The influence of different fats on postprandial triglyceridemia in normal weight, overweight and obese people.

This study evaluated the influence of different fats on postprandial triglyceridemia (atherogenic factor). Even if there are some theoretical data about the influence of some fatty acids on triglyceridemia, the evaluation of foods in the same direction is not well established. We selected 36 subjects, apparently healthy, and we observed the influence of butter, sun flower oil, fish oil, olive oil on them. We used as a reference the butter, which is known for rising triglyceridemia. The other oils were used to observe their influence over triglyceridemia.

Clinical and biochemical new found analysis in severe diabetic ketoacidosis (SDK).

Diabetic metabolic balance can be modified to severe diabetic ketoacidosis. The parameters of this acute complication associate a number of clinical, biochemical and hematological changes from which some tend to disturb the real meaning of interpretation.

A new pharmacologic agent, possible to be used in reducing insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is the cornerstone of multiple diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, acute coronary syndrome, etc. There are some medications and changes in lifestyle that can reduce insulin resistance. Not all are suitable for all patients. We discovered another pharmacologic agent that can be successfully added to the old methods already in use.

Which dose of omega-3 fatty acids must be taken in different cases of hypertriglyceridemia?

Omega-3 fatty acids are very important nutritive agents with a large effect on human health. Omega-3 ensures a protective effect on cardiac diseases, arthrosis, elasticity of vessels, prolong the bleeding time, improve the theology of the blood, protect the endothelium by atherosclerosis, low heart rate and blood pressure, reduce the risk for cardiac arrhythmya, etc. It also lowers the hypertriglyceridemia. The doses to achieve these effects are still on debate. It is very important, at least for the patients with hypertriglyceridemia for which omega-3 fatty acids are used constantly, to obtain the maximum of benefits.

Evaluation of glycemic control of type II diabetes mellitus treated only with diet.

Assays of HbA1c, after few years or months from the registration of new diagnosed type II diabetes mellitus, provide interesting information about the balance of glycaemic control. In a very high percentage, the value of HbAlc needs to be treated. It is imperative to introduce a new program in treating more aggressively the diabetes from the beginning, to reach the target and maintain the glycaemic control at this level for as long time as possible.

Proteic sulphur levels in hair, a possible tool to manage the balance of IDDM.

Assays of proteic sulphur levels in the hair of patients with new detected IDDM which were followed up for 6 months, showed a negative correlation between HbA1c and proteic sulphur levels. Because the length of hair could provide in evolution a longer period than HbA1c (for every month hair raise with 1 cm), assays of proteic sulphur levels could give information about balance of diabetes for much more time than HbA1c.

Evaluation of the metabolic balance in type 2 diabetes by assay of the hair glucose.

The authors used a relative new method of long term retrospective evaluation of metabolic balance in type 2 diabetes. This method was based on the variations of the glucose in the hair with the variations of HbA1c (r=+0.96; p<0.001). In this way the authors could follow up the diabetic's metabolic balance on longer time periods than by determination of the HbA1 values.

The analysis of structural lipid of the hair of patients with angina pectoris.

A study of 48 patients with angina pectoris carried out, in which the structural lipids of the hair were analyzed and correlated with the manifestations of angina and the potential incidence of dyslipidemia. It was noted that the excesses of hair lipids associated with deficiencies of some unsaturated fatty acids raised the frequency of angina attacks in the group studied by 2.7 times. The normalization of the lipid levels diminished the levels of angina. Data were obtained on the influence over a long time (weeks, months) of the hypolipidemic treatment. The analysis of the hair has been shown to be also useful in detecting latent dyslipidemia associated with angina pectoris. Also, through the analysis of hair, large scale epidemiologic studies can be carried out on the association between dyslipidemia and angina pectoris.

The relationship between the lipid structure of the hair and acute myocardial infarction.

In a group of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) an evaluation of the derangements in lipid metabolism was carried out by analysing the fat structure of the hair (closely reflecting serum lipid variations). The data obtained reflects the real incidence of dyslipidemia associated with myocardial infarction. Through hair analysis, the evaluation in time (over weeks, months) of lipids metabolism under hypolipidemic therapy can be carried out without taking repeated samples.

Early cystinuria, a risk factor for metabolic urolithiasis.

The levels of urinary amino acids (cystine, amino acids with basic character, branched chain amino acids and phenylalanine) were determined in the 24 hr urines of 5,500 newborns and in 20 subjects ranging in age from 2.5 to 20 years, with a suspicion of metabolic diseases. Seven newborns have shown a biochemical pattern of cystinuria. The urinary cystine levels in the first days of life appeared to correlate with an increased risk of developing, at the adult age, metabolic mono- or bilateral urolithiasis.

The relationship between the urinary level of some amino acids and the occurrence of metabolic diseases associated with psychic disorders.

Assays of the branched chain amino acids, of those with basic character, of phenylalanine and glutamic acid were performed in the 24 hrs urines of 50 patients with psychic disorders, ranging in age from 0 to 20 years, and in 30 normal controls. Similar investigations were carried out in the patients' parents. Abnormal levels of urinary amino acids in some of the adults suggested the existence of mutant genes in one or both parents of one or two descendents with mental handicap. The levels of urinary amino acids correlated with the severity of the predominant psychic manifestations, which were more severe in the cases with a wide deviation from normal of aminoaciduria.

The hair levels of unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and linolenic) indicators of the lipid metabolic balance.

The lipid metabolism was evaluated using a new method for assay of the hair contents in unsaturated fatty acids. Determinations in various hair segments and in the blood serum were performed before and after a hypolipemic diet and drug therapy in hypercholesterolemic patients in comparison with a control group. The correlation factors between the levels of the oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids in the serum and those in the hair were +0.967, +0.987 and +0.992, respectively. The method provides information on the therapy influence on the lipid metabolism variations within several weeks or months.

Clinical consequences of disorders in the intermediate metabolism of branched chain amino acids (valine, leucine and isoleucine).

Assays of the amino acid levels in 5,888 newborns and 20 subjects ranging in age from 1 to 20 years, suspected of metabolic diseases, revealed a case of "maple syrup urine disease" caused by disorders in the intermediate metabolism of valine, whose serum and urinary concentrations were followed up from the first days of life. This patient also showed frequent episodes of hypoglycemia. An early treatment with polyvitamins, minerals and trace elements for 18 months resulted in the partial reactivation of the deficient enzymatic systems and the return to normal of the serum and urinary valine and glucose values. Administration of the same treatment to patients over one year of age, showing clinical and biochemical data characteristic to the same disease, was much less effective, thus supporting the conclusion that the vitamins and minerals could be useful in the "maple syrup urine disease" only if they were administered immediately after the disease onset. The correlation index between the serum and urinary valine levels before and after therapy was +0.976 and +0.994, respectively.

Predictive value of glucose and proteic sulphur levels in the hair for an early detection of the preclinical stage of IDDM.

Assays of glucose and proteic sulphur levels in the hair of patients with recently detected IDDM provided information on the preclinical stage of insulin secretion disorders, which was estimated at 6 +/- 2 months. Such investigations in subjects at high risk of developing an IDDM might reveal the period preceding the disease onset, thus enabling to start an early therapy.

The relationship between aminoaciduria and plasma hemoglobin levels.

Investigations in newborns, children and young adults have revealed an inverse proportion between aminoaciduria and plasma hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Values above normal were recorded for alanine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine and glutamic acid, correlating proportionally with their increased blood levels, and preceding or being concomitant with the decrease of plasma Hb, both during the first 20 months of life and in young adults. The return to near normal values of aminoaciduria occurred generally only after an early treatment with minerals, vitamins and trace elements (Supradyn), activators of the enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism. After treatment, the Hb levels also became almost normal. An early re-equilibration of the amino acid metabolism can prevent the risk of developing, at the adult age, certain anemias and other diseases (rachitism, mental handicap, urinary infections, conjunctivitis, stomatitis, a.o.). The correlation factor was r = 0.964 and the differences between the data recorded in patients and in controls were statistically significant (p < 0.01).

The variations of the serum IgD and of the circulant immune complexes in diabetic patients.

The levels of serum IgD and of the circulating immune complexes (CIC) were determined in 168 diabetic patients, of whom 78 with type 1, 59 with type 2 and 31 with the so-called "intermediary" type of the disease, in comparison with 124 non-diabetic subjects for IgD and 100 for CIC. The results revealed very low IgD titres (less than 1 mg%, considered undetectable) in almost 3/4 of the cases; values over 1 mg% were recorded mostly in the cases of type 1, followed by those of "intermediary" and of type 2 diabetes. The mean CIC values of 67.13 +/- 36.53 optic density units (O.D.U.) were significantly higher than in the non-diabetic controls. Certain differences with respect to age, diabetes type, duration of the disease and of the insulin therapy were also recorded. The data are interpreted with caution, further investigations being necessary to the assertion of definite conclusions.

Cholesterol and lipid levels in the hair: indicators of the lipid metabolism balance.

A new method of long term, retrospective evaluation of the lipid metabolism balance, by cholesterol and lipid assays in the human hair, is described. The correlation index between the blood and the hair cholesterol and lipid concentrations was + 0.980 and + 0.9925, respectively. The effects of hypolipemic diet and drug therapy on the cholesterol and lipid values were studied comparatively in the blood and in successive hair segments. The results demonstrate that the new method permits an evaluation of the therapy effectiveness and of the lipid metabolism variations during several weeks or months.