[en] The transfer of soluble Np(V) nitrate was measured in gastrointestinal segments from adult rats by instillation perfusion. These assays allowed accurate measurement of the Np(V) transferred from the intestine to the whole body. The amount measured was proportional to segment length and to the duration of the experiments, which lasted for periods of 0.25 to 2 h. Under these experimental conditions, hourly transfer values were about 2%, both per millilitre of Np(V) solution instilled and per 10 cm of jejunum perfused. This flux is very much greater than that which may be deduced from studies in which Np was gavaged into intact rats. Intestinal transfer of Np was constant for Np concentrations ranging from 5 x 10^-12 M to 1 x 10^-4 M. Raising the concentration of Np(V) to more than 1 x 10^-4 M reduced its intestinal transfer. Addition of Fe(II) also reduced it. The small intestine was the main site of Np(V) absorption, since the transfer from instilled jejunum was about 20 times that observed from the stomach, and no difference was noted between jejunal and duodenal transfer. (author)

[en] Although enhanced absorption of radionuclides from the GI tract has been confirmed in recent years in many animal species, the species-dependent variations in GI absorption by neonates make it difficult to extrapolate animal data to humans. Numerous measurements have been made in 1 to 2 day-old animals, but fewer studies have covered the entire neonatal period up to weaning. For plutonium, sufficiently good inter-species agreement was obtained to assume that its absorption by the GI tract remains significantly high until weaning. The same was reported for neptunium absorption by hamsters but a preliminary experiment with baboons seems to refuse this, and the problem of extrapolation to humans from species more closely related to man remains unsolved. The fact that effects of different factors such as the chemical form of radionuclides, the neonatal transfer of immunoglobulins and intestinal wall permeability, has not been definitely proved also makes such extrapolation difficult. Because the baboon resembles man more than other animals as regards lifespan, length of gestation, the birth of only one animal at a time, the weaning time, the length of adolescence and the time of sexual maturation, it seems to be the animal species most likely to provide suitable data for extrapolation to human. 21 refs.; 3 figs.; 3 tabs

[en] Despite studies by several investigators of human gastrointestinal 65Zn absorption, implications of these data for evaluation of functional zinc status are unclear because limited numbers of normal subjects have been studied. To evaluated zinc absorption in normal humans, 75 subjects (31 women, 44 men, ages 18 to 84 yr) were given 10 micro Ci carrier-free 65Zn orally after an overnight fast. Absorption calculated from total body retention measured 7, 14, and 21 days after administration of tracer was 65 +/- 11% (mean +/- 1 SD), range from 40 to 86%. Comparison of these results with those for patients with a variety of diseases indicate that patients exhibit a wider range of absorption and, in four of six studies patients exhibit decreased mean zinc absorption. These results of gastrointestinal zinc absorption in a large number of normal humans offer a basis for a clearer comparison with data from patients who exhibit abnormalities of zinc absorption

[en] The development of phytobezoars causing intestinal obstruction are reported in two patients who had undergone previous stomach surgery. The findings on plain radiography, ultrasonography and CT are described and the role of the latter as the method of choice in the diagnosis of this uncommon lesion is stressed. CT fulfills four objectives in this study: it confirms the presence of intestinal obstruction, determines the exact site and the cause, and detects the coexistence of gastric bezoar. The characteristic image of intestinal bezoar is that of an endoluminal mass containing a patchy gaseous area. (Author) 8 refs

[en] A method has been established for determining the fractional absorption of uranium directly in man. Measurements are made of the urinary excretion rates of uranium for individuals whose drinking water has a high ²³⁴U to ²³⁸U activity ratio and is the primary source of ²³⁴U in their diets. For two individuals, the values obtained for the fractional absorption of ²³⁴U were 0.004 and 0.006. The values obtained for the fractional absorption of ²³⁸U, using a literature value for the ²³⁸U intake from food, were 0.008 and 0.015. The present ICRP value is 0.20. 7 references, 1 table

[en] This manuscript describes results of an experiment to determine the gastrointestinal absorption of uranium from drinking water in 12 health adults. Most of the uranium ingested was excreted in feces in the first 2 days following ingestion of the water. The absorption was the same for (234)U and (238)U for each subject. Absorption varied among subjects from -0.02% to 2.6%, with a mean of 0.6%. Low absorption may be due to concurrent ingestion of food

[en] Absorption of radioactive lead (²¹⁰Pb) was studied in an intestinal preparation from adult and young rats. Absorption was higher in the jejunal parts than in the duodenum or colon. Moreover, absorption in young rats was greater than in adults. No difference in absorption was found after loading with large amounts of lead. Maintainig the animals on a low calcium diet decreased rather than increased lead absorption. (author)

[en] Coeliac disease is a clinical condition characterised by malabsorption secondary to abnormalities of the small intestine. The condition is known to be exacerbated by wheat gliadin, rye, barley and possibly oats. The only assays that are available for testing for the presence of wheat gluten in foods are double diffusion against rabbit anti-gliadin antiserum and measurement of Kjeldahl nitrogen in products derived from wheat flour. We have developed a radioimmunoassay for wheat gliadin with a detection limit of 1 ng. Nominally gluten free foods based on wheat starch have been shown to contain up to 1.9x10^-2% wheat gliadin. Bread made from Nutregen wheat starch which has now been withdrawn contains 6.4 mg gliadin per standard 30 g slice. A radioimmunoassay for wheat gliadin could be used to define standards for the suitability of gluten free products based on wheat starch for patients with coeliac disease. (author)

[en] Experiments have been conducted to determine how far tsetse flies are able to absorb undigested proteins from the midgut and to transport into the haemolymph. Comparison of the protein pattern of blood serum and haemolymph as revealed by electrophoresis shows no congruency except for the albumin fraction, which is about 10% of the total protein contents. The peritrophic membrane of tsetse flies allows the passage of FITC-conjugated dextrans up to but not greater than a molecular weight of approximately 45,000. It can be concluded therefore that complete serum globulins cannot pass through the peritrophic membrane, but fragments of globulins and albumin might do so. The presence of serum proteins in the haemolymph of tsetse flies after oral administration was investigated by immunological techniques. With the help of immunoelectrophoresis as well as Ouchter-Lony tests, albumin, Fab-, and Fc-fragments were found to be present in the haemolymph. Tsetse flies usually fed on bovine blood replace bovine albumin present in their haemolymph by human albumin when fed on human blood. Quantitative determinations with the aid of rocket immunoelectrophoresis after Laurell revealed the occurrence of human albumin in relation to the size and number of blood meals. When fed continuously on human blood, the amount of human albumin rises following eight to ten blood meals after which the achieved level is maintained. Human albumin disappears from the haemolymph and is replaced by bovine albumin when the flies are fed again with bovine blood. On the basis of these results the amount of albumin absorbed from a single blood meal lies in the range of 0.01 to 0.035% of its albumin contents. (author)

[en] The bioavailability of an ionic and a number of environmental sources of radiocaesium has been assessed using a dual isotope technique to measure the net transfer of radiocaesium across the gut, termed the true absorption coefficient (A_t). Transfer across the gut varied considerably, A_t values ranged from 0.12 to 0.88. (author)