Classification of hypocholesterolemia lipid patterns using Chol/Trig Combination System.

Patterns of hypocholesterolemic lipid fractions in 295 patients with liver diseases, malignant tumors, arteriosclerotic and renal diseases with cholesterol (Chol) levels of <30 mg/dl were classified using a simultaneous analytical method for the Chol and triglyceride (TG) fractions (Chol/Trig Combo System). Hypocholesterolemia was classified as follows: IV, Type IV on WHO hyperlipidemia phenotype classification; intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), cases with appearance of IDL, including appearance of Lp(a); high + low density lipoproteins (HDL+LDL), lipids mostly consisting of HDL and LDL fractions; HDL abnormality, cases with slow alphaHDL or fast HDL; abnormal LDL, both Chol and TG fractions mostly consisting of LDL fraction; normal type, ratios of HDL, very low density lipoproteins (VLD) and LDL fractions were almost normal; and low HDL, HDL-C was <30 mg/dl. Many patients with liver diseases had HDL+LDL (45%), and abnormal LDL was noted in 13% of the cases.

High-molecular intestinal alkaline phosphatase in chronic liver diseases.

The presence of high-molecular intestinal alkaline phosphatase (HIALP) different from bone ALP detected in the alpha(2)beta region was recently clarified. In this study we used a novel method in which HIALP was detected after conversion to ALP(5) by protease to investigate the clinical significance of the appearance of HIALP in patients with chronic liver disease. The subjects were 241 patients with chronic liver disease.

High-molecular intestinal alkaline phosphatase by agarose gel electrophoresis.

The presence of high-molecular intestinal ALP (HIALP) overlapping with bone ALP in the alpha(2)beta region has been demonstrated. In this study we evaluated a method of separating HIALP after its conversion into ALP(5) by the action of protease. Serum samples from patients were mixed with protease at a ratio of 5:1 and left at room temperature for more than 30 min.

Aspartate aminotransferase-immunoglobulin complexes in patients with chronic liver disease.

Aim: To determine the complex of AST and immunoglobulin and to investigate its clinical significance in patients with liver disease.

Methods: The complex of AST and immunoglobulin was determined by encounter immunoelectrophoresis and its clinical significance was investigated in 128 patients with liver disease.

Results: AST was bound to immunoglobulin of anti-immunoglobulin A (IgA) class, but any binding to anti-immunoglobulin G and anti-immunoglobulin M classes was not observed.

Clinical significance of abnormal lipoprotein patterns in liver diseases.

We analyzed lipids in liver diseases by agarose gel electrophoresis, and differential staining and simultaneous analysis of the cholesterol (Chol) and triglyceride (TG) fractions. Liver diseases were classified into chronic hepatitis (CH), liver cirrhosis (LC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and metastatic liver cancer, and each fraction was compared among these diseases. Atypical patterns that were unclassifiable according to the WHO classification of hyperlipidemia phenotypes were classified, and their clinical importance was evaluated.

Effects of atorvastatin on serum lipids, lipoproteins, and hemostasis.

Serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins were examined in individuals with hyperlipidemia treated with atorvastatin or colestimide and in healthy volunteers. Modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was measured by its faster electrophoretic mobility and expressed as charge modification frequency (CMF). Serum levels of total cholesterol (t-chol), triglyceride (TG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-chol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-chol, and CMF were significantly higher in hyperlipidemia, but there was no significant difference in serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-chol levels between hyperlipidemic and healthy subjects.