Serum Iron Levels Research Articles

Assessment of Trace Metal Disturbances in Healthcare Workers Exposed to Low Dose Ionizing Radiations in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To determine the effects of ionizing radiations on trace metal levels in healthcare workers exposed to occupational radiation in a tertiary care health facility. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology & Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, in collaboration with the Department of Radiology, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Apr to Oct 2021. Methodology: Healthcare workers (n=45) exposed to occupational radiations were compared with an equal number of Controls in a tertiary care health facility for their trace metal levels. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to measure serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) levels. A calorimetric technique was used to measure serum iron (Fe) levels. Results: Mean serum Copper (9.54±2.52 µmol/l) and Zinc (11.78±1.90 µmol/l) concentrations of the Risk-Group were significantly lower than their respective Control-Groups (Copper: 14.76±3.13 µmol/l and Zinc: 14.67±3.01 µmol/l). At the same time, mean serum Iron levels in the Exposed-Group (17.55±3.88 µmol/l) were significantly (p<0.001) higher than the Control-Group (14.41±4.23 µmol). The duration of radiation exposure was inversely proportional to serum Copper (p-value0.002) and serum Zinc (p<0.001) concentrations, which is statistically significant. At the same time, serum iron level (p-value0.001) and TIBC (p-value 0.003) increased proportionately with increasing duration exposure, which was also statistically significant. Conclusion: Low-dose ionizing radiation exposure led to a significant decrease in serum Copper and Zinc levels, whereas an increase in serum Iron levels was no................

Diagnostic Value of Red Cell Distribution Width and Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Index in Differentiating between Iron Deficiency Anemia and Beta Thalassemia Trait

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of red blood cell distribution width and red cell distribution width index in differentiating iron deficiency anaemia and beta-thalassemia trait. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Dec 2021 to Feb 2022. Methodology: A study population of 110 children with an age limit of 1.5-7 years who reported low haemoglobin wassubjected to serum iron and ferritin levels with further evaluation of red cell count, blood morphology, and comparison of mean corpuscular volume. Red cell distribution width was taken from the lab report, whereas Red blood cell distribution width index value was computed for the samples. Results: A total of 110 patients were enrolled in the study. Seventy-five (68.18%) participants were diagnosed with IDA, 26(23.63%) participants were the candidate of βTT. Nine participants were suffering from anaemia of variable etiologies such as chronic ailment and sideroblastic, etc. βTT patients presented with higher RBC counts with a mean of 5.71±1.2 x1012 /l (6.8- 8.5 x1012 /l) when compared to IDA participants who deciphered values of 3.5±0.5 (2.6-4.3 x1012 /l). Mean MCV in βTT was 52.2±2.7(50.1-56.8) whereas for IDA were 72.5±1.2(61.2–78.3). In IDA low serum ferritin was recorded 4.02±1.1(2.2-9.2) as compared to mean values of βTT patients. Conclusion: Red cell distribution width index and Red blood cell distribution width are authentic variables and inexpensive modalities in differentiating between iron deficiency anaemia and beta-thalassemia trait with reliability.

Comparative analysis of roxadustat efficacy between maintenance hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

This study evaluated the comparative efficacy of roxadustat for renal anemia between patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). 93 maintenance dialysis patients who regularly followed up from August 2015 to June 2021 were enrolled. Despite receiving a therapeutic dose ≥ 12,000 U/week of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (E+SA) in the past 12 weeks, this had not worked very well. Subjects were assigned to the HD group (n = 60) or the PD group (n = 33) based on their dialysis treatment modality. All patients received oral roxadustat and were followed up for 24 weeks, after which their hemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, and ferritin were tested. We observed that the hemoglobin level of PD patients was significantly increased from 76.1 ± 15.7 g/L to 106 ± 23.8 g/L (p < 0 .001), while it significantly increased from 73.8 ± 12.9 g/L to 100.7 ± 20.2 g/L (p < 0.001) in the HD patients. After 1 and 3 months of roxadustat treatment, the hemoglobin level and its change in the PD group was significantly higher compared to that in the HD group despite the higher dose of roxadustat in the latter group. In addition, roxadustat was noted to reduce cholesterol levels and stabilize serum iron levels in parallel with improving hemoglobin levels. Roxadustat can effectively increase the hemoglobin level of maintenance dialysis patients, even in those with low erythropoietin response or erythropoietin resistance, and, more importantly, its efficacy in PD patients was more significant.

Evaluating the hepatotoxic versus the nephrotoxic role of iron oxide nanoparticles: One step forward into the dose-dependent oxidative effects

The present study has been designed to detect the dose-dependent effect of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) on the liver and kidney of rats by evaluating three different doses 30, 300, 1000 mg/kg/day IONPs for 28 days. Forty rats were divided into four groups; I (control), II (low dose), III (medium dose) and IV (high dose).There also was a statistically-significant elevation in the serum levels of hepatic enzymes; AST and ALT in medium & high dose. The elevation of serum ALP, on the other hand, was significant in all IONPs doses.There was significant elevation in the levels of urea creatinine, and MDA in the medium and high doses of IONPs. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) showed significant decrease in the high dose only compared to the control group.The serum iron levels increased in a dose-dependent manner in the IONPs-treated groups with highly significant increase in the moderate and high dose groups.On comparing the effect of different doses of IONPs between the liver and kidney, the high dose revealed statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the area percent of collagen deposition (54.4 ± 3.9 versus 6.1 ± 2.6) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) reaction (7.7 ± 1.5 versus 17.8 ± 4.3) in the liver relative to the kidney. The medium and high doses revealed statistically significant difference in optical density of Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction (45 ± 3.4 versus 50.3 ± 1.8 in the medium dose, and 38.9 ± 6 versus 63 ± 3 in the high dose) and area percent of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) reaction (12.98 ± 2.7 versus 3.5 ± 0.5 in the medium dose, and 27.91 ± 1.5 versus 7.7 ± 0.6 in the high dose) in the liver relative to the kidney.

Replenishment of iron deficiency in women before the use of assisted reproductive technologies

Introduction. Anemia is a major health problem worldwide, increasing the risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, perinatal mortality, stillbirth, postpartum hemorrhage, and maternal mortality. Replenishing iron deficiency at the stage of preconceptional preparation reduces the incidence of IDA and can reduce the incidence of pregnancy complications and improve perinatal outcomes.Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of ferrous sulfate 80 mg and its potential to replenish iron deficiency in women with infertility before using assisted reproductive technologies (ART).Materials and methods. A prospective clinical longitudinal study was conducted from May to September 2023 at LLC Health Clinic, Moscow. The study included women (n = 34) at the stage of pregnancy planning by IVF with a diagnosed iron deficiency. Iron deficiency was established in accordance with the following criteria: decrease in serum ferritin level less than 30 μg/l, serum iron level less than 15 μmol/l.Results. After 12 weeks of taking ferrous sulfate, the average hemoglobin level increased from 112.3 ± 6.5 (101–119) g/l to 118.5 ± 6.5 (110–133) g/l (W-Wilcoxon 9300 test, p = 0.003), mean serum iron level from 15.4 ± 4.0 (5.7–22.5) μmol/l to 34.8 ± 7.1 (20.1–46.7) μmol/l (Wilcoxon W test 602.0, p &lt; 0.001), mean ferritin level from 8.2 ± 3.1 (4.5–17.0) μg/ml to 37.6 ± 6.7 (30.6–52.6) μg/ml (Wilcoxon W test 595.0, p &lt; 0.001).Conclusions. Timely examination of patients for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia at the stage of preconceptional preparation makes it possible to prescribe an effective correction, thereby helping to reduce the risks of complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

Correlation of Magnesium Level with Cardiac and Hepatic Hemosiderosis Measured by T2*MRI Technique and Age in Patients with Thalassemia Major

Background: Given the association of hypomagnesemia with cardiac arrhythmia, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum magnesium levels with age and T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the heart and liver in patients with thalassemia major (TM). &#x0D; Materials and Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 62 patients with β-thalassemia major aged 11-48 years were selected at the Amir-Kabir Hospital, Arak, Iran. Serum magnesium, ferritin, and iron levels of patients were measured, and the rate of cardiac and hepatic hemosiderosis of patients was extracted according to the routine T2*MRI method. &#x0D; Results: The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 32.6 years. The comparison of TM patients with and without hepatic/cardiac hemosiderosis demonstrated that mean levels of serum ferritin, serum iron, and age were significantly higher in TM patients with cardiac hemosiderosis than in hepatic/cardiac non-hemosiderosis (P &lt; 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in mean levels of serum magnesium in TM patients with and without hepatic/cardiac hemosiderosis (P = 0.279). Interestingly, the correlation of age with serum magnesium levels in TM patients revealed a statistically significant and moderate inverse correlation (r = -0.56, P = 0.013).&#x0D; Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia may occur in a time-dependent manner. It is recommended that, in addition to cardiac and hepatic T2*MRI, serum magnesium levels be measured by using magnesium replacement if necessary.

Serum Level of Ceruloplasmin, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Transferrin as Markers of Severity in SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

The aim of this study was to analyze other possible new markers of severity, at hospital admission, that can be assessed in patients with type 2 diabetes and a SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection. Our study included 90 subjects: 45 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and 45 healthy persons as controls. The serum level of ceruloplasmin at hospital admission was statistically significant and directly correlated with the severity of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) (p = 0.037) and with the serum level of IL-6 (interleukin 6) (p = 0.0001). Ceruloplasmin was statistically significant and inversely correlated with the serum iron level (p = 0.0001). However, we observed that ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) decreased in severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with type 2 diabetes (p = 0.001). Moreover, the decrease in ACE levels was correlated with an increase in IL-6 levels in these patients (p = 0.001). IL-6 increases were statistically significant and inversely correlated with serum iron, transferrin, and ACE levels. There was a noticed decreasing tendency of the transferrin depending on the severity of the COVID-19 infection (p = 0.0001). In addition to the known severity factors in the context of infection with the new coronavirus, increased concentrations of ceruloplasmin and decreased concentrations of ACE and transferrin may represent new markers of COVID-19 severity in patients with type 2 diabetes. These parameters, if analyzed upon admission to the hospital, could better inform health professionals about the evolution towards more severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Development and validation of a prediction model for iron status in a large U.S. cohort of women

Serum iron levels can be important contributors to health outcomes, but it is not often feasible to rely on blood-based measures for a large epidemiologic study. Predictive models that use questionnaire-based factors such as diet, supplement use, recency of blood donation, and medical conditions could potentially provide a noninvasive alternative for studying health effects associated with iron status. We hypothesized that a model based on questionnaire data could predict blood-based measures of iron status biomarkers. Using iron (mcg/dL), ferritin (mcg/dL), and transferrin saturation (%) based on blood collected at study entry, in a subsample from the U.S.-wide Sister Study (n = 3171), we developed and validated a prediction model for iron with multivariable linear regression models. Model performance based on these cross-sectional data was weak, with R2 less than 0.10 for serum iron and transferrin saturation, but better for ferritin, with an R2 of 0.13 in premenopausal women and 0.19 in postmenopausal women. When menopause was included in the predictive model for the sample, the R2 was 0.31 for ferritin. Internal validation of the estimates indicated some optimism present in the observed prediction model, implying there would be worse performance when applied to new samples from the same population. Serum iron status is hard to assess based only on questionnaire data. Reducing measurement error in both the exposure and outcome may improve the prediction model performance, but environmental heterogeneity, temporal variation, and genetic heterogeneity in absorption and storage may contribute substantially to iron status.

Grape seed extract in combination with deferasirox ameliorates iron overload, oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver dysfunction in beta thalassemia children

Background and purposeIron overload in the body is associated with serious and irreversible tissue damage. This study aimed to investigate the iron‐chelating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities of grape seed extract (GSE) supplement as well as its safety in β‐thalassemia major (β‐TM) pediatric patients receiving deferasirox as a standard iron‐chelation therapy. Materials and methodsThe children were randomly allocated to either GSE group (n = 30) or control group (n = 30) to receive GSE (100 mg/day) or placebo capsules, respectively, for 4 weeks. The serum levels of iron, ferritin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration were measured pre-and post-intervention. ResultsGSE supplement significantly attenuated the serum levels of iron (p = 0.030), ferritin (p = 0.017), ALT (p = 0.000), AST (p = 0.000), TNF-α (p = 0.000), and hs-CRP (p = 0.001). The TIBC level (p = 0.020) significantly enhanced in the GSE group compared with the placebo group. Moreover, GSE supplement remarkably improved the oxidative stress markers, MDA (p = 0.000) and GSH (p = 0.001). The changes in the SOD activity (p = 0.590) and Hb concentration (p = 0.670) were not statistically different between the groups. ConclusionGSE supplement possesses several health beneficial influences on children with β‐TM by alleviating iron burden, oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver dysfunction.

FRI326 Hypophysitis: A Formidable Diagnostic Challenge

Abstract Disclosure: S. Pandey: None. C. Houston: None. Background: Hypophysitis, defined as inflammation of the pituitary gland, may pose a formidable diagnostic challenge due to its protean clinical manifestations and growing spectrum of potential causes. We present a case of a young man with presumed hypophysitis in whom the etiology remains unknown. Case Summary: A previously healthy 20-year-old male with bilateral gynecomastia was referred to the endocrinology clinic. He reported a 1-year history of worsening fatigue, weight gain, intermittent headaches, bilateral breast enlargement, lack of morning erections, polydipsia, and polyuria. His childhood growth and pubertal development were reportedly normal. He denied prior head or testicular trauma, major systemic illnesses, and chronic opiate or glucocorticoid use. His physical exam was remarkable only for scant facial hair and bilateral nontender gynecomastia. His visual fields were normal, and sense of smell was intact. Laboratory evaluation at 8am revealed low total and free testosterone of 32 ng/dL (240-950) and 0.98 ng/dL (5.25-20.7), respectively, with LH of 1.4 mIU/mL (1.0-12.0) and FSH of 1.9 mIU/mL (1.0-12.0). Free T4, prolactin, IGF-1, and serum sodium were all within normal ranges. Serum cortisol was modestly elevated at 22.3 ug/dL (3.7-19.4) with normal ACTH of 49 pg/mL (7.2-63.0). Pituitary MRI showed diffuse thickening and enhancement of the pituitary stalk, compatible with infundibular hypophysitis, without evidence of mass effect upon the native gland or surrounding structures. Additional testing showed normal levels of serum calcium, iron, ferritin, ESR, and antinuclear antibodies. After overnight water deprivation, his serum sodium was elevated at 156 mmol/L (134-144) with low urine osmolality of 121 mOsmol/kg (300-900). He was started on desmopressin and testosterone, and close clinical monitoring was enacted. Conclusion: The diagnosis of hypophysitis poses multiple challenges. Its clinical manifestations can vary widely, including symptoms related to mass effect and/or symptoms of pituitary dysfunction. Diagnosis is often presumptive based on history and exam, biochemical evaluation, and neuroimaging. The spectrum of potential causes is broad and growing, including infiltrative, infectious, neoplastic, immunoglobulin G4-related, immunotherapy-induced, other autoimmune, and paraneoplastic causes. It is often a humbling experience for clinicians to narrow this exhaustive differential. Pituitary biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis but poses significant risks, so is reserved for cases when the diagnosis remains uncertain or malignancy is suspected. Close clinical monitoring and re-evaluation is an acceptable alternative in select cases. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

THU330 No Calm After The Storm : Is Blood Glucose Level At Patient Presentation Related To The Stage And Outcome Of Mucormycosis In COVID- 19 Pandemic?

Abstract Disclosure: V. Sharma: None. K. Kriplani: None. I. Tuli: None. S. Sharma: None. Mucormycosis is one of the most aggressive opportunistic fungalinfections. Although conventionally limited to the demographics of severelyimmunocompromised and those with uncontrolled hyperglycemia and/orketoacidosis, in recent times, has propelled to the frontline in investigationsof COVID-19 complications. It can present in 4 stages, with progressiveinvolvement of the nasal mucosa, the paranasal sinuses, the orbit and thebrain. The stage of Mucormycosis at presentation critically influences academicdialogue on its clinical outcome and treatment options. However, prior researchhas failed to evaluate an association of patient factors especially HbA1clevels and Random Blood sugar(RBS) at presentation with the Stage and patientoutcome of Mucormycosis. A total of 75 patients with laboratory confirmedMucormycosis were enrolled in the study. Mean age of the participants was 45.17years of which 85.33% were survivors . Although there was no statisticallysignificant difference between the survivors and non-survivors concerning meanHbA1C and RBS levels, there was a statistically significant association betweenthe Stage of Mucormycosis and the level of HbA1c and RBS at presentation forStages 2b, 2c, 2d,3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, and 4c. This leads to the understandingthat clinicians must order blood sugar and HbA1c level at presentation as cuesto a better understanding of disease severity. The most common comorbidcondition was diabetes mellitus, however, only coronary artery disease in thepatient was found to be significantly correlated with mortality, while othersincluding diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic steroids use,immunocompromised status, and history of COVID-19 had no significantassociation. The patients with a history a COVID reported a statisticallysignificant higher RBS level than those without. Development or worsening ofdiabetes mellitus is on the long list of COVID-19 complications. Prior studiesreported an increased incidence of Mucormycosis cases in COVID-19 patients -both with diabetes (80%) and/or DKA(14.9%)(1). The binding of SARS-CoV-2 toACE2 receptors resulting in beta cell apoptosis and an ensuing cascade ofvirion, redox and cytokine storms are the simplified mechanisms of type 1 and 2diabetes development respectively, in COVID patients(2). Previous literaturesuggests a statistically significant association between stage of Mucormycosisat presentation and serum lipid profile(3), and serum iron and inflammatorymarkers levels(4). According to the data available from various sources, nosuch study compared the levels of RBS and HbA1C with the stageof Mucormycosis. Reference: (1)Hill et al, Metabolism: clinical andexperimental. 2020 Jun;107:154217 (2) Handayani et al, Obes Med. 2021May;23:100333. (3) Vijay et al, J Assoc Physicians India. 2022 Apr;70(4):11-12(4) Rao et al, J Assoc Physicians India. 2022 Apr;70(4):11-12. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Effect of Diarrhea on Serum Electrolytes and Trace Elements in Sheep and Goats

Diarrhea leads to deprivation of health and decrease in production potential of an animal. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the serum electrolytes and trace elements in diarrheic sheep and goats. For this study, a total of 100 diarrheic animals were included, comprising 50 sheep and 50 goats experiencing clinical diarrhea, regardless of the cause from different livestock farms situated in peri urban areas of Lahore were examined. The results showed that the levels of serum Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) were increased significantly (P&lt; 0.05) while serum Calcium (Ca) level was decreased significantly (P&lt; 0.05) in diarrheic group as compared to the control group. There is no significant change in serum Iron (Fe) and Copper (Cu) levels in diarrheic group as compared to the control group. Serum copper and Pack cell volume (PCV) had a significant correlation in case of diarrheic animals. It was concluded that diarrhea have a significant correlation with serum electrolytes and trace elements. This study will help to veterinary practitioners in field regarding diagnosis and treatment of diarrhea.

Fuzzy linear regression based on a hybrid of fuzzy C-means and the fuzzy inference system for predicting serum iron levels in patients with chronic kidney disease

Fuzzy linear regression based on a hybrid of fuzzy C-means and the fuzzy inference system for predicting serum iron levels in patients with chronic kidney disease

Evaluation of Iron Deficiency in OSMF patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Oral submucous fibrosis is a type of chronic oral pathological ailment, which is having insidious onset. It possesses high rate of malignant transformation, which gets accentuated by pernicious oral habits like chewing of areca nut in betel. OSMF predisposes to marked hematological abnormalities, leading to anemia and reduction in levels of serum iron and proteins. The aim of this study was to measure the hemoglobin, serum iron and protein levels among OSMF patients and also to compare these parameters with healthy controls.In the hospital-based study, among 100 study subjects, 45 OSMF patients were selected as cases, whereas 55 apparently healthy individuals were chosen as controls. The hemoglobin, serum iron and protein levels were estimated using hematological and biochemical autoanalyzers. Significantly lower levels of hemoglobin, serum iron, and protein levels were observed in OSMF patients in comparison with apparently healthy subjects.Findings of this study focus on the necessity and rationale of assessing hemoglobin, serum iron and protein amongst OSMF patients. These biochemical assessments in the precancerous condition of OSMF may help in early diagnosis and prognosis. Besides that, iron therapy should be initiated at the earliest with the initial diagnosis, which can be helpful to check further deterioration of the aforesaid premalignant condition. Further extensive studies are required for fine delineation of hematological alterations in OSMF patients.

Reticulocyte hemoglobin content as a marker of iron deficiency in premature newborns with very low birth weight. A simple tool for diagnosing iron deficiency

Reticulocyte hemoglobin content (RET-He) is a promising marker of iron deficiency (ID) in newborns. Objective: to determine the diagnostic value of RET-He as a marker of ID in premature newborns with very low birth weight (VLBW). We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study, which included 66 premature infants admitted to the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named the Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation. Data were obtained from January 2016 to December 2018. The gestational age ranged from 29 to 32 weeks. Laboratory examination included blood tests on the 1st and 3rd day of life, then every 10–14 days until the day of life, then every 10–14 days the Institute of Neonatology and Pediatrics; discharge from hospital, and the measurements of serum iron, ferritin, transferrin on the 7th until the discharge from hospital. This clinical study was approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (Minutes No.12 of 17 November 2016) and the Scientific Council (Minutes No.19 of 29 November 2016) of the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after the Academician V.I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation. RET-He was the highest at birth and declined gradually thereafter in premature newborns reaching the lowest values after 3 weeks of life (median (interquartile range) 28.4 (25.8–34.8) pg (on the 1st day of life – 40.0 (35.7–41.9) pg and 33.5 (29.2–36.6) pg at the time of discharge). A low RET-He level was associated with low reticulocytes, with no changes in hemoglobin. There was a positive correlation between RET-He and MCH. D-He decreased from 1 to 42 days of life as a marker of increasing anemia. There was a negative correlation between RET-He and Hypo-He (p &lt; 0.005). Starting from 42 days of life, or by the time of discharge, 32% of premature infants (n = 21) had a low ferritin level and 77% (n = 51) of premature infants had a low RET-He level, of which 21 infants developed ID (a positive correlation between RET-He and ferritin after 42 days of life (r = 0.34, p = 0.046)). There was no correlation between RET-He and ferritin in newborns without ID. Also, there were no correlations between RET-He and iron and RET-He and transferrin. After 42 days of life, RET-He less than 28.4 pg was a marker of ID (sensitivity 83.3% and specificity 93.7%). Low RET-He, D-He, RBC-Hе and high microR, Hypo-He were the earliest markers of ID in premature infants which predicted a decrease in serum iron and ferritin levels. RET-He, D-Не and Hypo-He are biomarkers with accurate diagnostic value of ID in premature infants with VLBW.

Assessment of erythroferrone levels in children with chronic kidney disease on regular hemodialysis

Anemia is a common comorbidity in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with adverse outcomes. Erythroferrone (ERFE) is a hepcidin inhibitor whose synthesis is stimulated by erythropoietin, which increases iron absorption and mobilization. Aim of the study: to assess the levels of ERFE hormone in children with CKD on regular hemodialysis. This case–control study was carried out at Menoufia University Hospital and included 70 subjects: 38 healthy individuals (controls) and 32 children with CKD on regular dialysis (cases). The study was approved by the Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee at Menoufia University. All children were subjected to full history taking, complete clinical examination, blood tests such as complete blood count, reticulocyte count, serum iron, ferritin, and total iron binding capacity, liver and renal function tests, and an immunoassay to measure human ERFE. There was a statistically significant difference in the levels of ERFE between the cases and controls (p &lt; 0.001). There was a significant, strong correlation between the levels of hemoglobin and serum iron and the level of ERFE (r = –0.655, p &lt; 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the administered dose of exogenous erythropoietin and the level of ERFE (p = 0.460). Serum ERFE levels in the children with CKD on regular hemodialysis were significantly higher than in the controls and were negatively correlated with hemoglobin and iron levels. There was no significant correlation between ERFE levels and both serum ferritin and total iron binding capacity levels.

Nrf2 regulates iron-dependent hippocampal synapses and functional connectivity damage in depression

Neuronal iron overload contributes to synaptic damage and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying iron deposition in depression remain largely unexplored. Our study aims to investigate how nuclear factor-erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) ameliorates hippocampal synaptic dysfunction and reduces brain functional connectivity (FC) associated with excessive iron in depression. We treated mice with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) with the iron chelator deferoxamine mesylate (DFOM) and a high-iron diet (2.5% carbonyl iron) to examine the role of iron overload in synaptic plasticity. The involvement of Nrf2 in iron metabolism and brain function was assessed using molecular biological techniques and in vivo resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) through genetic deletion or pharmacologic activation of Nrf2. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between elevated serum iron levels and impaired hippocampal functional connectivity (FC), which contributed to the development of depression-induced CUMS. Iron overload plays a crucial role in CUMS-induced depression and synaptic dysfunction, as evidenced by the therapeutic effects of a high-iron diet and DFOM. The observed iron overload in this study was associated with decreased Nrf2 levels and increased expression of transferrin receptors (TfR). Notably, inhibition of iron accumulation effectively attenuated CUMS-induced synaptic damage mediated by downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Nrf2−/− mice exhibited compromised FC within the limbic system and the basal ganglia, particularly in the hippocampus, and inhibition of iron accumulation effectively attenuated CUMS-induced synaptic damage mediated by downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Activation of Nrf2 restored iron homeostasis and reversed vulnerability to depression. Mechanistically, we further identified that Nrf2 deletion promoted iron overload via upregulation of TfR and downregulation of ferritin light chain (FtL), leading to BDNF-mediated synapse damage in the hippocampus. Therefore, our findings unveil a novel role for Nrf2 in regulating iron homeostasis while providing mechanistic insights into poststress susceptibility to depression. Targeting Nrf2-mediated iron metabolism may offer promising strategies for developing more effective antidepressant therapies.

The role of serum ferritin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels in childhood primary headaches

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between headache components and serum ferritin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels in pediatric patients with migraine and tension-type headache (TTH).&#x0D; Methods: The data of patients aged 7-17 years who applied to the outpatient pediatric neurology clinic with a complaint of headache and were diagnosed with migraine and TTH based on the International Classification of Headache Disorder (ICHD)-3 beta criteria were evaluated retrospectively.&#x0D; Results: The mean age of the patients was 13.80 ± 3.89 years in the migraine group and 14.10± 4.17 years in the TTH group. In the migraine group, the duration of the attack was longer and the pain intensity was higher. Unilateral headache, throbbing character, nausea, vomiting, discomfort from light and sound were statistically significantly higher in the migraine group. In patients with migraine, low vitamin D and low ferritin levels were associated with a prolongation of the disease duration and an increase in the frequency of attacks. A decrease in serum iron level was associated with an increase in pain severity and a decrease in vitamin D levels was associated with an increase in attack duration. It was observed that there was an increase in the frequency of attacks with a decrease in serum ferritin levels in the TTH group. No statistically significant correlation was found between headache characteristics and vitamin B12.&#x0D; Conclusions: Our study shows the necessity of routine evaluation of vitamin D and ferritin levels in childhood primary headaches.

Inducible overexpression of a FAM3C/ILEI transgene has pleiotropic effects with shortened life span, liver fibrosis and anemia in mice.

FAM3C/ILEI is an important factor in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induction, tumor progression and metastasis. Overexpressed in many cancers, elevated ILEI levels and secretion correlate with poor patient survival. Although ILEI's causative role in invasive tumor growth and metastasis has been demonstrated in several cellular tumor models, there are no available transgenic mice to study these effects in the context of a complex organism. Here, we describe the generation and initial characterization of a Tet-ON inducible Fam3c/ILEI transgenic mouse strain. We find that ubiquitous induction of ILEI overexpression (R26-ILEIind) at weaning age leads to a shortened lifespan, reduced body weight and microcytic hypochromic anemia. The anemia was reversible at a young age within a week upon withdrawal of ILEI induction. Vav1-driven overexpression of the ILEIind transgene in all hematopoietic cells (Vav-ILEIind) did not render mice anemic or lower overall fitness, demonstrating that no intrinsic mechanisms of erythroid development were dysregulated by ILEI and that hematopoietic ILEI hyperfunction did not contribute to death. Reduced serum iron levels of R26-ILEIind mice were indicative for a malfunction in iron uptake or homeostasis. Accordingly, the liver, the main organ of iron metabolism, was severely affected in moribund ILEI overexpressing mice: increased alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels indicated liver dysfunction, the liver was reduced in size, showed increased apoptosis, reduced cellular iron content, and had a fibrotic phenotype. These data indicate that high ILEI expression in the liver might reduce hepatoprotection and induce liver fibrosis, which leads to liver dysfunction, disturbed iron metabolism and eventually to death. Overall, we show here that the novel Tet-ON inducible Fam3c/ILEI transgenic mouse strain allows tissue specific timely controlled overexpression of ILEI and thus, will serve as a versatile tool to model the effect of elevated ILEI expression in diverse tissue entities and disease conditions, including cancer.

The association between lipid profile, oxidized LDL and the components of metabolic syndrome with serum mineral status and kidney function in individuals with obesity

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is presented with a cluster of cardio-metabolic risk factors with widespread prevalence. In the present case-control study, we aimed to examine the relationship between several minerals and renal function tests with the components of MetS in individuals with obesity.MethodsThis study included 127 individuals with obesity of both gender with or without MetS as the case and control, respectively. MetS was characterized based on the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. Anthropometric variables and blood pressure were recorded. Mineral status including serum magnesium, copper, calcium, phosphorous, and iron were measured using standard colorimetric methods. Also, the serum lipid levels, concentrations of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), and renal function tests, including total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, and uric acid were evaluated using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.ResultsAccording to our results, individuals with obesity and MetS had higher levels of waist circumference (WC) and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.05) compared to individuals with obesity and without MetS. Moreover, individuals with obesity and MetS had higher levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), insulin, and iron (P < 0.05). In individuals with obesity and MetS, iron and albumin showed a positive relationship with LDL cholesterol and TG concentrations, respectively (P < 0.05 for all of them). Also, there was a positive association between serum magnesium and Ox- LDL in individuals with obesity with MetS. While, in individuals with obesity and without MetS, only a positive association between urea and uric acid with WC was observed (P < 0.05).ConclusionOur results suggest that disturbed serum lipids in obesity-metabolic syndrome is associated with homeostatic changes in the level of minerals or proteins that are involved in their metabolism. Although, further studies are needed to better explain and clarify the underlying mechanism of observed relationships.