Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS to Explore Evidence of Treatment and Physiological Responses to Leprosy in Medieval Denmark.

Leprosy can lead to blood depletion in Zn, Ca, Mg, and Fe and blood enrichment in Cu. In late medieval Europe, minerals were used to treat leprosy. Here, physiological responses to leprosy and possible evidence of treatment are investigated in enamel, dentine, and cementum of leprosy sufferers from medieval Denmark (n = 12) and early 20th century Romania (n = 2). Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS, 12 elements were mapped in 15 tooth thin sections, and the statistical covariation of paired elements was computed to assess their biological relevance. The results show marked covariations in the Zn, Ca, and Mg distributions, which are compatible with clinical studies but cannot be directly attributed to leprosy. Minerals used historically as a treatment for leprosy show no detectable intake (As, Hg) or a diffuse distribution (Pb) related to daily ingestion. Intense Pb enrichments indicate acute incorporations of Pb, potentially through the administration of Pb-enriched medication or the mobilization of Pb from bone stores to the bloodstream during intense physiological stress related to leprosy. However, comparisons with a healthy control group are needed to ascertain these interpretations. The positive correlations and the patterns observed between Pb and essential elements may indicate underlying pathophysiological conditions, demonstrating the potential of SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS for paleopathological investigations.

Metallomics analysis for early assessment and individualized intervention of neurodevelopmental disorders.

The children today are in the midst of the epidemic of neurodevelopmental disorders. In this metallomics study for the scalp hair samples of total 2550 children with autistic disorders (2108 males and 442 females aged 0-15 years), it was demonstrated that near one-half of the infantile individuals aged 0-3 years are suffering from zinc deficiency and toxic metal burdens. Zinc level correlated closely to the index of zinc/iron ratio more than zinc/copper ratio. Furthermore, there were significant relationships between zinc deficiency and toxic metal burdens such as lead and aluminum, which were inversely associated with not only zinc level but also zinc/iron ratio with higher regression coefficients of r = -0.486 and -0.551 (P < 0.00001), respectively. High-significant inverse association was detected between zinc and molybdenum concentration (r = -0.509) and also between zinc/iron ratio and molybdenum (r = -0.548). These findings suggest that infantile zinc deficiency relates to the high burdens of not only toxic but also some essential metals such as molybdenum, iron, and manganese and that these various mineral imbalances play principal roles in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. We expect that the early assessment and intervention of the mineral imbalances (or dis-homeostasis) in individual child open an avenue for evidence-based individualized treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders and also of the comorbid immune disorders, in near future.

Associations between Hair Mineral Concentrations and Skeletal Muscle Mass in Korean Adults.

OBJECTIVES: Muscle health plays an important role in maintaining function and independence in the elderly, and some nutrients provide protection against the age-related decline of muscle strength and function. Minerals are important nutrients that may contribute to the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia, but they have not been well-studied. This study investigated whether hair mineral concentrations differ between subjects with low muscle mass (LMM) and subjects with normal muscle mass. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 232 adults ≥ 20 years of age who visited the Health Promotion Center of the University Hospital in Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. MEASUREMENTS: The data from 232 subjects were analyzed and divided into LMM and normal groups based on the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) (LMM was defined as ASMI < 7.0 kg/m2 in men and < 5.7 kg/m2 in women). Skeletal muscle mass was estimated using a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device with a body composition analyzer. RESULTS: Overall mean age of participants was 50.4±11.6 years (29.7% women). Subjects with LMM showed significantly lower triglyceride levels, greater high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and lower body mass index (BMI), compared with subjects who had normal muscle mass. No significant differences in hair mineral concentrations were observed between subjects with LMM and subjects with normal muscle mass, with the exception of copper. Hair copper concentrations were significantly greater in subjects with LMM than in subjects with normal muscle mass after adjustment for covariates and factors (65.7±14.2 vs 33.1±4.3 µg/g, P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that hair mineral status may play a role in the development of LMM. Therefore, further studies with larger numbers of subjects are required to identify the effects of mineral imbalances, their relationships with sarcopenia, and the differences between subjects with LMM and subjects with normal muscle mass.

Deficiências e desequilíbrios minerais em bovinos e ovinos FONT FACE=Symbol>¾ /FONT> revisão dos estudos realizados no Brasil de 1987 a 1998

This review follows on from two previous ones on the subject covering the periods from 1943 to 1976 and 1976 to 1987. They are all based on the chemical analyses of liver or other animal tissues or fluids and/or experimentation, complemented or not by analyses of pasture and soil samples. They do not include studies based only on chemical analyses of plant and soil samples. Regarding macroelements, noteworthy are the studies on phosphorus deficiency, the most important mineral deficiency shown previusly. Copper and cobalt deficiencies were the most frequent microelement deficiencies. There were several reports on copper poisoning in sheep. Subclinical deficiency of zinc was frequently verified. Subclinical manganese deficiency was rarely recognized and to the contrary, elevated values of this element occasionaly were found. There was little data on selenium, so its importance in Brazil remains unclear; nutritional miopathy was diagnosed for the first time in calves, but only once. Low iron values were found in the liver samples of cattle affected by enzootic hematuria. This is easily explained by the continuous loss of blood leading to severe anemia. High iron values were found in the liver samples from some areas; sometimes associated with low copper values. Among the investigations made during the last decade, special mention should be made of two diseases in which the etiology has not yet been established. These are "ronca" (snoring disease) and "doença do peito inchado" (brisket disease), both of which have a chronic course in adult cattle. In "ronca", liver copper is very low and iron particularly high. Presumably the latter is caused by poor utilization due to the copper deficiency. In "doença do peito inchado", the liver values for manganese and cobalt were low and those for iron very high. In this case, the high iron probably comes from the severe liver congestion caused by the chronic cardiac insufficiency seen in this disease. Mention also should be made of "morte subita" (sudden death) in cattle in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. In this case, liver copper levels were extremely low and no poisonous plant could be blamed. Congenital hypomyelinogenesis in calves was diagnosed in the same area.The mineral deficiencies diagnosed during the period of this review are shown on a map, together with the respective bibliographic references.

É apresentada uma revisão dos estudos realizados no Brasil sobre distúrbios no metabolismo mineral em bovinos, sobretudo deficiências minerais, no período de 1987-1998. Esta revisão foi feita em continuação de duas revisões prévias sobre o assunto, que abrangeram os períodos de 1943-1976 e 1976-1987. Nessas revisões são omitidos os estudos realizados apenas através de dosagens químicas de amostras de pastagem e de solo, sendo referidos aqueles baseados em análises de amostras de fígado ou outros tecidos ou fluidos dos animais e/ou experimentação, complementados ou não por análises químicas de pastagem e de solo. Em relação aos macroelementos, destacam-se os estudos sobre a deficiência de fósforo, já estabelecida anteriormente como a deficiência mineral mais importante no Brasil. Valores baixos de ferro em amostras de fígado foram constatados em bovinos afetados pela hematúria enzoótica, o que é compreensível, já que os animais apresentam marcada anemia devido a perda contínua de sangue. Destacaram-se, por outro lado, os valores elevados de ferro em diversas regiões; em algumas delas foi demonstrado que os níveis desse elemento estavam associados a valores baixos de cobre. As deficiências de cobre e cobalto foram as mais frequentes entre as de microelementos. Diversas ocorrências de intoxicação por cobre em ovinos foram comunicadas. A deficiência subclínica de zinco tem sido verificada com bastante frequência. A deficiência subclínica de manganês foi raramente constatada; ao contrário, houve verificações de valores elevados deste elemento. Em relação ao selênio, os dados continuam escassos, insuficientes para se saber qual a importância da deficiência desse elemento em bovinos e ovinos no Brasil; a miopatia nutricional em bezerros foi diagnosticada uma única vez. Entre os estudos realizados neste último período devem ser mencionados, especialmente, aqueles que abordam duas doenças cuja etiologia ainda não foi estabelecida, vulgarmente conhecidas como "ronca" e "doença do peito inchado", ambas de evolução crônica, afetando bovinos adultos. Na enfermidade conhecida como "ronca", os valores hepáticos de cobre são muito baixos e os de ferrro extremamente altos; deve-se considerar a hipótese de que os níveis hepáticos de ferro estão muito elevados em decorrência da sua não-utilização em função da deficiência de cobre. Na "doença do peito inchado", os valores hepáticos de manganês e de cobalto são baixos e os de ferro são muito elevados; é possível que as alterações nos níveis hepáticos de ferro sejam apenas o reflexo do acúmulo de sangue no fígado, uma vez que essa enfermidade é caracterizada por insuficiência cardíaca crônica que cursa com acentuada congestão hepática. Ainda deve ser destacada, no Rio Grande do Sul, a ocorrência de "morte súbita" em bovinos, cujos valores hepáticos para cobre foram muito baixos; nenhuma planta tóxica pode ser responsabilizada por essas ocorrências. Nesta mesma área, a hipomielinogênese congênita em bovinos foi diagnosticada. A ocorrência das deficiências minerais diagnosticadas durante o período correspondente a esta revisão foram lançadas em um mapa, com as respectivas referências bibliográficas.

Deficiências e desequilíbrios de microelementos em bovinos e ovinos em algumas regiões do Brasil / Microelement deficiencies and imbalances in cattle and sheep in some regions of Brazil

Further results are given of studies on mineral deficiencies in cattle and sheep carried out by the authors over the last 25 years, and which began in the early fifties. The studies consisted in obtaining case histories of diseases possibly caused by mineral deficiencies, in field observations and clinical examinations of cattle and sheep affected by these diseases, in the performance of postmortem examinations with collection of material for histopathological examinations and chemical analyses of liver samples for copper, cobalt, zinc, mangnese, selenium and iron. In order to include also subclinical mineral deficiencies, which do not cause characteristic manifestations, liver samples of animals that succumbed to other diseases, mainly plant poisoning, were collected for chemical analyses. For interpretation the anlytical data were evaluated always together with the case history and the clinic-pathological picture of the animals. Copper deficiency was diagnosed in the counties of Barra do Bugres (Mato Grosso), Parintins (Amazonas) and Carolina (Maranhão), in northeastern Minas Gerais, in the southern part of the State of Rio de Janeiro and in the counties of Itaqui and Uruguaiana (Rio Grande do Sul). Low copper values were also found in cattle affected by "ronca" [snoaring disease], of yet not established etiology, in the county of Aquidauana (Mato Grosso do Sul). Cobalt deficiency was diagnosed in the counties of Barra do Bugres and Diamantina (Mato Grosso), Boa Vista (Roraima), Manaus and Itacoatiara (Amazonas), in northeastern Minas Gerais and in in the counties of Luiz Antonio (São Paulo) and Seropédica (Rio de Janeiro). Low cobalt values were also found in cattle affected by the "doença do peito inchado" [swollen brisquet disease], of yet not established etiology in the eastern part of the State of Santa Catarina. Low values indicating zinc deficiency were obtained in the county of Seropédica (Rio de Janeiro). Low manganese values were verified in northeastern Minas Gerais and in animals affected by the "doença do peito inchado". High values of manganese were obtained in the counties of Cacequi, Itaqui and Uruguaiana (Rio Grande do Sul). Low selenium values were obtained from the samples collected in Mato Grosso do Sul in the counties of Corumbá and Aquidauana. High values of selenium were obtained in the county of Boa Vista (Roraima). The iron values were high in many samples from all States, especially in those samples where copper values were low; in animals affected by "ronca" and "doença do peito inchado" these were particularly high. Low iron values were found in cattle with enzootic hematuria.(AU)

O presente trabalho constitui uma continuação da publicação dos resultados dos estudos sobre deficiências minerais em bovinos e ovinos obtidos nos últimos 25 anos e que vem sendo realizados pelos autores desde a década de 50. Esses estudos consistiram na obtenção de históricos de doenças possivelmente causadas por deficiências minerais, observações de campo e exames clínicos de bovinos e ovinos afetados por essas doenças, realização de necropsias com coleta de material para exames histopatológicos e dosagens químicas de cobre, cobalto, zinco, manganês, selênio e ferro em amostras de fígado. Para alcançar também as deficiências minerais mais leves, que não provocam quadros clínico-patológicos característicos, foram coletadas amostras de fígado para análises de microelementos também no decurso do estudo de doenças de outra natureza, sobretudo das causadas por plantas tóxicas. Na interpretação, os dados analíticos foram avaliados sempre em contexto com o histórico e o quadro clínico-patológico dos animais. Deficiência de cobre foi revelada nos municípios de Barra do Bugres (Mato Grosso), Parintins (Amazonas) e Carolina (Maranhão), no nordeste de Minas Gerais, na parte sul do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, e nos municípios de Itaquí e Uruguaiana (Rio Grande do Sul). Valores baixos de cobre foram encontrados também em bovinos afetados pela doença conhecida por "ronca", de etiologia ainda não esclarecida, no município de Aquidauana (Mato Grosso do Sul). Deficiência de cobalto foi diagnosticada nos municípios de Barra dos Bugres e Diamantina (Mato Grosso), Boa Vista (Roraima), Manaus e Itacoatiara (Amazonas), no nordeste de Minas Gerais e nos municípios de Luiz Antonio (São Paulo) e Seropédica (Rio de Janeiro). Valores baixos de cobalto também foram encontrados em bovinos afetados pela "doença do peito inchado", de etiologia ainda não esclarecida, que ocorre no leste de Santa Catarina. Valores de zinco indicando deficiência foram verificados no município de Seropédica (Rio de Janeiro). Valores baixos de manganês foram encontrados no nordeste de Minas Gerais e em bovinos afetados pela "doença do peito inchado". Valores altos de manganês foram obtidos nos municípios de Cacequí, Itaquí e Uruguaiana (Rio Grande do Sul). Valores baixos de selênio foram verificados em amostras coletadas em Mato Grosso do Sul nos municípios de Corumbá e Aquidauana. Valores elevados de selênio foram obtidos no município de Boa Vista (Roraima). Os valores de ferro obtidos em grande parte das amostras de todos os Estados são elevados, sobretudo naquelas com baixos valores de cobre; nos animais afetados pelo "ronca" e pela "doença do peito inchado", os valores de ferro são particularmente altos. Valores baixos de ferro foram constatados em bovinos afetados pela hematúria enzoótica.(AU)