A free weekly iron-folic acid supplementation and regular deworming program is associated with improved hemoglobin and iron status indicators in Vietnamese women

Background Anemia due to iron deficiency is recognized as one of the major nutritional deficiencies in women and children in developing countries. Daily iron supplementation for pregnant women is recommended in many countries although there are few reports of these programs working efficiently or effectively. Weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFS) and regular deworming treatment is recommended for non-pregnant women living in areas with high rates of anemia. Following a baseline survey to assess the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and soil transmitted helminth infections, we implemented a program to make WIFS and regular deworming treatment freely and universally available for all women of reproductive age in two districts of a province in northern Vietnam over a 12 month period. The impact of the program at the population level was assessed in terms of: i) change in mean hemoglobin and iron status indicators, and ii) change in the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and hookworm infections. Method Distribution of WIFS and deworming were integrated with routine health services and made available to 52,000 women. Demographic data and blood and stool samples were collected in baseline, and three and 12-month post-implementation surveys using a population-based, stratified multi-stage cluster sampling design. Results The mean Hb increased by 9.6 g/L (95% CI, 5.7, 13.5, p < 0.001) during the study period. Anemia (Hb<120 g/L) was present in 131/349 (37.5%, 95% CI 31.3, 44.8) subjects at baseline, and in 70/363 (19.3%, 95% CI 14.0, 24.6) after twelve months. Iron deficiency reduced from 75/329 (22.8%, 95% CI 16.9, 28.6) to 33/353 (9.3%, 95% CI 5.7, 13.0) by the 12-mnth survey, and hookworm infection from 279/366 (76.2%,, 95% CI 68.6, 83.8) to 66/287 (23.0%, 95% CI 17.5, 28.5) over the same period. Conclusion A free, universal WIFS program with regular deworming was associated with reduced prevalence and severity of anemia, iron deficiency and ho

The structure of the mineral leogangite Cu10(OH)6(SO4)(AsO4)4•8H2O–implications for arsenic accumulation and removal

The objective of this research is to determine the molecular structure of the mineral leogangite. The formation of the types of arsenosulphate minerals offers a mechanism for arsenate removal from soils and mine dumps. Raman and infrared spectroscopy have been used to characterise the mineral. Observed bands are assigned to the stretching and bending vibrations of (SO4)2- and (AsO4)3- units, stretching and bending vibrations of hydrogen bonded (OH)- ions and Cu2+-(O,OH) units. The approximate range of O-H...O hydrogen bond lengths is inferred from the Raman spectra. Raman spectra of leogangite from different origins differ in that some spectra are more complex, where bands are sharp and the degenerate bands of (SO4)2- and (AsO4)3- are split and more intense. Lower wavenumbers of  H2O bending vibration in the spectrum may indicate the presence of weaker hydrogen bonds compared with those in a different leogangite samples. The formation of leogangite offers a mechanism for the removal of arsenic from the environment.

The molecular structure of the mineral sarmientite Fe2(AsO4,SO4)2(OH)6•5H2O : implications for arsenic accumulation and removal

Sarmientite is an environmental mineral; its formation in soils enables the entrapment and immobilisation of arsenic. The mineral sarmientite is often amorphous making the application of X-ray diffraction difficult. Vibrational spectroscopy has been applied to the study of sarmientite. Bands are attributed to the vibrational units of arsenate, sulphate, hydroxyl and water. Raman bands at 794, 814 and 831 cm−1 are assigned to the ν3 (AsO4)3− antisymmetric stretching modes and the ν1 symmetric stretching mode is observed at 891 cm−1. Raman bands at 1003 and 1106 cm−1 are attributed to vibrations. The Raman band at 484 cm−1 is assigned to the triply degenerate (AsO4)3− bending vibration. The high intensity Raman band observed at 355 cm−1 (both lower and upper) is considered to be due to the (AsO4)3−ν2 bending vibration. Bands attributed to water and OH stretching vibrations are observed.

Hyaluronic acid : evaluation as a potential delivery vehicle for vitronectin:growth factor complexes in wound healing applications

We have previously reported that novel vitronectin:growth factor (VN:GF) complexes significantly increase re-epithelialization in a porcine deep dermal partial-thickness burn model. However, the potential exists to further enhance the healing response through combination with an appropriate delivery vehicle which facilitates sustained local release and reduced doses of VN:GF complexes. Hyaluronic acid (HA), an abundant constituent of the interstitium, is known to function as a reservoir for growth factors and other bioactive species. The physicochemical properties of HA confer it with an ability to sustain elevated pericellular concentrations of these species. This has been proposed to arise via HA prolonging interactions of the bioactive species with cell surface receptors and/or protecting them from degradation. In view of this, the potential of HA to facilitate the topical delivery of VN:GF complexes was evaluated. Two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell cultures and 3D de-epidermised dermis (DED) human skin equivalent (HSE) models were used to test skin cell responses to HA and VN:GF complexes. Our 2D studies revealed that VN:GF complexes and HA stimulate the proliferation of human fibroblasts but not keratinocytes. Experiments in our 3D DED-HSE models showed that VN:GF complexes, both alone and in conjunction with HA, led to enhanced development of both the proliferative and differentiating layers in the DED-HSE models. However, there was no significant difference between the thicknesses of the epidermis treated with VN:GF complexes alone and VN:GF complexes together with HA. While the addition of HA did not enhance all the cellular responses to VN:GF complexes examined, it was not inhibitory, and may confer other advantages related to enhanced absorption and transport that could be beneficial in delivery of the VN:GF complexes to wounds.

Structural Systematics of the Anhydrous 1:1 Proton-Transfer Compounds of 3,5-Dinitrosalicylic Acid with Aniline and Monosubstituted Anilines

The crystal structures of the proton-transfer compounds of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) with a series of aniline-type Lewis bases [aniline, 2-hydroxyaniline, 2-methoxyaniline, 3-methoxyaniline, 4-fluoroaniline, 4-chloroaniline and 2-aminoaniline] have been determined and their hydrogen-bonding systems analysed. All are anhydrous 1:1 salts: [(C6H8N)+(C7H3N2O7)-], (1), [(C6H8NO)+(C7H3N2O7)-], (2), [(C7H10NO)+(C7H3N2O7)-], (3), [(C7H10NO)+(C7H3N2O7)-], (4), [(C6H7FN)+(C7H3N2O7)-], (5), [(C6H7ClN)+(C7H3N2O7)-], (6), and [(C6H9N2)+(C7H3N2O7)-], (7) respectively. Crystals of 1 and 6 are triclinic, space group P-1 while the remainder are monoclinic with space group either P21/n (2, 4, 5 and 7) or P21 (3). Unit cell dimensions and contents are: for 1, a = 7.2027(17), b = 7.5699(17), c = 12.9615(16) Å, α = 84.464(14), β = 86.387(15), γ = 75.580(14)o, Z = 2; for 2, a = 7.407(3), b = 6.987(3), c = 27.653(11) Å, β = 94.906(7)o, Z = 4; for 3, a = 8.2816(18), b = 23.151(6), c = 3.9338(10), β = 95.255(19)o, Z = 2; for 4, a = 11.209(2), b = 8.7858(19), c = 15.171(3) Å, β = 93.717(4)o, Z = 4; for 5, a = 26.377(3), b = 10.1602(12), c = 5.1384(10) Å, β = 91.996(13)o, Z = 4; for 6, a = 11.217(3), b = 14.156(5), c = 4.860(3) Å, α = 99.10(4), β = 96.99(4), γ = 76.35(2)o, Z = 2; for 7, a = 12.830(4), b = 8.145(3), c = 14.302(4) Å, β = 102.631(6)o, Z = 4. In all compounds at least one primary linear intermolecular N+-H…O(carboxyl) hydrogen-bonding interaction is present which, together with secondary hydrogen bonding results in the formation of mostly two-dimensional network structures, exceptions being with compounds 4 and 5 (one-dimensional) and compound 6 (three-dimensional). In only two cases [compounds 1 and 4], are weak cation-anion or cation-cation π-π interactions found while weak aromatic C-H…O interactions are insignificant. The study shows that all compounds fit the previously formulated classification scheme for primary and secondary interactive modes for proton-transfer compounds of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid but there are some unusual variants.

The molecular structure of the multianion mineral hidalgoite PbAl3(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 : implications for arsenic removal from soils

The objective of this research is to determine the molecular structure of the mineral hidalgoite PbAl3(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 using vibrational spectroscopy. The mineral is found in old mine sites. Observed bands are assigned to the stretching and bending vibrations of (SO4)2- and (AsO4)3- units, stretching and bending vibrations of hydrogen bonded (OH)- ions and Al3+-(O,OH) units. The approximate range of O-H...O hydrogen bond lengths is inferred from the Raman and infrared spectra. Values of 2.6989 Å, 2.7682 Å, 2.8659 Å were obtained. The formation of hidalgoite may offer a mechanism for the removal of arsenic from the environment.

Controls on iron in soils and soil waters of a forested, coastal catchment in subtropical Australia

Soluble organic matter derived from exotic Pinus vegetation forms stronger complexes with iron (Fe) than the soluble organic matter derived from most native Australian species. This has lead to concern about the environmental impacts related to the establishment of extensive exotic Pinus plantations in coastal southeast Queensland, Australia. It has been suggested that the Pinus plantations may enhance the solubility of Fe in soils by increasing the amount of organically complexed Fe. While this remains inconclusive, the environmental impacts of an increased flux of dissolved, organically complexed Fe from soils to the fluvial system and then to sensitive coastal ecosystems are potentially damaging. Previous work investigated a small number of samples, was largely laboratory based and had limited application to field conditions. These assessments lacked field-based studies, including the comparison of the soil water chemistry of sites associated with Pinus vegetation and undisturbed native vegetation. In addition, the main controls on the distribution and mobilisation of Fe in soils of this subtropical coastal region have not been determined. This information is required in order to better understand the relative significance of any Pinus enhanced solubility of Fe. The main aim of this thesis is to determine the controls on Fe distribution and mobilisation in soils and soil waters of a representative coastal catchment in southeast Queensland (Poona Creek catchment, Fraser Coast) and to test the effect of Pinus vegetation on the solubility and speciation of Fe. The thesis is structured around three individual papers. The first paper identifies the main processes responsible for the distribution and mobilisation of labile Fe in the study area and takes a catchment scale approach. Physicochemical attributes of 120 soil samples distributed throughout the catchment are analysed, and a new multivariate data analysis approach (Kohonen’s self organising maps) is used to identify the conditions associated with high labile Fe. The second paper establishes whether Fe nodules play a major role as an iron source in the catchment, by determining the genetic mechanism responsible for their formation. The nodules are a major pool of Fe in much of the region and previous studies have implied that they may be involved in redox-controlled mobilisation and redistribution of Fe. This is achieved by combining a detailed study of a ferric soil profile (morphology, mineralogy and micromorphology) with the distribution of Fe nodules on a catchment scale. The third component of the thesis tests whether the concentration and speciation of Fe in soil solutions from Pinus plantations differs significantly from native vegetation soil solutions. Microlysimeters are employed to collect unaltered, in situ soil water samples. The redox speciation of Fe is determined spectrophotometrically and the interaction between Fe and dissolved organic matter (DOM) is modelled with the Stockholm Humic Model. The thesis provides a better understanding of the controls on the distribution, concentration and speciation of Fe in the soils and soil waters of southeast Queensland. Reductive dissolution is the main mechanism by which mobilisation of Fe occurs in the study area. Labile Fe concentrations are low overall, particularly in the sandy soils of the coastal plain. However, high labile Fe is common in seasonally waterlogged and clay-rich soils which are exposed to fluctuating redox conditions and in organic-rich soils adjacent to streams. Clay-rich soils are most common in the upper parts of the catchment. Fe nodules were shown to have a negligible role in the redistribution of dissolved iron in the catchment. They are formed by the erosion, colluvial transport and chemical weathering of iron-rich sandstones. The ferric horizons, in which nodules are commonly concentrated, subsequently form through differential biological mixing of the soil. Whereas dissolution/ reprecipitation of the Fe cements is an important component of nodule formation, mobilised Fe reprecipitates locally. Dissolved Fe in the soil waters is almost entirely in the ferrous form. Vegetation type does not affect the concentration and speciation of Fe in soil waters, although Pinus DOM has greater acidic functional group site densities than DOM from native vegetation. Iron concentrations are highest in the high DOM soil waters collected from sandy podosols, where they are controlled by redox potential. Iron concentrations are low in soil solutions from clay and iron oxide rich soils, in spite of similar redox potentials. This is related to stronger sorption to the reactive clay and iron oxide mineral surfaces in these soils, which reduces the amount of DOM available for microbial metabolisation and reductive dissolution of Fe. Modelling suggests that Pinus DOM can significantly increase the amount of truly dissolved ferric iron remaining in solution in oxidising conditions. Thus, inputs of ferrous iron together with Pinus DOM to surface waters may reduce precipitation of hydrous ferric oxides and increase the flux of dissolved iron out of the catchment. Such inputs are most likely from the lower catchment, where podosols planted with Pinus are most widely distributed. Significant outcomes other than the main aims were also achieved. It is shown that mobilisation of Fe in podosols can occur as dissolved Fe(II) rather than as Fe(III)-organic complexes. This has implications for the large body of work which assumes that Fe(II) plays a minor role. Also, the first paper demonstrates that a data analysis approach based on Kohonen’s self organising maps can facilitate the interpretation of complex datasets and can help identify geochemical processes operating on a catchment scale.