Circadian distribution of iron and ferritin in serum of healthy and type 2 diabetic males.

AIM: We examined the circulating levels of iron and ferritin in serum of seven healthy and three insulin non-dependent diabetic (Type 2) males in order to compare their circadian characteristics. METHODS: Blood samples were collected every 3h over a 24h period and were analyzed for serum iron and ferritin. RESULTS: The mean Fe level was significantly higher in healthy than in diabetic subjects: 80.0 +/- 3.3 vs. 63.0 +/- 3.7 microg/dL. The ferritin level was significantly lower in healthy than in diabetic men: 79.8 +/- 4.7 vs. 186.3 +/- 110.5 microg/L. A significant (p < 0.001) time-effect was found by ANOVA and circadian rhythm was detected at p < 0.001 in all data sets when a 24h cosine was fitted to the normalized data. Acrophases were located in mid to late morning for Fe (11:30, vs. 09:22h) and for ferritin (11:10 vs. 11:46h). DISCUSSION: We concluded that there is significant circadian variation in both serum Fe and ferritin, with predictable peaks in the mid to late morning.

Chimerism and tolerance: from freemartin cattle and neonatal mice to humans.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) results in hematopoietic chimeras that demonstrate donor specific tolerance to tissue and cellular grafts. The clinical application of chimerism to induce tolerance is limited by the morbidity associated with human BMT: failure of engraftment, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and toxic host conditioning. BMT in an immunologically mature host has until recently been believed to require complete ablation of the host's immune system to allow donor engraftment. Lethal conditioning is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Stable multilineage mixed allogeneic chimerism has more recently been achieved in mice using partial myeloablation prior to BMT. Chimeras prepared in this fashion exhibit donor specific tolerance in vitro and in vivo similar to lethally-conditioned recipients. A second factor that has limited the widespread application of BMT to nonmalignant disease, including attempts to induce tolerance, is GVHD. Although T-cell depletion of donor marrow reduces the incidence of GVHD, engraftment is often jeopardized. Although highly purified stem cells (SC) engraft at relatively low doses in syngeneic recipients, they do not durably engraft in MHC-disparate recipients. It has recently become clear that a second cell (facilitating cell) that enhances bone marrow engraftment and minimizes the occurrence of GVHD is required for SC to engraft in MHC-disparate recipients. Methods to optimize engraftment yet minimize GVHD may provide an approach to apply BMT clinically. With decreased morbidity through incomplete recipient conditioning and the ability to engineer a bone marrow graft to contain only the desired cells to optimize engraftment, BMT may provide a reasonable strategy to treat nonmalignant diseases including enzyme deficiencies, hemoglobinopathies, autoimmune diseases, and species-specific viral infections such as HIV. BMT-induced donor specific tolerance may benefit recipients of solid organ transplants by eliminating the need for nonspecific immunosuppression and by preventing chronic rejection. This review will focus on approaches to enable BMT yet minimize recipient morbidity and mortality.

Cheap computer aids for medical photography departments.

Most departments now use computers to assist in administration. Choice of hardware and software is very much dependent upon the complexity of the tasks and also on the amount of money available to purchase such equipment. This paper gives an insight into how a low cost computer system is successfully introduced into a department and is proving good value for money.

Assessment of the respirable dust levels in the nation's underground and surface coal mining operations.

This report presents a chronological overview of the status of respirable dust exposures in underground and surface bituminous coal mines since inception of the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. Data for various intervals from 1970 through 1977, are presented for selected mining operations. Comparisons are made using data available from the mine operators' sampling program and from MSHA surveys. The data demonstrate the marked decrease that has occurred in respirable dust exposures since inception of the 1969 Act.

Pediatricians' and social workers' knowledge and opinions of Florida's religious immunity laws.

BACKGROUND: Florida laws grant exemption from prosecution to parents who choose spiritual healing rather than conventional medical therapy for their children. Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics' policy statement supporting repeal of such laws, we believe pediatricians are not aware of existing statutes. METHODS: A survey to assess understanding of Florida's religious exemption laws was distributed to pediatric house staff, faculty, and clinical social workers at a large teaching hospital and to community pediatricians in private practice. RESULTS: Eighty-four percent of respondents were unaware of Florida statutes, and physicians were significantly less knowledgeable than social workers. Of those who understood the statutes, 92% believed physicians should overrule parents' decisions. Significantly more social workers than physicians believed that parents should be prosecuted for child abuse or neglect when medical treatment is withheld for religious reasons. CONCLUSIONS: Further education of pediatric health care workers is required before repeal of these laws will become a priority for legislators.