Browsing by Author "COVARRUBIAS, C"

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    APOLIPOPROTEIN-E POLYMORPHISM IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE-PANCREATITIS
    (LIPPINCOTT-RAVEN PUBL, 1994) ROLLAN, A; LOYOLA, G; COVARRUBIAS, C; GIANCASPERO, R; ACEVEDO, K; NERVI, F
    We have shown that patients with previous acute pancreatitis (AP) may have an abnormal catabolism of chylomicron remnants (CMR). Because apoprotein E (Apo E) genetic polymorphism has an important influence on CMR clearance, we compared frequency distribution of Apo E phenotypes in 52 patients with AP, 109 patients with gallstones, and 110 control subjects. Apo E phenotypes were detected by isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. After adjusting for differences in age and gender, fasting triglyceride level was comparable between the study groups. The frequency distribution of Apo E phenotypes was not different between the three study groups and it was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The gene frequency for Apo E2 was 0.212, 0.273, and 0.243 in AP, gallstone, and control group, respectively. For Apo E3 it was 0.701, 0.627, and 0.674, and for Apo E4 0.090, 0.100, and 0.083 in the same groups, respectively. Differences were not statistically significant (chi2). In conclusion, the abnormal catabolism of CMR in patients with AP is not attributable to Apo E polymorphism. An alternative explanation may be sought in the activity of the recently identified hepatocytic Apo E receptor [LDL-related receptor protein (LRP)].
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    FREQUENCY OF GALLBLADDER CANCER IN CHILE, A HIGH-RISK AREA
    (1988) NERVI, F; DUARTE, I; GOMEZ, G; RODRIGUEZ, G; DELPINO, G; FERRERIO, O; COVARRUBIAS, C; VALDIVIESO, V; TORRES, MI; URZUA, A
    We report an autopsy study of gallbladder cancer prevalence in Chile, where the risk of this disease is among the highest reported world-wide. In 14,768 autopsy protocols obtained from 3 university hospitals, 45% of women and 20% of men older than 20 years had gallstone disease (the major known risk factor for gallbladder cancer). The prevalence of gallbladder cancer in Chileans was compared to that found in a Swedish-Czechoslovakian autopsy study previously published. These countries were chosen because of their high frequency of gallstone disease. The comparison was performed by using logistic regression models adjusting for possible differences in the age-sex structure or the true incidence of gallstones in both populations. We found that the most important single risk factor for gallbladdr cancer in Chile was gallstone disease, with an estimated effect on the logistic scale meaning that the cancer risk for subjects with gallstones is seven times higher than for those without the disease. Second in importance was the risk for sex, women being 2.8 times higher than for men. The estimated difference in the sex composition and the incidence of gallstones resulted in 17.9% higher odds of cancer in Chile than in Sweden and Czechoslovakia. However, this difference was not significant. This study suggests that the major etiologic factors of gallbladder cancer in Chileans, Swedes and Czechoslovakians are primarily related to gallstone disease.
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    INFLUENCE OF LEGUME INTAKE ON BILIARY LIPIDS AND CHOLESTEROL SATURATION IN YOUNG CHILEAN MEN - IDENTIFICATION OF A DIETARY RISK FACTOR FOR CHOLESTEROL GALLSTONE FORMATION IN A HIGHLY PREVALENT AREA
    (1989) NERVI, F; COVARRUBIAS, C; BRAVO, P; VELASCO, N; ULLOA, N; CRUZ, F; FAVA, M; SEVERIN, C; DELPOZO, R; ANTEZANA, C; VALDIVIESO, V; ARTEAGA, A
    Chileans and North American Indians have one of the highest prevalence rates of cholesterol gallstones in the world. The most common theory to explain this has been the operation of some as yet undefined genetic risk factor in these populations. Searching for some common environmental factor for gallstones in Chileans and North American Indians, we found that beans and other legumes are common foods consumed by both populations. In this study we tested the hypothesis that legume intake may favor the production of biliary cholesterol supersaturation. We studied 20 young men subjected to a diet containing 120 g/day of legumes and a control diet without legumes for a period of 1 mo each. Both diets supplied identical quantities of energy, carbohydrates, protein, total fat, fiber, and cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration decreased by 16% (p < 0.001) after the legume diet. Biliary cholesterol saturation increased in 19 of the 20 subjects; the mean of the group markedly increased from 110% to 169% (p < 0.001) after the legume diet. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that legume intake is a potential risk factor for cholesterol gallstone disease.
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    PREGNANCY AND CHOLELITHIASIS - PATHOGENESIS AND NATURAL COURSE OF GALLSTONES DIAGNOSED IN EARLY PUERPERIUM
    (1993) VALDIVIESO, V; COVARRUBIAS, C; SIEGEL, F; CRUZ, F
    Several recent reports have indicated an increased prevalence of gallstones in association with pregnancy. If these reports are true, the early puerperium should be a favorable time to detect the disease in its initial stages and follow its natural course. Accordingly, the gallbladder was examined by ultrasound in 980 women during the immediate postpartum period and in 150 nulliparous, age-matched healthy volunteers. Gallstones were detected in 12.2% of the puerperal women and in 1.3% of the control group.
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    RAPID ISOLATION OF VESICULAR AND MICELLAR CARRIERS OF BILIARY LIPIDS BY ULTRACENTRIFUGATION
    (LIPID RESEARCH INC, 1990) AMIGO, L; COVARRUBIAS, C; NERVI, F
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