Sperm Abnormalities Associated with High Copper Levels in Impala (Aepyceros melampus) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

The morphology of spermatozoa may be affected by very low concentrations of pollutants in the environment, and sublethal effects of toxic substances can be detected by studying the sperm of an animal. Sperm were collected from 50 impala (Aepyceros melampus) from a conservation area in South Africa and studied ultramicroscopically. Thirty-two samples were obtained from animals close to a copper mine, while 18 represented animals from an unpolluted area and held in captivity. Liver samples from all these animals were analyzed for their copper content. The findings from 12 animals kept in captivity and fed on a diet to which copper was added correlated with the findings from the field study. The general condition of the animals as expressed by the fat content of the bone marrow from the area exposed to copper contamination was affected detrimentally in comparison to the animals from the uncontaminated area. High percentages of sperm with neck vacuoles were found in all animals with high liver copper levels. A statistically significant correlation is demonstrated between the percentage of impala sperm with vacuoles in the neck region and the copper concentrations in this group of animals.     

Association between Serum Unmetabolized Folic Acid Concentrations and Folic Acid from Fortified Foods

Objective: To investigate the association between serum unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) concentrations and folic acid from fortified foods and nutrients known as dietary methyl-group donors (folate, methionine, choline, betaine and vitamins B2, B6 and B12) in participants exposed to mandatory fortification of wheat and maize flours with folic acid.

Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out with 144 healthy Brazilian participants, both sexes, supplement nonusers. Serum folate, UMFA, vitamin B12 and total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) were biochemically measured. Dietary intake was assessed by 2 non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls (24-HRs) and deattenuated energy-adjusted nutrient data were used for statistical analysis.

Results: Ninety eight (68.1%) participants were women. Median (interquartile range) age was 35.5 (28.0–52.0) years. Elevated serum folate concentrations (>45 nmol/L) were found in 17 (11.8%), while folate deficiency (<7 nmol/L) in 10 (6.9%) participants. No one had vitamin B12 deficiency (<148 pmol/L). An elevated serum UMFA concentration was defined as > 1 nmol/L (90th percentile). UMFA concentrations were positively correlated with folic acid intake and negatively correlated to choline, methionine and vitamin B6 intakes. Participants in the lowest quartile of UMFA concentrations had lower dietary intake of total folate (DFEs) and folic acid, and higher dietary intake of methionine, choline and vitamin B6 than participants in the highest quartile of UMFA. Folic acid intake (OR [95% CI] = 1.02 [1.01–1.04)] and being a male (OR [95% CI] = 0.40 [0.19–0.87) were associated with increased and reduced odds for UMFA concentrations > 0.55 nmol/L (median values), respectively.

Conclusion: UMFA concentrations were directly influenced by folic acid intake from fortified foods in a healthy convenience sample of adult Brazilians exposed to mandatory flour fortification with folic acid.     

妊娠妇女RDW与血清叶酸变化及其临床意义

目的探讨妊娠妇女红细胞体积分布宽度（RDW）与血清叶酸变化及其临床意义、方法随机选择2008年1月～12月正常妊娠妇女225例作为观察组,孕早、中、晚期各75例．同期健康体检的非妊娠妇女225例作为对照组,比较两组及妊娠各期红细胞（RBC）、血红蛋白（Hb）、RDW、叶酸的变化．结果观察组血清叶酸、Hb水平、RBC计数低于对照组,而RDW则高于对照组（P〈0．05）,随着孕期的延长叶酸、Hb、RBC水平进行性下降,RDW进行性升高,各期比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）结论整个妊娠期血清叶酸低,并随妊娠进展降低,血清叶酸、RDW呈一定的反相关,通过对孕妇叶酸、RDW的测定．判断妊娠期妇女贫血的类型,推测引起孕期贫血发生的可能原因,是一种简单易行的诊断方法,对于孕期贫血临床治疗有一定的指导意义、     

Smoking Is Associated With Abdominal Obesity,Not Overall Obesity,in Men With Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives

Abdominal obesity increases mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease and there is a possibility that smoking effects obesity. However, previous studies concerning the effects of smoking on obesity are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine whether smoking is positively related to abdominal obesity in men with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Subjects consisted of 2197 type 2 diabetic patients who visited Huh''s Diabetes Center from 2003 to 2009. Indices of abdominal obesity were defined as visceral fat thickness (VFT) measured by ultrasonography and waist circumference (WC). Overall obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI).

Results

Statistically significant differences in WC and VFT by smoking status were identified. However, there was no statistical difference in BMI according to smoking status. Means of WC and VFT were not significantly higher in heavy smokers and lower in mild smokers. Compared to nonsmokers, the BMI confounder adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for VFT in ex-smokers and current-smokers were 1.70 (1.21 to 2.39) and 1.86 (1.27 to 2.73), respectively.

Conclusions

Smoking status was positively associated with abdominal obesity in type 2 diabetic patients.     

Folic Acid Food Fortification in Canada

By January 1998, most Canadian cereal grains (e.g., white flour) were being fortified with folic acid, with a large percentage being fortified by mid-1997. This was in compliance with both American and Canadian mandatory fortification deadlines of January and November 1998, respectively. It was estimated that between 0.1 to 0.2 mg of additional synthetic folic acid per day would be provided through this initiative, the goal of which was to lower the rate of neural tube defects (NTD). The current report outlines some of the changes to the health status of Canadians in relation to its folic acid food fortification initiative.     

Epidemiology and (Patho)Physiology of Folic Acid Supplement Use in Obese Women before and during Pregnancy

Preconception folic acid supplement use is a well-known method of primary prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). Obese women are at a higher risk for having a child with a NTD. As different international recommendations on folic acid supplement use for obese women before and during pregnancy exist, this narrative review provides an overview of epidemiology of folate deficiency in obese (pre)pregnant women, elaborates on potential mechanisms underlying folate deficiency, and discusses considerations for the usage of higher doses of folic acid supplements. Women with obesity more often suffer from an absolute folate deficiency, as they are less compliant to periconceptional folic acid supplement use recommendations. In addition, their dietary folate intake is limited due to an unbalanced diet (relative malnutrition). The association of obesity and NTDs also seems to be independent of folate intake, with studies suggesting an increased need of folate (relative deficiency) due to derangements involved in other pathways. The relative folate deficiency, as a result of an increased metabolic need for folate in obese women, can be due to: (1) low-grade chronic inflammation (2) insulin resistance, (3) inositol, and (4) dysbiotic gut microbiome, which plays a role in folate production and uptake. In all these pathways, the folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism is involved. In conclusion, scientific evidence of the involvement of several folate-related pathways implies to increase the recommended folic acid supplementation in obese women. However, the physiological uptake of synthetic folic acid is limited and side-effects of unmetabolized folic acid in mothers and offspring, in particular variations in epigenetic (re)programming with long-term health effects, cannot be excluded. Therefore, we emphasize on the urgent need for further research and preconception personalized counseling on folate status, lifestyle, and medical conditions.     

Excess Vitamins or Imbalance of Folic Acid and Choline in the Gestational Diet Alter the Gut Microbiota and Obesogenic Effects in Wistar Rat Offspring

Excess vitamin intake during pregnancy leads to obesogenic phenotypes, and folic acid accounts for many of these effects in male, but not in female, offspring. These outcomes may be modulated by another methyl nutrient choline and attributed to the gut microbiota. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed an AIN-93G diet with recommended vitamin (RV), high 10-fold multivitamin (HV), high 10-fold folic acid with recommended choline (HFol) or high 10-fold folic acid without choline (HFol-C) content. Male and female offspring were weaned to a high-fat RV diet for 12 weeks post-weaning. Removing choline from the HFol gestational diet resulted in obesogenic phenotypes that resembled more closely to HV in male and female offspring with higher body weight, food intake, glucose response to a glucose load and body fat percentage with altered activity, concentrations of short-chain fatty acids and gut microbiota composition. Gestational diet and sex of the offspring predicted the gut microbiota differences. Differentially abundant microbes may be important contributors to obesogenic outcomes across diet and sex. In conclusion, a gestational diet high in vitamins or imbalanced folic acid and choline content contributes to the gut microbiota alterations consistent with the obesogenic phenotypes of in male and female offspring.     

Women Taking a Folic Acid Supplement in Countries with Mandatory Food Fortification Programs May Be Exceeding the Upper Tolerable Limit of Folic Acid: A Systematic Review

Background: In preconception and pregnancy, women are encouraged to take folic acid-based supplements over and above food intake. The upper tolerable limit of folic acid is 1000 mcg per day; however, this level was determined to avoid masking a vitamin B12 deficiency and not based on folic acid bioavailability and metabolism. This review’s aim is to assess the total all-source intake of folate in women of childbearing age and in pregnancy in high-income countries with folate food fortification programs. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in five databases to find studies published since 1998 that reported folate and folic acid intake in countries with a mandatory fortification policy. Results: Women of childbearing age do not receive sufficient folate intake from food sources alone even when consuming fortified food products; however, almost all women taking a folic acid-based supplement exceed the upper tolerable limit of folic acid intake. Conclusions: Folic acid supplement recommendations and the upper tolerable limit of 1000 mcg set by policy makers warrant careful review in light of potential adverse effects of exceeding the upper tolerable limit on folic acid absorption and metabolism, and subsequent impacts on women’s health during their childbearing years.     

Disability Associated With Obesity,Dynapenia and Dynapenic-Obesity in Chinese Older Adults

ObjectivesWhether the combination of obesity and low muscle strength (dynapenic-obesity) would cause greater impairment of the activities of daily living (ADL)/instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) than obesity alone and low muscle strength alone (dynapenia) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to reveal the possible independent and additive effects of dynapenia and obesity on ADL/IADL disability in an older Chinese population.MethodsA cross-sectional study, including 616 community-dwelling older adults, was conducted in China from 2010 to 2012. Based on the World Health Organization Asian Criteria of Obesity and handgrip strength tertiles, 4 independent groups were identified as follows: nondynapenia/nonobesity, dynapenia alone, obesity alone, and dynapenic-obesity. The Katz Index of Independence in ADL was used to assess ADL disability, whereas 6 IADL items of the Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) multidimensional functional assessment questionnaire were used to assess IADL disability.ResultsThe prevalence of ADL and IADL disability was 21.1% and 28.9% in the dynapenic-obesity group, 15.5% and 22.6% in the dynapenia alone group, 13.1% and 19.6% in the obesity alone group, and 11.9% and 12.9% in the nondynapenia/nonobesity group, respectively. After adjusting for the covariates, in comparison with the dynapenic-obesity group, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for ADL disability were 0.36 (0.13–0.73) in the nondynapenia/nonobesity group, 0.51 (0.20–0.78) in the dynapenia-alone group, and 0.40 (0.11–0.61) in the obesity-alone group. The corresponding data for IADL disability were 0.55 (0.20–0.93), 0.82 (0.39–0.98), and 0.61 (0.30–0.91), respectively.ConclusionDynapenia, obesity, and dynapenic-obesity were associated with an increased risk of ADL/IADL disability. Dynapenic-obesity was associated with a greater risk of ADL/IADL disability in comparison with dynapenia or obesity alone.     

Eating Behaviors,Mental Health,and Food Intake Are Associated With Obesity in Older Congregate Meal Participants

The relationship between eating behaviors, food intake, and mental health and the occurrence of obesity in older adults has rarely been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish the associative links of these factors with two measures of obesity: class I obesity as indicated by body mass index (OB-BMI; BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and class I obesity as indicated by waist circumference (OB-WC; WC ≥43 inches for men and ≥42 inches for women). Older adults participating in the Older American's Act congregate meal program (N = 113, mean age = 74 years, 74% female, 45% African American) were assessed. Eating behaviors (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating), food group choices (sweets, salty snacks, and fruits), and mental health indices (depression, anxiety, and stress) were recorded by questionnaire and related to measured occurrence of OB-BMI and OB-WC. In a series of multivariate logistical regression models, we found cognitive restraint to be consistently and robustly associated with both measures of obesity. In the fully adjusted model, cognitive restraint, consumption of sweets, anxiety, and lack of depression were associated with OB-WC. In summary, we found an association of obesity with abnormal eating behaviors, certain food group intakes, and mental health symptoms in this population. These findings may guide the development of future weight management interventions in a congregate meal setting.     

云南省用叶酸预防先天出生缺陷的现状和对策

目的：了解用叶酸来预防先天畸形的知识在云南相关人群中的知晓率和行为、及叶酸增补剂在云南的推广应用情况，由此提出进一步在云南推广叶酸预防出生缺陷的对策。方法：（1）在医保人员，来婚检的妇女和孕妇中进行问卷调查，将结果进行X^2检验和方差分析。（2）向叶酸增补剂在云南的销售代理了解叶酸在云南的销售结果。结果：在153名妇幼卫生人员中，66.0％（101/153）知道服用叶酸可以减少先天畸形儿的发生，23.5％（36/153）知道叶酸应当从孕前开始服用，而仅有4.6％（7/153）的人给出叶酸每天适当的摄入范围是0.4mg-1.0mg；194名来婚检的妇女中，仅有4人（2.1％）知道叶酸可以防止胎儿畸形，2人知道要从孕前服用；210名孕妇中，31.9％（67/210）的孕妇知道叶酸与先天畸形的关系，14.3％（30/210）孕妇在服用叶酸增补剂，而仅有4人（1.9％）从孕前开始服用。2002年1-10月，云南叶酸增补剂的销售总量约5000人份，约为同期孕妇总量的1.0％。结论：叶酸预防神经管畸形等出生缺陷的知识还没有得到很好的普及，叶酸增补剂利用率低。建议加强政府行为，加大宣传力度，更新观念，增加叶酸在妇女中的知晓率和利用率。     

子痫前期孕妇血清和胎盘组织中视黄醇结合蛋白4的表达及意义

目的 分析子痫前期（PE）孕妇血清和胎盘组织视黄醇结合蛋白4（RBP4）的表达及其与胰岛素抵抗（IR）之间的关系,以探讨RBP4在PE发病中的可能作用机制.方法 选择2011年12月至2012年12月于解放军第202医院住院分娩的汉族、单胎孕妇92例为研究对象,按照不同疾病类型,将其分为3组,妊娠期高血压疾病患者28例纳入A组,轻度PE患者30例纳入B组,重度PE患者34例纳入C组,选择同期于本院住院分娩的无妊娠期并发症,且经剖宫产分娩的单胎孕妇32例纳入对照组（D组）.采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测其血清RBP4水平,并计算稳态模型的胰岛素抵抗（HOMA-IR）指数;并采用蛋白质印记技术（Western blot）检测各组孕妇胎盘组织RBP4蛋白表达情况（本研究遵循的程序符合解放军第202医院人体试验委员会制定的伦理学标准,得到该委员会批准,分组征得受试对象的知情同意,并与之签署临床研究知情同意书）.结果 ①C组孕妇空腹血糖（FPG）,HOMA-IR指数及血清RBP4水平显著高于另3组,组间比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,B,C组血清空腹胰岛素（FINS）水平高于A,D组,组间比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）.②C组孕妇胎盘组织中RBP4蛋白含量最高,B组胎盘组织中RBP4蛋白含量高于D组,组间比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）.③血清RBP4水平与FPG,HOMA-IR指数以及胎盘组织RBP4蛋白含量呈正相关关系（r=0.277,0.315,0.379;P=0.025,0.010,0.002）.结论 RBP4有可能通过增加IR导致PE的发生.     

Maternal Folic Acid Deficiency Is Associated to Developing Nasal and Palate Malformations in Mice

Craniofacial development requires extremely fine-tuned developmental coordination of multiple specialized tissues. It has been evidenced that a folate deficiency (vitamin B₉), or its synthetic form, folic acid (FA), in maternal diet could trigger multiple craniofacial malformations as oral clefts, tongue, or mandible abnormalities. In this study, a folic acid-deficient (FAD) diet was administered to eight-week-old C57/BL/6J female mouse for 2–16 weeks. The head symmetry, palate and nasal region were studied in 24 control and 260 experimental fetuses. Our results showed a significant reduction in the mean number of fetuses per litter according to maternal weeks on FAD diet (p < 0.01). Fetuses were affected by cleft palate (3.8%) as well as other severe congenital abnormalities, for the first time related to maternal FAD diet, as head asymmetries (4.6%), high arched palate (3.5%), nasal septum malformed (7.3%), nasopharynx duct shape (15%), and cilia and epithelium abnormalities (11.2% and 5.8%). Dysmorphologies of the nasal region were the most frequent, appearing at just four weeks following a maternal FAD diet. This is the first time that nasal region development is experimentally related to this vitamin deficiency. In conclusion, our report offers novel discoveries about the importance of maternal folate intake on midface craniofacial development of the embryos. Moreover, the longer the deficit lasts, the more serious the consequent effects appear to be.     

Higher Serum Levels of Resistin Are Associated With Knee Synovitis and Structural Abnormalities in Patients With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis

ObjectiveResistin acts as an endogenous ligand of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 that triggers major inflammatory pathways and mediates inflammatory processes. The role of resistin in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis is unclear. The aim of this study is to describe the longitudinal associations of serum levels of resistin with knee synovitis measures and structural abnormalities in patients with knee OA.DesignA prospective cohort study.Setting and participantsPatients (n = 200) with symptomatic knee OA (mean age 63.1 years, range 49-79; female 46.5%) participated.MeasuresAll measures were performed at baseline and 2 years later. Serum resistin was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) high signal intensity alteration and effusion synovitis were measured from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Knee structures including cartilage volume, cartilage defects, and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) were also assessed by MRI semiquantitatively or quantitatively. Linear or logistic mixed effects regression analyses were used in longitudinal analyses.ResultsSerum resistin was positively associated with high signal intensity alteration measures of IPFP as well as the presence [relative risk = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02, 1.10] and volume (β = 0.77, 95% CI 0.01, 1.53) of effusion synovitis in multivariable analyses. Serum levels of resistin were also positively associated with higher tibiofemoral cartilage defect (β = 1.98, 95% CI 0.34, 3.57) and BML scores (β = 3.18, 95% CI 0.99, 5.37) after adjustment for covariates.Conclusion and implicationsHigher serum levels of resistin are associated with knee synovitis surrogate measures and structural abnormalities, suggesting that obesity may promote OA not only by increasing weight loading on joints but also by triggering 1 or more inflammatory pathways.     

孕期缺乏叶酸对孕妇及胎儿的影响

目的:为进一步探讨孕早期缺乏叶酸对孕妇及胎儿可能产生的影响。方法:分别选取某县计划生育服务站孕期检查普及并预防性投放叶酸前后的妇女进行血细胞分析及胎儿B超检测。结果:投放叶酸后的孕妇巨幼红细胞性贫血及胎儿神经管缺陷的发生率比投放前的发生率有所下降。结论:孕期缺乏叶酸可导致孕妇巨幼红细胞性贫血及胎儿神经管缺陷的发生。     

叶酸对血浆同型半胱氨酸和血管内皮功能的影响

研究报道，同型半胱氨酸(homocysteine，Hcy)是冠心病的独立危险因子。叶酸参与Hcy的代谢过程，所以叶酸可对冠心病的发生及转归产生影响。本研究旨在观察叶酸补充对冠心病患者Hcy和血管内皮功能的影响。     

同型半胱氨酸诱发鸡胚神经管畸形及叶酸的保护作用

为了揭示同型半胱氨酸（ｈｏｍｏｃｙｓｔｅｉｎｅ，ＨＣＹ）是否能导致胚胎发生神经管畸形（ＮＴＤｓ）和可能的致畸机制及验证叶酸和ＶＢ１２的干预效果，本研究应用鸡胚致畸试验、扫描电镜观察、尼罗兰盐活体染色、原位ＤＮＡ片段末端标记、甲基绿—派若宁染色显示核酸法、叶酸和Ｂ１２干预实验等方法检测了用ＨＣＹ（０～１６μｍｏｌ／胚胎）的不同胚龄胚胎１２７４只。结果显示ＨＣＹ对神经胚形成期和器官形成期的胚胎均有显著的致畸性并呈剂量－反应关系（Ｐ＜０．０００１），鸡胚发生ＮＴＤｓ的主要表现是露脑，裂脑和脊柱裂。首次发现ＨＣＹ能诱发神经系统细胞凋亡过度，其部位与ＮＴＤｓ发生部位相吻合。ＨＣＹ能抑制卵黄囊血管分化；损伤羊膜组织及细胞超微结构，如微绒毛变短，胞膜上出现空洞样变等。注射５μｇ叶酸明显拮抗ＨＣＹ（８μｍｏｌ／胚胎）的致畸性，ＮＴＤｓ发生率由４３．５％降至０（Ｐ＜０．０５）；注射１μｇＶＢ１２不能明显保护胚胎（Ｐ＞０．０５）。本研究结果说明ＨＣＹ能诱导胚胎发生ＮＴＤｓ；细胞凋亡在ＮＴＤｓ发生过程中起重要作用；叶酸能有效地预防ＮＴＤｓ；ＨＣＹ自身所诱发的ＮＴＤｓ可能是多种机制相互作用或联合作用的结果     

Maternal Compliance to Recommended Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnancy,Sri Lanka: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy is a common public health problem that negatively affects maternal and newborn health. This study aims to identify the rate of maternal compliance with the recommended iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation during pregnancy and to identify factors associated with maternal compliance and non-compliance. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 703 women at 0–4 days postpartum. The prevalence of anaemia at the initial antenatal clinic (ANC) visit and at the third trimester were 20.8% and 44.9%, respectively. The rate of IFA supplementation compliance during pregnancy was 80.1%. Forgetfulness (66.9%) was the major reason for non-compliance, followed by side effects (15.7%). Maternal employment [OR (95%CI): 1.7 (1.00–2.89)], history of a low birth weight infant [OR (95%CI): 0.4 (0.19–0.9)] and history of anaemia [OR (95%CI): 0.4 (0.12–0.98] were significantly associated with maternal compliance with IFA supplementation. Only 26.6% of the participants adhered to dietary recommendations during the period when IFA supplements were provided. The rate of maternal compliance with IFA supplementation was high. However, the prevalence of maternal anaemia during pregnancy was also high, which was presumably due to poor dietary compliance despite high IFA supplementation compliance.     

皮诺敛酸抑制小鼠营养性肥胖作用研究

<正>研究表明松籽油中特有的皮诺敛酸(pinolenic acid,all-cis-5,9,12,18:3)能够调节血脂异常[1],在美国已有以其为主要功能成分的减肥食品出售。本研究探讨其减肥作用。1对象与方法1.1仪器与试剂Varian 400 MS气相色谱-质谱联用仪:美国Varian公司。冷冻离心机:Heraeus,尼康ECLIPSE