Edward A. Sasse

Association of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Body Composition, and Physical Fitness in Independent Community-Dwelling Older Men and Women

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), body composition, and physical fitness in independent community‐dwelling men and women aged 60 to 80 years.

Predictors of Lean Body Mass and Total Adipose Mass in Community-Dwelling Elderly Men and Women

As part of an ongoing longitudinal study, we analyzed cross-sectional data to identify the predictors of lean body mass (LBM) and total adipose mass (TAM) in community-dwelling elderly men and women. Body composition analysis was done using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. A total 262 subjects (118 women and 144 men), 60 to 80 years of age, from the urban and suburban communities of southeastern Wisconsin were studied. In women, the age (r = -.18), body mass index (BMI) (r = .43), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r = .30), and in men, BMI (r = .45) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (r = .32) were identified as predictors (P < .05) of LBM. In women, the BMI (r = .87), WHR (r = .21), and functional work capacity (VO2 max) (r = -.47), and in men, the BMI (r = .83), WHR (r = .52), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) (r = -.27), total testosterone (TT) (r = -.35), free testosterone (FT) (r = -.23), physical activity (LTE) (r = -.32), and VO2 peak (r = -.59) were identified as predictors of TAM. After partialling out age in addition to the predictors identified earlier, the VO2 peak was identified as a predictor (P < .05) of LBM in both women and men, and TT, FT, and LTE as predictors (P < .05) of LBM in men. We conclude that the BMI, WHR, and VO2 peak influences LBM and TAM in both women and men. Additionally, in men LBM and TAM is influenced by hormone profile.

Objective evaluation of data in screening for disease

BACKGROUND In order to decide on the feasibility of screening for disease by laboratory testing, a number of assessments need to be made. The necessary procedures and statistical calculations are required for an objective evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of a laboratory test and of the potential for screening and of the data obtained from the screening. METHODS The determination of reference intervals, is an essential first step in the evaluation of the performance of a laboratory test. The procedures and calculations are necessary for the determination of the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic predictive value and receiver-operating characteristic curve of a test and their respective applications in laboratory screening for disease. The additional statistical tools include odds ratios and likelihood ratios for assessing the performance of a laboratory test. CONCLUSION These tools are used in the development of an appropriate clinical decision limit in a defined population of subjects and under defined conditions for acceptable screening.

Correlation of the extent of coronary occlusion with Apo B levels Application of a new enzyme immunoassay technique for Apo B

A new rapid and sensitive method for measurement of apolipoprotein B (Apo B) in plasma has been developed. This method, based on a Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay (CELIA), has been used to study the association between the extent of coronary artery occlusion as measured by coronary arteriography and the levels of plasma Apo B. The correlation between Apo B levels and some other plasma lipids was also determined. Significant relationship was found between the extent of coronary artery occlusion and Apo B, as well as between Apo B and plasma total cholesterol and plasma triglyceride levels.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of a new oral cyclosporine formulation

Study Objective. To compare the pharmacokinetics of a new oral cyclosporine preparation with those of cyclosporine solution diluted in Isocal and the intravenous formulation.

Examination of a competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (CELIA) technique and a laser nephelometric immunoassay technique for the measurement of apolipoprotein B

A competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (CELIA) technique for quantitative measurement of apolipoprotein B (Apo B) was developed. The method is a non-isotopic immunoassay that utilizes a soluble enzyme/antibody complex as a universal labeling reagent. The method was characterized according to precision, sensitivity, recovery and parallelism. The CELIA Apo B method was compared to a commercially available laser nephelometric immunoassay. We found that the nephelometric results were highly correlated with triglyceride levels and the nephelometric assay was susceptible to interference from lipemia or turbidity. The range of values obtained on 56 apparently healthy, fasting young adults was 0.35-1.25 g/l by the CELIA method and 0.40-1.00 g/l by the nephelometric immunoassay. The nephelometric method was more precise (coefficient of variation 5%) than the CELIA technique (CV 10%); however, the CELIA method seems to be less sensitive to interferences.

Diabetic Nephropathy: Urinary Albumin or Total Protein?

Excerpt To the Editor:Increased rates of albumin excretion into the urine at rest or after exercise exceeding about 3(μg/min or 45 mg/day are an early manifestation of diabetic nephropathy and may ...

Plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase in uremia — Increase in enzyme activity after renal transplantation

Plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase in uremia. Plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was found to be low in 26 uremic patients when compared with 56 normal individuals (p 0.1). The mean plasma DBH activity in eight patients measured pre- and post-transplantation increased from 4.5 to 28 International Units/1 (p < 0.01). No evidence was found to indicate that the depressed levels of plasma DBH in uremia were secondary to genetic or enzyme inhibiting factors. It is suggested that low levels of DBH activity in patients with renal failure may be a consequence of altered sympathetic nervous activity which is known to occur in the uremic state.

Dose‐Related Alterations in Metabolism of Levodopa: Possible Mechanism for Hypotensive Effect

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (levodopa) is widely used for treatment of Parkinsonism. Although levodopa is beneficial in alleviating the symptoms of this disease, its usefulness call be limited by the troublesome side effect of orthostatic imypotension which occurs in more than 25 per cent of patients receiving this agent.1 Hypotension may be more frequent and more severe at high dose levels which are most effective for control of Parkinsonisin. It is important to understand the mechanism of levodopa-induced hypotension so that it might be prevented or combated by appropriate pharmacologic means.

Hierarchical information system for the cost analysis of clinical laboratory tests.

A microcomputer-based information system that integrates the concepts of text processing, data base processing, and data base analysis has been designed for cost evaluation in our laboratories. This forms a flexible package that is directed by the needs of the user. The package, which has been used to calculate various cost parameters and productivity on the basis of comprehensive data and user-defined rules, serves as a tool for good financial management at various organizational levels in the clinical laboratory.