Chemical modification of high density lipoprotein subfractions - HDL2 and HDL3 - after use of atorvastatin.

Regardless of its effect on the concentrations of serum cholesterol, statins exert pleiotropic effects, including the regulation of endothelial function, reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as a slight improvement in the concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL). However, its role on the composition of HDL is not yet established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition of HDL subfractions, HDLsub>2 and HDL3, after 14 days of placebo and atorvastatin (10 mg/day) use in 30 asymptomatic volunteers.

Electrolyte and renal changes in severe potassium depletion.

This report describes electrolyte changes and some clinical aspects of the renal disease associated with the loss of potassium through the gastrointestinal tract in 2 patients with diarrhea. In one of them, the diarrhea resulted from non-tropical sprue, in the other, from non-beta islet-cell adenoma of pancreas. In both patients, some observations were repeated after potassium repletion.