Effects of Diabetes on Elemental Levels and Nanostructure of Root Canal Dentin.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the nanostructure of root canal dentin using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). METHODS: Twenty extracted human premolars from diabetic and nondiabetic patients (n = 10 in each group) were decoronated and sectioned horizontally into 40 2-mm-thick dentin discs, with each disc designated for a specific test. ICP-MS was used to determine the different elemental levels of copper, lithium, zinc, selenium, strontium, manganese, and magnesium in diabetic and nondiabetic specimens. HRTEM was used to analyze the shape and quantity of the apatite crystals in diabetic and nondiabetic dentin at the nanostructural level. Statistical analysis was performed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Student t test (P < .05). RESULTS: ICP-MS revealed significant differences in trace element concentrations between the diabetic and nondiabetic specimens (P < .05), with lower levels of magnesium, zinc, strontium, lithium, manganese, and selenium (P < .05), and higher levels of copper in diabetic specimens (P < .05). HRTEM revealed that diabetic dentin exhibited a less compact structure with smaller crystallites and significantly more crystals in the 2500 nm2 area (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Diabetic dentin exhibited smaller crystallites and altered elemental levels more than nondiabetic dentin, which could explain the higher root canal treatment failure rate in diabetic patients.

Elemental Profiling of North-East Indian Tea (Camellia sinensis) by ICP-MS and Assessment of Associated Health Risk.

Tea is a perennial crop that requires acidic soil for better plant growth. Due to the acidic nature of tea-growing soil, metals can be easily absorbed by tea plants from growing medium. Other anthropogenic activities are also the major contributor of element in the tea. This study provided a comprehensive database of 24 elements which were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Selected 24 elements belong to alkali metal (Li, Rb, Cs), alkaline earth metal (Be, Sr, Ba), transition metal (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Hg), basic metal (Al, Ga, Sn, Tl, Pb), metalloid (As), non-metal (Se), and actinide (U). Total 321 drier mouth samples were collected during 2020-2021 from eight different regions (Darjeeling, Terai, Dooars, North Bank, Upper Assam, South Bank, Cachar, and Tripura) of north-east India. No inorganic mercury as well as uranium was detected in any tested tea samples. Mean concentrations of Be, As, Ga, Tl, Li, Se, Cd, Ag, Cs, V, Co, and Pb were at trace level, whereas macro-element mean concentrations were distributed in the manner of Al > Mn > Rb > Ba > Zn > Cu > Sr > Cr > Ni > Sn. Human health risk for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic metals was also assessed for the studied elements. Hazard quotients (HQs) and hazard index (HI) values (< 1) for non-carcinogenic elements indicated no risk. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values for carcinogenic elements indicated no risk for As, Cd, and Pb and medium level risk for Ni. Study concluded that north-east Indian tea would not pose any health hazard.

Boron Contents of German Mineral and Medicinal Waters and Their Bioavailability in Drosophila melanogaster and Humans.

SCOPE: Boron is a trace element that naturally occurs in soil, making mineral and medicinal water important contributors to overall intake. Thus, in a systematic screening, the mean boron concentrations of 381 German mineral and medicinal waters are determined. METHODS AND RESULTS: Boron concentrations in mineral and medicinal waters are analyzed by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Highest boron values find in waters from the southwest of Germany. The boron content of the waters is positively correlated with the concentration of most other analyzed bulk elements, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium. Mineral waters with either low (7.9 µg L-1 ), medium (113.9 µg L-1 ), or high (2193.3 µg L-1 ) boron content are chosen for boron exposure experiments in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and humans. In flies, boron-rich mineral water significantly increases boron accumulation, with the accumulation predominantly occurring in the exoskeleton. In humans, serum boron and 24-h urinary boron excretion significantly increase only in response to the intake of boron-rich mineral water. CONCLUSION: Overall, the current data demonstrate that mineral and medicinal waters vary substantially in the content of boron and that boron-rich mineral water can be used to elevate the boron status, both in flies and humans.

Enhancing the lithium content of white button mushrooms Agaricus bisporus using LiNO3 fortified compost: effects on the uptake of Li and other trace elements.

Attempts to bio-enrich fungal biomass with an essential trace elements to produce dietary supplements have some tradition and an example is selenium. Lithium salts have medical applications, but safer forms are sought after, and lithiated foods and food supplements may be an alternative. This study evaluated the lithiation of white Agaricus bisporus mushrooms using commercial compost fortified with LiNO3 and investigated the effects on co-accumulation of trace elements. The fortifications at levels of 1.0, 5.0, 10, 50 and 100 mg·kg-1 dw, resulted in corresponding median increases in mushroom Li concentrations of 0.74, 5.0, 7.4, 19 and 21 mg kg-1 dw, respectively, relative to 0.031 mg kg-1 dw in control mushrooms. The bio-concentration potential for Li uptake decreased at higher levels of fortification, with saturation occurring at 100 mg·kg-1, and the level of 500 mg kg-1 mycelium failed to produce mushrooms. The compost fortification resulted in up to several hundred-fold enrichment of mushrooms compared to those grown on control compost, underlining their potential therapeutic use. At higher fortification levels, some effects were seen on the co-accumulation of other elements, such as Ag (stems), As, Cd, Cr, Cs, Cu, Hg (stems), Mn, Rb, Sr, U (stems) and Zn; 0.05 < p < 0.10), but no effects were seen for Ag (caps), Al, Ba, Co, Hg (caps) Ni, Tl, U (caps), and V (p > 0.05).

High lithium levels in tobacco may account for reduced incidences of both Parkinson's disease and melanoma in smokers through enhanced ß-catenin-mediated activity.

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have higher rates of melanoma and vice versa, observations suggesting that the two conditions may share common pathogenic pathways. ß-Catenin is a transcriptional cofactor that, when concentrated in the nucleus, upregulates the expression of canonical Wnt target genes, such as Nurr1, many of which are important for neuronal survival. ß-Catenin-mediated activity is decreased in sporadic PD as well as in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) and ß-glucosidase (GBA) mutation cellular models of PD, which is the most common genetic cause of and risk for PD, respectively. In addition, ß-catenin expression is significantly decreased in more aggressive and metastatic melanoma. Multiple observational studies have shown smokers to have significantly lower rates of PD as well as melanoma implying that tobacco may contain one or more elements that protect against both conditions. In support, smoker's brains have significantly reduced levels of α-synuclein, a pathological intracellular protein found in PD brain and melanoma cells. Tobacco contains very high lithium levels compared to other plants. Lithium has a broad array of neuroprotective actions, including enhancing autophagy and reducing intracellular α-synuclein levels, and is effective in both neurotoxin and transgenic preclinical PD models. One of lithium's neuroprotective actions is enhancement of ß-catenin-mediated activity leading to increased Nurr1 expression through its ability to inhibit glycogen synthase kinase-3 ß (GSK-3ß). Lithium also has anti-proliferative effects on melanoma cells and the clinical use of lithium is associated with a reduced incidence of melanoma as well as reduced melanoma-associated mortality. This is the first known report hypothesizing that inhaled lithium from smoking may account for the associated reduced rates of both PD and melanoma and that this protection may be mediated, in part, through lithium-induced GSK-3ß inhibition and consequent enhanced ß-catenin-mediated activity. This hypothesis could be directly tested in clinical trials assessing lithium therapy's ability to affect ß-catenin-mediated activity and slow disease progression in patients with PD or melanoma.

Regional Distribution of Longevity Population and Elements in Drinking Water in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, China.

In order to determine the spatial variation of longevity population and elements contained in the drinking water of longevity region in Jiangjin and investigate the relationship between the elements in drinking water and longevity, population censuses on township level and 98 drinking water samples from Jiangjin District, Chongqing City in West China were collected and analyzed. Population statistics on township level showed that the number of centenarians per 100,000 inhabitants (OC), centenarity index (CI), and number of centenarians per 10,000 over 65-year-old subjects (UC) present obvious geographic distribution properties, generally Central region > Northern region > Southern region (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05). Moderate hard water (150 mg/L < total hardness (TH) = 156.17 mg/L < 300 mg/L) was mainly found in drinking water from longevity township (OC > 7.5) in Jiangjin District, whereas soft water (75 mg/L < TH = 111.23 mg/L < 150 mg/L) was mostly in non-longevity township (OC < 7.5). The mean concentration of strontium (Sr) (0.73 mg/L) in drinking water from the longevity township was apparently higher than that of non-longevity township (0.44 mg/L) (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.019 < 0.05). The concentrations of Ba, Li, Mn, Ni, and Se in drinking water from longevity township were also higher than those of non-longevity township (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). The research indicates that exercising strict control over the concentrations of TH, Sr, Ba, Li, Mn, Ni, and Se in drinking water might be good for the health and prolong people's life.

Correlation of lithium bioaccessibility from tea (Camellia sinensis L.) with tea type and consumption habits.

In this study, the total contents, leachability into tea infusions, and bioaccessibility of lithium from black, Earl Grey, and green teas were evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Leachabilities were evaluated after infusion for 2, 5, or 10min. Bioaccessibility was determined in vitro under simulated stomach and intestinal digestion conditions. Addition of lemon juice, sugar, or milk for consumption, and calcium, tannic acid, and citric acid as additives were evaluated to determine if they affected bioaccessibility of lithium from black tea. The bioaccessible lithium contributed to 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.03% of the recommended dietary allowances of lithium for black, Earl Grey, and green tea samples, respectively. These contributions may increase up to 4.4 times or decrease up to seven times with certain additives.

Harvest locations of goose barnacles can be successfully discriminated using trace elemental signatures.

European Union regulations state that consumers must be rightfully informed about the provenance of fishery products to prevent fraudulent practices. However, mislabeling of the geographical origin is a common practice. It is therefore paramount to develop forensic methods that allow all players involved in the supply chain to accurately trace the origin of seafood. In this study, trace elemental signatures (TES) of the goose barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes, collected from ten sites along the Portuguese coast, were employed to discriminate individual's origin. Barium (Ba), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lithium (Li), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), phosphorous (P), lead (Pb), strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) - were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Significant differences were recorded among locations for all elements. A regularized discriminant analysis (RDA) revealed that 83% of all individuals were correctly assigned. This study shows TES can be a reliable tool to confirm the geographic origin of goose barnacles at fine spatial resolution. Although additional studies are required to ascertain the reliability of TES on cooked specimens and the temporal stability of the signature, the approach holds great promise for the management of goose barnacles fisheries, enforcement of conservation policies and assurance in accurate labeling.

Antioxidant value and element content in some tinctures used in medication.

Tinctures are almost the oldest medicines and their use is substantial in the medication nowadays as well. The antioxidant values by ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) method and element content by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) were investigated in some tinctures official in the VII. and VIII. Pharmacopoeia Hungarica. The highest FRAP values were found for volatile oil containing Tinctura Aurantii amari epicarpii et mesocarpii, Tinctura Amara and Tinctura Valerianae (764.54 ± 19.90; 757.37 ± 14.46; 826.40 ± 5.89 µmol l⁻¹, respectively). The correlations between the FRAP values and dilution with different alcohol content in Tinctura Chinae, Tinctura Ipecacuanhae normata and Tinctura Strychni were also investigated. Remarkable differences were found between the element concentrations in the different tinctures. The element contents in tinctures are not so high in absolute values nevertheless the presence of essential selenium, zinc, manganese and copper is important since they have key role in the antioxidant system. The common feature of the tinctures seems to be the lithium content. The Ca to Mg concentration ratio was found to be shifted towards magnesium in some of the tinctures that can show a higher Mg absorption which could affect against the proinflammatoric processes in the cases of gastrointestinal diseases.

Lithium in drinking water and suicide mortality: interplay with lithium prescriptions.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effects of lithium intake through drinking water on suicide. This intake originates either from natural rock and soil elution and/or accumulation of lithium-based pharmaceuticals in ground water. AIMS: To examine the interplay between natural lithium in drinking water, prescribed lithium-based pharmaceuticals and suicide in Austria. METHOD: Spatial Bayesian regressions for males, females and pooled suicide mortality rates were estimated. RESULTS: Although the expected inverse association between lithium levels in drinking water and suicide mortality was confirmed for males and for total suicide rates, the relationship for females was not significant. The models do not indicate that lithium from prescriptions, assumed to accumulate in drinking water, is related to suicide risk patterns either as an individual effect or as a moderator of lithium levels in drinking water. Gender-specific differences in risk factors and local risk hot spots are confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings do not support the hypotheses that lithium prescriptions have measureable protective effects on suicide or that they interact with lithium in drinking water.

Dentin decalcification during lithium treatment: case report.

Severe dental decay and changes in tooth structure have been reported in association with the use of lithium in Psychiatry, but lithium effects on tooth inorganic composition remain unknown. A 30-year-old woman with bipolar disorder, treated with lithium carbonate presented severe dental decay. Dentin samples from lithium and healthy volunteers were collected and submitted to ionic and ultrastructural analysis. Samples from the lithium patient exhibited irregular peritubular walls and the mineral crystals were irregularly arranged in the intertubular dentin. In addition, a decrease in Mg/P/Ca and an increase of Zn concentrations were detected. These data suggest that the severe dental decay and changes in the tooth structure observed for the lithium-treated patient are related to dentin mineral loss and that this pathological condition is different from caries lesions.

Lack of correlation between metallic elements analyzed in hair by ICP-MS and autism.

A cross-sectional case-control study was carried out to evaluate the concentrations of metallic elements in the hair of 44 children with diagnosis of autism and 61 age-balanced controls. Unadjusted comparisons showed higher concentrations of molybdenum, lithium and selenium in autistic children. Logistic regression analysis confirmed the role of risk factor for male gender and showed a slight association with molybdenum concentrations. Unconventional chelation and vitamin-mineral supplementation were ineffective on elemental hair concentrations. A meta-analysis including the present and previous similar studies excluded any association of autism with hair concentrations of mercury, cadmium, selenium, lithium and copper. A slight association was found for lead only, but it was very weak, as strictly dependent on the worst data from one study.

A comparative study of the responses of lithium borate and calcium sulphate phosphors in a TL personal dosemeter.

This work summarises the results of a series of experiences made on Panasonic UD-802AS, a multi-element dosemeter that is currently used in Caorso Nuclear Power Plant for personnel external monitoring. Two main topics have been considered: energy response and the influence of working place dose rate on relative readings of the elements at the end of the monitoring period. The presence of four elements of different materials and filtrations gives the possibility of evaluating radiation energy by a simple algorithm, so that an accurate estimate of the personal dose equivalent can be provided; the good results of the participation of Caorso Individual Monitoring Service (IMS) to 'EURADOS 2008 intercomparison on whole-body dosemeters' account for the reliability of the method. A study on the response in low-dose rate fields is also reported, giving in practice interesting information about operational conditions.

[Determination of lithium in the oil field water by flame atomic absorption spectrometry].

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was applied to the determination of micro amount of lithium in the oil field water of certain area. In order to determine which method is more appropriate for the determination of lithium content in the oil field water, standard curve method and standard addition method were compared. The effects of dilution, coexistent ions, and deionizers on the determination were studied. For the determination of lithium content in the same diluted oil field water samples, there exist obvious differences between the results obtained from standard addition method and standard curve method. Standard addition method gives results with a larger error, whereas standard curve method gives more accurate results. It is difficult to eliminate the interferences when the standard addition method is used. The standard curve method is found to be more suitable for the determination of micro amount of lithium in the oil field water for its accuracy, simplicity, and feasibility. When the standard curve method is used, both the determined lithium concentration and the recovery change with the dilution extent of the oil field water. In order to get an accurate result, the oil field water sample should be diluted to 1/200 or less. In this case, the recovery by standard addition method ranges from 94.3% to 96.9%. When sodium phosphate or sodium chloride is used as the deionizer, the recovery by standard addition method ranges from 94.6% to 98.6%, or from 94.2% to 96.3%. In the determination of lithium content in oil field water, there are larger experimental errors without the addition of any deionizer. When the concentration of coexistent ions is within an allowed range, the addition of sodium phosphate as a deionizer can eliminate the interferences of the coexistent ions with the determination of the lithium content. If sodium chloride is used as a deionizer, a more accurate result can be obtained when the sodium content in the samples is near the sodium content in the standard solutions. In general, under suitable experimental conditions, sodium chloride can be used as the deionizer for the determination of lithium content in the oil field water.

Analysis of regiospecific triacylglycerols by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry(3) of lithiated adducts.

A method of regiospecific analysis of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in vegetable oils and animal fats is reported here using the electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (MS(3)) of TAG-lithiated adducts. The fragment ions of the MS(3) from the loss of fatty acids at the sn-2 position as alpha,beta-unsaturated fatty acids were used for regiospecific identification and quantification. The ratio of the regiospecific TAGs, ABA and AAB, in an oil sample usually fraction collected by high-performance liquid chromatography can be determined by the abundance of the fragment ions of [ABA + Li-ACOOH-B'CH=CHCOOH]+ and [AAB + Li-ACOOH-A'CH=CHCOOH]+. The method was used to analyze regiospecific TAGs in extra virgin olive oil. The results showed that the saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids, were mostly located at the sn-1,3 positions and unsaturated fatty acids, oleic and linoleic acids, were mostly located at the sn-2 position.

Evidence of excessive releases of metals from primitive e-waste processing in Guiyu, China.

Guiyu, China is infamous for its involvement in primitive e-waste processing and recycling activities. Freshwater samples were collected in and outside of Guiyu for dissolved metal analysis. It was found that dissolved metal concentrations were higher in Lianjiang and Nanyang River within Guiyu than the reservoir outside of Guiyu. Lianjiang was enriched with dissolved As, Cr, Li, Mo, Sb and Se, while Nanyang River had elevated dissolved Ag, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Temporal distributions of the metals suggested recent discharges of metals attributable to a strong acid leaching operation of e-waste, where dissolved Ag, Cd, Cu and Ni (0.344+/-0.014, 0.547+/-0.074, 87.6+/-3.0 and 93.0+/-1.4 microg/L, respectively) were significantly elevated. Pb isotopic composition of dissolved Pb confirmed that more than one non-indigenous Pb were present in Lianjiang and Nanyang River. In summary, it was evident that the riverine environment of Guiyu was heavily impacted by e-waste related activities.

Preparation of soybean oil-based greases: effect of composition and structure on physical properties.

Vegetable oils have significant potential as a base fluid and a substitute for mineral oil in grease formulation. Preparation of soybean oil-based lithium greases using a variety of fatty acids in the soap structure is discussed in this paper. Soy greases with lithium-fatty acid soap having C12-C18 chain lengths and different metal to fatty acid ratios were synthesized. Grease hardness was determined using a standard test method, and their oxidative stabilities were measured using pressurized differential scanning calorimetry. Results indicate that lithium soap composition, fatty acid types, and base oil content significantly affect grease hardness and oxidative stability. Lithium soaps prepared with short-chain fatty acids resulted in softer grease. Oxidative stability and other performance properties will deteriorate if oil is released from the grease matrix due to overloading of soap with base oil. Performance characteristics are largely dependent on the hardness and oxidative stability of grease used as industrial and automotive lubricant. Therefore, this paper discusses the preparation methods, optimization of soap components, and antioxidant additive for making soy-based grease.

Determination of trace elements in wines and classification according to their provenance.

Provenance and authenticity of wines can be recognized on the basis of typical mineral and trace element patterns by means of chemometric methods. Therefore analytical methods were developed for the determination of As, Be, Co, Cs, Ga, Li, Nb, Ni, Rb, Te, Ti, W, Y, and Zr as well as Mo, Cd, Sb, Tl, U, and the rare earth elements in wines by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For low risk of contamination or loss of analyte as well as depletion of sample amount and an easy sample pretreatment, direct measurement of diluted wines was studied. The accuracy of the analytical results was proven by recovery experiments by method comparison with standard addition methods and measurement of digested wines. In addition to applying statistical methods for characterizing the precision of the methods, the uncertainty of the measurements was estimated. Results for the elements mentioned above and additional 16 elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, P, Pb, Si, Sn, Sr, V, and Zn) were evaluated by data analytical methods. Due to a specific choice of the analytes for multivariate statistical investigation a prediction rate by cross validation of 88.6% could be achieved.

Serum lithium as a compliance marker for food and supplement intake.

BACKGROUND: Analyzing 24-h urine for lithium after consumption of lithium-tagged foods or supplements provides a validated compliance marker but is laborious. OBJECTIVE: Most studies involve blood sampling; therefore, we tested whether serum lithium concentration could be used as a compliance marker. DESIGN: We used serum lithium as a compliance marker in a dietary trial and an evaluation study. RESULTS: In the dietary trial, 78 volunteers consumed 500 mL yogurt tagged with lithium (250 micromol/d) for 6 wk. Serum lithium increased from 0.9+/-0.3 to 6.6+/-1.5 micromol/L, which was close to the predicted concentration, indicating that the subjects were highly compliant. However, the interindividual variability in serum lithium concentration was large. To test whether this variability resulted from compliance differences or natural variability, we performed an evaluation study: 12 subjects took a lithium supplement (250 micromol/d) for 13 d under supervision. Serum lithium increased from 0.14+/-0.03 to 3.9+/-0.8 micromol/L (range: 2.6-5.4 micromol/L); thus, there was wide interindividual variation in serum lithium despite 100% compliance. However, within-subject variability was small, with a CV of 7% for serum lithium measured on 4 different days. We checked whether taking half the dose on each of 2 d (125 micromol lithium/d) would significantly lower serum lithium. Indeed, serum lithium dropped in all subjects, by a mean of 1.0 micromol/L on the first day (P<0.0001) and by another 0.3 micromol/L on the second day (P = 0.0004). Thus, changes in serum lithium concentration of > or =1.0 micromol/L suggest altered compliance. CONCLUSION: Serum lithium concentrations after intake of lithium-tagged foods or supplements can be used to assess compliance in dietary trials.

A compartmental model predicts that dietary potassium affects lithium dynamics in rats.

Lithium is the treatment of choice for manic depression, but therapy often results in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and lithium intoxication. To investigate the effects of dietary potassium on potential side effects of lithium therapy, a mathematical model was built using the modeling program SAAM (Simulation, Analysis, And Modeling). Experimental data modeled were from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats fed diets with or without lithium and one of three levels of potassium for 17 d. A five-compartment model of lithium dynamics was built that was consistent with data from rats fed a lithium-containing diet adequate in potassium. This model was then compared with data from rats fed the other two lithium-containing diets. The model predicts that both the fractional transfer coefficient and rate of transport of lithium to the serum compartment from the kidney compartment are lower in rats fed the potassium-adequate diet than in those fed the potassium-deficient diet, and even lower in those fed the potassium-supplemented diet. In addition, fractional transfer coefficients into the serum compartment from the sampled and simulated tissue compartments changed differently with time depending on the amount of dietary potassium. The model also predicts that there would be less accumulation of lithium in the kidney, sampled tissue and simulated tissue compartments with supplemental dietary potassium. The model suggests that potassium supplementation, after a 7-d delay, protects against nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and the potentially toxic accumulation of lithium by decreasing the reabsorption of lithium from the kidneys and increasing lithium efflux from the tissues.