Age-dependence of lipid parameters in the general population and vegetarians.

Age-dependent changes of lipid metabolism may arise both as a result of mechanisms of biological ageing and factors influencing age-dependent changes. To study possible influences of nutrition and life-style of vegetarians on age-dependence of lipid parameters, subjects of general population were compared with vegetarians. In the frame of population-based lipid screening projects in the city of Leipzig/Germany (Lipid Study Leipzig, LSL) 10 550 subjects (3,816 men and 6,734 women, age 18-99 years) of general population were compared with 417 vegetarians (vegans, lacto-vegetarians, lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 148 men and 269 women, age 18-93 years). Most of the vegetarians included in the study were members of the German Society of Vegetarians. The study program included capillary blood cholesterol measurements and the determination of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, the measurement of other cardiovascular risk factors and the evaluation of dietary and life-style factors. Evaluation of cardiovascular risk profile within LSL was connected with individual consultation. The mean total cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol level and the total: HDL-cholesterol ratio showed the expected age-dependence, with maximum values within the decade 60-70 years. Vegetarians showed lower total and non-HDL-cholesterol levels in comparison with the general population. Furthermore, the age-dependent increase of these parameters is less pronounced under the conditions of vegetarian nutrition and life-style. Especially in young adulthood a significant difference is observed. Thus, the results of the present study reveal the role of nutritional and life-style factors that determine the lipid profile on a population basis and suggest that the known age-dependent rise of the level of atherogenic plasma lipoproteins is partly preventable.

[Obesity, malic enzyme and aging--an animal experiment study]. / Adipositas, Malatenzym und Altern--eine tierexperimentelle Studie.

In male Wistar rats the influences of age and experimental obesity on the activity of malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) in different organs were studied. Obesity was induced in newborn rats by injection of Na(+)-L-glutamate (2 mg/g b.w. daily) subcutaneously in the first 5 days. The enzyme activity was measured at the ages of 2, 6 and 18 months. In control animals the highest enzyme activities were found in the heart muscle, liver, epididymal fat pad and skeletal muscle after 6 months. After 18 months the activities in these organs are considerably reduced. In the kidneys the activity between the 2nd and the 18th months tends to decrease continuously and only the brain shows an opposite trend. In comparison with the control animals, in glutamate treated rats the enzyme activity doubles nearly in the lipogenic organs liver and fat tissue in all age groups. In liver and fat tissue of 6-month-old rats, previously treated with clonidine to stimulate growth hormone secretion, the activities are lower than in glutamate obese rats without clonidine, but still higher than in normal control animals. The qualification of glutamate obese rats as a model for the study of age-associated diseases like obesity or diabetes mellitus type II needs further investigation.

[Age dependent changes in signal transduction of glucocorticoid hormones after physiological stress in liver cells of male Wistar rats]. / Alternsabhängige Veränderungen im Signaltransfer von Glukokortikoidhormonen nach physiologischem Stress in Leberzellen männlicher Wistar-Ratten.

After physiological stress older male Wistar rats showed a faster normalization of the corticosterone level in serum and of the concentration of unoccupied glucocorticoid receptors in liver cytosol than young ones, which is contrary to female rats. The nuclei binding of glucocorticoid receptor complexes (GRC) was significantly reduced in older control animals compared with young ones. The nuclei binding of GRC was reduced in young rats until 60 min after stress compared to controls, whereas it had been increasing in older animals at this time. Contrary to female rats, the addition of the endogenous ATP-stimulated translocation promoter (ASTP) alone or together with ATP did not elevate the nuclei binding, but it groups. Crossing experiments using nuclei of controls and GRC of control and stressed animals, resp., seem to disclose a longer association of GRC with the nuclei in old animals than in young ones.

[HDL subfractions in post-prandial lipidemia]. / HDL-Subfraktionen unter postprandialer Lipämie.

The influence of a standardised fatty test meal on the composition of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions (HDL3, HDL2) and the concentration of other lipid parameters was investigated in a group of young women of the age 20-25 years, in women of the age range 60-90 years, and in a group of patients with arteriosclerotic diseases. Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in serum do not change significantly under extreme conditions of postprandial lipaemia. This is true also regarding persons in high age groups and patients with arteriosclerotic diseases. In contrast to the group of young subjects, 60-90 years old women show both elevated HDL triglyceride levels under basal conditions and a greater magnitude of HDL triglyceride enrichment under the conditions of postprandial lipaemia. Patients with arteriosclerotic diseases also exhibit a marked postprandial HDL triglyceride enrichment. It is concluded that there are metabolic relations between the observed low HDL2 cholesterol concentrations in the group of older subjects and in patients with arteriosclerotic diseases and the high magnitude of HDL triglyceride increase in the postprandial state which are relevant within the risk syndrome hypertriglyceridaemia-low HDL2 levels.

[Effect of cytoplasmic factors on cell nucleus binding of glucocorticoid receptor complexes in the rat liver of two age groups]. / Einfluss von zytoplasmatischen Faktoren auf die Kernbindung von Glucocorticoidrezeptorkomplexen in der Rattenleber zweier Altersgruppen.

The nuclei binding of activated glucocorticoid receptor complexes (GRC) was significantly diminished in old, unstressed rats compared with young ones. In animals killed at different times after physiological stress there were no significant age-dependent differences in nuclei binding of GRC, which recurred in the cytoplasm after 60, 120 and 180 min, resp. Addition of Ca2+ and ATP, resp., to the incubation system increased the nuclei bound part of GRC, especially in young animals. ATP-stimulated translocation promoter (ASTP), isolated from rat liver cytosol, raised the nuclei binding of GRC in both age groups, whereby the increase was only significant in young animals. In cytosol of old rats ASTP were found in a lower concentration; moreover, the reaction between ASTP, GRC, and the template seems to be impaired.

[Age-related changes in lipid metabolism parameters: screening studies on a population basis]. / Altersabhängigkeit von Lipidstoffwechsel-Parametern: Screening-Untersuchungen auf Bevölkerungsebene.

Measurement of concentrations of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and Lp(a) was carried out within a screening project on population basis including 3014 men and 5529 women of the town Leipzig. The age of the participants varied from 18 to 99 years. The aim of this population-based strategy was to identify individuals with elevated risk with regard to atherosclerotic diseases. There is an age dependence with a maximum of the ratio total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol in the age group 61-70 years. Between the ages 50 and 70 years, mean total cholesterol levels in women exceed those of men. Postmenopausal women show higher Lp(a) concentrations than premenopausal women. The observed age dependence of lipid profile may be the result of both intrinsic as well as of environmental factors which are characteristic for industrialized societies.

[Determination of steroid hormone receptors with the biochemical DCC method in endometrial cancer and tumor margin-endometrium relations to cellular changes and hormone level]. / Steroidhormonrezeptorbestimmungen mit der biochemischen DCC-Methode in Endometriumkarzinomen und Tumorrand-Endometrium Beziehungen zu zellulären Veränderungen und Hormonspiegel.

In endometrial carcinoma and the surrounding marginal endometrium from 48 postmenopausal patients, the concentrations and dissociation constants of steroid hormone receptors were studied by the dextran-coated charcoal method (DCC), parallel to ploidy and morphology of tumour cell nuclei, grading, and the hormonal status. The results show, that the proportion of receptor-positive tumours is decreased in an advanced stage of disease. The mean receptor concentrations correlate both with nuclei parameters and the morphological results and reflect the process of dedifferentiation in the tumour centre. The higher receptor concentrations, especially the estradiol receptor concentration observed in the marginal endometrium, and the increased estradiol level in serum, demonstrate a raised tendency to proliferation in this region and could support the hypothesis, that a higher receptor level in adenomatous-hyperplastic tissues participates in tumour genesis. In patients with an advanced stage of the disease, determination of both receptors can yield indications for a purposeful adjuvant hormone therapy (anti-estrogen and/or gestagen), in addition to providing an aid to prognosis.

[Cardiovascular risk factors in former and new Germany. City comparison of Leipzig/Nürnberg on the incidence of increased cholesterol values and other cardiovascular risk factors]. / Kardiovaskuläre Risikofaktoren in den alten und neuen Bundesländern. Städtevergleich Leipzig/Nürnberg zur Häufigkeit erhöhter Cholesterinwerte und anderer kardiovaskulärer Risikofaktoren.

FUNDAMENTALS: Cardiovascular risk factors depend decisively on living conditions and nutrition. The aim of the present study was to establish whether the different living conditions in the eastern and western parts of Germany were associated with differences in the frequency and severity of these risk factors. METHOD: In Leipzig, 15,291 people (9,600 women and 5,691 men), in Nuremberg 8,387 (4,559 women and 3,828 men) were examined either after responding to a public appeal, or in the factory, etc. RESULTS: Clearly elevated cholesterol levels (> 250 mg/dl) were found in 33.8% of the men, and 35.9% of the women in Leipzig, and in 39.1% of the men and 50.7% of the women in Nuremberg. This larger incidence of treatment-requiring hypercholesterolemia in Nuremberg was distributed throughout all age groups up to the age of 60. Hypertension was significantly more common among the 30 to 80-year-old women, and the 20 to 40-year-old and 50 to 80-year-old men in Leipzig. the frequency of cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus and overweight did not differ significantly between the two cities. In cases with known dyslipoproteinemia, drug treatment was rarely applied, and the therapeutic aim of a cholesterol level < 200 mg/dl, was achieved in only 2-6% of those treated. The most significant difference with respect to cardiovascular risk factors was serum cholesterol. It is possible that a higher ingestion of monounsaturated fatty acids and more physical activity may be responsible for the lower cholesterol levels in Leipzig.

[Leipzig neonatal screening center--experiences with introduction of screening for congenital hypothyroidism]. / Neugeborenen-Screeningzentrum Leipzig--Erfahrungen mit der Einführung des Screenings auf kongenitale Hypothyreose.

The development of neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism in the GDR and particularly in Saxony after German reunification is described in this paper. The results of the studies and the experiences in respect of realisation and organisation of the screening for hypothyroidism in the screening centre of Leipzig are discussed. Measurement of TSH in the blood spot of about 65,000 newborn yielded an incidence rate of congenital hypothyroidism of 1:3,200. The onset of therapy within the first three weeks of life has been ensured until now since no children with congenital hypothyroidism were involved in cases of occasionally delayed blood sampling and/or postal delay. However, there has been some organisational disparity due to individually different handling of health insurance fund payments of screening fees for hypothyroidism in Saxony and also in the other federal states. The disadvantages of this lack of uniform regulations are explained. Neonatal screening for evidence of congenital adrenal hyperplasia by determining 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, is under preparation.

Measurement of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in normal adults, patients with liver cirrhosis and acromegaly: experience with a new competitive enzyme immunoassay.

A competitive enzyme immunoassay for the determination of human insulin-like growth factor I in microtiter plates was established. Using a polyclonal antiserum raised in rabbits against hIGF-I ovalbumin conjugate the assay system was able to detect IGF-I at a range of 12-800 pg/well with a sensitivity of 10 pg/well. It showed a low (< 0.5%) cross reactivity with hIGF-II. The serum concentrations of IGF-I found by EIA agreed well with those found in a conventional RIA (r = 0.965, p < 0.001). Effects of age and sex on IGF-I levels were studied in 260 normal adults. There was no evidence for sex differences but a steep decline of values from the third to the fourth and from the eight to the ninth decade, respectively. To asses the diagnostic capability of the IGF-I determination in liver cirrhosis, 71 sera of patients classified according to Child classes (A-C) were measured. Although significantly diminished concentrations were found in class B vs A and in class C vs B, the diagnostic sensitivity in cross-sectional examinations proved to be low (class A: 0.33, class B: 0.67). Only in the case of extensively destroyed liver parenchyma (Child C: 0.94) IGF-I was a good indicator of impaired hepatocellular capacity. In 29 patients with acromegaly serum IGF-I levels were investigated. All patients with active acromegaly showed increased IGF-I levels. In contrast, in inactive or weakly active acromegaly values were considerably lower.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Postprandial lipemia under treatment with Allium sativum. Controlled double-blind study of subjects with reduced HDL2-cholesterol]. / Postprandiale Lipämie unter Medikation von Allium sativum. Kontrollierte Doppelblindstudie bei Probanden mit erniedrigtem HDL2-Cholesterin.

Postprandial Lipaemia under Treatment with Allium sativum/Controlled double-blind study in healthy volunteers with reduced HDL2-cholesterol levels. The effectiveness of a standardized garlic powder preparation (Sapec, Kwai) on alimentary hypertriglyceridaemia after intake of a standardized fatty test meal containing 100 g butter was analyzed in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. 24 volunteers with HDL2-cholesterol concentrations in plasma of less than 10 mg/dl (men) respectively 15 mg/dl (women) participated in the study. The volunteers received 3 times 1 tablet daily over a period of 6 weeks equivalent to a daily dosage of 900 mg garlic powder in the active treated group. Control measurements were made on the 1st, 22nd and 43rd day of treatment and 0, 3 and 5 h after intake of the meal. The postprandial increase of triglycerides was clearly reduced under garlic medication as compared to placebo treatment. The determined AUC-values for the triglycerides were up to 35% lower in the garlic group compared to the placebo group. The regular intake of the garlic preparation over the period of 6 weeks showed a significant lowering of the fasting values of triglycerides in comparison to placebo. Under garlic medication HDL2-cholesterol increased more than under placebo in tendency.

[Population screening on a population level in Leipzig within the scope of the Bavarian cholesterol project]. / Cholesterin-Screening auf Bevölkerungsebene in Leipzig im Rahmen der bayerischen Cholesterinaktion.

Cholesterol determinations of 15.391 inhabitants of Leipzig were carried out in November 1990 within the Bavarian Cholesterol-Screening-Project. The aim of this screening on population basis was to identify individuals with elevated blood cholesterol levels as one of the risk factors of atherosclerosis. Capillary blood cholesterol was measured by means of the Reflotron dry-chemistry system (Boehringer, Mannheim). 27% of the inhabitants of Leipzig show cholesterol levels lower than 5.2 mmol/l as recommended by the European Society of Atherosclerosis Research. Furthermore the characteristic age dependence is seen. In comparison with the town Nürnberg lower mean cholesterol values were found in Leipzig.

[Serological diagnosis of viral hepatitis]. / Serologische Diagnostik von Virushepatitiden.

The differentiation and classification of different types of viral hepatitis was essentially improved in the laboratory diagnosis by the direct determination of the virus in serum, viral antigens or their antibodies. Especially for the hepatitis B it is possible to recognize the infectivity by the serum marker HBeAg, the prognosis by seroconversion (HBeAg/HBeAb), the epidemiology, and vaccination prophylaxis, respectively. Without doubt, immunological marker have an increasing significance for prophylaxis, diagnosis, and therapy of viral hepatitis.

[Age-dependent changes in glucocorticoid receptors in rat liver following functional loading in in-vivo and in-vitro systems]. / Altersabhängige Veränderungen von Glucocorticoidrezeptoren der Rattenleber nach funktioneller Belastung in vivo und im In-vitro-System.

In aging the transformation, nuclei binding, and recycling of glucocorticoid receptor complexes (GRC) seem to be retarded or disturbed, as shown in the rat liver after stress and in an in vitro-system. Reasons of the retarded in vitro-transformation and DNA-binding could be changed properties of the receptor protein or of cytosolic modulators, in which the tested heat-stable factor f is not responsible for the aging changes. The observed aging differences, when studying the nuclei binding after Ca2+ addition, result in the question, to what extent phosphorylation/dephosphorylation processes play a role in transformation and nuclei binding of GRC.

[Lipogenic enzymes of the lung in relation to age]. / Lipogene Enzyme der Lunge in Abhängigkeit vom Lebensalter.

The activities of lipogenic enzymes of the lung of female rats of the Wistar strain were measured in the age groups 3, 18, 21, 25, and 30 months. The activities of malic enzyme (EC. 1.1.1.40) and citrate cleavage enzyme (EC. 4.1.3.8) decrease in dependence on aging. In contrast, the enzymes of pentose phosphate shuttle glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC. 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC. 1.1.1.44) do not show an age dependence.

[Clinical-diagnostic significance of steroid hormone receptor determinations]. / Klinisch-diagnostische Bedeutung von Steroidhormonrezeptor-Bestimmungen.

The determination of steroid hormone receptors obtained an increasing significance in the last years. It has contributed to the explanation of the mechanism of hormone regulation in the organism. The test allows an additional indication, exceeding the histological differentiation, both in breast and endometrial cancer with regard to prognosis of the patient and of success of an adjuvant or curative hormone therapy, especially in progredient cases. The receptor test can be decisive for the strategy of therapy. The test allows a better indication of the expected success of therapy for different types of leukemia and malignant lymphoma, too. But the success of a pure glucocorticoid therapy is often temporarily restricted because of the spontaneous occurrence of steroid resistant receptor mutants.

[Adenosine deaminase (ADA)--biologic and medical-diagnostic significance]. / Die Adenosindesaminase (ADA)--biologische und medizinisch-diagnostische Bedeutung.

The determination of the ADA activity was only of importance in special affections, as for instance typhus, epidemic jaundice, active liver cirrhosis till now, where high enzyme activities are measured. Nevertheless this enzyme is also useful for the pathogenetic classification of hyperuricemia, the elucidation of immunoaffections of obscure etiology, and, above all, of the genetic ADA defect. Our results show that the determination of the ADA activity enables some declaration for the therapy and the control of progress of the acute and the chronic leukemia. Investigations of the distribution in the organs and age-dependence in animals emphasize the great biological importance of this enzyme in the metabolism, where much questions are open till now.

[The malate enzyme--organ activity and age dependence]. / Das Malatenzym--Organaktivität und Altersabhängigkeit.

The malic enzyme activities of selected organs of rats have been investigated in dependence on age. The liver of female adult animals shows maximum enzyme level, while the malic enzyme activity of heart, kidney, brain, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and lung is decreased in the given order. Excepting brain, for all tissues under study an age-dependent reduction of malic enzyme is observed.

Lipoprotein levels of rural and urban persons of Ethiopia in dependence on age.

The levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B were determined in urban and rural persons of Ethiopia in dependency on age. Regarding total and LDL cholesterol a comparable age-dependency as in the population of other countries is observed. On the other hand higher values of these parameters were found in the serum of urban persons in comparison with rural subjects which may be a reflection of the different life style.

[The diagnostic significance of mucoproteins, sialic acid and cortisol in assessing the activity of rheumatic diseases]. / Zur diagnostischen Bedeutung von Mucoproteinen, Sialinsäure und Cortisol bei der Aktivitätsbeurteilung rheumatischer Erkrankungen.

1. Our investigations have confirmed the great importance of mucoproteins, sialinic acid, C-reactive protein, and the sedimentation of blood for the analysis of the inflammable process activity in case of rheumatoid arthritis. 2. The interpretation of the electrophoresis indicated that the usual demand for electrophoresis in case of rheumatic patients at the time as a matter of principle was not very sensible, but it should only be demanded for means of rheumatic fever or of increased sialinic acid levels. 3. Our investigations demonstrate significantly increased rates of total protein for rheumatic patients compared to a normal control group. 4. Rheumatic patients also point at a much higher percentage of pathological cortisol levels in consideration of the interaction by hormone therapy (prednisolone) in comparison with normal patients.