Effects of hemodialysis period on levels of blood trace elements and oxidative stress.

INTRODUCTION: As a treatment method for chronic renal failure (CRF), hemodialysis (HD) alters inorganic components containing trace elements. It was shown that decreased renal function is accompanied by insufficient antioxidant systems and/or increased free oxygen radicals. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of HD on trace element levels and oxidative stress markers. METHODS: We included 111 CRF patients on HD treatment three times a week and 24 healthy controls. Patients were divided into four groups according to HD duration. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls and total sulfhydryl (-SH) levels, zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg) levels, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured from blood taken from patients before HD. RESULTS: SH levels and SOD activity in all groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.001). All groups had significantly higher plasma MDA levels than did controls (p < 0.001). Whereas there was no significant difference in -SH levels and SOD activity between groups, increased periods of HD were associated with increases in MDA. MDA levels of the third and fourth groups were significantly higher than in the first and second groups (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference of Zn, Cu, Mg, and protein carbonyl levels in and between all groups. However, plasma Cu levels and MDA concentrations were correlated (r = 0.26, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Prolonged exposure to HD can cause increased oxidative damage but has no effect on trace element concentration.

Cadmium exposure from the cement dust emissions: a field study in a rural residence.

The cement dust is one of the causes of pollution in the environment. In the present study, the cadmium concentrations of soil and plant specimens taken from a rural area exposed to cement factory emissions were determined and also the blood concentrations and sensitivity conditions in humans residing in this rural area were investigated. The 108 soil (36 for control) and plant specimens were collected from eight different directions of the cement plant located in Cukurhisar town in Eskisehir city. Blood samples of the individuals residing in this area were taken from 258 subjects (258 for control) following a physical examination, and patch tests were also applied. The results show that the cadmium concentrations of the soil and plant specimens taken from different places in different directions of the factory were higher than in the control areas. The physical examination of subjects did not reveal results different from those of the control group except for the diagnosis of contact dermatitis. The analysis of venous blood samples showed that cadmium concentrations were found to be within the reference values given for both groups, but higher in the subjects (p<0.001). According to the results of patch tests, sensitivity to cadmium was found to be more frequent for the subject group than the control group (p<0.05). Those results show that, although clinical tools revealed no toxic effects for the subject, except contact dermatitis, the cement plant increases cadmium pollution on the surrounding environment.

The concentration of Zn, Mg and Mn in calcium oxalate monohydrate stones appears to interfere with their fragility in ESWL therapy.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) has remained the preferred method of treatment of urinary stones since its introduction in 1980. Although SWL is classified as a potential first-line treatment for renal stones smaller than 2 cm and its overall success rate is higher than 85% for stone clearance, not all renal calculi are successfully fragmented after SWL. Among the urinary stones, calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) stone is one of the hardest stones to fragment. Several factors interfering with stone fragility are known to exist. In addition to technical properties for SWL to increase the quality and rate of stone disintegration, the composition of stones such as trace element levels may also interfere with the efficacy of SWL. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to elucidate the correlation, if it exists, between fragmentation of renal stones and their trace element (Cu, Zn, Mg, Fe, Pb, Mn, Cr) concentrations. For this purpose, the patients admitted to our department who were identified with urinary stones (740 patients) and underwent SWL sessions were evaluated prospectively. Patients having 5-20 mm of solitary COM stone in the renal pelvis were included in this study. The trace element concentrations of renal stones that were successfully fragmented with SWL (SWL-S) were compared with those that were unsuccessfully fragmented after three SWL sessions (SWL-US) and removed surgically. Our measurements showed that the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Pb, and Cr were similar in both groups; by contrast, the concentration of Zn, Mg and Mn was significantly lower in SWL-US renal stones. The present results suggest that low concentrations of Zn, Mg and Mn in COM stones appear to make them resistant to SWL fragmentation and may offer a critical distinction for the choice of a treatment program.

Nickel exposure and its effects.

The aim of the study was to determine the nickel concentrations of soil and plant specimens taken from a rural area exposed to cement factory emissions and also to determine the blood concentrations and sensitivity conditions observed in humans residing in this rural area. The study was carried out in Cukurhisar, a town in Eskisehir-Turkey, between May 2000 and March 2001. Beside the 108 soil (36 for control) and plant specimens, which were taken from 8 directions from the cement factory, blood samples of the individuals residing in this area were taken from 258 subjects (258 for control) following a physical examination, and patch tests were also applied. The nickel concentrations of the soil and plant specimens taken from different places in different directions of the factory were higher than in the control areas. The physical examination of subjects did not reveal results different from those of the control group except for the diagnosis of contact dermatitis. The analyses of venous blood samples showed that nickel concentrations were found to be within the reference values given for both groups, but higher in the subjects (p < 0.001). According to the results of patch tests, sensitivity to nickel was found to be more frequent for the subject group than the control group (p < 0.05). According to these results, clinical tools revealed no toxic effects for the subjects, except contact dermatitis. However, sensitivity to patch tests showed that this subject group has been affected compared to the control group and that this effect increased with age.