Folate deficiency is associated with nutritional anaemia in Lebanese women of childbearing age

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the determinants of anaemia in Lebanese women of childbearing age attending health centres in Lebanon. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study carried out between May and December 2003. Anthropometric measurements as well as sociodemographic, health and dietary intake data were collected using a questionnaire. Haemoglobin (Hb), plasma ferritin, plasma folate and vitamin B12 were assessed using standard laboratory methods. SETTING: Governmental health centres in Lebanon. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and seventy non-pregnant Lebanese women aged 15-45 years. RESULTS: Anaemia (Hb <12 g dl(-1)) and iron deficiency (ferritin <15 microg l(-1)) were prevalent in 16.0 and 27.2% of the study sample, respectively. Of the total sample, 7.7% had iron-deficiency anaemia. The percentage of women with either Hb or ferritin deficiency or both was 35.6%. Plasma folate and vitamin B12 deficiency was reported in 25.1 and 39.4%, respectively, and 12.6% of the women had both folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies. Of the anaemic group, 48.0% of the women had iron deficiency. The intake of iron was lower in iron-deficient than in non-deficient women and a positive relationship was shown between folate intake and its corresponding serum levels. Regression analysis showed that ferritin, plasma folate and family history of anaemia were significant determinants of the anaemia in the sample of women. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia not related to iron deficiency was partly explained by plasma folate deficiency. Measures to control folate and iron deficiency should be considered.     

Fire-driven oak regeneration in French Mediterranean ecosystems

Regeneration by seeds for cork oak (Quercus suber) and companion oaks (holm oak Quercus ilex and downy oak Quercus pubescens) is likely to be poor in the fire-prone Maures massif (southern France) but the causes are poorly known. Our objective was to assess the effective recruitment for these three oak species and their temporal pattern of recruitment, in order to determine the main limitation factors and the regeneration window of each species. We studied oak recruits (height <3 m) in naturally regenerated populations according to a gradient of fire recurrence and in five main vegetation types including shrublands and mixed mature woodlands. Fire recurrence was the main explanatory factor of oak recruitment, either directly or through vegetation type and microsite characteristics. The results indicate nil to low recruitment for holm oak and downy oak in shrublands, especially those recurrently burned and dominated by Cistus species. Cork oak recruited better than the other oaks in medium and high shrublands dominated by Erica arborea. In contrast, recruitment was high for holm and downy oak in mixed oak stands and mixed pine-oak stands that have not burned for decades. Microsite conditions such as coverage by litter and shrubs influenced oak recruitment, whereas landscape configuration and stand basal area had no influence. Our results suggest that strategic shrub-clearing, oak planting and protection of mixed oak woodlands as seed sources would help maintaining oak populations in the woodland–shrubland mosaic.     

Detection of Diarrheic Shellfish Poisoning and Azaspiracid Toxins in Moroccan Mussels: Comparison of the LC-MS Method with the Commercial Immunoassay Kit

Diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) is a recurrent gastrointestinal illness in Morocco, resulting from consumption of contaminated shellfish. In order to develop a rapid and reliable technique for toxins detection, we have compared the results obtained by a commercial immunoassay-“DSP-Check” kit” with those obtained by LC-MS. Both techniques are capable of detecting the toxins in the whole flesh extract which was subjected to prior alkaline hydrolysis in order to detect simultaneously the esterified and non esterified toxin forms. The LC-MS method was found to be able to detect a high level of okadaic acid (OA), low level of dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2), and surprisingly, traces of azaspiracids 2 (AZA2) in mussels. This is the first report of a survey carried out for azaspiracid (AZP) contamination of shellfish harvested in the coastal areas of Morocco. The “DSP-Check” kit was found to detect quantitatively DSP toxins in all contaminated samples containing only OA, provided that the parent toxins were within the range of detection and was not in an ester form. A good correlation was observed between the two methods when appropriate dilutions were performed. The immunoassay kit appeared to be more sensitive, specific and faster than LC-MS for determination of DSP in total shellfish extract.