Whole blood and serum zinc levels in relation to sex and age

The zinc content in whole blood and serum was determined in 239 healthy males and 217 healthy females by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean level of zinc obtained in whole human blood from males was 607.0 +/- 105.3 micrograms/100 ml and in females 585.2 +/- 122.9 micrograms/100 ml. The mean level of zinc in serum was 116.6 +/- 55.2 micrograms/100 ml and 105.2 +/- 66.9 micrograms/100 ml in males and females respectively. The zinc concentration in whole blood and serum in males proved to be slightly higher than in females though the difference is not statistically significant. For the males a positive correlation was found between age and the zinc level in whole blood and serum; this is only statistically significant in whole blood. In females, the zinc level in whole blood showed a positive correlation with age which was not statistically significant, while in serum this correlation was negative and statistically significant.     

Haematology and blood chemistry of Cebus apella in relation to sex and age

An effective health care program entails the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of medical problems. A knowledge of baseline values in clinically normal individuals is essential for determining the limits between good health and disease and for understanding the changes produced by pathogenic agents. However, very little information is currently available concerning the blood chemistry and haematological values of different species of monkeys, particularly new-world primates. The values of some haematological and chemical parameters in Cebus apella were determined. The aim of the present work was to verify the effect of age and sex on normal blood values. Blood samples were collected once a year for two successive years from 36 monkeys living in large captive social groups. Significant differences between males and females were found for AST, GGT, urea nitrogen and creatinine, erythrocytes, haemoglobin and haematocrit. Significant differences between juveniles and adults were found for calcium, AST, alkaline phosphatase, inorganic phosphorus, glucose, neutrophils, lymphocytes and serum protein parameters.     

Thermoregulation during exercise in relation to sex and age

The thermoregulatory responses to 1 h exercise of 14 male (age range 18--65 year) and 7 female (age range 18--46 year) athletes and 4 (3 male and 1 female) non-athletic subjects have been investigated in a moderate environment (Tdb = 21 degrees C, Twb = 15 degrees C and rh less than 50%) and analysed in relation to age, sex, and maximum aerobic power output (VO2max). The maximal sweat loss (Msw max) under the given conditions was closely related (r = + 0.90) to VO2max and for a given relative work load (%VO2max), rectal (Tre) and mean skin (Tsk) temperatures was the same in all subjects. Sweat loss (Msw) was linearly related to total heat production (H) and to peripheral tissue heat conductance (K) and if expressed in relative terms (%Mswmax) was linearly related to Tre. For a given Tre relative sweat rate was identical in the groups studied. From these results it would seem that during exercise Tre rises to meet the requirements of heat dissipation by establishing a thermal gradient from core to skin and stimulating sweating in proportion to maximal capacity of the system. Thus provided the thermal responses to work were standardised using the appropriate physiological variables, there was no evidence to be found for differences in thermoregulatory function which could be ascribed to sex or age.     

Anti-A and anti-B blood group antibody levels in relation to age in cynomolgus monkeys

Anti-A and anti-B blood group antibody levels were determined with serum samples of 583 cynomolgus monkeys of group-A and group-B, aged from 4 days to 15 years or more. Eight group-A infants free from anti-B antibody at ages of 4 to 25 days were consecutively followed up for the appearance of anti-B antibody. It appeared at ages between 68 and 160 days. Both anti-A and anti-B levels rose with increase in the age and reached a maximum at the age of 4 to 5 years. After that the levels gradually fell with aging.     

Sister-chromatid exchange in childhood in relation to age and sex

Small children have been found to have a lower SCE/cell than adults and in recent reports females have had higher SCEs/cell than males. We here describe the relationship between SCE/cell and age and sex in 46 girls and 39 boys with an age range of 1.4-19.2 years and 2.6-18.7 years, respectively. For the calculation a transformation y = (sum SCE)1/2 + (sum SCE + 1)1/2 was used. The best fit to our material was represented by the equation y = b0 + b1 X log age. A common slope (b1) could be used for the boys and girls. This slope was significantly different from zero (P less than 0.0005). The levels of the regression lines for the two sexes were different (P = 0.0006). The girls had a 0.55-0.7 higher SCE/cell than the boys, depending on age. The following equations were found: Girls: y = 22.49 + 6.53 X log age. Boys: y = 21.11 + 6.53 X log age. By this model 43% of the variation in y could be explained. As a consequence of the result it is absolutely essential, when planning studies of children, to use age-matched groups to decrease the variability of the test system.     

Serum nitric oxide metabolite levels in a general healthy population: relation to sex and age

This study aims at determining serum nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) levels in healthy subjects within the framework of a population-based study. NO(x) concentration was measured in 3505 subjects aged >/=20 years. Subjects with diabetes, renal dysfunction, those undergoing treatment for dyslipidemia and hypertension, were excluded; also excluded were smokers, pregnant women, and subjects with cardiovascular and infectious diseases or cancer; leaving 1983 (667 men, 1316 women) asymptomatic non-smoking subjects for the analysis. NO(x) concentrations were determined in serum and compared in different age groups. Mean+/-SE of NO(x) concentration was 24.8+/-0.02 and 24.4+/-0.01 micromol/l in men and women respectively. Men aged 20-29 years had significantly higher NO(x) levels compared to corresponding women (25.1+/-0.03 vs. 22.7+/-0.02). Serum NO(x) concentration peaked at 50-59 years in both genders. Comparison between lower and upper quartiles of NO(x) levels was performed in both genders. Women with high serum NO(x) were older and had significantly higher body mass index and fasting plasma glucose. The results of this study determine the normal levels of serum NO(x) concentrations in asymptomatic non-smoker subjects; also show that serum NO(x) concentrations indicate sex and age differences in these subjects.     

Influence of age and sex in serum osteocalcin levels in thoroughbred horses.

In this study, we assessed the potential value of free serum osteocalcin or bone gla protein (BGP), the most abundant non collagenous matrix protein found in bone and dentin, to reflect changes of bone turnover in thoroughbred horses. Levels of osteocalcin were analyzed in serum samples of 54 clinically normal animals divided into three groups (A, B, C) according to age: 8, 16-18 and 24-36 months, in order to determine the standard for young horses of different age and sex. Serum BGP was measured by an in-house developed double antibody radioimmunoassay using bovine antigen. The mean BGP levels (ng/ml) were 45.65 +/- 11.69; 33.65 +/- 16.65; 15.08 +/- 6.70 respectively for groups A, B and C; statistically significant differences were found between groups (A vs B and C; Bvs C). Difference between males and females was found significant in group C with higher values in the females: 18.75 +/- 5.00 against 14.43 +/- 10.47 i n the males. This can be considered a sex related effect on BGP serum levels after the onset of puberty. Correlation coefficient between age and serum BGP for females and males were r 5 20.598 ( P < 0.001) and r 5 200.807 (P < 0.001) respectively. A significant negative linear relationship could be established between these two parameters in males during the growth period. The regression equation between serum BGP and age for males was (month of age = 65.14-1.68. BGP). In the female group the gestation and lactation are variables that lower the correlation coefficient between age and serum BGP levels. These results suggest that serum BGP decreases in thoroughbred horses during the growth period, and significant differences between sexes were found only after the onset of puberty.     

Longitudinal study of serum zinc and copper levels in hemodialysis patients and their relation to biochemical markers

A 6-mo longitudinal study of 48 hemodialysis patients (HPs) with chronic renal failure was performed. Three blood samplings were done. Samples of whole blood from each patient were collected during hemodialysis sessions after passing through the artificial kidney. Zinc and copper levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Additionally, 36 biochemical indexes were evaluated during the study. Fifty-two healthy matched controls were also considered. Mean serum zinc and copper concentrations in HPs were significantly decreased (Zn) and increased (Cu), when compared with healthy controls (p<0.01). Zinc concentrations found in the first and second blood samplings from patients were significantly lower than those measured for the third sampling (p<0.01). The etiology of chronic renal failure influenced the statistically serum Zn levels of patients (p<0.05). Serum copper levels of HPs were significantly diminished by the existence of secondary associated diseases (p<0.01). Uric acid and parathyroid hormone, and total-cholesterol and glutamic-pyruvic-transaminase levels were significantly (p<0.05) and linearly related with serum zinc and copper concentrations, respectively. From all of indexes, creatinine, direct bilirubin, magnesium, calcium, parathyroid hormone, transferrin, and albumin were statistically modified along the longitudinal study (p<0.05). Transferrin serum levels were significantly diminished in the third blood sampling, indicating the tendency toward anemia in the patients. This result is reinforced by low levels of biochemical and hematological indexes related with iron body staus.     

Polyamine levels in red blood cells from patient groups of different sex and age

Interpretation of polyamine levels found in the tissues and red blood cells of tumour patients has been plagued by the wide variations seen in the concentrations when estimated in groups of either tumour or control patients. To ascertain whether the patient's age or sex were contributing factors, red blood cell polyamine concentrations of 117 control patients were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Concentrations of spermidine were consistently higher than those of spermine. Also, regression analysis showed that spermidine and spermine levels tended to change with age and sex, though these trends were statistically non-significant.