Acta haematologica
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The prevalence rates of hypoferritinemia (IDec/one abnormal indicator), iron deficiency (IDef/two abnormal indicators) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children who were referred to the outpatient clinics of the Department of Pediatrics for the first time within 1 month were investigated. Exclusion criteria were iron therapy before and during the study period and a history of chronic illness. Acute-phase reactants, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels, were measured in all cases indicative of infectious diseases. ⋯ SI concentration was abnormal in 77.1% of the cases in group I (4 months to 2 years of age). Half of the patients referred to the outpatient clinics were suffering from abnormalities related to lower SI concentrations. Close monitoring and treatment of iron deficiency is advised especially in early childhood.
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Genetic engineering of human T lymphocytes to express tumor antigen-specific chimeric immune receptors is an attractive means for providing large numbers of effector cells for adoptive immunotherapy. Major mechanisms of tumor escape from immune recognition are efficiently bypassed. ⋯ The most pertinent issue is that chimeric T cells fail to expand and rapidly lose their function in vivo. Potential strategies to enhance the therapeutic value of chimeric receptor-modified cells by preventing their functional inactivation in vivo are currently being investigated.