Tolerance to iron chlorosis in non-grafted quince seedlings and in pear grafted onto quince plants

Grafting is a technique that may affect plant tolerance to iron chlorosis in plants cultivated for their fruit. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of non-grafted quince seedlings and pear grafted onto quince plants cultivated in pots with alkaline soil. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the University of Cordoba, Spain, in pots (3 L) filled with alkaline soil, with one plant per pot. The treatments consisted of two genotypes, quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill) semi-woody rooted cuttings, cultivar BA29, and pear (Pyrus Communis L.), cultivar Ercolini, grafted onto quince cultivar BA29 (rootstock), and two nutrient solutions with and without iron (80 mu M Fe-EDDHA) arranged in a completely random design with eight repetitions. Each pot received 250 mL of the nutrient solution on June 3rd, 2010. Chlorophyll indirect measurements and the main stem length were evaluated for six weeks after the commencement of the treatments. During the last week, the main stem dry matter weight and the leaf total iron content were determined. It was found that grafting pear seedlings onto quince rootstock resulted in a higher tolerance to iron deficiency than when quince was not grafted. Non-grafted quince plants without iron in the nutrient solution, compared to the results with its application, showed low SPAD (Soil-Plant Analyses Development) values and resulted in plants with a lower leaf iron content and lower dry matter production; however, decreased seedling stem growth was observed only in the last week of cultivation.

Serum iron analysis of adults receiving three different iron compounds

Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional problems in the world. Iron compounds are used for the prevention and treatment of this deficiency. A double-blind randomized crossover study with 12 volunteers was carried out to compare the effect of three iron compounds, ferrous glycine chelate (GLY), ferric EDTA (EDTA), and ferrous sulfate (FS) on serum iron, and to examine serial serum iron levels. The products were offered as tablets, and blood samples were drawn hourly for 4 hours. FS produced higher serum iron levels than EDTA or GLY (P <0.05). Data for GLY and EDTA were similar. The areas under the curve (AUC) for serum iron for the different compounds gave AUCFS > AUCGLY = AUCEDTA (P < 0.05). Iron from FS had a significantly greater bioavailability than for the other two compounds. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of fortification of drinking water with iron plus ascorbic acid or with ascorbic acid alone on hemoglobin values and anthropometric indicators in preschool children in day-care centers in Southeast Brazil

Background. Iron-deficiency anemia currently is the most frequently occurring nutritional disorder worldwide. Previous Brazilian studies have demonstrated that drinking water fortified with iron and ascorbic acid is an adequate vehicle for improving the iron supply for children frequenting day-care centers. Objective. The objective of this study was to clarify the role of ascorbic acid as a vehicle for improving iron intake in children in day-care centers in Brazil. Methods. A six-month study was conducted on 150 children frequenting six day-care centers divided into two groups of three day-care centers by drawing lots: the iron-C group (3 day-care centers, n = 74), which used water fortified with 10 mg elemental iron and 100 mg ascorbic acid per liter, and the comparison group (3 day-care centers, n = 76), which used water containing only 100 mg ascorbic acid per liter. Anthropometric measurements and determinations of capillary hemoglobin were performed at the beginning of the study and after six months of intervention. The food offered at the day-care centers was also analyzed. Results. The fo od offered at the day-care center was found to be deficient in ascorbic acid, poor in heme iron, and adequate in non-heme iron. Supplementation with fortified drinking water resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of anemia and an increase in mean hemoglobin levels associated with height gain in both groups. Conclusions. Fortification of drinking water with iron has previously demonstrated effectiveness in increasing iron supplies. This simple strategy was confirmed in the present study. The present study also demonstrated that for populations receiving an abundant supply of non-heme iron, it is possible to control anemia in a simple, safe, and inexpensive manner by adding ascorbic acid to drinking water. © 2005, The United Nations University.

Relative bioavailability of iron from organic sources for weanling piglets

Some authors consider minerals from organic sources more bioavailable for pig nutrition in comparison with inorganic sources. To evaluate the relative iron bioavailability from the organic source iron carbo-amino-phospho-chelate (ICAPC) to weanling piglets, it was conducted an experiment with 126 commercial piglets, using iron sulfate monohydrate (S) as standard. The experiment had a randomized block design with seven treatments (diet without adding specific source of iron, diet with 50, 100 and 150 ppm iron from S and diet with 50, 100 and 150 ppm iron from ICAPC), six replications and three animals per experimental unit. Performance parameters (average daily gain - ADG, feed: gain ratio - F:G) and blood variables (hemoglobin - Hb, hematocrit - Ht, transferrin - TR, latent iron-binding capacity - LIBC, total iron-binding capacity - TIBC, serum iron - Fe and transferrin saturation index - TSI) were evaluated. At the end of the experiment a piglet from each experimental unit was slaughtered and its liver and spleen removed for assessment of iron concentration by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The evaluated sources of iron yielded similar results for the variables of interest, but the increase in iron intake was followed by a linear increase in ADG, Hb, Ht, Fe and TSI as well as a linear decrease in the values of F:G, TR, LIBC and TIBC. Iron bioavailabilities from both ICAPC and S sources are similar for weanling piglets.

Metabolismo do ferro em equinos atletas

O ferro participa de várias funções vitais do organismo, como o transporte de oxigênio e de elétrons e a síntese do DNA. Desequilíbrios do metabolismo do ferro podem estar relacionados a sua deficiência ou sobrecarga, porém a deficiência é rara em equinos adultos. Apesar disso, criadores e veterinários de cavalos de esporte utilizam frequentemente suplementos contendo ferro com o objetivo de melhorar o desempenho atlético. Até o momento, nenhum estudo comprovou que o exercício induz deficiência de ferro nessa espécie ou que a suplementação de ferro melhora o seu desempenho. O diagnóstico de deficiência ou sobrecarga de ferro depende de uma avaliação laboratorial criteriosa. A suplementação em equinos não deficientes pode induzir o acúmulo excessivo de ferro, com graves consequências para o animal. Este trabalho revisa as alterações do metabolismo do ferro em equinos submetidos ao exercício, os métodos laboratoriais de avaliação dos estoques de ferro e as consequências da suplementação indevida.

Valores de ferritina sérica em beta talassemia heterozigota

A low iron level, the commonest nutritional deficiency in the world, is a public health problem in developing countries. on the other hand, an excessive amount of iron is toxic, causing several organic dysfunctions, such as diabetes, cirrhosis, endocrinopathies and heart disease. Researchers have reported an association of iron overload with beta-thalassemia. The aim of this paper was to compare the serum ferritin levels of women with the beta-thalassemia trait. The results of serologic tests of 137 women of childbearing age were analyzed; 63 had the beta-thalassemia trait and 74 had Hb AA. In the beta-thalassemia carriers, the median ferritin value was 51.90 ng/mL and in the non-carriers 31.60 ng/mL (p = 0.0052). Levels of less than 20 and above 150 ng/mL were observed in 28% and 3% of the non-carriers and in 16% and 11% of the carriers, respectively. With these results it is possible to conclude that women in the reproductive age with the beta-thalassemia trait present higher ferritin levels in the northeastern region of São Paulo State. Further studies are necessary to clarify possible genetic and/or environment factors which interfere in iron absorption.

Terapêutica com doses profiláticas de sulfato ferroso como medida de intervenção no combate à carência de ferro em crianças atendidas em unidades básicas de saúde

Objetivou-se testar a terapêutica com doses profiláticas de sulfato ferroso no combate à anemia carencial ferropriva, em 620 crianças de 4 a 36 meses de idade, atendidas em duas unidades de saúde do Município de São Paulo, Brasil. As crianças foram submetidas a coleta de sangue para dosagem de hemoglobina. em seguida, foi prescrito dosagem de 12 mg/dia de ferro elementar, por 30 dias. Observou-se que 25% dos menores de 6 meses apresentaram níveis de hemoglobina inferiores a 11,0 g/dl. As maiores ocorrências de anemia foram detectadas entre os 9 e 23 meses de idade (50,0%). Decorrido o prazo, apenas 37,4% das crianças com anemia e 52,4% das não anêmicas retornaram para reavaliação. Das 299 que foram reavaliadas, somente 157 (52,5%) receberam a medicação corretamente. A freqüência de hemoglobinas inferiores a 9,5 g/dl caiu de 17,1% no início, para 8,1% ao final da intervenção. Por outro lado, o percentual de crianças com hemoglobinas superiores a 12,0 g/dl subiu de 13,4%, para 33,4%. As que receberam a suplementação férrica de forma correta registraram queda nos índices de anemia sensivelmente maior que a observada naquelas suplementadas de forma incorreta. Concluiu-se que a terapêutica com doses profiláticas de sulfato ferroso, apesar de se mostrar eficiente na recuperação dos níveis de hemoglobina, apresenta sérios entraves do ponto de vista operacional.

Active and exo-site inhibition of human factor Xa: Structure of des-Gla factor Xa inhibited by NAP5, a potent nematode anticoagulant protein from Ancylostoma caninum

Hookworms are hematophagous nematodes capable of growth, development and subsistence in living host systems such as humans and other mammals. Approximately one billion, or one in six, people worldwide are infected by hookworms causing gastrointestinal blood loss and iron deficiency anemia. The hematophagous hookworm Ancylostoma caninum produces a family of small, disulfide-linked protein anticoagulants (75-84 amino acid residues). One of these nematode anticoagulant proteins, NAP5, inhibits the amidolytic activity of factor Xa (fXa) with K-i = 43 pM, and is the most potent natural fXa inhibitor identified thus far. The crystal structure of NAP5 bound at the active site of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domainless factor Xa (des-fXa) has been determined at 3.1 angstrom resolution, which indicates that Asp189 (fXa, S1 subsite) binds to Arg40 (NAP5, P1 site) in a mode similar to that of the BPTI/trypsin interaction. However, the hydroxyl group of Ser39 of NAP5 additionally forms a hydrogen bond (2.5 angstrom) with His57 NE2 of the catalytic triad, replacing the hydrogen bond of Ser195 OG to the latter in the native structure, resulting in an interaction that has not been observed before. Furthermore, the C-terminal extension of NAP5 surprisingly interacts with the fXa exosite of a symmetry-equivalent molecule forming a short intermolecular beta-strand as observed in the structure of the NAPc2/fXa complex. This indicates that NAP5 can bind to fXa at the active site, or the exosite, and to fX at the exosite. However, unlike NAPc2, NAP5 does not inhibit fVIIa of the fVIIa/TF complex. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anemia em crianças menores de dois anos atendidas nas unidades básicas de saúde no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The present study sought to determine the prevalence of anemia in 2,992 children, aged between 6 and 23 months, who voluntarily attended 160 Basis Health Care Units, located in 63 cities of the 5 Regional Health Coordinating areas of the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. Blood samples were collected by venous puncture and hemoglobin was measured by the cianometahemoglobin method. The WHO criteria for the diagnosis of anemia (Hb < 11.0 g/dl) were used: 59.1% of the children were shown to be anemic, with prevalence varying from 47.8% to 68.7% in the 5 RHCs. RHC 1, which comprises the Greater S. Paulo Region, presented a prevalence of anemia significantly lower than the other 4 RHCs, which cover the rest of the State. Hemoglobin levels 9.5 g/dl were found in 25.1% of the children. Anemia was more frequent in male children in male children, in those born, with a weight of less than 3,000 gr, in those who were breastfed for less than 2 months and in those that who presented some degree of energy deficient proteic malnutrition, according to Gomez's criteria. This is the first of a series of 4 articles whose purpose is the determining the prevalence of anemia in the State of S. Paulo and of testing the intervention alternatives with a view to curtailing the incidence of this pathology which today is the most prevalent nutritional disturbance in the world.

Fortificação do leite fluido na prevenção e tratamento da anemia carencial ferropriva em crianças menores de 4 anos

The effectiveness of the use of chelate aminoacid iron fortified fluid milk in the treatment of iron deficiency in children under four years of age was studied. The 269 children included in this trial received 1 liter/day of fluid milk fortified with 3 mg of chelate aminoacid iron and were evaluated at six monthly intervals. At the beginning of the study 62.3% of the children presented anemia. After 6 months, this percentage had decreased to 41.8% and at the end of one year to 26.4%. The greatest decreases occurred in the groups comprising the subjects who were of 12 to 23 months of age and those under one year of age. Among the children who presented initial hemoglobin levels under 9.5 g/ dl, 59.3% were free of anemia after one year of follow-up. Of those presenting initial hemoglobin levels between 9.5 and 10.9 g/dl, 66.7% recovered from their anemia. There was also greater hematological improvement in the children that ingested over 750 ml/day of fortified milk in those families that did not share the supply of supplement among their other members and in those families that had only one child under five years of age. These findings led to the conclusion that the fortification of fluid milk is a viable and effective method for the treatment of iron deficiency in pre-school children.

Deficiência de ferro: Conseqüências biológicas e propostas de prevenção

Iron deficiency is the commonest nutritional deficiency in the world. Although it affects adults, particularly women of reproductive age and during gestation, the most vulnerable group is children under two years of age. It affects mainly people living in developing countries, who have less access to balanced diets and health services and are exposed to precarious sanitary conditions. Iron deficiency has an impact on the immunity, adult work capacity and the cognitive development of children. Combating and preventing iron deficiency is one of the priorities in promoting public health. The strategies to achieve this end include the evaluation and correction of iron deficiency in pregnant women, the encouragement of breast feeding, oral iron supplementation in premature and newborn babies of low birth-weight, food enrichment and mobilization of the community.

Úlcera de cameron como causa incomum de anemia por deficiência de ferro

Cameron ulcers are chronic linear lesions willing on the mucosal folds, the level of diaphragmatic impression, in patients with hiatal hernia. Its clinical relevance is due to the potential risk of gastrointestinal complications, such as acute or chronic bleeding and anemia. Usually, the diagnosis is incidental by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Proton pump inhibitors are essential for the conduct of cases and the administration of iron when the anemia is associated. Already, the benefit of surgery is in refractory cases. We present a case of this entity of a 50-year-old patient in postmenopausal who developed anemia due to iron deficiency and normal initial endoscopy.

Gastrointestinal changes associated to heart failure

Over the last decade, several studies were conducted on the gastrointestinal changes associated to chronic heart failure. This article presents a literature review on the physiopathology and clinical consequences of pathological digestive changes of heart failure patients. Structural and functional abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract, such as edema of absorptive mucosa and intestinal bacterial overgrowth, have been leading to serious clinical consequences. Some of these consequences are cardiac cachexia, systemic inflammatory activation and anemia. These conditions, alone or in combination, may lead to worsening of the pre-existing ventricular dysfunction. Although currently there is no therapy specifically earmarked for gastrointestinal changes associated to heart failure, the understanding of digestive abnormalities is germane for the prevention and management of systemic consequences.

Estudo da viabilidade sensorial do enriquecimento com ferro de vários produtos derivados de soja e a quantificação de seus teores em isoflavonas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do estado nutricional do micronutriente ferro em atletas femininas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)