Kaarina Ojala

Role of hepatic L-α-glycerophosphate and triglyceride synthesis in production of fatty liver by ethanol.

Summary Administration of ethanol to rats as a single dose caused a significant increase in liver L-α-glycerophosphate concentration and in incorporation of intravenously injected palmitic acid-1-C14 into liver triglycerides. It is suggested that these metabolic alterations may play an important role in the pathogenesis of fatty liver and of hypertriglyceridemia produced by ethanol. The changes could be observed only during the first few hours following ingestion of ethanol.

Hyperglyceridemia induced by glycerol feeding

Abstract The currently prevailing opinion is that the endogenous plasma triglycerides have their main if not sole origin in the liver. In the hepatic triglyceride synthesis the precursor fatty acids come chiefly from the body free fatty acid pool and the glycerol moiety is apparently derived both from body free glycerol pool and from the 3-carbon compounds of the glycolysis occuring in hepatic cell. Knowledge of the factors which determine and control the rates of hepatic and plasma triglyceride synthesis is so far very incomplete. One of these factors probably is the plasma free fatty acid level (2) but experience on ethanol-induced fatty liver and hyperglyceridemia (4) as well as on high-carbohydrate diet-induced hyperglyceridemia (7) clearly indicates that the regulatory mechanism must be more complex. In a previous study we suggested that the concentration and synthesis rate of -glycerophosphate in the liver cell or in some of its subcellular fractions might be one of the determinants of triglyceride formation (4). This concept has been supported, in a way, by the recent results of Tzur et al. (6). Since the liver -glycerophosphate content can be raised manifold by administration of glycerol it seemed of interest to study whether the plasma and liver lipid levels are influenced by chronic glycerol feeding in the rat.

Diagnostic significance of pleural fluid lactate concentrations

SummaryLactate concentrations in the pleural fluid and plasma of 57 patients with pleural effusions were measured by an enzymatic method. The mean pleural fluid lactate concentrations were significantly higher in patients with empyemas and rheumatoid arthritis than in patients with tuberculosis, cancer, non-specific pleural effusions and congestive heart failure. Pleural fluid lactate concentrations correlated significantly with pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase activities and inversely with pleural fluid glucose concentrations. An elevated pleural fluid lactate concentration is not diagnostic for empyema, as most patients with rheumatoid arthritis and some with tuberculosis and cancer also show high values.ZusammenfassungBei 57 Patienten mit Pleuraerguß wurden die Laktatkonzentrationen in Pleuraflüssigkeit und Plasma mit einer enzymatischen Methode gemessen. Bei Patienten mit Pleuraempyem und rheumatoider Arthritis fanden sich in der Pleuraflüssigkeit signifikant höhere Laktatkonzentrationen als bei Patienten mit Tuberkulose, Krebs, unspezifischen Pleuraergüssen und kongestiver Herzinsuffizienz. Die Laktatkonzentration korrelierte mit der Laktat-Dehydrogenaseaktivität und stand in umgekehrter Beziehung zur Glukosekonzentration in der Pleuraflüssigkeit. Erhöhte Laktatkonzentrationen in der Pleuraflüssigkeit sind nicht als diagnostischer Hinweis auf ein Empyem zu werten, da die meisten Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis und einige Patienten mit Tuberkulose und mit Krebs ebenfalls hohe Werte aufweisen.

Therapeutic and toxic lanatoside C serum concentrations in hospital patients

ZusammenfassungDer Serum Lanatosid C Spiegel wurde bei 56 Patienten, die auf oraler Erhaltungstherapie waren, radioimmunologisch bestimmt. In der Gruppe von sieben Patienten mit Digitalisintoxikation war die Lanatosid C Konzentration durchschnittlich 6,99 ± 2,00 ng/ml (Mittelwerte ± 1 SD). Bei 49 Patienten, die nichttoxisch waren, war die Konzentration 2,32±1,08 ng/ml.SummarySerum lanatoside C concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in 56 patients on oral maintenance therapy. Seven patients were judged to have digitalis toxicity and the lanatoside C concentration in this group was 6.99±2.00 ng/ml (mean ± 1 SD). 49 patients were non-toxic and the mean serum lanatoside C concentration in this group corresponded to 2.32±1.08 ng/ml.