Iodine intake and status of UK women of childbearing age recruited at the University of Surrey in the winter.

As intra-thyroidal iodine stores should be maximised before conception to facilitate the increased thyroid hormone production during pregnancy, women who are planning to become pregnant should ideally consume 150 µg iodine/d (US RDA). As few UK data exist for this population group, a cross-sectional study was carried out at the University of Surrey to assess the iodine intake and status of women of childbearing age. Total iodine excretion was measured from 24 h urine samples in fifty-seven women; iodine intake was estimated by assuming that 90 % of ingested iodine was excreted. The average iodine intake was also estimated from 48 h food diaries that the participants completed. The median urinary iodine concentration value (63·1 µg/l) indicated the group to be mildly iodine deficient by WHO criteria. By contrast, the median 24 h urinary iodine excretion value (149·8 µg/24 h) indicated a relatively low risk of iodine deficiency. The median estimated iodine intake, extrapolated from urinary excretion, was 167 µg/d, whereas it was lower, at 123 µg/d, when estimated from the 48 h food diaries. Iodine intake estimated from the food diaries and 24 h urinary iodine excretion were strongly correlated (r 0·75, P< 0·001). The intake of milk, eggs and dairy products was positively associated with iodine status. The iodine status of this UK cohort is probably a best-case scenario as the women were mostly nutrition students and were recruited in the winter when milk-iodine content is at its highest; further study in more representative cohorts of UK women is required. The present study highlights the need for revised cut-off values for iodine deficiency that are method- and age group-specific.

Iodine deficiency in pregnant women living in the South East of the UK: the influence of diet and nutritional supplements on iodine status.

Iodine is a key component of the thyroid hormones which are crucial for brain development. Adequate intake of iodine in pregnancy is important as in utero deficiency may have lifelong consequences for the offspring. Data on the iodine status of UK pregnant women are sparse, and there are no such data for pregnant women in the South East of the UK. A total of 100 pregnant women were recruited to a cross-sectional study carried out at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, at their first-trimester visit for an ultrasound scan. The participants provided a spot-urine sample (for the measurement of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and creatinine concentration) and 24 h iodine excretion was estimated from the urinary iodine:creatinine ratio. Women completed a general questionnaire and a FFQ. The median UIC (85·3 µg/l) indicated that the group was iodine deficient by World Health Organisation criteria. The median values of the iodine:creatinine ratio (122·9 µg/g) and of the estimated 24 h iodine excretion (151·2 µg/d) were also suggestive of iodine deficiency. UIC was significantly higher in women taking an iodine-containing prenatal supplement (n 42) than in those not taking such a supplement (P< 0·001). In the adjusted analyses, milk intake, maternal age and iodine-containing prenatal supplement use were positively associated with the estimated 24 h urinary iodine excretion. Our finding of iodine deficiency in these women gives cause for concern. We suggest that women of childbearing age and pregnant women should be given advice on how to improve their iodine status through dietary means. A national survey of iodine status in UK pregnant women is required.

Removal of the gadolinium interference from the measurement of selenium in human serum by use of collision cell quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS).

BACKGROUND: Measurement of selenium in serum is an important clinical biomarker of nutritional status. The presence of gadolinium (Gd) in samples following administration of the contrast agents used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in a significant positive bias when using quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS). METHODS: Three instrumental set-ups were assessed: standard mode with no collision gas and collision cell mode with either a hydrogen:helium mixture or hydrogen. The effect of Gd on the selenium (Se) signal was assessed using external quality assurance (EQA) specimens and internal quality control (IQC) materials, both unspiked and spiked with Gd. Serum previously shown to contain high concentrations of Gd-containing contrast agents were also analysed. RESULTS: Recoveries of Se in the spiked compared to the unspiked samples were: between 500% and 1300% using standard mode; 100% and 29,000% using collision cell mode with hydrogen:helium mixture; and between 99% and 103% using hydrogen. The use of H2 in the collision cell provided accurate results, indicating that the charge exchange reaction (CER) of Gd(2+) with H2 removes this interference. Analysis of patient serum known to contain the Gd contrast agent using the method gave results within the selenium reference range (adults 0.89-1.65 µmol/L). The presence of Gd, as low as 0.2 mg/L, in serum samples causes a positive interference on the measurement of Se by ICP-MS. CONCLUSIONS: Using a CER mode with pure H2 in the collision cell it was possible to fully remove the interference due to Gd(2+) from the signal for Se.

Metal(loid) levels in biological matrices from human populations exposed to mining contamination--Panasqueira Mine (Portugal).

Mining activities may affect the health of miners and communities living near mining sites, and these health effects may persist even when the mine is abandoned. During mining processes various toxic wastes are produced and released into the surrounding environment, resulting in contamination of air, drinking water, rivers, plants, and soils. In a geochemical sampling campaign undertaken in the Panasqueira Mine area of central Portugal, an anomalous distribution of several metals and arsenic (As) was identified in various environmental media. Several potentially harmful elements, including As, cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and selenium (Se), were quantified in blood, urine, hair, and nails (toe and finger) from a group of individuals living near the Panasqueira Mine who were environmentally and occupationally exposed. A group with similar demographic characteristics without known exposure to mining activities was also compared. Genotoxicity was evaluated by means of T-cell receptor (TCR) mutation assay, and percentages of different lymphocyte subsets were selected as immunotoxicity biomarkers. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis showed elevated levels of As, Cd, Cr, Mn, and Pb in all biological samples taken from populations living close to the mine compared to controls. Genotoxic and immunotoxic differences were also observed. The results provide evidence of an elevated potential risk to the health of populations, with environmental and occupational exposures resulting from mining activities. Further, the results emphasize the need to implement preventive measures, remediation, and rehabilitation plans for the region.

Interference of gadolinium on the measurement of selenium in human serum by inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole mass spectrometry.

Selenium is an important clinical biomarker of nutritional status; however, the occurrence of gadolinium in a patient's serum as a result of the contrast agents used during magnetic resonance imaging investigations, results in a significant positive bias in its measurement by inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole mass spectrometry.

Trabalhadores mais velhos e envelhecimento ativo na Europa

Este artigo enfatiza a necessidade urgente de políticas públicas ativas na preparação para o envelhecimento da força de trabalho e para reduzir os custos de previdência social. As iniciativas entre os Países Membros da Européia no que se refere a cuidar do paradoxo idade/emprego ainda são bastante tímidas, principalmente se restringindo a subsídios para saída precoce. Recentes estudos europeus mostraram que ainda existe somente uma minoria de organizações que desenvolvem iniciativas para se ajustar ao envelhecimento da força de trabalho, entre estes, porém, de autoridades públicas e companhias comerciais altamente prestigiadas da Europa. Além disso, nossa pesquisa ilustrou um número de maneiras práticas pelas quais as outras organizações podem administrar o envelhecimento de suas forças de trabalho de modo mais eficiente. Há também sinais na mudança de postura entre os parceiros sociais. Desta forma, podemos observar a existência de oportunidades na Europa para assegurar que o envelhecimento da força de trabalho não limita o potencial de trabalho dos indivíduos envolvidos e nem a competitividade econômica das empresas. O que se faz necessário é uma estratégia em nível de União Européia para um envelhecimento ativo a partir de ações positivas já iniciadas(AU)