Effect of simvastatin treatment on the electronegative low-density lipoprotein present in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Most described modifications of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol share an increase in its negative electric charge; in fact, an electronegative form of LDL can be identified and isolated from plasma. Although the exact nature of the chemical modification of electronegative LDL is still controversial, its toxicity on endothelial cells has been demonstrated. Statins have protective effects against cardiovascular disease that are independent of their lipid-lowering action and which could be due, at least in part, to the prevention of LDL modification. We evaluated the effect of 6 months of simvastatin therapy (40 mg/day) on electronegative LDL proportion and LDL susceptibility to in vitro induced oxidation in 21 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Eleven normolipemic subjects were analyzed as a control group. Total cholesterol as well as LDL and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and apoprotein B decreased 30% after the first month of therapy, with no further decreases thereafter. LDL susceptibility to oxidation was similar in FH patients and controls and did not change throughout the treatment. Electronegative LDL proportion was 35.1 +/- 9.9% in FH patients and 9.1 +/- 2.4% in control subjects (p <0.0001) but, in contrast to total LDL cholesterol and the rest of lipid parameters, it decreased to 28.6 +/- 9.1% in the third month and to 21.2 +/- 7.7% in the sixth month of therapy. The decrease in these cytotoxic particles may be a relevant mechanism by which simvastatin protects against cardiovascular disease.

Analytical and clinical performance of an automated immunoassay system (Immulite) for estradiol in serum.

The analytical and clinical performance of a commercial automated immunoassay system (Immulite) for estradiol (E2) in serum was evaluated. The functional sensitivity for E2 was 0.07 nmol/l, and analytical imprecision (<13%, <9% and <7% at 0.22, 0.51 and 1.51 nmol/l, respectively) for concentrations above this detection limit met published analytical goals. The assay recovery was good and the assay was linear over a wide concentration range. No sample carryover was found, and interferences from common substances present in serum were observed only at very high concentrations. Most of samples from men and postmenopausal women showed E2 concentrations below the detection limit. Longitudinal estradiol profiles from 11 healthy menstruating women showed characteristic menstrual cycle patterns (12 samples per subject obtained during a 30-day period). Longitudinal studies on women during induction of ovulation showed that E2 concentrations are highly correlated with the total number of follicles. Our results demonstrate the reliability of this system for routine use in the clinical laboratory.

[Scurvey, presentation of six cases (author's transl)]. / Escorbuto. A propósito de seis casos.

Authors present six cases of scurvy admitted in their hospital from September 1977 to July 1978. Symptoms were similar in the majority of them: irritability, skin haemorrhages, swollen gums, scorbutic rosary, swelling and tenderness lower limbs. Radiographic findings more common were: Fraenkels' line "ground glass" appearance, corner sign, Wymberger sign, and in some cases subperiosteal haemorrhages with calcification. Ascorbic acid levels were below normal values in all cases, and overload test showed typical pattern found on patients with scurvy. Special mention is made on the low incidence of this disease in the last few years and also the causes that have motived the existence of this six cases in such a short period of time are analyzed.