Anemia severa, arresto di crescita... e dintorni

Iron deficiency is the most commonly detected nutritional disorder in childhood and at the same time the most frequent cause of anaemia worldwide. In most cases it can go unnoticed, because it causes subtle symptoms and signs. Iron plays a key role in many biochemical processes, including neurological development, oxygen transport and energy metabolism. Proper nutrition from birth and any iron supplementation are in most cases sufficient to prevent iron deficiency anaemia. However, in rural or mountain areas, in cases of maternal hypogalease, boiled cow and/or goat milk are often preferred to formula milks, which are considered healthier. In many cases the intervention by the paediatrician allows families to be directed towards the correct management of the infant but in a context such as the pandemic one some situations may easily get out of control.

Bioinformatics inspiring peptides from toxins as a new alternative in obesity treatment

Obesity is a nutritional disorder caused by the excessive accumulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) in the body, which is characterized by a high body mass index and interferes with the body's energy balance. Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of different diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, fatty liver disease and some malignant tumors. The treatment of obesity primarily focuses on diet and physical exercise; when lifestyle changes fail, drugs and surgery will be considered as treatment options. At present, a number of so‑called anti‑obesity drugs have been developed, which affect digestion and absorption. These drugs can produce significant weight loss in the individual; however, some patients are unwilling to receive this type of treatment, due to side effects such as insomnia, hypertension and dizziness. This perspective shows that rational design is an alternative methodology based on native bioactive molecules for the development of analogous compounds, improved from the point of view of efficiency and side effects. We also show that the modification of peptides from animal toxins can be an interesting alternative in the treatment of obesity, since peptides from toxins have already shown significant anti-inflammatory effects.

Comparative Evaluation of Sucrosomial Iron and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Oral Supplements in Iron Deficiency Anemia in Piglets

Iron deficiency is the most common mammalian nutritional disorder. However, among mammalian species iron deficiency anemia (IDA), occurs regularly only in pigs. To cure IDA, piglets are routinely injected with high amounts of iron dextran (FeDex), which can lead to perturbations in iron homeostasis. Here, we evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of non-invasive supplementation with Sucrosomial iron (SI), a highly bioavailable iron supplement preventing IDA in humans and mice and various iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Analysis of red blood cell indices and plasma iron parameters shows that not all iron preparations used in the study efficiently counteracted IDA comparable to FeDex-based supplementation. We found no signs of iron toxicity of any tested iron compounds, as evaluated based on the measurement of several toxicological markers that could indicate the occurrence of oxidative stress or inflammation. Neither SI nor IONPs increased hepcidin expression with alterations in ferroportin (FPN) protein level. Finally, the analysis of the piglet gut microbiota indicates the individual pattern of bacterial diversity across taxonomic levels, independent of the type of supplementation. In light of our results, SI but not IONPs used in the experiment emerges as a promising nutritional iron supplement, with a high potential to correct IDA in piglets.

New Sensor to Measure the Microencapsulated Active Compounds Released in an Aqueous Liquid Media Based in Dielectric Properties in Radiofrequency Range

In recent years, the general and scientific interest in nutrition, digestion, and what role they play in our body has increased, and there is still much work to be carried out in the field of developing sensors and techniques that are capable of identifying and quantifying the chemical species involved in these processes. Iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder that mainly affects the health of children and women. Iron from the diet may be available as heme or organic iron, or as non-heme or inorganic iron. The absorption of non-heme iron requires its solubilization and reduction in the ferric state to ferrous that begins in the gastric acid environment, because iron in the ferric state is very poorly absorbable. There are chemical species with reducing capacity (antioxidants) that also have the ability to reduce iron, such as ascorbic acid. This paper aims to develop a sensor for measuring the release of encapsulated active compounds, in different media, based on dielectric properties measurement in the radio frequency range. An impedance sensor able to measure the release of microencapsulated active compounds was developed. The sensor was tested with calcium alginate beads encapsulating iron ions and ascorbic acid as active compounds. The prediction and measurement potential of this sensor was improved by developing a thermodynamic model that allows obtaining kinetic parameters that will allow suitable encapsulation design for subsequent release.

Unani Concept of Anaemia in Pregnancy (Hamla me Khoon ki Kami): An Overview

Anaemia is a most common disorder of Indian women especially during the age of reproduction. Anaemia in pregnancy is a condition with effects that may deleterious to mothers and foetus. Indeed, it is a known risk factor for maternal and leads to foetal complications. However, women are much better aware now about their pregnancy related conditions than they were years ago. This is not just a feminist fad but common sense for the woman who knows what is likely to happen and will be better prepared for actions in pregnancy. The WHO considers iron deficiency to the largest International nutritional disorder. According to WHO anaemia in pregnancy is present when the concentration of haemoglobin in the peripheral blood is 11gms/100ml or less. As per American college of obstetrician and gynaecologist 60-100mgs of elemental iron per day prevents iron deficiency in a pregnant woman. In Unani system of medicine number of drugs and diets are available which have preventive and therapeutic role. Unani physicians paid special attention to child and mother care in general as well as in pregnancy. Natural medicines are economical, easily available and relatively free of side effects. So, the present topic highlights the use of Unani medicines providing iron supplements in the treatment of early and late pregnancy. Keywords: Anaemia, Pregnancy, Foetal complications, Unani medicine

A Review of the Prevalence, Trends, and Determinants of Coexisting Forms of Malnutrition

Objective: Coexisting Forms of Malnutrition (CFM) refers to the presence of more than one type of nutritional disorder in an individual. Worldwide, CFM affects more than half of all malnourished children, and compared to standalone forms of malnutrition, CFM is associated with a higher risk of illness and death. This review examined published literature for assessing the prevalence, trends, and determinants of CFM. Methods: A review of community-based observational studies was conducted. Seven databases, (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were used in May-2021 to retrieve literature. Google, Google Scholar and TROVE were used to search for grey literature. Key stakeholders were also contacted for unpublished documents. Studies which measured either the prevalence, trends, and/or determinants of CFM presenting in individuals were included. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools for prevalence and longitudinal studies. Results: The search retrieved 14,180 articles, of which 22 were included in this review. The prevalence of CFM varied by geographical area and specific types. Coexistence of stunting with overweight/obesity ranged from 0.8% in United States to over 10% in Ukraine and Syria, while the prevalence of coexisting wasting with stunting ranged from 0.1% in most of the South American countries to 9.2% in Niger. A decrease in the prevalence of CFM was observed in all countries, except Indonesia. Studies in China and Indonesia showed a positive association between rurality of residence and coexisting stunting with overweight/obesity. Evidence for other risk and protective factors for CFM is too minimal or conflicting to be conclusive. Conclusion: Evidence regarding the prevalence, determinants, and trends for CFM is scarce. Apart from coexistence of stunting with overweight/obesity, the determinants of other types of CFM are unclear. CFM in any form results in an increased risk of health adversities which can be different from comparable standalone forms, thus, there is an urgent need to explore the determinants and distribution of different types of CFM.

Understanding the Determinants of Anemia amongst Indian Adolescents

Anemia is the most common nutritional disorder amongst Indian adolescents in India with 28% being afflicted. Despite the efforts, there has not been a significant reduction in the prevalence of anemia. The etiology of anemia is multifactorial and complex. Hence, there is a challenge to address the determinants of anemia in a population. In the present communication, the determinants of anemia such as nutritional factors, infectious diseases, genetic factors and other underlying factors has been reviewed. The pathophysiology, possible mechanisms and contribution of these factors in the etiology of anemia has been discussed. There is a need for analyzing the determinants of anemia amongst Indian adolescents for effective prevention and control of Anemia. Key words: Anemia, Iron deficiency, Hemoglobin, India, Adolescent.

Ventricular Fibrosis and Coronary Remodeling Following Short-Term Exposure of Healthy and Malnourished Mice to Bisphenol A

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor associated with higher risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases especially in susceptible populations. Because malnutrition is a nutritional disorder associated with high cardiovascular risk, we sought to compare the effects of short-term BPA exposure on cardiovascular parameters of healthy and protein-malnourished mice. Postweaned male mice were fed a normo- (control) or low-protein (LP) diet for 8 weeks and then exposed or not to BPA (50 μg kg−1 day−1) for the last 9 days. Systolic blood pressure was higher in BPA or LP groups compared with the control group. However, diastolic blood pressure was enhanced by BPA only in malnourished mice. Left ventricle (LV) end diastolic pressure (EDP), collagen deposition, and CTGF mRNA expression were higher in the control or malnourished mice exposed to BPA than in the respective nonexposed groups. Nevertheless, mice fed LP diet exposed to BPA exhibited higher angiotensinogen and cardiac TGF-β1 mRNA expression than mice treated with LP or BPA alone. Wall:lumen ratio and cross-sectional area of intramyocardial arteries were higher either in the LP or BPA group compared with the control mice. Taken together, our data suggest that short-term BPA exposure results in LV diastolic dysfunction and fibrosis, and intramyocardial arteries inward remodeling, besides potentiate protein malnutrition-induced hypertension and cardiovascular risk.

Application of Novel Microorganism-Based Formulations as Alternative to the Use of Iron Chelates in Strawberry Cultivation

The strawberry is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial plant, sensitive to iron deficiency. The iron deficiency represents a nutritional disorder, leading to a decreased content of photosynthetic pigments, which determines the yellow color characteristic of chlorotic leaves. Therefore, in calcareous soils, the use of synthetic iron chelate is often mandatory in strawberry cultivation. The employment of novel microorganism-based formulations as alternatives to the use of iron chelates, was evaluated during strawberry cultivation by monitoring the morpho-biometric parameters, chlorophylls, the iron content in leaves and roots, and the Fe chelate reductase activity involved in absorption of iron during the chlorosis event in plants using the strategy I. The experimental design envisaged growing strawberry seedlings on an inert substrate (pumice), irrigated with Hoagland solution iron-free, with a 12 h photoperiod. After 42 days, at the first appearance of chlorosis symptoms, plants were transplanted into a calcareous soil, and after seven days, they were treated, by a single application, with a microorganism-based formulations (MBF), an inoculum (In) of Trichoderma spp. and Streptomyces spp., or Sequestrene (Sq). Strawberry plants were sampled and analyzed at 5, 10, 15, and 20 days from the treatments. The results showed that microorganism-based formulations positively affected the strawberry seedlings, by reducing the chlorosis symptoms, producing comparable effects to the Sequestrene treatment.