Profiles of inflammatory markers and lipoprotein subclasses in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Treatment of Ezetimibe lowers total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic dogs with hyperadorenocorticism

Ezetimibe is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor that blocks the intestinal absorption of both biliary and dietary cholesterol, thereby lowering primarily low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-chol) in human studies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ezetimibe on dyslipidemia control in nine dogs with hypercholesterolemia. Changes in total cholesterol (T-chol) and each lipoprotein fractions were evaluated at 0, 2, and 4 months following initiation of ezetimibe treatment. A significant decrease in T-chol was observed, and a mean T-chol concentration below 400 mg/dL was achieved at 2 and 4 months. Furthermore, a significant decrease in LDL-chol was observed (-53.3% and -64.3% at 2 and 4 months, respectively). Taken together, treatment of ezetimibe could lower LDL-chol levels in dogs with hypercholesterolemia.

Clinical Significance of Intermediate-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Determination as a Predictor for Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Middle-Aged Men

Background: Not only low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol but also non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol (VLDL-C), and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) cholesterol (IDL-C) are reported to be significant risk markers for coronary heart disease (CHD). We reported the relevance of IDL-C to Framingham risk score (F-score), but the present study addressed the relevance of IDL-C to Suita score (S-score), a risk score for coronary heart disease (CHD) developed for the Japanese individuals in addition to F-score.

Methods: The cholesterol levels of lipoproteins, including triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (IDL and VLDL), were measured by an anion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (AEX-HPLC). This study enrolled 476 men, aged mean 51 years and free of CHD and stroke.

Results: Non-HDL-C, IDL-C, and VLDL-C significantly correlated with F-score and S-score. In the multiple stepwise regression analysis, IDL-C as well as body mass index (BMI) significantly correlated with both F-score and S-score in both the total subjects and the subjects without drug therapy. The multivariate logistic analysis with the model composed of BMI and IDL-C as the predictor variables demonstrated that 1 SD increase in IDL-C was an independent predictor for 10-year CHD risk >10% of F-score (OR 1.534, 95% CI 1.266–1.859, p < 0001) and that of S-score (OR 1.372, 95% CI 1.130–1.667, p = 0.0014) in the total subjects. Even in the subjects without the drug therapy, the increased IDL-C, as well as BMI, were significant predictors for 10-year CHD risk >10% of S-score as well as F-score.

Conclusion: These results suggest the significant relevance of the increased IDL-C for CHD risk scores in middle-aged men free of CHD and stroke. Further investigations are needed in women and elderly subjects.

Innovatively Established Analysis Method for Lipoprotein Profiles Based on High-Performance Anion-Exchange Liquid Chromatography

Separation analysis of lipoprotein classes have various methods, including ultracentrifugation, electrophoresis, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). All major lipoprotein classes can be separated via ultracentrifugation, but performing the analysis takes a long time. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in patient samples cannot be sufficiently separated via electrophoresis or GPC. Thus, we established a new method [anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (AEX-HPLC)] by using HPLC with an AEX column containing nonporous gel and an eluent containing chaotropic ions. AEX-HPLC can separate five lipoprotein fractions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), LDL, IDL, VLDL, and others in human serum, which can be used in substitution for ultracentrifugation method. The method was also approved for clinical use in the public health-care insurance in Japan in 2014. Furthermore, we developed an additional method to measure cholesterol levels of the four leading lipoprotein fractions and two subsequent fractions (i.e., chylomicron and lipoprotein(a)). We evaluated the clinical usefulness of AEX-HPLC in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, and kidney disease and in healthy volunteers. Results indicate that the cholesterol levels in IDL and VLDL measured by AEX-HPLC may be useful risk markers of CHD or diabetes. Furthermore, we developed another new method for the determination of alpha-tocopherol (AT) in lipoprotein classes, and this method is composed of AEX-HPLC for the separation of lipoprotein classes and reverse-phase chromatography to separate AT in each lipoprotein class. The AT levels in LDL were significantly correlated with the lag time to copper ion-induced LDL oxidation, which is an index of oxidation resistance. The application of AEX-HPLC to measure various substances in lipoproteins will be clinically expected in the future.

Apolipoproteins C-II and C-III as nutritional markers unaffected by inflammation

BACKGROUND

Rapid turnover proteins (RTPs), such as transthyretin (TTR), retinol binding protein (RBP), and transferrin (Tf), provide an accurate assessment of nutritional status but are susceptible to inflammation. Lipid-related markers, which have short half-lives in serum, may be better suited for nutritional assessment. We sought to identify sensitive nutritional markers unaffected by inflammation.

METHODS

Fasting serum samples were collected from 30 malnourished inpatients and 25 healthy volunteers. Malnourished inpatients were divided into 2 groups: a low-C-reactive protein (CRP) group (CRP < 20 mg/l, n = 15) and a high-CRP group (CRP ≥ 20 mg/l, n = 15). Lipid-related markers, traditional nutritional markers, RTPs, micronutrients, and ketone bodies were measured and compared among the groups.

RESULTS

Apolipoprotein (Apo)C-II and ApoC-III concentrations were lower in malnourished inpatients than in the control group. There was no significant difference in ApoC-II and ApoC-III between the low- and high-CRP groups. Carnitine transporters and ketone bodies did not show a significant difference among the three groups. Albumin, TTR, RBP, and Tf concentrations were lowest in the high-CRP group, intermediate in the low-CRP group, and highest in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that ApoC-II and ApoC-III are appropriate nutritional biomarkers unaffected by inflammation.

Pancreatic lipase activity in overnight effluent predicts high transport status in peritoneal dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) causes peritoneal morphological and functional changes, resulting in high transport status featuring increased peritoneal permeability. High transport status is diagnosed by peritoneal equilibration test (PET), a reliable but time-consuming method. We identifed a reliable biomarker in peritoneal effluent to predict high transport status in PD patients.

METHODS

We collected peritoneal effluent and serum from 33 PD patients and measured common laboratory test parameters. High transport status was determined by PET if the dialysate/plasma ratio of creatinine at 4h dwell (D/P Cr 4h) was ≥0.81.

RESULTS

There were significant correlations between D/P Cr 4h and some laboratory parameters in overnight effluent (pancreatic lipase activity, r=0.65, p<0.001; β₂-microglobulin concentration, r=0.59, p<0.001; IL-6 concentration, r=0.53, p<0.001; and CA125 concentration, r=0.29, p=0.027). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the pancreatic lipase activity in overnight effluent was identified as an independent predictor of high transport status even after adjusting for age, PD duration, and glomerular filtration rate [OR=1.43 (95% CI: 1.11-1.83), p=0.005].

CONCLUSIONS

The pancreatic lipase activity in overnight effluent is an independent predictor of high transport status in PD patients.

Peritoneal Dialysis Penetration and Peritonitis Rate at a Single Centre during Last Decade

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been intensively offered at our centre to patients (pts) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from 2000, and the number of PD pts was noticed to raise. We aimed to analyse the PD population from the aspect of penetration and peritonitis rate during eleven years. Cumulative number of new RRT pts was 378 during the study period. We found high PD penetration rate: 53% (range 32–72%). The rate of peritonitis was as high as 9.8 during first study years, but it has declined progressively last year being 29.1 by September 2010 and 21.7 by December 2010. Most cases of peritonitis were due to gram-positive pathogens. We have demonstrated steady high single-centre PD penetration rate and improvement of management of patients during last decade probably because of the result of better pts education and a continued dedication of the staff.