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The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in a large series of term newborns, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in cord blood, using as parameters, levels of plasma cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apo B higher than mean + 2 standard deviations, alone or in association. Data reported here represent the results of a transversal study. 1275 term newborns were studied. In everybody, in cord blood samples, at birth, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, apoprotein B and LDL-cholesterol have been assayed. In 3.13% of them (40 subjects), cholesterol levels > mean + 2 standard deviations were present. Moreover, only 6 subjects (0.47%) showed all three parameter levels higher than mean + 2 standard deviations, and 4 subjects (0.31%), in spite of normal cholesterol levels, presented high LDL-cholesterol and apo B levels. Integrated utilization of these parameters in the neonatal screening of familial hypercholesterolemia will have to be confirmed by follow-up studies.

In this study lipid and apolipoprotein patterns were investigated at birth and compared with those of adults. In cord sera, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were 38.2, 46.2, 50.5, and 31.9%, respectively, of adult values. Apolipoprotein AII, B and CIII were 48.6, 30.6 and 44.5% of adult values, while apo AI, apo CII and apo E showed values approaching those of adults (63.4, 73.3 and 89.7%, respectively). Also cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratios were lower in newborns. In cord sera, lipids were correlated with various apolipoproteins in a surprisingly different way from adult sera. HDL cholesterol was not inversely correlated with triglycerides, and showed a highly positive correlation with apo E, apo CII and apo CIII, which did not correlate with HDL cholesterol in adults. These data supported the presence of significant differences in plasma concentrations and composition of lipoproteins at birth. Therefore HDL, apo CII, and apo E seem to play a different and more important metabolic role in neonatal lipid metabolism.

Diabetes mellitus is frequently associated with lipid metabolism abnormalities. In the present study the lipid and apolipoprotein profiles have been compared in type II diabetic subjects with (n = 30) and without (n = 30) coronary heart disease (CHD). All subjects were studied after good metabolic control had been achieved. Significant differences in plasma lipids and apolipoproteins were seen in diabetic patients with CHD in comparison with diabetics without CHD. Patients with CHD presented higher total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, apo B, apo CII and apo CIII levels and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol HDL-cholesterol ratios and lower HDL-cholesterol values and apo A1/apo B ratio than the patients without CHD. The same findings were found in females; while male subjects with CHD had significantly increased total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apo B levels and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratios and significantly decreased apo A1/apo B ratio compared with males without CHD. These findings support the concept that the apolipoprotein profile plays a remarkable role as risk factor for CHD in type II diabetes mellitus.

In the present study the effect of short-term metabolic control on plasma lipids and apoproteins in a group of subjects with type II diabetes mellitus in insulin treatment for secondary failure to oral agent therapy (sulphonylureas) was examined. For this reason 40 diabetic patients and 40 normal controls were studied. The lipoapoproteic pattern at the admission in the study and after a steady metabolic control, achieved by conventional insulin therapy and estimated by seric fructosamine, was evaluated. Diabetic patients, when compared with normal controls, showed a more atherogenic lipo-apoproteic profile and after achieving metabolic control, showed a reduction of triglyceride and apo B levels and a significant increase of the apo AI levels. The achievement of a good metabolic control, even after a short time, was associated with an improvement of the lipo-apoproteic profile, altered in diabetes mellitus in secondary failure.

Thirty-three patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and uremic hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) on hemodialysis were compared with 33 type IV hyperlipoproteinemic patients matched for age, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride (TG) levels. The two forms of hypertriglyceridemia showed different apolipoprotein profiles: apo AI, AII, and B levels and apo CII:CIII and TG:apo CIII ratios of CRF-HTG patients were lower and apo CIII levels were higher than the levels of type IV subjects.

Aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum MAO activity (sMAO) in chronic liver disease. sMAO has been assayed by benzylamine colorimetric method. No statistically significant differences of sMAO values have been found between controls and acute viral hepatitis or various diseases patients. Differences instead between controls and patients sMAO values (chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis) were statistically significant (p less than 0.005).

Authors have evaluated pseudocholinesterase activity in patients with type IIa and type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. Significative correlation has been found between PCE and C in type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. Authors suggest PCE activity can be proposed as useful biochemical marker of hyperlipoproteinemia.

We have evaluated a new method for HDL Cholesterol assay, using heparin-CaCl2-NaCl2. This method is in good correlation with PTA-MgCl2 technique. Our results are precise and accurate. HDL Cholesterol mean values: Normolipemic subjects, Cholesterol 190 +/- 13 mg% - Triglycerides 95 +/- 25 mg% - HDL-C 40.99 +/- 8.76 mg%; Ipertrigliceridemic subjects, Cholesterol 235 +/- 20 mg% - Triglcerides 284 +/- 30 mg% - HDL-C 30 +/- 4.7 mg%.