Ultrasound transmission gel as a bolus device for skin irradiation of irregular surfaces: technical note.

PURPOSE: This paper describes an uncommon radiation treatment of the external ear, with ultrasound (US) transmission gel used as bolus device to compensate for the irregularity of the target surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postoperative radiotherapy for cutaneous carcinoma was performed with a single high-energy electron beam directed over the ear auricle. Due to the irregular surface of the target, a "missing tissue" compensator was employed. Daily, after patient positioning, the concha was filled and flattened with US gel, and a dose of 54 Gy in 27 fractions was delivered. RESULTS: Water equivalence of the gel was verified by comparing the gel's computed tomography (CT) number [Hounsfield units (HU)] and density with the corresponding values for water and another commercial bolus device. Whereas ultrasound gel and water had comparable values (HU: 0; density 1 g/cm(3) for both), the corresponding values for the commercial device were slightly higher (HU: 80; density 1.02 g/cm(3)). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound gel proved to be an easy, fast and cheap compensating tool. Its water equivalence allows it to be used as an alternative to water, though easier to position and with lower risk of displacement. Thus, it is recommendable as a practical tool for most irregular sites. Further investigations are warranted to validate this solution in more complex irradiation techniques.

Pravastatin effectively lowers LDL cholesterol in familial combined hyperlipidemia without changing LDL subclass pattern.

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) is the most common genetic lipid disorder among young survivors of myocardial infarction. Elevations of plasma total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the prevalence of small, dense LDL particles are both involved in the high coronary risk of FCHL patients. We investigated the ability of pravastatin to favorably correct plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels and LDL structure in FCHL patients. Twelve patients with FCHL, documented by studies of first-degree relatives, received pravastatin (40 mg/d) for 12 weeks. Pravastatin significantly lowered plasma total and LDL cholesterol levels by 21% and 32%, respectively. Triglyceride levels did not change, and apolipoprotein B (apoB) concentrations decreased by 9% (P = NS). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased by 6% because of a significant 73% rise of HDL2 cholesterol. LDL were smaller (diameter, 24.5 +/- 0.5 nm), less buoyant, and apoB-rich (cholesteryl ester-apoB ratio, 1.64 +/- 0.46) in the selected patients compared with patients with familial hypercholesterolemia or healthy control subjects. LDL became even smaller (23.8 +/- 0.6 nm) and richer in apoB (cholesteryl ester-apoB ratio, 1.27 +/- 0.52) after pravastatin treatment. Although pravastatin favorably altered plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in FCHL patients, the abnormal LDL particle distribution and composition were not affected. Because of the apparent resistance of the small, dense LDL to drug-induced modifications, a maximal lipid-lowering effect is needed to reduce coronary risk in FCHL patients.

Increased postprandial lipemia in Apo A-IMilano carriers.

Plasma lipid/lipoprotein changes were monitored after a fat load (65 g fat per square meter body surface area) in six carriers of the apolipoprotein A-IMilano (A-IM) variant and six age- and sex-matched control subjects. The magnitude of postprandial lipemia, calculated as the area under the curve (AUC) described by plasma triglyceride (TG) level versus time, was threefold higher in the A-IM carriers; however, after correction for the different baseline TG levels, it was similar to control subjects. Moreover, the magnitude of postprandial lipemia was positively correlated with baseline TG in both A-IM carriers (r = 0.77) and control subjects (r = 0.80), indicating that fasting TGs are a major determinant of postprandial response in all subjects. Postprandial lipemia was also inversely correlated with high density lipoprotein (HDL) and HDL2 cholesterol in both groups (A-IM, r = -0.81 and -0.79; control subjects, r = -0.87 and -0.94). Different from those in control subjects, the plasma apo A-I levels in the A-IM carriers decreased progressively while apo B increased up to 4 hours but decreased thereafter. Postprandial rises of low density lipoprotein TG but not of HDL-TG AUC were significantly higher in the A-IM carriers, even after normalization for the different fasting concentrations. These data show that the low plasma HDL levels of A-IM carriers, which are secondary to a primary structural alteration of the major HDL apolipoprotein, are associated with elevated fasting and postprandial TG levels and an anomalous postprandial redistribution of TG among lipoprotein classes.

Mechanisms of high-density lipoprotein reduction after probucol treatment: changes in plasma cholesterol esterification/transfer and lipase activities.

Probucol treatment results in a significant reduction of plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Since the remodeling of HDL within the plasma compartment is a crucial determinant of HDL levels, the activities of several factors participating in the process, ie, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and lipoprotein and hepatic lipases (LPL, HL), were evaluated in 15 hypercholesterolemic patients treated with probucol (1 g/d) for 8 weeks. Drug treatment was associated with significant reductions of HDL cholesterol ([HDL-C] -32%), HDL2-C (-65%), HDL3-C (-22%), apolipoprotein (apo)A-I (-27%), and apo A-II (-11%) levels and with the accumulation of small HDL in plasma. CETP activity increased by 48%, with minor changes in LCAT (-7%), LPL (+4%), and HL (-7%) activities. By linear regression analysis, CETP activity correlated inversely with HDL-C, HDL2-C, and apo A-I levels (r = -.63, -.52, and -.73, respectively) and with HDL particle size. In multivariate analysis, CETP activity was the strongest predictor of HDL-C levels, apo A-I levels, and HDL particle size. The hypothetical mechanism of probucol is a stimulation of CETP activity, resulting in the formation of triglyceride (TG)-enriched HDL. These are acted on by HL, leading to the accumulation of small HDL in plasma.

Isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting of the platelet membrane glycoprotein complex IIb. IIIA following urea solubilization.

Effective solubilization of the major platelet membrane component, the glycoprotein IIb.IIIa complex, can be achieved with 8 M urea. By avoiding nonionic detergents in the separation medium it is possible to obtain clear immunoblot patterns without interference from the isoelectric focusing matrix. Upon running on a pH 4.25-5.25 immobilized pH gradient, immunoreactive bands corresponding to the nonreduced IIb.IIIa complex stain between pH 4.5 and 5.0. The method appears of significant potential utility in evaluating glycoprotein IIb.IIIa polymorphisms under different clinical conditions.