Listeria monocytogenes frequently causes Listeriosis in humans and animals. In present study, we discovered that in the presence of FeSO4, L. monocytogenes became viable but non-culturable (VBNC), and remained virulent to Caenorhabditis elegans. The killing assay indicated that these VBNC cells kept sensitive to tetracycline, differing from dormant cells. Transcriptomic analysis revealed more gene transcription occurrence in the VBNC cells compared to dormant cells, involving stress response and ribosome binding. No ferroptosis hallmarks were observed in the VBNC cells, whereas the application of either intracellular Fe2+ chelator or the ferroptosis inhibitor arrested the formation of VBNC state by FeSO4, as well as by Benzakonium chloride or Haz-Tab. This implicated the universal involvement of intracellular Fe2+ and other cascades related to ferroptosis in the formation of VBNC state in L. monocytogenes. Taken together, we discovered an iron-induced VBNC state in L. monocytogenes, and provided clues to further understanding their potential risks.

Ceramic grade red iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles pigments have been synthesized from waste condensed milk containers which contain a prominent amount of iron (93.2%). The synthesis method comprised of two steps: in the first step ferrous sulfate was prepared following an acid leaching method; while the second step was oxidation and calcination of ferrous sulfate to produce desired α-Fe2O3 in nano form. The structure, functional groups, chemical state, morphology, particle size, surface area, elemental, thermal analysis and magnetic properties of the samples were investigated using XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM, BET, EDS, TG-DT and VSM respectively. Pure hematite (α-Fe2O3) phase was confirmed by XRD and the average crystal sizes were in the range 34-126 nm have been performed by Debye-Scherer's formula, which are consistent with the results as achieved from SEM images. Agglomerated irregular spherical nanoparticles (45-149 nm) were found in SEM image. The surface chemistry and the chemical state (Fe3+) of the hematite nanoparticles was also confirmed by XPS. The mesoporous nature of the nanoparticles with high surface area were measured by BET and it has been revealed that the BET specific surface area (33.55 m2/g) was marginally higher than the commercial one. The magnetic nature of the nanoparticles was portrayed by VSM and the nanoparticles showed the ferromagnetic behavior. Moreover, particle size distributions and zeta potential values have been also measured by DLS.

Iron-based materials have good stability in reducing the mobility and toxicity of heavy metals, but the behavior and human health risks of heavy metals could be affected by dietary components. This study investigated the effect of typical diets (lettuce, cooked rice and apples) on the bioaccessibility and morphological changes of arsenic (As) and zinc (Zn) in contaminated site after stabilization by ferrous sulfate (FeSO4). The results showed that the bioaccessibility of As and Zn were increased in a co-digestion system of food. The augmented effect on As bioaccessibility mainly occurred in the gastric phase: apple > lettuce > cooked rice (p < 0.05), while the augmented effect on Zn bioaccessibility mainly occurred in the intestinal phase: lettuce > apple > cooked rice (p < 0.05). FeSO4 weakened the dissolution effect of dietary components on As bioaccessibility, and reduced As bioaccessibility in the gastric and intestinal phases by 34.0% and 37.9% (p < 0.05), respectively. Dietary components and Fe fractions influenced the speciation and distribution of As and Zn. FeSO4 reduced the hazard quotient (HQ) and carcinogenic risk (CR) values of the contaminated soil by 33.97% and 33.59%, respectively. This study provides a reference for a better understanding of more realistic strategies to modulate exposure risks of heavy metal-contaminated sites.

The excessive use of herbicides and fungicides containing 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) has led to serious environmental water pollution; 2,4-DCP is chemically stable and difficult to be degraded effectively by biological and physical methods. And the degradation of 2,4-DCP using advanced oxidation techniques has been a hot topic. Biochar, polyethylene glycol, ferrous sulfate, and sodium borohydride were used to synthesize the heterogeneous catalyst PEGylated nanoscale zero-valent iron supported by biochar (PEG-nZVI@BC). The catalyst was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and other means to determine its physicochemical properties. Catalytic performance and mechanism of this catalyst with hydrogen peroxide for the oxidation of 2,4-DCP were investigated. The results showed that PEG-nZVI@BC had good dispersibility, stability, and inoxidizability; the degradation efficiency of 50 mg/L 2,4-DCP by PEG-nZVI@BC/H2O2 system 92.94%, 1.68 times higher than that of nZVI/H2O2 system; there are both free radical and non-free radical pathways in PEG-nZVI@BC/H2O2 system; the degradation process of 2,4-DCP includes hydroxylation, dechlorination, and ring-opening. Overall, PEG-nZVI@BC is a promising heterogeneous catalyst for the degradation of 2,4-DCP.

Enhanced nutritional programs (ENPs) have improved citrus trees' growth and development in the era of Huanglongbing (HLB). Studies conducted with variable rates of manganese (Mn) and Iron (Fe) on young HLB-affected citrus trees showed that applying double the standard recommendation increased growth and biomass accumulation. Since HLB is believed to cause deficiency symptoms of micronutrients in citrus trees, it is critical to ensure their optimal levels in the leaves. This could be achieved by soil application of either a Mn rate of 8.9 to 11.5 kg ha-1 as MnSO4 (31%) for young HLB-affected 'Valencia' (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) citrus trees or an Fe rate of 9.6 to 11.8 kg ha-1 as Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (20%) for 'Bingo' (Citrus reticulata, Blanco) citrus trees. Maintaining optimal levels of these micronutrients may enable citrus trees to carry out photosynthetic activities to ensure growth and development. It may also help the tree in the regulation of various physiological processes as part of the antioxidant enzyme Mn-superoxidase dismutase (SOD). Micronutrient manipulation through variable rates of fertilizer application to influence nutrient availability is an important mitigating factor for HLB-affected citrus trees and an integral component of citrus production in Florida.

In this study, several machine learning models were used to analyze the process variables of electric-field-enhanced pyrolusite leaching and predict the leaching rate of manganese, and the applicability of those models in the leaching process of hydrometallurgy was compared. It showed that there was no correlation between the six leaching conditions; in addition to the leaching time, the concentrations of sulfuric acid and ferrous sulfate had great influences on the leaching of pyrolusite. The results of the prediction models showed that the support vector regression model has the best prediction performance, with regression index (R 2) = 0.92 and mean square error = 25.04, followed by the gradient boosting regression model (R 2 > 0.85). In this research, machine learning models were applied to the optimization of the manganese leaching process, and the research process and methods were also applicable to other hydrometallurgical processes for majorization and result prediction.

Temperature-driven colorful switching inks have been an interesting security encoding method to improve the anticounterfeiting properties of commercially available merchandise. Recently, thermochromic inks have faced many disadvantages, such as low efficiency, high cost, and low durability. In the current study, we developed self-healable ink from poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAMPSA) integrated with the anthocyanidin(ACY)-based red-cabbage extract in the presence of ferrous sulfate for authentication purposes. Self-healable inks have been able to guarantee durability and thermal stability. Environmentally friendly, ACY-based chromophore was extracted from Brassica oleracea L. var. Capitata (red-cabbage) to serve as a spectroscopic probe immobilized into PAMPSA. The prepared self-healable nanocomposite ink (PAMPSA-ACY) displayed temperature-induced chromism with high reversibility and thermal stability. Different self-healable nanocomposite inks of thermochromic features were prepared employing different ratios of the ACY-based red-cabbage extract. As described by Commission Internationale de L'éclairage Lab coordinates, homogeneous films were stamped on the paper surface to show a purple color (631 nm) able to switch color into red (458 nm) with the increase in temperature from 25 to 65 °C, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectra (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray, and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to inspect the morphological behavior and chemical compositions of thermochromic prints. Both mechanical and rheological properties of ink-printed paper substrates and ink solution were also investigated. Both of antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity study of the nanocomposite ink (PAMPSA-ACY) were also evaluated. Various industries can take the advantage of the current ink as a competent approach for anticounterfeiting purposes.

In the present study, the problem of sulfuric acid recycling from spent copper plating solution was solved using a hybrid membrane technology, including diffusion dialysis and electrodialysis. A real solution from the production of copper-coated steel wire, containing 1.45 mol/L of sulfuric acid, 0.67 mol/L of ferrous sulfate and 0.176 mol/L of copper sulfate, was processed. Diffusion dialysis with anion-exchange membranes was used to separate sulfuric acid and salts of heavy metals. Then, purified dilute sulfuric acid was concentrated by electrodialysis. The energy consumption for sulfuric acid electrodialysis concentration at a current density of 400 A/m2 was 162 W·h/mol, with a current efficiency of 16%. After processing according to the hybrid membrane scheme, the solution contained 1.13 mol/L sulfuric acid, 0.077 mol/L ferrous sulfate and 0.022 mol/L copper sulfate. According to established requirements, the solution of a copper plating bath had to contain from 0.75 to 1.25 M sulfuric acid, 0.16-0.18 M of copper sulfate and ferrous sulfate not more than 0.15 M. The resulting acid solution with a small amount of ferrous sulfate and copper sulfate could be used to prepare a copper plating bath solution.

Bauxite residue (BR), also known as red mud, is a byproduct of the alumina production using the Bayer process. This material is not used to make iron or other iron-containing products worldwide, owing to its high content of sodium oxide and other impurities. In this study, we investigated the hydrochemical conversion of goethite (FeOOH) to magnetite (Fe3O4) in high-iron BR from the Friguia alumina refinery (Guinea) by Fe2+ ions in highly concentrated alkaline media. The simultaneous extraction of Al and Na made it possible to obtain a product containing more than 96% Fe3O4. The results show that the magnetization of Al-goethite and Al-hematite accelerates the dissolution of the Al from the iron mineral solid matrix and from the desilication product (DSP). After ferrous sulfate (FeSO4·7H2O) was added directly at an FeO:Fe2O3 molar ratio of 1:1 at 120 °C for 150 min in solution with the 360 g L-1 Na2O concentration, the alumina extraction ratio reached 96.27% for the coarse bauxite residue size fraction (Sands) and 87.06% for fine BR obtained from red mud. The grade of iron (total iron in the form of iron elements) in the residue can be increased to 69.55% for sands and 58.31% for BR. The solid residues obtained after leaching were studied by XRD, XRF, TG-DTA, VSM, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and SEM to evaluate the conversion and leaching mechanisms, as well as the recovery ratio of Al from various minerals. The iron-rich residues can be used in the steel industry or as a pigment.

A new Fe metal-organic framework-loaded liquid crystal 4-octoxybenzoic acid (FeMOF@OCTB) nanosol was synthesized using 1,3,5-phthalic acid, ferrous sulfate, and OCTB as precursors. The FeMOF@OCTB exhibits good stability and strong catalytic effect for the polyethylene glycol 400-Ag (I) indicator reaction, which was evaluated rapidly by the slope procedure. The generated silver nanoparticles have a strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect and a surface plasmon resonance absorption (Abs) peak at 420 nm. This new bimodal nanosilver indicator reaction was coupled with the isocarbophos (IPS)-aptamer (Apt) reaction. A FeMOF@OCTB nanocatalytic amplified-SERS/Abs bimodal Apt assay for IPS was established. The SERS assay can detect IPS in the concentration range 0.02-1.2 nM, with a detection limit of 0.010 nM. It has been applied to the determination of IPS in rice samples. The relative standard deviation was 4.4-5.8%, and the recovery was 97.7-104%. An Ag nanosol plasmon SERS/Abs dimode aptamer assay was fabricated for trace isocarbophos, based on highly catalysis MOF@OCTB nanoenzyme.

The electrochemical features of the interactions of sulfur- and iron-containing compounds (ferrous sulfate, elemental sulfur, pyrite tailings, cysteine, sodium thiosulfate) with a model acidophilic consortium, including the genera Leptospirillum, Sulfobacillus, Acidithiobacillus, Ferroplasma, and Acidiplasma, were studied. The method of cyclic voltammetry recorded redox processes at the electrode/solution interface in the presence of the studied sulfur- and iron-containing compounds. In general, the modeling consortium led to the intensification of these processes. The characteristics of the diffuse layer near the electrode/solution interface were studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The introduction of microorganisms and/or substrates into the supporting electrolyte led to a decrease in the slope and can be interpreted as evidence of their effect on the diffusion part of the double layer. Its contribution decreases in favor of ion transport. All this, in general, does not contradict the assumption of cell adsorption on the electrode surface. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed this assumption and showed cell adhesion to the surface. The data obtained confirm the importance of bioelectrochemical processes of the studied group of microorganisms in biotechnological processes associated with the leaching of metals from sulfide ores.

Reducing lead (Pb) exposure via oral ingestion of contaminated soils is highly relevant for child health. Elevating dietary micronutrient iron (Fe) intake can reduce Pb oral bioavailability while being beneficial for child nutritional health. However, the practical performance of various Fe compounds was not assessed. Here, based on mouse bioassays, ten Fe compounds applied to diets (100-800 mg Fe kg-1) reduced Pb oral relative bioavailability (RBA) in two soils variedly depending on Fe forms. EDTA-FeNa was most efficient, which reduced Pb-RBA in a soil from 79.5 ± 14.7 % to 23.1 ± 2.72 % (71 % lower) at 100 mg Fe kg-1 in diet, more effective than other 9 compounds at equivalent or higher doses (3.6-68 % lower). When EDTA-FeNa, ferrous gluconate, ferric citrate, and ferrous bisglycinate were supplemented, Fe-Pb co-precipitation was not observed in the intestinal tract. EDTA-FeNa, ferrous gluconate, ferric citrate, and ferrous sulfate suppressed duodenal divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1)mRNA relative expression similarly (27-68 % lower). In comparison, among ten compounds, EDTA-FeNa elevated Fe concentrations in mouse liver, kidney, and blood (1.50-2.69-fold higher) most efficiently, suggesting the most efficient Fe absorption that competed with Pb. In addition, EDTA was unique from other organic ligands, ingestion of which caused 12.0-fold higher Pb urinary excretion, decreasing Pb concentrations in mouse liver, kidney, and blood by 68-88 %. The two processes (Fe-Pb absorption competition and Pb urinary excretion with EDTA) interacted synergistically, leading to the lowest Pb absorption with EDTA-FeNa. The results provide evidence of a better inhibition of Pb absorption by EDTA-FeNa, highlighting that EDTA-FeNa may be the most appropriate supplement for intervention on human Pb exposure. Future researches are needed to assess the effectiveness of EDTA-FeNa for intervention on human Pb exposure.

The use of iron supplementation for anemia in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is controversial with both benefit and deterioration reported in single case reports. There is no systematic study to evaluate the benefits or risks of iron supplementation in these patients. We assessed the potential efficacy of oral iron therapy in decreasing erythrocyte protoporphyrin (ePPIX) levels in patients with EPP or X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) and low ferritin in an open-label, single-arm, interventional study. Sixteen patients (≥18 years) with EPP or XLP confirmed by biochemical and/or genetic testing, and serum ferritin ≤30 ng/mL were enrolled. Baseline testing included iron studies, normal hepatic function, and elevated plasma porphyrins and ePPIX levels. Oral ferrous sulfate 325 mg twice daily was administered for 12 months. The primary efficacy outcome was the relative difference in total ePPIX level between baseline and 12 months after starting treatment with iron. Secondary measures included improvement in serum ferritin, plasma porphyrins, and clinical symptoms. Thirteen patients had EPP (8 females, 5 males) and 3 had XLP (all females) and the mean age of participants was 38.8 years (SD 14.5). Ten patients completed all study visits limiting interpretation of results. In EPP patients, a transient increase in ePPIX levels was observed at 3 months in 9 of 12 (75%) patients. Iron was discontinued in 2 of these patients after meeting the protocol stopping rule of a 35% increase in ePPIX. Seven patients withdrew before study end. Ferritin levels increased on iron replacement indicating an improvement in iron status. A decrease in ePPIX was seen in both XLP patients who completed the study (relative difference of 0.67 and 0.5 respectively). No substantial changes in ePPIX were seen in EPP patients at the end of the study (n = 8; median relative difference: -0.21 (IQR: -0.44, 0.05). The most common side effects of iron treatment were gastrointestinal symptoms. Hepatic function remained normal throughout the study. Our study showed that oral iron therapy repletes iron stores and transiently increases ePPIX in some EPP patients, perhaps due to a transient increase in erythropoiesis, and may decrease ePPIX in XLP patients. Further studies are needed to better define the role of iron repletion in EPP. Trial registration: NCT02979249.

A 19-month-old boy presented to the general pediatric clinic with delayed development and multiple nutritional deficiencies, after being exclusively breastfed up to the age of nine months without vitamin D supplementation. Upon examination, imaging studies, and lab tests, the patient was diagnosed with nutritional rickets. The management included supplementation of cholecalciferol, ferrous sulfate, calcium carbonate, and multivitamin drops to support his diet, and was encouraged to follow a healthy balanced diet. Upon follow-up at the age of 20 months, the patient showed slight improvement and was able to walk, while at 22 months, the patient was developmentally up to age, and had a good appetite with a slight increase in weight. Despite the high incidence of nutritional deficiencies, there is still a lack of awareness and late presentations of such cases, which can lead to complications if not detected early. This case demonstrates the importance of prevention of similar cases by early education about adequate nutrition to the patients and caregivers and regular follow-ups with the general practitioner for early detection and early supplementation as required.

Cyanide tailings are the major hazardous wastes generated in the production process of the gold industry, which not only contain highly toxic cyanide, but also contain heavy metals with recycling value and other substances suitable for building materials or filling. These tailings are in urgent need of purification treatment and safe utilization. In this study, the impacts of treatment methods, types and combinations of reagents on decyanation effect were researched. Gold in cyanide tailings was recovered by flotation, and flotation tailings were used for filling after identifying the properties of solid waste. Results are as follows: (1) INCO method and 5 reagents (sodium sulfite, sodium persulfate, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate) were selected for synergistic decyanation treatment, and cyanide concents in slurry and leaching solution were decreased to the minimum. (2) The gold recovery rate of the tailings through flotation was increased by 27.8% than without detoxification. (3) Flotation tailings were identified as general industrial solid wastes by leaching toxicity and toxic substance content analysis. (4) As filling aggregate, under the conditions of slurry concentration of 63% and cement-sand ratio of 1:6, the strength filling body of flotation tailings reached 1.32 Mpa after 28 days of maintenance. (5) This process and combined reagents were applied to engineering. The cyanide content in the leaching solution and the flotation recovery rate of gold were kept below 0.2 mg/L and above 60% respectively, and the strength of the filling body was stable to meet the requirements of underground filling.

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.

Ferrous waste by-products from the metallurgical industry have a high potential for valorization in the context of the circular economy, and can be converted to value-added products used in environmental remediation. This research reviews the latest data available in the literature with a focus on: (i) sources from which these types of iron-based wastes originate; (ii) the types of ferrous compounds that result from different industries; (iii) the different methods (with respect to the circular economy) used to convert them into products applied in water and wastewater decontamination; (iv) the harmful effects ferrous wastes can have on the environment and human health; and (v) the future perspectives for these types of waste.

This research compared two potential adsorbents for the efficient adsorption of toxic hexavalent chromium. The non-magnetic material STAC-Mt and the magnetic material FeSO4-STAC-Mt were synthesized by a simple impregnation method using montmorillonite (Mt), octadearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (STAC) and ferrous sulfate as raw materials. The structural and morphological characteristics of both adsorbents were investigated by BET, XRD, FTIR, Zeta, VSM, TEM, SEM and XPS techniques. SEM and TEM results clearly revealed that FeSO4-STAC-Mt had a more loosely curled structure than STAC-Mt and the existence of well dispersed diamond-shaped magnetic particles. The saturation magnetization intensity of 17.949 emu/g obtained by VSM further confirmed the presence of magnetite particles in FeSO4-STAC-Mt. Due to the superparamagnetic properties of magnetite, the adsorption performance of FeSO4-STAC-Mt was better than STAC-Mt. FeSO4-STAC-Mt adsorbed up to 43.98 mg/g of Cr(VI), meanwhile it was easily separated from the reaction mixture by an external magnetic field. Intermittent adsorption studies at pH, adsorbent dosage and time revealed a rapid Cr(VI) adsorption process. In combination with response surface optimization analysis, a removal rate of 98.03% of Cr(VI) was obtained at pH 5-6. The adsorption process was properly described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation and the Langmuir equation, and the adsorption process was chemisorption and single molecular layer adsorption. In addition, the removal of Cr(VI) reached 72.68% after five cycles, demonstrating the good stability of the FeSO4-STAC-Mt.

In this study, eight-year-old wine grape plants (Cabernet Sauvignon) were subjected to five different iron treatments: ferrous sulfate, ferric ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA-Fe), ferric citrate, ferric gluconate, and ferric sugar alcohol, and conventional fertilization. Foliar spraying with clear water was used as the control treatment. The effects of different iron treatments on berry quality and flavonoid accumulation in grape peels were explored. All five iron treatments affected the sugar, acid, and peel flavonoid contents of grape berries, but the contents varied greatly among the different iron treatments. Foliar spraying with iron increased berry sugar content and reduced acid content. In addition, foliar spraying with ferrous sulfate, EDTA-Fe, ferric gluconate, and ferric sugar alcohol reduced the total anthocyanin, flavanol, and flavonol contents in the peel. The unique flavonoid monomer content of the peel was significantly higher under ferric citrate treatment than under the control and other iron treatments. Moreover, the results showed that foliar spraying with ferric citrate balanced the berry sugar-acid ratio and also increased the anthocyanin, flavanol, and flavonol contents of the grape peel, thereby improving the overall nutritional status of the berries and the final wine quality. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that different iron treatments could improve grape berry quality and clarify the effects of different exogenous iron treatments.

Pump-probe imaging was first used for quantitative analysis of melanin in dark circles' skin to improve the ability to diagnose and treat dark circles on human skin. This study aimed to compare the distribution characteristics in melanin of lower eyelid skin tissues and to determine whether pump-probe imaging has potential for the classification of dark circles in vivo. Specimens obtained from 15 patients undergoing blepharoplasty were examined using pump-probe imaging. Furthermore, adjacent slices were respectively treated with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) staining for cross-references. Subsequently, the melanin content index (MCI) and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) were quantitatively analyzed by the pump-probe imaging. The distribution of melanin granules in the pump-probe image and FeSO4 staining was consistent. Meanwhile, the tissues of the skin with dark circles and normal skin demonstrated significant differences in MCI and MFI. These differences can be used to distinguish the skin with dark circles from the normal skin. Pump-probe imaging could be used for the analysis of the microstructure and spectral characteristics of melanin granules in skin with dark circles. Significant differences were noted between the pigmented type of dark circles and the other two groups (normal skin and the vascular type of dark circles), while no significant differences were found between normal skin and the vascular type of dark circles.

Exposure to environmental toxicants has been linked with the onset of different neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. Here, we evaluated the toxic effects of co-exposure to iron and rotenone at low concentrations in Drosophila melanogaster. Adult wild-type flies were orally exposed to rotenone (50.0 µM) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4; 1.0 and 10.0 µM) through the diet for 10 days. Thereafter, we evaluated markers of oxidative damage (Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), Nitric Oxide (NO), Protein Carbonyl, and malondialdehyde (MDA)), antioxidant status (catalase, Glutathione S-Transferase (GST), Total Thiol (T-SH) and Non-protein Thiol (NPSH), neurotransmission (monoamine oxidase; MAO and acetylcholinesterase, AChE) and mitochondrial respiration. The results indicated that flies fed rotenone and FeSO4 had impaired locomotion, reduced survival rate, and AChE activity with a corresponding increase in MAO activity when compared with the control (p < 0.05). Furthermore, rotenone and FeSO4 significantly decreased the antioxidant status with a concurrent accumulation of NO, MDA, and H2O2. Additionally, the activity of complex 1 and mitochondria bioenergetic capacity was compromised in the flies. These findings suggest that the combination of rotenone and FeSO4 elicited a possible synergistic toxic response in the flies and therefore provided further insights on the use of D. melanogaster in toxicological studies.

A single-center, crossover, randomized, double-blind, and controlled clinical study was conducted to assess the tolerability profile, especially with regard to gastrointestinal complaints, of oral supplementation with AB-Fortis®, a microencapsulated ferric saccharate (MFS), as compared with conventional ferrous sulphate (FS) in healthy premenopausal women. A dose of 60 mg/day of elemental iron was used. The test products were administered for 14 consecutive days with a washout period of two menstrual episodes and a minimum of one month between the two intervention periods. The subjects completed simple-to-answer questionnaires daily for 14 days during both the intervention and the washout periods, capturing the symptoms associated with oral iron supplementation and overall health aspects. Following product consumption, the incidences of symptoms, numbers of complaints/symptoms, overall intensity, and total days with symptoms were found to be significantly higher for FS consumption as compared to MFS. The better tolerability profile of MFS over FS was further substantiated when both products were compared to a real-life setting (i.e., the washout period). Overall, the administration of both study products was safe with no serious or significant adverse events reported. In summary, the current study shows the better tolerability of the MFS preparation when compared to that of the FS, presenting MFS as a well-tolerated and safe option for improving iron nutrition.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually become severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of AD is necessary for the development of strategies for AD prevention and/or treatment, and modeling of this pathology is an important step in achieving this goal. β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) injection is a widely used approach for modeling AD. Nevertheless, it has been reported that the model constructed by injection of Aβ in combination with a prooxidant cocktail (ferrous sulfate, Aβ, and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) (FAB)) best reflects the natural development of this disease. The relationship between oxidative stress and Aβ deposition and their respective roles in Aβ-induced pathology in different animal models of AD have been thoroughly investigated. In the current paper, we compared the effects of Aβ 1-42 alone with that of Aβ-associated oxidative stress induced by the FAB cocktail on the neurodegeneration of hippocampal cells in vitro. We constructed a FAB-induced AD model using rat primary hippocampal cells and analyzed the contribution of each compound. The study mainly focused on the prooxidant aspects of AD pathogenesis. Moreover, cellular bioenergetics was assessed and routine metabolic tests were performed to determine the usefulness of this model. The data clearly show that aggregated Aβ1-42 alone is significantly less toxic to hippocampal cells. Aggregated Aβ damages neurons, and glial cells proliferate to remove Aβ from the hippocampus. External prooxidant agents (Fe2+) or inhibition of internal antioxidant defense by BSO has more toxic effects on hippocampal cells than aggregated Aβ alone. Moreover, hippocampal cells fight against Aβ-induced damage more effectively than against oxidative damage. However, the combination of Aβ with external oxidative damage and inhibition of internal antioxidant defense is even more toxic, impairs cellular defense systems, and may mimic the late phase of AD-associated cell damage. Our findings strongly indicate a critical role for the combination of Aβ and oxidative stress in the development of neurodegeneration in vitro.

Using Acidithiobacillus sp. during bioleaching assays is a well-known biological approach to solubilizing metals within sewage sludge. However, sludge dewatering has also been reported as a secondary treatment benefit. Based on a literature review, the present work provides perspectives regarding the enhancement of bioleaching outcomes on a laboratory scale by establishing optimal operational parameters. Data from different studies suggest that greater bioleaching efficiency may be achieved using a 10% (v/v) mixed inoculum of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in a ratio of 4:1, supplemented with ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) and elemental sulfur (S0), and an initial system pH near 6.0. However, operational parameters must be established according to the type of sludge being treated due to differences in their compositions. Bioleaching duration is also an aspect that must be considered since treatments conducted for longer than 48 h increased the concentration of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS), a characteristic associated with reducing dewaterability performance.