Decreases in the Serum VLDL-TG/Non-VLDL-TG Ratio from Early Stages of Chronic Hepatitis C: Alterations in TG-Rich Lipoprotein Levels

BACKGROUND: The liver secretes very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) and plays a key role in lipid metabolism. Plasma total triglyceride (TG) level variations have been studied in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic hepatitis (CH-C). However, the results of these studies are variable. A homogenous assay protocol was recently proposed to directly measure the TG content in VLDL (VLDL-TG) and VLDL remnants. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using the assay protocol, we determined serum VLDL-TG levels in 69 fasting patients with biopsy-proven HCV-related chronic liver disease and 50 healthy subjects. Patients were classified into stages F0-F4 using the 5-point Desmet scale. Serum total TG levels in patients with non-cirrhotic (F1-F3) CH-C did not demonstrate significant differences compared with healthy subjects, but serum VLDL-TG levels did demonstrate significant differences. Mean serum VLDL-TG levels tended to decrease with disease progression from F1 to F4 (cirrhosis). Compared with healthy subjects, serum non-VLDL-TG levels significantly increased in patients with stages F2 and F3 CH-C; however, we observed no significant difference in patients with liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, the serum VLDL-TG/non-VLDL-TG ratio, when taken, demonstrated a significant decrease in patients with CH-C from the mildest stage F1 onward. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The decrease in serum VLDL-TG levels was attenuated by increase in non-VLDL-TG levels in patients with non-cirrhotic CH-C, resulting in comparable total TG levels. Results of previous studies though variable, were confirmed to have a logical basis. The decrease in the serum VLDL-TG/non-VLDL-TG ratio as early as stage F1 demonstrated TG metabolic alterations in early stages of CH-C for the first time. The involvement of TG metabolism in CH-C pathogenesis has been established in experimental animals, while conventional TG measurements are generally considered as poor indicators of CH-C progression in clinical practice. The serum VLDL-TG/non-VLDL-TG ratio, which focuses on TG metabolic alterations, may be an early indicator of CH-C

Estimated glomerular filtration rate by serum creatinine or standardized cystatin C in Japanese patients with Graves׳ disease

Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by serum creatinine (eGFRCr) or standardized cystatin C (eGFRCysC) were estimated in Japanese patients with Graves׳ disease (GD) of different sex. Clinical samples were collected from patients with GD with normal renal function to accurately validate eGFRCr and eGFRCysC levels and evaluate how hyperthyroidism affects renal function. Levels of eGFRCr and eGFRCysC showed clinical usefulness in successfully treated euthyroid patients with GD regardless of sex. The article includes detailed experimental methods and data used in our analysis. The data relates to the “Paradoxical effect of thyroid function on the estimated glomerular filtration rate by serum creatinine or standardized cystatin C in Japanese Graves’ disease patients” (Suzuki et al., 2015) [1

Experimental Activities on High Intensity Positron Sources Using Channeling

International audienceThe positron source under investigation is using channeling radiation of multi-GeV electrons in a tungsten crystal. The radiated photons are impinging on the amorphous targets creating e⁺e⁻ pairs. A dipole magnet between the crystal-radiator and the amorphous-converter allows the charged particles to be swept off and only emitted photons to generate e⁺e⁻ pairs in the converter. Granular targets of different thicknesses, made of small tungsten spheres, have been recently investigated as a target-converter. This paper is describing the experimental studies conducted at the KEKB linac with such device. After the description of the experimental set-up and beam parameters, the measurement methods and preliminary results are presented

Patient and healthy subject characteristics.

<p>p-values, when shown in italics such as <i>p<0.01</i>, indicate that there are significant differences. Values are shown as mean ± SD (standard deviation). BMI; Body Mass Index, AST; Aspartate transaminase, ALT; Alanine transaminase, CHO; cholesterol, TG; triglyceride.</p

Scatter plots of serum total TG, VLDL-TG, non-VLDL-TG levels, and VLDL-TG/non-VLDL-TG ratios.

<p>P-values are indicated as the values between groups with bars. The mean value of each group is indicated at the bottom of each diagram. P-values, when indicated in bold with an asterisk (such as <b>0.025*)</b>, indicate significant differences. SD; standard deviation.</p