Intestinal Mucosal Mechanisms Controlling Iron Absorption

Radioautographic studies provide evidence to support a concept of themechanism whereby the small intestine controls absorption of iron. Threedifferent states of the body’s iron stores have been considered in this regard:iron excess, iron deficiency and normal iron repletion. As the columnarepithelial cells of the duodenal villi are formed they incorporate a portion ofintrinsic iron from the body’s iron store, the amount depending upon thebody’s requirement for new iron. It is predicated that with iron excess theiron-receptor mechanism in these cells is saturated with intrinsic iron; thisthen prevents the cell from accepting dietary iron. In the normal state ofiron repletion the receptor mechanism remains partly unsaturated, allowingsmall amounts of dietary iron to enter the cell. Part of this proceeds into thebody to satisfy any metabolic requirement for iron. Part is retained in themucosal epithelial cells to complete the saturation of the iron-receptormechanism. This bound iron is subsequently lost when the epithelial cellsare sloughed at the end of their life cycle. In iron deficiency it is postulatedthat the receptor system is inactive or diminished so that entry of dietary ironinto the body is relatively uninhibited.

Submitted on February 12, 1963 Accepted on April 3, 1963     

Diagnostic Specificity of Sucrose Hemolysis Test for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

The diagnostic specificity of the various modifications of the sucrose hemolysis test for PNH was examined in detail. In whole blood screening tests thegreatest specificity was achieved using citrated or oxalated blood and roomtemperature incubation (23°). Defibrinated whole blood should not be usedsince "false positive" hemolysis may occur in blood disorders other than PNH.Mechanisms were suggested for this phenomenon. The validity of the confirmatory sucrose hemolysis test employing normal serum was further reported.Because of the clear, colorless character of serum-sucrose mixtures, an insignificant degree of hemolysis (i.e., less than 5%) is more readily visible thanin other PNH hemolytic tests employing undiluted serum. Definitive instructions and criteria for interpretation were given for both the whole bloodscreening test and the confirmatory sucrose hemolysis test.

Submitted on June 18, 1969 Accepted on December 8, 1969     

The Gay Bowel Syndrome

Our experience in the management of 260 male homosexuals with coloreetal problems is described. The increased incidence of amebiasis, shigellosis and hepatitis, specific and nonspecific protocolitides, venereal disease and anal warts, is emphasized. It is important to recognize homosexual patients and the conditions to which they are predisposed.     

诊室外血压控制疗效分析

本文旨在就接受治疗的高血压患者经用动态血压监测(ABPM)所评测的诊室外血压控制疗效进行大样本调查分析。对象与方法受试对象为12867例接受治疗的高血压患者,均适应接受ABPM监控,年龄皆≥18岁,平均年龄61.9岁,男性52.4%。其高血压均属原发性高血压,并皆已接受了降压药治疗。尔     

Detection of monoclonal plasma cells in the peripheral blood of patients with primary amyloidosis

We evaluated the blood from 150 patients with primary AL-amyloidosis for circulating monoclonal plasma cells using a sensitive slide-based immunofluorescence technique. The percentage of monoclonal blood plasma cells (BPC) that were in S-phase was determined by the bromodeoxyuridine labelling index (BLI). Monoclonal BPC were detected in 16% (24/150) of patients. The median number of monoclonal BPC was 1 × 10⁶/l and 4.6% (7/150) of patients had a high number. The BLI was zero in all but three patients. This study demonstrates that monoclonal plasma cells circulate in the peripheral blood of patients with AL-amyloidosis.