Iron status was studied in 126 female endurance athletes and 52 control subjects, all aged 16-20 years. The study aimed at identifying factors responsible for iron deficiency. Twenty-six percent of athletes and 50% of controls had latent iron-deficiency without anemia symptoms. A too low intake of iron (especially heme iron: 0.3 mg daily), and of nutrients influencing iron metabolism, were identified as main causes of iron deficiency in control subjects. In athletes, whose iron intake was sufficient (14.6 mg), the principal cause of iron deficiency were blood losses due to menstruation. High level of physical activity, expressed as training volume and experience, did not adversely affect iron stores, as these were higher than in control subjects and the incidence of iron deficiency was much lower than in the control group. It was concluded that an increased intake of iron and of dietary factors involved in iron metabolism prevented possible exercise-induced losses of iron in young athletes.

IntroductionGender-specific issues regarding ST-segment elevation (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) due to unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease were not sufficiently studied. We assessed the value of STEMI/NSTEMI initial classification on the management of men and women with acute MI due to critical stenosis or occlusion of the ULMCA.Material and methodsThe study group consisted of 643 consecutive patients with acute MI with the ULMCA as the infarct-related artery. Data derive from an ongoing, nationwide, multicenter, prospective, observational registry.ResultsIsolated ULMCA disease was more frequent in women and multivessel disease was more frequent in men in the NSTEMI group. The incidence of cardiogenic shock or pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest was higher in the STEMI group. Totally occluded ULMCA was more frequent in the STEMI group. Although the majority of patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), it was less frequently used in NSTEMI women and NSTEMI men. Although in-hospital and long-term mortality rates were higher in the STEMI group, there were no gender-related differences within groups. The initial ST-segment elevation was an independent predictor of in-hospital (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.14–4.91, p = 0.02) and 12-month (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01–2.27, p = 0.045) mortality.ConclusionsThere were no gender-related differences in the management within the STEMI or NSTEMI group. Although acute myocardial infarction due to ULMCA disease is associated with high mortality in both genders, STEMI was a negative prognostic factor of in-hospital and 12-month mortality. Despite poor baseline characteristics and clinical presentation in women, female gender itself did not influence mortality.

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß der Rationszusammensetzung auf die Durchgangszeit bei Ratten In Bilanzversuchen mit Ratten wurde die Durchgangszeit von sieben Rationen bei Anwendung von Glasperlen als Marker gemessen. Die Ratten wogen zwischen 130 und 140 g. Das Versuchsfutter wurde über drei Tage vor Anfang des Versuches an die Ratten verfüttert und wurde dann nach Zusatz von 3% Glasperlen als Marker weiter an die Tiere verfüttert. Man ließ die Tiere 12 Stunden hungern, bevor ihnen 12 g von dem Marker beigemischt im Futter verabreicht wurde. Die Freßzeit schwankte zwischen 9 und 11 Stunden. Der Hauptzweck des Versuches war, den Einfluß von verdaulichem Protein, Fett und Rohfasergehalt auf die Durchgangszeit zu bestimmen. Die Wirkung der mikrobiellen Aktivität im Verdauungskanal wurden ebenfalls gemessen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, daß signifikante Mengen vom Marker schon 9 Stunden nach Beginn der Fütterung im Kot wiedergefunden und daß 72 Stunden nach der Fütterung nur marginale Mengen wiedergefunden werden konnten. Das Proteinniveau schien die Durchgangszeit nur schwach zu erhöhen. Der Fettgehalt, der durch Sojaölbeigabe auf 15 Prozent der Trockensubstanzmenge erhöht worden war, zeigte keinen Einfluß auf die Durchgangszeit. Der Rohfasergehalt beeinflußte dagegen die Durchgangszeit erheblich. Bei einer Fütterung mit einem kaseinreichen Futter betrug die Wiederfindungsrate von 50% des Markers 31.9 Stunden gegenüber 22.3 Stunden, wenn 15% der N‐freien Futtermischung durch Zellulose ersetzt worden war. Es wurde ebenfalls gezeigt, daß die Höhe der mikrobiellen Aktivität im Verdauungskanal die Durchgangszeit beeinflußte. Dieses wurde durch eine Fütterung mit oder ohne Beigabe von 0.7% Nebacitin gezeigt. Wenn dem Futter Nebacitin zugesetzt worden war, dauerte es um Stunden länger, bevor 50% der Glasperlen im Kot wiedergefunden wurden.

1. A study was made of the metabolism of ɛ-(γ-L-glutamyl)-L[4, 5-3H]lysine (GL) in the rat.2. The compound was largely absorbed from the intestine and metabolized. Labelled lysine was incorporated into blood proteins.3. In an in vitro experiment with everted sacs of rat small intestine, GL passed through the intestinal wall unchanged.4. The results of comparative tests using homogenates of different body tissues indicated that the kidneys were particularly active in hydrolysing GL. Their activity was nine times greater than that of the liver and eighteen times greater than that of the small intestine.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is one of the clinical groups of arterial hypertension. It is a rare, chronic disease with a very poor prognosis. Diagnostic procedures ruling out different causes of present symptoms and other forms of pulmonary hypertension are difficult and specific. Current European guidelines recommend combined treatment with endothelin receptor antagonist, prostanoids, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.