Histamine-releasing serum factors as a predictor of the outcome of insect sting reactions. Results from a multicentre study.

Cord blood cells were incubated (passively sensitized) with sera from 27 patients with previous systemic reactions to insect stings. Histamine release (HR) from these cells was measured following exposure to venom extracts at increasing concentrations. The aim was to see whether this parameter could predict more efficiently than RAST and skin test the outcome of a subsequent re-sting. Results showed that HR from passively sensitized cells tended to reflect skin sensitivity and specific IgE levels. If patients were not re-stung during the follow-up period, HR from the passively sensitized cells frequently decreased whereas an increase was seen (in 6/13) when using sera collected after re-sting. In conclusion HR from passively sensitized cord blood cells could not satisfactorily predict re-sting reactions in the serum donors.

[Treatment of obesity with energy reducing diet. Results of dietary advice during a period of 17 years]. / Behandling of fedme med energireduceret kost. Resultater fra 17 års kostvejledning.

The results of treatment of obesity by means of conventional dietary advice in the nutritional physiological laboratory. The Municipal Hospital, Copenhagen, during a period of 17 years are reviewed. This review involves 1,640 patients, 973 women and 667 men. 31% had a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29 kg/m2, 59% had BMI of 30-39 kg/m2 and 10% had BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2. After 12 weeks, a total of 56.4% and after 16 weeks 50% of the patients were still receiving treatment. The weight-loss by the 12th week averaged 6.7 kg for women and 7.8 kg and 9.2 kg, respectively. The percentage of defaulters by the 12th week was independent of sex, initial BMI and the presence of other possible diagnoses but was significantly higher for the younger patients (less than 40 years) as compared with the older patients (greater than or equal to 40 years). The weight-loss at the 12th week was independent of age but was significantly positively correlated to high initial BMI and presumably high energy intake in the dietary history. The number of control weighings (frequency of attendance) was the parameter which best correlated to the weight-loss with an average weight-loss of 0.14 kg per attendance.

[Dietary advice in hypercholesterolemia. Relation of selected dietary factors to total serum cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol]. / Kostvejledning ved hyperkolesterolaemi. Udvalgte kostfaktorers relation til total serum-kolesterol og high density lipoprotein kolesterol.

Forty patients (14 women and 26 men) with slight to moderate hypercholesterolaemia received dietary advice and were followed-up for 12 weeks, the majority for 26 weeks. After 12 weeks, the total cholesterol had decreased by an average of 12% (from 7.92 to 6.97 mmol/l), the high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol had increased by 5.3% (from 1.14 to 1.20 mmol/l) and thus the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol had decreased by 17% (from 7.42 to 6.15). In the 35 patients who were followed-up for 26 weeks, the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol decreased further (to 22% below the original value). HDL cholesterol was found by univariate regression analysis to be correlated significantly with the dietary content of the patients of fats (negative), polyunsaturated fatty acids (positive), sugar (negative), fibre (positive) and the total value (positive). Employing multivariate analysis with stepwise reduction, fats and fish sandwich spreads were found to be significantly correlated. The ratio of total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol by means of univariate analysis was found to be inversely correlated with the same dietary factors as HDL cholesterol while multivariate analysis revealed the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, sugar and alcohol intake to be significantly correlated.

The effects of oral soybean phospholipid on serum total cholesterol, plasma triglyceride, and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in hyperlipidemia.

In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial soybean phospholipid and placebo, 18 g daily for 6 wk, were given orally to 20 patients on long-term treatment with standard lipid lowering diets. The effect of this treatment on serum total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and plasma triglyceride was studied. After 6 wk mean (+/- SE) cholesterol concentration was decreased by 0.54 (+/- 0.19) mmol/liter in phospholipid-treated as compared to placebo-treated patients (p less than 0.02). The decrease in serum cholesterol was significant (p less than 0.02) only in patients assigned to receive phospholipid before placebo. A highly significant increase (p less than 0.001) followed the withdrawal of phospholipid. No effect on triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations was demonstrated.

Platelet monoamine oxidase in schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an important enzyme in the catabolism of brain biogenic amines. Platelet MAO has been reported to be moderately reduced in manic-depressive patients and markedly reduced in schizophrenic patients. This enzyme's activity has been shown to be under a large degree of genetic control and has been proposed as a 'genetic marker' in schizophrenia. A transcultural replication of the finding of low platelet MAO in schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness was carried out at the Jerusalem Mental Health Centre. Manic-depressive patients were found to have higher platelet MAO activity than schizophrenic patients, as reported previously, but control individuals were as low as the schizophrenic patients. It is unlikely that platelet MAO activity is a transculturally-valid marker for schizophrenia.