Iodine status during pregnancy in India and related neonatal and infant outcomes

Objective: To document iodine status in Indian pregnancies, associations with maternal diet and demographics, and offspring developmental measures. Design: Longitudinal study following mothers through pregnancy and offspring up to 24 months. Setting: Rural health-care centre (Vadu) and urban antenatal clinic (Pune) in the Maharashtra region of India. Subjects: Pregnant mothers at 17 (n 132) and 34 weeks’ (n 151) gestation and their infants from birth to the age of 24 months. Results: Median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 203 and 211 μg/l at 17 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, respectively (range 26–800 μg/l). Using the UIC distribution adjusted for within-person variation, extreme UIC quartiles were compared for predictors and outcomes. There was no correlation between UIC at 17 and 34 weeks, but 24 % of those with UIC in the lowest quartile at 17 weeks had UIC in the same lowest quartile at 34 weeks. Maternal educational, socio-economic status and milk products consumption (frequency) were different between the lowest and highest quartile of UIC at 34 weeks. Selected offspring developmental outcomes differed between the lowest and highest UIC quartiles (abdominal circumference at 24 months, subscapular and triceps skinfolds at 12 and 24 months). However, UIC was only a weak predictor of subscapular skinfold at 12 months and of triceps skinfold at 24 months. Conclusions: Median UIC in this pregnant population suggested adequate dietary provision at both gestational stages studied. Occasional high results found in spot samples may indicate intermittent consumption of iodine-rich foods. Maternal UIC had limited influence on offspring developmental outcomes

The structure and properties of aqueous solutions of lanthanum ferricyanide and other 3:3 valent electrolytes.

Controversial solubility data put forward by other workers for aqueous lanthanum ferricyanide solutions are satisfactorily explained; solutions over a wide concentration range are in apparent equilibrium with the crystalline salt, and these solutions are thought to constitute a single phase in which fluctuations of structure and concentration can occur. It is possible that the solubility limit reached when crystals of LaFe(CN)[6] are dissolved in water may represent the maximum amount of salt that can be accommodated in water without a radical change in the water structure; the higher concentration of the salt that can be prepared by indirect methods would involve a change in the water structure; the theoretical evidence suggests that the primary cause of the unusual features is the rapid increase in ionic-strength with rising concentration. A negative temperature coefficient is found for the solubility of lanthanum ferricyanide in water, and this may be connected with the tendency of the water structure characteristic of dilute solutions to be gradually broken up as the temperature is increased. Several methods of preparing a concentrated solution free from impurity and suitable for conductivity measurements have been discussed in detail. Concentrated H[3]Fe(CN)[6] solutions can be prepared by ion-exchange, but their neutralisation, either by La(OH)[3], or by the lanthanum salt of a weak acid resin, is never quite complete and the resulting solutions show a high conductivity due to free acid. A satisfactory method is to convert the acid to its barium salt by means of Ba(OH)[2], and then to form the lanthanum salt by double decomposition with lanthanum sulphate. The latter stages were controlled conductimetrically. A new method of estimating lanthanum by conductimetric titration with E. D. T. A. solution was developed during the course of the work. The properties of lanthanum ferricyanide solutions were studied by spectrophotometry, conductimetry and osmometry. The spectrophotometric measurements gave some evidence of ionpair formation in lanthanum ferricyanide solutions, and also in concentrated solutions of lanthanum chloride, but the photosensitive nature of the ferricyanide solutions made the technique unsuitable for a detailed study. The osmometer measurements enabled the ionic activities of lanthanum ferricyanide solutions to be calculated, and gave further evidence that the degree of dissociation of lanthanum ferricyanide passes through a minimum value. This conclusion is strongly supported by the equivalent conductances, which pass through a flat minimum, followed by a maximum, at moderate concentrations, and thus show a region in which the equivalent conductance is increasing with rising concentration. This is the first instance reported of this behaviour in an aqueous salt solution

The structure and properties of aqueous solutions of lanthanum ferricyanide and other 3:3 valent electrolytes.

Controversial solubility data put forward by other workers for aqueous lanthanum ferricyanide solutions are satisfactorily explained; solutions over a wide concentration range are in apparent equilibrium with the crystalline salt, and these solutions are thought to constitute a single phase in which fluctuations of structure and concentration can occur. It is possible that the solubility limit reached when crystals of LaFe(CN)[6] are dissolved in water may represent the maximum amount of salt that can be accommodated in water without a radical change in the water structure; the higher concentration of the salt that can be prepared by indirect methods would involve a change in the water structure; the theoretical evidence suggests that the primary cause of the unusual features is the rapid increase in ionic-strength with rising concentration. A negative temperature coefficient is found for the solubility of lanthanum ferricyanide in water, and this may be connected with the tendency of the water structure characteristic of dilute solutions to be gradually broken up as the temperature is increased. Several methods of preparing a concentrated solution free from impurity and suitable for conductivity measurements have been discussed in detail. Concentrated H[3]Fe(CN)[6] solutions can be prepared by ion-exchange, but their neutralisation, either by La(OH)[3], or by the lanthanum salt of a weak acid resin, is never quite complete and the resulting solutions show a high conductivity due to free acid. A satisfactory method is to convert the acid to its barium salt by means of Ba(OH)[2], and then to form the lanthanum salt by double decomposition with lanthanum sulphate. The latter stages were controlled conductimetrically. A new method of estimating lanthanum by conductimetric titration with E. D. T. A. solution was developed during the course of the work. The properties of lanthanum ferricyanide solutions were studied by spectrophotometry, conductimetry and osmometry. The spectrophotometric measurements gave some evidence of ionpair formation in lanthanum ferricyanide solutions, and also in concentrated solutions of lanthanum chloride, but the photosensitive nature of the ferricyanide solutions made the technique unsuitable for a detailed study. The osmometer measurements enabled the ionic activities of lanthanum ferricyanide solutions to be calculated, and gave further evidence that the degree of dissociation of lanthanum ferricyanide passes through a minimum value. This conclusion is strongly supported by the equivalent conductances, which pass through a flat minimum, followed by a maximum, at moderate concentrations, and thus show a region in which the equivalent conductance is increasing with rising concentration. This is the first instance reported of this behaviour in an aqueous salt solution

Insight towards Nucleation Mechanism and Change in Morphology for Nanostructured Platinum Thin Film Directly Grown on Carbon Substrate via Electrochemical Deposition

Nanocrystalline platinum with different morphologies is synthesized via electrochemical deposition technique. The nucleation mechanism and its structural effect over the electrodeposited Pt on carbon electrodes have been systematically studied. Powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy are employed to study nucleation, oxidation states, and Pt structure growth on a carbon electrode. This study reports significant development of Pt metal nanoparticles with different morphologies such as a sphere, flower, core-flower, and rod-like structure directly fabricated on carbon electrode while tuning the deposition parameters such as current density, time, temperature, pH during the deposition process. The proposed electrochemical route represents a superior fabrication procedure for large-scale electrode fabrication compared to a conventional method for preparing membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cell stacks

Diversity, Structure and Dynamics of a Mangrove Forest: a Case Study

<p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif">The intertidal vegetation along tropical and subtropical coast is defined as mangrove vegetation. India has a long coast line measuring 7516 km. The ecology of mangrove forest is relatively less studied. Mangrove systems are known to be one of the most productive systems in the world. The study aimed to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of a relatively protected sacred grove along the western coast of India, in Kagekanu, Kumta, Karnataka. One hectare permanent plot was established, with all woody stems &gt; 1 cm dbh (diameter at breast height), which were marked and identified. Repeated measurements were made to register the growth and other parameters. Allometric equation was used to estimate the biomass, out of which 50% was considered as carbon content. A total of 1100 stems &gt; 1 cm dbh, belonging to 4 species, were enumerated. There was an overall decline of 13.9% stems during the study period. Mean mortality rate was found to be 5.83 ± 1.85% and there was no recruitment. The biomass increased from 155.53 tons/ha to 164.28 tons/ha. There was a net gain of 4.38 tons. <i>Avicinnia officinalis</i> was found to contribute significantly to carbon sequestration.</span></p

Diversity, Structure and Dynamics of a Mangrove Forest: a Case Study

The intertidal vegetation along tropical and subtropical coast is defined as mangrove vegetation. India has a long coast line measuring 7516 km. The ecology of mangrove forest is relatively less studied. Mangrove systems are known to be one of the most productive systems in the world. The study aimed to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of a relatively protected sacred grove along the western coast of India, in Kagekanu, Kumta, Karnataka. One hectare permanent plot was established, with all woody stems &gt; 1 cm dbh (diameter at breast height), which were marked and identified. Repeated measurements were made to register the growth and other parameters. Allometric equation was used to estimate the biomass, out of which 50% was considered as carbon content. A total of 1100 stems &gt; 1 cm dbh, belonging to 4 species, were enumerated. There was an overall decline of 13.9% stems during the study period. Mean mortality rate was found to be 5.83 ± 1.85% and there was no recruitment. The biomass increased from 155.53 tons/ha to 164.28 tons/ha. There was a net gain of 4.38 tons. Avicinnia officinalis was found to contribute significantly to carbon sequestration

Association of Maternal Vitamin C Status with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background: The role of antioxidants in the etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been given limited attention. Vitamin C is a nutrient with radical quenching property and has been claimed to influence glucose tolerance. Aim: To study the association between vitamin C status (dietary intake and plasma concentrations) and GDM. Material and Methods: Using a case-control design with 1:3 ratio we examined 42 pregnant women with GDM and 158 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) gestational age-matched healthy pregnant women at an average of 26 weeks of gestation. Maternal vitamin C intake was determined using detailed semi food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) and 24 hour diet recall. Plasma vitamin C was determined using a spectrophotometric method in non-fasting samples. GDM was diagnosed by 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) using International Association for Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) criteria (fasting ≥92mg%, 1hour ≥180mg%, 2 hour ≥153mg %). Results: GDM women had lower median intake of vitamin C (35.0 mg/day vs. 66.7; p<0.001) and lower median plasma vitamin C concentration (45.9 µmol/L vs. 95.2; p<0.001) compared to NGT women. Plasma vitamin C concentration was inversely related to fasting, 1 hour and 2 hour post glucose plasma glucose concentrations (p<0.001). The associations remained significant after adjustment for age, income, pre-pregnancy BMI, and stress. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that low vitamin C intake as well as low plasma vitamin C concentration is associated with GDM. This association needs to be tested in a large prospective study and subsequently in a clinical tria

Evaluation of tracer labelled methionine load test in vitamin B-12 deficient adolescent women.

BACKGROUND:Methionine loading test (MLT) has been used primarily to identify defects in transsulfuration of homocysteine in cystathionine beta synthase deficiency. It may not be as useful to evaluate remethylation pathway, in vitamin B-12 and folate deficiencies. OBJECTIVE:We used tracer isotope labelled MLT to interrogate transsulfuration and remethylation independently in vitamin B-12 deficiency. DESIGN:We studied vitamin B-12 deficient women with a tracer labelled MLT before and eleven months after treatment with vitamin B-12. The fractional contribution of [13C]homocysteine to breath CO2 was used as a measure of transsulfuration, and difference in the intracellular enrichment of [13C]methionine and that of [C2H3]methionine as a measure of remethylation of homocysteine. Combined pre- and post-treatment results were analyzed to investigate the association between plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations and measures of homocysteine metabolism. RESULTS:The subjects were 17 years old, with a BMI of 19.4 kg/m2. Treatment with vitamin B-12, 2µg/day increased plasma B-12 from 93 (78.7, 106.2) [median (25th, 75th centiles)] to 161.5 (125.5, 226.2) pmol/L; 44% were below 150pmol/L. The tracer estimated transsulfuration of homocysteine was lower and remethylation higher with B-12 levels >150pmol/L when compared with those <150pmol/L. CONCLUSIONS:The tracer labelled MLT in combination with fasting parameters is a robust way to estimate parameters of methionine metabolism and can be used in the field where prime-constant rate infusion studies cannot be done efficiently

The Pune Rural Intervention in Young Adolescents (PRIYA) study: design and methods of a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) was established to prospectively study the relationship of maternal nutrition to fetal growth and later cardiometabolic risk in the offspring. High homocysteine and low vitamin B12 levels in pregnancy predicted lower birthweight and higher insulin resistance at 6 years in the offspring. B12 deficiency was widespread in this population, due to low dietary intake. We therefore commenced a community-based intervention study with the underlying hypothesis that vitamin B12 supplementation of adolescent members of the PMNS cohort will improve birth weight, B12 status, and reduce future diabetes risk, in their offspring. METHODS: The individually randomised controlled trial commenced in September 2012, with boys and girls randomized into 3 groups, to receive daily for at least 3 years or until the birth of their first child: 1) vitamin B12 2 μg; or 2) vitamin B12 2 μg plus multiple micronutrients (MMN) plus 20 g of milk powder or 3) placebo. Iron and folic acid is given to all participants. Compliance is assessed by monthly supplement counts. Adverse events are recorded using a standardised questionnaire. The primary outcome is cord blood B12 concentration; based on 180–200 pregnancies in the girls, the study has ~80% power to detect a 0.5 SD change in newborn B12, in the B12 supplementation groups compared with controls, at the 5% significance level. Primary analysis will be by intention to treat. DISCUSSION: Our study tests a primordial prevention strategy through an intergenerational intervention started pre-conceptionally in both boys and girls using physiological doses of micronutrients to improve immediate pregnancy-related and long-term cardio metabolic outcomes. The results will have significant public health implications in a setting with widespread B12 deficiency but relative folate sufficiency. The randomised controlled trial design allows us to be confident that our findings will be causally relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 32921044, applied on 14/09/2012. CTRI 2012/12/003212, registered on 02/12/2012. Retrospectively registered