     

Thrombophilic risk factors and unusual clinical features in three Italian CADASIL patients

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a genetically transmitted cerebrovascular disease. Typically, the first clinical manifestation is migraine and the full clinical spectrum of the disease with recurrent strokes of the subcortical type, cognitive, and mood disorders is seen during the fourth and fifth decades of life. Vascular risk factors are usually absent in CADASIL patients and the diagnosis of the disease is particularly suspected in young adults with cerebrovascular events of unknown cause, diffuse leukoencephalopathy on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and a history of cerebrovascular diseases or dementia in many family members. We describe three Italian CADASIL patients who presented to medical attention for cerebrovascular events occurred after the age of 55 and had, in addition to hypertension and hyperlipidemia, thrombophilic risk factors such as hyperhomocysteinemia, elevated levels of lipoprotein(a), and antiphospholipid antibodies. Symptoms possibly related to cortical involvement, such as dysphasia and visual field deficits, were reported by two of these patients. We conclude that a diagnosis of CADASIL should not be disregarded in patients with vascular risk factors and presenting with symptoms not immediately referable to subcortical damage at ages more advanced than commonly reported.