Serum lipid, lipoprotein-cholesterol and apolipoproteins A-I and B of smoking and non-smoking males.

Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Accordingly, we measured the serum lipid, lipoprotein-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I, B in 128 cigarette smoking males and 67 non-smoking males. The total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in smokers and non-smokers showed no statistical significance. The smokers had significantly higher serum triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol levels (P < 0.001), but significantly lower HDL-cholesterol levels (P < 0.05) than non-smokers. The apolipoprotein A-I was significantly lower and apolipoprotein B was significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers (P < 0.001). Levels of lipid, lipoprotein-cholesterol were related to the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Triglyceride and VLDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher in those who smoked > 20 cigarettes/day compared with those who smoked 10-20, < 10 cigarettes/day and non-smokers (P < 0.05). Those who smoked > 20 cigarettes/day had significantly lower HDL-cholesterol than those of non-smokers (P < 0.05). All three groups of smokers had significantly lower apolipoprotein A-I than non-smokers (P < 0.05), whereas, those who smoked > 20 cigarettes/day had significantly higher apolipoprotein B levels than those who smoked 10-20, < 10 cigarettes/day and non-smokers (P < 0.05).

Cholesterol and triglycerides levels in Thai diabetics.

One thousand, one hundred and twenty-five diabetics, aged 17-90 years (456 males, 669 females), underwent cholesterol and triglyceride determination showing the cholesterol value of 64 per cent or 717 diabetics was over 200 mg/dl and the cholesterol value of 7 per cent or 74 diabetics was lower than 200 mg/dl, but triglycerides were over 200 mg/dl, of which HDL and LDL cholesterol had been determined; and in 30 per cent of diabetics or 334 patients, the cholesterol and triglycerides values were lower than 200 mg/dl, which suggested no hyperlipidemia. From these results, the authors suggest hyperlipidemia be screened in all diabetics to prevent atherosclerosis. The clinical laboratory should have cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol available for routine check up of diabetics of prevention of atherosclerosis complications and to decrease the mortality rate of the diabetics. Primary screening of cholesterol and triglyceride tests, also HDL and LDL cholesterol, should be determined if cholesterol is over 200 mg/dl or triglycerides are over 200 mg/dl.

Serum thiocyanate concentrations in smoking and non-smoking males.

The determination of serum thiocyanate is a simple and inexpensive method in assessing smoking status. It can be used alone or as adjuvant to other methods. We have found the thiocyanate method to be efficient for this particular purpose.

Comparative study of vanillylmandelic acid in random and 24-hour urine collections.

Urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) levels were determined in random samples and in 24-hour collections from 52 patients. Random sample levels were compared with levels in 24-hour collections and showed good correlation (r = 0.99), and no statistically significant differences was found when urinary VMA levels in random samples expressed in micrograms/mg creatinine (p greater than 0.1). Normal values of VMA in random urine samples of 226 healthy volunteers for different age groups of 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-30, 31-60 years old were 17.03 +/- 6.61, 10.32 +/- 3.25, 10.87 +/- 4.5, 7.62 +/- 3.05 and 7.79 +/- 3.94 micrograms/mg of creatinine respectively.