Investigation of Some Trace Element Levels in Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between MS and the homeostatic state of trace elements, and to reveal the relationship between Fe and Zn in MS pathology Material and Method: Total of 40 (20 patients and 20 control) subjects were participated to this study. Blood samples were taken and analysed plasma iron and zinc levels using an atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Kolmogrow-Smirnov Z test used to analyse statistically significance of the data. P<0.05 was accepted as significant. Results: The plasma iron and Zn levels were found to be significantly lower in MS patients compared to control. Conclusion: Considering the important beneficial effects of iron and zinc against neurodegenerative disease and increased oxidative stress, reduced level of these trace elements should be considered in MS treatment.

Common variants in the transmembrane protease serine 6 (TMPRSS6) gene alter hepcidin but not plasma iron in response to oral iron in healthy Gambian adults: a recall-by-genotype study

Background The role of genetic determinants in mediating iron status in Africans is not fully understood. Genome-wide association studies in non-African populations have revealed genetic variants in the TMPRSS6 gene that are associated with the risk of anemia. Objectives To investigated the effects of risk alleles for low iron status from TMPRSS6 rs2235321, rs855791 and rs4820268, on responses to oral iron in healthy Gambian adults. Methods Using a recall-by-genotype design, participants were selected from a pre-genotype cohort of 3000 individuals in the Keneba Biobank (MRCG at LSHTM). Participants were invited to participate in the study based on nine genotype combinations obtained from three TMPRSS6 SNPs (rs2235321, rs855791 and rs4820268). The participants fasted overnight and then ingested a single oral dose of ferrous sulfate (130 mg elemental iron). Blood samples were collected prior to iron ingestion and at 2 and 5 hours after the oral iron dose. The effects of genotype on hepcidin and plasma iron parameters were assessed. Results A total of 251 individuals were enrolled. Homozygous carriers of the major TMPRSS6 alleles at each of the SNPs had higher plasma hepcidin at baseline (rs2235321: GG vs AA 9.50 vs 6.60ng/ml, p = 0.035; rs855791: GG vs AG = 9.50 vs 4.96ng/mL, p = 0.015; rs4820268: AA vs GG = 9.50 vs 3.27ng/mL, p = 0.002) and at subsequent timepoints. There were no differences in delta plasma iron (a proxy for iron absorption) between genotypes. In most subjects, hepcidin levels increased following iron ingestion (overall group mean = 4.98 ± 0.98ng/ml at 5h, p &lt; 0.001), but double heterozygotes at rs2235321 and rs855791 showed no increase (0.36 ± 0.40ng/ml at 5h, p = 0.667). Conclusions This study revealed that common TMPRSS6 variants influence hepcidin concentrations, but not iron status indicators either at baseline or following a large oral dose of iron. These results suggest that genetic variations in the TMPRSS6 gene are unlikely to be important contributors to variations in iron status in Africans. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03341338.

Low Plasma Iron Levels Associated to Drug Treatment in Polymedicated Patients: A Case-Control Study

Aim: To identify the drug class and/or duration of treatments causing hyposideremia. Study Design: Retrospective case-control study. Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacy, Aragón Health Services Services Hospital Real de Nuestra Señora de Gracia, between January 2019 and December 2019. Methodology: The records of prescripted medicines of all patients admitted to Internal Medicine service, for various indications, along a 1-year period (2019), which were ultimately analized according to association with hyposideremia. Results: It was identified several drugs associated with low plasma iron levels: acetylcysteine and apixaban, which would increase the risk of hyposideremia. On the contrary, we found that allopurinol, duloxetine and simvastatin would protect against the appearance of hyposideremia. Conclusion: Acetylcysteine and apixaban, alone or in combination with different pathologies, would be capable of inducing, and on dependence of the duration of treatment and/or of the concomitant pathology, hyposideremia, iron deficiency and, in certain cases, anemia constituting a major health problem.

Plasma Iron Indices in Pregnant Women Referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Background and Aims: Iron Deficiency (ID) is a common obstetric problem and nutritional disorder that occurs mostly in developing countries. Hence, nutritional studies are required every few years to determine the necessary healthcare interventions for pregnant women. This cross-sectional study evaluated the plasma iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) levels of pregnant women referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 58 non-pregnant women, 22 pregnant women in the first trimester, 52 in second, and 44 in the third trimester. The plasma ferritin concentration of these samples was measured by chemiluminescence assay, while the plasma transferrin, TIBC, and iron concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma ferritin levels <15μg/L were considered ID. Results: The overall prevalence of ID in pregnant women was 33.1%. However, the prevalence of ID was 29.3%, 22.7%, 34.6%, and 36.4% among non-pregnant women, women in the first trimester, second and third trimester, respectively. The mean±SEM iron levels were significantly higher among pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (p=0.004). There was no significant difference in the mean±SEM of plasma ferritin, transferrin and TIBC concentrations between pregnant and non-pregnant women (p>0.05). Nevertheless, the mean±SEM plasma iron, ferritin, and UIBC significantly differed across the gestational ages of pregnant women (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of ID during pregnancy, which increases with the trimester of affected women. Healthcare interventional measures that can address ID are recommended.

Novel automated measuring system for evaluating labile plasma iron in serum

BackgroundAs the saturation of transferrin by iron in the serum is approximately 30%, iron loaded to the blood can bind to transferrin not bearing iron. Nevertheless, prolonged iron influx finally results in full transferrin saturation, and iron not bound to transferrin will appear in the serum; this iron is known as non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI). NTBI damages organs through the production of free radicals. Previously, we established an automated quantification system for NTBI; however, measuring labile plasma iron, which is considered as a highly redox-active component of NTBI, should be a better prognostic factor in iron-overloaded patients.MethodsWe designed and developed a novel system for evaluating labile plasma iron utilizing the Trinder reaction. Automated system was utilized because the previously reported methods for labile plasma iron are intricate and the introduction to the clinical stage has been challenging. Validations such as the contribution of serum proteins and metal ions for this system were evaluated using human serum samples.ResultsWe confirmed that our novel system can evaluate labile plasma iron utilizing Trinder reaction and the oxidative potential of ceruloplasmin in the serum. This system was also confirmed to be clinically practical. Metals other than iron did not influence this system. We observed that samples with high NTBI did not always exhibit high labile plasma iron and vice versa, highlighting the necessity of labile plasma iron quantification in evaluating the toxicity of NTBI.ConclusionsOur novel system should contribute to fundamental and clinical research because it can measure labile plasma iron using the high-throughput automated analyser.