Staff Information
DR MICHAEL LEVER MSc(Hons), PhD
Scientific Officer, Analytical Chemistry
Phone : 03 364 0300 x 80319
Fax : 03 364 0750
EMail : michael.lever@chmeds.ac.nz

michaell.jpg

Michael received his MSc (Hons) from Victoria University, Wellington in 1964 and his PhD from Massey University in 1970. Initially working at Green Lane Hospital, he took up the position of Scientific Officer at Christchurch Hospital in 1974. Michael has been rewarded with many honours and distinctions throughout his career, and has maintained his involvement in the supervising and tutoring of students. In 1985 he was made an Hon Member Faculty (Senior Lecturer), Pathology Department, Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences and in 2000 an Hon. Senior Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury.

Publications

  1. Slow S. ,Elmslie J. ,LEVER M.
    ",Dietary betaine and inflammation.
    Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88(1):247-8
  2. Slow S. ,LEVER M. ,Chambers ST. ,George PM
    ",Plasma dependent and independent accumulation of betaine in male and female rat tissues.
    Physiol Res (In Press) 2008;:
  3. Molyneux SL. ,Young JM. ,Florkowski CM ,LEVER M. ,George PM
    "Coenzyme Q10: Is there a Clinical Role and a Case for Measurement"
    Clin Biochem Revs 2008;29(2):71-82
  4. Atkinson W. ,Elmslie J. ,LEVER M. ,Chambers ST. ,George PM
    ",Dietary and supplementary betaine: acute effects on plasma betaine and homocysteine concentrations under standard and postmethionine load conditions in healthy male subjects.
    Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87(3):577-85
  5. Molyneux S. ,LEVER M. ,Florkowski CM ,George PM
    ",Plasma total coenzyme Q9 (CoQ9) in the New Zealand population: reference interval and biological variation.
    Clin Chem 2007;53(4):802-3
  6. LEVER M. ,Vasudevamurthy MK. ,Squire MA.
    ",Using high-performance liquid chromatography to measure the effects of protein-stabilizing cosolvents on a model protein and fluorescent probes.
    Anal. Biochem 2007;367(1):122-33
  7. LEVER M. ,Atkinson W. ,Chambers ST. ,George PM
    ",An abnormal urinary excretion of glycine betaine may persist for years.
    Clin Biochem. 2007;40(11):798-801
  8. Molyneux S. ,Florkowski CM ,McGrane Y. ,LEVER M. ,George PM
    "Concentration-Response to the Coenzyme Q10 Supplement Q-GelŪ in Human Volunteers."
    Nutr. Res. 2007;27:307-312
  9. LEVER M. ,Atkinson W. ,George PM ,Chambers ST.
    ",Sex differences in the control of plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of glycine betaine in patients attending a lipid disorders clinic.
    Clin Biochem. 2007;40(16-17):1225-1231
  10. Slow S. ,Vasudevamurthy M. ,Fraser R. ,McEntyre C. ,LEVER M. ,Chambers S. ,George PM
    ",Dimethylthetin treatment causes diffuse alveolar lung damage: A pilot study in a sheep model of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD).
    Exp Toxicol. Path. 2007;58:285-290
  11. Atkinson W. ,Elmslie J. ,LEVER M. ,Chambers ST. ,George PM
    "Dietary and supplementary betaine: acute effects on plasma betaine and homocysteine concentrations under standard and post methionine load conditions in healthy male subjects."
    Am J Clin Nutr (In Press) 2007;:
  12. LEVER M. ,Atkinson W. ,Sizeland PCB. ,Chambers ST. ,George PM
    ",Inter- and intra- individual variations in normal urinary glycine betaine excretion.
    Clin Biochem 2007;447:453
  13. Anas MK. ,Hammer MA. ,LEVER M. ,Stanton JA. ,Baltz JM.
    ",The organic osmolytes betaine and proline are transported by a shared system in early preimplantation mouse embryos.
    J Cell Physiol 2007;210(1):266-77
  14. Atkinson W. ,Downer P. ,LEVER M. ,Chambers ST. ,George PM
    ",Effects of orange juice and proline betaine on glycine betaine and homocysteine in healthy male subjects.
    Eur J Nutr. 2007;46(8):446-52
  15. Storer MK. ,LEVER M.
    "Aracyl Triflates for preparing fluorescent and UV absorbing derivatives of unreactive carboxylates, amines and other metabolites."
    Anal. Chim. Acta. 2006;558:319-325
  16. Lee MB. ,Storer MK. ,Blunt JW. ,LEVER M.
    ",Validation of (1)H NMR spectroscopy as an analytical tool for methylamine metabolites in urine.
    Clin Chim Acta. 2006;365(1-2):264-9
  17. Storer MK. ,McEntyre C. ,LEVER M.
    ",Separation of cationic aracyl derivatives of betaines and related compounds.
    J Chromatogr A. 2006;1104(1-2):263-71
  18. LEVER M. ,George PM ,Dellow WJ. ,Scott RS. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Homocysteine, glycine betaine, and N,N-dimethylglycine in patients attending a lipid clinic.
    Metabolism. 2005;54(1):1-14
  19. Molynuex S. ,LEVER M.
    ",Fluorescence is less sensitive than ultraviolet or electrochemical detection for measurement of coenzyme Q10 in plasma.
    Clin Chim Acta. 2005;358(1-2):198-200
  20. Vasudevamurthy MK. ,Weatherley LR. ,LEVER M.
    "Enzyme stabilisation using synthetic compensatory solutes."
    Biocatal. Biotransform. 2005;23:285-291
  21. Slow S. ,Donnaggio M. ,Cressey PJ. ,LEVER M. ,George PM ,Chambers ST.
    "The Betaine Content of New Zealand Foods and Estimated Intake in the New Zelaand Diet."
    J. Food. Comp. Anal. 2005;18:473-485
  22. Eisert R. ,Oftedal OT. ,LEVER M. ,Ramdohr S. ,Breier BH. ,Barrell GK.
    "Detection of food intake in a marine mammal using marine osmolytes and their analogues as dietary biomarkers."
    Mr. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 2005;300:213-228
  23. Molyneux SL. ,Florkowski CM ,LEVER M. ,George PM
    ",Biological variation of coenzyme Q10.
    Clin Chem. 2005;51(2):455-7
  24. Slow S. ,McGregor DO. ,LEVER M. ,Lee MB. ,George PM ,Chambers ST.
    ",Dimethylglycine supplementation does not affect plasma homocysteine concentrations in pre-dialysis chronic renal failure patients.
    Clin Biochem. 2004;37(11):974-6
  25. Maclagan RGAR. ,Malardier-Jugroot C. ,Whitehead MA. ,LEVER M.
    "Theoretical studies of the interaction of water with compensatory and noncompensatory solutes for proteins."
    J. Phys. Chem. 2004;108:2514-2519
  26. Slow S. ,Miller WE. ,McGregor DO. ,Lee MB. ,LEVER M. ,George PM ,Chambers ST.
    ",Trigonelline is not responsible for the acute increase in plasma homocysteine following ingestion of instant coffee.
    Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004;58(9):1253-6
  27. Lee MB. ,Blunt JW. ,LEVER M. ,George PM
    ",A nuclear-magnetic-resonance-based assay for betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase activity.
    Anal Biochem. 2004;330(2):199-205
  28. McEntyre C. ,LEVER M. ,Storer M.
    ",A high performance liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of total carnitine in human plasma and urine.
    Clin Chim Acta. 2004;344(1-2):123-30
  29. Slow S. ,LEVER M. ,Lee M B. ,George PM ,Chambers ST.
    ",Betaine analogues alter homocysteine metabolism in rats.
    Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2004;36(5):870-80
  30. Molyneux S. ,Florkowski CM ,LEVER M. ,George PM
    ",The bioavailability of coenzyme Q10 supplements available in New Zealand differs markedly.
    N Z Med J. 2004;117(1203):U1108
  31. Happer DAR. ,Hayman CM. ,Storer MK. ,LEVER M.
    "Aracyl triflates as derivatising agents for betaines."
    Aust J of Chem 2004;57:467-472
  32. LEVER M. ,Sizeland PC. ,Frampton CM. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Short and long-term variation of plasma glycine betaine concentrations in humans.
    Clin Biochem. 2004;37(3):184-90
  33. de Zwart FJ. ,Slow S. ,Payne RJ. ,LEVER M. ,George PM ,Gerrard JA. ,Chambers ST.
    "Glycine betaine and glycine betaine analogues in common foods."
    Food Chemistry. 2003;83:197-204
  34. Peddie BA. ,Wood JE. ,LEVER M. ,Happer DA. ,de Zwart F. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Assessment of antimicrobial activity of hydrophilic betaines in osmotically stressed bacteria.
    Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 2003;83(2):175-81
  35. McGregor DO. ,Dellow WJ. ,Robson RA. ,LEVER M. ,George PM
    ",Betaine supplementation decreases post-methionine hyperhomocysteinemia in chronic renal failure.
    Kidney Int. 2002;61(3):1040-6
  36. Zhang M. ,Moore GA ,LEVER M. ,Gardiner SJ. ,Kirkpatrick CM. ,Begg EJ.
    ",Rapid and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of metformin in human plasma and breast milk.
    J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2002;766(1):175-9
  37. Wood JE. ,LEVER M. ,Blunt JW.
    "Modified betaines and water."
    J Bioche Mol Bio Biophys 2001;5(4):285-292
  38. LEVER M. ,Randall K. ,Galinski EA.
    ",Near infra-red spectra of urea with glycine betaine or trimethylamine N-oxide are additive.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 2001;1528(2-3):135-40
  39. LEVER M. ,Blunt JW. ,Maclagan RG.
    ",Some ways of looking at compensatory kosmotropes and different water environments.
    Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2001;130(3):471-86
  40. McGregor DO. ,Dellow WJ. ,LEVER M. ,George PM ,Robson RA. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Dimethylglycine accumulates in uremia and predicts elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations
    Kidney Int. 2001;59(6):2267-72
  41. Dellow WJ. ,Chambers ST. ,Barrell GK. ,LEVER M. ,Robson RA.
    ",Glycine betaine excretion is not directly linked to plasma glucose concentrations in hyperglycaemia.
    Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2001;52(3):165-9
  42. Chambers ST. ,Peddie BA. ,Randall K. ,LEVER M.
    ",Inhibitors of bacterial growth in urine: what is the role of betaines?
    Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999;11(3-4):293-6
  43. Dellow WJ. ,Chambers ST. ,LEVER M. ,Lunt H. ,Robson RA.
    ",Elevated glycine betaine excretion in diabetes mellitus patients is associated with proximal tubular dysfunction and hyperglycemia.
    Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1999;43(2):91-9
  44. Peddie BA. ,LEVER M. ,Randall K. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Osmoprotective activity, urea protection, and accumulation of hydrophilic betaines in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
    Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 1999;75(3):183-9
  45. Randall K. ,LEVER M. ,Blunt JW. ,Chambers ST.
    "Counteraction of urea denaturation by glycine betaine and other kosmotropes."
    J Biochem Mol Bio Biophy 1998;2(1):51-58
  46. LEVER M.
    "Helping macromolecules work: solutes that stabilize activity."
    NZ Biotech Assoc Newsletter 1998;37:23-31
  47. Randall K. ,LEVER M. ,Happer DAR. ,Peddie BA. ,Chambers ST.
    "Protective effects of homarine,trigonelline and isomeric pyridinium betaines."
    J Biochem Mol Bio Biophy 1998;1(3):205-212
  48. Peddie BA. ,Wong-She J. ,Randall K. ,LEVER M. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Osmoprotective properties and accumulation of betaine analogues by Staphylococcus aureus.
    FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1998;160(1):25-30
  49. Samuelsson LM. ,Randall K. ,Happer DAR. ,Peddie BA. ,LEVER M.
    "Effect of methyl substituents on the accumulation and osmoprotective effects of betaines."
    J Biochem Mol Bio Biophy 1998;2(1):43-50
  50. LEVER M.
    ",Exclusion and retention of compensatory kosmotropes by HPLC columns.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1998;1425(1):61-73
  51. Randall K. ,Peddie BA. ,LEVER M. ,Chambers ST.
    "Accumulation of betaine analogues during osmotic stress and anaerobiosis."
    Letters Appl. Microbiol. 1997;24:316-318
  52. Randall K. ,LEVER M. ,Peddie BA. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Accumulation of natural and synthetic betaines by a mammalian renal cell line.
    Biochem Cell Biol. 1996;74(2):283-7
  53. Randall K. ,LEVER M. ,Peddie BA. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Natural and synthetic betaines counter the effects of high NaCl and urea concentrations.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1996;1291(3):189-94
  54. Chambers ST. ,LEVER M.
    ",Betaines and urinary tract infections.
    Nephron. 1996;74(1):1-10
  55. Peddie BA. ,Chambers ST. ,LEVER M.
    ",Is the ability of urinary tract pathogens to accumulate glycine betaine a factor in the virulence of pathogenic strains?
    J Lab Clin Med. 1996;128(4):417-22
  56. Sizeland PC. ,Chambers ST. ,LEVER M. ,Bason LM. ,Robson RA.
    ",Short-term response of nonurea organic osmolytes in human kidney to a water load and water deprivation.
    Am J Physiol. 1995;268(2 Pt 2):F227-33
  57. Randall K. ,LEVER M. ,Peddie BA. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Competitive accumulation of betaines by Escherichia coli K-12 and derivative strains lacking betaine porters.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995;1245(1):116-20
  58. Peddie BA. ,LEVER M. ,Hayman CM. ,Randall K. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Relationship between osmoprotection and the structure and intracellular accumulation of betaines by Escherichia coli.
    FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1994;120(1-2):125-31
  59. LEVER M. ,Sizeland PC. ,Bason LM. ,Hayman CM. ,Robson RA. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Abnormal glycine betaine content of the blood and urine of diabetic and renal patients.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1994;230(1):69-79
  60. LEVER M. ,Sizeland PC. ,Bason LM. ,Hayman CM. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Glycine betaine and proline betaine in human blood and urine.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1994;1200(3):259-64
  61. Sizeland PC. ,Chambers ST. ,LEVER M. ,Bason LM. ,Robson RA.
    ",Organic osmolytes in human and other mammalian kidneys.
    Kidney Int. 1993;43(2):448-53
  62. LEVER M. ,Bason L. ,Leaver C ,Hayman CM. ,Chambers ST.
    ",Same-day batch measurement of glycine betaine, carnitine, and other betaines in biological material.
    Anal Biochem. 1992;205(1):14-21
  63. Upton JD ,LEVER M. ,Sadler WA. ,George PM ,Boswell DR.
    ",The quality of performance of the fructosamine test.
    N Z Med J. 1988;101(854):606-8
  64. LEVER M. ,Fowler RT. ,Freear GT. ,Dodds Scarf PM.
    "More on serum fructosamine assay."
    Clin Chem 1987;37:447-8
  65. Baker J. ,Metcalf P. ,Tatnell M. ,LEVER M. ,Johnson R.
    ",Quality assessment of determinations of serum fructosamine in 33 clinical chemistry laboratories.
    Clin Chem. 1986;32(12):2133-6
  66. LEVER M. ,May PC. ,Andre CM.
    ",Automated fluorimetric determination of furfurals.
    Anal Biochem. 1985;144(1):6-14
  67. LEVER M. ,Walmsley TA ,Visser RS. ,Ryde SJ.
    ",Optimal conditions for 4-hydroxybenzoyl- and 2-furoylhydrazine as reagents for the determination of carbohydrates, including ketosamines
    Anal Biochem 1984;139:205-211
  68. Walmsley TA ,LEVER M.
    ",Fluorometric measurement of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
    Anal Biochem 1982;124:446-451
  69. LEVER M.
    "Limitations of laboratory investigations"
    Patient Management 1981;10:45-51
  70. LEVER M. ,Munster DJ. ,Walmsley TA ,Stewart AW.
    ",Analytical errors in clinical laboratories as assessed by an interlaboratory survey
    Ann Clin Biochem 1981;18:28-36
  71. Walmsley TA ,Fowler RT. ,Abernethy MH. ,LEVER M. ,Munster DJ.
    "The flexible dialyser membrane - a source of error in plasma creatinine determination"
    J Automated Chem 1980;2(4):200-202
  72. Fowler RT. ,LEVER M. ,Munster DJ. ,Brown JD.
    ",Kober reaction kinetics and their influence on the design of assays for oestrogens in urine during pregnancy.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1980;103(2):175-81
  73. Fowler RT. ,LEVER M. ,Walmsley TA ,Abernethy MH.
    ",Factors in the choice of detergent in automated oestriol estimation
    Clin Chim Acta 1979;92:421-429
  74. LEVER M. ,Munster D.
    ",Performance evaluation by interlaboratory surveys.
    Clin Chem. 1979;25(1):194-6
  75. Munster DJ. ,LEVER M. ,Andre CM. ,Carrell RW.
    ",Routine serum lipid analysis in New Zealand.
    N Z Med J. 1978;88(617):93-7
  76. LEVER M. ,Walmsley TA
    ",Automated continuous flow determination of urine albumin by competition with dye-detergent binding
    Clin Chim Acta 1978;83:279-285
  77. LEVER M. ,Munster DJ.
    "The performance of cholesterol and triglyceride analyses in New Zealand"
    NZ J Med Lab Technol 1978;83:279-285
  78. Walmsley TA ,LEVER M. ,Munster DJ. ,Fowler RT. ,Tisch G.
    "Comparison of laboratory performance in two interlaboratory surveys: digoxin, a case study"
    NZ J Lab Technol 1978;:13-16
  79. Munster DJ. ,LEVER M. ,Walmsley TA
    "Design of interlaboratory surveys of drug analyses: a pilot program with salicylate, diphenylhydantoin, digoxin and ethanol"
    J Analytical Toxicology 1978;2:250-256
  80. Munster DJ. ,LEVER M. ,Walmsley TA
    ",Regression analysis in interlaboratory surveys: a case study with cholesterol and triglycerides
    Clin Biochem 1978;11(5):194-203
  81. LEVER M.
    ",Peroxides in detergents as interfering factors in biochemical analysis.
    Anal Biochem. 1977;3(1):274-84
  82. LEVER M. ,Munster DJ.
    ",Simulation of laboratory errors and their effects on interlaboratory quality-control programs.
    Clin Biochem. 1977;10(2):56-64
  83. LEVER M.
    ",Carbohydrate determination with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PAHBAH): effect of bismuth on the reaction.
    Anal Biochem. 1977;81(1):21-7
  84. LEVER M.
    ",Electrical potentials generated in continuous flow dialyzers during autoanalysis.
    Anal Biochem. 1977;82(2):549-58
  85. LEVER M. ,Munster DJ.
    ",A design for interlaboratory quality-control programs.
    Clin Biochem. 1977;10(2):65-70
  86. Munster DJ. ,LEVER M.
    "Interpretation of blood lipid analyses"
    NZ J Med Lab Technol 1976;30:29-
  87. Munster DJ. ,LEVER M. ,Carrell RW.
    ",Contributions of other sterols to the estimation of cholesterol.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1976;68(2):167-75
  88. Ambler PK. ,Singh BN. ,LEVER M.
    ",A simple and rapid fluorometric method for the estimation of 1-(2-hydroxy-3-isopropylamino-propoxy)-naphthalene hydrochloride, propranolol, in blood.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1974;54(3):373-5
  89. Peace SM. ,LEVER M.
    ",Standardisation of urinary estriol determinations during pregnancy.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1974;53(3):323-30
  90. LEVER M. ,Peace SM.
    ",Inter-labortory variations in urinary oestriol estimates.
    J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw. 1974;81(2):97-106
  91. LEVER M. ,Powell JC. ,Peace SM.
    ",Improved estriol determination in a continuous flow system.
    Biochem Med. 1973;8(2):188-98
  92. LEVER M. ,Powell JC.
    ",Simplified fluorometric determination of salicylate.
    Biochem Med. 1973;7(2):203-7
  93. Wilson DM. ,LEVER M. ,Small CW.
    ",An evaluation of the fluorometric determination of serum isoniazid with pentanedione.
    Am J Med Technol. 1973;39(11):451-3
  94. LEVER M. ,Small CW.
    ",Some sodium tungstate-organic acid protein precipitants.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1973;45(2):193-4
  95. LEVER M.
    "Bis-aroylhydrazones of alpha-diketones as reagents for colorimetric and fluorimetric determinations of calcium, cadmium and other cations."
    Anal Chim Acta 1973;65:311-8
  96. LEVER M.
    "The use of fluorescent chelates for the determination of antibiotics and other biologically important substances."
    NZ J Med Lab Technol 1973;27:15-
  97. LEVER M. ,PowellJC. ,Killip M. ,Small CW.
    ",A comparison of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PAHBAH) with other reagents for the determination of glucose.
    J Lab Clin Med. 1973;82(4):649-55
  98. LEVER M.
    ",Colorimetric and fluorometric carbohydrate determination with p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide.
    Biochem Med. 1973;7(2):274-81
  99. LEVER M.
    ",Rapid fluorometric or spectrophotometric determination of isoniazid.
    Biochem Med. 1972;6(1):65-71
  100. Wilson DM. ,LEVER M. ,Brosnan EA. ,Stillwell A.
    ",A simplified tetracycline assay.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1972;36(1):260-1
  101. LEVER M.
    ",A new reaction for colorimetric determination of carbohydrates.
    Anal Biochem. 1972;47(1):273-9
  102. LEVER M.
    ",Improved fluorometric determination of tetracyclines.
    Biochem Med. 1972;6(3):216-22
  103. Powell JC. ,LEVER M.
    ",A new automated procedure for the colorimetric determination of glucose.
    Biochem Med. 1972;6(6):543-7
  104. LEVER M.
    "Applications of Brown fluorometer cuvettes."
    Fluorescence News 1972;6:6-8
  105. Wilson DM. ,LEVER M.
    "Improved fluorometric determination of quinidine and quinine."
    NZ J Med Lab Technol 1972;26:70-71
  106. LEVER M.
    ",Repurification of dichloromethane used for extraction in fluorometric methods.
    Clin Chim Acta. 1971;31(1):291-3
  107. LEVER M.
    "Brown fluorometer cuvettes in the clinical laboratory."
    NZ J Med Lab Technol 1971;25:76-
  108. LEVER M.
    "The relationship between cyanide assimilation and asparagine biosynthesis in lupins"
    J Exper Bot 1971;22:285-90
  109. LEVER M.
    "Precursors of asparagine in lupins"
    J Exper Bot 1971;22:279-84
  110. LEVER M.
    "The initial metabolism of germinating fern spores"
    Phytochemistry 1971;10:2995-6
  111. LEVER M.
    ",Some improvements on the fluorometric determination of serum corticosteroids.
    Clin Biochem. 1971;4(2):68-75
    Information last updated on 29 October 2008