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P N Demacker

Publications and source records attributed to P N Demacker.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Influence of contraceptive pill and menstrual cycle on serum lipids and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.

The fluctuations of serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations within one cycle were studied both in women using and not using oral contraceptives. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly from 1.47 mmol/l (57 mg/100 ml) to 1.30 mmol/l (50 mg/100 ml) during one contraceptive cycle in eight women and rose again to the initial value during the pill-free days. The mean concentration of total cholesterol also fell significantly as a result of the decrease of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and of a not significant decrease of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The mean serum triglyceride concentration did not change significantly. The fluctuations in the concentration of serum lipids and lipoproteins in 10 women not using oral contraceptives were smaller than in the women using oral contraceptives and no significant changes in the concentrations were found during one cycle. Thus, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration decreases during each contraceptive cycle. The time of blood sampling during the cycle is, therefore, of vital importance in interpreting the effect of oral contraceptives on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In women not using oral contraceptives blood can be sampled on random days during the cycle.

Adult↗

Apolipoprotein C in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients with hypertriglyceridaemia.

The composition of apolipoprotein C of the very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) was examined in 23 treated Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients, who had elevated VLDL concentrations. Apolipoprotein C was separated by isoelectric focussing into apolipoprotein C-II which is known as the specific activator of lipoprotein lipase, and three apolipoprotein C-III fragments. A regulatory role has been ascribed to the ratio of apolipoprotein C-II to apolipoprotein C-III in the removal of plasma triglycerides. In our diabetic group, the composition of apolipoprotein C of the VLDL particles was not different from that of a healthy control group. In particular, the above apolipoprotein ratio and the relative amounts of apolipoprotein C-III fragments were normal. Hypertriglyceridaemia in these diabetic subjects does not seem to be related to alterations in the apolipoprotein C composition.

Apolipoprotein C-I↗

Intra-individual variation of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in normal humans.

The intra-individual variation in the concentrations of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-chol) was determined in 53 healthy subjects, without extreme standardization of test subjects and sampling conditions. Within 1 year, the intra-individual variation of the subjects ranged from 3.9 to 10.9% for cholesterol; from 12.9 to 40.8% for triglycerides, and from 3.6 to 12.4% for HDL-chol. More than 60% of the average total intra-individual variation was caused by biological fluctuations and the remainder was the result of analytical variation. Thus, a single measurement of these serum constituents in an individual can be misleading or meaningless, unless the value is considerably outside the normal range. No significant diurnal variation was found in the concentrations of serum cholesterol and HDL-chol. The maximal post-prandial increase of the serum triglycerides was twice as great in the men than in the women. Finally, significant trends in the fluctuations of serum lipids and HDL-chol during 1 year were not found.

Adult↗

Stability of frozen liquid control sera for assay of cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein.

Liquid serum pools with low-, normal-, or above-normal concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were prepared by selection and dilution of sera having low lipoprotein content or by enrichment with concentrated high-density lipoprotein. Stability of the serum pools depended on storage conditions. On storage between -2 and -12 degrees C, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol content decreased. At a constant temperature of -19 to -21 degrees C the concentrations remained stable for more than 18 months. The imprecision (CV) of the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol assay during this period as established with enzymic cholesterol analysis (Clin. Chem. 26: 1780-1786, 1980) of these serum pools was between 2.7 and 4.8% (n = 51). Serum pools prepared and stored as described are suitable for internal quality-control procedures. In external quality-control trials these sera may be superior to the commercially available lyophilized lipid control sera.

Blood Preservation↗

Enzymic and chemical-extraction determinations of free fatty acids in serum compared.

We compared an enzymic test kit for determination of free fatty acids in serum (NEFA C-test, WAKO) with two modifications of a chemical extraction procedure, I (Clin. Chim. Acta 43: 317-320, 1973) and II (Clin. Chim. Acta 80: 327-332, 1977). All three procedures are specific for long- and medium-chain fatty acids. Short-chain fatty acids, some keto acids, and phospholipids did not interfere. Added fatty acid was quantitatively accounted for in all methods. Results obtained with the enzymic method and II did not differ significantly, whereas the results by I were about 10% lower. The concentration of NaCl in the copper reagent, but not the kind of solvent used to dissolve the standard, influenced the accuracy of the chemical methods. In the enzymic procedure, hydrolysis of triglycerides during incubation is unlikely to be the reason for too-high values. The precision of all three procedures is acceptable for use in clinical laboratories.

Fatty Acids, Nonesterified↗

Combined deficiency of apolipoprotein C-II and lipoprotein lipase in familial hyperchylomicronemia.

The underlying pathophysiological defect was studied in four siblings with familial hyperchylomicronemia. Deficiency of apolipoprotein C-II and E-3 was identified. In addition, these subjects had markedly decreased LPL activity in postheparin plasma. Addition of normal plasma to the assay as source for apoC-II enhanced LPL activity only to a limited extent. In contrast with previously reported patients with apoC-II deficiency, a far less pronounced effect of intravenous infusion of normal plasma was seen in one of the siblings, probably due to the combined deficiency of apoC-II and LPL. Plasma VLDL-TG turnover rate was not decreased in one of the siblings with apoC-II and LPL deficiency, suggesting different metabolic pathways for chylomicrons and VLDL. Family study confirmed an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance both for apoC-II and for apoE-3 deficiency. The mode of inheritance for LPL deficiency could not be established exactly.

Adult↗

A study of the use of polyethylene glycol in estimating cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein.

We studied polyethylene glycol 6000 precipitation of lipoproteins other than high-density lipoproteins, before cholesterol is estimated in the supernate. Other lipoproteins in the supernatant fractions were detected by using rocket immunoelectrophoresis. A polyethylene glycol concentration of 75 g/L in the final mixture appeared to be optimal, and results agreed with those obtained by ultracentrifugation. Differences in serum pH, use of polyethylene glycol from different suppliers, or the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate resulted in values that differed significantly (by 40 to 60 mumol/L) from the reference values. Polyethylene glycol did not interfere in four different methods for determination of cholesterol. In combination with an enzymic cholesterol method, the polyethylene glycol method appeared to be very precise, even when lipemic sera (triglycerides up to 5.5 mmol/L) were analyzed that had diminished high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values. We consider this method a method of choice, especially when lipemic sera are tested and enzymic cholesterol analysis is used.

Cholesterol↗

Evaluation of the dual-precipitation method by comparison with the ultracentrifugation method for measurement of lipoproteins in serum.

We evaluated the dual-precipitation method for quantitative measurement of lipoproteins as described by Wilson and Spiger [J. Lab. Clin. Med. 82, 473 (1973)] for normo- and hyperlipemic sera, by comparison with the results obtained with ultracentrifugation. If serum with an above-normal triglyceride concentration is analyzed, the very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol value obtained with the precipitation method is usually too low. For measurement of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol the ultracentrifugation and precipitation procedures give comparable results, but the latter method is preferred because sinking pre-beta-lipoproteins present in the high-density lipoprotein fraction isolated by means of the ultracentrifuge may result in falsely high values for cholesterol in that fraction. Therefore, at least for the determination of very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hyperlipemic serum, the use of an ultracentrifuge remains necessary. Because few laboratories have an ultracentrifuge at their disposal, it seemed important to look at the stability of sera in view of the forwarding of samples. Also, a way of increasing the efficiency of the ultracentrifuge was studied. Sera can be stored for a week at 4 degrees C or for 54 h at room temperature without noticeable effect on lipoprotein values. Moreover, reliable values can be obtained with an ultracentrifugation time of 8 h (0.8 X 10(8) g-min).

Chemical Precipitation↗

An improved semi-automated method for the colorimetric determination of triglycerides in serum.

A semi-automated colorimetric determination for triglycerides in serum is described. The extraction is performed in sample cups and a part of the upper layer is sampled automatically. The use of modified reagents leads to greater stability and results in only one phase in the continuous flow system. The method is simple and inexpensive and therefore convenient for most laboratories with increasing requests for triglyceride determinations in serum. The method also shows good reproducibility and excellent correlation with the enzymatic method (Eggstein, M. and Kreuz, F.H. (1966) Klin. Wochenschr., 267-273).

Autoanalysis↗