European journal of clinical investigation
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The bioavailability of ferritin iron was evaluated in human subjects using radiolabelled [55Fe]ferritin isolated from bovine spleen and liver. Preliminary studies with bovine spleen ferritin labelled in vitro demonstrated an inappropriately high absorption compared with ferritin labelled in vivo, and the latter was therefore used in all subsequent absorption studies. In 10 subjects, geometric mean absorption from 5 mg of ferritin iron was 3.8% when taken without and 3.2% when taken with food (P > 0.05). ⋯ In a further study, mean absorption from bovine spleen ferritin of 4.0% did not differ significantly from the mean of 2.7% observed with bovine liver ferritin. These findings confirm previous studies indicating that ferritin iron is poorly absorbed. Furthermore, its use as a pharmaceutical iron preparation cannot be advocated.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 1997
Vascular complications in relation to ethnicity in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ethnicity on the development of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy as markers for microvascular complications and of angina pectoris as a marker for macrovascular complications. We evaluated data from 1124 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) of Caucasian, Mongoloid, Asian, Armenian, Northern African and Negroid origin who were referred between January 1993 and December 1994. Logistic regression analyses showed that the occurrence of microvascular complications was significantly associated with duration of NIDDM. ⋯ Moreover, a negative association between Northern African as well as Negroid ethnicity and macrovascular complication was observed (P = 0.05 and P < 0.05 respectively). In support of these observations, we found a favourable lipid profile in both mentioned groups. In summary, we have shown that, in patients with NIDDM, ethnicity is associated with macrovascular complications and duration of the disease with microvascular complications.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 1997
Apert's syndrome: differential in vitro production of matrix macromolecules and its regulation by interleukins.
During embryonic development, variations in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules influence bone tissue differentiation. We present novel findings on the in vitro phenotypic expression of periosteal fibroblasts obtained from patients affected by Apert's syndrome, a rare craniofacial malformation, and the effects that interleukins (ILs) induce on the phenotype. Apert fibroblasts synthesized greater quantities of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and intracellular type I collagen, and also produced more type III collagen and fibronectin. ⋯ Both ILs boosted fibronectin production by Apert fibroblasts, whereas IL-1 increased type III but not type I collagen. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the synthesis and secretion of ECM macromolecules are markedly altered in Apert fibroblasts. The fact that treatment with ILs further modifies the Apert phenotype suggests that ILs may be implicated in the pathophysiology of the malformations during skull morphogenesis.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Sep 1996
Comparative StudyVasodilator responses to nitric oxide are enhanced in mesenteric arteries of portal hypertensive rats.
Nitric oxide (NO) is discussed as a mediator of the splanchnic hyperaemia in portal hypertension. We assessed the vasorelaxation by the NO-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine, the NO donor 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1) and forskolin, a stimulator of the adenylate cyclase pathway in potassium-preconstricted isolated perfused mesenteric arteries of portal vein-ligated and sham-operated rats. Dilator responses to acetylcholine and SIN-1 were significantly enhanced in vessels of portal vein-ligated rats as compared to sham-operated rats, whereas no difference was found in forskolin-induced vasodilatation. This suggests enhanced reactivity of the vasculature to NO in experimental portal hypertension.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Aug 1996
Decrease in lipoprotein(a) after renal transplantation is related to the glucocorticoid dose.
Serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations and apolipoprotein(a) phenotypes were determined in 46 patients with end-stage renal disease both before as well as 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months after renal transplantation. Immunosuppressive therapy consisted of cyclosporin A, prednisone and azathioprine. Before transplantation median Lp(a) levels did not differ between the patients and a healthy control group. ⋯ As steroid doses were gradually tapered, Lp(a) concentrations subsequently increased, although at 6 months levels were still significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in women. No significant correlation was observed between Lp(a) and whole-blood cyclosporin levels, nor was there any correlation with the azathioprine dose. The reduction in Lp(a) concentrations was seen for all apo(a) phenotypes observed in the study.