Ferrous sulfate combined with ultrasound emulsified cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion to cause ferroptosis in Escherichia coli O157:H7

The purpose of this study was to investigate ferroptosis in Escherichia coli O157:H7 caused by ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) and to examine the synergistic effectiveness of FeSO4 combined with ultrasound-emulsified cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion (CALNO) on inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that FeSO4 could cause ferroptosis in E. coli O157:H7 via generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exacerbating lipid peroxidation. In addition, the results indicated that FeSO4 combined with CALNO had synergistic bactericidal effect against E. coli O157:H7 and the combined treatment could lead considerable nucleic acids and protein to release by damaging the cell membrane of E. coli O157:H7. Besides, FeSO4 combined with CALNO had a strong antibiofilm ability to inhibit E. coli O157:H7 biofilm formation by reducing the expression of genes related on biofilm formation. Finally, FeSO4 combined with CALNO exhibited the significant antibacterial activity against E. coli O157:H7 in hami melon and cherry tomato.

Effect of freeze-thaw frequency plus rainfall on As and Sb metal(loid)s leaching from the solidified/stabilized soil remediated with Fe-based composite agent

The composite agent of ferrous sulfate, fly ash, and calcium lignosulfonate (FFC) can remediate the soil contaminated by As and Sb under cyclic freeze-thaw (F-T) via stabilization/solidification (S/S). However, the impact of high-frequency F-T cycles on the leaching behavior and migration of As and Sb in FFC-treated soils remains unclear. Here the leaching concentrations, heavy metal speciation (Wenzel's method), and Hydrus-1d simulations were investigated. The results showed that FFC effectively maintained the long-term S/S efficiency of arsenic remediation subject to an extended rainfall and freeze-thaw cycles, and stabilized the easily mobile form of As. The short-term S/S effect on Sb in the remediated soils suffering from F-T cycles was demonstrated in the presence of FFC. In a 20-year span, the mobility of Sb was affected by the number of F-T cycles (FT60 > FT20 > FT40 > FT0) in soil with a depth of 100 cm. As leaching progressed, FFC slowed the upward proportion of adsorbed As fractions but converted parts of the residual Sb to the form of crystalline Fe/Al (hydro) oxide. Moreover, the adsorption rate and capacity of As also preceded that of Sb. Long-term curative effects of FFC could be observed for As, but further development of agents capable of remedying Sb under cyclic F-T and long-term rainfall was needed. The predictive results on the migration and leaching behavior of heavy metals in S/S remediated soils may provide new insight into the long-term assessment of S/S under natural conditions.

Assessment of the stabilization effect of ferrous sulfate for arsenic-contaminated soils based on chemical extraction methods and in vitro methods: Methodological differences and linkages

Stabilization of arsenic-contaminated soils with ferrous sulfate has been reported in many studies, but there are few stabilization effects assessments simultaneously combined chemical extraction methods and in vitro methods, and further explored the corresponding alternative relationships. In this study, ferrous sulfate was added at FeAs molar ratio of 0, 5, 10 and 20 to stabilize As in 10 As spiked soils. Stabilization effects were assessed by 6 chemical extraction methods (toxicity characteristic leaching procedures (TCLP), HCl, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), CaCl2, CH3COONH4, (NH4)2SO4), and 4 in vitro methods (physiologically based extraction test (PBET), in vitro gastrointestinal method (IVG), Solubility Bioaccessibility Research Consortium (SBRC) method, and the Unified Bioaccessibility Research Group of Europe method (UBM)). The results showed that the HCl method provides the most conservative assessment results in non-calcareous soils, and in alkaline calcareous soils, (NH4)2SO4 method provides a more conservative assessment. In vitro methods provided significantly higher As concentrations than chemical extraction methods. The components of the simulated digestion solution as well as the parameters may have contributed to this result. The small intestinal phase of PBET and SBRC method produced the highest and lowest ranges of As concentrations, and in the range of 127-462 mg/kg and 68-222 mg/kg when the FeAs molar ratio was 5. So the small intestinal phase of PBET method may provide the most conservative assessment results, while the same phase of SBRC may underestimate the human health risks of As in stabilized soil by 51 %(at a FeAs molar ratio of 5). Spearman correlation analysis indicated that the small intestinal phase of PBET method correlated best with HCl method (correlation coefficient: 0.71). This study provides ideas for the assessment of stabilization efforts to ensure that stabilization meets ecological needs while also being less harmful to humans.

Influence of elevated temperature on the species and mobility of chromium in ferrous sulfate-amended contaminated soil

Ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) combined with acid pretreatment is usually employed to remediate contaminated soils containing Cr(VI). However, the long-term efficiency of this stabilization method is important for its sustainability. In this study, a gradient temperature-elevating exposure test was employed to investigate the stability of Cr in FeSO4-remediated soil when exposed to elevated temperatures (40 °C, 120 °C, and 500 °C), possibly caused by hot weather and/or wildfires. The results of chemical extraction and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) showed that the Cr(VI) in contaminated soil was successfully transformed to Cr(III) after stabilization, resulting in the dramatic decrease of water-leachable Cr(VI). The stabilization efficiency was further improved under 40 °C treatment after 30 days. Subsequently, the 120 °C treatment (7 days) had relatively little effect on the Cr speciation and mobility in soils. However, even one day of 500 °C calcination resulted in the deterioration of stabilization efficiency, and the water-leachable Cr(VI) re-increased and became higher than the Chinese environmental standards (total Cr 15 mg/L, Cr(VI) 5 mg/L) for the classification of hazardous solid wastes. XANES results reflected that heating at 500 °C facilitate the formation of Cr2O3, which was mainly caused by thermal decomposition and dehydration of Cr(OH)3 in the soil. Besides, the transformation of Cr species resulted in the enhanced association of Cr with the most stable residual fraction (88.3%-91.6%) in soil. Based on chemical extraction results, it was suggested that the oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) contributed to the re-increased mobility of Cr(VI) in soil. However, the XANES results showed that almost no significant re-oxidization of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) happened after heating at 500 °C, which was probably caused by XANES linear combination fits (LCF) uncertainties. Moreover, the changes in soil properties, including a rise in pH to a slightly alkaline range and/or the decomposition of organic matter, possibly contributed to the enhanced mobility of Cr(VI) in soil. This study contributes to clarifying the mobility and transformation of Cr in contaminated soils and provides a support for the sustainable management of remediated soils.

Efficient removal and transformation of Cr(VI) from alkaline wastewater to form a ferrochromium spinel multiphase via a modified ferrite process

Chromium-containing wastewater causes serious environmental pollution due to the harmfulness of Cr(VI). The ferrite process is typically used to treat chromium-containing wastewater and recycle the valuable chromium metal. However, the current ferrite process is unable to fully transform Cr(VI) into chromium ferrite under mild reaction conditions. This paper proposes a novel ferrite process to treat chromium-containing wastewater and recover valuable chromium metal. The process combines FeSO4 reduction and hydrothermal treatment to remove Cr(VI) and form chromium ferrite composites. The Cr(VI) concentration in the wastewater was reduced from 1040 mg L-1 to 0.035 mg L-1, and the Cr(VI) leaching toxicity of the precipitate was 0.21 mg L-1 under optimal hydrothermal conditions. The precipitate consisted of micron-sized ferrochromium spinel multiphase with polyhedral structure. The mechanism of Cr(VI) removal involved three steps: 1) partial oxidation of FeSO4 to Fe(III) hydroxide and oxy-hydroxide; 2) reduction of Cr(VI) by FeSO4 to Cr(III) and Fe(III) precipitates; 3) transformation and growth of the precipitates into chromium ferrite composites. This process meets the release standards of industrial wastewater and hazardous waste and can improve the efficiency of the ferrite process for toxic heavy metal removal.

The effectiveness of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to iron supplementation in patients with a low hemoglobin profile: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Patients with a low serum blood hemoglobin concentration suffer from a pathologic state that contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality figures worldwide. Oral iron supplementation, the most common method of treatment, is reported to have poor patient adherence, due to its unwanted side effects. Lactoferrin is a globular glycoprotein of the transferrin family that has shown promising results in patients with a low hemoglobin profile. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials explore its effect on blood hemoglobin compared to conventional iron preparations.

METHODS

We followed the PRISMA Guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane) from inception to June 2022. Meta-analysis was performed on studies where the primary outcome was the mean Hb concentration, comparing lactoferrin to ferrous sulfate subgroups. We assessed the methodological quality of the trials using the Jadad scoring scale.

RESULTS

Nineteen trials published between 2006 and 2022 met the eligibility criteria. It has been found that the levels of Hb concentration in different populations with varying health conditions undergo a moderate to significant change after treatment with all types of trialed interventions, including both iron and lactoferrin treatment, in both the intervention group and the comparison group. Most of the studies report that LF showed a statistically significant increase in Hb concentration levels, compared to those in the iron group. The meta-analysis included seven trials comparing the effectiveness of lactoferrin to ferrous sulfate for patients with low Hb concentration. The analysis showed a statistically significant increase in Hb levels in the oral bovine lactoferrin group compared to ferrous sulfate (SMD -0.81, 95% CI: -1.21, -0.42, p < 0.0001, I2 = 95.8%, P heterogeneity < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Lactoferrin is an effective intervention at doses of 100-250 ng/day, for patients with a low Hb concentration. As a safer option and with high compliance evidence, lactoferrin can serve as an iron replacement treatment for patients who may be experiencing adverse side effects due to iron intake.

Use of antianemics in prenatal care: A population cohort from a capital city in the North region of Brazil

Anemia during pregnancy is a significant risk factor for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal mortality. In Brazil, anemia prevention and treatment programs are available, but regional variations in prevalence and factors associated with antianemic drug use remain understudied. The objective was to identify the prevalence of gestational anemia and the factors associated with the use of antianemic drugs during pregnancy in a cross-sectional population-based study carried out in Rio Branco, AC. To do so, we planned a cross-sectional, population-based study with a total of 1190 postpartum women who gave birth between April 6 and July 10, 2015, were interviewed about demographic, socioeconomic, reproductive, and prenatal care factors. The prevalence of anemia during pregnancy was found to be 13.8 %, with 93.2 % of women using antianemic drugs, such as ferrous sulfate and folic acid. Factors positively associated with antianemic drug use were higher education (elementary school II RCajust = 2.46; 95 %, CI: 1.01-6.13; high school RCajust = 2.61; 95 %, CI: 1.11-6.12), primiparity (ACadjust = 1.69; 95 %, CI: 0.98-3.74), 6 to 8 prenatal consultations (ACjust = 2.16; 95, CI%: 1.15-4.05), and planned pregnancy (ARjust = 1.94; 95 %, CI: 1.05-3.74). Food security during pregnancy was inversely associated. These findings suggest that while anemia prevention and treatment programs exist, more targeted strategies are needed, particularly for women with lower socioeconomic status, to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Iron pill aspiration syndrome: A case report and literature review

Aspiration of iron pill containing ferrous sulfate into the airway can induce fulminant chemical burn and necrosis of the airway mucosa. Acute chemical burn and inflammatory response can result in life-threatening airway compromise. It can also result in long-term sequelae including but not limited to fibrosis and airway stenosis. Considering the common use of iron supplements, and the potential severity of aspiration related airway injury, clinicians should be fully cognizant of the interaction between aspirated iron and airway passages. Herein, we present a case report with pertinent review of the literature.

An autopsy report with a diagnostic clinical profile on fatal overdose of life-saving iron supplement

Ferrous sulfate is a commonly prescribed drug for prophylaxis and treatment purposes, particularly in women and adolescent girls. However, its easy availability, potential toxicity at higher doses, and vague clinical presentation make it a drug of concern when evaluating a case of poisoning. We present the case of a 28-year-old female who allegedly consumed 60 ferrous sulfate (60 mg of elemental iron in 200 mg of ferrous sulfate) tablets in a suicidal attempt. She presented with gastrointestinal disturbances on the same day to a tertiary care health facility. Investigations revealed deranged liver function tests, serum iron levels ten times the normal range, and high levels of saturated transferrin. Despite treatment, she succumbed to the poisoning 4 days after the incident. Autopsy showed features of liver failure, which was confirmed by histopathology. Chemical examination detected free ferrous and chloride ions. This fatal case of adult iron toxicity highlights the different causes of death in various stages of iron toxicity, providing a wider perspective on clinical management and aiding in the determination of the cause of death during an autopsy. This article adds a rare fatal iron poisoning case in adults to the literature, emphasizing the necessity for regulating iron tablet supplementation and raising public awareness of the toxicity of iron, which could save millions of lives.

Protocol for a multicenter, double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial comparing intravenous ferric derisomaltose to oral ferrous sulfate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy: The IVIDA2 trial

BACKGROUND

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is common during pregnancy and associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Treatment with iron supplementation is recommended during pregnancy, but the optimal delivery route is unclear. Oral iron risks has high risk of gastrointestinal side effects and low absorption. Intravenous iron is infused directly but is expensive. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently recommends oral iron to treat IDA in pregnancy with intravenous iron reserved as second-line therapy, if needed. This approach is associated with persistent anemia, increasing the risk of peripartum blood transfusion. We aim to provide data on optimal route of iron repletion for IDA in pregnancy.

METHODS

In IVIDA2, a double-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter randomized trial in the United States, 746 pregnant people with moderate-to-severe IDA (hemoglobin <10 g/dL and ferritin <30 ng/mL) at 24-28 weeks' gestation will be randomized 1:1 to either a single 1000 mg dose of intravenous ferric derisomaltose and oral placebo (1-3 times daily) or a single placebo infusion with 1-3 times daily 325 mg ferrous sulfate (65 mg elemental iron) tablet. The primary outcome is peripartum blood transfusion (blood transfusion from delivery to 7 days postpartum). Secondary outcomes include adverse medication reactions, maternal and neonatal hematologic indices, and offspring neurodevelopment.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

A central ethical review board-Advarra-granted ethical approval (Pro00060930). Participating centers-Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, University of Michigan Medical Center, Washington University School of Ethics and dissemination: A central ethical review board-Advarra-granted ethical approval (Pro00060930). Participating centers-Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, University of Michigan Medical Center, Washington University School of.

Microwave-enhanced simultaneous immobilization of lead and arsenic in a field soil using ferrous sulfate

Remediation of soil contaminated by mixed heavy metals and metalloids has been a major challenge in the global environmental field. To address this critical issue, we tested a new technology for simultaneous immobilization of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in a field contaminated soil using a microwave-assisted FeSO₄·7H₂O treatment process. The process was able to rapidly reduce the TCLP-based leachability of Pb from 12.74 to 0.1 mg L^-1 and As from 2.704 to 0.002 mg L^-1 (MW power = 800 W, Irradiation time = 20 min, and FeSO₄·7H₂O = 4 wt%). The effects of FeSO₄·7H₂O dosage, microwave power, and irradiation time were determined and optimized. After 365 days of curing under atmospheric conditions, the TCLP-leached concentration of Pb and As in the treated soil remained below the regulatory limits of 0.1 and 0.002 mg L^-1, respectively. The microwave irradiation promoted the formation of insoluble PbSO₄(s) and Fe₃(AsO₄)₂·8H₂O(s), resulting in the long-term stability of Pb and As in the soil. The technology offers an effective alternative for remediation of Pb- and/or As-contaminated soil and groundwater.

Ferrous sulfate efficiently kills Vibrio parahaemolyticus and protects salmon sashimi from its contamination

The primary seafood-borne pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus seriously threats the health of consumers preferring raw-fish products, becoming a global concern in food safety. In the present study, we found ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄), a nutritional iron supplement, could efficiently induce the death of V. parahaemolyticus. Further, the bactericidal mechanisms of FeSO₄ were explored. With a fluorescent probe of Fe²⁺, a significant influx of Fe²⁺ was determined in V. parahaemolyticus exposed to FeSO₄, and the addition of an intracellular Fe²⁺ chelator was able to block the cell death. This suggested that cell death in V. parahaemolyticus induced by FeSO₄ was dependent on the influx of Fe²⁺. It was intriguing that we did not observe the eruption of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid hydroperoxides by Fe²⁺, but the application of liproxstatin-1 (a ferroptosis inhibitor) significantly modified the occurrence of cell death in V. parahaemolyticus. These results suggested FeSO₄-induced cell death in V. parahaemolyticus be a ferroptosis differing from that in mammalian cells. Through transcriptome analysis, it was discovered that the exposure of FeSO₄ disturbed considerable amounts of gene expression in V. parahaemolyticus including those involved in protein metabolism, amide biosynthesis, two-component system, amino acid degradation, carbon metabolism, citrate cycle, pyruvate metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and so on. These data suggested that FeSO₄ was a pleiotropic antimicrobial agent against V. parahaemolyticus. Notably, FeSO₄ was able to eliminate V. parahaemolyticus in salmon sashimi as well, without affecting the color, texture, shearing force, and sensory characteristics of salmon sashimi. Taken together, our results deciphered a unique ferroptosis in V. parahaemolyticus by FeSO₄, and highlighted its potential in raw-fish products to control V. parahaemolyticus.

New insight into the mechanism of remediation of chromium containing soil by synergetic disposal of ferrous sulfate and digestate

In this work, an innovative technology by using ferrous sulfate combined with digestate, was applied to the Cr (VI) reduction. In the combined process, 3% ferrous sulfate, 5% digestate, 2% glucose, 30 °C and 50% moisture content were proved to be the optimal operating conditions. The combined process achieved 100% reduction of 3000 mg/Kg Cr (VI) within 10 days. Ferrous sulfate and digestate had a synergistic effect on Cr (VI) reduction. XPS analysis showed that Cr (VI) was reduced to Cr (III) in the combined treatment group. Functional microorganisms in digestate played an important role in the reduction of Cr (VI). Sulfate and Fe(III) could be reduced by microorganisms in digestate, and the reduction products accelerated the reduction of Cr (VI). The combined treatment improved the relative abundance of Clostridium, Acinetobacter, and Tissierella, which were of great significance for the reduction of Cr (VI).

Efficient immobilization and utilization of chromite ore processing residue via hydrothermally constructing spinel phase Fe2+(Cr3+X, Fe3+2-x)O4 and its magnetic separation

Chromite ore processing residue (COPR) has been a severe environmental contaminant which is worthy of attention. In this study, we developed an eco-friendly and practical technology for effectively stabilizing and recovering Cr(VI) in COPR via combining FeSO₄ reducing agent and the hydrothermal treatment. A stable spinel phase product was formed during detoxification. In addition, the ferrochrome resources in the treated COPR can be obtained by magnetic separation. As we studied, the hydrothermal environment promoted the release of unstable Na₂CrO₄ from COPR into the solution, and the released CrO₄^2- was reduced to Cr(III) by FeSO₄. Subsequently, Cr(III), Fe(II) and Fe(III) were hydrothermally mineralized to form the magnetic spinel phase Fe²⁺(Cr³⁺_X, Fe³⁺_2-x)O₄ (FeCr spinel substance), which was conducive to the magnetic separation of ferrochrome resources. Under the optimal hydrothermal conditions (0.15 g FeSO₄/2 g COPR, treatment at 180 °C for 8 h), the total Cr leaching concentration of treated COPR (COPR-HT) was decreased from 120.51 mg L^-1 to 0.23 mg L^-1, well below the regulatory limit of 1.5 mg L^-1 (HJ/T 301-2007, China EPA). After 300 days aging under atmospheric conditions, the total Cr leaching concentration of COPR-HT was still below 1.5 mg L^-1. Besides, the COPR-HT after magnetic separation contained 11.52 wt% Cr₂O₃ and 53.44 wt% Fe₂O₃, which can be used as the raw material for steel industry. The underlying mechanism of COPR stabilization was explained by XRD, XPS and SEM-EDS analysis. This work converted the toxic and unstable Cr(VI) in COPR into the long-term stable FeCr spinel substance that is easy to magnetically separate. It has important reference for the harmless disposal and resource utilization of other chromium-containing hazardous wastes including chromium slag and electroplating sludge.

Neutralization of bauxite residue with high calcium content in abating pH rebound by using ferrous sulfate

The high alkalinity of bauxite residue and its sustained release impose major limitation on its reuse and ecological disposal. It has been confirmed from sustained rehabilitation that gypsum can effectively reduce the alkalinity of bauxite residue by continuously releasing Ca²⁺ to react with carbonate and hydroxide. However, the combined bauxite residue with high calcium content exhibits stubborn alkalinity for most alkaline reduction methods employing cations to consume carbonate. In this study, we have aimed to address this knowledge gap by investigating the dose-response relationship in the alkaline reduction induced by ferrous sulfate (FS) neutralization. The pH, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and CO₃^2-/HCO₃^- of bauxite residue decreased from 10.6, 44.1%, and 42.7/24.5 mg/kg to 8.1, 27.7%, and 0.7/18.0 mg/kg, respectively. Approximately 20-55 days were required for the neutralization reaction to reach equilibrium. The FS induced an increase in free iron oxide (Fe_d) and amorphous iron oxide (Fe_o), and partial dissolution of alkaline minerals including calcite, cancrinite, and kaolinite in bauxite residue. Further, addition of FS also affected the kinetic dissolution process of bauxite residue; the acid neutralization capacity of bauxite residue to pH 7 decreased from 0.21 mol H⁺/kg solid to 0.02 mol H⁺/kg solid. The results showed FS to be a potential candidate for improving the characteristics of the combined bauxite residue, and guide the FS application for the disposal of the combined bauxite residue.

Effects of FeSO4 dosage on nitrogen loss and humification during the composting of cow dung and corn straw

The effects of FeSO₄ on nitrogen loss and humification were investigated in the composting of cow dung and corn straw. The results showed that all groups met the ripening requirements after 50 days: the temperature was above 50 °C for 12- 17 days; the products had pH values of 6.4-7.6, electrical conductivities of 1.06-1.33 ms·cm^-1, NH₄⁺-N contents of 37.2-61.8 mg kg^-1, and the seed germination index of 95%-101%. FeSO₄ reduced nitrogen losses by 9.21-15.65% compared to the control group. FeSO₄ also improved the compost humification process: the humus substances (HS) contents in the compost product with FeSO₄ were 109.82-129.86 g·kg^-1, higher than 106.31 g·kg^-1 in the control group. The compost product in 3.75% FeSO₄ treatment had the highest maturity degree. This study showed that FeSO₄ could inhibit the mineralization of organic matter during the composting and accelerate the formation of HS.

Supplementation with Sucrosomial® iron leads to favourable changes in the intestinal microbiome when compared to ferrous sulfate in mice

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide and is often treated with oral iron supplements. However, commonly used supplements, including those based on ferrous iron salts, are associated with gastrointestinal side effects and unfavorable changes in the intestinal microbiome. Sucrosomial® iron is a novel iron formulation that is effective at treating iron deficiency, and with fewer gastrointestinal side effects, yet its effect on the gut microbiome has not been examined previously. Thus, we treated mice for two weeks with diets containing either Sucrosomial® iron or ferrous sulfate as the sole iron source and examined bacterial communities in the intestine using 16S Microbial Profiling of DNA extracted from feces collected both prior to and following dietary treatment. Mice treated with Sucrosomial® iron showed an increase in Shannon diversity over the course of the study. This was associated with a decrease in the abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria, which contains many pathogenic species, and an increase in short chain fatty acid producing bacteria such as Lachnospiraceae, Oscillibacter and Faecalibaculum. None of these changes were observed in mice treated with ferrous sulfate. These results suggest that Sucrosomial® iron may have a beneficial effect on the intestinal microbiome when compared to ferrous sulfate and that this form of iron is a promising alternative to ferrous iron salts for the treatment of iron deficiency.

Electro-conductive carbon nanofibers containing ferrous sulfate for bone tissue engineering

The application of electroactive scaffolds can be promising for bone tissue engineering applications. In the current paper, we aimed to fabricate an electro-conductive scaffold based on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) containing ferrous sulfate. FeSO₄·7H₂O salt with different concentrations 5, 10, and 15 wt%, were blended with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer as the precursor and converted to Fe₂O3/CNFs nanocomposite by electrospinning and heat treatment. The characterization was conducted using SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and Raman methods. The results showed that the incorporation of Fe salt induces no adverse effect on the nanofibers' morphology. EDX analysis confirmed that the Fe ions are uniformly dispersed throughout the CNF mat. FTIR spectroscopy showed the interaction of Fe salt with PAN polymer. Raman spectroscopy showed that the incorporation of FeSO4·7H₂O reduced the ID/IG ratio, indicating more ordered carbon in the synthesized nanocomposite. Electrical resistance measurement depicted that, although the incorporation of ferrous sulfate reduced the electrical conductivity, the conductive is suitable for electrical stimulation. The in vitro studies revealed that the prepared nanocomposites were cytocompatible and only negligible toxicity (less than 10%) induced by CNFs/Fe₂O₃ fabricated from PAN FeSO₄·7H₂O 15%. Although various nanofibrous composite fabricated with Fe NPs have been evaluated for tissue engineering applications, CNFs exhibited promising properties, such as excellent mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and electrical conductivity. These results showed that the fabricated nanocomposites could be applied as the bone tissue engineering scaffold.

Removal of heavy metals from contaminated paddy soils using chemical reductants coupled with dissolved organic carbon solutions

General acid washing is commonly used to treat heavy metal-contaminated soils, but it is sometimes difficult to achieve remediation aims in severely polluted soils. If we expose the surfaces of Fe oxide minerals to reductive dissolution during washing treatment, more of the metals initially adsorbed to these surfaces will be liberated, which may encourage the removal of heavy metals. Initially, the metal extraction capabilities of nine chemical reductants were compared in ten soil samples polluted by Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni. Sodium dithionite (Na₂S₂O₄) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) were screened for subsequent intensive research. In summary, the Na₂S₂O₄ solutions had higher Cr, Cu, and Zn removal rates than either the FeSO₄ or acid solution. Application of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) further increased the removal of heavy metals by complexation. About 15%, 86%, 32%, and 52% of the Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni, respectively, were removed from the representative soil (M-2) by two-stage washing using 0.2 M Na₂S₂O₄ coupled with 1,500 mg L^-1 DOC solution at pH 2.0. Meanwhile, most soil fertility was preserved: ammonium nitrogen was increased 3.9 times; the increase in exchangeable potassium was 33%; and the reduction in available P was only 10%.

Mercapto propyltrimethoxysilane- and ferrous sulfate-modified nano-silica for immobilization of lead and cadmium as well as arsenic in heavy metal-contaminated soil

Nano-silica as an important part of soil is an ideal carrier of passivator material. In this paper, nano-silica was modified by silane coupling agent containing mercapto group and iron (II) salt to afford an organic-inorganic hybrid containing -S-Fe-S functional group (coded as RNS-SFe) on the surface of nano-silica. Results demonstrate that the RNS-SFe nanoparticle has network-like spheroidal shape and a primary particle size is about 18.0 nm. The RNS-SFe hybrid as a potential immobilization agent for heavy metal in soil shows excellent performance for the remediation of the contaminated soil. Specifically, with a dosage of 3.0% (mass ratio) in the soil, it can immobilize bioavailable Pb, Cd, and As by 97.1%, 85.0%, and 80.1%, respectively. Namely, the RNS-SFe hybrid can transform the bioavailable Pb, Cd, and As into insoluble mercapto metal compounds (-S-Pb-S- and -S-Cd-S-) and less soluble iron arsenate (Fe₃(AsO₄)₂, FeAsO₄) precipitate on the surface of nano-silica particle, thereby reducing the toxicity and mobility of the toxic contaminant fractions. In the meantime, the immobilized products of the Pb, Cd and As fractions have good resistance against acid leaching. These results are contributive to the application of RNS-SFe for the remediation of multi-heavy metal-contaminated soils in field.

Effect of irrigation with saline magnetized water and different soil amendments on growth and flower production of Calendula officinalis L. plants

Global climate change and increased population caused significant depletion of freshwater especially in arid and semi-arid regions including Saudi Arabia. Saline water magnetization before irrigation may help in alleviating the adverse effects of salinity on plants. The current study aimed to examine the potential beneficial effects of water magnetization and soil amendments on growth, productivity, and survival of Calendula officinalis L. plants. Three types of water (tap water “control”, well water, and magnetized well water) and two types of soil amendments (Fe₂SO₄ and peat moss) were examined. Our results showed that irrigating C. officinalis plants with saline well water (WW) adversely affected growth and flowering as compared to tap water (TW). However, plants irrigated with magnetized water (MW) showed significant enhancement in all the studied vegetative and flowering growth parameters as compared to those irrigated with WW. Furthermore, mineral contents and survival of C. officinalis plants irrigated with MW were higher than those irrigated with TW. Irrigation with MW significantly reduced levels of NA⁺ and Cl⁻ ions in leaves of C. officinalis plants indicating the role of magnetization in alleviating harmful effects of salinity. The current study showed that water magnetization enhanced water quality and increased plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. Further studies are needed to examine the possibility of irrigating food crops with magnetized water.

Iron recovery from the coarse fraction of basic oxygen furnace sludge. Part I: optimization of acid leaching conditions

In this study, a new reuse process of the coarse fraction of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) sludge based on iron recovery by the ferrous sulfate production was proposed. This study was based on three main steps: (i) characterization of the steel waste, (ii) evaluation and optimization of the recycling process, and (iii) characterization of ferrous sulfate produced. Acid leaching was used to solubilize the iron for obtaining ferrous sulfate heptahydrate. The ferrous sulfate crystallization was performed by adding anhydrous ethanol (EtOH). A multivariate optimization for iron leaching and ferrous sulfate precipitation in the same solution was employed. This optimization consisted of screening steps using a full factorial design followed by optimization. The coarse fraction of BOF sludge was predominantly composed of iron in metallic form (82.5%, dry weight). The sulfuric acid concentration and leaching time had significant effects on Fe(II) solubilization. The desirability function predicted the following optimized conditions: 20% (v/v) sulfuric acid solution, 200 min of leaching time, 7.00 g of waste, and 110 mL of anhydrous EtOH, producing 19.60 g of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (yield of 70.8%). The characterization of ferrous sulfate was performed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The characterization of the ferrous sulfate produced evidenced the effectiveness of the optimized process condition. Graphical abstract.

Ferrous Sulfate-Induced Esophageal Injury Leading to Esophagitis Dissecans Superficialis

Medication-induced esophagitis is a well-known but relatively rare clinical diagnosis, most common in patients with preexisting esophageal dysmotility, obstruction, or altered anatomy. Esophagitis dissecans superficialis (EDS) is a rare endoscopic finding characterized by sloughing of large fragments of the esophageal mucosal lining. The causes of EDS include prior trauma, heavy smoking history, ingestion of alcoholic and hot beverages, and immunosuppression. We present a unique case of EDS secondary to ferrous sulfate-induced pill esophagitis. The patient was a 94-year-old male who presented with dysphagia to solids, odynophagia, and weight loss. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed EDS. Biopsies demonstrated vacuolar degeneration at the midlevel of the epithelium with overlying hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, with noted black/brown pigment present at the level of the split in the epithelium. The patient was started on a liquid diet with no oral administration of pills. EGD was repeated and showed a significant improvement in esophageal mucosa and resolution of strictures. Although medication-induced esophagitis is not classically associated with EDS, specific circumstances that are associated with pill esophagitis may lead to progression to EDS. In the case of our patient, prolonged contact of ferrous sulfate to the esophageal mucosa is thought be a result of an enlarged left atrium and pulmonary arteries secondary to longstanding coronary artery disease and an enlarged left bronchus secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and right pneumonectomy. These anatomical changes likely led to an extended duration of contact and are believed to have led to erosion of the superficial esophageal mucosa, eventually progressing to EDS.

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Ferrous Sulfate to Treat Insomnia in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

BACKGROUND

Insomnia and low iron stores are common in children with autism spectrum disorders, and low iron stores have been associated with sleep disturbance.

METHODS

We performed a randomized placebo-controlled trial of oral ferrous sulfate to treat insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders and low normal ferritin levels. Twenty participants who met inclusion criteria and whose insomnia did not respond to sleep education were randomized to 3 mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate (n = 9) or placebo (n = 11) for three months.

RESULTS

Iron supplementation was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were reported. Iron supplementation improved iron status (+18.4 ng/mL active versus -1.6 ng/mL placebo, P = 0.044) but did not significantly improve the primary outcome measures of sleep onset latency (-11.0 minutes versus placebo, 95% confidence interval -28.4 to 6.4 minutes, P = 0.22) and wake time after sleep onset (-7.7 minutes versus placebo, 95% confidence interval -22.1 to 6.6 min, P = 0.29) as measured by actigraphy. Iron supplementation was associated with improvement in the overall severity score from the Sleep Clinical Global Impression Scale (-1.5 points versus placebo, P = 0.047). Changes in measures of daytime behavior did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

This trial demonstrated no improvement in primary outcome measures of insomnia in subjects treated with ferrous sulfate compared with placebo. Interpretation was limited by low enrollment.

Stabilization treatment of arsenic-alkali residue (AAR): Effect of the coexisting soluble carbonate on arsenic stabilization

Arsenic-alkali residue (AAR) from antimony smelting is highly hazardous due to its ready leachability of As, seeking for proper disposal such as stabilization treatment. However, As stabilization in AAR would be challenging due to the high content of coexisting soluble carbonate. This study conducted the stabilization treatments of AAR by ferrous sulfate and lime, respectively, and revealed the significant influence of coexisting carbonate. It was found that ferrous sulfate was more efficient than lime, which required only one-tenth of dosages of lime to reduce the As leaching concentration from 915 mg/L to a level below 2.5 mg/L to meet the Chinese regulatory limit. The combining qualitative and quantitative analyses based on XRD, SEM-EDS, and thermodynamic modeling suggested that the formation of insoluble arsenate minerals, ferrous arsenate or calcium arsenate, was the predominant mechanism for As stabilization in the two treatment systems, and their efficiency difference was primarily attributed to the coexisting carbonate, which had a slight effect on ferrous arsenate but severely obstructed calcium arsenate formation. Moreover, the examination of As leaching concentrations in 1-year-cured samples indicated that the long-term stability of ferrous sulfate treatment was far superior to that of lime treatment. This study provides ferrous salts as a promising and green scheme for stabilization treatment of AAR as well as other similar As-bearing solid wastes with coexisting soluble carbonate.

Esophageal Pharmacobezoar in a Patient with Achalasia: A Case Report

A few cases with esophageal bezoar have been reported in achalasia. We describe here a rare case of esophageal pharmacobezoar after ingestion of ferrous sulfate capsules in a patient with achalasia.

A 29-year-old woman presented with severe dysphagia since five days earlier. She had history of achalasia since 3 years ago but had refused any treatment option. After about 3 weeks of ferrous sulfate capsules ingestion, she developed severe dysphagia and was referred to a gastroenterologist. Physical examination was unremarkable. A barium swallow revealed dilated esophagus and bird’s beak appearance. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed dilated esophagus and soft black color bezoar in distal part of esophagus. The bezoar was retrieved with basket. In the next endoscopic session, achalasia balloon dilation was successfully applied.

Ferrous sulfate capsules can cause pharmacobezoar in patients with achalasia. Esophageal bezoar should be considered in differential diagnosis of untreated achalasia and acute exacerbation of dysphagia.

Magnetic nanoparticles-loaded liposomes as a novel treatment agent for iron deficiency anemia: In vivo study

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a major worldwide public health problem. This is due to its prevalence among infants, children, adolescents, pregnant and reproductive age women. Ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) is the first line therapy for iron IDA. Unfortunately, it is reported that FeSO₄ suffers from low absorption rate in the body and itself exhibits severe side effects. Herein, iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles-loaded liposomes (LMNPs) are prepared, characterized and evaluated as a treatment regimen for IDA in Wistar rats (as an animal model). Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are prepared and loaded into liposomes using the thin film hydration method. The size of the prepared formulations is in the range 10-100 nm, thus it can avoid the reticular endothelial system (RES), and increased their blood circulation time. For in vivo assessment, thirty-five Wistar rats are divided into 5 groups (n = 7): negative control group, positive control group, and three groups treated with different iron formulations (FeSO₄, MNPs and LMNPs). Anemia is induced in the anemic groups by the bleeding method and then treatment started with different iron compounds administrated orally for 13 days. Hematological parameters are followed up during the treatment period. Results indicate that, in the LMNPs group, the hematological parameters turn to normal values and the histopathological structures of the liver, spleen and kidney remain normal. This proves that liposome increases the bioavailability of MNPs. In conclusion, LMNPs demonstrate superiority as a therapeutic regimen for the treatment of IDA among the tested iron formulations.

Oxidative Stress and Genomic Damage Induced In Vitro in Human Peripheral Blood by Two Preventive Treatments of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency and the main cause of anemia worldwide. Since children aged 6-24 months are among the most vulnerable groups at risk, daily supplementation with ferrous sulfate is recommended by the Argentine Society of Pediatrics as preventive treatment of anemia. However, a single weekly dose would have fewer adverse side effects and has been therefore proposed as an alternative treatment. Ferrous sulfate is known by its pro-oxidative properties, which may lead to increased oxidative stress as well as lipid, protein, and DNA damage. We analyzed the effect of daily and weekly preventive treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) on cell viability, oxidative stress, chromosome, and cytomolecular damage in peripheral blood cultured in vitro. The study protocol included the following: untreated negative control; bleomycin, hydrogen peroxide, or ethanol-treated positive control; daily 0.14 mg ferrous sulfate-supplemented group; and weekly 0.55 mg ferrous sulfate-supplemented group. We assessed cell viability (methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium and neutral red assays), lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay), antioxidant response (superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme analysis), chromosome damage (cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus cytome assay), and cytomolecular damage (comet assay). Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant response, and chromosome and cytomolecular damage decreased after weekly ferrous sulfate supplementation (p < 0.05), suggesting less oxygen free radical production and decreased oxidative stress and genomic damage. Such a decrease in oxidative stress and genomic damage in vitro positions weekly supplementation as a better alternative for IDA treatment. Further studies in vivo would be necessary to corroborate whether weekly supplementation could improve IDA preventive treatment compliance in children.

Effects of a moderate iron overload and its interaction with yacon flour, and/or phytate, in the diet on liver antioxidant enzymes and hepatocyte apoptosis in rats

The effect of moderate Fe overload in the diet and its interaction with phytate, and/or yacon flour (YF), recognized as an inhibitor, and facilitator, of Fe absorption, respectively, was evaluated in healthy rats. For this purpose the following parameters were analyzed: (1) apparent iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) absorption; (2) blood Fe; (3) blood lipids (cholesterol, tryacylglicerol); (4) blood AST and ALT; (5) liver histology (histopathology, hemosiderin depots, apoptosis index; (6) liver fatty acid incorporation; (7) liver antioxidant enzyme activity. Moderate Fe overload may cause change in some liver markers (hemosiderin depots, apoptosis index and GPx) and blood lipids (total cholesterol and VLDL) and the interaction with yacon flour, and phytate, in the Fe overloaded diets may exert a protective effect on these alterations.

Effect of phosphate amendments on improving the fertilizer efficiency and reducing the mobility of heavy metals during sewage sludge composting

Composting has been globally applied as an effective and cost-efficient process to manage and reuse sewage sludge. In the present study, four different phosphates as well as a mixture of ferrous sulfate and monopotassium phosphate were used in sewage sludge composting. The results showed that these phosphate amendments promoted an increase in temperature and the degradation of organic matter as well as reduction on nitrogen loss during 18 days of composting. In addition, ferrous sulfate and phosphate had a synergistic effect on reducing nitrogen loss. The contents of total phosphorus and available phosphorus in the compost with addition of 1% phosphate were 40.9% and 66.1% higher than the compost with control treatment. Using the BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedure, the addition of calcium magnesium phosphate significantly reduced the mobility factor of Cd, Zn and Cu by 24.2%, 1.7% and 18.8%, respectively. The mobility factors of Pb were increased in all samples, but the monopotassium phosphate treated sample exhibited the greatest Pb passivation ability with the lowest mobility factor increase (1.8%) among all treatments. The X-ray diffraction patterns of compost samples indicated that the passivation mechanism of Cu and Zn may be the forming CuFeS₂ and ZnCu(P₂O₇) crystals during sewage sludge composting. The germination index showed that the compost of all treatments was safe for agricultural application; the germination index of the calcium magnesium phosphate treatment was 99.9 ± 11.8%, which was the highest among all treatments.

Influence of zeolite and superphosphate as additives on antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial communities during factory-scale chicken manure composting

Factory-scale chicken manure composting added with zeolite (F), superphosphate (G), or zeolite and ferrous sulfate (FL) simultaneously, were evaluate for their effects on the behaviors of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacterial communities. After composting, ARGs in manure decreased by 67.3% in the control, whereas the reductions were 86.5%, 68.6% and 72.2% in F, G and FL, respectively. ARGs encoding ribosomal protection proteins (tetO, tetB(P), and tetM) were reduced to a greater extent than tetG, tetL, sul1 and sul2. Bacteria pathogens were also effectively removed by composting. Network analysis showed that Firmicutes were the important potential host bacteria for ARGs. The bacterial communities and environmental factors, as well as the intI gene, contributed significantly to the variation of ARGs. The ARGs and integrons were reduced more when zeolite was added than when superphosphate was added; thus, it may be useful for reducing the risks of ARGs in chicken manure.

Drug interactions with carbamazepine: An ever expanding list?

In a study that applied a nonlinear mixed effect model to evaluate factors affecting steady-state serum carbamazepine concentrations in elderly nursing home residents, co-administration of iron supplements was reported to reduce serum carbamazepine concentrations by approximately one third. Although these findings suggest that iron ions reduce the oral bioavailability of carbamazepine, the influence of confounders cannot be excluded. Further studies are required to confirm this interaction.

Screening of medium constituents for clavulanic acid production by Streptomyces clavuligerus

Clavulanic acid is a β-lactam compound with potent inhibitory activity against β-lactamases. Studies have shown that certain amino acids play essential roles in CA biosynthesis. However, quantitative evaluations of the effects of these amino acids are still needed in order to improve CA production. Here, we report a study of the nutritional requirements of Streptomyces clavuligerus for CA production. Firstly, the influence of the primary nitrogen source and the salts composition was investigated. Subsequently, soybean protein isolate was supplemented with arginine (0.0-3.20gL^-1), threonine (0.0-1.44gL^-1), ornithine (0.0-4.08gL^-1), and glutamate (0.0-8.16gL^-1), according to a two-level central composite rotatable design. A medium containing ferrous sulfate yielded CA production of 437mgL^-1, while a formulation without this salt produced only 41mgL^-1 of CA. This substantial difference suggested that Fe²⁺ is important for CA biosynthesis. The experimental design showed that glutamate and ornithine negatively influenced CA production while arginine and threonine had no influence. The soybean protein isolate provided sufficient C5 precursor for CA biosynthesis, so that supplementation was unnecessary. Screening of medium components, together with experimental design tools, could be a valuable way of enhancing CA titers and reducing the process costs.

Effects of ferrous sulfate amendment and water management on rice growth and metal(loid) accumulation in arsenic and lead co-contaminated soil

Arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) commonly co-exist with high concentrations in paddy soil mainly due to human activities in south of China. This study investigates the effect of ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) amendment and water management on rice growth and arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) accumulation in rice plants. A paddy soil co-contaminated with As and Pb was chosen for the pot experiment with three FeSO₄ levels (0, 0.25, and 1%, on a dry weight basis) and two water managements (flooded, non-flooded). The concentrations of As and Pb in iron plaques and rice plants were determined. Application of FeSO₄ and non-flooded conditions significantly accelerated the growth of rice plants. With the addition of FeSO₄, iron plaques were significantly promoted and most of the As and Pb were sequestered in the iron plaques. The addition of 0.25% FeSO₄ and non-flooded conditions did not significantly change the accumulation of As and Pb in rice grains. The practice also significantly decreased the translocation factor (TF) of As and Pb from roots to above-ground parts which might have been aided by the reduction of As and Pb availability in soil, the preventing effect of rice roots, and the formation of more reduced glutathione (GSH). Flooded conditions decreased the Pb concentration in rice plants, but increased As accumulation. Moreover, rice grew thin and weak and even died under flooded conditions. Overall, an appropriate FeSO₄ dose and non-flooded conditions might be feasible for rice cultivation, especially addressing the As issue in the co-contaminated soil. However, further detailed studies to decrease the accumulation of Pb in edible parts and the field application in As and Pb co-contaminated soil are recommended.

Fatal Iron Toxicity in an Adult: Clinical Profile and Review

Acute iron toxicity is usually seen in children with accidental ingestion of iron-containing syrups. However, the literature on acute iron toxicity with suicidal intent in adults is scant. We report an instance wherein an adult committed suicide by ingestion of multiple iron tablets. Delay in treatment was there due to misdiagnosis of the intoxicating agent. She developed fulminant hepatic failure with rapid clinical deterioration. Despite aggressive supportive management, the patient succumbed to the toxic doses of iron. Clinical course and postmortem features are discussed with a review of the literature.

Iron Pill Gastritis: An Under Diagnosed Condition With Potentially Serious Outcomes

Given the ubiquitous use of oral iron therapy, their side effects are often encountered and well recognized in clinical practice. However, iron pill gastritis remains an often under-reported and elusive diagnosis. An astute clinician should be aware of this condition in order to promptly discontinue oral iron and institute timely treatment. Here in, we present a case of a 46-year-old woman who presented to the gastroenterology clinic with vague epigastric pain and microcytic anemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed multiple gastric erosions and non-bleeding gastric antral ulcer with biopsies showing excessive iron deposition suggestive of iron pill gastritis. We reviewed the clinical features, pathology, and treatment of iron pill gastritis along with the review of the literature.

Effect of ferrous sulfate and nitrohumic acid neutralization on the leaching of metals from a combined bauxite residue

Bauxite residue neutralization is intended to open opportunities for revegetation and reuse of the residue. Ferrous sulfate (FS) and nitrohumic acid (NA) were two kinds of materials studied for pH reduction of the residue from 10.6 to 8.3 and 8.1, respectively. The effects of FS and NA on the leaching of metals from a combined bauxite residue were investigated by using sequential and multiple extraction procedures. Neutralization with FS and NA restricted the leaching of Al, V, and Pb from the residue but promoted the leaching of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Ni, consistent with the changes in the potentially mobile fractions. With the exceptions of Pb and Ni, leaching of metals increased during a 10-day extraction period. However, the maximum leaching of Al, V, Pb, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Ni from neutralized bauxite residue were 0.46 mg/L, 59.3, 12.9, 167, 95.3, 15.5, and 14.5 μg/L, respectively, which were under the corresponding limits in the National Standard (GB/T 14848-93). Although it is necessary to consider the continued leaching of metals during neutralization, both maximum and accumulation leaching concentrations of metals from a combined bauxite residue were too low to pose a potential environmental risk.

The maturation state of the auditory nerve and brainstem in rats exposed to lead acetate and supplemented with ferrous sulfate

Introduction

The literature has reported the association between lead and auditory effects, based on clinical and experimental studies. However, there is no consensus regarding the effects of lead in the auditory system, or its correlation with the concentration of the metal in the blood.

Objective

To investigate the maturation state of the auditory system, specifically the auditory nerve and brainstem, in rats exposed to lead acetate and supplemented with ferrous sulfate.

Methods

30 weanling male rats (Rattus norvegicus, Wistar) were distributed into six groups of five animals each and exposed to one of two concentrations of lead acetate (100 or 400 mg/L) and supplemented with ferrous sulfate (20 mg/kg). The maturation state of the auditory nerve and brainstem was analyzed using Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential before and after lead exposure. The concentration of lead in blood and brainstem was analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry.

Results

We verified that the concentration of Pb in blood and in brainstem presented a high correlation (r = 0.951; p < 0.0001). Both concentrations of lead acetate affected the maturation state of the auditory system, being the maturation slower in the regions corresponding to portion of the auditory nerve (wave I) and cochlear nuclei (wave II). The ferrous sulfate supplementation reduced significantly the concentration of lead in blood and brainstem for the group exposed to the lowest concentration of lead (100 mg/L), but not for the group exposed to the higher concentration (400 mg/L).

Conclusion

This study indicate that the lead acetate can have deleterious effects on the maturation of the auditory nerve and brainstem (cochlear nucleus region), as detected by the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials, and the ferrous sulphate can partially amend this effect.

Adverse drug reactions in high-risk pregnant women: A prospective study

Background

Because pregnant women are often excluded from clinical trials, there is still very limited information about the risk and safety of prescription drugs during pregnancy.

Objective

We aimed to determine the prevalence of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) in high-risk pregnant women after hospital admission. A prospective study was carried out in a teaching maternity hospital in Brazil during six months. Causality of ADRs was assessed through the Naranjo Algorithm and Korean Algorithm for ADR Causality Assessment. Severity of ADRs was assessed using Hartwig’s Severity Assessment Scale.

Results

The prevalence of ADRs among the 294 inpatients studied was 8.8%. The mean age was 27.14 (±7.5) y.o. Patient's age was related to the presence of ADRs, while the manifestation of these events was not associated with any adverse pregnancy outcome. 75.9% of the ADRs reported in the study were of mild severity and 24.1% were of moderate severity. No ADR was caused by drug-drug interaction; however, a significant increase in blood pressure was observed in all patients using concurrent methyldopa and ferrous sulfate.

Conclusion

Overall, ADRs were not common events among high-risk pregnant women and no adverse pregnancy outcomes following these events were observed.

Synthesizing slow-release fertilizers via mechanochemical processing for potentially recycling the waste ferrous sulfate from titanium dioxide production

The goal of this study is aimed to develop a novel process to recycle the ferrous sulfate, the by-product of titanium dioxide industry. Zinc sulfate was added in the process of milling ferrous sulfate with calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). The sulfates were transformed into carbonates to serve as slow-release fertilizers by co-grinding the starting materials of FeSO₄·7H₂O, ZnSO₄·7H₂O, and CaCO₃ with small amounts of water in a planetary ball mill. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and quantitative measurements of the soluble ratios in water and 2% citric acid solution. It was found that Fe and Zn ions as sulfates were successfully combined with CaCO₃ to form the corresponding Fe and Zn carbonates respectively. After milling, the release ratios of Fe and Zn nutrients in distilled water could be controlled at 0.1% and 0.7% respectively. Meanwhile, the release ratios of them in 2% citric acid solution were almost 98% and 100%. Milling speed was the critical parameter to facilitate the transformation reaction. The proposed process, as an easy and economical route, exhibits evident advantages, namely allowing the use of widely available and low-cost CaCO₃ as well as industrial wastes of heavy metal sulfates as starting samples to prepare applicable products.

Long-term stability of FeSO4 and H2SO4 treated chromite ore processing residue (COPR): Importance of H+ and SO42

In this study, the long-term stability of Cr(VI) in the FeSO₄ and H₂SO₄ (FeSO₄-H₂SO₄) treated chromite ore processing residue (COPR) after 400 curing days and the stabilization mechanisms were investigated. FeSO₄-H₂SO₄ treatment significantly reduced toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) Cr(VI) concentrations to lower than the regulatory limit of 1.5mgL^-1 (HJ/T 301-2007, China EPA) even for the samples curing 400days, achieving an outstanding long-term stability. Our independent leaching tests revealed that H⁺ and SO₄^2- have synergistic effect on promoting the release of Cr(VI), which would make Cr(VI) easier accessed by Fe(II) during stabilization. The contributions of H⁺ and SO₄^2- to Cr(VI) release ratio were 25%-44% and 19%-38%, respectively, as 5mol H₂SO₄ per kg COPR was used. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and alkaline digestion analyses were also employed to interpret the possible stabilization mechanism. Cr(VI) released from COPR solid was reduced to Cr(III) by Fe(II), and then formed stable Fe_xCr_(1-x)(OH)₃ precipitate. This study provides a facile and reliable scheme for COPR stabilization, and verifies the excellent long-term stability of the FeSO₄-H₂SO₄ treated COPR.

Comparison of the Effects of Iron Oxide, as a New Form of Iron Supplement, and Ferrous Sulfate on the Blood Levels of Iron and Total Iron-Binding Globulin in the Rabbit

Iron oxide is an important biological agent that has a key role in medical processes; however, the mechanism whereby it provides iron for human and animal cells and its biological uses remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of oral iron oxide on serum iron status and compare the results with those of iron sulfate as a reference salt. Fifteen adult rabbits were divided into 3 groups of 5 each: control group, iron sulfate group, and iron oxide group. The groups received doses of 3.3, 10, and 33 mg/kg in 3 experiments. Venous blood samples were obtained just before the oral administration of iron sulfate and iron oxide (3.3 mg/kg). More blood samples were taken 3 times at the time points of 1, 6, and 12 hours after the administration of the solutions. Serum was separated for the measurement of iron (Fe) and total iron-binding globulin (TIBG) with routine methods. One week later, the same experiment was repeated with 10 mg/kg of iron sulfate and iron oxide; and 1 week later after the second experiment, again the same experiment was repeated with 33 mg/kg of iron sulfate and iron oxide. The results showed that 33 mg/kg of iron sulfate 1 hour after treatment caused a significant difference in the Fe and TIBG levels between all the groups (P=0.014 for Fe and P=0.027 for TIBG). Our data showed that the absorption of iron oxide was similar to that of ferrous sulfate and in high doses was as useful as iron supplement.

In vitro and in vivo assessment of EDTA-modified silica nano-spheres with supreme capacity of iron capture as a novel antidote agent

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles having structure of MCM-41 category with amine and EDTA functional groups in the pores were prepared using a co-condensation reaction. The synthetic steps eventuated in the mesoporous silica nanoparticles with spherical sizes lower than 50nm supposed to have high surface area. The nanoparticles' structure and functionality were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and CHN analysis and the topography were examined by SEM and TEM and hydrodynamic sizes were demonstrated by DLS. The crystallinity and mesoporous pattern were figured out by XRD technique. Then the efficiency of these materials was tested in vitro and in vivo in adsorbing ferrous sulfate which is a supplement normally prescribed in treating iron deficiency and its overdose is potentially lethal, especially in young children. In vivo experiments illustrated that both nanoparticles could efficiently be administrated as an antidote agent against iron overdose, but EDTA-MSN nanoparticles were superior to NH₂-MSN nanoparticles.

Effect of different amendments on rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth, yield, nutrient uptake and grain quality in Ni-contaminated soil

Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is one of the main staple food crops which is inherently low in micronutrients, especially iron (Fe), and can lead to severe Fe deficiency in populations having higher consumption of rice. Soils polluted with nickel (Ni) can cause toxicity to rice and decreased Fe uptake by rice plants. We investigated the potential role of biochar (BC) and gravel sludge (GS), alone and in combination, for in situ immobilization of Ni in an industrially Ni-contaminated soil at original and sulfur-amended altered soil pH. Our further aim was to increase Fe bioavailability to rice plants by the exogenous application of ferrous sulfate to the Ni-immobilized soil. Application of the mixture of both amendments reduced grain Ni concentration, phytate, Phytate/Fe, Phyt/Zn molar ratios, and soil DTPA-extractable Ni. In addition, the amendment mixture increased 70 % Fe and 229 % ferritin concentrations in rice grains grown in the soil at original pH. The Fe and ferritin concentrations in S-treated soil was increased up to 113 and 383 % relative to control respectively. This enhanced Fe concentration and corresponding ferritin in rice grains can be attributed to Ni/Fe antagonism where Ni has been immobilized by GS and BC mixture. This proposed technique can be used to enhance growth, yield, and Fe biofortification in rice by reducing soil pH while in parallel in situ immobilizing Ni in polluted soil.

Removal of cyanide compounds from coking wastewater by ferrous sulfate: Improvement of biodegradability

The effect of ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) treatment on the removal of cyanide compounds and the improvement of biodegradability of coking wastewater were investigated by varying Fe:TCN molar ratios. Results suggested that the reaction between FeSO4 and coking wastewater was a two-step process. At the first step, i.e., 0≤Fe:TCN≤1.0, the reaction mechanisms were dominated by the precipitation of FeS, the complexation of CN(-), and the coagulation of organic compounds. The COD of coking wastewater decreased from 3748.1 mg/L to 3450.2 mg/L, but BOD5:COD (B/C) was improved from 0.30 to 0.51. At the second step, i.e., 1.0<Fe:TCN≤3.2, the immobilization of soluble metal-cyanide compounds by ferrous ions was the dominating mechanism. The COD showed a continuous increase to 3542.2 mg/L (Fe:TCN=3.2) due to the accumulated ferrous ions in coking wastewater. Moreover, B/C decreased progressively to 0.35, which was attributed to the negative effects of excess ferrous ions on biodegradability. To improve coking wastewater's biodegradability, a minimum ferrous dosage is required to complete the first step reaction. However, the optimum ferrous dosage should be determined to control a safe residual TCN in coking wastewater for the further biological treatment.

Effects of Zinc Sulfate Supplementation in Treatment of Iron Defi ciency Anemia

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to compare the effect(s) of zinc sulphate on growth and serum iron variables when it is given with ferrous sulphate in iron deficiency anemia (IDA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients (n=79) were randomly divided into two groups. In one group (n=40) 4 mg/kg/d ferrous sulfate was given orally. In the other group (n=39), in addition to ferrous sulfate, 5 mg/d oral zinc sulfate was given.

RESULTS

Compared to the initial values statistically significant increase in mean height, weight, and head circumference has been observed in both groups after 3 months. However, there was no statistical difference between two groups concerning mean height, weight, and head circumference at the beginning (83.43±11.3 cm vs 84.62±12.77 cm; 12.36±3.08 kg vs 12.72±3.87 kg; 47.33±2.15 cm vs 47.26±2.73 cm, respectively), at the first month, (84.82±10.97 vs 85.97±12.28; 12.78±3.09 vs 13.09±3.87; 47.76±2.10 vs 47.61±2.67, respectively), and at the third month, (86.4±11.12 vs 87.69±12.13; 12.9±3.06 vs 13.35±3.81; 48.22±1.89 vs 48.07±2.45, respectively). There were no statistical differences between mean hematological parameters of the groups at the beginning, at the first month, and at the third month, either (mean hb of Group 1: 8.78±1.12 g/dL; 11.27±1.09 g/ dL; 12.05±1.00 g/dL respectively and of Group 2: 9.10±1.07 g/dL; 11.12±0.85 g/dL; 11.80±0.79 g/dL, respectively). Mean ferritin and zinc values of the groups were statistically insignificant at the beginning (Mean ferritin: 4.96±4.03 μg/dL vs 4.52±2.94 μg/dL, zinc: 88.64±15.35 ng/mL vs 86.84±17.34 ng/mL). Their increase was statistically significant at the third month (mean ferritin: 15.91±9.57 μg/dL vs 15.25±10.47 μg/dL; zinc: 88.02±15.10 ng/mL vs 95.25±16.55 ng/mL).

CONCLUSION

In our study neither positive nor negative effect of zinc administration on IDA treatment was demonstrated. Therefore, in the treatment of IDA zinc together with iron should be used at different times if there is coexistent zinc deficiency.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None declared.

IRON-HF study: a randomized trial to assess the effects of iron in heart failure patients with anemia

BACKGROUND

Anemia in heart failure patients and has been associated with increased morbi-mortality. Previous studies have treated anemia in heart failure patients with either erythropoietin alone or combination of erythropoietin and intravenous (i.v.) iron. However, the effect of i.v. or oral (p.o.) iron supplementation alone in heart failure patients with anemia was virtually unknown.

AIM

To compare, in a double-blind design, the effects of i.v. iron versus p.o. iron in anemic heart failure patients.

METHODS

IRON-HF study was a multicenter, investigator initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial that enrolled anemic heart failure patients with preserved renal function, low transferrin saturation (TSat) and low-to-moderately elevated ferritin levels. Interventions were Iron Sucrose i.v. 200 mg, once a week, for 5 weeks, ferrous sulfate 200 mg p.o. TID, for 8 weeks, or placebo. Primary endpoint was variation of peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) assessed by ergospirometry over 3 month follow-up.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients had full follow-up data. There was an increment of 3.5 ml/kg/min in peak VO2 in the i.v. iron group. There was no increment in peak VO2 in the p.o. iron group. Patients' ferritin and TSat increased significantly in both treated groups. Hemoglobin increased similarly in all groups.

CONCLUSION

I.v. iron seems to be superior in improving functional capacity of heart failure patients. However, correction of anemia seems to be at least similar between p.o. iron and i.v. iron supplementation.

Evaluation of Herbal Neonatal Chick Care Against Iron-induced Toxicity in Broilers

A study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of herbal Neonatal Chick care (NNCC) against iron-induced oxidative stress. A total of 130 day-old sexed male broiler chicks (Vencobb strain) were randomly divided into six groups consisting of 25 chicks each in groups 1-4 and 15 each in groups 5 and 6. Group 1 was maintained on basal diet, groups 2 and 3 on herbal NNCC at 6 and 8 g/chick/day, respectively, for 2 days immediately after hatching and later continued with basal diet up to 6 wk. Group 4 was given FeSO₄ at 0.5% of feed for 6 wk, while groups 5 and 6 were given NNCC as in groups 2 and 3, and later continued with the FeSO₄ as in group 4 for 6 wk. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls, glucose and calcium, and the activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) were significantly (P<0.05) increased in group 4 at the end of 6^th week, while the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) index and HI titer were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in group 4. The NNCC treated groups (2, 3, 5 and 6) showed marked improvement in all the above parameters. It can be concluded that herbal NNCC offered protection and proved beneficial in resisting the adverse effects of stressor.