Plasma manganese, selenium, zinc, copper, and iron concentrations in patients with schizophrenia

A number of essential trace elements play a major role in various metabolic pathways. Selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) are essential trace elements that have been studied in many diseases, including autoimmune, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. However, the findings of previous research on the status of trace elements in patients with schizophrenia have been controversial. We studied these elements in patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia and compared them with sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Plasma Cu concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.01) and Mn and Fe concentrations were lower (p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively) in schizophrenic patients than in controls. Se and Zn concentrations and protein levels did not differ between patients and healthy controls. These observations suggest that alterations in essential trace elements Mn, Cu, and Fe may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, findings from trace element levels in schizophrenia show a variety of results that are difficult to interpret.     

An elemental correlation study in cancerous and normal breast tissue with successive clinical stages by neutron activation analysis

Influence of trace elements in body metabolism and their physiological importance in various diseases have motivated their accurate and quantitative determination in biological tissues and fluids. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) using short and long term irradiation has been employed to determine five minor elements (Cl, K, Na, Mg, P) and 15 trace elements (As, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Rb, Sb, Se, Sc, Sr, and Zn) in cancerous and normal breast tissue from 30 patients of four clinical stages. Several elements show enhancement in cancerous breast tissue. Selenium shows maximum enhancement of 94.7% followed by K (81.6%), Sc (66.7%), Cu (58.2%), Na (48.5%), P (44.4%), and Zn (39.2%). Some element, such as Fe, Cr, and Mn, are depressed by 30.8, 30.1, and 12.8%, respectively. These elements compete for binding sites in the cell, change its enzymatic activity and exert direct or indirect action on the carcinogenic process accelerating the growth of tumors. This is further evidenced by histopathological examination of cancerous cells showing poor cytological differentiation. An attempt has been made to correlate trace element concentrations of Se, Cu, Zn, Rb, Br, Hg, As, Co, Fe, Cr, and Mn and the ratios of Se/Zn, K/P, Cu/Zn, Na/K, and Se/Fe with the clinical stages of cancer. Inhibition of enzymatic activity caused by variation in trace element concentrations results in immunological breakdown of the body system.     

Classification of herbal mixtures on the basis of some metals content using pattern recognition techniques

The purpose of this study was to investigate the content of trace elements in relation to the composition of domestic herbal mixtures. Cluster analysis, principal components analysis, and self-organizing maps were applied to identify existing relationships. The concentrations of Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn in 81 samples of herbal mixtures were determined with application of FAAS. The study showed that the levels of trace elements in some herbal mixtures of the same composition were comparable. The projection of herbal samples onto topological maps of adjustable sizes allowed recognition of the identical herbal preparations characterized by dissimilar levels of trace elements. The elements which played the most important role in recognition of the herbal samples were Mn, Ni, Zn and partly Cu, Fe and Cd.     

Multi-element analysis of trace element levels in human autopsy tissues by using inductively coupled atomic emission spectrometry technique (ICP-AES).

Autopsy tissue samples from the brain front lobe, cerebellum, heart, kidney (cortex and medulla), liver, pancreas, spleen and ovary were analysed for AL, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr and Zn in 30 (17 women and 13 men) subjects ranging in age from 17 to 96 years at Haukeland University Hospital in Norway. The tissues were selected from macroscopically normal organs and samples were handled according to guidelines recommended to avoid contamination in the pre-analytical phase. Concentration of the trace elements were determined by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry technique (ICP-AES). In most tissues the concentrations of the essential trace elements followed the order Fe> Zn> Cu> Mn> Se> Cr> Co except in the ovary where Se was higher than Mn. The liver was the major site of deposition for Co, Cu and Mn as well as the spleen for Co, brain front lobe for Cu and pancreas for Mn. Ba, Sr and Ni built up in the ovary foLLowed by the kidney. Older subjects accumulated Ba and Sr in most tissues, whereas Al accumulated in the kidney cortex and Cd in the brain cerebellum. Generally males had higher concentrations of trace elements in the different tissue sampLes than females with the exception of Mn in the brain front lobe and heart and Sr in the liver. ICP-AES is a useful method to assess the concentration and the profiLe of trace elements in human autopsy tissues.     

Bioaccumulation of trace metals in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from a fish farm with copper-alloy mesh pens and potential risk assessment

Concentrations of trace metals were determined in the muscle tissue, digestive gland and gills of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from different locations around an offshore copper alloy fish farm. Levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) as mg/kg wet weight in the edible part of the mussels collected from distant zone (upstream Zn7.33 > Fe2.8 > Cu0.13 > Mn0.07 and downstream Zn9.9 > Fe5.67 > Cu0.18 > Mn0.17) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those sampled from the cage zone (bottom panel Zn22.25 > Fe13.75 > Cu2.39 > Mn0.85 and cage frame Zn17.1 > Fe8.74 > Cu1.39 > Mn0.26). Trace metal concentrations in mussels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the samples from the frame and bottom panel of the copper alloy mesh pen, compared to those from distant areas, namely the farm affected downstream -and non-affected upstream locations. However, the rates of target hazard quotients (THQ) for all tested trace metals from all locations in the present study were smaller than “one” (THQ < 1), indicating that the consumption of mussels grown around a cage farm with copper alloy mesh pens were within safe limits and did not exceed maximum levels suggested by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and European Union (EU) regulations for seafood consumption.     

Deposition of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in the empty body of growing lambs of the breed German Merino Landsheep

A growth experiment with 108 lambs (breed: German Merino Landsheep) was carried out to examine the effect of gender, body weight (BW) and feeding intensity on the deposition of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in the empty body (whole animal minus contents of the gastrointestinal tract and bladder). The lambs (50% female and 50% male animals) were fed at three feeding levels ('low', 'medium' and 'high' by varying daily amounts of concentrate and hay) and slaughtered at different final BWs (30, 45 or 55 kg). Six male and six female animals were killed at a BW of 18 kg representing the animals' BW at the beginning of the comparative slaughter experiment. There were significant main effects for the treatments growth rate and final weight on the daily rate of accretion of the trace elements examined. Feeding intensity had a marked influence on the accretion rate for Fe (P < 0.001), Zn (P < 0.001), Cu (P < 0.001) and Mn (P = 0.003). With increasing feeding intensity (low, medium, high) the daily deposition of these trace elements increased (4.4, 5.2, 6.6 mg/day for Fe; 4.9, 5.5, 6.9 mg/day for Zn; 0.20, 0.36, 0.44 mg/day for Cu; 0.14, 0.16, 0.21 mg/day for Mn). Heavier final BW led to increased daily retention of Zn (P < 0.001) and Mn (P = 0.002). Gender had a marked influence only on the accretion rate for Zn (P < 0.001). Ram lambs had a higher daily deposition of this element than female lambs. Related to 1000 g empty body gain, the following concentrations were found for the trace elements examined: Fe 26.1 mg, Zn 30.0 mg, Cu 1.41 mg and Mn 1.04 mg. A feeding influence was given for Zn (P < 0.001) and Cu (P = 0.039). Feeding level low had higher Zn and lower Cu concentrations. Male animals showed less Fe (P < 0.001) and Zn (P = 0.034) per kg empty body gain than females.     

A search for trace elements in some human intracranial tumors by instrumental neutron activation analysis

A investigation was undertaken to measure the presence of trace elements in some intracranial tumors using the instrumental neutron activation analysis technique. The following 20 minor and trace elements were investigated: Na, Mg, Al, P, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sb, I, and Cs. Our results are compared with other trace element analyses in human brain tissue.     

Manganese-Induced Effects on Cerebral Trace Element and Nitric Oxide of Hyline Cocks

Exposure to Manganese (Mn) is a common phenomenon due to its environmental pervasiveness. To investigate the Mn-induced toxicity on cerebral trace element levels and crucial nitric oxide parameters on brain of birds, 50-day-old male Hyline cocks were fed either a commercial diet or a Mn-supplemented diet containing 600, 900, 1,800 mg kg^?1. After being treated with Mn for 30, 60, and 90 days, the following were determined: the changes in contents of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), selenium (Se) in brain; inducible nitric oxide synthase-nitric oxide (iNOS-NO) system activity in brain; and histopathology and ultrastructure changes of cerebral cortex. The results showed that Mn was accumulated in brain and the content of Cu and Fe increased. However, the levels of Zn and Se decreased and the Ca content presented no obvious regularity. Exposure to Mn significantly elevated the content of NO and the expression of iNOS mRNA. Activity of total NO synthase (T NOS) and iNOS appeared with an increased tendency. These findings suggested that Mn exposure resulted in the imbalance of cerebral trace elements and influenced iNOS in the molecular level, which are possible underlying nervous system injury mechanisms induced by Mn exposure.     

Aortic ascorbic acid, trace elements, and superoxide dismutase activity in human aneurysmal and occlusive disease

Altered trace elements and ascorbic acid metabolism have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, their role in the disease process, or the effect of atherosclerosis on their tissue levels within plaque, is poorly understood. The present study analyzes the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn, and ascorbic acid and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in tissue samples from 29 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and 14 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease (AOD). It was observed that the Fe and Mn concentrations in AAA and AOD tissue were higher than the levels in nondiseased control aorta, whereas Cu and Zn levels in AAA and AOD tissue were similar to the levels in controls. The Zn:Cu ratio was significantly lower in the AAA tissue in comparison to both AOD and control tissue. In addition, AAA and AOD tissue had low ascorbic acid levels and low Cu,Zn-SOD activity with Cu,Zn-SOD:Mn-SOD ratios of 0.27 and 0.19, respectively, compared to a ratio of 3.20 in control aorta. These data indicate that aorta affected by aneurysms and occlusive disease have altered trace element and ascorbic acid concentrations, as well as low Cu,Zn-SOD activity. Although these observations do not directly support the hypothesis that AAA is associated with aortic Cu deficiency they do suggest a role for oxygen radicals or increased lipid peroxidation in occlusive and aneurysmal disease of the aorta.     

南四湖区农田土壤有机质和微量元素空间分布特征及影响因素

基于地统计学和GIS技术相结合的方法,研究了南四湖区农田土壤有机质和微量元素的空间分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明,土壤有机质和微量元素均属中等变异程度,除硼符合正态分布外,其余土壤属性均符合对数正态分布。结构分析表明,除硼为纯块金效应外,土壤有机质和其它微量元素空间自相关性较强,其中结构性因素起主导作用。克里格插值结果表明,土壤有机质分布总体趋势为由北向南逐渐降低,锰、铜、锌分布总体趋势为中部高,南北两端低。影响因素分析表明,土壤类型、耕层质地、坡度、土地利用类型和地貌类型对土壤有机质均有显著影响。土壤类型主要是由于成土母质的差异影响土壤有机质的高低与分布,随质地由砂变粘、坡度由低变高,土壤有机质含量逐步升高,田间管理水平的差异是造成不同土地利用类型下土壤有机质含量差异的主要原因。微量元素中,除硼不受影响外,铁、锰、铜和锌与土壤类型、耕层质地、坡度、土地利用类型和地貌类型密切相关。     

The effects of copper, manganese and zinc on plant growth and elemental accumulation in the manganese-hyperaccumulator Phytolacca americana

Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to estimate major, minor and trace elements in Cu-, Zn- and Mn-treated Phytolacca americana. The effects of the addition of Cu, Zn and Mn on morphological parameters, such as root length, shoot height, and fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, were also examined. In addition, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidases (GPX) and catalase (CAT) and the expression of Fe-SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD, metallothionein-2 and glutathione S-transferase (GST) exposed to the highest amounts of Cu, Zn or Mn were detected. Our results confirmed the following: (1) Zn supplementation leads to chlorosis, disturbed elemental homeostasis and decreased concentrations of micro- and macroelements such as Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca and K. Cu competed with Fe, Mn and Zn uptake in plants supplemented with 25μM Cu. However, no antagonistic interactions took place between Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe uptake in plants supplemented with 100μM Cu. Mn supplementation at various concentrations had no negative effects on elemental deficits. Mn was co-located with high concentrations of Fe and Zn in mature leaves and the concentrations of macro elements were unchanged. (2) P. americana supplemented with increased concentrations of Zn and Cu exhibited lower biomass production and reduced plant growth. (3) When plants were supplemented with the highest Zn and Cu concentrations, symptoms of toxicity corresponded to decreased SOD or CAT activities and increased APX and GPX activities. However, Mn tolerance corresponded to increased SOD and CAT activities and decreased POD and APX activities. Our study revealed that heavy metals partially exert toxicity by disturbing the nutrient balance and modifying enzyme activities that induce damage in plants. However, P. americana has evolved hyper accumulating mechanisms to maintain elemental balance and redox homeostasis under excess Mn.     

鄂西自治州黄芪等药用植物中硒等微量元素的测定

我们用原子吸收分光光度法和荧光分光光度法测定了鄂西自治州近20种药用植物的含硒量,并同时测定了其中锌、铁、锰、铜等人体必须的微量元素含量,结果显示,半数植物含硒量较高,所有植物中锌、铁、锰、铜含量丰富。     

Trace element studies on four species of Fusarium.

Trace element studies were carried out on four species of Fusarium: F. moniliforme, F. solani, F. poae and F. bulbigenum. Out of fifteen trace elements tested, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mo and B were found to be essential for growth and sporulation of all these species of Fusarium. Optimum concentrations in ppm of essential trace elements of these fungi were as follows: F. moniliforme Fe 1.0, Zn 0.1, Mn 0.1, Cu 0.1, Mo 0.1, B 1.0-10.0; F. solani Fe 1.0, Zn 10.0, Mn 0.1, Cu 0.01, Mo 1.0, B 0.1; F. poae Fe 1.0, Zn 0.1, Mn 0.1, Cu 1.0, Mo 0.1, B0.1, F. bulbigneum Fe 10.0, Zn 1.0, Mn 1.0, Cu 1.0, Mo 0.01, B 1.0. Concentrations higher than the optimum were inhibitory to the respective fungi.     

Significance of magnetic resonance image and blood manganese measurement for the assessment of brain manganese during total parenteral nutrition in rats

In this study, we report on the influence of trace elements (TE) on signal intensities of nuclear magnetic resonance images (MRI), both in vivo and in vitro. Optimal parameters for the assessment of Mn concentration in the brain of rats on total parenteral nutrition were established. For the in vitro study, Mn and trace element solutions, one containing Zn, Cu, Fe, and I (TE-4) and another containing the above elements plus Mn (TE-5), were diluted with physiological saline or with rat brain homogenate and used to measure signal intensities in MRI. Concentration-dependent signal hyperintensity was observed in both cases in the Mn and the TE-5 solutions, but no effect was observed with the TE-4 solution. The signal increase was greater for brain tissue homogenates. In the in vivo study, the experimental animals were maintained under total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with a standard clinical dose of TE-5 and/or with 10-fold the clinical dose of TE-4 and TE-5 for 1 wk. Only rats that were receiving the increased TE-5 dose showed signal hyperintensity on MRI. Positive correlations were observed among the signal hyperintensity, the blood Mn concentrations, and that of the rat brain. Our results suggest that Mn in TE preparations may be the cause of signal hyperintensity on MRI in a concentration-dependent fashion, and that MRI and measurement of blood Mn may be used to estimate Mn accumulation in brain tissue.     

Effects of nitrogen and water addition on trace element stoichiometry in five grassland species

A 9-year manipulative experiment with nitrogen (N) and water addition, simulating increasing N deposition and changing precipitation regime, was conducted to investigate the bioavailability of trace elements, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in soil, and their uptake by plants under the two environmental change factors in a semi-arid grassland of Inner Mongolia. We measured concentrations of trace elements in soil and in foliage of five common herbaceous species including 3 forbs and 2 grasses. In addition, bioaccumulation factors (BAF, the ratio of the chemical concentration in the organism and the chemical concentration in the growth substrate) and foliar Fe:Mn ratio in each plant was calculated. Our results showed that soil available Fe, Mn and Cu concentrations increased under N addition and were negatively correlated with both soil pH and cation exchange capacity. Water addition partly counteracted the positive effects of N addition on available trace element concentrations in the soil. Foliar Mn, Cu and Zn concentrations increased but Fe concentration decreased with N addition, resulting in foliar elemental imbalances among Fe and other selected trace elements. Water addition alleviated the effect of N addition. Forbs are more likely to suffer from Mn toxicity and Fe deficiency than grass species, indicating more sensitivity to changing elemental bioavailability in soil. Our results suggested that soil acidification due to N deposition may accelerate trace element cycling and lead to elemental imbalance in soil–plant systems of semi-arid grasslands and these impacts of N deposition on semi-arid grasslands were affected by water addition. These findings indicate an important role for soil trace elements in maintaining ecosystem functions associated with atmospheric N deposition and changing precipitation regimes in the future.     

Response of liver and heart trace elements in rats to the interaction between dietary zinc and iron

An analysis of the interaction between dietary iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) was performed by using data from Sprague-Dawley rats in a 5 x 4 fully crossed factorially arranged experiment. The concentrations of 9 trace elements from the liver and 10 from the heart were determined and subjected to diverse statistical analyses and were classified by their response to the interaction between dietary Fe and Zn. The interaction was studied by using analysis of variance (ANOVA), discriminant analysis, and logistic regression to determine the direction of interaction; that is, did dietary Fe affect dietary Zn or did dietary Zn affect dietary Fe? The use of discriminant analysis allowed for using multiple parameters (rather than a single parameter) to determine possible interactions between Fe and Zn. Thus, two main levels of interaction were studied: the separate response of each tissue mineral and the response of some grouped minerals. The responses studied were the effect of dietary Zn on tissue trace element parameters, the effect of dietary Fe on the parameters, the effect of dietary Zn on combined (grouped) parameters, and the effect of dietary Fe on combined parameters. As determined by ANOVA, only three individual trace elements--liver Fe, Cu, and Mo--were significantly affected by the interaction between Fe and Zn. However, a broader interaction between Fe and Zn is revealed when groups of, rather than single, trace elements arestudied. For example, an interaction between dietary Fe and Zn affects the weighted linear combination of heart Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, P, and Zn. This article presents the hypothesis that grouped parameters may be useful as status indicators. The complete dataset can be found at http://www.gfhnrc.ars. usda.gov/fezn.     

CYCLING OF Mn,Fe, Cu AND Zn BY EELGRASS,ZOSTERA MARINA L

Significant (P < 0.005) differences in Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations were found in different parts of eelgrass plants; i.e., roots and rhizomes, live blades, attached dead blades, and detritus. Imported vs. exported suspended particles of eelgrass blades did not differ in Mn, Fe, Cu or Zn content. Significant location effects, which varied with the type of plant tissue, were noted for Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn for three grass beds in the vicinity of Beaufort, NC. In simplified Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn budgets, eelgrass biomass is the largest biological reservoir, while eelgrass growth, senescence, and decomposition constitute the largest biological flux of these elements in this ecosystem.     

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔骨骼无机化学成分的研究Ⅱ.必需微量元素

本文报道了高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔整体骨骼及头骨、脊柱骨和下肢骨中Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ、Ｃｏ、Ｎｉ、Ｍｏ、Ｃｒ、Ｔｉ、Ｆ、Ｓｅ和Ｇｅ１２种必需微量元素的含量,并进行了显著性差异和相关性分析。结果表明：只有Ｃｕ的含量在两种动物骨骼中没有显著性差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）,其余１１种元素均有显著性或极显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０５或Ｐ＜０．０１）,其中Ｚｎ、Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ、Ｃｏ、Ｎｉ、Ｍｏ、Ｆ和Ｓｅ的含量,高原鼢鼠＞高原鼠兔,而Ｃｒ、Ｔｉ和Ｇｅ的含量,高原鼠兔＞高原鼢鼠。微量元素在头骨、脊柱骨和下肢骨中分布很不均衡,以头骨的微量元素最为丰富     

Serum Levels of Trace Elements and Heavy Metals in Patients with Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke

Trace elements are essential components of biological structures, but alternatively, they can be toxic at concentrations beyond those necessary for their biological functions. Changes in the concentration of essential trace elements and heavy metals may affect acute hemorrhagic stroke. The aim of this study was to measure serum levels of essential trace elements [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg)] and heavy metals [cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb)] in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke. Twenty-six patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke and 29 healthy controls were enrolled. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (UNICAM-929) was used to measure serum Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Co, Mn and Mg concentrations. Serum Cd, Pb and Fe levels were significantly higher in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke than controls (p < 0.001), while serum Cu, Zn, Mg and Mn levels were significantly lower (all p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to serum Co levels (p > 0.05). We first demonstrate increased Cd, Pb, and Fe levels; and decreased Cu, Zn, Mg, and Mn levels in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke. These findings may have diagnostic and prognostic value for acute hemorrhagic stroke. Further studies are required to elucidate the roles of trace elements and heavy metals in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke.     

Brain Trace Element Concentration of Rats Treated with the Plant Alkaloid, Vincamine

Trace elements are essential for normal brain functions. Tiny amounts of these elements help in the formation of neurotransmitters and involved in the antioxidant defense and intracellular redox regulation and modulation of neural cells. Vincamine is a plant alkaloid used clinically as a peripheral vasodilator that increases cerebral blood flow and oxygen and glucose utilization by neural tissue to combat the effect of aging. Neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging characterized by a disturbance in trace element levels in the brain. The objective of this study was to determine the level of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), Selenium (Se), and chromium (Cr) in the brain of rats treated with vincamine. Vincamine was injected i.m. to rats at a dose of 15 mg/Kg bodyweight daily for 14 days. Twenty-four hours after the last injection, rats were killed, and brains were ashed and digested by concentrated acids and analyzed for trace elements concentrations by flame emission atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that Zn was the highest trace element in the brain of control rats (3.134?±?0.072 ppm) and Cr was the lowest (0.386?±?0.027 ppm). Vincamine administration significantly (p?<?0.01) reduced the brain Fe concentration (1.393?±?0.165 ppm) compared to control (2.807?±?0.165 ppm). It was concluded that Zn was the highest trace element in the brain of rats. Vincamine administration resulted in approximately 50% reduction in brain Fe concentration which suggests its beneficial effect to prevent the oxidative stress of Fe in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s diseases.