Search Results (23,430)

Thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia and substantial long-term healthcare needs. In β-thalassemia major, patients typically require regular red blood cell transfusions with iron chelation to prevent transfusional iron overload. Although supportive care has markedly improved survival, it is associated with a high treatment burden and does not provide a cure. In recent years, curative and disease-modifying therapies have expanded the treatment landscape. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers a potentially curative option for selected patients, while autologous gene therapy and gene-editing approaches have shown the capacity to achieve transfusion independence in clinical studies. In parallel, pharmacologic advances—including luspatercept, a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) ligand trap—have been shown to enhance erythropoiesis and reduce transfusion requirements, and emerging agents such as fetal hemoglobin inducers (e.g., thalidomide) and the oral pyruvate kinase activator mitapivat have demonstrated clinically meaningful hemoglobin improvements in selected populations. Adjunctive strategies, including antioxidants, are under investigation to mitigate oxidative stress, and applications of artificial intelligence are increasingly used to support screening, diagnosis, and longitudinal monitoring of iron overload. This review synthesizes recent advances in curative therapies, novel pharmacologic agents, supportive strategies, and AI-enabled tools and highlights priorities for future clinical development and implementation. Full article

Over the past 20 years, the iron-activated persulfate systems have been widely used for removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from water. However, slow Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycling and precipitation of iron, unless in very acidic conditions, were the main limitations. Thus, two ligand-assisted Fe(III)/persulfate systems, Fe(III)-acetohydroxamic acid (AHA)/peroxydisulfate (PDS) and Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)/peroxymonosulfate (PMS), were comparatively investigated for the degradation of atenolol (ATL) in this study. The experimental results showed that the Fe(III)-NTA/PMS system worked much better than the AHA system. However, the cost of PMS is higher than that of PDS, which should be considered. The primary advantage of the NTA system was its ability to overcome the pH limitations. It worked well over a wide pH range (3.0–10.0), whereas the AHA system could only be used in a narrower pH window (pH 2.4 to 6.5). The investigation of radicals that contributed to ATL degradation revealed that sulfate radicals (SO₄^•−) were dominant in the NTA system, while hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) and SO₄^•− were the primary and secondary radicals in the AHA system. These results provided useful insight into the comparative behavior of two ligand-assisted Fe(III)/persulfate systems for ATL degradation, with the Fe(III)-NTA/PMS system showing clear potential under neutral or near-neutral conditions, while Fe(III)-AHA/PDS may still represent a lower-cost option under acidic conditions. Full article

Luminescent organic–inorganic Cu(I) halide hybrid molecular crystals exhibit remarkable structural diversity and photophysical properties, but their application in aqueous environments is often limited by insufficient stability. Herein, we report portable and reusable photoluminescent sensors based on Cu(I)–I triethylenediamine derivatives [Cu₄I₆(pr-ted)₂] and [Cu₃I₅(bz-ted)₂] (pr-ted = 1-propyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-ium; bz-ted = 1-benzyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-ium). Their submicrometric particles exhibit intense UV-excited emissions and high photoluminescence quantum yields but limited water stability. To address this limitation, ultrasound sonication was employed to control particle size and produce stable suspensions that can be incorporated into polymeric matrices via 3D printing with photocurable resins or polylactic acid (PLA) films by drop-casting, yielding mechanically robust composites that retain their structural and optical properties. The devices used act as selective turn-off luminescent sensors for Fe³⁺ in aqueous media, with nanomolar detection limits (1.33–1.58 nM) below regulatory thresholds for drinking water. Moreover, [Cu₃I₅(bz-ted)₂] enables tetracycline detection in river water with a limit of detection of 0.038 nM. Mechanistic studies indicate that reversible photoinduced electron transfer is the primary quenching pathway, while composites maintain sensing performance over multiple reuse cycles. Full article

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is traditionally conceptualized as a dopamine-responsive sensorimotor disorder; however, new evidence suggests a more complex and heterogeneous neurobiological basis. Findings from neuroimaging, genetic studies, circadian biology, and clinical research indicate that dopaminergic dysfunction occurs within a broader context of neuromodulatory imbalance involving iron metabolism, adenosinergic signalling, glutamatergic excitability, and, potentially, noradrenergic pathways. In parallel, quantitative susceptibility mapping and related approaches have provided indirect evidence of altered brain iron distribution, although results remain variable across studies. Clinically, RLS extends beyond nocturnal discomfort and is associated with sleep fragmentation, impaired quality of life, and neuropsychiatric comorbidity, as well as treatment-related complications such as augmentation. However, current diagnostic frameworks remain predominantly phenomenological, and available biomarkers lack sufficient validation for routine clinical use. In this narrative review, the available clinical, genetic, and neuroimaging evidence is synthesized to propose an integrative, network-based model in which iron-dependent neuromodulatory processes influence excitability across cortico–striatal–thalamo–limbic circuits. This framework is intended as a hypothesis-generating model rather than a definitive explanation of disease mechanisms. Substantial heterogeneity across studies, together with variability in clinical presentation and limited reproducibility of candidate biomarkers, underscores the need for standardized methodologies and longitudinal, multimodal investigations. Future work should aim to test this model empirically, refine biological stratification, and determine whether network-informed approaches can improve diagnosis and therapeutic targeting in RLS. Full article

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains a major clinical challenge within head and neck oncology, with five-year survival rates showing minimal improvement over recent decades despite advances in surgical and multimodal therapeutic strategies. Increasing evidence identifies metabolic reprogramming as a central driver of tumor progression, therapeutic resistance, and immune evasion in LSCC. Beyond the classical Warburg effect, LSCC exhibits profound metabolic reprogramming, involving coordinated alterations in carbohydrate, amino acid, lipid, and iron metabolism that support adaptation to hypoxic and nutrient-deprived microenvironments. Hypoxia-inducible factors, particularly HIF-1α, coordinate these key biochemical pathways and enzymatic steps by integrating glycolysis, glutaminolysis, folate-dependent one-carbon pathways, lipid synthesis, and mitochondrial remodeling, while also influencing stromal and immune components of the tumor microenvironment. Metabolic crosstalk between tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and immune populations promotes immunosuppression through nutrient competition and accumulation of metabolites such as lactate and lipid-derived mediators. In parallel, dysregulated iron handling and altered ferroptosis susceptibility emerge as key determinants of tumor aggressiveness and treatment response. This review synthesizes current evidence on metabolic rewiring in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, highlighting how alterations in metabolic pathways create targetable vulnerabilities that drive tumor biology, immune modulation, and resistance to conventional and emerging therapies. Elucidating these metabolic dependencies may support the development of metabolism-based biomarkers and therapeutic strategies in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, providing an integrated and translational perspective that links tumor metabolism with microenvironmental interactions and immune modulation, while highlights emerging therapeutic vulnerabilities. Full article

Acidic tropical soils act as strong sinks for phosphorus (P) due to the high adsorption capacity of this nutrient by iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) minerals. In this study, we investigated the effects of applying acai waste biochar (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in combination with dolomitic lime on the P dynamics of a Ferralsol with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) test crop. Application of 12 t ha⁻¹ of biochar and 75% of the recommended lime rate increased soil pH by 1.77 units, reaching 6.77, and resulted in the lowest C:N ratio (18.99) at 0–5 cm depth. Inorganic P concentrations increased in Resin-Pi (2-fold), NaHCO₃-Pi (2-fold), NaOH-Pi (2.89-fold) and HCl-Pi (4-fold) fractions relative to the corresponding treatments without biochar, while NaHCO₃-Po decreased markedly, declining from 68% to 9% of the organic P fraction, NaOH-Po showed a less consistent response among treatments. In addition, P recovery in the Resin-Pi fraction increased, reaching 34.91% and 37.36% in the treatments with 12 t ha⁻¹ of biochar and both 75 and 100% liming, respectively. Combined use of alkaline biochar and lime is a practical strategy to raise pH and increase labile and moderately labile inorganic P, and improve P use efficiency in acid Ferralsols. These responses are consistent with a redistribution of P among the assessed fractions and with the absence of detectable short-term effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonisation and easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) production. Full article

Iron-based nanoparticles, particularly iron oxide nanostructures (IONPs), have emerged as versatile and clinically relevant platforms for drug delivery and theranostic applications. Among these, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), including magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃), are the most extensively investigated due to their biocompatibility, magnetic responsiveness, and established safety profiles. Their unique superparamagnetic behavior enables external magnetic-field-guided targeting, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, and magnetically triggered hyperthermia, enabling simultaneous diagnosis and therapy. Surface functionalization with polymers, silica, lipids, peptides, and biomolecules further improves colloidal stability, circulation time, targeting specificity, and controlled drug release. Core–shell architectures and multifunctional hybrid systems have expanded the therapeutic scope of iron nanoparticles, integrating chemotherapy, gene delivery, photothermal therapy, and Fenton reaction–mediated catalytic therapy. Despite promising preclinical outcomes, challenges remain regarding long-term biosafety, oxidative stress induction, biodistribution, large-scale reproducibility, and regulatory translation. This review summarizes the physicochemical properties, synthesis strategies, surface-engineering approaches, drug-loading mechanisms, and biomedical applications of iron-based nanoparticles, highlighting recent advances in multifunctional and peptide-functionalized systems. Critical considerations for clinical translation and future perspectives in precision nanomedicine are also discussed. Full article

Seventy-one percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, with groundwater being one of the most important natural resources globally. In Purba Medinipur, the population growth rate has surged to ~0.75% per annum, outpacing that of West Bengal, due to agricultural and industrial development. Urbanization has led to an increase in the built-up area by 139.10% per annum, which has reduced the percolation of water into the groundwater table. Currently, 72% blocks are affected by salinity. Groundwater quality parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, iron, manganese, total hardness, and chloride were assessed over three seasons—pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon—using 326 data points from 2015 to 2022. Turbidity and iron are the primary concerns for groundwater quality, contributing to pollution. Other parameters, including TDS and total hardness, were approaching acceptable limits across all seasons. Since 2021, turbidity has exceeded permissible limits during the pre-monsoon season, resulting from the dissolved minerals and seawater intrusion. The arithmetic weighted groundwater quality index has shown an increasing magnitude over time, indicating a decline in drinking water quality by 2030. The pre-monsoon season exhibits the most severely affected groundwater quality. Principal component analysis indicated that TDS and chloride are the major contaminants during the pre-monsoon, confirming seawater intrusion. In other seasons, metals like iron, TDSs, and manganese are significant contaminants. The hydraulic barriers, subsurface dams, and hybrid treatment can be adopted in the study area to abate the increasing groundwater quality concentration both on a yearly and seasonal basis. Full article

Background: Arterial stiffness (AS) is a key marker of vascular aging and an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. Although diet has been proposed as an important modifiable factor influencing vascular health, the independent associations between specific macronutrients and minerals and the progression of arterial stiffness remain insufficiently characterized. Objective: The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the independent associations of baseline dietary macronutrient and mineral intake with the 5-year progression of arterial stiffness (assessed via carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in adults without prior cardiovascular disease. Methods: This longitudinal study included 466 participants from the EVA study who were evaluated at baseline and after a five-year follow-up (mean age 55.96 ± 14.15 years; 51.1% women). Arterial stiffness was assessed using cfPWV and CAVI. Dietary intake of macronutrients and minerals was estimated using the EVIDENT smartphone application. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association between nutrient intake and arterial stiffness progression. Model 1 was adjusted for age and sex, and Model 2 was additionally adjusted for lifestyle variables and cardiovascular risk factors. Dietary intake was exclusively documented at baseline using a 3-day dietary record, while arterial stiffness parameters (cfPWV and CAVI) were assessed both at baseline and at the five-year follow-up. Results: Higher dietary fiber intake was independently associated with a lower increment in cfPWV after full adjustment (β = −0.025; 95% CI (confidence interval): −0.046 to −0.005). Alcohol intake showed a positive association with CAVI increment in the fully adjusted model (β = 0.020; 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.034). Iron intake was also independently associated with increased CAVI (β = 0.022; 95% CI: 0.004 to 0.041). Carbohydrate intake showed a small positive association with CAVI, whereas no consistent independent associations were observed for other macronutrients or minerals. Conclusions: In this adult population without previous cardiovascular disease, higher dietary fiber intake was associated with lower progression of central arterial stiffness, whereas alcohol and iron intake showed positive associations with peripheral arterial stiffness. Overall, most nutrients were not independently related to arterial stiffness after comprehensive adjustment. These findings suggest that selected dietary components may contribute modestly to vascular aging. Full article

Phenolic-rich extracts from Satureja montana were evaluated before and after diazomethane treatment to determine how chemical derivatization influences their antioxidant capacity. Native and modified extracts were compared experimentally by measuring total phenolic content, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Fe²⁺-chelating ability. EN1 exhibited the highest concentration of phenolic compounds, reaching 1278.54 mmol/g, whereas EM2 retained only 1.99 mmol/g. In the FRAP assay, reducing power followed the order EN1 (9.36) > EN2 (3.72) > EM2 (2.08), with EM2 still exceeding caffeic, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids. In contrast, the modified extracts showed superior metal chelating capacity, with EM1 and EM2 displaying IC₅₀ values of 0.70 and 0.82 mg/mL, respectively, both markedly lower than those of the native extracts and the pure standards. To rationalize these differences, a DFT study was performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level, examining 18 proposed phenolic acids and their methylated derivatives associated with the extracts. All methylation reactions were thermodynamically favorable, particularly for compounds 18 (−57.10 kcal/mol), 16 (−53.96), 6 (−53.34), and 3, 9, and 11 (−52.71). Solvent effects were found to be structure-dependent: caffeic acid showed BDE values of 72.29, 73.59, and 74.43 kcal/mol in the gas phase, water, and benzene, respectively, whereas syringic acid displayed values of 80.44, 77.09, and 80.65 kcal/mol under the same conditions. Likewise, the ionization potential of caffeic acid decreased from 180.09 kcal/mol in the gas phase to 133.26 kcal/mol in water and 154.22 kcal/mol in benzene. Among all analyzed species, methyl 3,4-dihydroxycinnamate exhibited the lowest BDE (71.60 kcal/mol) as well as the most favorable ΔG°r toward HOO• (−11.06 kcal/mol). Full article

This study investigates the effects of tempering temperature on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Cr-Ni-Mo-V steel designed for pressure vessel applications. The microstructure was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM, Thermo Fisher Talos F200X), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and physicochemical phase analysis. Mechanical performance was evaluated through tensile and impact tests, followed by a detailed discussion of the underlying strengthening mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the microstructure after tempering is fully tempered martensite. Samples tempered between 425 °C and 525 °C exhibit significant tempering resistance, maintaining a tensile strength of approximately 1300 MPa. This is primarily attributed to the synergistic effect of dislocation strengthening and the precipitation of MC-type carbides. As the tempering temperature increases to 625 °C, the dislocation density decreases sharply from 3.71 × 10¹¹ cm⁻² to 1.18 × 10¹¹ cm⁻², leading to a decline in strength. Concurrently, the impact energy increases significantly from 71 J to 132 J. The improvement in toughness is mainly attributed to the significant elevation of the crack initiation threshold, which is dominated by the reduction in matrix dislocation density, the coarsening and spheroidization of carbides, and the alleviation of local stress concentration. The relative proportion of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs, misorientation > 15°) increases from 51.9% to 57.7% during tempering, which is a result of the massive elimination of low-angle grain boundaries rather than an increase in the absolute length per unit area of HAGBs. Full article

We evaluated the interplay between systemic total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress (OS) (lipid hydroperoxides), inflammation, iron status, and oral contraception (OC) use in 182 healthy 23-year-old women (76 OC-users, and 106 non-OC-users). In all women, blood TAC (FORD units) values were significantly inversely associated with OS (FORT units), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and transferrin; and positively associated with transferrin saturation (TfS%). No significant associations were observed for hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, serum iron, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), sTfR/log(ferritin) ratio (sTfR-F index), ferritin, folate, uric acid, or creatinine. OS hydroperoxides were positively associated with hsCRP and transferrin, and inversely associated with TfS%. sTfR was positively correlated with hydroperoxides in non-OC-users and with folate in all women and non-OC-users, but was not associated with hsCRP in any group. The combined abnormal condition of low TAC and elevated OS (n = 71) was significantly more frequent among OC-users (OR = 39.0), women with hsCRP ≥ 3 mg L⁻¹ (OR = 10.1), transferrin ≥ 330 mg dL⁻¹ (OR = 6.58), and smokers (OR = 3.76). OC use modulated the TAC/OS balance and inflammation. Low TAC and elevated OS may impact health status. Enhanced TAC/OS knowledge may increase awareness of effects of OC use among fertile-age women. Ferritin was independent of TAC/OS status and OC use, supporting its reliability as an iron biomarker. Full article

Iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) fibers can enhance cementitious composites through both crack bridging and thermally activated recovery stresses. Since fiber pull-out governs load transfer at the micro scale, understanding the combined effects of fiber geometry, inclination, and thermal treatment is essential. This study experimentally investigated the pull-out behavior of hooked-end Fe-SMA fibers embedded in high-performance concrete (HPC). A total of 54 ASTM C307-type briquette specimens were tested using single-hook (3D) and double-hook (4D) fibers at inclination angles of 60°, 75°, and 90° under ambient, 100 °C, and 200 °C conditions. Additional flexural, compressive, and direct tensile tests were conducted on plain HPC exposed to the same thermal regime. At ambient temperature, 4D fibers showed 50–70% higher peak pull-out forces than 3D fibers. Heating to 100 °C further increased pull-out resistance by about 6–17%, and the 4D-60-100 configuration achieved the highest performance. In contrast, exposure to 200 °C reduced pull-out resistance by about 5–12% below ambient values. Overall, a 60° inclination generally provided a better response, while 90° produced the lowest. The results confirm that moderate thermal activation combined with double-hook geometry is the most effective strategy for maximizing Fe-SMA fiber–matrix load transfer in HPC. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by hypoxia-driven metabolic adaptation and profound therapeutic resistance. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent lipid peroxidation-related cell death process, has emerged as a potential vulnerability; however, its relationship with hypoxia signaling remains incompletely defined. In this study, we performed integrative transcriptomic and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses to investigate the relationship between hypoxia signaling and ferroptosis-related gene signatures in GBM. Intersection analysis of hypoxia-associated differentially expressed genes and curated ferroptosis-related gene sets identified 29 core candidate genes. FerroScore stratification revealed that tumors with higher ferroptosis-related transcriptional signatures were significantly associated with poor overall survival. Among these genes, HILPDA emerged as a hypoxia-associated gene consistently linked to ferroptosis-related gene expression patterns and immune-related transcriptional programs. HILPDA expression showed significant correlations with iron-ROS axis components, including HMOX1, NOX4, and STEAP3, and was associated with immune microenvironment changes characterized by T cell depletion and inflammatory infiltration. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis further supported the cellular-level association between HILPDA expression and hypoxia-related transcriptional states. Structural equation modeling suggested that the relationship between HILPDA expression and ferroptosis-related gene signatures may be mediated through hypoxia-related pathways. Collectively, these findings indicate a transcriptomic association between hypoxia signaling and ferroptosis-related gene signatures in GBM and identify HILPDA as a candidate gene associated with this axis. Full article

This work proposes the doping of bi-electron transport layers consisting of TiO₂/SnO₂ with iron to facilitate electron movement and recombination reduction, which results in increases in power conversion efficiency and stability enhancement. Two different PSC structures are used: device 1—FTO/TiO₂/SnO₂/MAPbI₃/Spiro-OMETAD/Ag; device 2, a modified device—FTO/TiO₂/SnO₂ + Fe/MAPbI₃/Spiro-OMETAD/Ag. Characterization analysis revealed an improvement in perovskite crystallinity in the modified device; this leads to reductions in trap state density and the recombination of charges that enhance charge extraction. UV-vis absorbance enhancement in the modified device revealed an enhancement in the perovskite layer morphology and good coverage. As a result, PSCs with a short circuit current of 23.35 mA/cm², open circuit voltage of 1.07 V, fill factor of 0.73, and high PCE of 18.17% are obtained from device 2, compared to PSCs with only 22.13 mA/cm², 1.03 V, 0.7, and 16.053% for device 1 without Fe doping, respectively. The results reveal that the device based on Fe doping is more stable than the pristine one under stability tests with regard to aging, thermal, stress and prolonged light. Full article