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.

A modified qualitative test for bilirubin in the urine.

A new technique for determination of urinary bilirubin has been described. Evaluation of the new test by simultaneous testing with Harrison's test on 76 urine samples has assured the validity of the new technique. The advantages of the new test include low cost, its simple procedure, and the great convenience of transportation to any working sites.

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.

A simple method for protein electrophoresis of unconcentrated urine.

Thirty-two unconcentrated urines were electrophoresed on cellogels in 0.05 M barbital buffer, pH 8.6, at 280 volts for 35 minutes. Instead of concentrating 100 fold, the urine samples were directly applied on the gel in volumes from 1.2 to 3.6 microliters and Coomassie dye was used for staining. This makes it possible to observe the protein patterns at trace concentration by reagent strips (about 0.05-0.2 g/l). This method is simple, convenient and suited for routine services.

Urinary D-aminolevulinic acid in workers exposed to lead.

One hundred and fifty-five urine samples from workers in car painting, motor-bicycle or tricycle drivers, and printers were quantitatively analysed for delta-aminolevulinic acid. The levels were 0.86 + 0.32, 0.8 + 0.23 and 0.76 + 0.24 mg/dl, which were increased beyond normal levels by 63, 90 and 84 percent of the three respective worker groups.

Study of urinary protein and complete blood counts in patients with pyuria.

Examination of 330 patients with pyuria, aged 18 months to 84 years, who attended the Outpatient Department of Siriraj Hospital during the period 1984 to 1988, disclosed proteinuria, and blood leukocytosis with neutrophilia in 70, 55 and 20 percent, respectively. Haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit value were decreased in 59 and 50 percent of the patients. Urine specimens containing over 30 white blood cells / high dry field yielded positive protein test. Nevertheless, there were no correlation between the number of white blood cells in urine and amount of urine protein, white blood cells and neutrophil in blood (correlation coefficient 0.37, 0.17 and 0.21, respectively); neither were correlation between the number of white blood cells in urine, haemoglobin and haematocrit (correlation coefficient – 0.14 and – 0.17, respectively).

Correlation between plasma and urine glucose in diabetes.

Blood and urine specimens from 135 adult diabetic patients routinely visiting an outpatient diabetic clinic of Siriraj Hospital were collected and assayed for glucose levels. The results of negative, trace 1+, 2+, 3+ and 4+ by Diastix were associated with urinary glucose levels of 25.43, 161.57, 354.50, 776.67, 1598.18 and 4191.25 mg/dl and plasma glucose levels of 154.07, 193.93, 205.10, 216.11, 241.09 and 284.04 mg/dl respectively. Plasma glucose levels from 83-283 mg/dl were negative by Diastix and 100% of urine samples with plasma glucose levels above 300 mg/dl were positive by Diastix.