A B S T R A C T S   N U M E R O   11 - 12 / 1998

Lipid profile of women under contraceptives in Cotonou, Benin

S.A. Akpona, E.R. Nendjui Pongoue, S. Iwole, A. Ribas, M. Sawadogo, H.J. Parra*
*SEP, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France

Biochimica Clinica 1998; 22(11-12): 641-644 [Article in french]

ABSTRACT. Results of plasma lipids and lipoprotein electrophoresis among 132 women under contraceptivs versus 63 controls, from Cotonou (Benin), are presented. As compared to controls, contraceptive users show an altered plasma lipoprotein distribution. It concerns a significant decrease in a-lipoproteins (HDL) and an increase in b-lipoproteins (LDL) under contraceptives. The authors point out the necessity of a better control before and during contraceptive treatment.

Glycohemoglobin standardization: report in the last three years of activity

A. Mosca*, R. Paleari
*Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, L.I.T.A., Università degli Studi di Milano

Biochimica Clinica 1998; 22(11-12): 645-649 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. A working group established among different Italian scientific societies worked intensively since 1995 in order to standardize glycohemoglobin measurements in Italy. The main activities were focused to: (1) the development of new stable lyophilized control and calibration materials for glycohemoglobin analysis; (2) the organization of three external quality assessment schemes among more than 140 Italian laboratories; (3) the achievement of the DCCT certification to one of our reference laboratories; (4) the study of the commutability of the presently available commercial control materials; (5) the organization of a permanent service for quality assurance of glycohemoglobin laboratory methods; (6) the participation to the international activities of the IFCC working group for glycohemoglobin standardization. A brief summary of these different activities is presented in this report.

Macroenzymes in serum shown by means of precipitation with polyethylenglycol (PEG)

P. Luraschi, A. Pagani, S. Brambilla, C. Franzini*
*Istituto di Scienze Biomediche Ospedale L.Sacco, Università degli Studi di Milano

Biochimica Clinica 1998; 22(11-12): 650-658 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. The occurrence of macroenzymes in serum poses both analytical and clinical problems, the former due to their interference in the measurement of enzymic acivities, the latter because of possible erroneous diagnostic interpretation of hyperenzymaemias or because of the poor understanding of the clinical meaning of macroenzymes in serum. PEG precipitation appears to be the simplest way to show the occurrence of macromolecular forms of enzymes in serum, but this approach has been mainly applied to macroamylasemia. In the present work we have preliminarly confirmed the ability of PEG to precipitate serum proteins as a function of their molecular mass, by studing the precipitation profiles of 5 serum proteins, having molecular mass ranging from 41 to 900 kDa, with final concentrations of PEG spanning from 30 to 250 g/L. Then, the precitipitation of nine serum enzymes (AST, ALT, AMY, CHE, CK, CK-MB, GGT, ALP, LDH) has been studied for 13 to 24 serum samples for each enzyme, in the presence of PEG final concentration values ranging from 30 to 150 g/L. With the exclusion of CHE, anomalous precipitation profiles, possibly due to the occurrence of macroforms, were shown with variable frequency for each of the enzymes included in this study. Our results show the feasibility of the PEG precipitation technique for detecting many enzyme macroforms in serum, and point out at the need for additional studies on a larger number of samples, including the comparison with reference analytical technologies for macroenzymes, like gel-filtration.

Oligoelements in clinical nutrition. Part II: Iodine, Fluorine, Clorine, Boron, Chrominum, Molibdenum, Cobalt, Vanadium

D. Comi*, A.L. Comi, C.N. Comi
*Servizio di Dietologia e Nutrizione Clinica Azienda Ospedaliera-Polo Universitario Luigi Sacco Milano

Biochimica Clinica 1998; 22(11-12): 659-666 [Article in italian]

ABSTRACT. The accurate measurement of the various essential inorganic micronutrientes in biological fluids has been made possible by advances in analytical techniques. Nevertheless the need for trace elements, in micromolar amounts or less per day, in healthy condition, remains poorly understood. The main reasons why the knowledge concerning the essential trace element metabolism in disease has not rapidly advanced are: - only heavy deficiency, for a prolonged period, may lead to development of clinical symptoms. - often, sub-optimal intake leads to multiple changes in biochemistry, wich are difficult to measure, and minimal deficits of trace elements do not give clinical evidence. However, the finding of a low amount or low concentration of a trace element suggests the need of a nutritional approach to compensate the deficiency, and to avoid the development of pathological conditions. This very wide subject as been devided in two parts: the first one appeared in Biochimica Clinica 1998; 22: 215-221.

A Rapid, flexible screening of organic acidurias by ion-exchange liquid chromatography

C. Lucarelli
Clinical Biochemistry Department. Istituto Superiore di Sanità - Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma

Biochimica Clinica 1998; 22(11-12): 667-673 [Article in english]

ABSTRACT. The early diagnosis of metabolic acidurias is critical for the treatment of a series of related diseases. In neonatology specifically, time plays a decisive role in the struggle against numerous hereditary metabolic dysfunctions that may impair the future well being of the newborn. It is worth distinguishing between the technical and organisational difficulties entailed by an extensive screening and those associated with the diagnosis/confirmation of a disease by means of more specific analyses. In the case of metabolic acidurias the former aspect is very important given the high number of metabolites, the vastness of the affected population and the need for a reliable response in a short time. In addition, urine is a biological fluid whose composition is extremely variable for it depends on several factors such as the general health condition, age, nutrition, the environment. And the technique to be chosen for a first screening cannot fail to account for them. The present work suggests a technique for those laboratories equipped with HPLC instrumentation by which a first wide screening of some metabolic acidurias can be performed so as to select those patients whose condition call for a GC-MC analysis. The technique admits sample treatment with two different procedures according to the urgency of the response.

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