Bioavailability of iodine from normal diets rich in dairy products--results of balance studies in women.

During the last decade the iodine supply in Germany has increased significantly, but there is still a high frequency of goitre. Therefore the question of iodine bioavailability has arisen. In a two-period study 12 women were given a mixed diet of ordinary foods with milk and milk products of different batches. None of the volunteers suffered from an iodine deficiency according to WHO-criteria. Each period ended with a 9-day balance-study protocol in which all foods were provided. Food and fluid intake were registered, and urine and faeces were quantitatively collected. The iodine content was determined by ICP-MS. The mean intake in the form of solid food amounted to 175 +/- 10 micrograms I/d and to 27 +/- 15 micrograms I/d in fluid form. Milk and dairy products represented the main source of iodine (37%). Iodine was predominantly excreted in the urine (89%, 171 +/- 45 micrograms I/d) and the faeces 11% (20 +/- 11 micrograms I/d). The resulting iodine balance was approximately . In one case an iodine-rich erythrosine preparation with a low iodine bioavailability was used. Between the two periods of consuming different batches of milk and milk products no differences were observed concerning the high bioavailability of iodine.

Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies in serum and ejaculate of male patients without acute urethritis.

In a prospective study, the prevalence of specific antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis in serum and seminal plasma evaluated by a genus specific immunofluorescence test in 101 men without acute urethritis was investigated. The results were compared to the clinical diagnosis, cell culture of urethral swabs, demonstration of DNA particles by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in the ejaculate and signs of genital inflammation by counting peroxidase-positive leukocytes and elastase level in semen. The objective was to evaluate the significance of chlamydial antibodies in genital infection. Serum specific IgG and IgA antibodies were found in 26% and 15%, respectively; seminal IgG and IgA antibodies were present in 6% and 7%, respectively. Serum specific antibodies were not associated with the clinical diagnosis of infection nor with C. trachomatis cell culture, PCR findings, peroxidase positive leukocytes or PMN-elastase level. It is concluded that serum antibodies are not useful in detecting a chlamydial infection. Seminal plasma antibodies were not correlated with the clinical diagnosis of infection, positive cell culture, PMN-elastase levels and leukocytes in semen. However, a significant correlation was found for positive PCR in the ejaculate (p < 0.001 for IgG, p < 0.05 for IgA, p < 0.001 when combined). Though seminal antibodies may be more useful in detecting ascended or occult chlamydial infection, their significance remains unclear, their absence does not exclude chlamydial infection. In particular, the biological significance of locally derived IgA needs further evaluation.

The discovery of Chiron's cave, a prehistoric school of medicine for animals and humans.

Chiron the centaur, mythical inventor of medicine for animals and humans, and emblem of numerous veterinary associations worldwide, is possibly an historic personality of the prehomeric period (ca 1300 B.C.) Only 600 to 700 years later did the legend form that centaurs (in antique Greek: "hunters on horseback of the wild bull") were wild creatures, half horse and half man, and associated with uncontrolled libido and its socially destructive forces. According to tradition, literary as well as folkloric, Chiron taught his medicine to the ruling class of his time in a specially prepared cave in the Pelion Mountains (=the healing mountains) of Eastern Thessalia. Following leads from ancient authors and local traditions, a cave fitting the location and description was discovered in 1981 by the senior author. Details about its location, and observations about its surroundings, including ancient and modern place names indicate once more that Chiron, the centaur, stands for an historic personality.

Endocrine pancreatic morphology and function in exocrine insufficiency in rats.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was induced in rats by injection of oleic acid into the pancreatic duct. Six weeks after a single injection of 50 microliters oleic acid, the exocrine tissue was reduced by 98%. The islets of Langerhans remained intact and showed no changes in the relative distribution of beta-, alpha-, D-, and PP-cells. In rats fed ad libitum, plasma insulin levels and pancreatic insulin content did not differ between oleic acid-treated animals and controls. The dynamic insulin response was evaluated in the isolated perfused pancreas. The biphasic pattern of insulin release after stimulation by glucose was preserved. The half-maximal (10 mM) glucose-induced insulin release was reduced to 49% after onset of exocrine atrophy. After stimulation of insulin secretion by a maximal glucose load (20 mM), the insulin output from the perfused pancreas was reduced to 56%. A reduction in insulin release to 24% occurred with respect to the arginine (15 + 10 mM glucose)-stimulated secretion. To evaluate the significance of these findings in intact animals, glucose tolerance tests were performed. There were no differences between oleic acid-, saline-, or untreated animals with respect to serum glucose or plasma insulin levels during the oral glucose tolerance test. The insulin response after intravenous glucose in oleic acid-treated rats was not statistically different from controls. Nevertheless, the serum glucose levels in rats with exocrine atrophy were above controls, indicating a slight impairment of glucose tolerance.

Effect of pancreatic atrophy and hypertrophy on the small intestine.

Intestinal enzyme activities were investigated in mice with spontaneously occurring exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), in rats after induction of pancreatic insufficiency by intraductal injection of oleic acid, and in rats after feeding a proteinase inhibitor (Camostate) which induced a marked pancreatic hypertrophy. An increase in saccharase activity and in vitro uptake of L-phenylalanine was found in EPI mice, while activities of alkaline phosphatase and lactase were not altered. In oleic acid induced pancreatic insufficiency and in pancreatic hypertrophy no alterations in enzyme activities were observed. Morphometric analysis revealed no alterations in mucosal surface of EPI mice. It was suggested that the small intestine adapts fuctionally to severe and long lasting pancreatic insufficiency, but not to pancreatic hypertrophy.