Lectin-binding sites of the human pituitary adenoma cells by means of the ferritin-labeling technique

Summary Lectin-binding sites of the human pituitary adenoma cells were examined by electron microscopy in correlation with their functional states.In this study used were 37 cases of the human pituitary adenomas which had been operated in our clinics from 1977 to 1979. They were divided into four groups: 13 cases of PRL-producing adenomas, nine of hGH-producing adenomas, three of ACTH-producing adenomas, and 12 of hormonal non-functioning adenomas. In parallel with the detection of the lectinbinding sites by means of the ferritin-labeling method, the basal levels of their secreting hormones were determined by the radioimmunoassay technique, and their producing hormones were characterized light microscopically by the immunocytochemical HRP-labeling technique.The present study clearly shows that the ferritinlabeled, lectin-binding sites of the human pituitary adenoma cells prefixed with aldehyde are different in number between PRL- or hGH-producing adenoma cells and non-functioning ones. Morphologically resemblin, non-functioning adenoma cells and mixed somatotrophic and lactotrophic adenoma cells are definitely distinguished from each other by the findings of the ferritin-labeled RCA-binding sites' distribution pattern.Lectins have been proved very useful to evaluate the membrane characteristics of the human pituitary adenoma cells in association with their functional states.Supported in part by a grant from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1978/79 to T. Hori and by a Grant-in-aid for scientific research from the Japanese Ministry of Education to H. Hirano     

Serum ferritin and iron uptake by peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

Summary Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease in which anaemia is common. The origin of the anaemia is usually multifactorial. Iron deficiency, a defect of release of iron from the reticulo-endothelial system¹ is discussed. Ferritin content of monocytes, lymphocytes and polymorphes is found altered and mostly elevated in monocytes affected by serum iron deficiency. In all cell types iron uptake is related to transferrin saturation. Alterations against normal subjects in iron uptake, ferritin synthesis and iron incorporation into ferritin are mostly found in patients with serum iron deficiency.     

Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome as a presenting feature of Hodgkin's disease

We report the case of a 60-year-old man with febris of unknown origin, severe pancytopenia, and rapidly developing splenomegaly due to reactive hemophagocytic syndrome and Hodgkin's disease. Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome is often rapidly fatal and, once this diagnosis is considered, an underlying infection or malignancy should be treated promptly. An extensive search of the literature revealed only two other cases of reactive hemophagocytic syndrome and Hodgkin's disease. This is the only reported patient who survived after being diagnosed as having reactive hemophagocytic syndrome and Hodgkin's disease. Received: 12 October 1998 / Accepted: 4 November 1999     

Iron status markers,serum ferritin and hemoglobin in 1359 Danish women in relation to menstruation,hormonal contraception,parity, and postmenopausal hormone treatment

Summary Iron status was assessed by measuring serum (S-) ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb) in a population survey comprising 1359 nonpregnant Danish women, in age cohorts of 30,40, 50, and 60 years; 809 were premenopausal and 550 postmenopausal. Median age for menarche was 14 years, for menopause (artificial and natural) 48 years. Premenopausal women had lower S-ferritin (median 37g/l) than postmenopausal women (median 71g/l;p<0.0001). Of the premenopausal women, 17.7% had S-ferritin < 15g/l (i.e., depleted iron stores), and 23.1% S-ferritin of 15–30g/l (i.e., small iron stores). Corresponding figures in postmenopausal women were 3.3% and 10.3%. Hb values in premenopausal women were mean 137±10 (SD) g/l (8.5±0.6 mmol/l) vs. 140±10 g/l (8.7±0.6 mmol/l) in postmenopausal women (p<0.0001); 4.1% of pre- and 3.3% of postmenopausal women had values < 121 g/l (7.5 mmol/l). Iron deficiency anemia (i.e., S-ferritin < 15g/l and Hb < 121 g/l) was found in 2.6% of pre- and 0.36% of postmenopausal women. Premenopausal multipara had lower S-ferritin than nulli- and unipara (p<0.04). The use of oral contraceptives had a marked influence on iron stores; premenopausal women taking the pill had higher S-ferritin and a lower frequency of depleted iron reserves than nonusers (p<0.01). Postmenopausal estrogen treatment had no influence on S-ferritin or Hb.     

重组日本血吸虫铁蛋白粘膜免疫诱导小鼠保护力的研究

目的　探讨重组日本血吸虫铁蛋白(rSjFer)粘膜免疫诱导小鼠抗血吸虫的保护性免疫。　方法　实验鼠分为8组,每组10只,包括rSjFer、霍乱毒素B亚单位(CTB)和rSjFer+CTB灌胃免疫组,以及rSjFer、CTB和rSjFer+CTB滴鼻免疫组,PBS灌胃及滴鼻对照组。在第3次免疫后2wk,经腹部感染日本血吸虫尾蚴40±1条,45d后解剖观察减虫率和减卵率。在免疫前和感染前尾静脉采血和取粪样,ELISA检测血清IgA、IgG及粪内sIgA水平。　结果　灌胃及滴鼻各组减虫率依次为3.98%、3.77%、25.57%及7.69%、4.50%、33.35%,每克肝减卵率依次为3.76%、2.46%、34.75%及4.40%、0.06%、60.10%。　结论　rSjFer粘膜免疫能诱导小鼠产生抗血吸虫的保护性免疫。     

Biochemical expression of heterozygous hereditary hemochromatosis

Background: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a common autosomal recessive disease caused by an iron overload. Two mutations (C282Y and H63D) on the responsible HFE gene have been described. HH heterozygotes may have a slight iron overload that does not cause clinical disease. Compound heterozygosity may be associated with higher iron stores than C282Y heterozygosity. We studied biochemical iron parameters in HH C282Y and compound heterozygotes without a clinically significant iron overload. Methods: Data on hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, serum ferritin, serum iron, transferrin, and transferrin saturation were obtained from 40 C282 wild type controls (irrespective of H63D genotype), 61 C282Y heterozygotes, and 18 compound (C282Y/H63D) heterozygotes without clinical iron overload disease. Results: Serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in female HH heterozygotes, particularly in compound heterozygotes, than in normal women. In male heterozygotes, no difference in serum ferritin was found. We found higher mean serum iron and transferrin saturation levels in male and female HH heterozygotes than in normal controls, the highest in the group of compound heterozygotes. Conclusions: Mean serum ferritin (only in women), serum iron, and transferrin saturation are highest in compound heterozygotes and lowest in controls. C282Y heterozygotes seem to be an intermediate group between compound heterozygotes and the normal population.     

Relationship between serum ferritin,anemia, and disease activity in acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis

Summary The assessment of anemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be difficult, especially when iron deficiency and the anemia of chronic disease coexist. The development of a radioimmunoassay for serum ferritin concentration has aided the detection of reduced body iron stores in uncomplicated iron deficiency, but its use is compromised in clinically active rheumatoid arthritis by the tendency of serum ferritin to behave as an acute phase reactant. In this latter role it correlated well with disease activity in the patients we studied. Followed serially, serum ferritin levels fell in patients whose disease activity improved after institution of appropriate therapy. In anemic patients with clinically inactive disease, supplemental iron was associated with a significant rise in hemoglobin when compared to untreated patients. Serum ferritin levels behaved independently of hemoglobin levels. Therefore even in clinically inactive rheumatoid arthritis, serum ferritin does not accurately reflect an iron deficiency.     

Effect of one-anastomosis gastric bypass on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with vitamin D deficiency and morbid obesity: A secondary analysis

Background and aimsBariatric patients often suffer from vitamin D (VD) deficiency, and both, morbid obesity and VD deficiency, are related to an adverse effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Therefore, we assessed the change of known CVD risk factors and its associations during the first 12 months following one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB).Methods and resultsIn this secondary analysis, CVD risk factors, medical history and anthropometric data were assessed in fifty VD deficient (25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) <75 nmol/l) patients, recruited for a randomized controlled trial of VD supplementation. Based on previous results regarding bone-mass loss and the association between VD and CVD risk, the study population was divided into patients with 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/l (adequate VD group; AVD) and into those <50 nmol/l (inadequate VD group; IVD) at 6 and 12 months (T6/12) postoperatively. In the whole cohort, substantial remission rates for hypertension (38%), diabetes (30%), and dyslipidaemia (41%) and a significant reduction in CVD risk factors were observed at T12. Changes of insulin resistance markers were associated with changes of total body fat mass (TBF%), 25(OH)D, and ferritin. Moreover, significant differences in insulin resistance markers between AVD and IVD became evident at T12.ConclusionThese findings show that OAGB leads to a significant reduction in CVD risk factors and amelioration of insulin resistance markers, which might be connected to reduced TBF%, change in 25(OH)D and ferritin levels, as an indicator for subclinical inflammation, and an adequate VD status.Registered at clinicaltrials.gov(Identifier: NCT02092376) and EudraCT (Identifier: 2013-003546-16).     

Iron stores in female blood donors evaluated by serum ferritin

Summary Iron stores were evaluated by serum ferritin determinations in 948 menstruating and 141 non-menstruating female blood donors. Blood donation was associated with a decrease in ferritin. First-time donors (n=163) had a geometric mean ferritin of 24 g/l and multiple-time donors a value of 19 g/l (p<0.01). In the donating population 31.5% had ferritin values < 15 g/l (i.e. depleted iron stores). Menstruating donors had lower mean serum ferritin than non-menstruating donors (p<0.001), and a higher frequency of ferritin values < 15 g/l (p<0.05). There was no relationship between ferritin levels and the number of pregnancies. The frequency of donations was more predictive of ferritin levels than the number of donations. Mean ferritin displayed a moderate fall up to the 2nd donation, and was hereafter relatively constant, whereas an increase in donation frequency was accompanied by a significant decrease in ferritin. Female donors, especially when phlebotomised 3 times per year, should have their iron status checked at appropriate intervals by measurement of serum ferritin and should be advised regular iron supplementation.