Transferrin Concentrations Research Articles

EFFECT OF IN-OVO INJECTION WITH IRON–METHIONINE CHELATES OR IRON NANO-PARTICLES AND POST HATCH DIETARY FOLIC ACID ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF BROILER CHICKENS

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of in-ovo injection of iron–methionine chelates (Fe-Meth) or iron nano-particles (FeNPs) and post hatch feeding with diets fortified with folic acid on productive performance and some physiological responses of Ross broiler chickens. A total of 450 fertile eggs were allocated to 5 treatment groups in the incubator, each of which included 3 replicates (30 eggs each). Experimental treatments consisted of a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement design with 5 levels of in-ovo injection solutions at day seven of incubation and two dietary levels of folic acid (FA) (0.0 or 0.5g/kg, diet) after hatching. In-ovo injection treatments were divided into 5 groups: control non- injected (T1), injected with 0.1 ml physiological saline (T2), sham-injected control (T3),injected with 0.1 ml of 75 ppb of iron nano-particles (T4, FeNPs), while the last group (T5) was injected with 0.1 ml of 75 ppb organic iron (Fe- meth). Results showed that in-ovo injection of different iron sources significantly improved live body weight and weight gain of broiler chicks, and enhanced FCR at 3 and 5 weeks of age compared to other groups. Broilers fed folic acid fortified diets displayed significantly heavier Live body weight (LBW) and body weight gain (BWG) than the those fed the control un-supplemented diet. The combined interaction effect of in-ovo iron injection and dietary folic acid supplementation showed the best productive performance figures during the whole experimental period. Different iron sources had no significant effect on all plasma protein fraction, Lipids profile except a higher concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in plasma recorded in-ovo injection of different iron sources compared with different controls. Plasma hemoglobin, globulin fractions(α, β, and γ-globulin), transferrin and Tri-iodothyronine concentration were significantly higher in both injected groups compared to the different control groups. Birds fed FA treatment recorded the lower significant values of plasma cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL, but, the birds fed FA recorded the higher significant value of plasma HDL, plasma hemoglobin, globulin fractions(α, β, and γ-globulin), transferrin and tri-iodothyronine concentration levels compared with birds fed with or without FA. In conclusion, in-ovo injection of Fe-Meth. or FeNPs and fed the diet fortified with FA were sufficient to improve broiler performance or physiological response in broiler chickens.

Fetuin exhibits a strong affinity for plutonium and may facilitate its accumulation in the skeleton

After entering the blood, plutonium accumulates mainly in the liver and the bones. The mechanisms leading to its accumulation in bone are, however, completely unknown. We already know that another uptake pathway not involving the transferrin-mediated pathways is suspected to intervene in the case of the liver. Fetuin, a protein playing an important role in bone metabolism, is proposed as a potential transporter of Pu from serum to bone. For the first time, the binding constants of these two proteins (transferrin and fetuin) with tetravalent plutonium at physiological pH (pH 7.0) were determined by using capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Their very close values (log10 KPuTf = 26.44 ± 0.28 and log10 KPuFet = 26.20 ± 0.24, respectively) suggest that transferrin and fetuin could compete to chelate plutonium, either in the blood or directly at bone surfaces in the case of Pu deposits. We performed competition reaction studies demonstrating that the relative distribution of Pu-protein complexes is fully explained by thermodynamics. Furthermore, considering the average concentrations of transferrin and fetuin in the blood, our calculation is consistent with the bio-distribution of Pu observed in humans.

Evaluating Responsiveness of Raised Serum Ferritin for Treatment in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is known as a major public health challenge across the world. There is a positive association between iron accumulation in hepatocytes and increased concentration of serum markers, including ferritin and transferrin. The study has aimed to investigate the responsiveness of increased serum ferritin levels among patients suffering HCV infection.
 Materials and Methods: The study has recruited 195 patients from the Hamad General Hospital, who were suffering with HCV infection. The clinical characteristics included HCV viral load, biochemical data, and parameters of iron status were evaluated among all the patients. The obtained results were quantitatively analyzed using Microsoft excel 2013.
 Results: The results revealed that the correlation between HCV and iron accumulation in hepatocytes is significantly interfered by the anti-viral treatment. The mean value of iron for positive PCR was calculated to be 19.93 μmol/L; and for negative PCR, the value was estimated to be 24.61 μmol/L before administration of drug. The iron level was 62.77 μmol/L among the patients with positive PCR, which is within normal range. The decrease in level of ferritin represents negative results after the drug administration. Increased levels of ALT were observed among 37.62 percent of the patients.
 Conclusions: The patients, suffering from chronic HCV, possess significant association with serum iron levels.
 J MEDICINE JAN 2020; 21 (1) : 14-19

Penalized regression models to select biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction associated with linear growth acquisition in a Peruvian birth cohort.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is associated with chronic undernutrition. Efforts to identify minimally invasive biomarkers of EED reveal an expanding number of candidate analytes. An analytic strategy is reported to select among candidate biomarkers and systematically express the strength of each marker’s association with linear growth in infancy and early childhood. 180 analytes were quantified in fecal, urine and plasma samples taken at 7, 15 and 24 months of age from 258 subjects in a birth cohort in Peru. Treating the subjects’ length-for-age Z-score (LAZ-score) over a 2-month lag as the outcome, penalized linear regression models with different shrinkage methods were fitted to determine the best-fitting subset. These were then included with covariates in linear regression models to obtain estimates of each biomarker’s adjusted effect on growth. Transferrin had the largest and most statistically significant adjusted effect on short-term linear growth as measured by LAZ-score–a coefficient value of 0.50 (0.24, 0.75) for each log2 increase in plasma transferrin concentration. Other biomarkers with large effect size estimates included adiponectin, arginine, growth hormone, proline and serum amyloid P-component. The selected subset explained up to 23.0% of the variability in LAZ-score. Penalized regression modeling approaches can be used to select subsets from large panels of candidate biomarkers of EED. There is a need to systematically express the strength of association of biomarkers with linear growth or other outcomes to compare results across studies.

CHANGES IN THE PARAMETERS OF IRON METABOLISM IN RATS’ BLOOD UNDER DECIMETRIC ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

Introduction. The intensive development of radio and electrical communications, as well as various electronic devices, leads to the electromagnetic pollution of the environment.Aim. In this work, the authors set out to study the serum iron parameters of rats exposed to chronic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of the decimeter range.Materials and methods. The research was carried out on rats that were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was further divided into 4 subgroups of 10 animals each, which were subsequently exposed to electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of 460 MHz (Volna-2 apparatus) for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. The control group (10 rats) was exposed to pretend irradiation, with the device being turned off. The following parameters were estimated: serum iron (SI), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) of serum, transferrin saturation (TS), as well as serum concentrations of transferrin, haptoglobin, malondialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxides.Results. Differences in the SI concentration were found in the subgroups of animals exposed to radiation for 3 and 4 weeks (44.1 ± 3.1 μmol/l and 56.8 ± 4.4 μmol/l, respectively), as compared to the control group (30.5 ± 3.3 μmol/l). In experimental animals, TIBC increased by 41 % (p <0.05) — relative to the control group (110.8 ± 10.1 μmol/l) — only following 3 weeks of irradiation (156.2 ± 18.2 μmol/l), with a decrease in TIBC to 123.6 ± 16.4 μmol/l being noted during the 4th week. The concentration of transferrin increased from 45.6 ± 8.0 μmol/l (control) to 81.0 ± 11.5 μmol/l during the 3rd week of radiation exposure, with a decrease to 55.9 ± 6.7 μmol/l being observed during the 4th week. TS increased from 27.5 % (control) to 45.9 % only following 4 weeks of irradiation. The content of lipid hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde in the blood of irradiated rats was higher, as compared to the control animals. The serum concentration of haptoglobin amounted to 26.7 % in the control group, reaching 53.8 mg % and 47.8 mg % following 3 and 4 weeks of exposure, respectively.Conclusion. The total chronic exposure to decimetric EMR produces an oxidising effect on organisms.

Transferrin promotes calcified nodule formation in rat bone marrow cell culture with dexamethasone

Some chemicals can promote the differentiation of stem cells and the formation of hard tissues. In this study, the effects of transferrin on calcified nodule formation were evaluated using bone marrow cells obtained from the femora of Fischer 344 rats. Transferrin was added to the culture medium to promote the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells among the bone marrow cells into osteoblasts or chondroblasts. Calcified nodule formation was confirmed macroscopically in the culture medium and evaluated quantitatively by measuring Ca2+ in the solution after demineralization using formic acid. The cells were cultured in 2 ml of minimum essential medium with 20 μl of solution containing 100, 200 or 400 ng of transferrin. Dexamethasone was also added to the medium at 10 nmol. Subculturing was performed for 2 weeks. The concentration of Ca2+ after decalcification of the calcified nodule formed in the bone marrow cell culture with dexamethasone was approximately 10 mg/ml. The addition of 100~200 ng of transferrin to the bone marrow cell culture resulted in the maximum concentration of Ca2+ and size of the formed calcified nodule in the medium. For calcified nodule formation by bone marrow cells, the optimal concentration of transferrin in the culture medium was suggested to be 200 ng in 2 ml. This study suggested that transferrin is beneficial together with dexamethasone. It may play an important role in bone formation in vivo.

Associations between iron status and insulin resistance in Chinese children and adolescents: findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Iron homeostasis abnormalities are associated with insulin resistance (IR), but studies on such associations in children and adolescents are limited and have contrasting results. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between indicators of iron status and IR, and assesse if there are sex disparities in these associations. We selected data of 689 children and adolescents (367 boys and 322 girls) aged 6-18 years in the analysis. Serum ferritin, transferrin, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels were determined. The level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed using highperformance liquid chromatography. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to indicate the status of insulin resistance. Stepwise and multivariate logistic regression analyses were computed to evaluate associations between iron status and glucose parameters. The prevalence of IR (HOMAIR >3.16) and high HbA1c (HbA1c ≥5.7%) were 29.8% and 16.4%, respectively. Serum transferrin and sTfR were significant associated with HbA1c (p<0.001), while serum transferrin was associated with HOMA-IR (p<0.001). Furthermore, the highest transferrin concentrations were associated with higher risks of both HOMAIR and high HbA1c, while decreased sTfR concentrations were associated with a risk of higher HbA1c in both children and adolescents. Serum transferrin and sTfR were statistically significantly associated with glucose parameters, which may suggest that transferrin and sTfR levels should be taken into consideration when studying IR in both boys and girls.

Paraoxonases (PON) 1, 2, and 3 Polymorphisms and PON-1 Activities in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

(1) Background: Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, vasoocclusion, and free iron are all features present in sickle cell disease. Paraoxonases (PON) are a family (PON-1, PON-2, PON-3) of antioxidant enzymes with anti-inflammatory action. Here, for the first time, we described PON-1 activities and PON-1, PON-2, PON-3 polymorphisms in patients with sickle cell disease, homozygous for HbSS, compared with healthy controls. (2) Methods: The groups were matched for age and gender. PON-1 activities (arylesterase and paraoxonase) were determined by enzymatic hydrolysis of phenylcetate and paraoxon, respectively. Polymorphisms were determined by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RFLP-PCR). (3) Results: Plasma cholesterol and fractions, ApoA1 and ApoB levels were all decreased in sickle cell disease patients, while anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) antibodies and C-reactive protein were increased. Serum arylesterase activity was lower in sickle cell disease patients when compared with healthy controls. In patients, paraoxonase activity was higher in those with PON-1 RR Q192R polymorphism. In these patients, the increase of serum iron and ferritin levels and transferrin saturation were less pronounced than those observed in patients with QQ or QR polymorphism. No differences were observed with PON-1 L55M, and PON-2 and PON-3 polymorphisms. Multivariate regression analysis showed that transferrin and ferritin concentrations correlated with arylesterase and paraoxonase activities. (4) Conclusions: Both transferrin and ferritin were the main predictors of decreased arylesterase and paraoxonase activities in patients with sickle cell disease. LDL oxidation increased, and RR PON-1 Q192R polymorphism is likely to be a protective factor against oxidative damage in these patients.

Characterization of the immunological factors in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) seminal plasma and their correlation with sperm quality

In this study, the concentration/activity of the immune components in the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) seminal plasma at four time points with the intervals of 2 weeks has been summarized. The results showed that the concentrations of transferrin (TF), transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-βs), complement 3 (C3), IgM and interferon-1β (IL-1β) varied as experiment went on; it was the same with the activities of protease, lactate dehydrogenase and lysozyme. The correlation analysis showed that C3 and IgM were most positively related to motility and straight-line velocity (VSL)/curvilinear velocity (VCL), whereas protease was most negatively correlated with motility and VSL/VCL. This study highlighted the importance in the necessity and possibility in improving the sperm quality during the actual production.

The Transferrin Receptor CD71 Delineates Functionally Distinct Airway Macrophage Subsets during Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Rationale: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating progressive disease with limited therapeutic options. Airway macrophages (AMs) are key components of the defense of the airways and are implicated in the pathogenesis of IPF. Alterations in iron metabolism have been described during fibrotic lung disease and in murine models of lung fibrosis. However, the role of transferrin receptor 1 (CD71)-expressing AMs in IPF is not known.Objectives: To assess the role of CD71-expressing AMs in the IPF lung.Methods: We used multiparametric flow cytometry, gene expression analysis, and phagocytosis/transferrin uptake assays to delineate the role of AMs expressing or lacking CD71 in the BAL of patients with IPF and of healthy control subjects.Measurements and Main Results: There was a distinct increase in proportions of AMs lacking CD71 in patients with IPF compared with healthy control subjects. Concentrations of BAL transferrin were enhanced in IPF-BAL, and furthermore, CD71− AMs had an impaired ability to sequester transferrin. CD71+ and CD71− AMs were phenotypically, functionally, and transcriptionally distinct, with CD71− AMs characterized by reduced expression of markers of macrophage maturity, impaired phagocytosis, and enhanced expression of profibrotic genes. Importantly, proportions of AMs lacking CD71 were independently associated with worse survival, underlining the importance of this population in IPF and as a potential therapeutic target.Conclusions: Taken together, these data highlight how CD71 delineates AM subsets that play distinct roles in IPF and furthermore show that CD71− AMs may be an important pathogenic component of fibrotic lung disease.

Hepcidin-orchestrated Hemogram and Iron Homeostatic Patterns in Two Models of Subchronic Hepatic injury

ObjectiveThis study was designed to evaluate hematological disorders and the orchestrating roles of hepcidin and IL-6 in rat models of thioacetamide (TAA) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) hepatotoxicity. MethodsRats were intraperitoneally injected with TAA (10 mg/100 g rat weight dissolved in isosaline) or CCl4 (100 μL/100 g rat weight diluted as 1:4 in corn oil) twice weekly for eight consecutive weeks to induce subchronic liver fibrosis. Blood and tissue samples were collected and analyzed. ResultsCCl4 but not TAA significantly decreased the RBCs, Hb, PCV, and MCV values with minimal alterations in other erythrocytic indices. Both hepatotoxins showed leukocytosis, granulocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. By the end of the experiment, the erythropoietin level increased in the CCl4 model. The serum iron, UIBC, TIBC, transferrin saturation%, and serum transferrin concentration values significantly decreased, whereas that of ferritin increased in the CCl4 model. TAA increased the iron parameters toward iron overload. RT-PCR analysis revealed increased expression of hepatic hepcidin and IL-6 mRNAs in the CCl4 model and suppressed hepcidin expression without significant effect on IL-6 in the TAA model. ConclusionThese data suggest differences driven by hepcidin and IL-6 expression between CCl4 and TAA liver fibrosis models and are of clinical importance for diagnosis and therapeutics of liver diseases.

Nutritional Deficiencies in Patients after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy during 12-Month Follow-Up

IntroductionRoux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are the two most frequently performed bariatric operations. These two types of metabolic surgery alter the anatomy and function of digestive tract producing significant weight loss in morbidly obese patients but may lead to malnutrition.AimAnalysis of incidence and severity of malnutrition after bariatric surgery in patients submitted to RYGB or LSG during 12 months of follow-up.Material and MethodsRetrospective study of 98 patients after RYGB (n = 47) or LSG (n = 51) assessed for nutritional deficiencies during 12 months after surgery was conducted. The differences in body mass index (BMI) and blood tests including erythrocytes, haemoglobin, total protein, albumin, iron, ferritin, transferrin, vitamin B12, folic acid, calcium and phosphorus concentrations were compared between groups before the operations and at 1 and 12 months.ResultsNutritional deficiencies were common before surgery with prevalence up to 19.6% for albumin in the LSG group. Median preoperative BMI levels and albumin concentrations were higher in the RYGB group compared to the LSG group, but there was no difference in percent excess weight loss (%EWL) at 1 and 12 months between LSG and RYGB. One month after LSG erythrocyte count, haemoglobin, iron, ferritin and transferrin levels were significantly higher than in the RYGB group. These differences subsided at 12 months. At 12 months, only the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was significantly higher in the RYGB group.ConclusionBoth RYGB and LSG lead to nutritional deficiencies despite different properties of operations and similar %EWL during follow-up.

Enhanced bioavailability of iron from spray dried whey protein concentrate-iron (WPC-Fe) complex in anaemic and weaning conditions

Abstract The lower bioavailability of iron from the diet has led to iron deficiency and several ill-effects on health. The objective of this study was to assess the bioavailability of iron from spray dried whey protein concentrate-iron (WPC-Fe) complex in weaning and anaemic rats. Blood hemoglobin level, bioavailability, lipid profile, antioxidant status and concentration of iron delivery molecules were analysed under in vivo conditions. Hemoglobin level, % apparent digestibility coefficient and % retention/intake were increased in weaning and anaemic rats on 7th and 28th days. Additionally, WPC-Fe supplementation reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, maintained serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and HDL-cholesterol. Simultaneously, it decreased the superoxide level and lipid peroxidation and increased the catalase activity. The level of iron delivery/transport molecules including liver and serum ferritin and transferrin concentration was enhanced. Thus, WPC-Fe complex could be a better and innovative organic iron fortificant with enhanced bioavailability of iron.

Markers of iron status, blood pressure and incident hypertension among Chinese adults

Background and aimsThe evidence on the relationship between markers of iron, blood pressure and hypertension are limited and inconsistent. This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the relationship of serum ferritin (SF), transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTFR) and haemoglobin on blood pressure and incident hypertension in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) study. Methods and resultsWe studied 8337 adults aged 18 years old or above from CHNS in 2009 to investigate the association of markers of iron and blood pressure (BP). Among them, 4509 non-hypertensive participants who completed follow up were included to investigate the association of markers of iron and hypertension development. Linear regression model was used to assess the association between markers of iron and BP. Cox regression model was used to examine the association of markers of iron and hypertension development. SF and serum sTFR concentration had a non-significant effect on incident hypertension. Transferrin and haemoglobin concentrations were positively associated with incident hypertension. Compared to the participants with the lowest tertile of transferrin, those with the highest tertile had a higher risk of developing hypertension [HR: 1.26, 95% CI (1.04, 1.53), P = 0.017]. Similarly, participants with the highest tertile of haemoglobin had a significantly higher risk of incident hypertension [HR: 1.27, 95% CI (1.01, 1.59), P = 0.038]. ConclusionThe current study found that haemoglobin and transferrin levels were positively associated with blood pressure and incident hypertension. Further research in different ethnic groups is required to confirm the association of the full range of markers of iron with BP and incident hypertension.

Hemogram and iron indices in renal anemia and the amelioration with Carica papaya leaf extract applied on albino rat model.

The present study was designed to look at the hematological disorders in gentamicin nephrotoxicity model, as kidney is considered as one of the hemopoietic organs. In a previous study, novel and classical kidney injury biomarkers were utilized to evaluate the nephroprotective potential of Carica papaya leaf extract (CPLE) in the same model in albino rats. Gentamicin (100 mg/kg, subcutaneously, for 21 consecutive days) resulted in significant decreases in red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration (HGB), and packed cell volume (PCV) value, with minimal alterations in erythrocytic indices. Leucogram showed leukocytosis, granulocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. Erythropoietin (EPO) levels were also drastically decreased by the end of the experimental course. Serum iron, unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation %, and serum transferrin concentration values were significantly decreased in contrast to ferritin, which was increased. When concurrently administered with gentamicin, CPLE (150 and 300 mg/kg, orally via gastric tube, for 21 days) significantly protected against the drastic effects of the former on the blood profile with improving potentials on erythrogram, leukogram, thrombocytes, EPO, iron and its indices, in a dose-dependent manner. These data may suggest CPLE as an appreciated blood homeostatic and nephroprotective agent from a natural source that could be a good remedy in conditions associated with blood disorders.

Penalized Regression Models to Select Biomarkers of Environmental Enteropathy Associated with Linear Growth Acquisition in a Peruvian Birth Cohort

Background: Environmental enteropathy (EE) is associated with chronic undernutrition. Efforts to identify minimally invasive biomarkers of EE reveal an expanding number of candidate analytes. An analytic strategy is reported to select among candidate biomarkers and systematically express the strength of each marker's association with linear growth in infancy and early childhood. Methods: 180 analytes were quantified in fecal, urine and plasma samples taken at 7, 15 and 24 months of age from 258 subjects in a birth cohort in Peru. Treating the subjects' length-for-age Z-score (LAZ-score) over a 2-month lag as the outcome, penalized linear regression models with different shrinkage methods were fitted to determine the best-fitting subset. These were then included with covariates in linear regression models to obtain estimates of each biomarker's adjusted effect on growth. Findings: Transferrin had the largest and most statistically significant adjusted effect on short-term linear growth as measured by LAZ-score - a coefficient value of 0.76 (0.48, 1.05) for each log2 increase in plasma transferrin concentration relative to the sample mean. Other biomarkers with large effect size estimates included 4-hydroxyproline, tumor necrosis factor receptor 2, beta-2-microglobulin, proline, serum amyloid P-component and adiponectin. The selected subset explained up to 26.0% of the variability in LAZ-score. Interpretation: Penalized regression modeling approaches can be used to select subsets from large panels of candidate biomarkers of EE. There is a need to systematically express the strength of association of biomarkers with linear growth or other select outcomes to compare results across studies. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The information has not previously been presented in any meetings. Ethical Approval: Ethical approval for MAL-ED was given by the Johns Hopkins Institutional Review Board as well as the Ethics Committee of Asociacion Benefica PRISMA, and the Regional Health Department of Loreto.

Effect of Enteral Immunonutrition on Immune, Inflammatory Markers and Nutritional Status in Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Gastrectomy: A Randomized Double-Blinded Controlled Trial

Backgrounds: Enteral immunonutrition (EIN) has received increasing attention, however, evidence on its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory function in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy is poorly investigated. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of EIN on immune function, inflammation response and nutrition status when compared to standard enteral nutrition (SEN). Methods: Totally 124 gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy were randomized to receive early 5-days postoperative EIN (formula enriched with arginine, glutamine, omega-3 fatty acids and nucleotide), or SEN. The primary end-points were CD4+ T-cells, CD3+ T-cells as well as counts of CD4+/CD8+, IgG, IgM, and IgA levels. Second-points included white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and nutritional index such as serum albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin concentration. Results: There existed significant difference in primary end-points between EIN group and SEN group. The proportion of CD4+ T-cells, CD3+ T-cells and the counts of CD4+/CD8+, IgG, IgM, and IgA were higher in EIN group eventually. Meanwhile, the level of WBC, CRP and TNF-α were significantly lower in EIN group finally. But there were no other significant differences in nutritional markers between two groups. Conclusion: Early postoperative EIN significantly improves immune function and inflammatory response in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy.

Iron metabolism and its association with dyslipidemia risk in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundInformation on the association between iron metabolism and dyslipidaemia in children is limited. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the iron metabolic status of children with different body mass index (BMI) and to examine the association between iron metabolism and dyslipidaemia risk.MethodIn total, 1866 children and adolescents aged 7–18 were enrolled in this study, including 912 boys and 954 girls. In this cross-sectional study, parameters for anthropometry, lipids and iron metabolism including transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), ferritin and serum iron (SF) were evaluated. Data regarding demographic characteristics, diet, and physical activity were collected by self-reported questionnaires.ResultsThe prevalence of dyslipidaemia and iron deficiency in children and adolescents increased based on BMI categories (both P < 0.05) and were 58.3 and 8.9% in subjects with obesity, respectively. The lowest SF and the highest ferritin levels were observed in subjects who were obese (both P < 0.001). Subjects with dyslipidaemia had lower SF, transferrin and sTfR levels by different BMI categories, and those who were obese had higher ferritin levels (all P < 0.05). Most importantly, higher concentrations of transferrin and sTfR were related to lower dyslipidaemia risk (OR for transferrin: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.33–0.71; OR for sTfR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46–0.99).ConclusionsA downward trend in SF level by BMI categories and the highest ferritin level in subjects with obesity suggested that iron storage was associated with BMI in children and adolescents. Moreover, an inverse relationship was observed between transferrin and sTfR concentrations and dyslipidaemia risk in children with different BMI.

Rapid growth is a dominant predictor of hepcidin suppression and declining ferritin in Gambian infants.

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are highly prevalent in low-income countries, especially among young children. Hepcidin is the major regulator of systemic iron homeostasis. It controls dietary iron absorption, dictates whether absorbed iron is made available in circulation for erythropoiesis and other iron-demanding processes, and predicts response to oral iron supplementation. Understanding how hepcidin is itself regulated is therefore important, especially in young children. We investigated how changes in iron-related parameters, inflammation and infection status, seasonality, and growth influenced plasma hepcidin and ferritin concentrations during infancy using longitudinal data from two birth cohorts of infants in rural Gambia (n=114 and n=193). This setting is characterized by extreme seasonality, prevalent childhood anemia, undernutrition, and frequent infection. Plasma was collected from infants at birth and at regular intervals, up to 12 months of age. Hepcidin, ferritin and plasma iron concentrations declined markedly during infancy, with reciprocal increases in soluble transferrin receptor and transferrin concentrations, indicating declining iron stores and increasing tissue iron demand. In cross-sectional analyses at 5 and 12 months of age, we identified expected relationships of hepcidin with iron and inflammatory markers, but also observed significant negative associations between hepcidin and antecedent weight gain. Correspondingly, longitudinal fixed effects modeling demonstrated weight gain to be the most notable dynamic predictor of decreasing hepcidin and ferritin through infancy across both cohorts. Infants who grow rapidly in this setting are at particular risk of depletion of iron stores, but since hepcidin concentrations decrease with weight gain, they may also be the most responsive to oral iron interventions.

Characterization of the interaction between carbon black and three important antioxidant proteins using multi spectroscopy and modeling simulations

A major user of carbon black is the pigment and dyes industry, where carbon black is incorporated into paints, inks, printers, and plastics. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying the toxicity of carbon black to antioxidant proteins. Carbon black can cause oxidative stress to organisms after they invade into the body. Antioxidant proteins play a key role in keeping the organism from nanoparticle-induced oxidative damage and tend to bind with nanoparticles immediately after their invading into the biological environment, so it is meaningful to elucidate the toxicity of nanoparticles on the antioxidant proteins. In this study, the toxicity of carbon black (SB100) on three different antioxidant proteins (TF (transferrin), SOD (superoxide dismutase), and LYZ (lysozyme)) were investigated. The multi-spectra studies indicated that SB100 interacted with these three proteins and changed their structure in different ways. SB100 changed the microenvironment of fluorophores in SOD and LYZ by quenching the fluorescence spectra of the two enzymes, while changed that of TF by increasing the fluorescence intensity of TF. SB100 changed the secondary structure of these three proteins by decreasing the α-helix content of TF and increasing that of SOD and LYZ. Moreover, SB100 changed the hydrophobicity of the three proteins in different ways as well. And SOD exhibits a more severe activity inhibition than LYZ after exposed to SB100. In summary, SB100 caused different structural and functional changes to these three antioxidant enzymes.