Bacteremia after Bacillus clausii administration for the treatment of acute diarrhea: A case report.

Bacillus clausii is a gram-positive rod used as a probiotic to treat diarrhea and the side effects of antibiotics such as pseudomembranous colitis. We report a case of B. clausii bacteremia in a non-immunocompromised patient with active peptic ulcer disease and acute diarrhea.

Diurnal changes of arterial oxygen saturation and erythropoietin concentration in male and female highlanders.

In Caucasians and Native Americans living at altitude, hemoglobin mass is increased in spite of erythropoietin concentrations ([Epo]) not markedly differing from sea level values. We hypothesized that a nocturnal decrease of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) causes a temporary rise of [Epo] not detected by morning measurements. SaO2 (continuous, finger oximeter) and [Epo] (ELISA, every 4 h) were determined in young highlanders (altitude 2600 m) during 24 h of usual daily activity.

Arterial oxygen saturation and hemoglobin mass in postmenopausal untrained and trained altitude residents.

Because of lacking ventilatory stimulation by sex hormones in postmenopausal women (PW), one might expect a lowered arterial oxygen saturation (S(O(2))) in hypoxia and therefore a stronger erythropoietic reaction than in young women (YW). Nine untrained (UTRPW) and 11 trained (TRPW) postmenopausal altitude residents (2600 m) were compared to 16 untrained (UTRYW) and 16 trained young women (TRYW) to check this hypothesis and to study the combined response to hypoxia and training. S(O(2)) was decreased in PW (89.

Erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activity as a possible indirect marker for stimulated erythropoiesis in male and female athletes.

A reliable and cost-effective screening test for erythropoietin (EPO) doping is still unavailable. Thus a new approach by estimating mean red blood cell (RBC) age by means of erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activity (eAST) was developed. We investigated 201 women and 169 men residing at low altitude for peak oxygen uptake, EPO, and eAST.

Intravascular hemolysis and mean red blood cell age in athletes.

Purpose: Since the observation that mechanical stress causes red blood cell (RBC) destruction, foot-strike hemolysis has been used to explain sports anemia and RBC rejuvenation in athletes. Recently gained knowledge questions the importance of mechanical RBC trauma on RBC hemolysis in athletes.

Methods: Male athletes (N = 90) and untrained male controls (N = 58) were investigated for aerobic performance, hematological parameters, serum erythropoietin concentration (EPO), soluble transferrin receptor concentration (sTFR), and erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activity (eAST).

Hemoglobin mass and peak oxygen uptake in untrained and trained female altitude residents.

Total hemoglobin mass has not been systematically investigated in females at altitude. We measured this quantity (CO-rebreathing method) as well as peak oxygen uptake in 54 young women (age 22.5 +/- 0.

An optimized method for the assay of the red blood cell--age-related enzyme aspartate aminotransferase.

Three methods of preparation of red blood cell concentrate for erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase measurement were compared: (1) filtration of whole blood through a cellulose column (n = 36); (2) washing of whole blood and aspiration of buffy coat after centrifugation (n = 48); (3) optimized method with washing without aspiration of buffy coat (n = 229).