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Biomedical subjects

W H Sutherland

Publications and source records attributed to W H Sutherland.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Plasma non-cholesterol sterols in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Plasma plant sterol concentrations (an index of cholesterol absorption efficiency) and plasma lathosterol concentration (an index of cholesterol synthesis rate) were measured in 52 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 36 non-diabetic controls. Plasma plant sterol concentrations were significantly (P less than 0.01) lower in diabetic patients (campesterol: men -36%, women -48%; betasitosterol: men -35%, women -42%). Fasting serum insulin levels were inversely correlated with plasma plant sterol concentrations in diabetic patients (campesterol: r = -0.347, P = 0.012; betasitosterol: r = -0.345, P = 0.012) and in non-diabetic men (campesterol: r = -0.578, P = 0.039; betasitosterol: r = -0.702, P = 0.008). Serum insulin levels were also correlated significantly with plasma lathosterol concentration in diabetic patients (r = 0.295, P = 0.034). The results of this study suggest that absorption of plant sterols and possibly cholesterol from the diet may be reduced in hyperinsulinemic diabetics.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Cholesterol metabolism in distance runners.

Faecal steroid excretion, including betasitosterol excretion, whole-body cholesterol synthesis, plasma lipids, and lipoprotein concentrations and habitual diet, were determined in 14 male distance runners and 14 sedentary men. The proportion of cholesterol-derived steroids excreted as bile acids, and the quantity of betasitosterol excreted in the faeces were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in the runners compared with the sedentary men. Faecal betasitosterol excretion and the proportion of cholesterol-derived steroids excreted as bile acids were correlated significantly in the distance runners and the sedentary men (r = 0.774, n = 28, P less than 0.001). These results suggest that greater dietary intake of plant sterols may contribute to the higher proportion of cholesterol-derived steroids excreted as bile acids in distance runners.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Plasma noncholesterol sterols in male distance runners and sedentary men.

Plasma lathosterol concentration is taken to be an index of the rate of cholesterol synthesis and plasma concentrations of plant sterols just as campesterol and betasitosterol are taken to be indeces of cholesterol absorption efficiency. These noncholesterol sterols were measured in plasma from 14 male distance runners and 10 sedentary men. Plasma lathosterol concentration was 30% lower (P less than 0.02) and plasma betasitosterol concentration was 33% higher (P less than 0.02) in the runners compared to the sedentary men. Plasma concentrations of lathosterol and plant sterols were inversely and significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated in both the runners and the sedentary men. Plasma plant sterol concentrations were correlated positively and significantly (P less than 0.01) with plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations in the runners and sedentary men combined. These findings suggest that more efficient cholesterol absorption may lead to higher plasma plant sterol concentrations and may contribute to lower cholesterol synthesis rates, reduced concentrations of plasma lathosterol and higher plasma HDL-C concentration in distance runners.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sensory nerve pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A detailed morphometric study was performed on sural nerve biopsies to determine the consistency of sensory nerve pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to seek a correlation between the severity of peripheral nerve pathology and disease duration. Nerve biopsies from patients with ALS consistently showed evidence of early axonal atrophy, increased remyelination and a shift in the diameter distributions curve towards smaller fiber diameters. Importantly, the severity of sensory nerve pathology in ALS patients correlated with disease duration. The peripheral nerve sodium pump concentration of patients was not reduced. It is concluded that an ingravescent dorsal root ganglion neuronopathy is seen in the incipient stages of ALS, preferentially affecting the largest neurons and resulting in turn in progressive axonal atrophy, secondary demyelination-remyelination and finally in nerve fiber degeneration. Etiologically, a parallel involvement of motor and sensory neurons suggests a more widespread metabolic disturbance in ALS than simply "sick" motor neurons.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Fecal bile acid concentration in distance runners.

Fecal bile acid concentration, fecal characteristics, bowel habits and habitual food intake were measured in male distance runners (n = 14) and sedentary men (n = 14). Fecal bile acid concentration was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower and stool weight, frequency of defecation and daily intake of fibre, carbohydrate, and protein were significantly (p less than 0.01) higher in the runners. After adjustment for differences in dietary fibre intake, fecal bile acid concentration was no longer significantly different between the distance runners and the sedentary men, but frequency of defecation remained significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in the runners. This study has identified lower fecal bile acid concentration in distance runners, which was probably due mainly to dilution of colon contents by higher consumption of dietary fibre. These findings may be relevant to the reduced incidence of colon cancer in physically active subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on restenosis rate, clinical course and blood lipids in patients after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

In order to study the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (Maxepa), Maxepa placebo and aspirin/dipyridamole combination on the clinical course and restenosis rate of atherosclerotic lesions after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty 79 men and 29 women were randomly divided into three treatment groups and restudied angiographically within one year of the procedure. Angina recurred less in the Maxepa group than in the other groups, although not statistically so. Restenosis rate was significantly reduced in the Maxepa group (11%) compared to the placebo group (30%) but, while less, was not significantly lower than in the aspirin/dipyridamole group (17%). Maxepa treatment appears to reduce restenosis rate of coronary artery lesions after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and may be an acceptable and equally effective alternative therapy to aspirin/dipyridamole.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Simvastatin (MK 733): an effective treatment for hypercholesterolemia.

This study describes the efficacy of the drug simvastatin. It is likely to be the first HMG CoA reductase inhibitor in Australia and New Zealand available for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Twenty-four patients, 12 men and 12 women with primary hypercholesterolemia were randomly allocated to treatment by cholestyramine (eight patients) or to simvastatin (16 patients) for a 12-week period. With simvastatin, total cholesterol levels decreased by 37.5% from a baseline mean of 10.33 mmol/L to 6.4 mmol/L after 12 weeks. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration decreased by 48.2% from 8.40 mmol/L to 4.39 mmol/L. These effects were better than observed for cholestyramine alone where cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol reductions were 24.9% and 33.1% respectively. Thirteen patients, however, did not achieve target LDL levels of 3.62 mmol/L, or below, and therefore were treated with a combination of cholestyramine and simvastatin, resulting in a decrease of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol by 45.5% and 53.5% of baseline values studied over an eight-week period. No major clinical side-effects were encountered. One patient appeared to have had a change in colour vision at the end of the study at 20 weeks, without loss of visual acuity.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

High density lipoprotein levels in children of young men with ischaemic heart disease.

This study was designed to assess HDL levels in children of young men with IHD, compared with children of asymptomatic men. Like their fathers, sons of patients with heart disease, had significantly lower HDL cholesterols than controls. This difference was independent of fasting triglycerides, obesity, diet or physical activity, and was the only "coronary risk factor" in this young age group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity, plasma and lipoprotein lipids and obesity in men and women.

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, lipid concentration, lipoprotein lipid concentrations and cholesteryl ester linoleic acid proportion were determined in the plasma of 85 subjects randomly selected from a population during a health screen survey. Mean fractional LCAT rate was significantly higher in men than in women. Molar LCAT rate correlated with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration in men and with nearly all lipoprotein lipid concentrations in women. Most of these relationships were dependent on plasma unesterified cholesterol (UC) concentration. Fractional LCAT rate was correlated only with HDL cholesterol concentration in women and this relation was dependent on the influence of obesity. An inverse relationship between plasma cholesteryl ester (PCE) linoleic acid proportion and molar LCAT rate in women was also explained by influences of obesity on the data. Both fractional and molar LCAT rates were positively correlated with obesity (Quetelet's Index and subscapular skinfold thickness) in women but not in men. This study showed the influence of sex on nearly all correlations involving LCAT activity in combined groups of men and women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Cancer-specific density changes in lymphocytes after stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin.

A fluorescence polarisation technique ("S.C.M. test") for detecting responses to phytohaemagglutinin revealed that the responsive lymphocytes from patients with malignant disease had an abnormal distribution after centrifugation through lymphocyte separation medium. In a small blind series the technique accurately distinguished patients with histologically proven malignancies from those with nonmalignant disease and normal people.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1978

The macrophage electrophoretic mobility (MEM) test--an investigation of its value as a routine laboratory test in the detection of malignant disease.

A previous study of the MOD-MEM test showed promising results. We have attempted to repeat the study using a blind coded series of 210 blood samples from normal subjects and patients with either benign or malignant disease. Using standard criteria the false negative rate for cancer patients averaged 43% and the false positive rate for non-cancer patients averaged 34%. The results indicate that the test at the present time, under routine laboratory conditions, is not reliably reproducible and does not have the ability to effectively discriminate between benign and malignant disease. It is suggested that blind coded studies be used more frequently in assessment of tests with cancer detection potential.

Antigens↗
PubMed1977

Lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase activity in the serum of rats fed saturated and unsaturated fats.

Groups of rats were fed diets containing either butter, beef, fat or safflower oil. After 20 or 70 days of feeding, blood was taken from the animals in a postabsorptive state. Serum lipid levels and lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase activity were measured. Feeding the different fats did not alter serum total cholesterol levels but free cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly lower in the safflower oil-fed group. Net cholesterol esterification in vitro was also significantly depressed in the safflower oil-fed group and this was shown to be due to the inability of the lipoprotein substrate to support the reaction rather than because of low LCAT enzyme activity.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1977

Blood lipids and lipoproteins in a rural New Zealand population.

Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides have been measured in 1202 residents of Milton, a rural town in New Zealand. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the serum lipoprotein classes of a random subgroup of the population are also reported. Mean plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were higher for men, but mean high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration was higher in women. Urban-rural differences in plasma cholesterol are suggested since mean plasma cholesterol concentration in men reached a maximum in the 50-59 decade in the rural town (Milton) but the maximum for a nearby urban community was in the 40-49 decade. An evaluation of hyperlipidaemia by using arbitrary cut-off values for plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations showed a prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia in men, resulting in approximately three times as many men as women in some of the categories of hyperlipidaemia. Further, 26% of the 35-59 age group in the population had lipid risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

The clinical assessment of cancer tests: a statistical approach to the prediction of "false positive" rates from controls.

As the sensitivity of the new in vitro cancer detection techniques increases, a larger number of "false positive" results can be expected from control populations apparently free from malignant disease at the time of the test. An attempt is made to predict the number of unexplained positives, together with the expected age and sex distribution, using published cancer registration statistics. The predicted numbers are compared with the observed numbers of unexplained positives in two clinical trials of the MEM test.

Adult↗