Determination of urinary beryllium, arsenic, and selenium in steel production workers.

Some of the most pernicious dangers of pollution arise from the presence of traces of toxic elements in the environment. In this work, we report on the determination of beryllium, arsenic, and selenium in the urine of steel production and steel quality control (QC) workers, in comparison to healthy control subjects. The urine samples were digested by a microwave system. Graphite furnace and hydride atomic absorption was used for the quantitative measurements of Be and As and Se, respectively. A quality control method for these procedures was established with concurrent analysis of Standard Trace Metals 7879 Level II and NIST SRM 2670 (Toxic Elements in Freeze Dried Urine). The results show that the urinary levels of these elements in steel production (As, 38.1 +/- 28.7 microg/L; Be, 1.58 +/- 0.46 microg/L, and Se, 69.2 +/- 28.8 +/- g/L) and in quality control workers (As, 23.9 +/- 18.1 microg/L; Be, 1.58 +/- 0.46 microg/L, and Se, 54.8 +/- 25.1 microg/L) are significantly higher than in the controls (As, 10.3 +/- 8.7 microg/L; Be, 0.83 +/- 0.46 microg/L; and Se, 32.3 +/- 13.5 microg/L). The possible connection of these elements with the etiology of disease and the possible role of selenium as a protective agent against the oncogenic and teratogenic action of other substances is discussed. We suggest the need for improvement of environmental conditions in the workplace through better ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.

Determination of urinary arsenic, mercury, and selenium in steel production workers.

The fumes and dust of trace elements and their compounds are very toxic and have been related to an increase in the incidence of diseases. Occupational exposure to toxic metals and metalloids can be determined by means of workplace air measurements and biological monitoring. The aim of our investigation was to determine the concentrations of As, Hg, and Se in urine samples under routine clinical laboratory conditions. To assess the reliability of these methods, critical factors such as detection limit(s), calibration range(s), cost, accuracy, and precision were studied. The method was employed for the quantitative determination of arsenic, mercury, and selenium in urine samples from steel production and quality control workers and healthy unexposed controls. After pretreatment with acids, the samples were digested by means of a microwave oven. Arsenic was determined by hydride atomic absorption spectrometry and mercury was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry, whereas selenium was determined by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicate those urinary arsenic, mercury, and selenium levels of the exposed workers are significantly higher than those of the controls. The possibility that these elements are involved in the etiology of diseases is discussed and recommendations are made to improve workplace ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.

Determination of urinary trace elements (As, Hg, Zn, Pb, Se) in patients with Blackfoot disease.

An endemic peripheral vascular disorder resulting in gangrene of the lower extremities, especially of the feet, is called 'Blackfoot disease (BFD)'. Clinically, the symptoms and signs of Blackfoot disease are similar to those of Buerger's disease. In this study, the objective is to examine the amount of arsenic, mercury, zinc, lead, and selenium in urine samples from BFD patients. After pre-treatment with acids, the samples were digested by means of a microwave oven. The determination of arsenic mercury, zinc, lead and selenium were by hydride atomic absorption spectrometry (HAAS), cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS), flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), graphite furnace absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), respectively. The results indicated that urinary arsenic, mercury and lead of the BFD patients were significantly higher than those of the normal controls, while urinary zinc and selenium were significantly lower than those of the normal controls. The possibility that these elements are involved in the etiology of diseases is discussed.

Determination of urinary zinc, chromium, and copper in steel production workers.

The aim of our investigation was to determine the concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Cr in urine samples under routine clinical laboratory conditions. To assess the reliability of these methods, critical factors such as detection limit(s), calibration range(s), cost, accuracy, and precision were studied. Our method was employed for the quantitative determination of zinc, chromium, and copper in urine samples from steel production and quality control (QC) workers and healthy unexposed controls. After pretreatment with acids, the samples were digested via a microwave oven. Zinc was determined by flame absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS), whereas chromium and copper were determined by a graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAAS). Our results indicate that urinary zinc, chromium, and copper levels of the exposed workers are significantly higher than those of the controls. The possibility that these metals are involved in the etiology of diseases is discussed and recommendations are made to improve workplace ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.

Simultaneous determination of urinary zinc, cadmium, lead and copper concentrations in steel production workers by differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry.

The determination of toxic metals in urine is an important clinical screening procedure. In this study, differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry on a hanging mercury drop electrode was used for the simultaneous determinations of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper in the urine of 23 production and 23 quality control workers in a steel production plant and their matched normal controls. The urine specimens were pre-treated with a mixed acid solution and Analytical Products Group set-point laboratory standards were used to check the analytical accuracy. The results indicated that the urinary zinc, cadmium, lead and copper levels of the production and quality control workers are significantly higher than those of the controls. The possible connection of these elements with the etiology of disease is discussed. The results also show the need for immediate improvements in workplace ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.

Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia and moderate instability of CAG triplet expansion in the androgen-receptor gene. Lipid, sex hormone and molecular study in a Chinese family with Kennedy-Alter-Sung disease.

Kennedy-Alter-Sung (KAS) disease in a hereditary lower motor neuron disease. In this study, we investigate 2 KAS patients presenting with progressive muscle weakness and wasting, action tremor, perioral fasciculation and gynecomastia. Three carriers and 5 healthy members from this 3-generation KAS Chinese family and 60 normal Chinese controls were included in this study. Hormone studies revealed normal serum level in thyrotropin, prolactin, testosterone, leuteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and estradiol. Lipid study disclosed type IV hyperlipoproteinemia in 2 KAS patients and 3 healthy members. Molecular studies revealed that the number of CAG triplet repeats in the first exon of androgen receptor gene of the normal allele is in the range of 15-19 and 12-25 in this family and normal controls, respectively. However, the number of CAG repeat of androgen receptor gene were unstable in the mutant alleles with a range of 41-45 and increased from generation to generation (genomic anticipation) in the 2 KAS patients and 3 female carriers. We conclude that the CAG triplet repeats in mutant allele were unstable in the family with the KAS disease. Furthermore, type IV hyperlipoproteinemia may be a co-transmitted syndrome in the family with KAS disease.

Absence of FMR-1 gene expression can be detected with RNA extracted from dried blood specimens.

Fragile X syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by abnormal function of the FMR-1 gene. The majority of fragile X syndrome patients carry an expansion of the CGG tri-nucleotide repeat in the FMR-1 gene, whereas others have a deletion or a point mutation in the FMR-1 structural gene. In this report, we analyzed a typical family with three male patients. RNA from Epstein-Barr virus transformed lymphoblastoid cells was used for RNase protection assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Five normal individuals and one asymptomatic heterozygote from this family expressed detectable FMR-1 transcripts, whereas three fragile X patients showed no sign of expression with either assay. To extend the application of this PCR-based assay to laboratory diagnosis of fragile X syndrome, we confirmed that dried blood samples collected on screening filter papers for newborns are an adequate source of RNA for RT-PCR. Moreover, fragile X patients from the study family and another family were reliably identified by the absence of the FMR-1-specific PCR product from the dried blood specimens. Our studies indicate that this simple assay can be used to diagnose the fragile X syndrome for the majority of male patients.

[Study on urinary arsenic, lead and cadmium concentrations in a steel production workers].

Lead and cadmium levels in urine specimens were determined simultaneously by polarographic method, and arsenic by hydride atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The urine specimens were pretreated with a mixed acid solution and ORTHO bilevel urine metal control and APG Setpoint standard were used to check the analytical accuracy. The results showed the total arsenic [As], lead [Pb], cadmium [Cd] levels in the production and the quality control workers, were significantly higher than those in the control. The results indicate the need for an immediate improvement in workplace ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.

Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in urine of patients with blackfoot disease using anodic stripping voltammetry.

Blackfoot disease (BFD) is an endemic peripheral vascular disorder resulting in gangrene of the lower extremities, especially the feet, among residents in a limited area on the southwest coast of Taiwan. In the present study, the concentrations of zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper in urine of BFD patients with matched normal controls are investigated by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The analytical results indicate that urinary copper, cadmium, and lead of the BFD patients are significantly higher than those of the controls. In addition, the patients showed a significantly lower concentration of zinc in the urine than the normal controls. The possible connection of these elements with the etiology of the disease is discussed.

Thermal compatibility of titanium-porcelain system.

Porcelain-fused-to metal systems are popular in restorative dentistry. Residual stress caused by a mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficient of metal and porcelain induce clinical failure of the restoration. Titanium and its alloys have been gradually used in dentistry for their adequate strength, good corrosion resistance and excellent biocompatibility. Their oxidation characteristics and low thermal expansion coefficients capacitate for matching the low fusing porcelains. This investigation examined thermal compatibility of pure titanium with two low fusing porcelains and one high fusing porcelain. Thermal expansion coefficients (alpha) of pure titanium and porcelains were measured from room temperature to 600 degrees C at a mean heating rate of 5 degrees C/min. Difference in thermal expansion values (delta alpha) was also calculated to present the residual stress in each titanium-porcelain pairs. The bonding patterns of titanium to each opaque was demonstrated similar results from the predictions of alpha and delta alpha values.

Oxidation effects on porcelain-titanium interface reactions and bond strength.

Titanium is strong, resists corrosion and has a low density and excellent biocompatibility. Conventional ceramic-metal restorations have been extensively used in dentistry because of their esthetic appearance and good mechanical properties. This study investigates oxidation effects on the porcelain-titanium interface reactions and bond strength. Pure titanium was treated in a porcelain furnace at temperatures of 600 to 1000 degrees C under either vacuum or air. X-ray diffraction analysis of the surface of pure titanium revealed that the relative peak intensity of alpha-Ti decreased and that of TiO2 increased, with increasing firing temperature. The Vickers hardness number of titanium increased with temperature especially over 900 degrees C, and was harder in air than in vacuum. The tension-shear bond strength of the porcelain-titanium system was the highest in the green stage and lowest after 900 degrees C treatment. Metallographic microscopy of the porcelain-titanium interface revealed a thick band-like zone in the sample treated over 900 degrees C. The excess thick layer of TiO2 apparently weakened the bond strength of porcelain-titanium. Unlike the conventional ceramic-gold alloy system the recommended degassing procedure was not suitable for porcelain-pure titanium restoration.

Thermal oxidation effect on porcelain-titanium restoration.

Titanium has good corrosion resistance, light density, high strength and excellent biocompatibility. Conventional ceramicmetal restorations were used extensively in dentistry because of their esthetic appearance and good strength properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of various thermal treatments on the bond strength and physical properties of the porcelain-titanium system. Pure titanium was treated in a porcelain furnace at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1000 degrees C, under vacuum and in air, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the relative peak intensity of alpha-Ti was decreased, while the TiO2 was increased when raising the firing temperature. The vickers hardness number was increased at elevated temperatures, especially over 900 degrees C, and firing in air was harder than under vacuum. The tension-shear bond strength was highest in the green stage and lowest in the 1000 degrees C treated group. The metallographic microscopic of the porcelaintitanium interface revealed a thick band-like zone in the 1000 degrees C treated sample. Therefore it seems that the excess oxidation layer of TiO2 weakened the bond strength of porcelain-titanium. Contrary to the conventional ceramic-gold alloys system, the recommended degassing procedure was not suitable for the porcelain-titanium restoration.