Serum phospholipid fractionation after the use of long-acting progestational contraceptives.

The effect of the two long-acting progestational contraceptive injection, depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and norethisterone onenathate (NET-OEN), on blood phospholipid fractions were studied in eighteen women. The post-injection results showed a significant increase in total serum phospholipids, serum lecithin and serum cephalins. Serum lysolecithin was significantly decreased while serum sphingomyelin showed no significant change. The mechanisms responsible for these phospholipid changes remain somewhat unclear. However deranged liver function may share in its explanation.

PIP: Depot-medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) and norethisterone enanthate (NET-OEN) were compared in this study of 18 women using the long-acting injectables for contraceptive purposes. The parameters studied were liver function tests and measurements of serum phospholipid concentrations. Postinjection, a significant increase in total serum phospholipids, serum lecithin, and serum cephalins was reported. However, the investigators were unable to elucidate the mechanisms of these changes; liver function tests were radically altered, and this may provide the key to the serum phospholipid alterations seen in this study (specifically, clearance of bromosulphthalein dye excretion).

Study of chemical constituents of thoracic duct lymph in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.

Concentrations of serum and thoracic duct proteins, immunoglobulins, lipids, enzymes and electrolytes were estimated in 15 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and presinusoidal obstruction and in 12 controls. There was a significant decrease of thoracic duct total proteins, albumin and triglycerides, with marked and significant increase in IgG and IgM in SHF, compared to the controls. The levels of transaminases, alkaline phosphatases and inorganic phosphorus were significantly higher in the lymph of SHF patients compared with healthy controls. It is presumed that these changes represent the pattern of lymph constituents in presinusoidal obstruction.

Comparative study of the hypoglycaemic and antilipolytic effects of four antidiabetic agents administered i.v.

The effects of i.v. administration of equipotent doses of glycodiazine, glibenclamide, desaglybuzol and glydiazinamide on the level of blood sugar and plasma free fatty acids (FFA) have been assessed in 30 diabetic patients and 24 healthy controls. Glibenclamide proved to have the most potent hypoglycaemic effect in diabetics. The decrease in blood sugar level was less sustained after glycodiazine as compared with the other three drugs. This is due mostly to differences in dynamics of insulin secretion. Glibenclamide also proved to have pronounced and most sustained antilipolytic action. In contrast, desaglybuzol, like phenformin (a biguanide), failed to cause a drop in the level of plasma FFA and hence can be recommended in obese diabetic patients.