OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the correlation among serum hepcidin, ferritin, and q-Dioxn MRI with upgrading, upstaging and biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. METHODS: A total of 103 PCa patients diagnosed by biopsy were selected for this study. All patients underwent q-Dixon MRI prior to biopsy for T2* value measurement. Then serum hepcidin and ferritin were measured before receiving radical prostatectomy. Pathological grading and staging were conducted both preoperatively and postoperatively. The correlations among hepcidin, ferritin, T2* values, and postoperative upgrading, upstaging, biochemical recurrence were subsequently analyzed. RESULTS: The hepcidin level of PCa patients was measured at (123.51 ± 23.03) ng/mL, while the ferritin level was recorded at (239.80 ± 79.59) ng/mL, and the T2* value was (41.07 ± 6.37) ms. A total of 49 and 36 cases were observed with upgrading and upstaging in postoperative pathology, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 28.0 months (6.0－38.0 months), during which biochemical recurrence was observed in 12 cases. For upgrading, hepcidin and ferritin demonstrated the predictive efficacy, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.777 and 0.642, respectively, whereas T2* values did not show sufficient predictive power. For upstaging, hepcidin, ferritin, and T2* exhibited predictive efficacy, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.806, 0.696, and 0.655, respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that hepcidin served as an independent risk factor for both upgrading (OR 1.055, 95%CI 1.027－1.085, P<0.001) and upstaging (OR 1.094, 95%CI 1.040－1.152, P<0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that hepcidin (95%CI 1.000－1.052, P = 0.049) was a significant risk factor for predicting biochemical recurrence. CONCLUSION Hepcidin could serve as a predictor for pathological upgrading, upstaging and biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy, which provides a novel potential index for risk stratification and prognostic evaluation of PCa patients.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Hepcidins/blood* ; Ferritins/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging

This study developed ferritin-based nanoparticles carrying the African swine fever virus (ASFV) p30 protein and evaluated their immunogenicity, aiming to provide an experimental basis for the research on nanoparticle vaccines against ASFV. Initially, the gene sequences encoding the p30 protein and SpyTag were fused and inserted into the pCold-I vector to create the pCold-p30 plasmid. The gene sequences encoding SpyCatcher and ferritin were fused and then inserted into the pET-28a(+) vector to produce the pET-F-np plasmid. Both plasmids were expressed in Escherichia coli upon induction. Subsequently, the affinity chromatography-purified p30 protein was conjugated with ferritin in vitro, and the p30-ferritin (F-p30) nanoparticles were purified by size-exclusion chromatography. The morphology and structural integrity of F-p30 nanoparticles were examined by a particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscopy. Mice were immunized with F-p30 nanoparticles, and the humoral and cellular immune responses were assessed. The results showed that F-p30 nanoparticles were successfully prepared, with the particle size of approximately 20 nm. F-p30 nanoparticles were efficiently internalized by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) cells in vitro. Compared with the p30 protein alone, F-p30 nanoparticles induced elevated levels of specific antibodies and cytokines in mice and stimulated the proliferation of follicular helper T cell (T_FH) and germinal center B cell (GCB) in lymph nodes as well as CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen. In conclusion, we successfully prepared F-p30 nanoparticles which significantly enhanced the immunogenicity of p30 protein, giving insights into the development of vaccines against ASFV.
Animals ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Mice ; African Swine Fever Virus/genetics* ; Ferritins/chemistry* ; Swine ; Viral Vaccines/genetics* ; African Swine Fever/immunology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Viral Proteins/genetics* ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Dendritic Cells/immunology* ; Immunogenicity, Vaccine ; Antibodies, Viral/blood* ; Female ; Capsid Proteins/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of cytokine levels on early death and coagulation function of patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). METHODS: Routine examination was performed on 69 newly diagnosed APL patients at admission. Meanwhile, 4 ml fasting venous blood was extracted from the patients. And then the supernatant was taken after centrifugation. The concentrations of cytokines, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ferritin were detected by using the corresponding kits. RESULTS: It was confirmed that cerebral hemorrhage was a major cause of early death in APL patients. Elevated LDH, decreased platelets (PLT) count and prolonged prothrombin time (PT) were high risk factors for early death (P <0.05). The increases of IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70 and IL-17A were closely related to the early death of newly diagnosed APL patients, and the increases of IL-5 and IL-17A also induced coagulation disorder in APL patients by prolonging PT (P <0.05). In newly diagnosed APL patients, ferritin and LDH showed a positive effect on the expression of IL-5, IL-10 and IL-17A, especially ferritin had a highly positive correlation with IL-5 (r =0.867) and IL-17A (r =0.841). Moreover, there was a certain correlation between these five high-risk cytokines, among which IL-5 and IL-17A (r =0.827), IL-6 and IL-10 (r =0.823) were highly positively correlated. CONCLUSION Elevated cytokine levels in newly diagnosed APL patients increase the risk of early bleeding and death. In addition to the interaction between cytokines themselves, ferritin and LDH positively affect the expression of cytokines, thus affecting the prognosis of APL patients.
Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/diagnosis* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Interleukin-5/metabolism* ; Blood Coagulation Disorders ; Ferritins ; Tretinoin

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of iron metabolic parameters with platelet counts in blood donors. METHODS: A total of 400 blood donors who met requirements of apheresis platelet donation were collected, and their hematological parameters were analyzed. The donors were divided into low ferritin group and normal group, the differences of hematological parameters between the two groups were compared, and the correlation of iron metabolic parameters and routine hematology parameters with platelet counts were analyzed. RESULTS: Whether male or female, low ferritin group had higher platelet counts than normal group (P < 0.01). Among the iron metabolic parameters, the platelet counts was negatively correlated with serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI), and transferrin saturation (TSAT) (r =-0.162, r =-0.153, r =-0.256), and positively correlated with total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) (r =0.219, r =0.294) in female blood donors. Platelet counts was also negatively correlated with SF, SI and TSAT (r =-0.188, r =-0.148, r =-0.224) and positively correlated with UIBC (r =0.220) in male blood donors. Among the routine hematology parameters, platelet counts was negatively correlated with mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-He) in female blood donors (r =-0.236, r =-0.267, r =-0.213, r =-0.284). Platelet counts was also negatively correlated with MCH, MCHC and Ret-He in male blood donors (r =-0.184, r =-0.221, r =-0.209). CONCLUSION In blood donors with low C-reactive protein level, the lower the iron store capacity, the lower the iron utilization, and the platelet counts tends to rise.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Iron/metabolism* ; Blood Donors ; Platelet Count ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Hemoglobins ; Ferritins

Long-term repeated regular blood donation may result in the loss and deficiency of iron. Epidemiological studies have indicated that blood donation frequency, demographical characteristics, and genetic factors are associated with iron deficiency. Our review summarizes the progress in research of etiology of iron deficiency in blood donors and intervention measures to provide evidence for the health management of non-remunerated blood donors in China.
Blood Donors ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Iron ; Iron Deficiencies ; Risk Factors

Objective: This study aims to assess the dose-response relationship between serum ferritin (SF) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the two sexes. Methods: We searched for articles on PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and the Web of Science databases that were published from 1950 to 2020. The summary odds ratio ( Results: This study included 14 studies and 74,710 samples. The results of the classical meta-analysis showed that SF was positively associated with MetS ( Conclusions Our study shows that SF is significantly and positively associated with MetS, and the risk in the male population is higher than that in the female population. This finding also supports the recommendation of using SF as an early warning marker of MetS.
Biomarkers/blood* ; Female ; Ferritins/blood* ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Sex Characteristics

Blood sample was obtained for laboratory parameters at baseline and the end of week 12. End of trial values for red blood cell (RBC; p = 0.002), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.029), and mean platelet volume (p = 0.017), significantly increased and the levels of mean corpuscular volume (MCV; p = 0.023), RBC distribution width-coefficient of variation (p = 0.005), platelet distribution width (p = 0.015), and ferritin (p = 0.002) significantly decreased compared to the baseline in group receiving quercetin. Between group analysis revealed that RBC significantly increased (p = 0.025) but, mean corpuscular volume (p = 0.004), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH; p = 0.002), and ferritin (p = 0.013) significantly decreased compared to placebo group. In this work quercetin showed significant effect on RBC, ferritin, MCV, and MCH in intervention group.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Center for Clinical Trials Identifier: IRCT2016060628299N1]]>
Anemia ; Blood Platelets ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Erythrocytes ; Ferritins ; Hematology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Liver Diseases ; Mean Platelet Volume ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Oxidative Stress ; Pilot Projects ; Public Health ; Quercetin

BACKGROUND: Microcytic anemia, the most common form of anemia in children and adolescents, is a heterogeneous group of diseases that is acquired or inherited. We assessed the frequency and causes of microcytosis in children and adolescents with the sickle cell trait (SCT). METHODS: This descriptive study included 95 subjects (49 males and 46 females) with SCT who attended Basra Center for Hereditary Blood Diseases for evaluation. Investigations included complete blood count, high performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and measurement of serum ferritin and transferrin levels. RESULTS: SCT subjects had a low hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (9.79±1.75 g/dL), low mean corpuscular volume (MCV, 67.43±9.22), low mean corpuscular Hb (21.15±3.64), and a normal red cell distribution width (RDW, 14.00±2.30). Among 95 SCT subjects, 81 (85.26%) had microcytosis, 12 (12.63%) had normal MCV, and 2 (2.11%) exhibited macrocytosis. Sixty-three (77.78%) SCT subjects with microcytosis were iron deficient, and 18 (22.22%) had normal iron levels. The mean serum ferritin and HbA2 levels were significantly lower, while the RDW, sickle Hb, and serum transferrin levels were significantly higher in patients with microcytosis and iron deficiency compared to non-iron deficient subjects (P<0.05). Correlation coefficients did not reveal a significant association between the MCV and iron status of SCT subjects (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite the frequent occurrence of iron deficiency in SCT subjects, co-inheritance of alpha-thalassemia seemed to be the cause of low MCV in non-iron deficient individuals with microcytosis. Genetic analysis is required to understand the genetic basis of this phenomenon.
Adolescent ; alpha-Thalassemia ; Anemia ; Blood Cell Count ; Child ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Ferritins ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Iraq ; Iron ; Male ; Sickle Cell Trait ; Transferrin

PURPOSE: Nutritional markers, such as total protein, albumin, and vitamin D have been reportedly associated with neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to assess the correlation between nutritional markers at birth and the need for respiratory support on the first day of life. METHODS: This retrospective study included 94 newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Kyungpook National University Children's Hospital between March and December 2017. We measured levels of nutritional markers, including serum total protein, albumin, ferritin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), and prealbumin, from cord blood or blood sample within 24 hours after birth. Respiratory support was defined as the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure, humidified high-flow nasal cannula, or mechanical ventilation on the first day of life. RESULTS: The mean gestational age and birth weight were 36.6±2.3 weeks and 2,714±575 g, respectively. Serum total protein, albumin, prealbumin, and ferritin levels at birth were significantly correlated with gestational age and birth weight. Total protein, albumin, ferritin, and 25-OHD levels were not correlated with the time to recover birth weight after adjusting for gestational age. Moreover, prealbumin levels at birth were significantly lower in small-for-gestational-age infants than in appropriate-for-gestational-age infants. The need for respiratory support on the first day of life decreased 0.058- and 0.001-fold for every 1 g/dL increase in serum total protein (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.004 to 0.833; P=0.036) and albumin (95% CI, 0.000 to 0.136; P=0.009) levels, respectively. CONCLUSION: Nutritional status at birth could be associated with the need for respiratory support on the first day of life, regardless of the Apgar score.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Catheters ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Ferritins ; Fetal Blood ; Gestational Age ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Nutritional Status ; Parturition ; Prealbumin ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin D

Previous studies have suggested that iron-deficiency anemia affects glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements, but the results were contradictory. We conducted a retrospective case-control study to determine the effects of iron deficiency on HbA1c levels. Starting with the large computerized database of the Italian Hospital of Desio, including data from 2000 to 2016, all non-pregnant individuals older than 12 years of age with at least one measurement of HbA1c, cell blood count, ferritin, and fasting blood glucose on the same date of blood collection were enrolled. A total of 2,831 patients met the study criteria. Eighty-six individuals were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, while 2,745 had a normal iron state. The adjusted means of HbA1c were significantly higher in anemic subjects (5.59% [37.37 mmol/mol]), than those measured in individuals without anemia (5.34% [34.81 mmol/mol]) (P<0.0001). These results suggest that clinicians should be cautious about diagnosing prediabetes and diabetes in individuals with anemia.
Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Blood Glucose ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Complications ; Fasting ; Ferritins ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Iron ; Prediabetic State ; Retrospective Studies