Psoriasis is characterized by defects in the normal cycle of epidermal development that lead to epidermal hyperproliferation, altered maturation of skin cells, vascular changes and inflammation. Also, psoriasis has been associated with an abnormal plasma lipid metabolism. Changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein composition in patients with psoriasis may be the reason for the increased risk of atherosclerosis in these patients. We determined serum concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoprotein Al and B (apo A1 and apo B) in 72 patients with psoriasis and 30 age matched controls. Serum lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), apo A1 and apo B were measured by immunoprecipitation assays, and the lipids and other biochemical parameters by enzymatic methods. Serum Lp(a) and triglyceride (TG) were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in healthy control subjects (p<0.01 for both). Apo B was also found to be higher in the patient group, but the difference was not significant. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apo A1 did not differ significantly from those of the controls. These observations imply that serum Lp(a) and TG concentrations may play a role as risk factors for atherosclerotic disease in patients with psoriasis.

No abstract

SUMMARYBackground and Methods. In order to assess the effects of testosterone undecanoate (TU; 120mg/d orally for 2 months) on serum lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein levels in healthy elderly men, the placebo (PL) controlled study was performed on 37 elderly men, aged between 53 and 89 years. In all subjects venous blood samples were taken after an overnight (10 hours) fast and sera were stored until analysis.Results. In PL group, neither hormonal data nor lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein levels showed significant changes. After TU supplementation, serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and significant differences were not observed in the serum triglyceride (TG), highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apolipoprotein (apo) A-1 and apo B levels after TU treatment. The mean ratios TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C as coronary risk factor criteria decreased significantly in the TU but not in the PL group. No obvious side effect was observed in those who took TU except for reported pyrosis in 2 of 17 elderly men.Conclusions. These data indicate that the increased serum levels of total testosterone (TT) produced by administration of TU, 120mg/d orally for 2 months lead to supressed levels of TC and LDL-C and E2 but not significantly changed levels of TG, HDL-C, apo A-1 and apo B. Thus, we conclude that TU may be an effective drug for protecting coronary heart disease in healthy elderly men with lowered TT and FT levels. It may also have beneficial effects for sexual function and behavior. (Jpn Heart J 1997; 38: 73-82)

A rapid decline in the incidence of new CMV manifestations and a better prognosis of patients with CMV disease, especially if they were treatment naive and treated with triple combination therapy, were observed in the HAART era.