Association of Gene Variants with Atherogenic Dyslipidemia Among Thai Patients Treated with Statin.

Objective: Patients treated with statins for dyslipidemia may still have a residual risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). To determine whether genetic variants in the cholesteryl ester transport protein (CETP), rs3764261 (C>A), rs708272 (G>A), and rs12149545 (G>A) affect ASCVD risk, we studied the association of these variants with dyslipidemia in statin-treated patients.

Patients And Methods: We included 299 adult Thai patients treated with a statin (95 men and 204 women).

Long-term effects of socioeconomic status on the incidence of decreased glomerular filtration rate in a Southeast Asian cohort.

Background: There is limited information on the role of low socioeconomic status (SES) in the development of new chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population, especially from developing countries. This study will test the hypothesis that low SES increases the risk of incidence of decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR, used as an estimate for CKD) in a Thai worker cohort.

Method: In this prospective, longitudinal observational study, we evaluated the association of income and educational attainment on incident decreased GFR ( <60 mL/min/1.

Association between polymorphisms of and genes and risperidone- or clozapine-induced hyperglycemia.

Objective: To determine whether genetic polymorphisms related to pharmacodynamics with metabolic adverse effects, namely leptin promoter () rs7799039, leptin receptor rs1137101, dopamine D2 rs4436578, serotonin 5-HT2A rs6313, and serotonin 5-HT2C rs518147 and rs12836771, are associated with hyperglycemia induced by risperidone or clozapine in adult Thai patients with psychosis.

Methods: A total of 180 patients treated with risperidone-based (=130) or clozapine-based (=50) regimens were included in this study. Blood samples were analyzed for genotyping of the candidate genes and biochemical testing.

Performance of body mass index and percentage of body fat in predicting cardiometabolic risk factors in Thai adults.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat (PBF) are used to measure obesity; however, their performance in identifying cardiometabolic risk in Southeast Asians is unclear. Generally, Asian women have higher PBF and lower BMI than do men and other ethnic populations. This study was conducted to address whether a discord exists between these measures in predicting obesity-related cardiometabolic risk in a Thai population and to test whether associations between the measures and risk factors for cardiovascular disease have a sex-specific inclination.

Risk scores to predict decreased glomerular filtration rate at 10 years in an Asian general population.

Background: Asians have among the highest prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease in the world. A risk score capable of identifying high risk individuals at the primary care level could allow targeted therapy to prevent future development of CKD. Risk scores for new CKD have been developed in US general populations, but the impact of various risks factors for development of CKD may differ in Asian subjects.

Evaluation of the Framingham Heart Study risk factors and risk score for incident chronic kidney disease at 10 years in a Thai general population.

Purpose: Asians have some of the highest rates of end-stage renal disease, but there is limited information on the risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Asian general population. A risk score for incident CKD for the general population has been developed from the US Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring cohort. This score has been validated on Caucasians and African-Americans, but has not been tested on Asians.

Impact of risperidone on leptin and insulin in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of dose and duration of risperidone treatment on cardiovascular and diabetes risk biomarkers in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Design And Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, a total of 168 ASDs patients (89% male) treated with a risperidone-based regimen for ≥12months were included. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose and lipid metabolic markers, adiponectin, leptin, prolactin, cortisol and high sensitive C-reactive protein.

Effects of Therapy on Urine Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Nondiabetic Glomerular Diseases with Proteinuria.

Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is widely used as a biomarker for acute kidney injury. Cross-sectional studies have shown that NGAL may be elevated in glomerular diseases, but there is limited information on the value of NGAL in predicting treatment response or on the changes of NGAL levels after therapy. We prospectively evaluated the effects of therapy on NGAL in nondiabetic glomerular diseases.

Independent associations of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and serum uric acid with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy in primary glomerulonephritis.

The degree of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) is one of the strongest prognostic factors in glomerulonephritis (GN). In experimental models, high serum uric acid (UA) could contribute to IFTA through direct effects on the renal tubules, but the significance of this process has not been evaluated in patients. Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is produced by renal tubules following acute or chronic damage.

Effects of glomerular filtration rate estimating equations derived from different reference methods on staging and long term mortality risks of chronic kidney disease in a Southeast Asian cohort.

Aim: There are limited data on the risks of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Southeast Asian populations. Several GFR estimating equations have been developed in diverse Asian populations, but they produce markedly discrepant results. We investigated the impact of Asian equations on the mortality risk of CKD in a Thai cohort during long term follow-up, and explored the differences between equations grouped according to the reference GFR methods used to develop them.

Small-dense LDL/large-buoyant LDL ratio associates with the metabolic syndrome.

Objective: Heterogeneous particles of intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) vary in atherogenesis. We investigated the association between the metabolic syndrome (MetS) score and lipoprotein subclasses.

Design And Methods: A total of 260 outpatients were scored into six groups, based on their number of MetS components.

Comparison of a direct enzymatic assay and polyacrylamide tube gel electrophoresis for measurement of small, dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Background: Small, dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) has been linked to the progression of cardiovascular disease. We compared two methods for determination of sdLDL-C, a direct enzymatic (ENZ) method and a polyacrylamide tube gel electrophoresis (PGE) assay, and investigated the associations of both sdLDL-C measurements with metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We analyzed 242 patient sera for sdLDL and atherosclerosis-related markers.

Small-dense LDL cholesterol/large-buoyant LDL cholesterol ratio as an excellent marker for indicating lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients.

Objectives: To examine whether the lipid parameters are predicting factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lipodystrophy.

Methods: Whole-body fat compositions of HIV-positive patients receiving stavudine-containing antiretroviral regimens (n = 79) were determined. Lipodystrophy was defined as a ratio of trunk fat mass/lower limb fat mass greater than 2.

Heterogeneous properties of intermediate- and low-density lipoprotein subpopulations.

Objective: Intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) consist of heterogeneous particles whose subpopulations may have different atherogenic characteristics. This study investigated the associations between these subpopulations and other lipids, lipoproteins and atherosclerosis-related markers.

Design And Methods: A total of 416 subjects (124 males and 292 females, mean age: 50.

The impact of different GFR estimating equations on the prevalence of CKD and risk groups in a Southeast Asian cohort using the new KDIGO guidelines.

Background: Recently, the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) group recommended that patients with CKD should be assigned to stages and composite relative risk groups according to GFR (G) and proteinuria (A) criteria. Asians have among the highest rates of ESRD in the world, but establishing the prevalence and prognosis CKD is a problem for Asian populations since there is no consensus on the best GFR estimating (eGFR) equation. We studied the effects of the choice of new Asian and Caucasian eGFR equations on CKD prevalence, stage distribution, and risk categorization using the new KDIGO classification.

Estimation of plasma small dense LDL cholesterol from classic lipid measures.

Calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (cLDL-C) may differ from direct measurement (dLDL-C), and this difference may depend on presence of small, dense LDL (sdLDL) particles in addition to variation in triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations. The presence of such dependence would offer a simple means to estimate sdLDL. We studied dependence of sdLDL on cLDL-C, dLDL-C, and other variables.

Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in survivors of childhood brain tumors in Prasat Neurological Institute.

Objective: To assess hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in childhood brain tumor survivors in Prasat Neurological Institute.

Material And Method: Between October 2007 and September 2008, 19 brain tumor survivor children in Prasat Neurological Institute without recurrence at least 2 years after complete treatment were included in the present study. The patients were categorized according to brain tumor location into directly (DHPA) (9 cases) and indirectly (IDHPA) (10 cases) involving hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease in the Thai adult population: Thai SEEK study.

Background: Previous reports of chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence in Thailand varied from 4.3% to 13.8%.

The effect of renal dysfunction on BNP, NT-proBNP, and their ratio.

We examined the effect of renal dysfunction on B-natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal (NT)-proBNP, and their molar ratio at varying severities of cardiac function in 94 Thai patients with chest pain (52 men; 32 women), also measuring creatinine and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Renal function was classified into 5 stages by estimated glomerular filtration rate. The molar NT-proBNP/BNP ratio was calculated.

Performance of a new interference-resistant glucose meter.

Objectives: Glucose meters are widely used in self and hospital monitoring of blood glucose. We examined the analytical performance of a StatStrip glucose monitoring system.

Design And Methods: Linearity, % recovery and within-run imprecision were studied using glucose-spiked whole blood.

Performance of a multi-profile critical care testing analyzer.

Background: Modern blood gas analyzers are often coupled to electrolyte and metabolite analyzers. We evaluated a Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress analyzer (STP CCX) for the rapid point-of-care measurement of blood gases (pH, pCO2, pO2, sO2), hematocrit (Hct), total hemoglobin (tHb), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), glucose (Glu), lactate (Lac), urea (BUN), ionized calcium (iCa) and ionized magnesium (iMg).

Methods: The analyzer was evaluated in terms of imprecision and recovery using the STP CCX control.

Comparative study of calculated and measured total carbon dioxide.

Background: Total carbon dioxide content (TCO2) can be calculated from measured values of pH and pCO2 according to a simplified and standardized form of the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, or measured directly.

Methods: We assessed the agreement between calculated TCO2 and measured TCO2 using a total of 74 blood samples. Calculated TCO2 was obtained using blood gas analysis of pH and pCO2 in arterial whole blood on a Nova Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress analyzer.