Effect of Disturbances of Zinc and Copper on the Physical and Mental Health Status of Patients with Alcohol Dependence.

The concentrations of copper and zinc in the tissues of alcohol-addicted people can significantly correlate with the variables describing their mental state. Studies on the homeostasis of zinc in alcohol-dependent patients have often been characterized by low hypozincemia detection. This may be caused by a low content of zinc in blood serum (1%) compared to the average zinc level in the body. Unfortunately, most authors have identified extracellular zinc in their studies. In the available literature, data on the level of copper in patients suffering from alcohol dependence are inconsistent. Our study included 100 alcohol-addicted patients (the study group) and 50 healthy subjects (the control group). Mental state was measured using appropriate psychometric scales. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine copper and zinc content. Our results confirm the purposefulness of the use of zinc concentration in erythrocytes as a diagnostic parameter for low zinc status in alcohol-dependent patients. Alcohol-dependent patients with reduced concentrations of zinc in erythrocytes/copper in blood plasma differed significantly from alcohol-dependent patients with normal concentrations in terms of clinical parameters. With regard to zinc in blood plasma and copper in erythrocytes, this situation has not been found. The clinical symptoms of hypozincemia and copper deficiency in patients addicted to alcohol usually relate to disorders in central nervous system functioning, and they result in a decreased quality of physical and mental life.

Brain iron accumulation in Wilson disease: a post mortem 7 Tesla MRI - histopathological study.

AIMS: In Wilson disease (WD), T2/T2*-weighted (T2*w) MRI frequently shows hypointensity in the basal ganglia that is suggestive of paramagnetic deposits. It is currently unknown whether this hypointensity is related to copper or iron deposition. We examined the neuropathological correlates of this MRI pattern, particularly in relation to iron and copper concentrations. METHODS: Brain slices from nine WD and six control cases were investigated using a 7T-MRI system. High-resolution T2*w images were acquired and R2* parametric maps were reconstructed using a multigradient recalled echo sequence. R2* was measured in the globus pallidus (GP) and the putamen. Corresponding histopathological sections containing the lentiform nucleus were examined using Turnbull iron staining, and double staining combining Turnbull with immunohistochemistry for macrophages or astrocytes. Quantitative densitometry of the iron staining as well as copper and iron concentrations were measured in the GP and putamen and correlated with R2* values. RESULTS: T2*w hypointensity in the GP and/or putamen was apparent in WD cases and R2* values correlated with quantitative densitometry of iron staining. In WD, iron and copper concentrations were increased in the putamen compared to controls. R2* was correlated with the iron concentration in the GP and putamen, whereas no correlation was observed for the copper concentration. Patients with more pronounced pathological severity in the putamen displayed increased iron concentration, which correlated with an elevated number of iron-containing macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: T2/T2*w hypointensity observed in vivo in the basal ganglia of WD patients is related to iron rather than copper deposits.

Biological and chemical investigation of Allium cepa L. response to selenium inorganic compounds.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological and chemical response of Allium cepa L. exposed to inorganic selenium compounds. Besides the investigation of the total content of selenium as well as its chemical speciation, the Allium test was used to evaluate the growth of onion roots and mitotic activity in the roots' meristem. The total content of selenium was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), coupled to ICP MS, was used for the selenium chemical speciation. Results indicated that A. cepa plants are able to biotransform inorganic selenium compounds into their organic derivatives, e.g., Se-methylselenocysteine from the Se(IV) inorganic precursor. Although the differences in the biotransformation of selenium are due mainly to the oxidation state of selenium, the experiment has also shown a fine effect of counter ions (H(+), Na(+), NH4 (+)) on the response of plants and on the specific metabolism of selenium.

Brain metal accumulation in Wilson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Brain metal accumulation is suggested in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders. In Wilson's disease (WD), only copper has been examined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the copper, iron, manganese, and zinc concentrations in autopsy tissue samples from the brains of WD patients. METHODS: The study material consisted of 17 brains (12 WD patients, 5 controls) obtained at autopsy. Samples were taken from four different regions of each brain: frontal cortex, putamen, pons, and nucleus dentatus. The copper, manganese, and zinc content were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and iron was assessed using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results were analyzed according to select clinical variables. RESULTS: Copper content was increased homogenously in all investigated structures of the WD brains compared to controls (41.0 ± 18.6 µg/g vs.5.4 ± 1.8 µg/g; P<0.01). The mean concentrations of iron, manganese, and zinc were similar in WD and controls, but the iron level in the nucleus dentatus was higher in WD compared to controls (56.8 ± 14.1 µg/g vs. 32.6 ± 6.0 µg/g; P<0.05). Gender, age, and type and duration of WD treatment did not impact brain metals storage, but some correlations between the duration of the disease and copper and iron accumulation were observed. CONCLUSIONS: During the course of WD, copper accumulates equally in different parts of the brain. Zinc and manganese do not seem to be involved in WD pathology, but increased levels of iron were found in the nucleus dentatus. Thus, additional studies of brain iron accumulation in WD are needed.

Critical assessment of the elemental composition of Corning archeological reference glasses by LA-ICP-MS.

Corning archeological reference glasses A, B, C, and D have been made to simulate different historic technologies of glass production and are used as standards in historic glass investigations. In this work, nanoseconds (193, 266 nm) and femtosecond (800 nm) laser ablation were used to study the elemental composition of Corning glasses using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The determined concentrations of 26 oxides (Li(2)O, B(2)O(3), Na(2)O, MgO, Al(2)O(3), SiO(2), P(2)O(5), K(2)O, CaO, TiO(2), V(2)O(5), Cr(2)O(3), MnO, Fe(2)O(3), CoO, NiO, CuO, ZnO, Rb(2)O, SrO, ZrO(2), SnO(2), Sb(2)O(5), BaO, PbO, Bi(2)O(3)) are compared with values reported in the literature. Results show variable discrepancies between the data, with the largest differences found for Cr(2)O(3) in Corning A; Li(2)O, B(2)O(3), and Cr(2)O(3) in Corning B; and MnO, Sb(2)O(5), Cr(2)O(3), and Bi(2)O(3) in Corning C. The best agreement between the measured and literature values was found for Corning D. However, even for this reference, glass re-evaluation of the data was necessary and new values for PbO, BaO, and Bi(2)O(3) are proposed.

Relation between the concentration of zinc in maternal whole blood and the risk of an infant being born with an orofacial cleft.

We investigated the relation between concentrations of maternal zinc and copper and the risk of an infant being born with an orofacial cleft. We did a case-control study using 116 mothers of children with isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate (cleft group), and 64 mothers of unaffected children (control group). Mothers with a whole blood zinc concentration of 47.1 micromol/L or less had a risk 2.5 times higher of having a child with an orofacial cleft than those with a higher concentration (or level) (95% CI 1.03-6.23; p<0.05). A low zinc concentration combined with a high copper concentration was seen only in the cleft group. This evidence suggests an association between concentrations of maternal zinc and the risk of orofacial clefts in offspring.

Ca(2+) -dependent plant response to Pb(2+) is regulated by LCT1.

Tobacco plants transformed with TaLCT1 were cultured on Knop's medium with modified calcium concentrations (0.01-3 mM) in the presence of Pb(2+), and in soil contaminated by lead. A 4-5 microM Pb(2+) administered in the presence of 1 mM Ca(2+) inhibited the root growth of transgenic plants to much lesser degree than of control plants, whereas in the presence of 3mM Ca(2+) no differences were found between the studied lines. The reduction of Pb(2+) toxicity in the presence of 1 mM Ca(2+) was not accompanied by a change in the lead tissue concentration. However, when Ca(2+) level in the medium was lowered to 0.01 mM, several fold higher root/shoot Pb ratio in transgenic plants was observed, twofold increase in the total amount of metal accumulated, and lower concentration of Pb in the xylem sap. Results suggest the involvement of TaLCT1 in the regulation of Ca-dependent Pb-detoxification, and under conditions of low calcium in lead uptake and distribution.

Towards a new conservation method for ancient manuscripts by inactivation of iron via complexation and extraction.

The aim of this work was to study the efficiency of extraction of iron from model paper samples by use of different ligands (deferoxamine mesylate, the potassium-magnesium salt of phytic acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) at varied concentrations (0.01, 0.005, and 0.001 mol L(-1)) and pH (7, 8, 9). Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was used to monitor the total amount of iron in solutions of the respective ligands. Two types of model were used to investigate the behaviour of various iron species present in ancient iron-gall ink. Requirements for the optimal procedure, which could possibly be used in the conservation of ancient manuscripts, included high effectiveness of iron extraction from samples which modelled free iron ions (samples "Fe"), while iron deposited in the form of ink (samples "A") should remain without any visible change of the ink's intensity. The best results were achieved with the solution of 0.005 mol L(-1 )diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (pH=9), which allowed extraction of 97+/-1% of iron from "Fe" model samples and only 64+/-1% from "A" samples.

Topochemical investigation of ancient manuscripts.

Various modern instrumental techniques for surface analysis were applied for the non-destructive physicochemical examination of works of art. As samples, pieces of ancient manuscripts endangered by iron-gall ink corrosion were used. Surface characterisation of the morphology of the cellulose fibres within corroded and non-corroded parts of the manuscript performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed seriously damaged cellulose fibres in the written parts. The elemental composition of selected parts of the manuscript was determined by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDX). A more detailed study of the paper surface was then performed by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). This technique yields the morphological characteristics of the surface as well as element distribution maps over the written area of the investigated manuscript.

Performance of permanent iridium modifier in the presence of corrosive matrix in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

The influence of up to 16% HNO3, 28% HCl, and the mixture of both acids in aqua regia on the analytical performance of electrodeposited modifiers (Ir or Ir+Pd) was evaluated and discussed. Cadmium was used as an example of volatile elements often determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). In the presence of HCl, the maximum pyrolysis temperature that could be applied was found to be 600 degrees C. In the presence of HNO3 and aqua regia, both modifiers stabilized cadmium up to 800 degrees C. The long-term performance of electrodeposited Ir or Ir+Pd was not influenced by mineral acids; moreover the tube lifetime was significantly prolonged compared with a non-modified tube.

The application of solid sorbents for the purification of aluminum contaminated chemicals used as modifiers in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

Various microcolumns with solid sorbents (ion exchange resins, functionalised cellulose sorbents, chelating resins) have been tested with respect to their ability for the purification of aluminum contaminated chemicals used as modifiers in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The purification of NaNO(3), Mg(NO(3))(2), K(2)SO(4) and (NH(4))(2)HPO(4) has been the most effective with an almost 100% efficiency, when Spheron-Oxine was used as chelating resin. The sorption of aluminum from KOH solution has been found to be very high (around 90%) for all investigated sorbents. However, the best results have been obtained with anion-exchange resins. It has been difficult to purify concentrated mineral acids (HCl, H(2)SO(4)). A retention of aluminum above 80% has been achieved only when Cellex P, Chelex 100 or Amberlite XAD-2 have been used.

Determination of bismuth in rabbit blood serum and tissues after administration of pharmaceuticals containing Bi2O3.

The content of bismuth in blood serum, kidneys and brain of rabbits was determined after Ventrisol and its foreign analogue administration. The results indicate the lock of essential differences between Bi (III) content in biological material under the study.

Speciation of mercury in human whole blood by capillary gas chromatography with a microwave-induced plasma emission detector system following complexometric extraction and butylation.

Methyl- and inorganic mercury were extracted from human whole blood samples, as their diethyldithiocarbamate complexes, into toluene and butylated by using a Grignard reagent. The mercury species were then separated by gas chromatography (on a 12 m non-polar DB-1 capillary column) and detected by a microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectrometric (GC-MPD) system. The accuracy and precision of the proposed method were established by the analysis of Seronorm lyophilized human whole blood standards for methyl- and inorganic mercury. No statistical difference (t-test) between the sum of these two species determined by the GC-MPD based method and the recommended total mercury concentrations in the Seronorm samples was observed. Results for the determination of methyl- and inorganic mercury in 60 controls and 90 previously occupationally exposed (to inorganic mercury) workers are presented to illustrate the practical utility of the proposed method. No significantly elevated inorganic mercury concentrations between the two groups were evident.

Effect of halogenated solvents on iron atomization in graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectroscopy.

When an iron solution in an organic solvent is examined by atomic-absorption spectroscopy, the signal decreases to below that for a comparable aqueous solution. This effect is most pronounced for halogen-containing solvents because of volatility of FeCl(2), and a change in the atomization curve with a shift towards higher temperatures for atomization. When the cuvette is pretreated with halogenated solvent a double peak is observed. The first peak corresponds to that found for aqueous solvents, the second may be correlated with the peak for iron in a halogenated solvent. The peaksplitting effect of such a solvent increases with halogen:hydrogen ratio in the solvent. The halogen penetrates the structure of the graphite cuvette and probably forms strong carbon-haloge. compounds which modify the atomization conditions for iron. When water is introduced hydrogen halide is formed, which removes the excess of halogen from the atomization region.