Poul-Erik Paulev

Dermal excretion of iron in intensely training athletes

The iron concentration in sweat and serum and related variables (transferrin saturation percentage, hemoglobin concentration) was measured in two groups of distance runners, each consisting of ten persons. In the first group unclear sweat was collected from the back of the athletes during cycling (without previous washing). The iron concentration (means +/- SEM) was 5.2 +/- 1.0 mumol/l of sweat. In the second group the sweat collection was performed similarly, but following elimination of the very first sweat from the site of collection (back) before three consecutive samples were taken. The iron concentration of the three samples was 3.6 +/- 1.1, 2.3 +/- 0.2 and 2.4 +/- 0.3 mumol/1. There was no statistically significant difference between the consecutive samples on the p less than 0.001 level. These results are in accordance with the lowest values found in the literature. There was no correlation between the iron concentration in sweat and in serum of the 20 persons. Seven of the runners had transferrin saturation percentages below 20, suggesting a possible iron deficiency. A daily loss in sweat of more than 18 mumol (1 mg) is possible in these runners training 125-350 km/week all the year round. The dominating iron loss of male endurance athletes is probably through the sweat.

Exercise and risk factors for arteriosclerosis in 42 married couples followed over four years

Forty-two married couples (30-69 years of age) were followed for 4 years with yearly measurements of risk factors for arteriosclerosis. Advice was given concerning relaxed, enjoyable exercise (mainly running at 10-13 km hr-1). Each person served as his own control by comparison of the first and the last yearly status. Both the group of women and the group of men significantly improved (two sided p less than 0.005) their maximum oxygen uptake, and reduced their blood glucose concentration (two-sided p less than 0.01). S-cholesterol (for the group of men) was reduced statistically significantly (two-sided p less than 0.01). At the first examination the groups of women and men with the lowest maximum oxygen uptake (group I) had higher average values for risk factors than the more active groups (group II). At the final examination almost all persons had improved their maximum oxygen uptake, so none of the other risk factor differences between groups I and II were statistically significant. Both the women and the men improved their well being and their health profile as evaluated in terms of risk factors for arteriosclerosis. Exhaustive exercise was not necessary for beneficial effects.

HIGH ALTITUDE DIVING DEPTHS

In order to make any sea level dive table usable during high altitude diving, a new conversion factor is created. We introduce the standardized equivalent sea depth (SESD), which allows conversion of the actual lake diving depth (ALDD) to an equivalent sea dive depth. SESD is defined as the sea depth in meters or feet for a standardized sea dive, equivalent to a mountain lake dive at any altitude, such that Mountain lakes contain fresh water with a relative density that can be standardized to 1000 kg m−3, and sea water can likewise be standardized to a relative density of 1033 kg m−3, at the general gravity of 9.80665 m s−2. The water density ratio (1000/1033) refers to the fresh lake water and the standardized sea water densities. Following calculation of the SESD factor, we recommend the use of our simplified diving table or any acceptable sea level dive table with two fundamental guidelines: 1. The classical decompression stages (30, 20, and 10 feet or 9, 6, and 3 m) are corrected to the altitude lake level, dividing the stage depth by the SESD factor. 2. Likewise, the lake ascent rate during diving is equal to the sea ascent rate divided by the SESD factor.

Humoral Aspects of the Ventilatory Reactions to Exercise by Flux Inhalation of Carbon Dioxide

The human respiratory controller (RC) accurately matches ventilation to carbon dioxide output during exercise, and often maintains the average alveolar (PACO2) and arterial (PaCO2) CO2 tension at a normocapnic level, close to that at rest (1, 7).

Inter-laboratory comparison of acid-base variables in human blood and in quality control materials

Routine results, pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and of oxygen (pO2), and standard hydrogen carbonate ion concentration (SBC) in identical specimens of arterial blood from patients deviate substantially. The results from seven laboratories (each laboratory examining the same 12 patients and the same five types of quality control materials) and evaluation in terms of accuracy and precision suggest the variations between days (delta 2) and single measurements (sigma 2) to be the main factors for these deviations. A reduction of these variations must have the highest priority in quality control programmes, since the variations mask possible true level deviations between laboratories. The five control materials (Qualicheck, Quantra whole blood level I-II-III and hemolyzed donor blood) are not fully optimal as substitutes for patient blood in such quality control programmes.

Local blood flow, pressure and resistance measured with a strain gauge plethysmograph in limbs with constricting burns before and following treatment with incisional decompression

Abstract The effect of decompression incisions on the local blood flow, pressure and resistance was examined with a strain gauge plethysmograph and venous occlusion in 7 patients. The measurements were performed immediately before and following incisional decompression. The treatment was instituted on well accepted clinical indications, and the results of the measurements were not available for the surgeons before the project was completed. The strain gauge plethysmograph was found helpful as a supplement to the clinical evaluation of the indications for incisional decompression. In 24 of the 28 burned fingers or legs of the 7 patients, the blood flow was insufficient or low before incisional decompression, but rose significantly following the treatment, supporting its causal effect. The remaining 4—all burned fingers from 3 different patients—had a high blood flow initially and would probably not have been incised if the results had been available at that time. The surgeons considered all fingers on the same hand to be burned to the same degree. An estimate of the local vascular resistance in 19 limbs confirmed the conclusion based on the blood flows. The data obtained also confirmed the generally accepted hypothesis of the pathogenesis of hypoxic fibrosis and necrosis in constricting limb burns.