Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Lurie

Publications and source records attributed to Y Lurie.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cholesterol-lowering effects of a 10 mg daily dose of lovastatin in patients with initial total cholesterol levels 200 to 240 mg/dl (5.18 to 6.21 mmol/liter).

Subjects with plasma cholesterol levels greater than 240 mg/dl (6.21 mmol/liter) and those with greater than 200 mg/dl (5.18 mmol/liter) who have coronary artery disease, or those with 2 risk factors for ischemic heart disease who do not respond to a hypocholesterolemic diet should all be treated. Lovastatin, which is an inhibitor of hydroxymethygluteryl coenzyme A reductase, is a new agent for treating hypercholesterolemia and is administered in a dose of 20 to 80 mg/day. A study was conducted in which only 10 mg of lovastatin was given to 28 subjects with plasma cholesterol of 200 to 240 mg/dl (5.18 to 6.21 mmol/liter). Cholesterol plasma levels decreased in 19% and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by 24% from baseline levels after 20 weeks of treatment. All 28 patients decreased their cholesterol values to less than 200 mg% (5.18 mmol/liter), and only 1 had a low-density lipoprotein level greater than 130 mg% (3.36 mmol/liter) at termination of the study. Achievement of desirable values of cholesterol with 10 mg of lovastatin was accompanied by less adverse effects and with significant financial saving. The calculated saving for lovastatin consumers in the USA could be an amount of $60,000,000. Thus, it is recommended that this drug be manufactured in 10 mg tablets.

Cholesterol↗

Lovastatin therapy in hypercholesterolemia: effect on fibrinogen, hemorrheologic parameters, platelet activity, and red blood cell morphology.

The effect of lovastatin therapy on blood rheology was investigated in 26 hypercholesterolemic patients. Treatment with lovastatin was associated with a significant improvement in whole blood filtration time and a tendency toward normalization in red blood cell morphology. A significant increase was observed in fibrinogen level, in ADP-induced platelet aggregation, in the percentage of "big" platelets, and in platelet count. The viscosity of whole blood and plasma and the percentage of aggregated platelets did not change significantly. The cause for these hemorrheologic changes and their role in influencing the coronary risk of lovastatin-treated hypercholesterolemic patients should be further investigated.

Adolescent↗

Lovastatin therapy in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemic patients: effect on blood rheology and fibrinogen levels.

Thirteen heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemic patients were treated with lovastatin for 1 year, and were investigated for the effect on lipid profile, blood rheology and fibrinogen levels. A significant dose-dependent reduction in serum levels of total and LDL-cholesterol, Apo B and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol was noted. Improvement in red blood cell filterability and an increase in fibrinogen levels were also observed. We conclude that the hypocholesterolaemic effect of lovastatin in familial hypercholesterolaemia is accompanied by changes in blood rheology. While some of these haemorheological changes may be considered beneficial, others may be regarded as unfavourable. The net effect of lovastatin therapy on the coronary risk of familial hypercholesterolaemic patients warrants further investigation.

Blood Viscosity↗

Effects of fish-oil ingestion on cardiovascular risk factors in hyperlipidemic subjects in Israel: a randomized, double-blind crossover study.

Effects of a daily fish-oil supplement on serum lipids, apolipoproteins, and some platelet functions and hemorheologic variables were examined in 27 hyperlipidemic subjects in a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover fashion with an identically encapsulated vegetable oil serving as the control treatment. Despite the habitual high linoleic acid intake of the study population, significant incorporation of n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids into the serum, platelet, and erythrocyte lipids was observed after the fish-oil supplement. Ingestion of fish oil resulted in a 40% decrease in the triglyceride concentration, a 12% increase in HDL cholesterol, and a significant decrease in plasma viscosity, whereas the vegetable-oil placebo had no significant effect. We conclude that a moderate intake of fish oil (15 g/d) is a feasible treatment for hypertriglyceridemia even in patients with a background of high linoleic acid intake and that it may have a beneficial effect on several cardiovascular risk factors.

Apolipoproteins↗

The porphyrinogenic effect of simvastatin in experimental systems.

Attacks of acute hepatic porphyria have been previously reported to be frequently associated with transient hypercholesterolemia. This investigation was undertaken in order to establish whether the hypocholesterolemic effect of simvastatin (MK-733) is associated with inhibition of porphyrin metabolism. In two experimental models of acute hepatic porphyria--monolayers of chick embryo liver cells induced by DDC, and diethoxycarbonyl dihydrocollidine (DDC) injected rats--simvastatin was shown to increase porphyrin formation. A similar increasing effect was observed in a system which mimics the latent phase of porphyria, non-induced monolayers of chick embryo liver cells. We conclude that simvastatin is a porphyrogenic drug and should therefore be used with extreme caution in patients with hypercholesterolemia who also have latent porphyria. Its administration should be discontinued, at least temporarily, in patients with hypercholesterolemia during acute attacks of hepatic porphyria.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗

The heme biosynthetic pathway in the regenerating rat liver. The relation between enzymes of heme synthesis and growth.

Enzymes of heme synthesis, porphyrins and heme content of regenerating rat livers were examined. During the first three days of regeneration the weights of livers of one-third and two-third hepatectomized rats increased 1.5-fold and 2.7-fold and the activity of porphobilinogen deaminase increased 2-fold and 4-fold and was inversely correlated with ferrochelatase activity. delta-Aminolevulinic acid synthase and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activities were reduced. Concomitantly an increase in the concentration of porphyrins and a decrease in that of heme were observed. The changes in the biosynthetic pathway of heme during rapid growth of the liver are discussed.

Ammonia-Lyases↗

New monoclonal antibody enzymoassay for the specific measurement of placental ferritin isotype in hematologic malignancies.

A new enzymoimmunoassay, specific for the measurement of placental ferritin (PLF) isotype, has been described. Two monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) with different binding specificities to placental ferritin have been used in this assay. One antibody (CM-G-8) binds to all ferritins, whereas the second (CM-H-9) binds to placental ferritin only. In addition, a second enzymoassay was developed for the measurement of total common serum ferritin using CM-G-8 McAb. Serum levels of total ferritin and PLF were measured in healthy individuals and in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases and multiple myeloma. The majority of normal subjects were deficient in PLF in the serum. Increased serum levels of PLF were observed in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of low and intermediate grades, as well as in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Total ferritin was also elevated in these patients. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma patients exhibited normal levels of common serum ferritin, whereas PLF in the serum was lacking.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Imipramine for the treatment of fibrositis: a therapeutic trial.

Twenty fibrositic patients were treated with imipramine 50-75 mg/day. Only two patients responded favourably. Nineteen patients stopped therapy during the initial three-month period: 14 of them due to lack of response, while two of these concomitantly disclosed side effects. The additional five patients stopped therapy mainly due to side effects, while only one of them improved with therapy. One patient, only, improved and adhered to therapy for more than three months.

Adult↗