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A new contrast agent for MRI

Researchers have developed new iron oxide nanoparticles with zwitterion coating that can produce similar MRI contrast to gadolinium-based agents without the risk of adverse effects. The particles are water-soluble, compact and biocompatible, making them a potential safer substitute for current contrast agents.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 14, 2017

Pure iron grains are rare in the universe

New research suggests that pure iron grains are extremely rare in the universe, contrary to previously thought, and may be forming invisible metal particles. A study published in Science Advances used a rocket-based experiment to simulate the formation of pure iron grains in space, revealing grain formation is highly unlikely.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 8, 2017

A closer look at what caused the Flint water crisis

Researchers analyzed galvanized iron pipes from Flint, Michigan's 'ground zero' house and found that high lead concentrations correlated with cadmium, zinc, and tin levels. The study suggests that corrosion inhibitors were necessary to prevent lead contamination, highlighting the need for long-term pipe replacement.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 1, 2017

Iron-fortified nutrition bars combat anemia in India

Researchers at Duke University developed iron-fortified nutrition bars that effectively combat anemia in Indian women, offering a practical and well-tolerated solution. The study involved 179 participants who received the supplement bar for 90 days, resulting in increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.

SourceDuke University·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateJan 18, 2017

Delayed clamping prevents anemia

A new study from Uppsala University found that delaying umbilical cord clamping by more than three minutes can prevent iron deficiency and anemia in infants up to six months of age. This method resulted in a nine percent reduction in anaemia incidence at eight months and an eight percent decrease at twelve months.

SourceUppsala University·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJan 17, 2017

Higher iron levels are associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women, raising questions about iron supplementation recommendations

A study published in Diabetologia found that high iron biomarkers are linked to an increased risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women. Higher iron stores may play a role in developing insulin resistance and oxidative stress, contributing to impaired insulin synthesis and secretion.

SourceDiabetologia·JournalDiabetologia·DateNov 10, 2016

Conundrum of missing iron in oxygen minimum zones solved

A international research team has discovered a new biogeochemical process that explains the removal of dissolved iron from seawater in oxygen minimum zones. This process, which involves the reaction of iron with nitrate instead of oxygen, is essential for understanding nutrient availability and carbon fixation in the oceans.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateOct 28, 2016

Iron supplements in the fight against lead

A study led by ETH Zurich researchers found that iron fortification reduces blood lead concentration in children, particularly those with iron deficiency. The trial involved over 450 Moroccan schoolchildren who received iron-fortified biscuits and showed a significant reduction in blood lead levels.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateOct 26, 2016

Iron fertilization won't work in much of Pacific, says study

A new study published in PNAS found that iron fertilization had little to no effect on the growth of algae in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The research, led by Gisela Winckler, used deep-sea sediment cores to test for barium and opal, and measures of thorium-232 reflected the amount of dust that blew in from land at each point in time.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 16, 2016

UGA study finds Saharan dust affects marine bacteria, potential pathogen Vibrio

A UGA study found that Saharan dust increases iron levels in ocean surface water, leading to large blooms of Vibrio bacteria. These bacteria can cause serious illness in humans and other marine organisms, and their rapid growth rate short circuits the theory of phytoplankton as the first responders to nutrient plumes.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 9, 2016

Supernova iron found on the moon

Researchers at TUM and USA colleagues have discovered unusually high concentrations of radioactive 60Fe in lunar samples from Apollo missions 12, 15 and 16. This evidence supports a supernova hypothesis, suggesting that one or more explosive events occurred close to our solar system approximately two million years ago.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 14, 2016

Green tea and iron, bad combination

A new study published in the American Journal of Pathology suggests that green tea's antioxidant properties may be compromised when consumed with iron-rich foods or supplements. The researchers found that the main compound in green tea, EGCG, loses its ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes when bound to iron.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateMar 8, 2016