A Large Proportion of the Neonatal Iron Pool Is Acquired from the Gestational Diet in a Murine Model.

Background: Iron is crucial for growth and development, but excess iron is harmful. Neonatal mice have elevated concentrations of circulating iron, but the source of this iron is unclear. This lack of understanding makes it difficult to optimize early life iron balance.

Tracking Initial Fe(II)-Driven Ferrihydrite Transformations: A Mössbauer Spectroscopy and Isotope Investigation.

Transformation of nanocrystalline ferrihydrite to more stable microcrystalline Fe(III) oxides is rapidly accelerated under reducing conditions with aqueous Fe(II) present. While the major steps of Fe(II)-catalyzed ferrihydrite transformation are known, processes in the initial phase that lead to nucleation and the growth of product minerals remain unclear. To track ferrihydrite-Fe(II) interactions during this initial phase, we used Fe isotopes, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and extractions to monitor the structural, magnetic, and isotope composition changes of ferrihydrite within ∼30 min of Fe(II) exposure.

Association between Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Vascular Biomarkers in Primary Prevention.

Several noninvasive vascular biomarkers have been proposed to improve risk stratification for atherothrombotic events. To identify biomarkers suitable for detecting intermediate-risk individuals who might benefit from lipid-lowering treatment in primary prevention, the present study tested the association of plasma LDL-cholesterol with coronary artery calcification (CAC) Agatston score, high carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (IMT), low carotid distensibility and high carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity in 260 asymptomatic individuals at intermediate cardiovascular risk and without diabetes and lipid-lowering treatment. High or low vascular biomarkers were considered when their value was above the 95th or below the 5th percentile, respectively, of the distribution in the healthy or in the study population.

Information load dynamically modulates functional brain connectivity during narrative listening.

Narratives are paradigmatic examples of natural language, where nouns represent a proxy of information. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies revealed the recruitment of temporal cortices during noun processing and the existence of a noun-specific network at rest. Yet, it is unclear whether, in narratives, changes in noun density influence the brain functional connectivity, so that the coupling between regions correlates with information load.

Evaluation of airborne particulates and associated metals originating from steel slag applied to rural unpaved roads.

Various metals have toxic effects by the inhalation route, and electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag is known to contain metals with a potential for toxicity to humans. In some states, EAF slag is applied to unpaved (gravel) roads as a low-cost supplement to limestone and other crushed stone, where it may be a public health concern for the local population. This study compared the mass of selected metals in the PM size fraction of fugitive dust from roads where slag was applied to metals in fugitive dust where slag was not applied.

Redox Potentials of Magnetite Suspensions under Reducing Conditions.

Predicting the redox behavior of magnetite in reducing soils and sediments is challenging because there is neither agreement among measured potentials nor consensus on which Fe(III) | Fe(II) equilibria are most relevant. Here, we measured open-circuit potentials of stoichiometric magnetite equilibrated over a range of solution conditions. Notably, electron transfer mediators were not necessary to reach equilibrium.

Locus Coeruleus magnetic resonance imaging: a comparison between native-space and template-space approach.

Locus Coeruleus (LC) is the main noradrenergic nucleus of the brain, which is involved in many physiological functions including cognition; its impairment may be crucial in the neurobiology of a variety of brain diseases. Locus Coeruleus-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (LC-MRI) allows to identify in vivo LC in humans. Thus, a variety of research teams have been using LC-MRI to estimate LC integrity in normal aging and in patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders, where LC integrity my work as a biomarker.

Big gamma-glutamyltransferase is associated with epicardial fat volume and cardiovascular outcome in the general population.

Aims: Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) has been recognized as a cardiovascular risk factor, and its highest molecular weight fraction [big GGT (b-GGT)] is found in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. We explored the relationship between b-GGT, computed tomography findings, and long-term outcomes in the general population.

Methods And Results: Between May 2010 and October 2011, subjects aged 45-75 years living in a Tuscan city and without known cardiac disease were screened.

Locus Coeruleus magnetic resonance imaging in cognitively intact elderly subjects.

The locus coeruleus is the main noradrenergic nucleus of the brain and is often affected in neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging with specific T1-weighted sequences for neuromelanin has been used to evaluate locus coeruleus integrity in patients with these conditions. In some of these studies, abnormalities in locus coeruleus signal have also been found in healthy controls and related to ageing.

Noninvasive carotid pressure-diameter loops to identify viscoelastic properties in ageing, hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: Arterial stiffness as pulse wave velocity (PWV) predicts cardiovascular events independently of blood pressure (BP). PWV does not distinguish between stiffness in systole and diastole. This cross-sectional study aimed to test the hypothesis that viscous and elastic carotid wall properties differ between systole and diastole, distinguishing effects of ageing, hypertension and T2 diabetes (T2DM).

Abiotic reduction of nitrite by Fe(II): a comparison of rates and NO production.

Abiotic reduction of nitrite (NO) by Fe(II) species (, chemodenitrification) has been demonstrated in a variety of natural environments and laboratory studies, and is a potentially significant source of atmospheric nitrous oxide (NO) emissions. It is, however, unclear how chemodenitrification rates and NO yields vary among heterogeneous Fe(II) species under similar conditions and whether abiotic reduction competes with biological NO reduction. Here, we measured rates of NO reduction and extents of NO production by several Fe(II) species under consistent, environmentally relevant conditions (, pH 7.

Quantitative imaging and automated fuel pin identification for passive gamma emission tomography.

Compliance of member States to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is monitored through nuclear safeguards. The Passive Gamma Emission Tomography (PGET) system is a novel instrument developed within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) project JNT 1510, which included the European Commission, Finland, Hungary and Sweden. The PGET is used for the verification of spent nuclear fuel stored in water pools.

Application of Monte Carlo Algorithms to Cardiac Imaging Reconstruction.

Monte Carlo algorithms have a growing impact on nuclear medicine reconstruction processes. One of the main limitations of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is the effective mitigation of the scattering component, which is particularly challenging in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). In SPECT, no timing information can be retrieved to locate the primary source photons.

Locus Coeruleus Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neurological Diseases.

Purpose Of Review: Locus coeruleus (LC) is the main noradrenergic nucleus of the brain, and its degeneration is considered to be key in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In the last 15 years,MRI has been used to assess LC in vivo, both in healthy subjects and in patients suffering from neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize the main findings of LC-MRI studies, interpreting them in light of preclinical and histopathological data, and discussing its potential role as diagnostic and experimental tool.

Deep learning to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis from cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is part of the diagnostic work-up for cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Deep learning (DL) is an application of artificial intelligence that may allow to automatically analyze CMR findings and establish the likelihood of CA.

Methods: 1.

Shifting the Paradigm: The Dress-COV Telegram Bot as a Tool for Participatory Medicine.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic management is limited by great uncertainty, for both health systems and citizens. Facing this information gap requires a paradigm shift from traditional approaches to healthcare to the participatory model of improving health. This work describes the design and function of the Doing Risk sElf-assessment and Social health Support for COVID (Dress-COV) system.

Natural organic matter inhibits Ni stabilization during Fe(II)-catalyzed ferrihydrite transformation.

Trace metals, such as nickel (Ni), are often found associated with ferrihydrite (Fh) in soil and sediment and have been shown to redistribute during Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of Fh. Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of Fh, however, is often inhibited when natural organic matter (NOM) is associated with Fh. To explore whether NOM affects the behavior of Ni during Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of Fh, we tracked Ni distribution, Fe atom exchange, and mineral transformation of Fh and Fh coprecipitated with Suwannee River natural organic matter (SRNOM-Fh).

Genetic and nutritional factors determining circulating levels of lipoprotein(a): results of the "Montignoso Study".

Increasing evidence shows an association between high lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels and atherothrombotic diseases. Lp(a) trait is largely controlled by kringle-IV type 2 (KIV-2) size polymorphism in LPA gene, encoding for apo(a). Environmental factors are considered to determinate minor phenotypic variability in Lp(a) levels.

Abiotic Degradation of Chlorinated Solvents by Clay Minerals and Fe(II): Evidence for Reactive Mineral Intermediates.

For decades, there has been evidence that Fe-containing minerals might contribute to abiotic degradation of chlorinated ethene (CE) plumes. Here, we evaluated whether Fe(II) in clay minerals reduces tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE). We found that structural Fe(II) in both low (SWy-2) and high (NAu-1) Fe clay minerals did not reduce PCE or TCE under anoxic conditions.

Reactivity of As and U co-occurring in Mine Wastes in northeastern Arizona.

The reactivity of co-occurring arsenic (As) and uranium (U) in mine wastes was investigated using batch reactors, microscopy, spectroscopy, and aqueous chemistry. Analyses of field samples collected in proximity to mine wastes in northeastern Arizona confirm the presence of As and U in soils and surrounding waters, as reported in a previous study from our research group. In this study, we measured As (< 0.

Mineral Defects Enhance Bioavailability of Goethite toward Microbial Fe(III) Reduction.

Surface defects have been shown to facilitate electron transfer between Fe(II) and goethite (α-FeOOH) in abiotic systems. It is unclear, however, whether defects also facilitate microbial goethite reduction in anoxic environments where electron transfer between cells and Fe(III) minerals is the limiting factor. Here, we used stable Fe isotopes to differentiate microbial reduction of goethite synthesized by hydrolysis from reduction of goethite that was further hydrothermally treated to remove surface defects.