Monitoring of chemical elements and oxidative damage in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease

The haematic concentration of 26 metals and the oxidative damage in 60 patients (20 males and 40 females) affected by Alzheimer's disease and 44 healthy individuals (33 males and 11 females) were compared. In patients, the following significant (p < or = 0.05) discrepancies were found: i) increment of Ca, Cd, Hg, Mg, Si and Sn, and decrement of Al, Co, Fe and Zn in serum; ii) higher concentrations of Cu, Li, Mn, Sn and Zr and lower of Fe, Hg, Mo in blood; iii) overproduction of oxidant species (SOS) and decrease of the anti-oxidant capacity (SAC) (p < or = 0.001, for both). Variables that, joined, better discriminated between patients and controls resulted to be Si, SOS, SAC, Co, Ca, Al in serum (94% of cases correctly classified) and Cu, Zr, Mo and Fe in blood (90% of cases properly categorized).     

Concentration of elements in serum of patients affected by multiple sclerosis with first demyelinating episode: a six-month longitudinal follow-up study

Twenty-six chemical elements and oxidative status were determined in serum of 12 patients with first demyelinating episode and brain magnetic resonance imaging compatible with the disease at different time points. Quantifications of Al, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, V, Tl, W, Zn and Zr, as well as of serum oxidative status and antioxidant capacity were carried out. The results were compared with values obtained from healthy subjects living in the same geographic area. Concentration variability, expressed as coefficient of variation (CV), was evaluated over a six months longitudinal follow-up. The CV was higher for Li and Pb, while showed minimal variation for Ca, Cu, Mg and Zn--elements strictly body regulated. Significant difference (p < or = 0.05) in mean concentrations of Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Si, Sn and Zr between patients at time 0 and controls was also found.     

Quantification of chemical elements in blood of patients affected by multiple sclerosis

Although some studies suggested a link between exposure to trace elements and development of multiple sclerosis (MS), clear information on their role in the aetiology of MS is still lacking. In this study the concentrations of Al, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Tl, V, W, Zn and Zr were determined in the blood of 60 patients with MS and 60 controls. Quantifications were performed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectrometry and sector field ICP mass spectrometry. When the two groups were compared, an increased level of Co, Cu and Ni and a decrement of Be, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mo, Pb and Zn in blood of patients were observed. In addition, the discriminant analysis pointed out that Cu, Be, Hg, Co and Mo were able to discriminate between MS patients and controls (92.5% of cases correctly classified).     

Assessment of reference values for selected elements in a healthy urban population

Reference values for 26 elements, namely Al, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Tl, V, W, Zn and Zr are proposed in serum and blood of 110 healthy adults of the urban area of Rome. They were included in the study on the basis of strict criteria of eligibility and exclusion. With the exception of Ba, Bi, Co, Cr, Ni, Sb, Sn Tl in serum, and Bi, Hg, Si, V and W in whole blood, experimental data for each all the other analytes were found to approach a normal distribution. The estimated 5-95% references ranges (in ng ml(-1)) were reported. For several elements the reference ranges observed overlapped information available in the literature. Gender, age, body mass index, smoking habits and alcohol consume were used as grouping variables. Mutual associations were observed for several elements, as follows: Be, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mo, Pb and Zn with sex; Ca, Pb and Si with age (< and > 45 years); Co, Cr, Mo, Sb and Tl with body mass index; Cd and Pb with smoking habit; Cr and Pb with alcohol consume.     

Development of methods for the quantification of essential and toxic elements in human biomonitoring

Analytical methods using sector field ICP-MS and ICP-AES were developed for the determination of Al, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Tl, V, W, Zn and Zr in cerebrospinal fluid, urine, serum and blood. Sample treatment procedures merging high sample throughput, simplicity and low contamination risk were set up. Method performances were evaluated in terms of detection limits, accuracy and precision. The limits were below 0.05 ng ml(-1) for all the elements, except for Al (all matrices), Hg (blood), Pb (blood) and Sn (serum and blood). The accuracy varied from 86% to 110% and the precision was always below 6%.     

微量、宏量元素与高血压——我国四个地区、六个人群、三个民族的对比分析

以等离子发射光谱仪测血清Fe、Mo、Ni、Pb、Si、Sn、Sr、V、Ca、Mg、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Mn、Zn,以F-78型脉冲极谱仪测Se,观察我国四个地区、六个人群(三个民族)共325名男性(40～59岁)的元素—血压(BP)关系,发现元素水平有地区、民族差别;血清Pb、Ni、Si、Sn、V、Cd、Cr间相关系数大,而Sr则具相对独立性;从多因子逐步回归和判别分析,Sr无论在正常血压、高血压和总合并组,恒定与血压正性联系;在部分组Ca(Ca/Mg)、Fe、Co与血压正性联系,血Cr、Sn与血压负性联系;有害元素Cd在血压水平较高的人群水平反低,与血压反而呈负性联系,可能系元素在体内组织和血中分布不一致的缘故。研究并提示,在高血压组必需元素Ni、V、Co、Cr水平较低;血Ca与尿Ca水平不并行,前者不能完全反映Ca摄入量。     

上海地区7～20岁人群血清微量元素研究

作者检测了上海地区417名7～20岁人群的血清17种微量元素(包括12种必需微量元素)和3种常量元素的含量。其中血清Zn、Cu、Fe、Mn、Cr、Co、Mo、Si、Sn、Ni、V、Ca、P、Mg、Sr、Cd、Pb、Al、Ti共19种元素采用ICAP-9000型等离子体直读光谱仪测定,血清Se由F-78型脉冲极谱仪分析。结果表明,血清Zn、Cu及常量元素等分布比较集中,Cd、Pb、Co、Sr等变异度较大。多数元素与年龄存在相关关系,其中Zn、Fe、Mn、Sr等与年龄呈正相关,Cu、Se、Cr、Pb等则随年龄增长而下降。不同生长发育时期血清多数元素有明显差别,整个人群血清各元素男女间基本一致,但不同时期血清元素有一定性别差异。比较不同地区血清元素的分布,表明市区人群血清Cr、Si、Pb等元素较高,而市郊Cu、Fe、Mn、Sr值较高。     

白族药野坝子的微量元素分析

用原子吸收分光光度法 (AAS)测定白族药野坝子的 Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn、Ca、Se、Ge、Ni、Co、Cd、Sr、Ba、Li、Mo、Si、Pb、Cr、Al的含量 ,发现野坝子中除含人体必需的多种微量元素外 ,还富含 Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn、Se,这为进一步研究和综合开发利用这一民族药提供了依据     

常、微量元素与胎儿宫内发育迟缓关系的研究

目的 探讨常、微量元素与胎儿宫内发育迟缓(IUGR)间的关系.方法 孕晚期测定71名孕妇母血、脐血、羊水中微量元素水平,其中IUGR组21例,对照组35例,巨大儿组15例.结果 IUGR组母血清Zn,Se,Mn,Fe,Mg,Cr明显低于对照组(P＜0.05);Cd,Pb,Ni水平明显高于对照组;巨大儿组母血清Fe含量亦明显低于对照组(P＜0.05);三组间Ca,Ti,Co,Li无明显差别.IUGR组脐血清Se,Mn,Cd,Fe,Cu,Mg明显低于对照组;Pb,Ni明显高于对照组;三组间Zn,Ca,Ti,Co,Li无明显差别.IUGR组羊水Zn,Se,Mn,Fe明显低于对照组,三组间Ca,Co无明显差别.结论 常、微量元素与胎儿发育关系密切,Zn,Se,Mn,Fe,Mg,Cu,Cr缺乏可致胎儿宫内发育迟缓,Cd,Pb,Ni升高可致低体重儿.     

Determination of mineral contents of Turkish herbal tea (Salvia aucheri var. canescens) at different infusion periods

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry has been used for the determination of contents of major and minor elements in Salvia aucheri var. canescens (sage) and its infusions for different intervals. Twenty-five elements (Al, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ln, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, Ti,V, and Zn) were detected in both S. aucheri and its infusions. The ranges of mineral levels varied from Cd (1.6668 mg/kg) to K (13,570 mg/kg) and Ni (0.05273 mg/kg) to K (196.25 mg/kg) in the herb and its infusions, respectively. The levels of K, Ca, Na, Mg, and S in all infusions in this work were higher than those of the other elements. However, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, K, Mg, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, Ti, and Zn contents were high in the first period of infusion. As a result, the first period of infusion may be proposed as the optimum infusion time because of nutritional properties. These results may be useful for the evaluation of dietary information.     

Element content analysis by WDXRF in pistachios grown under organic and conventional farming regimes for human nutrition and health

In this investigation, the elemental composition of various Antep pistachios (Pistacia vera L.) samples was determined using a sensitive method called wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF). A total of 27 elements, such as Al, As, Bi, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, P, S, Sr, Zn, Cl, Pb, K, Mg, Na, Ba, Rb, Si, Br, Sn, Au, La, Ti and Zr, were determined in pistachios samples (n = 10) grown under organic and conventional farming regimes. The obtained results from each group were analyzed statistically using SPSS statistic program. It was observed that the concentration and peak intensity values of Ca, Fe, Mn, P, Mg, Cl, Na and K elements were higher in the pistachios samples grown under organic farming regime. Similarly, Al was found in higher level in the samples grown under conventional farming regime. As, Bi, Cd, Pb, Ti, La, Sn and Zr contents were measured. Their contents were below the detection limits. Our findings clearly revealed that organic pistachios are likely to have higher nutritional mineral content. The pistachios samples grown under conventional farming regime could contain harmful metals like Al that might damage various systems and/or organs of humans and animals.     

频繁献血对21种元素代谢的影响

用ＩＣＰ－ＭＳ对３０例频繁献血者血清２１种元素水平进行测试分析，结果Ｂ、Ｃｒ、Ｉ、Ｓｅ、Ａｌ、Ｍｇ、Ｌｉ、Ｃｏ、Ｐ、Ｃｅ、Ｃａ、Ｌａ、Ｚｎ、Ｆｅ等１４种元素与对照组比较有显著差异，但Ｍｎ、Ｎｉ、Ｃｕ、Ｍｏ、Ｂａ、Ｃｄ、Ｓｒ等７种元素及性别、献血年限、献血总量、末次献血时间之间无明显差异。提示频繁献血不仅影响Ｆｅ代谢，也导致多种元素代谢紊乱。     

Multivariate Analyses to Determine the Origin of Potentially Harmful Heavy Metals in Beach and Dune Sediments from Kizkalesi Coast (Mersin), Turkey

The aim of this study was to investigate variations in heavy metal concentrations and natural and artificial sources of heavy minerals in beach and dune sediments along Kizkalesi (Mersin) coast in Turkey. To this aim, sand sediment samples were collected from 20 locations throughout Kizkalesi coast and concentrations of Zn, Ni, Cu, Co, V, Mo, Ag, Sb, Sn, Cd, W, Hg, Pb, As, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, S, K, Na, Cl, Ti, Mn and Cr were determined. Simple analyses (frequency histogram), multivariate analyses (Coefficient correlation, Cluster Analysis), Principal Component Analysis, Model Summary and ANOVA were used to analyze the concentration values. Al, Fe, Mg, Cl, Ti, Mn, Cr and Ni were dominant heavy metals. Principal Component Analysis revealed six principal components. It was confirmed by Cluster Analysis. Based on the Hierarchical Cluster analyses, three different general groups were formed at a 50% arbitrary similarity of Q-type level. The frequency histogram indicated that W, Ag, Co, V, Cu, As, Sn, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cl and Mg concentrations originated from the nearby area, while Mn, Ti, Al and Fe Mg concentrations came from either the nearby area or moderately remote sources. Data from the study area showed that the Model Summary (based on R(2)=100%) was sufficient for the statistical data and that the Model ANOVA (variations of Pb) had a high explanatory power. The region lying on Miocene carbonate rocks of the Tauride belt were affected by the contaminants of anthropogenic origin that included coastal deposits, coastal erosion, the Kizkalesi settlement area, urban wastes, Mersin-Antalya road extending parallel to the shoreline and disposal sites of hotels.     

补充铁锌对反复呼吸道感染患儿血清12种微量元素的影响

检测84例反复呼吸道感染(RRTI)患儿血清Zn、Mn、Al、Cd、Fe、Pb、Cu、Ni、Ti、Co、Li、Cr水平,对其中血锌或(和)铁水平降低者37例进行了补充富马酸亚铁和(或)硫酸锌治疗后纵向观察。结果表明治疗前RRTI组血清Zn、Fe、Pb、Ni、Ti、Co、Li均值显著降低;治疗2个月后,RRTI随临床症状改善、血清Zn、Fe、Ti、Co、Li、Cr水平较前明显升高,而Al、Cd、Cu水平下降。提示RRTI患儿存在锌、铁等多种微量元素缺乏或不足,补充铁和(或)锌对其他微量元素的吸收、分布有明显影响。     

Trace element transfer from the mother to the newborn--investigations on triplets of colostrum, maternal and umbilical cord sera.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the trace element transfer from the mother to the newborn. DESIGN: The concentrations of the eight essential elements calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn), and of the non-essential and toxic elements barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), cesium (Cs), lanthanum (La), lithium (Li), lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), antimony (Sb), strontium (Sr), and thallium (Tl) were determined in umbilical cord (n = 29) and corresponding maternal sera (n = 29) as well as in colostrum (n = 27). RESULTS: Umbilical cord serum concentrations of Ca, Mn, and Zn were 120%, 150%, and 148% of the maternal value, respectively. Maternal sera had twice the Cu concentrations found in healthy adults and five-times higher Cu than umbilical cord sera. Concentration ratios colostrum/maternal serum and colostrum/umbilical cord serum were approximately one for Co, 1.4 for Mg, two for Ca, Mn, and Sn, five for Cu (maternal serum), eight for Mo, and ten for Zn. Concentrations of the toxic elements Cd and Pb decreased in the order colostrum (Pb 2.6 microg/L; Cd 0.6 microg/L), maternal sera (0.8 microg/L; 0.3 microg/L), umbilical cord sera (0.4 microg/L; 0.2 microg/L). Maternal serum Ba and Rb was 182% and 66% of the umbilical cord value. For Sr and Li, an almost perfect correlation between umbilical cord and maternal sera was found. For Ba, Co, Cu, Mn, Zn none, and for Ca, Cs, Mn, Mo, Rb only weak positive correlations between these two compartments could be established. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that an active transport mechanism for the transport of Ca, Mn, Rb, and Zn from the mother to the newborn exists, whereas Cs, Li, and Sr follow concentration gradients. As regards Cu, the placenta showed to have a blocking effect on the transfer from the mother to the baby.     

山西省出生缺陷高发区土壤元素分布特征

目的 了解出生缺陷高发区土壤中元素分布特征,为出生缺陷的干预和治疗提供理论依据.方法 于2005年1-5月,选择山西省吕梁山区出生缺陷高发的中阳县和交口县作为出生缺陷高发区,以人口相对集中的河道两侧为采样点,共涉及8个乡镇,79个行政村;选择晋中盆地出生缺陷低发的祁县作为出生缺陷对照区,采样点均匀分布,共涉及6个乡镇,27个行政村.采集距耕地表层10～20cm深的土壤,共采集样品131件.采用ICP-电感耦合等离子发射光谱法,对土壤样品中的16种元素进行测定.结果 高发区土壤中元素总量明显高于低发区.与祁县相比,交口县土壤中元素含量偏高的有As、Mo、Pb、Ni、V,含量偏低的元素有Se,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05);中阳县土壤中含量偏高的元素为Sn、Se、Mo、Zn、Sr、Pb、Ni、Fe、V、Ca、Cu、Al,偏低的元素为Mg和Na,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).土壤中元素含量(μg/g)与出生缺陷发病率的(1/万)逐步回归分析显示,交口县土壤中Mo、Al、As、Ni、Pb、Zn元素对病情影响有统计学意义(均P＜0.01),其标准的逐步回归判别方程为:y=-1.321 1.106 Mo-0.509 Al 0.117 As 0.663 Ni-0.429 Pb-0.262 Zn(R2a=0.891);中阳县土壤中Pb、Mg、Ca、Al、Zn元素对病情影响有统计学意义(均P＜0.05),其标准回归方程为:y=-1.757 0.441 Pb-0.264Mg 0.309 Ca-0.186Al 0.162Zn (R2a2=0.839).结论 交口县和中阳县土壤中Pb、Mo、Al等含量异常可能是两县出生缺陷高发的原因之一.     

几种药食两用野菜中16种元素的含量测评

采用微波消解法处理马齿苋、苋菜和苦菜样品,电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-AES)测定其中K、Na、Ca、Mg、P、Sr、Fe、Mn、Zn、Cu、Co、Cr、Al、Ba、Ni和Cd 16种常量和微量元素的含量。16种元素的检出限为0.00003~0.00917μg/ml,回收率90.00%~107.85%,相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于5.0%。结果显示,马齿苋、苋菜和苦菜中除含有人体必需的常量元素K、Na、Mg、Ca外,还含有Fe、Zn、Mn、Cr、Co等必需的微量元素和其它元素P、Ni、Ba、Al、Sr、Cd、Ba等。     

猕猴桃属8种植物根部必需元素的含量测定

采用等离子体发射光谱法测定了猕猴桃属８种植物根部中必需元素：Ｍｇ、Ｐ、Ｃａ、Ｚｎ、Ｆｅ、Ｃｕ、Ｍｏ、Ｎｉ、Ｃｒ、Ｍｎ、Ｃｏ的含量,结果表明Ｐ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ、Ｚｎ、Ｆｅ含量较高,Ｍｏ、Ｍｎ次之,Ｎｉ、Ｃｕ、Ｃｒ、Ｃｏ含量较低     

Comparison of element concentrations in fir and rhododendron leaves and twigs along an altitudinal gradient

Concentrations of 23 elements (Ca, K, Mg, P, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Zn, Ag, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Sb, Th, Tl, and V) in leaf and twig samples of a fir (Abies fabri) and a rhododendron (Rhododendron williamsianum) collected along an altitudinal gradient on Mount Gongga, China, are reported in the present study. Most of the macronutrients (K and P), micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Na, Ni, Mo, and Al), and trace elements (Pb, Tl, Ag, Cd, Ba, Co, V, Be, and Cr) are significantly enriched in fir when compared to rhododendron; however, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ba, and Cd are more enriched in rhododendron than in fir. Most of the elements in both plants are more significantly enriched in twigs than in leaves. The relationship between element concentration in plants and altitudinal gradient is nonlinear. Altitudes of 3,200 and 3,400 m are turning points for fir and rhododendron growth, respectively. Concentrations of all trace elements in the two plants along the altitudinal gradient are well below the toxic level in plants. No known industrial sources of the elements investigated exist in the Mount Gongga area, China. Element concentrations in the present study are higher than those found in mosses collected from the same area, indicating that the area is not contaminated. The element concentrations that we observed in plant samples were due to soil uptake. The pronounced differences between the two species are due to the different uptake characteristics of fir and rhododendron.     

Springtime peaks of trace metals in Antarctic snow.

Drifting snow samples were collected at Asuka Station (71 degrees 32'S, 24 degrees 08'E, 930 m above sea level) over a period from July to December 1991; 36 elements (including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Al, Li, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Se, Rb, Sr, Cd, Pb, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Th) in snow were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) by direct sample introduction. Concentrations of Cl-, NO3-, and SO(4)2- in the snow were also determined by ion chromatography. In late September to early October, there was a pronounced peak concentration of most of the elements together with non-sea salt sulfate. Enrichment factor analyses suggest that Na, Mg, Ca, K, and Sr are of marine origin and Al, Fe, Mn, Rb, Cr, Ni, Ga, V, and all the rare earth elements are of crustal origins. Volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo (June 1991) and Mt. Hudson (August 1991) could be the reason for the precipitation of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Se together with non-sea salt sulfates in the austral spring at Asuka Station.