Effect of a high-fat diet and chromium on hormones level and Cr retention in rats.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine how the administration of a high-fat diet supplemented with various forms of chromium to rats affects accumulation of this element in the tissues and levels of leptin, ghrelin, insulin, glucagon, serotonin, noradrenaline and histamine, as well as selected mineral elements. METHODS: The experiment was conducted on 56 male Wistar rats, which were divided into 8 experimental groups. The rats received standard diet or high fat diet (HFD) with addition of 0.3 mg/kg body weight of chromium(III) picolinate (Cr-Pic), chromium(III)-methioninate (Cr-Met), or chromium nanoparticles (Cr-NP). RESULTS: Chromium in organic forms was found to be better retained in the body of rats than Cr in nanoparticles form. However, Cr-Pic was the only form that increased the insulin level, which indicates its beneficial effect on carbohydrate metabolism. In blood plasma of rats fed a high-fat diet noted an increased level of serotonin and a reduced level of noradrenaline. The addition of Cr to the diet, irrespective of its form, also increased the serotonin level, which should be considered a beneficial effect. Rats fed a high-fat diet had an unfavourable reduction in the plasma concentrations of Ca, P, Mg and Zn. The reduction of P in the plasma induced by supplementation with Cr in the form of Cr-Pic or Cr-NP may exacerbate the adverse effect of a high-fat diet on the level of this element. CONCLUSION: A high-fat diet was shown to negatively affect the level of hormones regulating carbohydrate metabolism (increasing leptin levels and decreasing levels of ghrelin and insulin).

Validation of a simple sample preparation method for multielement analysis of bovine serum.

Here we propose a single acid digestion (SAD) sample preparation method for ICP-MS analysis of animal serum samples to determine trace element contents. The method was evaluated in comparison with a commonly used procedure involving dilution of samples in an alkaline solution (AKD). In the SAD procedure, aliquots (1 mL) of bovine serum samples were treated at low temperature with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Trace elements (As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, U, and Zn) were directly determined by ICP-MS analysis of diluted solutions of samples. Both methods were sufficiently sensitive to enable quantification of most trace elements, with the exception of the AKD method for Cd, Hg and Pb. The quality of the data was verified by using certified reference material. Good results were obtained for the SAD procedure and all elements, but recoveries were unacceptable with the AKD procedure for Se (recovery: 57%), Cd (154%) and Fe (139%). Strong associations (R2>0.90, P = 0.000) between the data obtained by both methods were demonstrated for the elements considered. The proposed SAD sample preparation method produced satisfactory results for determining most toxic and essential trace elements targeted in monitoring studies.

Propuesta de una nueva clasificación de los oligoelementos para su aplicación en nutrición, oligoterapia, y otras estrategias terapéuticas / Proposal of new trace elements classification to be used in nutrition, oligotherapy and other therapeutics strategies

Objetivos: 1) Proponer una nueva clasificación de los oligoelementos fundamentada en el estudio detallado de las investigaciones más recientes sobre los mismos; 2) ofrecer información detallada y actualizada sobre todos los oligoelementos. Resultados: el análisis de todos los resultados de investigación consultados pone de manifiesto que los avances en las técnicas de análisis molecular permiten dilucidar la importancia que presentan ciertos oligoelementos para la salud humana. Se ofrece un análisis detallado de la función catalítica que podrían tener determinados elementos no considerados hasta ahora como esenciales o posiblemente esenciales, gracias al uso de plataformas informáticas que permiten el análisis integrado de datos sobre enzimas. Asimismo se presenta información integrada y actualizada del papel fisiológico, cinéticas y metabolismo, fuentes dietéticas y factores que propician la carencia o la toxicidad de cada uno de los oligoelementos. Conclusiones: La Oligoterapia plantea el uso de oligoelementos catalíticamente activos con fines terapéuticos. La nueva clasificación de oligoelementos planteada en este trabajo será de interés para diversos sectores profesionales: médicos y demás personal sanitario, nutricionistas, farmacéuticos, etc. Así podrán diseñarse nuevas estrategias terapéuticas que permitan paliar la sintomatología de diversas patologías, en particular las enfermedades carenciales y metabólicas (AU)

Objectives: 1) to propose a new classification of the trace elements based on a study of the recently reported research; 2) to offer detailed and actualized information about trace elements. Results: the analysis of the research results recently reported reveals that the advances of the molecular analysis techniques point out the importance of certain trace elements in human health. A detailed analysis of the catalytic function related to several elements not considered essential o probably essentials up to now is also offered. To perform the integral analysis of the enzymes containing trace elements informatics tools have been used. Actualized information about physiological role, kinetics, metabolism, dietetic sources and factors promoting trace elements scarcity or toxicity is also presented. Results: Oligotherapy uses catalytic active trace elements with therapeutic proposals. The new trace element classification here presented will be of high interest for different professional sectors: doctors and other professions related to medicine; nutritionist, pharmaceutics, etc. Using this new classification and approaches, new therapeutic strategies could be designed to mitigate symptomatology related to several pathologies, particularly carential and metabolic diseases (AU)

[COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TRACE ELEMENT COMPOSITION OF HAIR IN URBAN RESIDENTS OF WESTERN SIBERIA].

There was performed a study of the element status (hair analysis) of the population of the two cities of Western Siberia: Surgut (n = 350) and Omsk (n = 385). Detection of elements was performed by atomic emission and mass spectrometry methods. The population of Surgut when compared with residents of Omsk bioelements were characterized by a more high content of B, Cu, Co, Fe, Mg, I, Zn (p < 0.001), and a lower content of Cr, Se (p < 0.001). Scarce elements for Omsk residents were 1, Se. In hair of Surgut residents in more higher concentrations there were detected toxic and potentially harmful elements such as Pb, Hg, Be, Cd, Li, Sn (p < 0.001). At the same time there were lower than in Omsk residents values of concentrations of Al, As, V In comparison groups there are established statistically significant differences of coefficients used for the evaluation of the metabolic activity, such as the Na/K, Ca/K, Na/Mg, Fe/Cu. In a sample of the city of Surgut coefficients Ca/K, Fe/Cu and "toxicity index" had the high values. The established differences in the availability of macro- and trace elements for the population of territories are determined by climatogeographic, geochemical features and the specificity of the structure of nutrition.

Modeling horizontal and vertical variation in intraurban exposure to PM2.5 concentrations and compositions.

Land use regression (LUR) models are increasingly used to evaluate intraurban variability in population exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). However, most of these models lack information on PM2.5 elemental compositions and vertically distributed samples. The purpose of this study was to evaluate intraurban exposure to PM2.5 concentrations and compositions for populations in an Asian city using LUR models, with special emphasis on examining the effects of having measurements on different building stories. PM2.5 samples were collected at 20 sampling sites below the third story (low-level sites). Additional vertically stratified sampling sites were set up on the fourth to sixth (mid-level sites, n=5) and seventh to ninth (high-level sites, n=5) stories. LUR models were built for PM2.5, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), and zinc (Zn). The explained concentration variance (R(2)) of the PM2.5 model was 65%. R(2) values were >69% in the Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Si, and Zn models and <44% in the K and S models. Sampling height from ground level was a significant predictor in the PM2.5 and Si models. This finding stresses the importance of collecting vertically stratified information on PM2.5 mass concentrations to reduce potential exposure misclassification in future health studies. In addition to traffic variables, some models identified gravel-plant, industrial, and port variables with large buffer zones as important predictors, indicating that PM from these sources had significant effects at distant places.

[Proposal of new trace elements classification to be used in nutrition, oligotherapy and other therapeutics strategies]. / Propuesta de una nueva clasificación de los oligoelementos para su aplicación en nutrición, oligoterapia, y otras estrategias terapéuticas.

OBJECTIVES: 1) to propose a new classification of the trace elements based on a study of the recently reported research; 2) to offer detailed and actualized information about trace elements. RESULTS: the analysis of the research results recently reported reveals that the advances of the molecular analysis techniques point out the importance of certain trace elements in human health. A detailed analysis of the catalytic function related to several elements not considered essential o probably essentials up to now is also offered. To perform the integral analysis of the enzymes containing trace elements informatics tools have been used. Actualized information about physiological role, kinetics, metabolism, dietetic sources and factors promoting trace elements scarcity or toxicity is also presented. RESULTS: Oligotherapy uses catalytic active trace elements with therapeutic proposals. The new trace element classification here presented will be of high interest for different professional sectors: doctors and other professions related to medicine; nutritionist, pharmaceutics, etc. Using this new classification and approaches, new therapeutic strategies could be designed to mitigate symptomatology related to several pathologies, particularly carential and metabolic diseases.

Objetivos: 1) Proponer una nueva clasificación de los oligoelementos fundamentada en el estudio detallado de las investigaciones más recientes sobre los mismos; 2) ofrecer información detallada y actualizada sobre todos los oligoelementos. Resultados: el análisis de todos los resultados de investigación consultados pone de manifiesto que los avances en las técnicas de análisis molecular permiten dilucidar la importancia que presentan ciertos oligoelementos para la salud humana. Se ofrece un análisis detallado de la función catalítica que podrían tener determinados elementos no considerados hasta ahora como esenciales o posiblemente esenciales, gracias al uso de plataformas informáticas que permiten el análisis integrado de datos sobre enzimas. Asimismo se presenta información integrada y actualizada del papel fisiológico, cinéticas y metabolismo, fuentes dietéticas y factores que propician la carencia o la toxicidad de cada uno de los oligoelementos. Conclusiones: La Oligoterapia plantea el uso de oligoelementos catalíticamente activos con fines terapéuticos. La nueva clasificación de oligoelementos planteada en este trabajo será de interés para diversos sectores profesionales: médicos y demás personal sanitario, nutricionistas, farmacéuticos, etc. Así podrán diseñarse nuevas estrategias terapéuticas que permitan paliar la sintomatología de diversas patologías, en particular las enfermedades carenciales y metabólicas.

Application of boosting classification and regression to modeling the relationships between trace elements and diseases.

The study on the relationship between trace elements and diseases often need to build a classification/regression model. Furthermore, the accuracy of such a model is of particular importance and directly decides its applicability. The goal of this study is to explore the feasibility of applying boosting, i.e., a new strategy from machine learning, to model the relationship between trace elements and diseases. Two examples are employed to illustrate the technique in the applications of classification and regression, respectively. The first example involves the diagnosis of anorexia according to the concentrations of six elements (i.e. classification task). Decision stump and support vector machine are used as the weak/base algorithm and reference algorithm, respectively. The second example involves the prediction of breast cancer mortality based on the intake of trace elements (i.e. a regression task). In this regard, partial least squares is not only used as the weak/base algorithm, but also the reference algorithm. The results from both examples confirm the potential of boosting in modeling the relationship between trace elements and diseases.

La nutrición, su relación con la respuesta inmunitaria y el estrés oxidativo / Nourishment and its relation with inmunitary response and oxidative stress

Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica sistemática sobre la nutrición. Se clasifican los nutrientes como las proteínas, carbohidratos y grasas además de los oligoelementos (vitaminas y minerales), necesarios en la dieta para el buen funcionamiento del organismo. Se revisaron artículos relacionados con el tema de los últimos 10 años, en Inglés y Español, disponibles en la red telemática de Infomed. Se realiza un análisis sobre los principales antioxidantes que se ingieren con la dieta, debido al efecto dañino que provocan los radicales libres en el organismo; por otro lado, se explica cómo la manipulación nutricional de la inmunidad puede tener implicaciones clínicas (inmunodeficiencia celular, humoral y déficit fagocítico), biológicas y terapéuticas, además de abordar el efecto que tiene una adecuada nutrición sobre los principales mecanismos de defensa del organismo. De esta revisión bibliográfica, se deduce la importancia de conocer y establecer una terapia nutricional adecuada no solamente para mantener una apariencia física saludable, sino para lograr disminuir los mecanismos de estrés oxidativo y mejorar nuestras defensas.

It is a systematic bibliographic review about nutrition. Nutrients are classified as proteins, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals, needed in diet for the well functioning of the human being. These last decade’s articles were reviewed, all related to the topic and written in English and Spanish, well available at the Infomed intranet. An analysis is done about the main antioxidants ingested by diet, due to the harmful effect that free radicals cause in the organism ; on the other hand it is explained how nutritional manipulation of immunity may have clinical ( cellular immunodeficiency, humoral and phagocitic weakness), biological and therapeutic implications. Besides, it is approached the effect that an adequate nutrition may have on the main defense mechanisms of the organism. Out of this bibliographic review, it is deductible the importance of an adequate nutrition to maintain a proper physical appearance and to diminish the oxidative stress mechanisms and improve our defenses.

La Nutrición, su relación con la respuesta ninmunitaria y el estrés oxidativo / Nourishment and its relation with inmunitary response and oxidative stress

Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica sistemática sobre la nutrición. Se clasifican los nutrientes como las proteínas, carbohidratos y grasas además de los oligoelementos (vitaminas y minerales), necesarios en la dieta para el buen funcionamiento del organismo. Se revisaron artículos relacionados con el tema de los últimos 10 años, en Inglés y Español, disponibles en la red telemática de Infomed. Se realiza un análisis sobre los principales antioxidantes que se ingieren con la dieta, debido al efecto dañino que provocan los radicales libres en el organismo; por otro lado, se explica cómo la manipulación nutricional de la inmunidad puede tener implicaciones clínicas (inmunodeficiencia celular, humoral y déficit fagocítico), biológicas y terapéuticas, además de abordar el efecto que tiene una adecuada nutrición sobre los principales mecanismos de defensa del organismo. De esta revisión bibliográfica, se deduce la importancia de conocer y establecer una terapia nutricional adecuada no solamente para mantener una apariencia física saludable, sino para lograr disminuir los mecanismos de estrés oxidativo y mejorar nuestras defensas(AU)

It is a systematic bibliographic review about nutrition. Nutrients are classified as proteins, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals, needed in diet for the well functioning of the human being. These last decades articles were reviewed, all related to the topic and written in English and Spanish, well available at the Infomed intranet. An analysis is done about the main antioxidants ingested by diet, due to the harmful effect that free radicals cause in the organism ; on the other hand it is explained how nutritional manipulation of immunity may have clinical ( cellular immunodeficiency, humoral and phagocitic weakness), biological and therapeutic implications. Besides, it is approached the effect that an adequate nutrition may have on the main defense mechanisms of the organism. Out of this bibliographic review, it is deductible the importance of an adequate nutrition to maintain a proper physical appearance and to diminish the oxidative stress mechanisms and improve our defenses(AU)

Evaluating selenium poisoning.

Selenium poisoning in humans is reviewed from the perspective of the clinical laboratory. While evaluation of selenium poisoning is straightforward when the analytic results are markedly elevated and the patient is acutely symptomatic, distinguishing toxic from non-toxic elevations is a more frequent issue and more challenging. A significant problem is that selenium is determined as its total concentration in spite of the fact that different chemical forms of selenium have different toxic potentials. In the published reports reviewed herein, serum selenium concentrations span the following ranges: 400-30,000 micro g/L associated with acute toxicity, 500-1400 micro g/L associated with chronic toxicity, and <1400 micro g/L free of toxicity; the category is determined by signs and symptoms in the patient. Most reports that describe acute selenium poisoning involve ingestion of inorganic compounds such as selenious acid, found in gun-bluing agents, and fatalities that occur within the first day are associated with postmortem blood selenium levels >1400 micro g/L. Tissue selenium levels show a complex pattern and significant elevations in organs such as kidney are not always indicative of toxicity. As with many trace elements, measuring selenium concentrations in body fluids and tissues tends to be easier than understanding what the results mean.

Trace elements and cognitive impairment: an elderly cohort study.

Dementia is one of the most pressing public health problems with social and economic implication. The form called cognitive impairment non-dementia (CIND)represents a subclinical phase of dementia. Different studies have shown a possible effect of micro- and macro-nutrients on cognitive function. Trace elements, being involved in metabolic processes and redox reactions in the central nervous system (CNS), could influence the cognitive functions. This study evaluated the presence of an eventual correlation between serum trace element concentrations and cognitive function in a group of subjects with CIND and manifest dementia (Alzheimer dementia = AD, and vascular dementia = VaD), and compared them with a control group. Thirty -five patients were enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent a clinical and biochemical examination. We also performed a neuropsychological and functional assessment (the Milan overall dementia assessment = MODA, activities of daily living = ADL, and instrumental activities of daily living = IADL), and a computerized tomographic (CT) cerebral scan. Patients were than divided in 4 groups according to the obtained diagnosis (Controls, CIND, AD, VaD). The presence of any acute or chronic conditions, affecting cognitive functions, was considered as exclusion criteria. A blood sample was collected to determine iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu),molybdenum (Mo) and aluminium (Al) serum concentrations (chromatographic,spectrophotometric methods). In our cohort we found a positive correlation between cognitive function, expressed as the MODA score, and Se, Cr, Co and Fe serum levels,while a negative correlation was observed between MODA score, Cu and Al serum levels.Moreover, some statistically significant differences in Se, Cr, Co, Cu and Al concentrations were found among the groups. According to these results, we may suppose that Se, Cr and Co protect cognitive function, Cu influences the evolution of cognitive impairment, while Al contributes to the pathogenesis of AD.

[Trace elements and trace element therapy update]. / Oligoelementele si oligoterapia în actualitate.

Starting from the importance of the trace elements in basic biochemical mechanisms from the human organism, the present role of trace elements therapy, as part of allopathic therapy, is discussed. The ideal properties of trace elements, the therapeutic concepts regarding trace elements, the main pharmaceutical forms that contain them, and their most important uses are presented.

Oligoelementos conocidos y expresados : oligoelementos y salud / Know and expressed trace elements : health and trace elements

Se clasifican los elementos químicos en nutrientes (macro y micro, esenciales y beneficiosos), tóxicos y contaminantes, con ejemplos. Se especifican los tipos de toxicidad que pueden producir algunos oligoelementos, geno, terato y neurotoxicidad incluyendo en esta última la toxicidad conductual. Se discute la conveniencia de conocer la carga corporal real de oligoelementos y los medios para hacerlo. Se discuten los datos que pueden obtenerse con su determinación en sangre, orina y cabellos y la ventaja de estos últimos como índice de la carga corporal. Se discuten las vías de ingreso de estos elementos al organismo usando como ejemplo el plomo, sus posibles efectos tóxicos y el mecanismo de tales efectos. Se ejemplifica su importancia con ejemplos para cuatro especialidades clínicas: a) psiquiatría, usando las depresiones como modelo, sus posibles etiologías por excesos o carencias de oligoelementos. b) reproducción, con ejemplos causales de esterilidad. c) pediatría, ejemplificando con los oligoelementos tóxicos. c) dermatología con ejemplos de afecciones por elementos tóxicos. Se destaca la creciente importancia de estos elementos y la necesidad de incrementar su determinación especialmente en cabellos como índice del status corporal.

Oligoelementos conocidos y expresados : oligoelementos y salud / Know and expressed trace elements : health and trace elements

Se clasifican los elementos químicos en nutrientes (macro y micro, esenciales y beneficiosos), tóxicos y contaminantes, con ejemplos. Se especifican los tipos de toxicidad que pueden producir algunos oligoelementos, geno, terato y neurotoxicidad incluyendo en esta última la toxicidad conductual. Se discute la conveniencia de conocer la carga corporal real de oligoelementos y los medios para hacerlo. Se discuten los datos que pueden obtenerse con su determinación en sangre, orina y cabellos y la ventaja de estos últimos como índice de la carga corporal. Se discuten las vías de ingreso de estos elementos al organismo usando como ejemplo el plomo, sus posibles efectos tóxicos y el mecanismo de tales efectos. Se ejemplifica su importancia con ejemplos para cuatro especialidades clínicas: a) psiquiatría, usando las depresiones como modelo, sus posibles etiologías por excesos o carencias de oligoelementos. b) reproducción, con ejemplos causales de esterilidad. c) pediatría, ejemplificando con los oligoelementos tóxicos. c) dermatología con ejemplos de afecciones por elementos tóxicos. Se destaca la creciente importancia de estos elementos y la necesidad de incrementar su determinación especialmente en cabellos como índice del status corporal. (AU)