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Joris Delanghe

Publications and source records attributed to Joris Delanghe.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Serum uric acid in hypertensive patients with and without peripheral arterial disease.

BACKGROUND: Uric acid is frequently elevated in hypertension. In addition to renal and metabolic disturbances, lower limb ischemia might contribute to hyperuricemia among hypertensives complicated by peripheral arterial disease (PAD). OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that uric acid status is related to lower limb function in hypertensives with PAD. METHODS: Serum and 24-h urine uric acid levels and other risk factors were examined in 145 hypertensives free of PAD and 166 hypertensives with PAD. Ankle/brachial index (ABI) and absolute claudication distance (in PAD) on a treadmill test (ACD) were assessed. RESULTS: In multiple regression analysis for serum uric acid in the total group, PAD emerged as an independent determinant (P=0.03) next to age (P=0.005), triglycerides (P=0.04), and insulin (P=0.02). Serum uric acid concentrations were higher in hypertensives with PAD (404+/-101 vs. 347+/-80 micromol/l, P<0.001) independent of components of the metabolic syndrome (body mass index, triglycerides, insulin) and of age, gender, diabetes mellitus, pulse pressure, cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and treatment. After adjustment for kidney function by uric acid/creatinine ratio, values remained higher in hypertensives with PAD (P=0.01). Uric acid excretion was higher in the PAD group (P<0.001), whereas uric acid clearance was comparable between both groups. In multiple regression analysis for ACD (357+/-183 m) in the PAD group, serum uric acid (P=0.02), C-reactive protein (P<0.0001), age (P=0.02), and smoking (P=0.004) were independently associated. ABI (0.62+/-0.17) was not related to uric acid in PAD patients. CONCLUSION: Hyperuricemia is more pronounced in hypertensives complicated by PAD and is associated with worse functional status of the peripheral circulation.

Aged↗

The effect of supplementation with an antioxidant preparation on LDL-oxidation is determined by haptoglobin polymorphism.

The genetic polymorphism of haptoglobin (Hp) is an independent risk factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, a condition in which decreased resistance to in vitro oxidation of LDL-cholesterol is observed. We hypothesised that the Hp polymorphism is one of the factors modulating the resistance to Cu(2+)-induced oxidation of LDL during antioxidant supplementation. In this study, 74 middle-aged subjects with increased oxidative stress were allocated to either matched placebo or oral antioxidative treatment (Quatral) once daily for 16 weeks. Study parameters were increase of lag phase (DeltaLAG) and the ratio of lag phase during treatment period versus baseline (relative oxidation resistance, ROR), measured by Cu(2+)-induced oxidation of isolated LDL. Hp phenotypes were determined by starch gel electrophoresis. A significant and persistent increase of DeltaLAG (P < 0.05) and ROR (P < 0.01) were observed after 16 weeks of active treatment versus placebo. Interindividual differences in both parameters were significantly associated with the Hp polymorphism: in the active treatment group, DeltaLAG and ROR were significantly higher in Hp 1-1 subjects (P < 0.01) compared to Hp 2-1 and 2-2. Our data demonstrate that Hp phenotype is one of the modulating factors determining the increased resistance to Cu(2+)-induced oxidation of LDL during antioxidative treatment.

Aged↗

Urinary plasma protein patterns in acute prostatitis.

We evaluated the diagnostic utility of urinary alpha1-microglobulin, alpha2-macroglobulin and albumin in the diagnosis of acute prostatitis. We studied 133 men (43 +/- 17 years) with, and a reference population (n=36, 41 +/- 16 years) without, urinary tract infection. Prostatectomy samples were used to study the potential interference between prostatic proteins and protein analysis. Urinary alpha2-macroglobulin/albumin ratio was significantly lower in prostatitis compared to the reference population, cystitis or acute pyelonephritis (p < 0.0001). Low alpha2-macroglobulin concentrations in prostatitis are due to inhibition (p = 0.0001) of the immune reaction between alpha2-macroglobulin in presence of polyclonal rabbit antibodies (used for immunonephelometry) by soluble prostatic proteins (+/- 60 kDa) which appear in urine in acute prostatitis. The urinary alpha1-microglobulin/creatinine ratio diagnoses acute pyelonephritis (sensitivity 100% and specificity 87%) and the urinary alpha2-macroglobulin/albumin ratio diagnoses acute prostatitis (sensitivity 100% and specificity of 90%). Stepwise multinomial logistic regression analysis reveals that urinary alpha1-microglobulin, alpha2-macroglobulin, albumin and creatinine provide optimal differentiation between acute pyelonephritis and acute prostatitis (pseudo R2=0.83; Loglikelihood -30.55, p < 0.000001). In conclusion, the combination of hematuria and absence of urinary alpha-2-macroglobulin is diagnostic for acute prostatitis. Even without hematuria, alpha2-macroglobulin remains lower compared to patients without prostatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Diffuse plane normolipaemic xanthomatosis in a patient with chronic lymphatic leukaemia and monoclonal gammopathy.

Diffuse plane normolipaemic xanthomatosis is a well-defined uncommon condition characterized by yellow-orange plaques involving the eyelids, neck, upper trunk, buttocks and flexural folds. Over half of the reported cases are associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. The condition may arise as a result of perivascular deposition of lipoprotein-immunoglobulin complexes. We present a female patient with clear clinical features of diffuse plane xanthomatosis associated with chronic lymphatic leukaemia and monoclonal gammopathy. In this patient, we found evidence of complement consumption supporting the hypothesis that complexes of lipoprotein and paraprotein are formed. Lipid electrophoresis of fasting serum revealed the presence of a faint precipitate at the application slot, also indicative of the presence of protein-lipid complexes.

Aged↗

Salivary electrolyte concentrations are associated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator genotypes.

It is estimated that about one in 24 Belgian Caucasians is a cystic fibrosis (CF) heterozygote. Until now, CF heterozygotes can only be identified by genetic decoding (e.g. Inno-Lipa CF2 test), as they cannot be phenotypically distinguished from the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in salivary electrolyte concentrations (calcium, bicarbonate, chloride, potassium, sodium and phosphate) and salivary osmolarity between CF homozygotes (n=41), CF heterozygotes (n=56) and healthy controls (n=65). Differences between the three groups were investigated by means of non-parametric tests. Several significant differences between the three study groups and among, as well as between, the different cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) genotypes were observed. Significant differences in salivary electrolyte concentrations between individuals with delta F508 mutation and those without, and between CF homozygotes and heterozygotes were observed. The concentrations of several salivary electrolytes, and salivary osmolarity were significantly higher in CFTR genotype individuals. Differences in salivary electrolyte concentrations may partly explain differences in caries between the three study groups.

Adolescent↗

Total iron binding capacity and transferrin concentration in the assessment of iron status.

Transferrin concentration and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) are currently used to assess iron status. Although correlation between TIBC and transferrin is generally considered as good, conversion factors between the two analytes found in literature show large differences. Although the price per test is lower for TIBC, there are a number of analytical advantages of serum transferrin. Due to binding of iron to other plasma proteins (mainly albumin), TIBC methods generally overestimate the iron binding capacity of transferrin. Moreover, no generic reference values are available for TIBC. In contrast to TIBC, internationally accepted interim reference ranges are available for serum transferrin. The introduction of the international CRM 470 protein standard material has lead to a significant reduction in interlaboratory variation for transferring measurements. In view of these observations, determination of transferrin concentration, rather than TIBC, is recommended. However, in non-European populations characterized by a marked genetic variation in transferrin (TF BC and TF CD variants), in certain cases, immunochemical determination of transferrin may lead to errors. In these populations, TIBC measurements may be preferred.

Blood Proteins↗