[Serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in children in relation to their dietary habits and parental blood cholesterol]

In a group of 2000 Prague children aged 11-12 years the distribution of serum cholesterol levels was assessed. For further investigations 100 children with cholesterol levels above the 95th percentile (HYPER) were selected and 100 children with values between the 5th and 10th percentile (HYPO). Children and parents were subjected to detailed clinical and laboratory examination, in children the three-day dietary intake was assessed. Boys of the HYPER group had significantly higher LDL, HDL and VLDL cholesterol levels as well as levels of apolipoprotein B and less favourable values of the atherogenic index (AI). Girls of the HYPER group had significantly higher mean values of LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B and also less favourable values of the AI. In the group HYPER children no abnormalities were detected in the carbohydrate metabolism nor a higher incidence of obesity although they differed significantly from children in the HYPO group as regards parameters of the lipid spectrum. The energy value of the consumed diet of children in the HYPER and HYPO group does not differ significantly. Although in boys of the HYPER group there was a higher ratio of total fat and animal fat (p less than 0.05), neither the percentage ratio of fatty acids nor the P:S ratio differed significantly in children of the HYPER and HYPO group. Parents of children of the HYPER group had significantly higher mean cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, LDL cholesterol values and less favourable values of the atherogenic index than parents of children of the HYPO group. The incidence of hypercholesterolaemia in the families of these children was also significantly higher.

[Arteriosclerosis risk factors in the offspring and siblings of type 2 diabetics]

Risk factors of atherosclerosis were examined in 63 offspring and 30 siblings of type 2 diabetics and in 22 controls. Clinical complications of atherosclerosis were not found very frequently in direct relatives of diabetic patients. Diabetes was detected in 17% siblings, an impaired glucose tolerance in 11% of the offspring and in 33% siblings. The offspring of diabetics had higher blood sugar values and serum insulin levels on fasting and after stimulation, as compared with controls; as to other metabolic parameters lipids and apolipoproteins, body mass indexes, uricaemia, glycated proteins, C-peptide), the two groups did not differ significantly. In middle age, i.e. in siblings of diabetic patients, the incidence of obesity rose significantly as well as hyperlipoproteinaemia type IV and hypertension, while smoking was less common than in offspring. The glucose tolerance deteriorated further, although the insulin levels did not increase substantially. The mentioned findings indicate the orientation for preventive provisions in families of type 2 diabetics.

[Technetium 99m Tc labeled lipoproteins. I. Preparation and evaluation of quality]

Technetium 99m Tc labelled lipoproteins are novel diagnostic agents suitable for the study of the lipoprotein metabolism and prospectively for picturing the specific receptors. The paper reports the first results of the preparation and quality evaluation of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) labelled with technetium 99m Tc. This radionuclide is, due to its advantageous properties, preferentially employed in nuclear medicine. The present paper resulted in a successful attempt to bind technetium 99m Tc to a lipoprotein carrier with selective transport and targeted organ-specific biodistribution.

Effect of methylprednisolone therapy on lipoprotein metabolism in human nephrotic syndrome

Changes in the lipoprotein metabolism of 15 patients with nephrotic syndrome concomitant with various types of the underlying renal disease after methylprednisolone therapy were investigated. Following methylprednisolone therapy, nephrotic syndrome remission was achieved only in three patients with minimal change disease. In these patients, total cholesterol (TC) and free cholesterol (FC) decreased and an increase in HDL-C and the HDL-C/TC ratio was found. In the remaining 12 patients, while marked proteinuria persisted after therapy, a significant increase in HDL-C (from 1.38 to 1.83 mmol/l) was noted with no significant changes in TC, FC and TG. Our results suggest that methylprednisolone may affect lipoprotein metabolism without necessarily exerting a favourable effect on the course of kidney disease.

Embolization of the kidney in secondary renal hypertension as an alternative to surgical nephrectomy. An experimental study

Embolization of the renal arterial bed with embolization agent Vilan 500 was performed in 13 dogs. Embolized kidneys shrink after the procedure and the functional parenchyma is extinguished. Peripheral PRA values were followed to find out whether renin production by the embolized kidney is extinguished (the non-embolized kidney was surgically removed). In nine of the thirteen dogs peripheral PRA decreased below 0.5 ng/ml/h; this renin activity can be considered extrarenal. Embolization of the kidneys with Vilan 500 can thus substitute surgical nephrectomy in patients with secondary renal hypertension.

Effect of long-term marginal vitamin C deficiency on plasma triglyceride kinetics in guinea-pigs

A multicompartmental analysis of the plasma triglyceride kinetics after [3H]glycerol administration revealed that hypertriglyceridemia in vitamin c deficient guinea-pigs was caused by a slowed triglyceride removal from the plasma compartment.

The hypolipaemic action of a glycine rich diet in rats

Feeding of a glycerine rich diet with sufficient supply of essential amino acids (mixture of casein and gelatine) causes a significant reduction of the serum triglyceride level in rats. To study some aspects of this triglyceride lowering effect the in vivo incorporation of C14-1-acetate and C14-1-palmitate into the serum and liver lipids as well as the lipoprotein lipase and the hormone sensitive lipolytic activity of the epididymal adipose tissue in vitro were estimated. After feeding the gelatine containing diet the incorporation of labelled acetate and palmitate into the serum triglycerides was significantly decreased with no change of the incorporation into the liver triglycerides and without detectable accumulation of liver lipids. The decreased serum triglyceride level of the serum corresponded to a decreased lipoprotein lipase activity in the epididymal adipose tissue, whereas the basal and norepinephrine stimulated lipolysis of this tissue was not affected. From these results it is concluded that due to feeding of a glycine rich diet the triglyceride secretion of the liver is decreased leading to a lower serum triglyceride level.

Palmitate and glucose oxidation by diaphragm of rats with fructose-induced hypertriglyceridemia

Palmitate and glucose oxidation were investigated in isolated hemidiaphragm of rats in which hypertriglyceridemia was induced by dietary fructose. Palmitate oxidation was increased, and glucose oxidation was reduced, in fructose-fed rats, as compared with glucose-fed controls. Glucose incorporation into muscle glycogen was similar in both dietary groups.

Blood flow and transport of free fatty acids in striated muscle under chronic ischemia

Three weeks of ischemia of the right hind limb in rat produced by ligature and severing of the right common iliac artery, resulted in changes in FFA transport and blood flow in the regenerating tibialis muscle. FFA transport was measured using i.v. administered palmitate-1-14C bound to albumin. Uptake of palmitate-1-14C or 86Rb 90 s after i.v. administration was decreased in ischemic tibialis muscle, whereas no apparent effect of ischemia on the contralateral muscle was seen. Plasma FFA outflow rate measured according Beker and Rostami was not affected by the presence of an ischemic extremity in comparison with control animals. The plasma FFA inflow rate into the ischemic muscle was markedly decreased to values of 6.5 mmumoles FFA/min/g whereas in control animals values were 18.8 mmumoles FFA/min/g wet tissue. Decreased FFA inflow rate to the ischemic tibialis muscle was due to the decreased radioactivity of palmitate-1-14C in the muscle under the conditions of a constant plasma FFA pool. Differences in the uptake of palmitate-1-14C in tibialis muscle were dependent upon the muscle blood flow, which was markedly decreased in the ischemic muscle on indirect measurement with 86Rb or with the 133Xe clearance.

Enhanced RNA and protein synthesis in adipose tissue of rats adapted to periodic hyperphagia

RNA synthesis measured by the incorporation of orotic acid-6-14C into RNA was investigated in isolated adipose tissue of control rats and of rats adapted to periodic hyperphagia, evoked by meal-feeding (a single 2-h meal per day). Both groups were fasted for 22 h and subsequently fed a measured test meal for another 2 h. It was revealed that 2 and 4 h after feeding there was no significant change in comparison with values during fasting, whereas in tissue of meal-fed rats the specific activity of RNA gradually increased by 22% and 41% respectively. The difference between controls and meal-fed rats was even much more marked if the specific activity of RNA in fat cells, isolated after incubation of the tissue, was measured. A significantly greater response of meal-fed rats was found when protein synthesis and lipogenesis in adipose tissue were assessed under the same experimental conditions. The possibility is discussed that the enhanced RNA and protein synthesis in adipose tissue of meal-fed rats is associated with de novo synthesis of enzymes involved in adaptive hyperlipogenesis.