Chemometric Evaluation of Elemental Imbalances in the Scalp Hair of Valvular Heart Disease Patients in Comparison with Healthy Donors.

The present study deals with the plausible association between the trace elemental imbalances and the emergence of valvular heart disease (VHD). A total of 14 elements including Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr and Zn in the scalp hair of VHD patients and healthy donors were analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrophometry employing wet acid digestion methodology. Median levels of Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Sr in the scalp hair of patients were significantly higher compared to those of the healthy donors, while the median concentrations of K and Na were found to be considerably higher in the scalp hair of the healthy donors. In addition, substantially elevated Cu/Zn value in patients indicated the prevalence of inflammatory processes inside the body. The correlation coefficients among the elements in the hair of VHD patients were significantly diverse compared to those of the healthy donors. Multivariate statistical methods showed noticeably dissimilar apportionment of the elements in the two groups. Variations in the elemental levels were also observed with gender, habitat, dietary/smoking habits and occupations of both donor groups. Overall, the study revealed significant imbalances among the essential and toxic elements in the scalp hair of VHD patients compared to those of the healthy subjects.

Statistical Evaluation of Trace Metals, TSH and T4 in Blood Serum of Thyroid Disease Patients in Comparison with Controls.

The present study is based on the measurement of concentrations of selected trace metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb) and thyroid hormones (TSH and T4) in blood serum of hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients in comparison with healthy donors/controls in order to establish the imbalances of the trace metals in diseased subjects. The serum samples were digested in HNO3-HClO4 mixture and quantification of the metals was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Average levels of Fe, Ni, Cu, Cr, Pb and TSH were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the serum of hypothyroid patients compared with other donor categories, while mean concentrations of Mn, Cd and T4 were significantly elevated in the serum of hyperthyroid patients compared with other donor groups (p < 0.05). The correlation pattern of trace metals in the serum of patient groups revealed significantly different mutual associations compared with the controls. PCA and CA pointed out the interferences of the toxic metals with essential metals in the serum of both patient groups compared with the controls. Most of the metals exhibited noticeable disparities in their concentrations based on gender, food habits and tobacco use for all donor groups. Thus, the pathogenesis of thyroid diseases is significantly affecting the essential trace and toxic metals balance in both patients groups.

Disparities of Selected Metal Levels in the Blood and Scalp Hair of Ischemia Heart Disease Patients and Healthy Subjects.

Imbalances in the concentrations of trace metals have become an increasingly recognized source of infirmity worldwide particularly in the development of ischemia heart disease (IHD). Present study is intended to analyze the concentrations of Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr, and Zn in the blood and scalp hair of the patients and counterpart controls by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after wet-acid digestion. On the average, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Li, Mn, Na, and Pb revealed significantly elevated concentrations in the blood of the patients compared with the controls (p < 0.05), whereas mean levels of Ca, Cd, Fe, K, Li, Pb, and Sr in the scalp hair were significantly higher in the patients than the controls (p < 0.05). Most of the metals exhibited noticeable disparities in their concentrations based on gender, abode, dietary/smoking habits, and occupations of both donor groups. The correlation study and multivariate statistical analyses revealed some significantly divergent associations and apportionment of the metals in both donor groups. Overall, comparative variations of the metal contents in blood/scalp hair of the patients were significantly different than the controls; thus, evaluation of trace metals status may be indicative of pathological disorders, such as IHD.

Statistical evaluation of essential/toxic metal levels in the blood of valvular heart disease patients in comparison with controls.

The present study was designed to investigate the role of selected essential and toxic metals in the onset/prognosis of valvular heart disease (VHD). Nitric acid-perchloric acid based wet digestion procedure was used for the quantification of the metals by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Comparative appraisal of the data revealed that average levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Li, Mn and Zn were significantly higher in blood of VHD patients, while the average concentration of Ca was found at elevated level in controls (P < 0.05). However, Cu, Mg, Na, Sr and Pb depicted almost comparable levels in the blood of both donor groups. The correlation study revealed significantly different mutual associations among the metals in the blood of VHD patients compared with the controls. Multivariate statistical methods showed substantially divergent grouping of the metals for the patients and controls. Some significant differences in the metal concentrations were also observed with gender, abode, dietary/smoking habits and occupations of both donor groups. Overall, the study demonstrated that disproportions in the concentrations of essential/toxic metals in the blood are involved in pathogenesis of the disease.

Multivariate statistical evaluation of trace metal levels in the blood of atherosclerosis patients in comparison with healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: Numerous epidemiological studies have suggested that metal exposure may promote the atherosclerosis disorder in humans. OBJECTIVE: This study is carried out to assess the distribution, correlation and multivariate apportionment of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the blood of atherosclerosis patients in comparison with healthy donors. METHOD: The quantification of metals is done by atomic absorption spectrometry, after wet-acid digestion of the blood samples. RESULTS: Significantly higher concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, iron and manganese are found in the blood of atherosclerosis patients. The correlation study shows diverse relationships among the metals in blood of the patients and controls. Multivariate cluster analysis based on the metal levels in patients and controls reveals clearly separate grouping for the patients and healthy donors. Moreover, principal component analysis shows divergent grouping of the metals for the patients and healthy donors, which may be associated with the altered metabolism of the metals in atherosclerosis patients. CONCLUSION: Overall, the distribution, correlation and multivariate apportionment of selected metals in atherosclerosis patients and healthy donors are significantly divergent. Hence, present findings suggest that the trace and redox metals accumulated in the body may pose a high risk for atherosclerosis development.

Comparative Distribution, Correlation, and Chemometric Analyses of Selected Metals in Scalp Hair of Angina Patients and Healthy Subjects.

Numerous epidemiological studies are preponderance of evidences intimating development of coronary artery disease caused by metal imbalance. The present study was aimed to analyze Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr, and Zn in the scalp hair of angina patients and healthy subjects/controls employing HNO3-HCLO4-based wet digestion followed by quantification with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The average concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Sr revealed significantly higher levels in scalp hair of patients than controls; however, Na and Zn were appreciably higher in healthy subjects. Dissimilarity in the trace metal distribution was also observed with gender, residence, dietary habits, and smoking habits of both donor groups. The correlation study and multivariate analyses revealed diverse mutual relationships and apportionment of the trace metals in the scalp hair of patients and controls.

Comparative Study of Elemental Concentrations in the Scalp Hair and Nails of Myocardial Infarction Patients Versus Controls from Pakistan.

Ischemia heart disease has become a ubiquitous cause of morbidity and a leading contributor to mortality worldwide. The present study was aimed to quantify the elemental levels for Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr, and Zn in the scalp hair and nails of myocardial infarction (MI) patients and counterpart controls by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The effects of elemental imbalances on the development of atherosclerosis were evaluated. Average concentrations of Pb (14.7 µg/g), Sr (21.6 µg/g), and Cr (3.70 µg/g) were significantly higher in the scalp hair of the patients, while those of Na, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Cd were measured at almost comparable levels in the scalp hair of the patients and controls. In the case of nail samples, average concentrations of Na (1260 µg/g), K (873 µg/g), Sr (70.9 µg/g), Cu (16.6 µg/g), and Mn (16.9 µg/g) were significantly higher in the patients than controls. The correlation study revealed significantly divergent mutual variations among the elements in MI patients and controls. Principal component analysis also manifested the diverse apportionment of the elements in both donor groups. Most of the elements revealed significant disparities in their concentrations based on gender, abode, and smoking habits of the donors in both groups. In conclusion, the elemental imbalance has potential proatherogenic effect that would have a significant impact on sensitive population groups.

Abnormalities of Selected Trace Elements in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery diseases are multifactorial, and over the last several decades particular consideration and research have been devoted to investigating the imbalance of patient elemental levels. Our current study aimed to investigate the comparative distribution of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Cr, Cd and Pb in the blood of coronary artery disease patients and healthy subjects. METHODS: Blood samples collected from both groups were digested into a HNO3-HCLO4 (10:1 v/v) mixture in a microwave oven, followed by quantification of the elements by atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS: The average levels of Pb and Cr were markedly higher (p < 0.001) while those of Ca, Fe, Cu and Mn were moderately higher (p < 0.05) in blood of the patients compared to the controls. However, correlation study showed divergent relationships between various elements in the blood of both groups. Multivariate cluster analysis revealed two major clusters of the elements for patients: Ca-Mg-Mn-Co-Cd and Pb-Cu-Fe-Zn-Cr; whereas three common groups were observed for controls: Ca-Mg-Zn-Cu, Cr-Mn-Fe and Co-Cd-Pb. Variations in the elemental levels were also observed to be associated with gender, habitat, food and smoking habits of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the distribution, correlation and apportionment of elemental data indicated an imbalance of the toxic/essential elements in blood of the patients compared to the controls. KEY WORDS: AAS; Blood; Cluster analysis; Coronary artery disease; Essential/toxic element.