Iron metabolism and cardiovascular disease: Basic to translational purviews and therapeutical approach

Iron interactions with the cardiovascular system were proposed about half a century ago, yet a clear-cut understanding of this micronutrient and its intricacies with acute and chronic events is still lacking. In chronic heart failure, patients with decreased iron stores appear to benefit from intravenous administration of metallic formulations, whereas acute diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke) are barely studied in randomized controlled trials in humans. However, proof-of-concept studies have indicated that the dual redox characteristics of iron could be involved in atherosclerosis, necrosis, and ferroptosis. To this end, we sought to review the currently available body of literature pertaining to these temporal profiles of heart diseases, as well as the pathophysiologic mechanism by which iron enacts, underlining key points related to treatment options.     

纳米级氧化铁-蝎毒素肽靶向神经胶质瘤的实验研究

目的　探讨纳米级氧化铁蝎毒素肽靶向神经胶质瘤 ,在交变磁场作用下 ,对神经胶质瘤KM小鼠动物模型的治疗效果。　方法　 40只 18～ 2 2g的神经胶质瘤KM小鼠随机均分成 4组。A组 :生理盐水 0 2ml/只 (对照组 ) ;B组 :1‰纳米级氧化铁 15mg/kg ;C组 :单纯氯毒素 (CTX)蝎毒素肽 5万U/支 ;D组 :1‰纳米级氧化铁 CTX微球 15mg/kg。上述药物均为静脉注射 ,每天 1次 ,各组在相同交变磁场参数作用下 ,一个疗程 (6d)后 ,进行KM小鼠右前腋皮下种植的神经胶质瘤的瘤体重量的测定。　结果　A、B、C组和D组瘤重 (g)分别为 2 53± 0 78、2 0 9± 0 96、0 73± 0 18和 0 64± 0 88,B组与A组比较 ,差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5) ;C组与A组、D组与A组比较差异有显著性 (P <0 0 1或 0 0 5) ;B、C组和D组抑瘤率分别为 2 9 6%、46 9%和 79 9% ,D组治疗效果明显优于B组和C组。　结论　初步实验结果显示 ,纳米级四氧化三铁 CTX微球有明显的特异性靶向神经胶质瘤的特性。在交变磁场作用下 ,对神经胶质瘤KM小鼠动物模型有良好的治疗效果     

三硝基甲苯作业工人和HBsAg阳性者血清铁含量的变化

对河南省某化工厂三硝基甲苯（ＴＮＴ）作业现场劳动卫生学调查结果发现，车间空气中ＴＮＴ浓度多数超过国家最高容许浓度（ＭＡＣ＝１ｍｇ／ｍ３），ＴＮＴ作业工人皮肤污染严重。血清铁测定结果表明，ＴＮＴ接触组与ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性组极显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜００００５），ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性组显著高于ＴＮＴ接触组（Ｐ＜０００２５）。推测ＴＮＴ与ＨＢＶ诱发的肝损害部分机理可能与机体处于氧化应激状态有关。     

Contact allergy to the Brazilian rosewood substitute Machaerium scleroxylon Tul. (Pao ferro)

Five carpenters in a television set factory hail allergic contact dermatitis of the hands, forearms and neck after contact with the sawdust of the Brazilian rosewood substitute Machaerium scleraxylon Tul. (Pao ferro)
Patch tests with R-3,4dimethoxydalbergione from Pao ferro and with two other dalbergiones from rosewood species were positive. R-3, 4-dirnethoxydalbergione isolated from the Pao ferro sample was shown to he a strong sensitizer and thus to be responsible for these cases of contact allergy.     

Neurobehavioral functioning after cessation of manganese exposure: a follow-up after 14 years

BACKGROUND: Little is known on the long-term course of early manganese (Mn) neurotoxic effects. Mn alloy workers were examined in a follow-up study 14 years after exposure ceased at a Canadian facility. METHODS: The same battery of neurofunctional tests used in the initial examination in 1990 was administered to 77 Mn-workers and 81 referents in 2004. RESULTS: Manganese-workers had poorer scores compared to referents both in the initial and follow-up examinations for several motor tasks of the Luria Motor Scale. At follow-up, older Mn-workers (>45 years at cessation of exposure) had poorer scores than referents for tests of cognitive flexibility. Cumulated exposure was associated with poorer test scores for certain neuromotor and cognitive tests and on a mood scale. Differences on certain tests observed at initial examination were not present at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Manganese exposure was associated with persistent deficits for certain neuromotor functions, cognitive flexibility, and adVerse mood states, while recovery occurred for other functions.     

Iron deficiency and anemia are associated with low retinol levels in children aged 1 to 5 years

ObjectiveTo analyze the occurrence of anemia and iron deficiency in children aged 1 to 5 years and the association of these events and retinol deficiency.MethodsThis was an observational analytic cross-sectional study conducted in Vitoria, ES, Brazil, between April and August of 2008, with healthy children aged 1 to 5 years (n = 692) that lived in areas covered by primary healthcare services. Sociodemographic and economic conditions, dietary intake (energy, protein, iron, and vitamin A ingestion), anthropometric data (body mass index-for-age and height-for-age), and biochemical parameters (ferritin, hemoglobin, and retinol serum) were collected.ResultsThe prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency, and retinol deficiency was 15.7%, 28.1%, and 24.7%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed a higher prevalence of anemia (PR: 4.62, 95% CI: 3.36, 6.34, p < 0.001) and iron deficiency (PR: 4.51, 95% CI: 3.30, 6.17, p < 0.001) among children with retinol deficiency. The same results were obtained after adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic conditions, dietary intake, and anthropometric variables. There was a positive association between ferritin vs. retinol serum (r = 0.597; p < 0.001) and hemoglobin vs. retinol serum (r = 0.770; p < 0.001).ConclusionsAnemia and iron deficiency were associated with low levels of serum retinol in children aged 1 to 5 years, and a positive correlation was verified between serum retinol and serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels. These results indicate the importance of initiatives encouraging the development of new treatments and further research regarding retinol deficiency.