Effects of pravastatin on lipid transfer protein and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

The effects of HMG CoA reductase inhibitor PRAVASTATIN on plasma lipoprotein levels, lipid transfer protein (LTP) activity and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity were investigated in 20 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Plasma total cholesterol decreased from 299.2 +/- 45.

An improved method for removal of antithrombin III from post-heparin plasma lipase fractions with a high recovery rate.

Affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose has been widely used for the purification of post-heparin plasma triglyceride lipases, but this procedure alone yields lipase fractions with a high content of antithrombin III (AT), which also binds to heparin and coelutes with the lipases. A rapid procedure in which this major contaminant is reduced by the use of affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose with low affinity for AT and further removal by anti-AT IgG Affi-Gel 10 column chromatography is reported and the results are compared with these of the conventional heparin-Sepharose and Concanavalin A-Sepharose column chromatography two step method. While the AT contamination of hepatic lipase eluate from conventional heparin-Sepharose column chromatography was 92 mg/dl in 100 mg/dl protein, heparin-Sepharose with low affinity for AT yielded samples with 55 mg/dl in 100 mg/dl protein.

Effects of carvedilol on serum lipids in patients with essential hypertension.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of carvedilol on serum lipids in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Twenty-one patients with blood pressure greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg after a 4-week placebo run-in period were initially given 10 mg of carvedilol once daily. The dose was increased to 20 mg after 4 weeks if the target blood pressure was not achieved.

Hepatic lipase activity and high density lipoproteins in familial hypercholesterolemia: adaptational mechanisms for LDL-receptor deficient state.

With a view toward elucidating the poorly understood high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism in familial hypercholesterolemic (FH) patients, the activities of the plasma enzymes involved in HDL metabolism; hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) with concomitant determination of HDL particle size, were analyzed in 50 age-matched hypercholesterolemic patients (26 FH and 24 non-FH patients). The activity of HTGL in FH patients was significantly higher (p less than 0.02) than in non-FH patients.

The effect of CS-514 on serum lipids and apolipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

CS-514 is a metabolic product of compactin and has a potent cholesterol-lowering effect in vitro and in animal studies by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. The efficacy and adverse effects of the agent were studied in 41 hypercholesterolemic subjects by administering daily doses of 5, 20, or 40 mg for four weeks under double-blind conditions. Mean total serum cholesterol level was reduced by 11.

Comparison of selectivity of LDL removal by double filtration and dextran-sulfate cellulose column plasmapheresis, and changes of subfractionated plasma lipoproteins after plasmapheresis in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

The possibility of selective removal of low density lipoprotein (LDL) by double filtration (DF) and dextran-sulfate cellulose (DSC) column plasmapheresis in hypercholesterolemia and the acute recovery process of the subfractionated plasma lipoproteins after plasmapheresis in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia were investigated. Sixty-six percent of the LDL cholesterol and 42% of the HDL cholesterol were removed by 2.5 L DF plasmapheresis with the second filters having average pore diameters of 30 nm and 40 nm.

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase-induced modifications of liver perfusate discoidal high density lipoproteins from African green monkeys.

The role of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in the formation of plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) was studied in a series of in vitro incubations in which perfusates from isolated African green monkey livers were incubated at 37 degrees C with partially purified LCAT for between 1 and 13 hr. The HDL particles isolated from monkey liver perfusate stored at 4 degrees C and not exposed to added LCAT contained apoA-I and apoE, were deficient in neutral lipids, and were observed by electron microscopy as discoidal particles. Particle sizes, measured as Stokes' diameters by gradient gel electrophoresis (GGE), ranged between 7.

The effect of CS-514, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, on serum lipids in healthy volunteers.

CS-514 is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase. The effect of this agent on serum lipids and lipoproteins was studied in 10 healthy normocholesterolemic male volunteers by giving 20 mg of CS-514 or placebo twice a day for 7 days under double-blind conditions. The mean total serum cholesterol level decreased by 18.

Comparison of selectivity of LDL removal by double filtration and dextran-sulfate cellulose column plasmapheresis.

The possibility of selective removal of VLDL, IDL and LDL by double filtration (DF) and dextran-sulfate cellulose (DSC) column plasmapheresis was investigated in hypercholesterolemia. Two and a half liters of plasma were treated. Sixty six percent of TC and 68% of LDL-C were removed by DF plasmapheresis.

The changes in plasma lipoproteins in a case of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia after plasmapheresis.

The changes in plasma lipoproteins after plasmapheresis were estimated in a case of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Two and a half liters of plasma were exchanged with the same volume of Plasmanate. The effects of cholestyramine on the changes in plasma lipoproteins were also studied after the second plasmapheresis.

Diseases and cancer rate of AMHTS examines in the Tokai University Hospital.

Studies were conducted on 10,261 subjects who had undergone checkups in an AMHTS (Automated Multiphasic Health Testing and Services) Center in the Tokai University Hospital. The breakdown of the screening at the time of the examinations was 48% abnormal and 52% borderline or normal. The disease ratio obtained in follow-up survey averaged 16% and increased as the subjects became older.

Clinical application of cardiovascular computed tomography.

The application of computed tomography to cardiovascular diagnosis was attempted. One hundred and four consecutive patients with various cardiovascular diseases were studied with a third-generation computed tomographic three-second whole body scanner. Identification and evaluation of abnormalities of the great vessels, atria, ventricles and interventricular septum were possible by cardiac computed tomography.

Evaluation of pericardial effusion with computed tomography.

Evaluation of pericardial effusion was attempted with computed tomography in 11 patients. The volume and distribution of pericardial fluid were assessed with satisfactory resolution and the nature of the fluid was estimated by the difference in x-ray transparency (CT numbers). The volume of pericardial fluid calculated by tomographic methods ranged from 25 ml.

Eight cases of sporotrichosis.

About 1,100 cases of sporotrichosis were reported in Japan between 1955 and 1973. From February 1975, when our hospital opened, to November 1979, we encountered eight cases of this disease. The patients, two males and six females, were aged from 6 months to 90 years old.

Two cases of chromomycosis.

More than 190 cases of chromomycosis have been reported in Japan since the first one in 1933. We encountered two cases of this fungal disease in the last four years. The diagnosis of chromomycosis is still difficult, especially in the early stage and brain metastasis is frequently seen in this country.

Evaluation of cardiac diseases with computed tomography.

Fifty-six consecutive patients with various cardiac diseases were studied with a third-generation whole body computed tomographic system. Enhancement was performed by intravenous injection of angiographic contrast medium. Identification of the great vessels, atria and ventricles, and evaluation of abnormalities in these structures were possible by cardiac computed tomography.