Low HDL‐cholesterol is common in European Type 2 diabetic patients receiving treatment for dyslipidaemia: data from a pan‐European survey

Aims To measure the prevalence of low high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol (men < 1.03 mmol/l; women < 1.29 mmol/l) in European Type 2 diabetic patients receiving treatment for dyslipidaemia. Methods The pan‐European Survey of HDL‐cholesterol measured lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors in 3866 patients with Type 2 diabetes and 4436 non‐diabetic patients undergoing treatment for dyslipidaemia in 11 European countries. Results Diabetic patients were more likely to be obese or hypertensive than non‐diabetic patients. Most patients received lifestyle interventions (87%) and/or a statin (89%); treatment patterns were similar between groups. Diabetic patients had [means (SD)] lower HDL‐cholesterol [1.22 (0.37) vs. 1.35 mmol/l (0.44) vs. non‐diabetic patients, P < 0.001] and higher triglycerides [2.32 (2.10) vs. 1.85 mmol/l (1.60), P < 0.001]. More diabetic vs. non‐diabetic patients had low HDL‐cholesterol (45% vs. 30%), high triglycerides (≥ 1.7 mmol/l; 57% vs. 42%) or both (32% vs. 19%). HDL‐cholesterol < 0.9 mmol/l was observed in 18% of diabetic and 12% of non‐diabetic subjects. Differences between diabetic and non‐diabetic groups were slightly greater for women. LDL‐ and total cholesterol were lower in the diabetic group [3.02 (1.05) vs. 3.30 mmol/l (1.14) and 5.12 (1.32) vs. 5.38 mmol/l (1.34), respectively, P < 0.001 for each]. Conclusions Low HDL‐cholesterol is common in diabetes: one in two diabetic women has low HDL‐cholesterol and one diabetic man in four has very low HDL‐cholesterol. Management strategies should include correction of low HDL‐cholesterol to optimize cardiovascular risk in diabetes.     

The Lewis blood group--a new genetic marker of ischaemic heart disease.

In a cohort of 3383 men aged 53 to 74 in the Copenhagen Male Study we investigated the association between ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and the Lewis blood group, assigned to chromosome 19. Among men with the Le(a-b-) phenotype, 8% had a history of non-fatal myocardial infarction, among others the frequency was 4%. The corresponding odds ratio was (95% confidence interval: CI) 1.9 (1.2-3.0) P < 0.01, men with Le(a-b-) had a risk-factor profile and pattern of disease resembling that of Reaven's syndrome X. In a subsequent prospective study 343 men with arteriosclerotic stigmas were excluded. The men had their morbidity and mortality recorded over the next 4 years. One-hundred-and-one men suffered IHD; 26 dying from IHD. In total 162 men died. Men with Le(a-b-) had an increased risk of death from IHD compared with others. Adjusted for age, relative risk (RR) (95% CI) was: 4.4 (1.9-10.3), P < 0.001, and for all causes of mortality: RR = 1.6 (1.0-2.6), P < 0.05. Men with the Le(a-b-) phenotype had an increased risk of an IHD event compared to men with other phenotypes (RR = 1.6 (0.9-2.8), P = 0.10) and a significantly higher IHD case fatality rate (RR = 2.8 (1.5-5.2), P = 0.01). The finding that the Le(a-b-) phenotype is a genetic marker of IHD risk may have implications in terms of prevention. The Le(a-b-) phenotype may also contribute to providing an explanation for the substantial ethnic differences found in the incidence of IHD. The similar risk-factor profile and pattern of disease found between Le(a-b-) men and individuals with Reaven's syndrome X is hypothesized to be due to a close genetic relationship on chromosome 19.     

WHO and ATPIII proposals for the definition of the metabolic syndrome in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: Different criteria have been proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (ATPIII) for the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome. Its identification is of particular importance for coronary risk assessment. METHODS: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was determined according to the two different proposals in 1569 consecutive subjects with Type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: By the WHO proposal, 81% of cases (95% confidence interval, 79-83) were labelled as metabolic syndrome. Microalbuminuria had the highest specificity (99%) and visceral obesity the highest sensitivity (93%). Seventy-eight per cent of patients (95% CI, 76-80) fulfilled the ATPIII criteria for metabolic syndrome, low HDL-cholesterol having the highest specificity (95%), elevated blood pressure having the highest sensitivity. According to both proposals, 1113 patients were positive; 183 were concordantly negative, indicative of a fairly good agreement (k statistics, 0.464). Subjects only positive for the WHO proposal were more frequently males, had a lower BMI and a higher arterial pressure. Only subjects identified by the ATPIII proposal had a significantly higher prevalence of previously detected coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: Minimum criteria for the metabolic syndrome are met in most patients with Type 2 diabetes. Correct identification of the syndrome is important for an integrated approach to reduce the high costs and the associated disabilities. The ATPIII proposal more clearly identifies the burden of coronary heart disease associated with the metabolic syndrome.     

Insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients after chronic nifedipine treatment

Summary The effect of nifedipine 40 mg·day^–1 for 3 months on glucose tolerance, insulin and C-peptide secretion after an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), intra-venous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and glucagon stimulatory test, has been studied in 8 moderately hypertensive women suffering from non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).No significant variation in glucose metabolism was noted after nifedipine treatment, except for a slight improvement in insulin secretion after OGTT at the end of the study. There was an increase in cholesterol as a collateral effect.     

Inadequate dietary magnesium intake increases atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits

Epidemiological studies have shown dietary magnesium (Mg) intake and serum Mg levels to be inversely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that low levels of Mg would promote atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (4 months old, n = 22) were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.12% (−Mg), 0.27% (control), or 0.43% (+Mg) Mg for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and were assayed for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, triglycerides (TG), C-reactive protein, serum Mg, and erythrocyte Mg. Aortas from −Mg had significantly more plaque, with an intima thickness 42% greater than control and 36% greater than +Mg. Serum cholesterol levels rose over time, and at 8 weeks, −Mg had the highest and +Mg the lowest total and non-HDL cholesterol and TG levels, although these results did not reach significance. Over time, serum Mg levels increased, and erythrocyte Mg levels decreased. C-reactive protein significantly increased in all groups at 4 and 6 weeks but returned to baseline levels by 8 weeks. This study supports the hypothesis that inadequate intake of Mg results in an increase in atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits.     

高果糖诱导IR大鼠模型血清脂质代谢的改变及意义

目的: 评估高果糖膳食对机体胰岛素敏感性及血清脂质代谢的影响及意义.方法:以高果糖膳食(果糖占总热量34.5%)诱导并经钳夹技术证实建立胰岛素抵抗(IR)大鼠模型,生化比色法测定血清游离脂肪酸(FFA),生化酶法测定血清甘油三酯(TG)及总胆固醇(TC).结果:高果糖膳食喂养4周后,实验组大鼠葡萄糖输注率由(11.5±0.6)mg/kg·min-1下降至(6.6±0.4)mg/kg·min-1(P<0.01);血清FFA由(0.45±0.09)mmol/L增至(0.78±0.19)mmol/L(P<0.01);TG由(0.54±0.10)mmol/L增至(0.96±0.22)mmol/L(P<0.01);TC由(1.96±0.32)mmol/L增至(2.42±0.21)mmol/L(P<0.01).结论:高果糖膳食可导致机体严重IR,是建立IR大鼠模型的有效手段;该模型同时伴有血清脂代谢各相关指标的明显异常,血脂的变化既是IR的结果,也是IR向纵深发展的原因和必要条件.     

两种清除法测定低密度脂蛋白胆固醇的临床评价

目的对表面活性剂清除法 (SUR法 )和过氧化氢酶清除法 (CAT法 )两种低密度脂蛋白胆固醇 (LDL C)均相测定法进行临床评价。方法将上述两种方法与聚乙烯硫酸沉淀法 (PVS法 )进行比较 ,分析各自方法的精密度、准确性、特异性和干扰因素。结果两种清除法与PVS法 (X)具有良好的相关性 ,SUR法 (Y1) :Y1=0 .9311X +0 .10 2 2 ,r =0 .980 1;CAT法 (Y2 ) :Y2 =0 .94 0 1X +0 .0 991,r=0 .9832。高、中、低三种LDL C浓度混合血清所测定结果表明两种方法均具有良好的精密度 ,总CV值SUR法 3.4 5 - 3.89% ,CAT法 3.5 1- 3.99% ,均达到临床满意的程度。两法线性范围均较宽 (线性均至 8.2 2mmol/L) ,最低检测浓度均为 0 .12mmol/L ,平均回收率SUR法为 98.0 % ,CAT法为 97.6 %。TG <14 .2mmol/L ,Hb <5g/L ,HDL C <3.88mmol/L ,胆红素 <4 5 0 μmol/L对两法基本无影响。 结论两种LDL C清除法测定结果的准确度和精密度均符合临床要求 ,适宜自动分析 ,值得在临床推广应用。     

769例教职工血清脂质含量的分析

目的 :检测不同年龄段教职工血清甘油三酯 (TG)及血清总胆固醇 (TC)含量 ,并对各年龄段血脂含量进行分析比较。方法 :将 769例教职工分为 60岁以上、50～ 59岁、40～ 49岁、30～ 39岁、30岁以下五个年龄段组 ,分别用COP -PAP法和CHOD -PAP法测定其血清TG和TC水平。结果 :60岁以上的教职工TG、TC含量显著高于 60岁以下组 (P <0 .0 5) ;30～ 39岁组男性TG、TC含量分别高于同组女性 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,且此组男性TG、TC含量分别高于(除 60岁以上年龄组外 )其它各男性组 ;总体男性TG、TC含量高于总体女性 ,差异有高度显著性 (P <0 .0 1 )。结论 :60岁以上组教职工高血脂发病率明显高于 60岁以下教职工 ;男性教职工高血脂发病率明显高于女性教职工 ;TG、TC含量及高血脂的发病率随年龄增加呈渐进性增高     

High-density lipoprotein subfractions,apolipoproteins and antipyrine clearance in normal subjects

Summary Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions HDL₂ and HDL₃, apolipoproteins, and plasma antipyrine clearance (AP-CL) rate, an index of liver microsomal enzyme activity, were determined in 21 healthy subjects. High HDL cholesterol and HDL₂ cholesterol concentrations and HDL cholesterol/cholesterol and HDL₂/HDL₃ cholesterol ratios were associated with high AP-CL. Phenobarbital enhanced antipyrine elimination and increased the apolipoprotein A-I/A-II ratio. Subjects who had high AP-CL had a more antiatherogenic HDL subfraction and apolipoprotein profile than those with low AP-CL.     

Cholesterol atheromatous embolism: an increasingly recognized cause of acute renal failure

BACKGROUND.: Cholesterol atheromatous embolism is a systemic disease resultingfrom cholesterol crystal embolization to many organs, includingthe kidney. Vascular surgery, vascular radiology investigationsand anticoagulation have been identified as inciting factors. METHODS.: Fifteen patients with extensive atherosclerosis, presentingwith simultaneous occurrence of acute renal failure and peripheralischaemic changes were diagnosed as having acute renal failuredue to cholesterol atheromatous embolism. RESULTS.: The patients, 12 men and three women, had an average age of65 years. In one patient, spontaneous occurrence of the diseasewas observed. An inciting factor was identified in 14 patients:aortography in 10, aortic surgery in two, and thrombolysis intwo. Clinical course of acute renal failure was quite variable.Four patients required dialysis; 11 were conservatively managed.All patients had concomitant skin lesions, including digitalmottling, cyanosis and gangrene of the toes, and livedo reticularisof the lower limb and abdomen. Eosinophilia was the most commonlaboratory abnormality. The diagnosis of cholesterol atheromatousembolism was confirmed by tissue examination in eight; in threeit was based on the finding of retinal cholesterol emboli; infourpatients it was made on clinical grounds. Seven patientsdied within 36 months. Death was most commonly from cardiaccauses. CONCLUSIONS.: Since the population at risk for cholesterol embolism is growingand the disease is iatrogenic in origin, we should expect todetect cholesterol embolism with greater frequency as causeof acute renal failure in the future.