Kristoffer Hellsing

Serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein concentrations and tissue lipoprotein-lipase activity in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism: the effect of substitution therapy.

Abstract. Twenty‐one patients with increased, thyroid‐stimulating‐hormone (TSH) concentrations in the serum while fasting were studied before and after substitution with l‐thyroxine. Nine patients had TSH values < 40 mU/1 and an average serum‐thyroxine value of 64 nmol/1. Twelve patients with TSH‐values > 40 mU/1 had an average serum‐thyroxine value of 23 nmol/1. On treatment TSH and thyroxine normalized (reference limits < 8 mU/1 and 65–160 nmol/1 respectively) as did also the response to a load with thyroid‐releasing hormone (TRH).

Lipoprotein-lipase activity in human skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in the fasting and the fed states☆

Sixteen healthy subjects, 7 females and 9 males, with a mean age of 25 years (range 22--29 years), were studied in the fasting state in the morning and 8 h later after partaking of breakfast, lunch and two small meals. The lipoprotein-lipase activity in the adipose tissue increased significantly from 80 +/- 32 to 117 +/- 61 nmol fatty acid released per gram and minute (nmol FA/g/min), whereas in skeletal-muscle tissue it decreased significantly from 25 +/- 11 to 17 +/- 9 nmol FA/g/min. The concentration of serum triglycerides increased significantly from 0.93 +/- 0.18 mmol/l (mean +/- SD) in the fasting state to 1.57 +/- 0.64 mmol/l in the fed state. In the fasting state the lipoprotein-lipase activity of skeletal muscle was inversely related to the ratio between the concentrations of insulin and glucagon.

Increase of the lipoprotein‐lipase activity in human skeletal muscle during clof ibrate administration

Abstract. Lipoprotein‐lipase activity was determined in tissue from the skeletal muscle of the leg and the subcutaneous adipose tissue of the abdomen in fourteen patients before and after 1 month of clofibrate administration. The concentrations of serum triglycerides decreased by, on the average, 37% in a group of thirteen patients which mainly consisted of subjects with type‐IV hyperlipoproteinaemia. Clofibrate administration was associated with an average increase of the skeletal muscle‐tissue lipoprotein‐lipase activity of 50% (P< 0.005). There was a significant correlation between the percentage changes in skeletal muscle‐tissue lipoprotein‐lipase activity and those of the triglycerides concentrations and the K2‐values in an intravenous fat tolerance test during clofibrate treatment. Adipose‐tissue lipoprotein‐lipase activity did not change significantly. One patient with type‐I hyperlipoproteinaemia had very low values of skeletal muscle‐tissue lipoprotein‐lipase activity and moderately low adipose‐tissue lipoprotein‐lipase activity. In this patient, neither the tissue lipoprotein‐lipase activity nor the triglycerides concentration changed during clofibrate therapy. Fasting serum insulin concentrations decreased significantly during clofibrate administration and the percentage decrease was significantly correlated to the percentage increase of skeletal‐muscle lipoprotein‐lipase activity. It is suggested that the lowering of insulin levels is a possible mechanism through which glucagon activity is enhanced and this may increase skeletal muscle‐tissue lipoprotein‐lipase activity.

Amino acid concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid in presenile and senile dementia of Alzheimer type and multi-infarct dementia

Free amino acid levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from demented patients (D, n = 30) suffering from presenile and senile dementia of Alzheimer type (PDAT, n = 7; SDAT, n = 9), multi-infarct dementia (MID, n = 14) and a reference sample group consisting of young neurotic patients (R, n = 16). Comparing the amino acid levels in the dementia subgroups, significantly higher alanine, methionine, phenylalanine and tyrosine levels were found both in MID and SDAT vs. PDAT. No difference was seen between SDAT and MID. Compared to the reference sample group, higher glycine levels were found in each dementia subgroup; higher alanine, methionine and ornithine levels in MID, and SDAT; and higher phenylalanine levels in MID. In PDAT the level of tyrosine was lower. Coefficients of correlation were calculated between amino acid levels and age, and the findings in the reference sample groups were divergent from those observed in dementia. The differences observed are discussed in terms of amino acid, carbohydrate and neurotransmitter metabolism.

A prospective study of urinary proteins in early infancy.

ABSTRACT. Karlsson, F. A., Hardell, L.‐I., and Hellsing, K. (Departments of Clinical Research, Internal Medicine, Paediatrics and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden). A prospective study of urinary proteins in early infancy. Acta Paediatr Scand, 68: 663, 1979.—Urinary concentrations of protein, albumin, β2‐microglobulin, α‐amino nitrogen, and creatinine were determined in forty‐one full‐term infants on seven occasions up to six months of age. Except for β2‐microglobulin the concentrations were highest on the first day, followed by a rapid decrease to a constant level within two weeks. Protein diminished approximately seven‐fold, albumin twenty‐fold, α‐amino nitrogen three‐fold and creatinine five‐fold. By contrast, β2‐microglobulin, a low molecular weight protein, first increased three‐fold between day 1 and day 5, thereafter decreasing slowly 17‐fold during the first three months of age. The data indicate that different kidney functions mature asynchronously.

Effects of clofibrate on glucose tolerance, serum insulin, serum lipoproteins and plasma fibrinogen

SummaryThe effects of clofibrate therapy were studied in fifty year old, weight-stable, free-living men not on specific dietary treatment. The patients had been selected because of hyperlipidaemia and/or glucose intolerance found at a health screening survey. The study lasted for four months and was double-blind and cross-over in design. The results showed no effect of clofibrate treatment on glucose tolerance, as measured by an intravenous glucose tolerance test, neither in the entire group (t=0.90, 2p>0.05, n=21) nor in a subgroup (t=−0.71, 2p>0.05, n=10) with glucose intolerance on screening. Fasting blood glucose was significantly decreased (t=3.71, 2p<0.01) in the subgroup (n=8) with fasting blood glucose greater than 100 mg/100 ml during the placebo period. There was, however, a significant (t=4.00, 2p<0.001) reduction in fasting serum(S-)insulin concentration during clofibrate therapy. The reduction was correlated with relative body weight (r=0.59, 2p<0.01). Elevated S-lipoproteins were decreased by clofibrate therapy, S-low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations by 20 per cent and S-very low density lipoprotein triglyceride concentrations by 52 per cent. Significant falls in plasma fibrinogen concentration (t=4.57, 2p<0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (t=2.48, 2p<0.025) also occured, which were not correlated to the other effects reported.

Lipoprotein-lipase activity in subcutaneous, adipose tissue in healthy subjects: variation of activity in a population of 60-year-old men.

The lipoprotein-lipase activity (LPLA) in the abdominal, subcutaneous, adipose tissue was studied in a random sample (n = 69) of 60-year-old men. A new method for the quantification of LPLA was applied. The mean value was 67 mU/g when expressed per gram (wet weight) of adipose tissue. Several subjects within the lower part of the range of adipose-tissue LPLA values had low concentrations of serum-triglycerides (S-TG). There was no correlation between the LPLA and S-TG concentrations in the fasting state. Among the 69 subjects, four had newly detected diabetes mellitus and had significantly lower LPLA in the adipose tissue than the control group. The fat-cell size and the LPLA per gram of adipose tissue were not correlated. Thus, obesity without diabetes mellitus does not imply a low LPLA concentration in adipose tissue. The variation of the concentration of adipose-tissue LPLA in the fasting state in this population was explained only to a minor extent by the variation of S-insulin and blood-glucose parameters, when analysed statistically by a stepwise multiple-regression technique.

Changes in glucose tolerance and plasma insulin during lipid-lowering treatment with diet, clofibrate and niceritrol

In an effort to reduce serum lipids in patients with atherosclerotic manifestations, a combined treatment with a conventional lipid-lowering diet, clofibrate and niceritrol was used. The effect on glucose metabolism of such treatment was studied. Among the 106 patients 66 took the full dose of both drugs and of these 51 were weight-stable and non-diabetic. The effects of the diet and the drugs were evaluated in this subsample. Diet had no effect on fasting blood glucose concentration, the K value of an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and concentrations of serum insulin. Niceritrol treatment was associated with increased blood glucose, decreased K value, elevated fasting serum insulin and serum insulin at 60 min during IVGTT. Clofibrate had the opposite effects to niceritrol and when both drugs were combined, carbohydrate metabolism was unchanged compared with the pre-treatment state.

The effects of colestipol when combined with clofibrate in the treatment of severe hyperlipidemia: Short-term and long-term studies☆

Twenty-two patients suffering from hyperlipidemia and receiving therapy consisting of a lipid-lowering diet and clofibrate (1 g X 2) were in addition given colestipol hydrochloride (5 g X 3) (Colestid, Upjohn) in a randomized, cross-over study for 2 periods of 6 weeks. Both the cholesterol and the triglyceride concentrations in very low density lipoproteins remained unchanged during the colestipol treatment. The cholesterol concentration in low density lipoproteins decreased by 23% (P < 0.001) and increased in high density lipoproteins by 4% (P < 0.01). In a second part of the project, the effects on the lipoprotein lipids of 15 g of colestipol divided into 1, 2 or 3 daily doses were studied when added to ongoing therapy with clofibrate (1 g X 2) and lipid-lowering diet. When the colespitol was divided into 2 or 3 daily doses, the effects were manifested equally but were less pronounced when 1 dose per day was given. In a third study, 14 patients who were treated with a combination of lipid-lowering diet, clofibrate (1 g X 2) and colestipol hydrochloride (15 g daily) were followed over a 2-year period, during which time the serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were maintained at a reduced level. The fasting blood glucose and serum insulin concentrations were increased during colestipol treatment. Such treatment should therefore not be given to patients with impaired glucose tolerance.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS-LIKE CHANGES IN BODY FLUIDS OF HEALTHY PERSONS PERFORMING ANAEROBIC EXERCISE

Ceder, O., Teien, D., Bardoń, A., Hellsing, K. and Kollberg, H. (Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden, Department of Clinical Physiology, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden, Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Sport, Warsaw, Poland and Department of Pediatrics, University of Kuwait, Safat, Kuwait). Cystic fibrosis‐like changes in body fluids of healthy persons performing anaerobic exercise. Acta Paediatr Scand 1983, Suppl. 309: 25. The biochemical compositions of blood, saliva and urine were compared at rest and during and after anaerobic physical exercise in homozygotes and heterozygotes for cystic fibrosis (CF) and in healthy controls.