scholarly journals The Effect of 12-weeks of Daily Iron Supplementation on Non-transferrin Bound Iron Concentrations in Women with a High Prevalence of Hemoglobinopathies (P10-113-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Steele ◽  
Crystal Karakochuk ◽  
Hou Kroeun

Abstract Objectives Our aim was to assess serum NTBI concentrations in non-pregnant Cambodian women who received daily iron supplements (60 mg elemental iron as ferrous sulfate) in accordance with the 2016 global World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Methods Serum NTBI concentration was measured with the use of the FeROS™ eLPI assay (Afferix Ltd., Israel) in fasting venous blood samples collected during a 2015 supplementation trial among predominantly anemic Cambodian women (18–45 years). Samples were randomly selected from sub-groups of women who received 60 mg daily elemental iron as ferrous sulfate (n = 50) or a placebo (n = 50) for 12-weeks. Results Overall, n = 17/100 (17%) of women had an elevated serum NTBI concentration (≥0.1 μmol/L) at 12-weeks; n = 9 in the Fe group and n = 8 in the placebo group. Of the n = 100 women, a total of 82% of the women were iron-replete (n = 82/100, inflammation-adjusted ferritin >15 µg/L) and 67% (n = 67/100) had some form of a hemoglobinopathy (namely, Hb E variants or α-thalassemia). Elevated serum NTBI concentration was not associated with age, iron supplementation, transferrin saturation or severe hemoglobinopathies (P >0.05). Conclusions In this population of Cambodian women with a high prevalence of hemoglobinopathies, we found that daily iron supplementation was not associated with elevated serum NTBI concentrations at 12-weeks, as compared to placebo. Funding Sources International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) North America.

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Shannon Steele ◽  
Hou Kroeun ◽  
Crystal Karakochuk

There is a lack of evidence for the safety of untargeted daily iron supplementation in women, especially in countries such as Cambodia, where both anemia and hemoglobinopathies are common. Our aim was to assess serum non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI), a toxic biochemical that accumulates in blood when too much iron is absorbed, in Cambodian women who received daily iron supplements in accordance with the 2016 global World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. We used fasting venous blood samples that were collected in a 2015 supplementation trial among predominantly anemic Cambodian women (18–45 years). Serum NTBI was measured with use of the FeROS™ eLPI assay (Aferrix Ltd., Tel-Aviv, Israel) in randomly selected sub-groups of women who received 60 mg daily elemental iron as ferrous sulfate (n = 50) or a placebo (n = 50) for 12 weeks. Overall, n = 17/100 (17%) of women had an elevated serum NTBI concentration (≥0.1 μmol/L) at 12 weeks; n = 9 in the Fe group and n = 8 in the placebo group. Elevated serum NTBI concentration was not associated with age, iron supplementation, transferrin saturation or severe hemoglobinopathies (p > 0.05). In this population of women with a high prevalence of hemoglobinopathies, we found that daily iron supplementation was not associated with elevated serum NTBI concentrations at 12 weeks, as compared to placebo.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Robert Butcher ◽  
Oliver Sokana ◽  
Kelvin Jack ◽  
Leslie Sui ◽  
Charles Russell ◽  
...  

Background: The low population-prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis and high prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) provide contradictory estimates of the magnitude of the public health threat from trachoma in the Solomon Islands. Improved characterisation of the biology of trachoma in the region may support policy makers as they decide what interventions are required. Here, age-specific profiles of anti-Pgp3 antibodies and conjunctival scarring were examined to determine whether there is evidence of ongoing transmission and pathology from ocular Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection. Methods: A total of 1511 individuals aged ≥1 year were enrolled from randomly selected households in 13 villages in which >10% of children aged 1–9 years had TF prior to a single round of azithromycin mass drug administration undertaken six months previously. Blood was collected to be screened for antibodies to the Ct antigen Pgp3. Tarsal conjunctival photographs were collected for analysis of scarring severity. Results: Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity was 18% in 1–9 year olds, sharply increasing around the age of sexual debut to reach 69% in those over 25 years. Anti-Pgp3 seropositivity did not increase significantly between the ages of 1–9 years and was not associated with TF (p=0.581) or scarring in children (p=0.472). Conjunctival scars were visible in 13.1% of photographs. Mild (p<0.0001) but not severe (p=0.149) scars increased in prevalence with age. Conclusions: Neither conjunctival scars nor lymphoid follicles were associated with antibodies to Ct, suggesting that they are unlikely to be a direct result of ocular Ct infection. Clinical signs of trachoma were prevalent in this population but were not indicative of the underlying rates of Ct infection. The current World Health Organization guidelines for trachoma elimination indicated that this population should receive intervention with mass distribution of antibiotics, but the data presented here suggest that this may not have been appropriate.


Author(s):  
Silas Onyango Awuor ◽  
◽  
Omwenga O Eric ◽  
Stanslaus Musyoki ◽  
Ibrahim I Daud ◽  
...  

Background: The World Health Organization recommends that malaria treatment should begin with parasitological diagnosis. This will help to regulate misuse of anti-malarial drugs in areas with high transmission. Aim: Aim was to assess the prevalence of parasitological confirmed malaria among under five years children presenting with fever or history of fever attending medication at Masogo sub-county hospital. Setting: The study was conducted in Masogo Sub County, Kisumu County, Kenya. Data and methodology: The study used 2020 dataset from the laboratory MOH 706 reporting tool with a total number of 6787 children under five years old tested in the lab. Result: Of the 6787 test performed in the year 2020, 2225 (32.8%) turn positive to malaria parasite where there was high prevalence in female children at 1141 (51.3%) than male children 1084 (48.7%) of the total positive examined. Prevalence of the malaria among the age group bracket was high at 48-59 months old at 625 (28.1%) followed by 36-47 months 620 (27.9%), 24-35 months 450 (20.2%), 12-23 months 410 (18.4%) and lastly 0-11 months old at 120 (5.4%). Conclusions: Reasons for the increased of the prevalence as the age increased among the under five children need to be further explored and addressed, there is enough evidence that immediate action is needed to address the unique needs of this population. Such factors could include lack of net used and separation of the mother and the child from sleeping together or early birth after the child. Keywords: malaria; under five children; fever.


2018 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 795-805
Author(s):  
Apolonia Stefaniak ◽  
Karolina Janion ◽  
Beata Stanuch

Depression is a mental disorder with a high prevalence. According to World Health Organization, it is a frequent cause of disability and the leading cause of suicide, with its risk increasing with age. The disorder is commonly diagnosed in patients with acute or chronic inflammatory conditions. Depression is typically accompanied by weakened T cell-mediated immunity, as well as abnormal secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the resulting imbalance between them. The current developments in the field include a link established between depression and changes in intestinal microflora, suggested by numerous trials involving animals and also a small number of studies conducted on people. This paper is a review of the publications regarding the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathophysiology of depression found in PubMed and Web of Science repositories. The results of studies published over the last decade confirm the significance of intestinal microbiota for the pathophysiology of depression. One of the ways in which intestinal microbiota may impact the development of depression is the response of the innate immunity system to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), resulting with the stimulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The modifications of gut microflora have also been linked to changes in the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis, in the metabolism of tryptophan, (which is a serotonin substrate) and in neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Even though the results cited in this review seem promising, our current state of knowledge in this respect remains far from satisfactory, warranting further investigation into the potential of bacteria for supplementing the pharmacological therapy of depression.


Author(s):  
Allakhyarov D.Z. ◽  
Petrov Yu.A. ◽  
Chernavsky V.V.

This article presents reviews of literature sources on the clinical and pathogenetic aspects of the course of a new coronovirus infection in pregnant women, in order to analyze the features of the course of COVID-19 in pregnant women and to assess the impact of infection on the body of a woman and a fetus. Pregnancy is a special physiological condition, during which a number of changes occur in the body, not only in the hormonal status, but also in the immune system. The urgency of this problem is due to the high prevalence of new coronavirus infection among the population. On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO), as a result of the dynamic development of the epidemic in many countries and continents, declared a global pandemic of the contagious disease COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to available studies, pregnant women are more susceptible to a more severe course of infectious diseases affecting the upper respiratory tract. According to various studies, a new coronavirus infection can lead to premature birth, miscarriage, and preeclampsia. Separate studies show increased mortality in pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 virus does not have a direct teratogenic effect on the fetus, but it can indirectly lead to harmful effects on the developing organism. Special attention should be paid to the issue of vaccination of pregnant women against a new coronavirus infection, at the moment there is no accurate data on the effect of the vaccine on the body of the pregnant woman and the fetus. In this regard, the question of the impact of a new coronavirus infection on the course of pregnancy has become relevant.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-91
Author(s):  
Tri Nugraha Susilawati ◽  
Riska Larasati

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global problem, especially with the high prevalence of HIV-TB co-infection. Delayed diagnosis and continual transmission contribute to high mortality in Indonesia, which has the third highest incidence of TB in the world, after China and India. Therefore, early diagnosis is needed to reduce the number of cases and to administer therapy to prevent the transmission of bacteria. The diagnosis of TB remains a challenge in clinical practice due to poor sensitivity and the requirement of skilled staff in microscopic tests, the slow growth Mycobacterium in culture, and the low number of bacilli present in extrapulmonary TB. Despite being the golden standard for TB diagnosis, cultures require 2–8 weeks to grow. Other methods for diagnosing TB include interferon-gamma release assays and serologic tests such as the tuberculin skin test. Recently, the World Health Organization recommended the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosing TB. This review presents the current state of TB epidemiology and various methods for TB diagnosis. In particular, the paper provides an in-depth discussion about the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay that has been made available recently in selected tertiary hospitals in Indonesia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Bries ◽  
Chong Wang ◽  
Brian Wels ◽  
Isaac Agbemafle ◽  
Olivia Meier ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a widespread nutritional deficiency. Iron supplementation with ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) is the most common strategy to treat IDA; however, the compliance with daily FeSO4 administration is poor, due to contraindicating side effects. Previously, we have reported that A. oryzae (Ultimine®; ULT) is a novel iron source. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the biochemical assessment, non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) and commonly related gastrointestinal side effects to assess the safety of A. oryzae compared to FeSO4. Methods Female participants (n = 16) with serum ferritin concentrations 40 µg/L were randomized to a double-blind, 9-wk cross-over study with a 3-wk placebo washout period between treatments. Oral iron supplements (65 mg Fe), FeSO4 and ULT were administered for 21 consecutive days for each subject. Side effect questionnaires were collected 3d/wk over the 9-wk study period. Side effects and biochemical markers (nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, diarrhea, constipation, oxidative stress and liver and kidney function) from iron supplementation were evaluated, along with serum iron, % transferrin saturation (TS) and NBTI 8 h curves. Results Serum iron, TS, and NTBI were all markedly higher with FeSO4 at each time-point from 2–8 hours (P < 0.001) compared to ULT, whereas NTBI was undetected. Among treatments, FeSO4 resulted in higher inflammation, though not statistically significant. Compliance based on returned pills was higher with ULT (97.3%) than placebo and FeSO4 (95.2% and 93.2%, respectively). Subjects taking FeSO4 reported abdominal discomfort 2% more than ULT, which was not significantly different. FeSO4 caused marginally higher incidence of combined nauseation, constipation and diarrhea when subjects were taking FeSO4 (P < 0.07). Iron status was maintained similarly by both oral iron supplements. Oxidative stress, inflammation, kidney and liver function markers were not elevated with ULT supplementation, suggesting safety of its consumption. Conclusions Better compliance and less gastrointestinal related side effects were reported with ULT compared to FeSO4, while maintaining normal iron status. Our data suggests ULT is a safe oral iron supplement for treatment of IDA. Funding Sources Cura Global Health, Inc.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1099-1099
Author(s):  
Kyly Whitfield ◽  
Kathleen Chan

Abstract Objectives Although the World Health Organization recommends continued breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond, adherence rates are low in Canada and the United States. One major barrier to following this recommendation is an unsupportive culture and social stigma around breastfeeding. Our objective was to assess attitudes towards photographs of breastfeeding children of varying ages and locations among the general population in Nova Scotia, Canada. Methods In a self-administered questionnaire, participants recruited in public spaces were asked to react to six photographs depicting women breastfeeding children aged 2 weeks, 13 months and 30 months in both private (e.g., home) and public (e.g., store) locations. Participants self-rated their comfort levels using a visual analog scale (VAS; scale from 0 [not at all comfortable] to 10 [very comfortable]), and also provided open-ended qualitative reactions to the images. Sociodemographic information was also collected. Results We surveyed 229 participants (60% women, 40% men). Mean age was 44 years (range 19–95 years), 73% self-identified as white, and 77% were born in Canada. The majority of participants were parents (69%), and 69% of parents reported that their children were breastfed. Mean (95% CI) self-rated comfort differed significantly by location and child age. VAS scores indicated higher comfort for images in private locations (7.9, 7.7–8.1) compared to public locations (7.3, 7.0–7.5; P = 0.001), and for images of younger (8.5, 8.3–8.7) compared to older children (6.9, 6.6–7.2; P &lt; 0.001). Women and parents had higher comfort with all images compared to men and non-parents (P &lt; 0.05). Younger participants (19–29 years) were less comfortable with images of public breastfeeding compared to older participants (P &lt; 0.05). Text-based reactions suggest lower approval of images of public breastfeeding and increased child age, but varied highly, including comments from “nurturing” to “indecent”. Conclusions Comfort and acceptance of breastfeeding among adults in Nova Scotia is influenced by location and child age. Negative perceptions of public breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding into young childhood may affect adherence to global breastfeeding recommendations. Funding Sources Mount Saint Vincent University New Scholars Grant, CN Student Research Internship.


1993 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Kalka

By recounting my personal involvement with AIDS activism in Israel, I wish to highlight certain issues regarding the fight against AIDS in this country. As an active member of one voluntary association, my contribution was only indirectly related to anthropology. I promoted the association's cause, adding academic argumentation and complementing the work of other activists. I wrote grant proposals and applied for resources from funding sources such as the World Health Organization and voluntary associations abroad. In addition, I was used as a public relations figure, for reasons which I shall soon spell out. While my work in the association was not explicitly anthropological, my background in anthropology helped me understand the problems faced by AIDS activists in Israel and propose strategies for alleviating those problems.


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