Underlying Factors Associated with Anemia in Amazonian Children: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Although iron deficiency is considered to be the main cause of anemia in children worldwide, other contributors to childhood anemia remain little studied in developing countries. We estimated the relative contributions of different factors to anemia in a population-based, cross-sectional survey. Methodology: We obtained venous blood samples from 1111 children aged 6 months to 10 years living in the frontier town of Acrelandia, northwest Brazil, to estimate the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency by measuring hemoglobin, erythrocyte indices, ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, and C-reactive protein concentrations. Children were simultaneously screened for vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and folate deficiencies; intestinal parasite infections; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; and sickle cell trait carriage. Multiple Poisson regression and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were used to describe associations between anemia and the independent variables. Principal Findings: The prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were 13.6%, 45.4%, and 10.3%, respectively. Children whose families were in the highest income quartile, compared with the lowest, had a lower risk of anemia (aPR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.37-0.98). Child age (<24 months, 2.90; 2.01-4.20) and maternal parity (>2 pregnancies, 2.01; 1.40-2.87) were positively associated with anemia. Other associated correlates were iron deficiency (2.1; 1.4-3.0), vitamin B-12 (1.4; 1.0-2.2), and folate (2.0; 1.3-3.1) deficiencies, and C-reactive protein concentrations (>5 mg/L, 1.5; 1.1-2.2). Conclusions: Addressing morbidities and multiple nutritional deficiencies in children and mothers and improving the purchasing power of poorer families are potentially important interventions to reduce the burden of anemia.

Structure and Ionic Conductivity in the Mixed-Network Former Chalcogenide Glass System [Na2S](2/3)[(B2S3)(x)(P2S5)(1-x)](1/3)

Glasses in the system [Na2S](2/3)[(B2S3)(x)(P2S5)(1-x)](1/3) (0.0 <= x <= 1.0) were prepared by the melt quenching technique, and their properties were characterized by thermal analysis and impedance spectroscopy. Their atomic-level structures were comprehensively characterized by Raman spectroscopy and B-11, P-31, and Na-23 high resolution solid state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR techniques. P-31 MAS NMR peak assignments were made by the presence or absence of homonuclear indirect P-31-P-31 spin-spin interactions as detected using homonuclear J-resolved and refocused INADEQUATE techniques. The extent of B-S-P connectivity in the glassy network was quantified by P-31{B-11} and B-11{P-31} rotational echo double resonance spectroscopy. The results clearly illustrate that the network modifier alkali sulfide, Na2S, is not proportionally shared between the two network former components, B and P. Rather, the thiophosphate (P) component tends to attract a larger concentration of network modifier species than predicted by the bulk composition, and this results in the conversion of P2S74-, pyrothiophosphate, Na/P = 2:1, units into PS43-, orthothiophosphate, Na/P = 3:1, groups. Charge balance is maintained by increasing the net degree of polymerization of the thioborate (B) units through the formation of covalent bridging sulfur (BS) units, B S B. Detailed inspection of the B-11 MAS NMR spectra reveals that multiple thioborate units are formed, ranging from neutral BS3/2 groups all the way to the fully depolymerized orthothioborate (BS33-) species. On the basis of these results, a comprehensive and quantitative structural model is developed for these glasses, on the basis of which the compositional trends in the glass transition temperatures (T-g) and ionic conductivities can be rationalized. Up to x = 0.4, the dominant process can be described in a simplified way by the net reaction equation P-1 + B-1 reversible arrow P-0 + B-4, where the superscripts denote the number of BS atoms for the respective network former species. Above x = 0.4, all of the thiophosphate units are of the P-0 type and both pyro-(B-1) and orthothioborate (B-0) species make increasing contributions to the network structure with increasing x. In sharp contrast to the situation in sodium borophosphate glasses, four-coordinated thioborate species are generally less abundant and heteroatomic B-S-P linkages appear to not exist. On the basis of this structural information, compositional trends in the ionic conductivities are discussed in relation to the nature of the charge-compensating anionic species and the spatial distribution of the charge carriers.

Effects of vitamin E supplementation on renal non-enzymatic antioxidants in young rats submitted to exhaustive exercise stress

Abstract Background Exercise stress was shown to increase oxidative stress in rats. It lacks reports of increased protection afforded by dietary antioxidant supplements against ROS production during exercise stress. We evaluated the effects of vitamin E supplementation on renal non-enzymatic antioxidants in young rats submitted to exhaustive exercise stress. Methods Wistar rats were divided into three groups: 1) control group; 2) exercise stress group and; 3) exercise stress + Vitamin E group. Rats from the group 3 were treated with gavage administration of 1 mL of Vitamin E (5 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days. Animals from groups 2 and 3 were submitted to a bout of swimming exhaustive exercise stress. Kidney samples were analyzed for Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances to (TBARS) by malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamin-E levels. Results The group treated with vitamin E and submitted to exercise stress presented the lowest levels of renal MDA (1: 0.16+0.02 mmmol/mgprot vs. 2: 0.34+0.07 mmmol/mgprot vs. 3: 0.1+0.01 mmmol/mgprot; p < 0.0001), the highest levels of renal GSH (1: 23+4 μmol/gprot vs. 2: 23+2 μmol/gprot vs. 3: 58+9 μmol/gprot; p < 0.0001) and the highest levels of renal vitamin E (1: 24+6 μM/gtissue vs. 2: 28+2 μM/gtissue vs. 3: 43+4 μM/gtissue; p < 0.001). Conclusion Vitamin E supplementation improved non-enzymatic antioxidant activity in young rats submitted to exhaustive exercise stress.

MicroRNAs may mediate the down-regulation of neurokinin-1 receptor in chronic bladder pain syndrome

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a clinical syndrome of pelvic pain and urinary urgency-frequency in the absence of a specific cause. Investigating the expression levels of genes involved in the regulation of epithelial permeability, bladder contractility, and inflammation, we show that neurokinin (NK)1 and NK2 tachykinin receptors were significantly down-regulated in BPS patients. Tight junction proteins zona occludens-1, junctional adherins molecule -1, and occludin were similarly down-regulated, implicating increased urothelial permeability, whereas bradykinin B(1) receptor, cannabinoid receptor CB1 and muscarinic receptors M3-M5 were up-regulated. Using cell-based models, we show that prolonged exposure of NK1R to substance P caused a decrease of NK1R mRNA levels and a concomitant increase of regulatory micro(mi)RNAs miR-449b and miR-500. In the biopsies of BPS patients, the same miRNAs were significantly increased, suggesting that BPS promotes an attenuation of NK1R synthesis via activation of specific miRNAs. We confirm this hypothesis by identifying 31 differentially expressed miRNAs in BPS patients and demonstrate a direct correlation between miR-449b, miR-500, miR-328, and miR-320 and a down-regulation of NK1R mRNA and/or protein levels. Our findings further the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of BPS, and have relevance for other clinical conditions involving the NK1 receptor.

Trpv6 mediates intestinal calcium absorption during calcium restriction and contributes to bone homeostasis

Energy-dependent intestinal calcium absorption is important for the maintenance of calcium and bone homeostasis, especially when dietary calcium supply is restricted. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)], is a crucial regulator of this process and increases the expression of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 6 (Trpv6) calcium channel that mediates calcium transfer across the intestinal apical membrane. Genetic inactivation of Trpv6 in mice (Trpv6(-/-)) showed, however, that TRPV6 is redundant for intestinal calcium absorption when dietary calcium content is normal/high and passive diffusion likely contributes to maintain normal serum calcium levels. On the other hand, Trpv6 inactivation impaired the increase in intestinal calcium transport following calcium restriction, however without resulting in hypocalcemia. A possible explanation is that normocalcemia is maintained at the expense of bone homeostasis, a hypothesis investigated in this study. In this study, we thoroughly analyzed the bone phenotype of Trpv6(-/-) mice receiving a normal (approximately 1%) or low (approximately 0.02%) calcium diet from weaning onwards using micro-computed tomography, histomorphometry and serum parameters. When dietary supply of calcium is normal, Trpv6 inactivation did not affect growth plate morphology, bone mass and remodeling parameters in young adult or aging mice. Restricting dietary calcium had no effect on serum calcium levels and resulted in a comparable reduction in bone mass accrual in Trpv6(+/+) and Trpv6(-/-) mice (-35% and 45% respectively). This decrease in bone mass was associated with a similar increase in bone resorption, whereas serum osteocalcin levels and the amount of unmineralized bone matrix were only significantly increased in Trpv6(-/-) mice. Taken together, our findings indicate that TRPV6 contributes to intestinal calcium transport when dietary calcium supply is limited and in this condition indirectly regulates bone formation and/or mineralization.

A genetic validation study reveals a role of vitamin D metabolism in the response to interferon-alfa-based therapy of chronic hepatitis C

Background To perform a comprehensive study on the relationship between vitamin D metabolism and the response to interferon-α-based therapy of chronic hepatitis C. Methodology/Principal Findings Associations between a functionally relevant polymorphism in the gene encoding the vitamin D 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1-1260 rs10877012) and the response to treatment with pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin were determined in 701 patients with chronic hepatitis C. In addition, associations between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D3) and treatment outcome were analysed. CYP27B1-1260 rs10877012 was found to be an independent predictor of sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients with poor-response IL28B genotypes (15% difference in SVR for rs10877012 genotype AA vs. CC, p = 0.02, OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.061–2.188), but not in patients with favourable IL28B genotype. Patients with chronic hepatitis C showed a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (25[OH]D3<20 ng/mL) during all seasons, but 25(OH)D3 serum levels were not associated with treatment outcome. Conclusions/Significance Our study suggests a role of bioactive vitamin D (1,25[OH]2D3, calcitriol) in the response to treatment of chronic hepatitis C. However, serum concentration of the calcitriol precursor 25(OH)D3 is not a suitable predictor of treatment outcome.

Regulation of pyridoxal $5\prime$-phosphate biosynthesis in {\it Escherichia coli\/} K-12

Vitamin B$\sb6$ (or pyridoxal 5$\sp\prime$-phosphate, PLP) is an essential, ubiquitous coenzyme that affects many aspects of amino acid and cellular metabolism in all organisms. The goal of this thesis is to examine the regulation of PLP biosynthesis in Escherichia coli K-12. First, PdxH oxidase is a PLP biosynthetic enzyme, which uses molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor under aerobic assay conditions. To test if facultative anaerobic E. coli uses another enzyme to replace the function of PdxH oxidase anaerobically, suppressors of a pdxH null mutant were isolated anaerobically after 2-aminopurine or spontaneous mutagenesis. Only one specific bypass mutation in another PLP biosynthetic gene pdxJ was found, suggesting that PdxH oxidase is able to function anaerobically and PdxT utilizes D-1-deoxyxyulose as a substrate. Second, regulation of the serC (pdxF)-aroA operon, which is involved the biosynthesis of L-serine, PLP and aromatic compounds was examined. A serC (pdxF) single gene transcript and a serC (pdXf)-aroA cotranscript initiated at P$\sb{serC\ (pdxF)}$ upstream of serC (pdxF) were detected. The expression of the operon is activated by leucine responsive regulatory protein (LRP) and repressed by cAMP receptor protein-cAMP complex (CRP$\cdot$cAMP) at the transcriptional level. LRP activates the operon by directly binding to the upstream consensus box. Binding of CRP$\cdot$cAMP to the upstream CRP box diminishes the activation effect of LRP. However, deletion of the CRP box did not affect the repression of CRP$\cdot$cAMP, suggesting that CRP$\cdot$cAMP may repress the operon indirectly by stimulating the activity or level of an unidentified repressor. The overall effect of this regulation is to maximize the expression of the operon when the cells are growing in minimal-glucose medium. In addition, the binding and the transcription of P$\sb{serC\ (pdxF)}$ by RNA polymerase require a supercoiled circular DNA, indicating that DNA supercoiling affects the transcription of the operon. Third, regulation of another PLP biosynthetic gene gapB was also examined. gapB is activated by CRP$\cdot$cAMP and repressed by catabolic repressor activator protein (CRA). However, the activation of CRP$\cdot$cAMP is epistatic to the repression of CRA. Due to the CRA repression, gapB was expressed at a low level in all the media tested, suggesting that it may be the rate-limiting step of PLP biosynthesis. In summary, unlike genes in many biosynthetic pathways, PLP biosynthetic genes are regulated by global regulators that are important for carbon and amino acid metabolism, instead of the end product(s) of the pathway. ^

Die Geschichten der heiligen Schriften mit vielen Nutzanwendungen für die jisraelitische Jugend jedes Alters in Schule und Haus : mit 1 Zeittaf. u. 1 Charte d. heiligen Landes

von J. H. Hirsch

Jüdische Geschichte von der Zerstörung des 1. Tempels bis zur Gegenwart in Charakterbildern dargest.

von S. Müller

Jüdische Geschichte von der Zerstörung des 1. Tempels bis zur Gegenwart in Charakterbildern dargest.

von S. Müller

Aufrichtig und unpartheyische Prüfung des Dreyfachen Beweißes 1. Daß die Promotion e. Juden zum Docter Medicinae gegen die Christliche Religion ... seye, 2. Daß die jüdische Medici sehr schädl., u. unter Christen nicht zu dulden seyn, 3. Daß ein Christen Patient ... in e. jüdischen Medici Cur sich nicht begeben könne

dargethan von Johann Helfrich Sagittario u. untersucht durch Johann Friderich Rübel

Mus Hs 771 - No 1.: während der Reise : im Auftrag S:. Ehrw:. M: v.: St. componirte ich diese zwei Lieder zum 2ten Grad um, und [unleserlich] führte selbige den 27ten August 5830 [!], zum erstenmale aus. in [Stein als ein Symbol für Freimaurerei] Socrates

[Carl Oestreich]

Hilkot 'eglah 'arufah : sive de veterum Hebraeorum circa vitulam decollandam ritibus, ex Deut. XXI. v. 1. seqq.

Leipzig, Univ., Diss., 1696