Co-exposure of serum calcium, selenium and vanadium is nonlinearly associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Metals play an important role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to explore the association of T2DM risk with single metal exposure and multi-metal co-exposure. METHODS: A case-control study with 223 T2DM patients and 302 controls was conducted. Serum concentrations of 19 metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Those metals with greater effects were screened out and co-exposure effects of metals were assessed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. RESULTS: Serum calcium (Ca), selenium (Se) and vanadium (V) were found with greater effects. Higher levels of Ca and Se were associated with increased T2DM risk (OR = 2.23, 95%CI: 1.38-3.62, Ptrend = 0.002; OR = 3.16, 95%CI: 1.82-5.50, Ptrend < 0.001), but higher V level was associated with decreased T2DM risk (OR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.34-0.97, Ptrend < 0.001). Serum Ca and V concentrations were nonlinearly associated with T2DM risk (Poverall < 0.001, Pnonliearity < 0.001); however, Se concentration was linearly associated with T2DM risk (Poverall < 0.001, Pnonliearity = 0.389). High co-exposure score of serum Ca, Se and V was associated with increased T2DM risk (OR = 3.50, 95%CI: 2.08-5.89, Ptrend < 0.001) as a non-linear relationship (Poverall < 0.001, Pnonliearity = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggest that higher levels of serum Ca and Se were associated with increased T2DM risk, but higher serum V level was associated with decreased T2DM risk. Moreover, co-exposure of serum Ca, Se and V was nonlinearly associated with T2DM risk, and high co-exposure score was positively associated with T2DM risk.

Presence of Toxic Heavy Metals in Platelet-Rich Fibrin: a Pilot Study.

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is widely used blood-derived biomaterial which is directly applied to the surgical wounds. Depending on its autologous origin, PRF is thought as a safe material. However, it is not known to what extent the blood-derived toxins can be found in the PRF by considering the systemic exposure rates of the individuals to the toxins. The aim of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis whether PRF contains any blood-origin heavy metals (HMs) and smoking increases their concentrations as an environmental HM source. PRF samples were obtained from systemically healthy 30 non-smoker and 30 smoker volunteers. All liquid and dry fibrin parts of the PRF samples were analyzed in terms of 15 toxic elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. All analyzed HMs were detected in all investigated PRF samples within various concentrations in both groups. In addition, significantly high levels of cadmium, arsenic, lead, manganese, nickel, chromium, and vanadium were detected in dry fibrin matrices of PRF samples of smokers comparing with non-smokers (p < 0.05). Only cadmium was at significantly high levels in the liquid part of PRF samples of smokers (p < 0.05). This is the first study evaluating toxic ingredients of PRF. The results revealed that PRF contains various toxic HMs. Additionally, systemic exposure to environmental HM sources such as smoking may significantly increase HM concentrations in PRF. Further studies are required to investigate the transmission potentials of HMs to the applied tissues and biological importance of PRF-origin HMs.

Vanadium in Biological Action: Chemical, Pharmacological Aspects, and Metabolic Implications in Diabetes Mellitus.

Vanadium compounds have been primarily investigated as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of various major health issues, including cancer, atherosclerosis, and diabetes. The translation of vanadium-based compounds into clinical trials and ultimately into disease treatments remains hampered by the absence of a basic pharmacological and metabolic comprehension of such compounds. In this review, we examine the development of vanadium-containing compounds in biological systems regarding the role of the physiological environment, dosage, intracellular interactions, metabolic transformations, modulation of signaling pathways, toxicology, and transport and tissue distribution as well as therapeutic implications. From our point of view, the toxicological and pharmacological aspects in animal models and humans are not understood completely, and thus, we introduced them in a physiological environment and dosage context. Different transport proteins in blood plasma and mechanistic transport determinants are discussed. Furthermore, an overview of different vanadium species and the role of physiological factors (i.e., pH, redox conditions, concentration, and so on) are considered. Mechanistic specifications about different signaling pathways are discussed, particularly the phosphatases and kinases that are modulated dynamically by vanadium compounds because until now, the focus only has been on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B as a vanadium target. Particular emphasis is laid on the therapeutic ability of vanadium-based compounds and their role for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, specifically on that of vanadate- and polioxovanadate-containing compounds. We aim at shedding light on the prevailing gaps between primary scientific data and information from animal models and human studies.

Metal Ion Release During Growth-Friendly Instrumentation for Early-Onset Scoliosis: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: Metal ions released from spinal instruments can cause localized debris and distribute systemically to settle on distant organs. Children with early-onset deformities live with metallic implants for a substantial amount of time. No research focused on metal distribution in growth-friendly instrumentations. The aim of this study was to compare age-matched growing rod (GR) and magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) groups to noninstrumented controls. METHODS: The study was designed as a multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional case series. GR and MCGR applications of three institutions were included. A total of 52 children were enrolled. Blood samples were collected between December 2014 and February 2015. Biochemical serum analyses were performed to trace and quantify titanium, vanadium, aluminum, and boron. The GR group included 15 children. Mean age was 10.7 (range 6-15). MCGR group included 22 children. Mean age was 8.5 (range 2-13). Fifteen age-matched nonoperated children formed the control group. The mean age was 10.4 (range 5-15). One-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for comparisons. RESULTS: The mean serum titanium level in control, GR, and MCGR groups were 2.8 ± 1.4, 7.3 ± 4.3, and 10.2 ± 6.8 µg/L, respectively. GR and MCGR group titanium levels were higher than controls' (p = .008 and p < .001). The mean serum vanadium level in control, GR, and MCGR groups were 0.2 ± 0.0, 0.2 ± 0.0, and 0.5 ± 0.5 µg/L, respectively. MCGR group vanadium level was higher than control (p < .001) and GR groups (p = .004). Mean serum levels in control, GR, and MCGR groups were, respectively, 5.4 ± 4.1, 8.1 ± 7.4, and 7.8 ± 5.1 µg/L for aluminum and 86.7 ± 2.7, 86.9 ± 2.5, and 85.0 ± 6.6 µg/L for boron. The distribution of aluminum and boron were similar across groups (p = .675 and p = .396). CONCLUSIONS: Both GR and MCGR applications significantly release titanium and possibly aluminum. MCGR further releases vanadium. MCGR possibly releases more titanium than traditional GR. Time-dependent alterations of serum ion levels, structural properties of the MCGR device, and exposure caused by magnetic distraction processes warrant investigation.

Concentrations of Trace Elements in Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Low concentrations and excessive concentrations of trace elements have been commonly reported in hemodialysis patients, but available studies have several important limitations. STUDY DESIGN: Random sample of patients drawn from a prospective cohort. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 198 incident hemodialysis patients treated in 3 Canadian centers. MEASUREMENTS: We used mass spectrometry to measure plasma concentrations of the 25 elements at baseline, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years following enrollment in the cohort. We focused on low concentrations of zinc, selenium, and manganese and excessive concentrations of lead, arsenic, and mercury; low and excessive concentrations of the other 19 trace elements were treated as exploratory analyses. Low and excessive concentrations were based on the 5th and 95th percentile plasma concentrations from healthy reference populations. RESULTS: At all 4 occasions, low zinc, selenium, and manganese concentrations were uncommon in study participants (≤5.1%, ≤1.8%, and ≤0.9% for zinc, selenium, and manganese, respectively) and a substantial proportion of participants had concentrations that exceeded the 95th percentile (≥65.2%, ≥74.2%, and ≥19.7%, respectively). Almost all participants had plasma lead concentrations above the 95th percentile at all time points. The proportion of participants with plasma arsenic concentrations exceeding the 95th percentile was relatively constant over time (9.1%-9.8%); the proportion with plasma mercury concentrations that exceeded the 95th percentile varied between 15.2% and 29.3%. Low arsenic, platinum, tungsten, and beryllium concentrations were common (>50%), as were excessive cobalt, manganese, zinc, vanadium, cadmium, selenium, barium, antimony, nickel, molybdenum, lead, and chromium concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence that low zinc, selenium, or manganese concentrations exist in most contemporary Canadian hemodialysis patients. Some patients have excessive plasma arsenic and mercury concentrations, and excessive lead concentrations were common. These findings require further investigation.

A cross-sectional study measuring vanadium and chromium levels in paediatric patients with CKD.

OBJECTIVES: Although many secondary effects of high levels of vanadium (V) and chromium (Cr) overlap with symptoms seen in paediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), their plasma V and Cr levels are understudied. DESIGN: Ancillary cross-sectional study to a prospective, longitudinal, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Children's Hospital of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: 36 children and adolescents 4-18 years of age with CKD. INTERVENTIONS: 1-6 trace element measurements per patient. Cystatin C (CysC) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Filler formula. Plasma V and Cr levels were measured using high-resolution sector field inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Anthropomorphic data and blood parameters were collected from our electronic chart programme. Water Cr and V data were obtained from the Ontario Water (Stream) Quality Monitoring Network. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes: plasma Cr and V. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: age, season, CysC, CysC eGFR, and Cr and V levels in environmental water. RESULTS: The median (IQR) eGFR was 51 mL/min/1.73 m2 (35, 75). The median V level was 0.12 µg/L (0.09, 0.18), which was significantly greater than the 97.5th percentile of the reference interval of 0.088 µg/L; 32 patients had at least one set of V levels above the published reference interval. The median Cr level was 0.43 µg/L (0.36, 0.54), which was also significantly greater than the established reference interval; 34 had at least one set of Cr levels above the published reference interval. V and Cr levels were moderately correlated. Only some patients had high environmental exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that paediatric patients with CKD have elevated plasma levels of V and Cr. This may be the result of both environmental exposure and a low eGFR. It may be necessary to monitor V and Cr levels in patients with an eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02126293; HC#172241.

Speciation of potential anti-diabetic vanadium complexes in real serum samples.

In this work the speciation in real serum samples of five VIVO complexes with potential application in the therapy of diabetes was studied through EPR spectroscopy as a function of V concentration (45.4, 90.9 and 454.5µM) and time (0-180min). [VO(dhp)2], [VO(ma)2], [VO(acac)2], [VO(pic)2(H2O)], and [VO(mepic)2], where Hdhp indicates 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinone, Hma maltol, Hacac acetylacetone, Hpic picolinic acid, and Hmepic 6-methylpicolinic acid, were examined. The distribution of VIVO2+ among the serum bioligands was calculated from the thermodynamic stability constants in the literature and compared with the experimental results. EPR results, which confirm the prediction, depend on the strength of the ligand L and geometry assumed by the bis-chelated species at physiological pH, cis-octahedral or square pyramidal. With dhp, the strongest chelator, the system is dominated by [VO(dhp)2] and/or cis-VO(dhp)2(Protein); with intermediate strength chelators, i.e. maltolate, acetylacetonate and picolinate, by cis-VO(ma)2(Protein), [VO(acac)2] or [VO(pic)(citrH-1)]3-/[VO(pic)(lactH-1)]- (citr=citrate and lact=lactate) when the V concentration overcomes 100-200µM and by (VO)(hTf)/(VO)2(hTf) when concentration is lower than 100µM; with the weakest chelator, 6-methylpicolinate, (VO)(hTf)/(VO)2(hTf), (VO)(HSA) (hTf = human serum transferrin and HSA = human serum albumin), and VO(mepic)(Protein)(OH) are the major species at concentration higher than 100-200µM, whereas hydrolytic processes are observed for lower concentrations. For [VO(dhp)2], [VO(ma)2], [VO(acac)2] and [VO(pic)2(H2O)], the EPR spectra remain unaltered with elapsing time, while for mepic they change significantly because the hydrolyzed VIVO species are complexed by the serum bioligands, in particular by lactate. The rate of oxidation in the serum is [VO(dhp)2]>[VO(ma)2]>[VO(acac)2] and reflects the order of E1/2 values.

Biological monitoring of welders' exposure to chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium.

BACKGROUND: Welders are exposed to a number of metallic elements during work. Bioaccessability, that is important for element uptake, has been little studied. This study addresses bioaccessability and uptake of chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W) and vanadium (V) among welders. METHODS: Bioaccessability of Cr, Mo, V and W was studied in airborne particulate matter collected by personal sampling of the workroom air among shipyard welders by using the lung lining fluid simulant Hatch solution. Associations between concentrations of Hatch soluble and non-soluble elements (Hatchsol and Hatchnon-sol) and concentrations of the four elements in whole blood, serum, blood cells and urine were studied. RESULTS: Air concentrations of the four elements were low. Only a small fraction of Cr, V and W was Hatchsol, while similar amounts of Mo were Hatchsol and Hatchnon-sol. Welders (N=70) had statistically significantly higher concentrations of all four elements in urine and serum when compared to referents (N=74). Highly statistically significant associations were observed between urinary W and Hatchsol W (p<0.001) and serum V and Hatchsol V (p<0.001), in particular when air samples collected the day before collection of biological samples were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between Hatchsol elements in air and their biological concentrations were higher than when Hatchnon-sol concentrations were considered. Associations were generally higher when air samples collected the day before biological sampling were considered as compared to air samples collected two days before.

Metal concentrations in the blood and tissues after implantation of titanium growth guidance sliding instrumentation.

BACKGROUND: Growth guidance sliding treatment devices, such as Shilla (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN USA) or LSZ-4D (CONMET, Moscow, Russia), used for the treatment of scoliosis in children who have high growth potential have unlocked fixtures that allow rods to slide during growth of the spine, which avoids periodical extensions. However, the probability of clinical complications associated with metallosis after implantation of such devices is poorly understood. The content of metal ions in the blood and tissues of pediatric patients treated for scoliosis using fusionless growth guidance sliding instrumentation has not yet been investigated. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to measure the content of metal ions in the blood and tissues surrounding the implanted growth guidance sliding LSZ-4D devices made of titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V), and to identify the incidence of metallosis-associated clinical complications in some patients with these devices. STUDY DESIGN: This is a one-center, case-control retrospective study. PATIENTS SAMPLE: The study group included 25 patients with high growth potential (22 females, 3 males; average age at primary surgery for scoliosis treatment is 11.4±1.2 years old) who had sliding growth guidance instrumentation LSZ-4D (CONMET) implanted on 13 (range: 10-16) spine levels for 6±2 years. The LSZ-4D device was made from titanium alloy Ti6Al4V and consisted of two rectangular section rods and fixture elements. Locked fixtures were used on one spinal level, whereas the others were unlocked (sliding). The control group consisted of 13 patients (12 females and 1 male; 11±1.2 years old) without any implanted devices. OUTCOME MEASURES: The content of Ti, Al, and V metal ions in the whole blood and tissues around the implanted device was measured. The incidences of metallosis-associated complications in the study group were recorded. METHODS: Metal ion content was measured by the inductively coupled mass spectrometry method on quadrupolar NexION 300D (PerkinElmer Inc, Shelton, CT, USA). RESULTS: Five of 25 patients in the study group developed metallosis-associated complications (two sinuses and three seroma in the lumbar part of the spine). Revisions were carried out in two of these patients. Ninety percent of the patients in the study group had increased content of Ti and V ions in the blood (2.8 and 4 times, respectively). Median content of Ti ions in soft tissues adjacentto implanted sliding device was more than 1,500-fold higher than that of the control group. These levels are much higher than previously reported for spinal instrumentation. CONCLUSIONS: Increased content of Ti and V ions in the blood and especially in tissues around the titanium growth guidance sliding device LSZ-4D accompanied by clinical manifestations (seroma and sinuses) indicates the importance of improving wear resistance of such instrumentation with the coatings and the necessity to exchange sliding instrumentation once the child is fully grown.

Disorders of serum proteomic profile in residents of area influenced by metallurgic industrial releases.

Proteomic analysis technology helped to study and assess protein profile of blood serum in residents of area influenced bymetallurgic industrial releases. Findings are that poor quality of ambient air in populated area concerning concentrations of vanadium, nickel, manganese (up to 24-44 RfCchr) and stable presence of these elements in drinkable water (up to 0,006 RfD) cause mainly aerogenous chronic exposure at 0,00025-0,0022 mg/(kg-day). The exposed individuals demonstrate higher (3,5-3,8 times vs. unexposed ones and reference level) serum level of vanadium (0,0023 to 0,003 mg/dma), nickel (0,06-0,11 mg/dm) and manganese (0,036-0,048. mg/dm³). The authors demonstrated changes in serum proteomic profile associated with serum levels of vanadium and nickel (share contribution of vanadium and nickel equalled 15-20%) and manifested as increase of relative volume of transtyretine, apolipoprotein A-I, lower relative volume of haptoglobin. Increased serum level of vanadium disorders transport of apoproteins incorporated into lipoproteins; increased serum level of nickel activates hemolysis of RBC, disorders speed of hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex formation and its subsequent utilization by hepatocytes. Revealed molecular and cellular disorders enable to forecast thyroid disorders, hematologic diseases, cholesterol metabolism disorders.

Inverse association of plasma vanadium levels with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population.

Vanadium compounds have been proposed to have beneficial effects on the pathogenesis and complications of type 2 diabetes. Our objective was to evaluate the association between plasma vanadium levels and type 2 diabetes. We performed a case-control study involving 1,598 Chinese subjects with or without newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (December 2004-December 2007). Cases and controls were frequency-matched by age and sex. Plasma vanadium concentrations were measured and compared between groups. Analyses showed that plasma vanadium concentrations were significantly lower in cases with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes than in controls (P = 0.001). Mean plasma vanadium levels in participants with and without diabetes were 1.0 µg/L and 1.2 µg/L, respectively. Participants in the highest quartile of plasma vanadium concentration had a notably lower risk of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (odds ratio = 0.26, 95% confidence interval: 0.19, 0.35; P < 0.001), compared with persons in the lowest quartile. The trend remained significant after adjustment for known risk factors and in further stratification analyses. Our results suggested that plasma vanadium concentrations were inversely associated with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in this Chinese population.

[Peculiarities of vanadium determinaion in whole blood by ICP-MS].

The parameters of vanadium determination by ICP-MS in whole blood are presented. Conditions for blood sample preparation to reduce measure errors and to determine vanadium at the reference concentration level were optimized. The accuracy of the results is confirmed by analysis of standard blood samples Seronorm L1, L2 and L3. Vanadium mean in whole blood for the group of children from the town of Chusovoy (n = 80) was 1.29 +/- 0.45 microg/L, and vanadium mean for grown-ups from the town of Chusovoy was 1.63 +/- 0.25 microg/L.

Melatonin administration in diabetes: regulation of plasma Cr, V, and Mg in young male Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

The use of melatonin, a neurohormone present in plants, represents an exciting approach for the maintenance of optimum health conditions. Melatonin administration ameliorates glucose homeostasis in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin in diabetes in relation to the levels and regulation of plasma chromium (Cr), vanadium (V), and magnesium (Mg) in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and Zucker lean (ZL) rats. At the age of 6 weeks, ZDF (n = 30) and ZL (n = 30) groups were each subdivided into three groups: control (C) (n = 10), vehicle-treated (V') (n = 10) and melatonin-treated (M) (10 mg kg(-1) per day; n = 10) groups for a 6 week period. After treatment, plasma mineral concentrations were measured by flame (Mg) and electrothermal (Cr and V) atomic absorption spectrometry. No significant differences were found between the C and V' groups (p > 0.05). Plasma Mg levels were significantly lower in C-ZDF vs. C-ZL rats, demonstrating the presence of hypomagnesemia in this diabetes mellitus model. Plasma V and Cr levels were significantly higher in M-ZDF vs. C-ZDF rats. Plasma Mg levels in ZDF rats were not affected by melatonin treatment (p > 0.05). Melatonin administration ameliorates the diabetic status of ZDF rats by enhancing plasma Cr and V concentrations. This appears to be the first report of a beneficial effect of melatonin treatment on plasma Cr and V regulation in ZDF rats.

[Methodical ware for the hygienic risk assessment of vanadium exposure to the children's health].

In the article there is considered the complex of methodological approaches for the detection of vanadium in the air and biological substrates of the population for the practical use in the frameworks of public health monitoring in areas with localization of steel industry facilities. The developed complex of methods on the base of mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) allowed to perform the hygienic assessment of the quality of objects of the environment in the territory located in the zone of the impact of emissions of ferrovanadium production (the city of Tchusovoy of the Perm Krai). From the results of the study there was established the significant excess of the vanadium content in the ambient air of the studied area in relation to the control territory and to the reference concentration for chronic inhalation exposure (RfCxp) to 6.0 times. There was revealed a significant excess of vanadium content in the blood of children residing in the study area, with respect to the regional background levels (0.0001-0.00016 mg/dm3). Complex clinical laboratory and chemical-analytical studies of biosubstrates of the children population allowed to substantiate the marker of the inhalation exposure (the vanadium content in the blood) and its reference level (0.0023 dm3).

Aggravation by vanadium of magnesium deficiency in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

This study examined changes in the metabolism of magnesium (Mg), and related serum parameters, following treatment with vanadium (V) in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Over a period of five weeks, four groups were examined: control, diabetic, diabetic-treated with 1 mg V/day or 3 mg V/day. The V was supplied in drinking water as bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV). The Mg levels were measured in food, faeces, urine, serum, muscle, kidney, liver, spleen, heart and femur. Albumin, uric acid, urea, total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate-aminotransferase and alkaline-phosphatase were determined in serum. In the diabetic group, Mg retained and Mg content in serum and femur decreased, while levels of uric acid, urea, total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and alkaline-phosphatase and aspartate-aminotransferase activity increased compared with control rats. In the diabetic group treated with 1 mg V/day, Mg retained, serum levels of Mg, urea and triglycerides, and alkaline-phosphatase activity remained unchanged, while levels of uric acid, total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol increased and the Mg content in femur and aspartate-aminotransferase activity decreased compared with the diabetic untreated group. In the diabetic rats treated with 3 mg V/day, food intake and glycaemia were normal. In this group, Mg content in serum, kidney and femur, levels of urea and aspartate-aminotransferase and alkaline-phosphatase activity decreased, whereas LDL-cholesterol increased, uric acid and total-cholesterol levels remained unchanged in comparison with untreated diabetic rats. In conclusion, although treatment with 3 mg V/day normalised the glycaemia, the hypomagnesaemia and tissue depletion of Mg seen in the diabetic rats, caused by the treatment with V, could have partially contributed to the fact that V did not normalise other serum parameters altered by the diabetes.

The dietary acrylamide intake adversely affects the serum trace element status.

Acrylamide is an organic chemical which occurs in foods widespreadly consumed in diets worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum trace element levels (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Se, Co, Ni, V, As, Mg, P, Li, K, Al) in Wistar rats exposed to acrylamide. Acrylamide was administered to the treatment groups at 2 and 5 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day via drinking water for 90 days. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used for the determination of serum trace element concentrations. Serum Zn, Se, Co, V and Mg concentrations of 5 mg/kg bw/day acrylamide-treated male rats were lower, whereas serum As concentration was higher than the same parameters of the controls rats. Similarly, serum Zn, Se, Co, V and Mg concentrations were decreased in 5 mg/kg bw/day acrylamide-treated female rats compared with control rats. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between serum Fe, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni, P, Li, K and Al concentrations of all groups. The results from this study provide evidence that dietary acrylamide intake adversely affects the serum trace elements status.

Androgenic alopecia is associated with less dietary soy, lower [corrected] blood vanadium and rs1160312 1 polymorphism in Taiwanese communities.

BACKGROUND: Although the genetic basis of androgenic alopecia has been clearly established, little is known about its non-genetic causes, such as environmental and lifestyle factors. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated blood and urine heavy metals concentrations, environmental exposure factors, personal behaviors, dietary intakes and the genotypes of related susceptibility genes in patients with androgenic alopecia (AGA). DESIGN: Age, AGA level, residence area, work hours, sleep patterns, cigarette usage, alcohol consumption, betel nut usage, hair treatments, eating habits, body heavy metals concentrations and rs1998076, rs913063, rs1160312 and rs201571 SNP genotype data were collected from 354 men. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine whether any of the factors displayed odds ratios (ORs) indicating association with moderate to severe AGA (≥ IV). Subsequently, Hosmer-Lemeshow, Nagelkerke R(2) and accuracy tests were conducted to help establish an optimal model. RESULTS: Moderate to severe AGA was associated with the AA genotype of rs1160312 (22.50, 95% CI 3.99-126.83), blood vanadium concentration (0.02, 95% CI 0.01-0.04), and regular consumption of soy bean drinks (0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.85), after adjustment for age. The results were corroborated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (P = 0.73), Nagelkerke R(2) (0.59), accuracy test (0.816) and area under the curve (AUC; 0.90, 0.847-0.951) analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Blood vanadium and frequent soy bean drink consumption may provide protect effects against AGA. Accordingly, blood vanadium concentrations, the AA genotype of rs1160312 and frequent consumption of soy bean drinks are associated with AGA.

Prediction of type-2 diabetes based on several element levels in blood and chemometrics.

The present study was designed to evaluate the levels of eight elements including lithium, zinc, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel and vanadium in whole blood of type-2 diabetes patients, to compare them with age-matched healthy controls and to investigate the feasibility of combining them with an ensemble model for diagnosing purpose. A dataset involving 158 samples, among which 105 were taken from healthy adults and the remaining 53 from patients with type-2 diabetes, was collected. All samples were split into the training set and the test set with the equal size. Based on a simple variable selection, two elements, i.e., chromium and iron, are also picked out as the most important elements. Three kinds of algorithms, i.e., fisher linear discriminate analysis (FLDA), support vector machine (SVM) and decision tree (DT), were used for constructing member models. The best ensemble classifiers constructed on the training set were validated on the independent test set, and the prediction results were compared with those from clinical diagnostics on the same subjects. The results reveal that almost all ensemble classifiers exhibit similar performance, implying that these elements coupled with an appropriate ensemble classifier can serve as a valuable tool of diagnosing diabetes type-2.

An investigation of aircraft worker anemia: medical surveillance interpretation in an aging workforce.

OBJECTIVE: To identify exposures possibly contributing to anemia cases among hexavalent chromium medical surveillance program enrollees. METHODS: An investigation encompassed metals surveillance programs, extensive workplace sampling and remediation, consultation, evaluation of laboratory accuracy, and follow-up of anemic individuals. RESULTS: Workers had underlying medical conditions that affected surveillance results. There was a systemic error in classification based on hematocrit value. The prevalence of anemia in a workforce averaging 52 years old was 16%. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia may be more prevalent in middle-aged workers than expected. Modern laboratories generally report a calculated hematocrit value, and using hemoglobin for most classification purposes is preferred. Characteristics of a specific workforce, including age, health, hobbies, and diet, should be taken into account when interpreting medical surveillance program findings. The value of a team approach in addressing occupational health problems was demonstrated.

Synthesis and characterization of titania hollow fiber and its application to the microextraction of trace metals.

A titania hollow fiber membrane was successfully synthesized in a macro range via a template method coupled with a sol-gel process. Thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) was employed to study the effect of heat treatment on the synthesized hollow fiber, and the crystal forms of the titania hollow fiber membranes at different temperatures were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The pore structure of the prepared titania hollow fiber was characterized by scanning electron micrograph (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements. The prepared titania hollow fiber membrane was explored as a new adsorption material for trace metals for the first time and a new method of titania hollow fiber membrane solid phase microextraction (MSPME) online coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was developed for the determination of trace amount of Cd, Co, V and Ni in human serum samples. In order to validate the developed method, two certified reference materials of NIES.No.10-b rice flour and BCR No.184 bovine muscle were analyzed and the determined values were in good agreement with the certified values.