Leukocyte production of IFN-γ and TNF-α in 8- to 12-y-old children with low serum iron levels

Impact of low serum iron on treatment outcome of PD-1 inhibitors in advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of serum iron levels in advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients treated with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitors.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 149 GC patients who were treated with PD-1 inhibitors at our center. Clinicopathological characteristics, laboratory data, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), histological subtype, and baseline serum iron levels were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), while ECOG PS, multiple metastatic sites, and baseline serum iron levels were independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS). Patients with baseline low serum iron levels (LSI) had a significantly shorter median OS and PFS compared to patients with normal serum iron levels (NSI) (Median OS: 7 vs. 14 months, p = 0.001; median PFS: 3 vs. 5 months, p = 0.005). Patients with baseline LSI had a disease control rate (DCR) of 58.3% at 2 months after PD-1 inhibitor initiation (M2), compared to 81.1% in patients with NSI (p = 0.005). Patients with baseline LSI had a DCR of 43.8% at 4 months, compared to 64.2% in patients with NSI (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

LSI was associated with worse OS, PFS, and DCR in GC patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors and might be a quick and efficient biomarker to predict the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors.

Changes of iron metabolism during pregnancy and the establishment of reference intervals for pregnant Chinese women

Background

Abnormalities of iron metabolism in pregnancy pose risks for maternal and fetal health. Robust reference intervals for iron metabolism indices have not been established in a pregnant Chinese population. The purpose of this study was to derive reference intervals for indices of iron metabolism during pregnancy in a Chinese population.

Methods

A total of 360 healthy pregnant women were recruited and divided into three groups of 120 by gestational age: first trimester (1–13 weeks), second trimester (14–27 weeks) and third trimester (≥28 weeks). An additional 120 healthy non-pregnant women were recruited as the non-pregnant control group. Serum ferritin was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Serum iron and total iron-binding capacity were measured by a direct bathophenanthroline method. Transferrin saturation value was calculated with formula TS = SI/TIBC. The reference intervals were established using a non-parametric method.

Results

In first and second trimesters (combined), the reference intervals for serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity and transferrin saturation are 14.7–184.3 mg/L, 14.50–33.45 µmol/L, 36.53–68.81 µmol/L and 19.04–64.76%, respectively. In the third trimester, the reference intervals for serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity and transferrin saturation are 7.2–122.2 mg/L, 5.83–21.52 µmol/L, 49.40–122.76 µmol/L and 8.22–52.75%, respectively.

Conclusion

The reference intervals for iron metabolism indices for healthy pregnant Chinese women were established in accordance with CLSI C28-A3 guidelines. This will be a valuable tool for clinical practice and research.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Their Association With the Indicators of Iron and Inflammation Status Among Adolescent Girls

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to identify an association among dietary components, iron, and inflammatory status among adolescent girls.

METHOD

Dietary information for 85 adolescent girls was collected through food frequency questionnaires. Biomarkers of iron and inflammatory status were analyzed.

RESULTS

We found that 28.2% of adolescent girls had anemia and 65.9% girls were iron-deficient. Girls who did not consume guava had 3.8-fold (95% confidence interval =1.1-9.4; p = 0.020) increased the risk of having low serum iron levels. Girls who consumed amaranth had significantly (p = 0.024) higher serum hepcidin levels (n = 44; 129.7 ± 81.40 pg/mL vs n = 41; 94.6 ± 55.8 pg/mL) as well as ferritin levels (n = 44; 19.7 ± 16.4 µg/L vs n = 41; 14.0 ± 10.2 µg/L). Overall consumption of fruits and green leafy vegetables among girls significantly affects their iron status.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular consumption of vitamin C-rich fruits and green leafy vegetable intake are imperative for improvement of iron status among adolescent girls.