Iodine and other factors associated with fertility outcome following oil-soluble contrast medium hysterosalpingography: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine factors associated with fertility following hysterosalpingography (HSG) using an oil-soluble contrast medium (OSCM). Design: In a prospective cohort study on 196 women undergoing OSCM HSG, we showed that iodine excess was almost universal (98%) and mild subclinical hypothyroidism was frequent (38%). Here, we report the analyses of secondary outcomes examining factors associated with the likelihood of pregnancy following the HSG. Setting: Auckland, New Zealand (2019-2021). Sample: 196 women with primary or secondary infertility who underwent OSCM HSG. Methods: Baseline and serial urine iodine concentrations (UIC) and thyroid function tests were measured over six months following the HSG. Pregnancy and treatment with levothyroxine during the study period were documented. Results: Following OSCM HSG, pregnancy rates were 49% in women aged <40 years (77/158) but considerably lower (16%) among those ≥40 years (6/38). Similarly, live birth rates were markedly lower in women ≥40 years (17%; 1/6) versus <40 years (73%; 56/77). 29% of participants were iodine deficient at baseline despite advice recommending iodine fortification. Following HSG, the likelihood of pregnancy in women with moderate iodine deficiency was 64% higher than in women with normal iodine levels (p=0.048). Among women aged <40 years who had subclinical hypothyroidism (n=75), levothyroxine treatment was associated with higher pregnancy rates compared to untreated women [63% (26/48) vs 37% (10/27), respectively; p=0.047]. Conclusion: OSCM HSG was associated with higher pregnancy rates in women ≤40 than in those aged >40 years. Iodine deficiency was relatively common in this cohort, and increased iodine levels from OSCM exposure may contribute to the improved fertility observed with this procedure. Trial registration: This study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR: 12620000738921) https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12620000738921.

Sorption of Iodine on Biochar Derived from the Processing of Urban Sludge and Garden Waste at Different Pyrolysis Temperatures.

The United Nations proposed the Sustainable Development Goals with the aim to make human settlements in cities resilient and sustainable. The excessive discharge of urban waste including sludge and garden waste can pollute groundwater and lead to the emission of greenhouse gases (e.g., CH4). The proper recycling of urban waste is essential for responsible consumption and production, reducing environmental pollution and addressing climate change issues. This study aimed to prepare biochar with high adsorption amounts of iodine using urban sludge and peach wood from garden waste. The study was conducted to examine the variations in the mass ratio between urban sludge and peach wood (2/1, 1/1, and 1/2) as well as pyrolysis temperatures (300 °C, 500 °C, and 700 °C) on the carbon yield and adsorption capacities of biochar. Scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, powder X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis were used to characterize the biochar produced at different pyrolysis temperatures and mass ratios. The results indicate that the carbon yield of biochar was found to be the highest (>60%) at a pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C across different pyrolysis temperatures. The absorbed amounts of iodine in the aqueous solution ranged from 86 to 223 mg g-1 at a mass ratio of 1:1 between urban sludge and peach wood, which were comparably higher than those observed in other mass ratios. This study advances water treatment by offering a cost-effective method by using biochar derived from the processing of urban sludge and garden waste.

Children's Iodine Intake from Dairy Products and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Two Provinces of China.

Dairy products are a significant source of iodine, and their contribution to iodine intake must be evaluated regularly. However, there is a lack of data on iodine intake from dairy products in China. Through a cross-sectional study, we determined the iodine content of dairy products in the Chinese diet and estimated iodine intake among Chinese children. Intake records for 30 consecutive days were used to investigate the consumption of dairy products by 2009 children from Yunnan and Liaoning Provinces. The iodine contents of 266 dairy products with high intake frequency were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We then calculated the iodine intake and contribution of dairy products and explored the related factors of dairy iodine intake through a generalized linear mixed model. Ultra-high-temperature (UHT) sterilized milk accounted for 78.7% of the total dairy products, with an iodine content of 23.0 µg/100 g. The dairy product intake rate of children in China was 83.6%, with an average daily intake of 143.1 g. The median iodine intake from milk and dairy was 26.8 µg/d, 41.5% of the estimated average recommendation (EAR) for younger children and 31.8% of the EAR for older children. The daily milk iodine intake of children in Yunnan Province was 9.448 µg/day lower than that of children in Liaoning Province (p < 0.001), and the daily iodine intake of children in rural areas was 17.958 µg/day lower than that of children in urban areas (p < 0.001). Chinese dairy products were rich in iodine, and the content of iodine was intermediate to that reported in Europe and the USA. However, children's daily intake of milk iodine was lower than that of children in other developed countries due to the lower daily intake of dairy products, especially those in rural areas.

Dietary Iodine Intake and Sources among Residents in Zhejiang Province 10 Years after Reducing Iodine Concentration in Iodized Salt.

We aimed to assess dietary iodine intake and sources in Zhejiang Province a decade after a reduction in iodine concentration in iodized salt. Three-day 24 h dietary recall and household weighing were used, complemented by "Chinese Food Composition" data. Household water and salt samples were collected from 5890 residents and analyzed. Differences in iodized salt consumption rates were observed across the following regions: inland (84.20%), subcoastal (67.80%), and coastal (37.00%) areas. The median (P25, P75) iodine concentration in water and diet were 2.2 (0.9, 4.0) µg/L and 142.05 (58.94, 237.11) µg/d, respectively, with significant regional differences in dietary concentration (inland [185.61 µg/d], subcoastal [153.42 µg/d], and coastal [75.66 µg/d]). Males (149.99 µg/d) and iodized salt consumers (191.98 µg/d) had a significantly higher dietary iodine intake than their counterparts. Regions were ranked as follows based on the proportions of individuals meeting the recommended dietary iodine intake: inland (69.40%), subcoastal (56.50%), and coastal (34.10%) areas. Dietary sources included salt (48.54%), other foods (32.06%), drinking water (8.84%), laver (4.82%), kelp (3.02%), and other seafood (2.32%). The qualified iodized salt consumption rate was significantly lower than the national standard. Zhejiang Province should continue implementing measures to control iodine deficiency through salt iodization, education efforts, and increasing the qualified iodized salt consumption rate.

Effect of iodine species on biofortification of iodine in cabbage plants cultivated in hydroponic cultures.

Iodine is an essential trace element in the human diet because it is involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency affects over 2.2 billion people worldwide, making it a significant challenge to find plant-based sources of iodine that meet the recommended daily intake of this trace element. In this study, cabbage plants were cultivated in a hydroponic system containing iodine at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/L in the form of potassium iodide or potassium iodate. During the experiments, plant physiological parameters, biomass production, and concentration changes of iodine and selected microelements in different plant parts were investigated. In addition, the oxidation state of the accumulated iodine in root samples was determined. Results showed that iodine addition had no effect on photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll content. Iodide treatment did not considerably stimulate biomass production but iodate treatment increased it at concentrations less than 0.5 mg/L. Increasing iodine concentrations in the nutrient solutions increased iodine content in all plant parts; however, the iodide treatment was 2-7 times more efficient than the iodate treatment. It was concluded, that iodide addition was more favourable on the target element accumulation, however, it should be highlighted that application of this chemical form in nutrient solution decreased the concetrations of selected micoelement concentration comparing with the control plants. It was established that iodate was reduced to iodide during its uptake in cabbage roots, which means that independently from the oxidation number of iodine (+ 5, - 1) applied in the nutrient solutions, the reduced form of target element was transported to the aerial and edible tissues.

Evaluating spectral performance for quantitative contrast-enhanced breast CT with a GaAs based photon counting detector: a simulation approach.

Quantitative contrast-enhanced breast computed tomography (CT) has the potential to improve the diagnosis and management of breast cancer. Traditional CT methods using energy-integrated detectors and dual-exposure images with different incident spectra for material discrimination can increase patient radiation dose and be susceptible to motion artifacts and spectral resolution loss. Photon Counting Detectors (PCDs) offer a promising alternative approach, enabling acquisition of multiple energy levels in a single exposure and potentially better energy resolution. Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is particularly promising for breast PCD-CT due to its high quantum efficiency and reduction of fluorescence x-rays escaping the pixel within the breast imaging energy range. In this study, the spectral performance of a GaAs PCD for quantitative iodine contrast-enhanced breast CT was evaluated. A GaAs detector with a pixel size of 100µm, a thickness of 500µm was simulated. Simulations were performed using cylindrical phantoms of varying diameters (10 cm, 12 cm, and 16 cm) with different concentrations and locations of iodine inserts, using incident spectra of 50, 55, and 60 kVp with 2 mm of added aluminum filtration and and a mean glandular dose of 10 mGy. We accounted for the effects of beam hardening and energy detector response using TIGRE CT open-source software and the publicly available Photon Counting Toolkit (PcTK). Material-specific images of the breast phantom were produced using both projection and image-based material decomposition methods, and iodine component images were used to estimate iodine intake. Accuracy and precision of the proposed methods for estimating iodine concentration in breast CT images were assessed for different material decomposition methods, incident spectra, and breast phantom thicknesses. The results showed that both the beam hardening effect and imperfection in the detector response had a significant impact on performance in terms of Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), precision, and accuracy of estimating iodine intake in the breast. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of both material decomposition methods in making accurate and precise iodine concentration predictions using a GaAs-based photon counting breast CT system, with better performance when applying the projection-based material decomposition approach. The study highlights the potential of GaAs-based photon counting breast CT systems as viable alternatives to traditional imaging methods in terms of material decomposition and iodine concentration estimation, and proposes phantoms and figures of merit to assess their performance.

Iodine Status of Infants and Toddlers under 2 Years of Age and Its Association with Feeding Behaviors and Maternal Iodine Status in Shanghai: A Quantile Regression Analysis.

It is crucial to provide adequate iodine nutrition to infants and toddlers for proper thyroid function and subsequent brain development. Infants are particularly vulnerable to iodine deficiency during the transition from a milk-based diet (breast milk and/or infant formula) to solid food. This study examines the current iodine levels of children during their first two years of life and investigates the association between these levels and feeding behaviors and the iodine status of their mothers in Shanghai, a city located in eastern China. A hospital-based cohort study was conducted to enroll mother-child pairs, where the child is aged 6-23 months, who visited community health service centers in the 16 districts of Shanghai, China. Data on socio-demographic factors and feeding behavior data were collected from the participants. The urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in both the young children and their mothers were analyzed. A total of 2282 mother-child pairs were included in this analysis. The median (p25-p75) UIC for lactating women, weaning women, and children were 121.3 µg/L (68.1-206.4 µg/L), 123.4 µg/L (58.4-227.2 µg/L), and 152.1 µg/L (75.8-268.3 µg/L), respectively. The UIC in children was found to be higher than that in their mothers (p < 0.001). Children who consumed less than 500 mL per day of formula milk in the last week had lower UICs compared with those who consumed 500 mL per day or more (p = 0.026). Furthermore, the children's UIC was positively correlated with the maternal UIC (rs = 0.285, p < 0.001). Multiple quantile regression analysis revealed a statistically significant positive association between maternal UIC and children's UIC between the 0.1 and 0.9 quantiles (all p < 0.001). We found that the iodine status of infants and toddlers, as well as of mothers, was sufficient. However, a large minority of children and mothers may be at risk of iodine deficiency. Furthermore, no associations between children's UIC and feeding behaviors were observed. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the UIC of young children and their mothers.

Prenatal Iodine Intake and Maternal Pregnancy and Postpartum Depressive and Anhedonia Symptoms: Findings from a Multiethnic US Cohort.

Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that essential trace elements, including iodine, play a vital role in depressive disorders. This study investigated whether prenatal dietary iodine intake alone and in combination with supplemental iodine intake during pregnancy were associated with antepartum and postpartum depressive and anhedonia symptoms. Methods: The study population included 837 mothers in the PRogramming of Intergenerational Stress Mechanisms (PRISM) study. The modified BLOCK food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate prenatal dietary and supplemental iodine intake, while the 10-item Edinburg Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) ascertained depressive symptoms. Analyses considered the global EPDS score and the anhedonia and depressive symptom subscale scores using dichotomized cutoffs. Logistic regression estimating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) assessed associations of iodine intake in the second trimester of pregnancy and 6-month postpartum depressive and anhedonia symptoms considering dietary intake alone and combined dietary and supplementary intake in separate models. Results: Most women were Black/Hispanic Black (43%) and non-Black Hispanics (35%), with 39% reporting a high school education or less. The median (interquartile range, IQR) dietary and supplemental iodine intake among Black/Hispanic Black (198 (115, 337) µg/day) and non-Black Hispanic women (195 (126, 323) µg/day) was higher than the overall median intake level of 187 (116, 315) µg/day. Relative to the Institute of Medicine recommended iodine intake level of 160-220 µg/day, women with intake levels < 100 µg/day, 100-<160 µg/day, >220-<400 µg/day and ≥400 µg/day had increased adjusted odds of 6-month postpartum anhedonia symptoms (aOR = 1.74 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.79), 1.25 (95% CI: 0.80, 1.99), 1.31 (95% CI: 0.82, 2.10), and 1.47 (95% CI: 0.86, 2.51), respectively). The corresponding estimates for postpartum global depressive symptoms were similar but of smaller magnitude. Conclusions: Prenatal iodine intake, whether below or above the recommended levels for pregnant women, was most strongly associated with greater anhedonia symptoms, particularly in the 6-month postpartum period. Further studies are warranted to corroborate these findings, as dietary and supplemental iodine intake are amenable to intervention.

Visual and Quantitative Evaluation of Low-Concentration Bismuth in Dual-Contrast Imaging of Iodine and Bismuth Using Clinical Photon-Counting CT.

Simultaneous dual-contrast imaging of iodine and bismuth has shown promise in prior phantom and animal studies utilizing spectral CT. However, it is noted that in previous studies, Pepto-Bismol has frequently been employed as the source of bismuth, exceeding the recommended levels for human subjects. This investigation sought to assess the feasibility of visually differentiating and precisely quantifying low-concentration bismuth using clinical dual-source photon-counting CT (PCCT) in a scenario involving both iodinated and bismuth-based contrast materials. Four bismuth samples (0.6, 1.3, 2.5, and 5.1 mg/mL) were prepared using Pepto-Bismol, alongside three iodine rods (1, 2, and 5 mg/mL), inserted into multi-energy CT phantoms with three different sizes, and scanned on a PCCT system at three tube potentials (120, 140, and Sn140 kV). A generic image-based three-material decomposition method generated iodine and bismuth maps, with mean mass concentrations and noise levels measured. The root-mean-square errors for iodine and bismuth determined the optimal tube potential. The tube potential of 140 kV demonstrated optimal quantification performance when both iodine and bismuth were considered. Distinct differentiation of iodine rods with all three concentrations and bismuth samples with mass concentrations ≥ 1.3 mg/mL was observed across all phantom sizes at the optimal kV setting.

Iodine enriched kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.)-The influence of heat treatments on its iodine content, basic composition and antioxidative properties.

Iodine deficiency in the diet globally continues to be a cause of many diseases and disabilities. Kale is a vegetable that has health-promoting potential because of many nutrients and bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, carotenoids, glucosinolates and phenolic compounds). Brassica vegetables, including kale, have been strongly recommended as dietary adjuvants for improving health. The nutrient and health-promoting compounds in kale are significantly affected by thermal treatments. Changes in phytochemicals upon such activities may result from two contrary phenomena: breakdown of nutrients and bioactive compounds and a matrix softening effect, which increases the extractability of phytochemicals, which may be especially significant in the case of iodine-fortified kale. This study investigated changes of basic composition, iodine, vitamin C, total carotenoids and polyphenols contents as well as antioxidant activity caused by steaming, blanching and boiling processes in the levels of two cultivars of kale (green and red) non-biofortified and biofortified via the application to nutrient solutions in hydroponic of two iodoquinolines [8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinolinesulfonic acid (8-OH-7-I-5QSA) and 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-quinoline (5-Cl-7-I-8-Q)] and KIO3. Thermal processes generally significantly reduced the content of the components in question and the antioxidant activity of kale, regardless of cultivar and enrichment. It was observed that the red cultivar of kale had a greater ability to accumulate and reduce iodine losses during the culinary processes. 8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinolinesulfonic acid showed a protective effect against the treatments used, compared to other enrichments, thus contributing to the preservation of high iodine content.

The Effect of Iodinated Contrast Media Sensitivity on the Prognosis of Patients with STEMI.

Background and Objectives: Iodinated Contrast Media (ICM) is used daily in many imaging departments worldwide. The main risk associated with ICM is hypersensitivity. When a severe hypersensitivity reaction is not properly managed and treated swiftly, it may be fatal. Currently, there is no data to demonstrate how ICM sensitivity affects the prognosis of cardiac patients, especially those diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in whom urgent coronary angiography is indicated. This study aimed to identify and characterize this relationship. Materials and Methods: We included patients hospitalized with STEMI between 2016 and 2019 from the National Inpatient Sample. The population was compared based on ICM sensitivity status, sensitive vs. non-sensitive. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, with additional endpoints: length of stay and in-hospital complications. Results: The study included 664,620 STEMI patients, of whom 4905 (0.7%) were diagnosed with ICM sensitivity. ICM-sensitive patients were older, more often white, females, and had more comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors. Both groups show similarities in management but are slightly less probable to undergo PCI or CABG. Multivariable logistic regression models found that the ICM-sensitive population had similar odds of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.89-1.16) and MACCE (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.95-1.16), and less major bleeding (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60-0.87). Conclusions: Our study found that ICM sensitivity status was not a significant factor for worse prognosis in patients hospitalized with STEMI.

Elements in Serum, Muscle, Liver, and Kidney of Rabbits Fed Macroalgae-Supplemented Diets.

The addition of marine macroalgae to animal feed has garnered interest due to the demonstrated benefits of gut health in many livestock species. Most macroalgae have a higher mineral content than terrestrial vegetables, making them an attractive, sustainable source of minerals. However, some macroalgae contain elevated concentrations of iodine and arsenic, which may be transferred to the meat of livestock fed with macroalgae. This study evaluated the mineral profile of rabbit serum, muscle, liver, and kidney of rabbits fed diets supplemented with different marine macroalgae, with the goal of improving post-weaning gut health and reducing reliance on antibiotics. We found increased deposition of iodine in muscle, liver, and kidney due to macroalgae supplementation, which is particularly promising for regions with low iodine endemicity. Higher, though relatively low arsenic concentrations, compared to those in other animal meats and food sources, were also detected in the muscle, liver, and kidney of macroalgae-fed rabbits. The absence of apparent interactions with other micronutrients, particularly selenium, suggests that the inclusion of macroalgae in rabbit diets will not affect the overall mineral content. Enhanced bioavailability of elements such as phosphorus and iron may provide additional benefits, potentially reducing the need for mineral supplementation.

Exploring the potential of genetic analysis in historical blood spots for patients with iodine-deficient goiter and thyroid carcinomas in Switzerland and Germany (1929-1989).

Iodine deficiency-induced goiter continues to be a global public health concern, with varying manifestations based on geography, patient's age, and sex. To gain insights into clinical occurrences, a retrospective study analyzed medical records from patients with iodine deficiency-induced goiter or thyroid cancer who underwent surgery at the Community Hospital in Riehen, Switzerland, between 1929 and 1989. Despite today's adequate iodine supplementation, a significant risk for iodine-independent goiter remains in Switzerland, suggesting that genetic factors, among others, might be involved. Thus, a pilot study exploring the feasibility of genetic analysis of blood spots from these medical records was conducted to investigate and enhance the understanding of goiter development, potentially identify genetic variations, and explore the influence of dietary habits and other environmental stimuli on the disease.Blood prints from goiter patients' enlarged organs were collected per decade from medical records. These prints had been made by pressing, drawing, or tracing (i.e., pressed and drawn) the removed organs onto paper sheets. DNA analysis revealed that its yields varied more between the prints than between years. A considerable proportion of the samples exhibited substantial DNA degradation unrelated to sample collection time and DNA mixtures of different contributors. Thus, each goiter imprint must be individually evaluated and cannot be used to predict the success rate of genetic analysis in general. Collecting a large sample or the entire blood ablation for genetic analysis is recommended to mitigate potential insufficient DNA quantities. Researchers should also consider degradation and external biological compounds' impact on the genetic analysis of interest, with the dominant contributor anticipated to originate from the patient's blood.

Deep learning image reconstruction generates thinner slice iodine maps with improved image quality to increase diagnostic acceptance and lesion conspicuity: a prospective study on abdominal dual-energy CT.

BACKGROUND: To assess the improvement of image quality and diagnostic acceptance of thinner slice iodine maps enabled by deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) in abdominal dual-energy CT (DECT). METHODS: This study prospectively included 104 participants with 136 lesions. Four series of iodine maps were generated based on portal-venous scans of contrast-enhanced abdominal DECT: 5-mm and 1.25-mm using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (Asir-V) with 50% blending (AV-50), and 1.25-mm using DLIR with medium (DLIR-M), and high strength (DLIR-H). The iodine concentrations (IC) and their standard deviations of nine anatomical sites were measured, and the corresponding coefficient of variations (CV) were calculated. Noise-power-spectrum (NPS) and edge-rise-slope (ERS) were measured. Five radiologists rated image quality in terms of image noise, contrast, sharpness, texture, and small structure visibility, and evaluated overall diagnostic acceptability of images and lesion conspicuity. RESULTS: The four reconstructions maintained the IC values unchanged in nine anatomical sites (all p > 0.999). Compared to 1.25-mm AV-50, 1.25-mm DLIR-M and DLIR-H significantly reduced CV values (all p < 0.001) and presented lower noise and noise peak (both p < 0.001). Compared to 5-mm AV-50, 1.25-mm images had higher ERS (all p < 0.001). The difference of the peak and average spatial frequency among the four reconstructions was relatively small but statistically significant (both p < 0.001). The 1.25-mm DLIR-M images were rated higher than the 5-mm and 1.25-mm AV-50 images for diagnostic acceptability and lesion conspicuity (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: DLIR may facilitate the thinner slice thickness iodine maps in abdominal DECT for improvement of image quality, diagnostic acceptability, and lesion conspicuity.

Exposure to iodine, essential and non-essential trace element through seaweed consumption in humans.

Seaweed consumption has gained popularity due to its nutritional value and potential health benefits. However, concerns regarding the bioaccumulation of several trace elements highlight the need for comprehensive studies on exposure associated with seaweed consumption. To address this gap in knowledge, we carried out a feeding intervention study of three common edible seaweeds (Nori, Kombu, and Wakame) in 11 volunteers, aiming to elucidate the extent of both beneficial and harmful trace element exposure through seaweed consumption in humans. Concentrations of total arsenic, cobalt, copper, cadmium, iodine, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc were measured in urine samples before and following seaweed consumption. Elements concentrations were also measured in the seaweeds provided for the study. Descriptive analysis for each element were conducted and we used quantile g-computation approach to assess the association between the 8-element mixture and seaweed consumption. Differences in urine element concentrations and seaweed consumption were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Urinary concentrations of iodine and total arsenic increased after seaweed consumption. When we analyze the 8-element mixture, the largest weight was observed for iodine after Kombu consumption while for total arsenic was observed after Wakame consumption. Similar results were observed when we compared the mean differences between the elements before and after seaweed consumption through the GEE. Seaweed consumption relates with increased urinary iodine and total arsenic concentrations, particularly after Kombu and Wakame consumption.

Cu,Zn,I-Doped Carbon Dots with Boosted Triple Antioxidant Nanozyme Activity for Treatment of DSS-Induced Colitis.

Nanozyme-mediated antioxidative therapy is a promising star for treating a myriad of important diseases through eliminating excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as O2·- and H2O2, a critical mechanism for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This work provides a high biocompatibility iodine-copper-zinc covalent doped carbon dots (Cu,Zn,I-CDs) with the catalase (CAT)-, superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like catalytic activities for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) by scavenging overproduced ROS. We found that I dopant aids in counteracting the positive charge at Cu,Zn dopants brought on by low pH, enabling Cu,Zn,I-CDs to process strong triple antioxidant nanozyme activities rather than Cu,Zn-CDs. Vitro experiments displayed that the Cu,Zn,I-CDs could scavenge the excessive ROS to protect cellular against oxidative stress and reduce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. In sodium dextran sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice models, Cu,Zn,I-CDs with excellent biocompatibility could effectively relieve the inflammation of the colon, containing the reduction of the colon length, the damaged epithelium, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and upregulation of antioxidant genes. Therefore, the therapy of Cu,Zn,I-CD antioxidant nanozymes is an effective approach and provides a novel strategy for UC treatment.

Blood Iodine as a Potential Marker of the Risk of Cancer in BRCA1 Carriers.

Breast cancer and ovarian cancer pose a significant risk for BRCA1 carriers, with limited risk-reduction strategies. While improved screening helps in the early detection of breast cancer, preventive measures remain elusive. Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between iodine levels and modulation of cancer risk, but comprehensive studies are scarce. We conducted a prospective study among 989 BRCA1 carriers to assess the association between blood iodine levels and breast and ovarian cancer risk. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, we measured blood iodine levels and observed a negative association with breast cancer risk, with a significantly lower risk observed in quartile 4 (iodine > 38.0 µg/L) compared with quartile 1 (iodine < 30 µg/L) (HR = 0.49; 95%CI: 0.27-0.87; p = 0.01). Conversely, a suggestive increase in ovarian cancer risk was observed at higher iodine levels (HR = 1.91; 95%CI: 0.64-5.67; p = 0.25). No significant association was found between iodine levels and overall cancer risk. Our results suggest the potential of iodine to reduce breast cancer risk in BRCA1 carriers after prophylactic oophorectomy but require further validation and investigation of its effect on ovarian cancer risk and overall mortality. These findings highlight the need for personalized strategies to manage cancer risk in BRCA1 carriers.

A supramolecular fluorescence sensor array for the differentiation of multiple anions and prediction of iodine in artificial urine using machine learning.

The simultaneous discrimination and detection of multiple anions in an aqueous solution has been a major challenge due to their structural similarity and low charge radii. In this study, we have constructed a supramolecular fluorescence sensor array based on three host-guest complexes to distinguish five anions (F-, Cl-, Br-, I-, and ClO-) in an aqueous solution using anionic-induced fluorescence quenching combined with linear discriminant analysis. Due to the different affinities of the three host-guest complexes for each anion the anion quenching efficiency for each host-guest complex was likewise different, and the five anions were well recognized. The fluorescence sensor array not only distinguished anions at different concentrations (0.5, 10, and 50 µM) with 100% accuracy but also showed good linearity within a certain concentration range. The limit of detection (LOD) was < 0.5 µM. Our interference study showed that the developed sensor array had good anti-interference ability. The practicability of the developed sensor array was also verified by the identification and differentiation of toothpaste brands with different fluoride content and the prediction of the iodine concentration in urine combined with machine learning.