Relationship among reduced level of stored iron and dietary iron in trained women.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between dietary iron intake (both haeme- and non-haeme-iron) and its status in trained female subjects. Forty female athletes and forty non-trained women of the same age participated in this study. Blood samples were taken to assess haematological (red blood cell count-Er, haemoglobin concentration-Hb, packed cell volume-PCV) and iron related parameters (serum ferritin concentration-SF, serum iron concentration-SI, total iron binding capacity-TIBC). A self questionnaire was used to record food intake for seven days and diets were analyzed on the basis of mean daily nutrient intake, energy values, iron intake and sources of dietary iron. According to established clinical criteria for iron deficiency some athletes and control subjects shown iron depletion (20% and 10%, respectively), iron deficiency erythropoiesis (10% and 7.5%, respectively) and iron-deficient anaemia (10% and 7.5%, respectively). There was no difference in the mean total dietary iron intake between the two female groups, while the mean intake of haeme-iron was significantly lower in the control group. The findings in the present study are: (1) the significant relation exists between serum ferritin level and quantity of haeme-iron intake (but not with total iron intake), and (2) 10% of female athletes have iron deficiency.

[T-cell kinetics and course of humoral immune response following subcutaneous immunization with tetanus toxoid fluid vaccine]. / T-Zellkinetik und Verlauf der Humoralen Immunantwort nach subkutaner Immunisierung mit Tetanustoxoid-Fluid-Impfstoff.

Revaccinations with tetanus toxoid fluid vaccine were performed including different groups of volunteers (aged, diabetics, rheumatics). The kinetics of T-cells were demonstrated by rosette technique in a period of 63 days after revaccination. The content of tetanus antitoxin was estimated by the mouse standard neutralization test. T-cell kinetics were different in the investigated groups, probably influenced by age, illness, therapy etc. Only those patients among the aged who were in bad health showed a relatively low humoral booster reaction.

Distribution of the myocardial tissue PO2 in the rat and the inhomogeneity of the coronary bed.

The structural inhomogeneity of the myocardial capillary bed is stimulated by microcirculatory units (MCU's) in a diffusion model. This stimulation is based on MCU's in which the arrangement of the capillary ends (concurrent structure, partial and total countercurrent (structure, helical structure) as well as the structure and supply parameters are varied. The variation of these parameters is based on own measurements of the intracapillary HbO2 saturation as well as on the following parameters from the literature: frequency distribution of capillary distance and capillary radius, mean capillary length or capillary section length respectively, arterial and mean venous PO2, mean coronary blood flow, mean O2 consumption and diffusion conductivity. The analysis of O2 supply of the normoxic rat heart shows that an O2 diffusion shunt is obligatory except of MCU's with an extremely large capillary distance or with a concurrent capillary structure. Therefore the minimal tissue PO2 lies at the level of the capillary venous PO2 of a MCU. The maximum of the total PO2 frequency distribution in the normoxic rat myocardium lies at 25 +/- 5 mm Hg, i.e. above the mean venous PO2 (20 mm Hg). Tissue PO2 values between 0 and 5 mm Hg amount to 0.5% i.e. they are extremely rare. Tissue PO2 values of 0-1 mm Hg represent less than 0.2%.

Intracapillary HbO2 saturation in tumor tissue of DS-carcinosarcoma during normoxia.

The measurements of the intravascular HbO2 saturation in tumor capillaries using the cryophotometric micromethod reveal that very low HbO2 saturation values predominate in malignant tumors. Under normoxic conditions only 8% of the measured values exceed 50% saturation. 53% of the intracapillary HbO2 saturation values are in the range of 0-10% HbO2 saturation. Great regional differences are seldom and can be found only in areas where a sufficient vascularization still exists. Taking into account the data of morphometric analysis of tumor vascularization and the parameters of respiratory gas exchange, the measured frequency distribution of HbO2 saturation values in tumor capillaries is simulated by means of different three-dimensional capillary structures; On the basis of these microcirculatory units, tissue pO2 values are computed in the intercapillary regions. As a result of these calculations it can be stated that the computed data derived from intracapillary HbO2 saturations are in sufficient agreement with pO2 values measured polarographically using gold- microelectrodes.