Prevalence of anemia and deficiencies of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 in an indigenous community from the Venezuelan Amazon with a high incidence of malaria

The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of anemia and deficiencies of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 in Betania del Topocho, a Piaroa community from Estado Amazonas, Venezuela, a zone with a high incidence of malaria. The group studied included 184 subjects of all ages that assisted to the local health center for malaria diagnosis. Analysis performed included hematology by coulter counter, ferritin quantification by ELISA with monoclonal antibodies and folic acid and vitamin B12 determinations by an immunoradiometric assay. It was found that the prevalence of anemia was 89.6% and deficiencies of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 affected 37.1,70.3 and 12.4% of the population studied, respectively. Plasmodium infection was detected by molecular diagnosis in 53.2% of the cases, and 86% of them were anemic. The highest incidence of anemia was found in children, with a prevalence of 100% in infants of both sexes. The high prevalence of anemia, iron and folic acid deficiencies found, indicates an important health and nutrition problem that should be immediately and properly addressed. The number of cases of anemia due to iron deficiency could be underestimated, since ferritin concentration increased as a acute phase protein, although prevalence data was also analyzed with a cutoff point of 30 microg/L for ferritin concentration.     

Hematologic profile and absorption of iron from diets consumed by a population of low socioeconomic level of 2 Venezuelan states

Hematologic studies carried out in inhabitants of the State of Carabobo revealed that 19% of the subjects studied presented iron deficiency, this being more prominent in women and in children. Iron deficiency anemia was absent in men, while in the other groups its frequency, as registered, was from 5 to 13%. Tests for iron absorption from foods which form the average diet of the population in the Carabobo State, and the diet consumed by adults from the low socioeconomic strata in the States of Carabobo and Yaracuy, demonstrated that in normal subjects, bioavailability is lower than physiological requirements of men, women and children. In the iron-deficient subjects, its bioavailability can cover physiological needs. It is estimated that an important proportion of the population strata consuming such diets, suffer from iron nutritional deficiency, especially women during the reproductive age, and children.     

Maternal periconceptional consumption of sprouted potato and risks of neural tube defects and orofacial clefts

Background

The association between maternal consumption of sprouted potato during periconceptional period on the development of neural tube defects (NTDs) or orofacial clefts (OFCs) remains unclear. We aimed to examine the association between maternal consumption of sprouted potatoes during periconceptional period and risks of NTDs or OFCs.

Methods

Subjects included 622 NTD cases, 135 OFC cases and 858 nonmalformed controls, were recruited from a case-control study in Shanxi Province of northern China between 2002 and 2007. Information on demographics, maternal sprouted potato consumption, lifestyle behaviors and folic acid supplementation was collected.

Results

Consumption of sprouted potatoes was associated with elevated odds of total NTDs (OR?=?2.20; 95% CI, 1.12–4.32) and anencephaly (OR?=?2.48; 95% CI, 1.10–5.58); no association for spina bifida or encephalocele. Sprouted potato consumption increased the risk of total OFCs (OR?=?3.49; 95% CI, 1.29–9.49) and cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL?±?P) (OR?=?4.03; 95% CI, 1.44–11.28).

Conclusion

Maternal consumption of sprouted potatoes during periconceptional period may increase the risks of NTDs and OFCs. Given that potato is commonly consumed around the world, improper preservation and use should be a matter of concern in respect of the potential teratogenicity.

     

Body iron reserves of rural and urban Guatemalan women of reproductive age

Body iron reserves (using serum ferritin as an index), hematological status, and other indicators of iron nutrition were evaluated in three groups of non-pregnant nulliparous women with ages comprised between 14 and 29 years (mean = 19 years). The first group (n = 33) included residents of the rural coastal area (less than 750 m above sea level) (group RCG); the second (n = 32) from the rural highlands (751-1,500 m) (group RHG); and the third group (n = 104) from urban Guatemala City (1,500 m) (group UG). The women in the UG group belonged to the middle or high socioeconomic stratum. Median values in serum ferritin levels (ng/ml) for each group were: RCG = 11.5 (undetectable 50.6); RHG = 17.2 (1.9-83.1) and UG = 20.2 (3.9-56.7). The difference between RCG and UG was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The percentage of women with serum ferritin levels less than or equal to 9 ng/ml (iron deficiency) was 45 in the RCG, 25 in the RHG and 12 in the UG group. In addition, the prevalence of subnormal hemoglobin levels (below mean - 1 SD) was 46% in the RCG, 12% in the RHG and 8% in the UG. There were no cases of subnormal blood folate levels. As results indicate, the women studied had low iron reserves, the rural coastal group being the most affected. They also evidenced the high prevalence of iron deficiency in the region and the need for public health actions to overcome this nutrition problem.     

Periconceptional folic acid supplementation and sex difference in prevention of neural tube defects and their subtypes in China: results from a large prospective cohort study

Background

Folic acid (FA) supplementation is known to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). We examined whether this preventive effect differs by the sex of the infant.

Methods

Data were gathered from a large population-based cohort study in China that evaluated the effects of FA supplementation on NTDs. All births at 20 complete gestational weeks, including live births, stillbirths, and pregnancy terminations, and all NTDs, regardless of gestational age, were recorded. In a northern China province, a total of 30,801 singleton live births to women whose use of FA supplements during the first trimester was known at the time were included in the study. The birth prevalence of NTDs was classified by sex, subtype, and maternal FA supplementation. Male to female rate ratios [RR] and their 95% confidence intervals [CI] were calculated.

Results

A total of 106 NTDs cases were recorded. The overall prevalence of NTDs was 2.5‰ among males and 4.4‰ among females; NTDs were less prevalent among males than among females (RR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.54–0.63). There was a higher prevalence of anencephaly (RR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.27–0.43) and spina bifida (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.63–0.84) among females. However, FA supplementation led to significantly greater decreases in the rates of anencephaly (4.8‰) and total NTDs (7.6‰) in females than in males (1.6‰ and 2.8‰, respectively).

Conclusions

FA supplementation successfully reduces the prevalence of NTDs in both male and female infants, although we found a significantly greater decrease in anencephaly and total NTDs in females than in males. How the protective effects of FA supplementation affect the sexes differently needs to be studied further.

     

Ammonia volatilization from urea as affected by the addition of iron pyrites and method of application

Laboratory incubations were conducted to determine the ammonia (NH₃) loss from urea as affected by the addition of coarse and ground (fine) pyrites at 1:1, 1:2 and 1:5 urea: pyrite (w/w) ratios and methods of application (surfaceapplication, incorporation and placement). Coarse pyrites (>-2mm) were not effective in reducing NH₃ loss from urea when surface applied even at the highest ratio of pyrite (15.9% vs 18.7% without pyrite). Ground pyrites (0.1–0.25 mm), in 1:1 ratio, had about 5% less NH₃ loss than the urea alone treatment. Higher ratios of pyrites reduced NH₃ loss much more. Ammonia losses were the most with surface-applied urea (18.9%) and the least (13.5%) when placed (2.5 cm) below the soil surface. Addition of ground pyrite to surface-applied urea (1:1 ratio) decreased the loss to 13.2%. Urea+pyrite placed below the soil surface had the least loss (9.8%). Results indicate that combined application of urea and fine pyrite could reduce NH₃ loss.     

Lactation behavior and delivery care in a group of women from a Mexican rural community]

This article presents a brief discussion on the role that "medical practice" plays, related to the type of infant lactation after delivery, and breast-feeding practice during the first months of life. Data on hospital routines and how these predispose artificial feeding practices are seen from a critical angle. The information presented in this paper corresponds to a project carried out in a rural community of the state of México, called Malinalco, where the lactation behavior of 65 women after birth of the child, was followed as of their last period of pregnancy. The main objectives of the study were to determine the relationship between the place of delivery (hospital or home delivery) and the type of lactation practiced by the mothers, as well as to determine the infants nutritional status during their first year of life. Results showed that the greater part of women from the sample were young others (less than 30 years old) with one or two children. As to the place where delivery took place, 72% of the sample were attended by midwives at their own homes, and at last 65% practiced breast feeding exclusively during the first three months. No significant correlation between these two indicators (place of delivery and type of lactation) was found, although a tendency to a more prolonged breast-feeding practice was observed in those women who delivered at home. Problems related to weaning practices were detected, since they start this only with bean broth after five months of life. Finally, information on nutritional status during the first 12 months of life, shows serious nutritional problem after the child's third month of life, since the normality percentage starts decreasing while there occurs a significant increase of 1st an 2nd degree malnutrition.     

Folate food intake and red blood cell folate concentrations in women from Recife, Northeast of Brazil

Folate food intake and red blood cell folate concentrations were assess in women from Recife, Northeast Brazil. Following a two stages sampling procedure, a cross-sectional study was carried out involving 360 women, between 15-45 y, attending in nine health care public unit in 2007-2008. Folate intake was evaluated by a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire, and compared with the values of the dietary reference intakes-DRI's. Folate status was evaluated by red blood cell folate concentrations. Geometric mean of folate intake was 627.1 [IC 95% 600.4-655.0] microg/day. The frequency of women at risk for folate intake below the recommendation was 16.0% for adolescents (<330 microg/day) and 6.3% for young adult (<320 microg/ day). The prevalence of women whose consumption exceeds the maximum tolerable intake was 48.0% (> 800 microg/day) and 13.7% (> 1000 microg/day) for adolescents and adults, respectively. The mean of red blood cell folate concentrations was 1797.8 +/- 357.1 nmol/L. Folate rich-food intake did not show any correlation with red blood cell folate concentrations (r = 0.058 and p = 0.274). Higher red blood cell folate concentrations were observed in adult young women (p = 0.004) and among those with income up to two minimum wages (p = 0.042). Folate rich-food intake as well as red blood cell folate concentrations among women from Recife were above the international recommendations.     

同型半胱氨酸致神经管畸形小鼠模型的建立及其作用机制

目的 建立同型半胱氨酸(homocysteine,Hcy)致神经管畸形(neural tube defect,NTD)的小鼠模型,并探讨其作用机制.方法 以单独使用同型半胱氨酸硫代内酯(homocysteine thiolactone,HTL)及联合胱硫醚-β-合成酶(cystathio-nine-β-synthase...     

Body mass index in a group of Venezuelan pregnant women and its relationship with the newborns' anthropometry

To assess the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) at early gestation and the newborns' anthropometry, 105 mother-infant dyads from a public Maternity Hospital in Valencia Venezuela, were studied during 1998-2000. Weight and height of adult women between 10 and 15 weeks of gestation were used to calculate BMI according to Atalah's reference (Low weight, Normal, Over weight). Term newborns were assessed using gestational age calculated according to the Capurro method. Their weight, height, and head circumference were recorded, and were characterized using a Venezuelan reference. Newborns whose birth weight (BW) was pound 10th percentile were considered "small for gestational age" (SGA), and those with BW (3) 90th percentile as "large for gestational age" (LGA). One-way ANOVA and Tukey's Post Hoc test were used for group comparisons. There were 41.9% of "low weight" mothers, and 13.4% of SGA newborns. There were differences in the newborns' weight and height according to "Low weight" maternal BMI with "Normal" and "Over weight" maternal BMI (p < 0.05). A high prevalence of nutritional deficit was observed from the beginning of the gestational period, as well as a relationship between maternal BMI and the newborn's anthropometry.     

Separation and recovery of iron from a low-grade carbonate-bearing iron ore using magnetizing roasting followed by magnetic separation

In this study, a process of magnetizing roasting followed by low-intensity magnetic separation (MR-LMS), which is used to separate and recover iron from a low-grade carbonate-bearing iron ore (containing 34.6 wt.% Fe), was investigated. A magnetic concentrate containing 65.4 wt.% Fe with an iron recovery rate of 92.6 wt.% was obtained under optimal conditions: roasting temperature of 800°C, roasting time of 8 min, bitumite ratio of 10:100, grinding fineness of around 85 wt.% passing 38 µm, and magnetic intensity of 0.12 T. In addition, the phase transformation and magnetic properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) to reveal the mechanism.     

Fragment spectra of cylinders fractured by an impact of a tube from inside

Results of experimental studies on the fracture of steel cylinders by an impact of a tube from inside are presented. The fragment spectrum formed consists of two parts: fragments of the spalled layer and larger fragments of the inner layer. Fragments of the spalled layer are significantly longer. The total number of fragments is 450–600. This is commensurable with the number of fragments obtained when the inside volume of the cylinder is filled by an explosive charge. The mass of the largest fragment is 5% of the mass of the cylinder.Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 128–133, July–August, 1996.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from a fertile grassland in Western Norway following the application of inorganic and organic fertilizers

In Norway, 65 % of the agricultural land is under grassland for feeding ruminants. The objective of the present study was to quantify N₂O emissions from grassland on a fertile sandy loam in Western Norway, and to estimate the response of seasonal N₂O emissions to added inorganic N, cattle slurry (CS) N and clover N. Ammonium nitrate (AN) and CS were applied manually at annual rates of 0, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg AN-N ha^?1, 80 kg CS-N ha^?1 or as a combination of 200 kg AN-N ha^?1 and 80 kg CS-N ha^?1. Background N₂O emissions were five times higher in summer season 2009 than in 2010, but the relative amount of N₂O derived from AN was constant in both periods, amounting to 0.11 % of applied N. CS had no measurable impact on N₂O emissions in 2009, but 0.15 % of CS-N was emitted as N₂O during summer 2010. In the warm year of 2009, which included a drought period, 1–24 % of the N₂O emissions were attributed to the effect of clover depending on fertilization. Clover had no effect on N₂O fluxes in the cool and moist year 2010. Our results suggest that N₂O emissions in fertile Norwegian grasslands are to a great extent controlled by inter-annual variations in background emissions and variable contribution of biologically fixed N and CS-N.     

Removal of iron and manganese from groundwater by oxidation and microfiltration

Iron and manganese can be removed from groundwater by a process which combines oxidation and microfiltration (MF), especially when the concentrations of these metals are high and variable. The present experimental work focused on the MF of iron and manganese oxide suspensions in order to study the effects of the operating variables (tangential flow rate, pressure, metal feed concentrations) on permeate quality and permeation flux decline, i.e., membrane fouling. Artificial and natural groundwaters in which iron and manganese were previously oxidized were used to perform laboratory-scale MF experiments. The results show that the oxide particles, with sizes ranging from 1.5 to 50μm, were efficiently microfiltered even at high concentrations. Within the experimental limits, the effect of operating pressure appeared to be much more significant than the those of tangential flow rate and feed concentration. A relatively high and constant permeation rate of 0.5 m/h was obtained at a pressure below 10 kPa, whereas rapid permeation flux declines were observed at higher pressure. Both artificial and natural groundwaters always exhibited very similar behavior.     

Synthesis and characterization of carbon-encapsulated iron/iron carbide nanoparticles by a detonation method

Carbon-encapsulated iron-based nanoparticles with a core-shell structure were produced by detonation decomposition of explosive mixture precursors containing iron ion components. The size and magnetic properties of the as-prepared composite particles were revealed by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and magnetic measurements. Results showed that the different sizes of the iron-based nanocrystal core and the thickness of the carbon shell could be yielded by adjusting the component materials of the explosive precursors during the course of these detonation chemical reactions. The composite particles had a body-centered cubic iron or iron carbide core with a coating of graphitic or amorphous carbon layers. Magnetic measurements indicated these composite nanoparticles were magnetic at the room temperature, with some variation in the values of saturation magnetization, remanences and coercive forces that depend on the size and grain composition.     

不同来源风化煤对土壤中铁的活化效果研究

采用室内土柱模拟试验方法，通过三种不同来源风化煤处理对土壤呼吸量、pH值、土壤有效铁含量的影响，揭示不同来源风化煤活性的差异及对土壤中铁的活化效果差异。试验结果表明在北方石灰性土壤中施用风化煤，可以显著提高土壤中的有效铁含量及土壤呼吸量，降低土壤pH值。与对照相比，土壤有效铁含量提高幅度为1．17～3．13倍，土壤pH降低幅度为0．3～0．48个pH单位，土壤呼吸量增加2．42％～15．40％，且不同风化煤处理之间达到了差异显著或极显著水平。     

Degradation of surfactant solutions by age and by a flow singularity

Four different surfactants were investigated in a closed hydraulic loop in order to find the influence of age of the solution on drag reducing effectiveness and on decrease of critical shear stress. It shows that aging of a particular surfactant is dependent on its concentration. Different sensitivity of solutions to flow disturbances is also shown.     

Characteristics and gel properties of gelatin from goat skin as affected by spray drying

Gelatin powder from goat skin prepared by spray drying at various inlet temperatures (160–200°C) was characterized. Predominant particle sizes were in the range of 4.65–5.14?µm. Gelatin powder was mostly concave in shape with varying sizes, depending on inlet temperatures used. All gelatin powders were creamy whitish. Powder generally became more yellowish as the inlet temperature of spray drying increased (p?p?p?p?>?0.05). Goat skin gelatin spray dried with inlet temperatures of 160 or 180°C had higher gel strength than commercial bovine gelatin (p?相似文献   

Gravitational deposition of aerosol particles from a developing flow in a horizontal circular tube

Aerosol particle deposition due to gravitational settling in a horizontal circular duct is examined for steady laminar flow, which develops from a uniform velocity profile at the entrance to a parabolic velocity profile downstream. Numerical calculation methods, based on the analysis of the limiting trajectories of the particles, are used to determine the deposition efficiency as a function of the duct entrance length. The results show that the deposition for the limiting cases of very large or small settling approach the solutions for deposition in a slug or a Poiseuille flow, respectively. In addition, particle inertial effects were included and for relatively large inertia, the deposition rate was significantly affected.     

Soil phosphorus pools and cycling as affected by changing land-uses in a semi-steppe ecosystem

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - Land-use changes in native rangelands can greatly affect nutrient cycling processes. While phosphorus (P) is the second most important macronutrient that limits...