Evaluation of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and nickel in biological samples (scalp hair, serum, blood, and urine) of Pakistani viral hepatitis (A - E) patients and controls.

BACKGROUND: The aim of present study was to compare the level of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in biological samples (serum, blood, urine, and scalp hair) of patients suffering from different viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E; n = 521) of both genders, age range 31 - 45 years. For comparative study, 255 age-matched control subjects of both genders residing in the same city were selected as referents. METHODS: The digests of all biological samples were analysed for Cd, Pb, and Ni by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The validity and accuracy of the methodology was checked by using certified reference materials (CRMs) and with those values obtained by conventional wet acid digestion method on the same CRMs. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that the mean values of As, Cd, Ni, and Pb were higher in blood, serum, and scalp hair samples of hepatitis patients than age-matched control subjects. The urinary levels of these elements were found to be higher in the hepatitis patients than in the age-matched healthy controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with literature-reported data, confirming that the overload of these toxic elements can directly cause lipid peroxidation and eventually hepatic damage.

Status of essential trace metals in biological samples of diabetic mother and their neonates.

OBJECTIVE: There is accumulating facts that the metabolism of essential trace elements is altered in diabetic patients. The aim of present study was to compare the status of essential trace elements, chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (whole blood, urine and scalp hair) of insulin dependent diabetic mothers (age ranged 30-40) and their newly born infants (n = 76). An age matched 68 non-diabetic mothers and their infants, residing in the same locality, were selected as referents. For a comparative study, the biological samples of non-diabetic and diabetic pregnant and non pregnant of same age group and socio-economics status were also analysed. METHODOLOGY: The biological samples (scalp hair, blood and urine) were collected from study and referent groups. The Cr, Mn and Zn concentrations in all three biological samples were determined by a flame/electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer, prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology was checked by certified reference materials (CRMs) and using conventional wet acid digestion method on same CRMs. RESULTS: The mean values of Cr, Mn and Zn in scalp hair and blood samples of diabetic mothers and their infants were significantly lower as compared to the referent mothers-infants pairs (p < 0.01), while urinary excretion of all these elements were high in diabetic mother-infant pair samples. CONCLUSION: The deficiencies of essential trace elements, Cr, Mn and Zn in biological samples of diabetic women, may play role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and impacts on their neonates.