Untersuehungen über die Langzeitprophylaxe mit CaNa2-EDTA bei bleiexponierten Arbeitern

Zusammenfassung Bei einer peroralen Verabreichnung von 2 g CaNa₂-EDTA täglich im einwöchigen Wechsel über den Zeitraum eines Jahres wurden der Serumeisen- und Kupferspiegel überfrüft. Eine statistisch signigfikante Änderung konnte nicht festgestellt werden.Herrn OMR Prof. Dr. med. habil.W. Ehrhardt zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Binding of iron by fiber of wheat and maize

Iron II is firmly bound by neutral detergent fiber (NDF) prepared from wheat or maize and NDF accounts for nearly all of the iron binding capability of these cereals. The amount of iron bound depends upon iron concentration, pH, quantity of fiber, and the presence or absence and quantities of inhibitors of binding. Binding is minimal, although appreciable, below pH 4.0, but rises rapidly above pH 5.0 to a maximum near pH 7.0, the limit of stability of iron in the system used. The NDF of wheat binds about 0.38 mg of iron per gram of NDF; that of maize somewhat more than 0.3 mg/g at pH 6.45. Binding of iron by acid detergent fiber (cellulose and lignin) is largely accounted for by its cellulose, and it also is pH dependent but less so than NDF. Iron binding by fiber is strongly inhibited by ascorbic, citric, and phytic acids and by EDTA in low concentrations. Various amino acids produce inhibition, especially cysteine, which inhibits strongly, but others are inactive. Phosphate and calcium are strong inhibitors; taurocholic acid is moderately inhibitory. It appears that a high proportion of ingested nonheme iron combines with fiber of wheat or maize and becomes unavailable for absorption when intake of these cereals are high unless it is released by surges of gastric acid or inhibitors of binding. The promotion of iron absorption by adjuvants such as ascorbic acid, fruit juices, and EDTA may depend in part upon their ability to release iron from its combination with dietary fiber.     

Present Status of Hepatic Function Tests in the Detection of Carriers of Viral Hepatitis

A progress report on the use of hepatic function tests in detecting the blood carrier of viral hepatitis by means of hepatic function tests is presented. In the case of 29 single donors suspected of being hepatitis carriers who gave blood and who were examined in this hospital, three-fourths had one or more abnormal tests and one-half had an abnormal thymol turbidity and/or thymol flocculation tests. This is virtually the same incidence of abnormality as in imprisoned narcotic addicts. In the case of 29 single donors giving blood in the local Red Cross center or in Red Cross or community centers at a distance from Philadelphia on whom hepatic function tests were also done in this hospital, abnormal tests were found in only one-quarter, and thymol turbidity and/or thymol flocculation tests were abnormal in only one-sixth of them. These rates of abnormality are similar to those of the general donor population. It is suggested that persons from the lower social and economic classes of the large metropolitan centers of the United States who donate blood for a fee are apt to be alcoholics and narcotic addicts and are, therefore, more likely to be chronic carriers of viral hepatitis than are more stable elements of the population. It is in this group that the use of the thymol turbidity and flocculation tests appears to be valuable in a screening regimen for the carrier state of viral hepatitis.