血清可溶性转铁蛋白受体在铁营养状况评价中的价值

目的了解青春期女性血清可溶性转铁蛋白受体（s．TfR）水平及其在铁营养状况评价中的价值。方法1．选择目标人群中的健康者为研究对象,确定该人群s—TfR的参考值范围。2．采用传统的评价指标将目标人群分为铁营养状况正常组,隐性缺铁（rlD）组和缺铁性贫血（IDA）组,比较3组的血清铁蛋白（SF）、s—TIR、s—TfR／lgSF和血红蛋白（Hb）水平。3．用两种不同的方法诊断IDA,分别比较IDA组与非IDA贫血（non-IDA）组及正常组与non-IDA组SF、s—TfR、s—TfR／lgSF、Hb水平。结果1．该人群血清s—TfR参考值范围为1．616～24．516μmol／L。2．按照传统诊断方法,不同铁营养状况组的s—TfR、s—TfR／lgSF、Hb值差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,SF值在rlD和IDA两组间差异无统计学意义。3．用SF＋Hb法诊断IDA,IDA组和non．IDA组的s—TfR水平差异无统计学意义,non—IDA组的s-TfR值已超出该人群参考值的上限,是正常均值的2．36倍;non—IDA组的s．TfR,s-TfR／lgSF值均高于正常组;用SF＋Hb＋s-TfR法诊断IDA,IDA组和non—IDA组比较,SF、s-TfR、s—TfR／IgSF值差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;除Hb外,non—IDA组与正常组的各项铁生化指标差异均无统计学意义。结论s．TfR能很好的反映机体铁营养状况,在评价人群（尤其存在感染情况的人群）的铁营养状况时,联合应用s—TfR和SF两项指标,可能会有效地提高诊断灵敏度和特异度。     

Usefulness of serum transferrin receptor and serum ferritin in diagnosis of iron deficiency in infancy

BACKGROUND: The serum transferrin receptor (TfR) and the ratio of TfR to serum ferritin (TfR:SF) have been shown to be useful as early indicators of iron deficiency. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of TfR and TfR:SF in the assessment of iron deficiency in infants and to analyze age-related changes in both variables. DESIGN: A total of 716 blood samples obtained from 515 healthy infants aged 8-15 mo were studied. RESULTS: In 144 samples in which all other laboratory indicators of iron status were within the reference range, the median and 95% CI for TfR and TfR:SF were 8.5 mg/L (95% CI: 5.9, 13.5) and 497 (95% CI: 134, 975), respectively. TfR and TfR:SF were significantly correlated with the other laboratory indicators of iron status. Furthermore, as the severity of iron deficiency progressed, there was a gradual increase in mean TfR concentration (P: < 0.00001; analysis of variance). The sensitivity of TfR > 13.5 mg/L and TfR:SF > 975 in the diagnosis of iron deficiency was 23.6% and 68.4%, respectively. The specificity was 98.3% and 63.3% for TfR and TfR:SF, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of SF < 10 microg/L were 63.7% and 60.8%, respectively. Receiver operator characteristic analysis showed that TfR and TfR:SF were more accurate than was SF alone in the diagnosis of iron deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: TfR and TfR:SF showed age-related changes; TfR and TfR:SF appear to be better diagnostic tests for iron deficiency in infants than SF.     

Response of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum transferrin receptor during iron supplementation in pregnancy: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of iron supplementation on biochemical indicators of iron status, namely hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), and serum transferrin receptor (sTfR), during pregnancy. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 73 pregnant women who received daily supplements of 60 mg of iron and 500 microg of folic acid for 100 d from 19 wk of gestation. The indicators of iron status (Hb, SF, and sTfR) at 19, 27, and 35 wk of gestation were analyzed. The response of iron status indicators to iron supplementation was assessed in the cohort and in pregnant women who were anemic (n = 35) and non-anemic (n = 38) at 19 wk. RESULTS: All three indicators of iron status during supplementation (27 and 35 wk) were similar to the presupplementation status. The sTfR as an indicator correlated negatively with presupplementation Hb levels (r = -0.417). Based on sTfR level in iron-adequate pregnant women, a cutoff value of at least 12.0 mg/L was derived to define iron deficiency in pregnancy. When the response was tested in anemic pregnant women, iron supplementation improved mean Hb (P < 0.05) at the end of 35 wk (96 +/- 8.8 to 110 +/- 20.2 g/L) of gestation, with no change in SF. Conversely, non-anemic pregnant women showed a significant increase in SF and a decrease in Hb (122 +/- 11.6 to 112 +/- 15.2 g/L) at 35 wk of gestation. A significant effect of iron intake on sTfR was seen only among iron-deficient anemic women. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that, during pregnancy, sTfR responds to iron supplementation when there is iron-deficiency anemia and therefore can be used as an indicator.     

血清铁、TIBC、Tf、SF在缺铁性贫血患儿中的变化及其意义

目的 分析血清铁(SI)、总铁结合力(TIBC)、转铁蛋白(Tf)和铁蛋白(SF)在缺铁性贫血(IDA)患儿中的变化及意义,为临床诊治提供参考依据。方法 选取2014年1月-2016年2月在海南省妇幼保健院治疗的贫血患儿101例,其中IDA患儿67例(IDA组),慢性疾病性贫血(ACD)34例(ACD组),同时选取健康儿童100例作为对照组,检测各组血清SI、TIBC、Tf和SF水平。结果 IDA组患儿SI和SF分别为(4.70±1.30) mol/L和(59.43±18.84) g/L,明显低于对照组和ACD组(P＜0.05);IDA组患儿TIBC为(74.60±6.52) mol/L,明显高于对照组和ACD组(P＜0.05);IDA组和ACD组Tf分别为(3.30±0.52)g/L和(3.35±0.60)g/L,均明显高于对照组(P＜0.05);SI、TIBC和SF 诊断IDA的受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积分别为0.837、0.822和0.755(P＜0.05),Tf ROC曲线下面积为0.515(P＞0.05);SI、TIBC和SF截断值分别为6.99 mol/L、61.90 mol/L和71.92 g/L,诊断IDA的灵敏度分别为73.50%、97.00%和73.50%,特异度分别为94.00%、64.70%和70.10%。结论 SI、TIBC和SF在小儿缺铁性贫血诊断中有一定的价值,可作为缺铁性贫血和慢性疾病性贫血鉴别诊断指标。     

Fat-soluble-vitamin status during the first year of life in infants with cystic fibrosis identified by screening of newborns

We investigated the fat-soluble-vitamin status during the first year of life in 36 infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) consecutively identified by screening of newborns. At initial evaluation (at age 51.0 +/- 26.7 d) 36% of patients were hypoalbuminemic, 21% had low serum retinol, 35% had low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. 38% had low serum alpha-tocopherol and low ratios of serum vitamin E to total lipids, and none had elevated protein in vitamin K absence (PIVKA). Hypoalbuminemia was more common in breast-fed than in formula-fed infants. Seventy-two-hour fecal fat excretion correlated inversely with serum alpha-tocopherol. Treatment with oral pancreatic enzyme supplements, a multiple vitamin, and additional vitamin E was associated with normalization of serum albumin, retinol, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D and negative PIVKA at age 6 and 12 mo. Approximately 10% of patients remained vitamin E deficient. Biochemical evidence of fat-soluble-vitamin deficiencies is common before age 3 mo in patients with CF and, except for vitamin E, these deficiencies corrected with standard therapy.     

铁缺乏儿童血清转铁蛋白受体的变化及对铁干预的反应

目的观察血清转铁蛋白受体(sTfR)在铁状况正常和不同程度缺铁儿童体内的水平和铁干预后的变化,评价sTfR在筛检人群铁缺乏和补铁效果中的价值.方法初筛北京房山区6～14岁儿童1006名,检测其铁生化指标,从中筛选铁正常、贮存铁减少(ID)、红细胞生成缺铁(IDE)和缺铁性贫血(IDA)儿童239名,采用双抗体夹心ELISA法测定sTfR含量,计算sTfR/log血清铁蛋白(SF).对铁缺乏儿童给予口服乙二胺四乙酸钠铁胶囊(60mg元素铁/粒),每次1粒,ID与IDE儿童,每周1次,IDA儿童每周3次,连续9周.补铁后重复测定铁生化指标与sTfR,比较补铁前后sTfR的变化.结果ID、IDE、IDA期儿童sTfR含量分别为(20.03±2.33)nmol/L、(24.52±1.07)nmol/L和(33.28±6.09)nmol/L,sTfR/logSF值分别为18.15±5.31、20.98±8.88和29.08±8.57,均显著高于正常对照组的sTfR(18.74±3.06)nmol/L与sTfR/logSF值9.89±1.74.sTfR与红细胞游离原卟啉(FEP)、血红蛋白(Hb)显著相关.正常儿童sTfR为12.5～23.5nmol/L.补铁后,ID、IDE与IDA期儿童sTfR含量为(16.37±3.10)nmol/L,明显低于补铁前水平,但在IDE与IDA期没有变化;ID期儿童sTfR/logSF值分别为11.42±3.12、16.54±4.70和23.59±9.93,与补铁前相比均显著降低.结论sTfR为鉴定铁缺乏IDE与IDA期的特异指标,sTfR/logSF为观察补铁效果的敏感指标.     

Relationship between the iron status of pregnant women and their newborns

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between iron nutritional status of pregnant women and their newborns using a combination of hematological and biochemical parameters for the diagnosis of iron deficiency. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jundiaí, Southeastern Brazil, in 2000. Venous blood samples collected from 95 pregnant women and from their umbilical cord and used for the determination of complete blood count, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, serum ferritin, zinc protoporphyrin, and transferrin saturation. Women were classified into three groups: anemic, iron deficient and non-iron deficient. Statistical analysis included the Tukey-HSD test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Among pregnant women, 19% were anemic (97.9% mildly anemic and 2.1% moderately anemic) and 30.5% were iron deficient. No significant difference was seen in mean values of any parameter studied between newborns in the three groups (p>0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed weak association between neonatal and maternal parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The iron nutritional status of pregnant women with iron deficiency or mild anemia does not seem to have a significant impact on the iron levels of their children.     

Relationships among iron absorption, percent saturation of plasma transferrin and serum ferritin concentration in humans

The percent absorption of iron from four dietary sources was compared in 2018 human subjects with three indicators of iron status, serum ferritin concentration, percent saturation of plasma transferrin and iron absorption from a reference dose of ferrous sulfate. Higher correlation coefficients (r) were obtained by comparing dietary iron absorption with the reference dose absorption rather than with serum ferritin; for example, r = +0.61 and r = -0.38, respectively, for a meat and vegetable meal. However, in practice serum ferritin is almost as efficient as the reference dose absorption in estimating dietary iron absorption, because the 95% confidence limits calculated from the regression equations were very similar. The values of r calculated for iron absorption versus transferrin saturation were comparable to those obtained with the other indicators only in the range of transferrin saturation values below 25%, whereas in more iron-replete subjects (transferrin saturation greater than 25%), this correlation virtually disappeared. This indicates that, although both serum ferritin and transferrin saturation reflect iron status in iron-depleted subjects, the control of iron absorption in iron-replete subjects is more dependent on iron stores as reflected in the serum ferritin concentration than the percent saturation of transferrin.     

Comparison of plasma ferritin concentration with the ratio of plasma transferrin receptor to ferritin in estimating body iron stores: results of 4 intervention trials

BACKGROUND: Efforts to develop global programs for the control of iron deficiency require simple, low-cost, and accurate indicators of iron status. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare estimates of body iron (BI) stores, as calculated from either plasma ferritin concentration alone (BI-ferritin) or the ratio of plasma transferrin receptor (TfR) to ferritin (BI-TfR/ferritin). DESIGN: Data were analyzed from 4 previously completed, randomized intervention trials that enrolled infants, schoolchildren, or pregnant women (total n = 1189, after excluding subjects with elevated C-reactive protein). RESULTS: The correlation coefficients between BI-ferritin and BI-TfR/ferritin were >0.95 for all studies. The kappa index ranged from 0.5 to 1.0. All of the sensitivities of BI-ferritin for identifying persons with low iron stores (defined as BI-TfR/ferritin < 0 mg/kg body wt) were >0.90. All of the specificities were >0.90 except the study of pregnant women (specificity = 0.66). The effect sizes of iron intervention trials were significantly greater for change in iron reserves estimated by BI-TfR/ferritin than by BI-ferritin in 2 studies with larger effect sizes (1.11 compared with 1.00 and 1.56 compared with 1.44, respectively; P < 0.05) and 1 study with medium effect size (0.70 compared with 0.57; P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between estimates of these effect sizes for 1 study with a medium effect size and 1 study with a smaller effect size (0.78 compared with 0.83 and 0.37 compared with 0.35, respectively; P > 0.2). CONCLUSION: Plasma ferritin concentration alone provides a good approximation of total BI reserves, as estimated by BI-TfR/ferritin, on the basis of high correlation, sensitivity, and specificity among nonpregnant persons with unelevated C-reactive protein.     

Aspirin intake and the use of serum ferritin as a measure of iron status

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis, a primary cause of myocardial infarction (MI), is an inflammatory disease. Aspirin use lowers risk of MI, probably through antithrombotic and antiinflammatory effects. Because serum ferritin (SF) can be elevated spuriously by inflammation, reported associations between elevated SF, used as an indicator of iron stores, and heart disease could be confounded by occult inflammation and aspirin use if they affect SF independently of iron status. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that aspirin use is associated with reduced SF. DESIGN: We used analysis of covariance to investigate the relation between SF and categories of aspirin use in 913 elderly participants aged 67-96 y in the Framingham Heart Study. RESULTS: After adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, concentrations of C-reactive protein and liver enzymes, white blood cell count, and use of nonaspirin nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and other medications, subjects who took >7 aspirins/wk had a significantly lower (by 25%) geometric mean SF than did nonusers, who took <1 aspirin/wk (71 compared with 95 microg/L, respectively; P for trend = 0.004). This effect of aspirin on SF was more marked in diseased subjects than in healthy subjects (mean SF was 50% lower compared with 21% lower, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin use is associated with lower SF. We suggest this effect results from possible increased occult blood loss and a cytokine-mediated effect on SF in subjects with inflammation, infection, or liver disease. The relations between aspirin, inflammation, and SF may confound epidemiologic associations between elevated SF, as an indicator of iron stores, and heart disease risk.     

血清铁、铁蛋白、转铁蛋白联合检测在儿童营养性缺铁性贫血筛查中的价值

目的探讨血清铁(SI)、铁蛋白(SF)、转铁蛋白(TRF)联合检测在儿童营养性缺铁性贫血筛查中的应用价值,为临床诊治提供参考。方法选取2016年3月-2017年6月在绵阳市中心医院接受诊治的80例营养性缺铁性贫血患儿作为研究组(A组),另选取同期在该院接受诊治的74例非营养性缺铁性贫血患儿作为非缺铁性贫血组(B组),选取同期在该院接受健康体检的70例正常儿童作为对照组(C组),3组儿童均接受SI、SF、TRF检测,对比单独检测与联合检测的敏感性、特异性及准确度。结果A组患儿的血清SI、SF水平均低于B组、C组,B组患儿的血清SI、SF水平均高于C组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。A组患儿的血清TRF高于B组、C组,B组患儿的血清TRF水平高于C组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。联合检测敏感性、准确度均高于血清SI及SF、TRF单独检测,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论SI、SF、TRF联合检测在儿童营养性缺铁性贫血筛查中应用价值高,能有效反映机体储存、利用铁情况,利于鉴别、诊断营养性缺铁性贫血,提高诊断敏感性、准确性,值得临床推广。     

蛋白质芯片检测可溶性转铁蛋白受体条件的优化研究

目的优化蛋白芯片检测可溶性转铁蛋白受体(sTfR)的技术条件。方法用芯片点样仪将血清铁蛋白的一种抗体点样于PSG芯片上,用其另一种抗体做为检测抗体,以Cy3标记的羊抗做为二抗进行检测。以双抗夹心法对sTfR抗原进行检测。结果以sTfR单克隆鼠抗为固定探针,选择接触式点样进行芯片点样,预点样在40以后可出现较好的点样一致性;sTfR的固定探针的浓度选择0.25mg/ml,其检测抗体的浓度为0.18μg/ml;3%脱脂乳粉和GE公司的羊抗兔IgG被优选为封闭剂与第二抗体。sTfR检测下限与生物检测限分别为0.253ng/ml和0.78ng/ml;建立了对sTfR具有最佳相关系数的回归方程(r=0.99699)与标准曲线。结论该研究优化了用于sTfR检测的蛋白芯片检测条件,从而建立了定量检测sTfR的蛋白芯片平台。     

Serum transferrin receptor and zinc protoporphyrin as indicators of iron status in African children

BACKGROUND: Although transferrin receptor (TfR) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) are often used to define iron status in school-age children in developing countries, the diagnostic cutoffs for this age group are uncertain. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of TfR and ZnPP in predicting iron deficiency in black and white children in Africa. DESIGN: Hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin (SF), TfR, and ZnPP were measured in children in C?te d'Ivoire and Morocco. We excluded children with elevated CRP and then used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate TfR and ZnPP alone and in combination in screening for iron deficiency, defined as an SF concentration <15 mug/L, and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), defined as an SF concentration <15 mug/L and low hemoglobin. RESULTS: The sample included 2814 children aged 5-15 y. The sensitivity and specificity of TfR and ZnPP were limited by considerable overlap between iron-sufficient, nonanemic children and those with IDA. On the basis of ROC curves, we identified diagnostic cutoffs for TfR and ZnPP that achieved specificities and sensitivities of approximately 60-80%. Separate cutoffs for C?te d'Ivoire and Morocco gave the best performance; the cutoffs for both TfR and ZnPP were higher in C?te d'Ivoire. Moreover, a comparison of nonanemic, iron-sufficient subjects showed that Ivorian children had significantly higher TfR and ZnPP concentrations than did Moroccan children (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: New diagnostic cutoffs for TfR and ZnPP, based on ROC curve analyses, may improve the performance of these indexes in defining iron status in children. Significant ethnic differences in TfR and ZnPP suggest that separate cutoffs may be needed for black and white children.     

Evaluation of serum transferrin receptor for iron deficiency in women of child-bearing age

The objective was to study the evaluation of serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) for Fe deficiency in women of child-bearing age. Primary screening was performed in 942 women ranging in child-bearing age. Serum ferritin (SF), Zn protoporphyrin (ZPP) and Hb were determined. Then the subjects were divided into four groups: normal, Fe store depletion (IDs), Fe-deficiency erythropoiesis and Fe-deficiency anaemia. sTfR was determined and sTfR/SF (sTfR/logSF and log(sTfR/SF)) was calculated. Changes of sTfR in women of different Fe status were observed. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate whether sTfR had proper diagnostic efficacy for functional Fe deficiency. The levels of sTfR increased significantly along with the aggravation of Fe deficiency. Increase of STfR/SF along with the aggravation of Fe deficiency was more significant than that of sTfR. STfR had a significant negative correlation with SF and Hb, while it had a significant positive correlation with ZPP. The ROC curve showed that the diagnostic effective rate of sTfR for Fe deficiency could reach 83 %. At this point, the sensitivity was 79 % and the specificity was 63 %. Log(sTfR/SF) could be considered to have the highest effective ratio in detecting IDs, since it reached 99 %. STfR and sTfR/SF could both reflect body Fe-deficiency status specifically. They could be used as reliable indicators for evaluating Fe status and diagnosing Fe deficiency in women of child-bearing age.     

脐血血清转铁蛋白受体浓度与母亲贫血关系的研究

【目的】　通过检测新生儿脐血中可溶性血清转铁蛋白受体 (serumtransferrinreceptor ,sTfR)的浓度 ,研究母亲贫血对新生儿的影响 ,为早期新生儿缺铁性贫血的诊断提供一个有用的预测性指标。　【方法】　采用酶联免疫试剂盒测定了由 3 0例贫血妊娠妇女 ,48例健康妊娠妇女分娩的新生儿体内的sTfR水平 ,并对实验数据进行了分析。　【结果】　 3 0例贫血妊娠妇女分娩的新生儿的sTfR平均值 ( 3 2 .2 4± 8.0 8)nmol/L显著高于临界值 2 8.10nmol/L(P <0 .0 1) ,属于缺铁性贫血范围 ;48例由正常妊娠妇女分娩的新生儿的sTfR平均值 [( 2 5 .5 5± 9.69)nmol/L]接近临界值 2 8.10nmol/L(P >0 .0 5 ) ,属于正常范围。贫血妊娠妇女分娩新生儿的sTfR水平明显高于正常妊娠妇女分娩新生儿的sTfR水平 (P <0 .0 1)。　【结论】　缺铁性贫血母亲分娩新生儿的sTfR值偏高 ,说明sTfR值有可能作为早期预测新生儿缺铁性贫血的一个有价值的参考指标     

Energy requirements derived from total energy expenditure and energy deposition during the first 2 y of life

BACKGROUND: Current recommendations for energy intake of children are derived from observed intakes. Deriving energy requirements on the basis of energy expenditure and deposition is scientifically more rational than is using the observational approach and is now possible with data on total energy expenditure (TEE), growth, and body composition. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were 1) to define energy requirements during the first 2 y of life on the basis of TEE and energy deposition; 2) to test effects of sex, age, and feeding mode on energy requirements; and 3) to determine physical activity. DESIGN: TEE, sleeping metabolic rate, anthropometry, and body composition were measured in 76 infants. TEE was measured with doubly labeled water, sleeping metabolic rate with respiratory calorimetry, and body composition with a multicomponent model. RESULTS: Total energy requirements were 2.23, 2.59, 2.97, 3. 38, 3.72, and 4.15 MJ/d at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 mo, respectively. Energy deposition (in MJ/d) decreased significantly over time (P: = 0.001) and was lower in breast-fed than in formula-fed infants (P: = 0.01). Energy requirements were approximately 80% of current recommendations. Energy requirements differed by age (P: = 0.001), feeding group (P: = 0.03), and sex (P: = 0.03). Adjusted for weight or fat-free mass and fat mass, energy requirements still differed by feeding group but not by age or sex. Temperament and motor development did not affect TEE. CONCLUSION: The TEE and energy-deposition data of these healthy, thriving children provide strong evidence that current recommendations for energy intake in the first 2 y of life should be revised.     

Expression of ferritin receptor in placental microvilli membrane in pregnant women with different iron status at mid-term gestation

OBJECTIVE: The effect of iron status in pregnant women on expression of ferritin receptor in placental microvilli membrane at mid-term gestation was investigated. DESIGN: Ferritin receptor binding sites and dissociation constants (K(d)) were determined in specimens of placental microvilli from 30 pregnant women at mid-term gestation and six women at term-delivery. RESULTS: The ferritin receptor binding sites in the placental microvilli membrane in pregnant women with mild iron deficiency and moderate iron deficiency anemia were significantly higher then those in pregnant women with normal iron status. However, no significant difference was found between pregnant women with severe iron deficiency anemia and with normal measurements. No significant differences of K(d) values were detected between pregnant women with normal iron status and those with iron-deficiency. Data also revealed that the ferritin receptor binding sites in placental microvilli membrane and K(d) values at mid-term gestation did not differ significantly from those at term gestation. CONCLUSION: Lower iron status in pregnant women could lead to an increase in expression of ferritin receptor in placental microvilli membrane at mid-term gestation while the dissociation constant of ferritin receptor remains unchanged. This implies that the regulation of maternal-fetal iron homeostasis via the ferritin receptor-mediated pathway is achieved by changes in the numbers of ferritin receptors rather then binding properties.     

A prospective study of morbidity pattern and nutritional status of a group of healthy newborns during their first year of life in a rural area near Alexandria.

The present work was planned to study morbidity pattern and nutritional status of a group of healthy new borns in a rural area near Alexandria (Abbis II, VIII villages) through a prospective follow up approach. Eighty two infants were followed up for 12 months. Each infant was subjected to 15 visits within the first year of life. Morbidity was recorded either from mother's history, records from rural health centres or detected by the researcher and expressed as morbidity risk exposures based on a tested scoring system. Anthropometric standards issued by WHO were used to classify the children's length for age, weight for age and weight for length in terms of a cut off point of 2 SD below the median of that of the reference. Gomez classification was used to diagnose undernutrition and Waterlow system was used to diagnose growth stunting. Socioeconomic status of infants' families was also assessed. Results indicated a high prevalence of morbidity risk exposure, growth retardation and under nutrition with a tendency for gradual increase towards the end of the follow up. The results also proved that diarrheal diseases were still the most common illness among infants followed by respiratory tract infections. Investigation of the effects of socioeconomic status on morbidity risk exposure proved its significance at the end of the follow up. The results also illustrated a significant effect of morbidity risk exposure on the nutritional status at the end of the first year.     

Selenium status in term and preterm infants during the first months of life

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that very low birth weight (VLBW) infants have reduced serum and red blood cell (RBC) selenium (Se) at birth, which decrease further with current nutrition and are associated with chronic lung disease and septicaemia. DESIGN: We studied Se intake, concentration in serum and RBCs and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in preterm and term infants from birth until 16 weeks. Data are mean+/-standard deviation (s.d.). SETTING: Seventy-two preterm infants in two groups, born in Berlin, gestational age 26+0/30+0 weeks, birth weight 845/1270 g, with low Se intake (2.2+/-0.8/2.5+/-1.2 microg/kg/day), and 55 term infants, gestational age 39+1 weeks, birth weight 3160 g, born in Venezuela (high Se intake: 29+/-8 microg/day). RESULTS: A balance study in 10 preterm infants showed that Se is well absorbed from human milk (77+/-9%). Serum concentration was higher in term (142.0+/-40.0 microg/l) than in preterm infants (17.8+/-8.1/19.9+/-2.2 microg/l) at 4/7 weeks. Serum and RBC concentration of Se declined in all infants, low values in preterm infants did not correlate with chronic lung disease and septicaemia. GSH-Px activity in RBCs remained stable until 6 weeks of age in all infants and was not correlated with Se in RBCs. CONCLUSIONS: Se concentration in serum decreases during the first weeks of life and depends on intake. GSH-Px activity is not useful as a marker for Se status in infants up to 16 weeks after birth.