降钙素原联合SOFA评分对老年脓毒症患者预后的评估价值

目的:探讨降钙素原(procalcitonin,PCT)联合SOFA评分(sequential organ failure assessment,SOFA)对老年脓毒症患者预后的评估价值。方法:选择首都医科大学宣武医院急诊抢救室收治的105例老年脓毒症患者,入院后给予血常规、血清PCT水平、血气分析及生化全项等检查,并进行急性生理及慢性健康状况评分(acute physiology and chronic health evaluation,APACHEⅡ)和SOFA评分。根据预后将患者分成死亡组27例和存活组78例,比较两组组患者血清PCT水平、白细胞(WBC)、SOFA评分和APACHEⅡ评分,同时比较和分析APACHEⅡ评分、血清PCT水平、SOFA评分、PCT和SOFA评分联合预测患者死亡的受试者工作特征曲线(Receiver operating characteristic curve,ROC)下面积。结果:死亡组患者血清PCT水平、SOFA评分和APACHEⅡ评分均明显高于存活组(P0.05),两组WBC比较无统计学差异(P=0.132);PCT预测患者死亡的ROC曲线下面积为0.694(P=0.001),SOFA预测患者死亡的ROC曲线下面积为0.660(P=0.012),APACHE II评分预测患者死亡的ROC曲线下面积为0.852(P=0.001),大于PCT和SOFA评分(P0.05),PCT和SOFA评分联合预测患者死亡的ROC曲线下面积0.761(P=0.001),与APACHE II评分比较无统计学差异(P=0.139)。结论:血清PCT水平联合SOFA评分预测老年脓毒症患者预后的临床价值与APACHE II评分相当,均明显优于血清PCT水平和SOFA评分单项检测。     

IL-23/IL-17轴在脓毒症中的表达及意义

目的:探讨IL-23/IL-17轴在脓毒症患者中的表达及意义.方法:符合诊断标准的脓毒症患者40例,以28天预后为终点,将患者分为存活组(n=21)和病死组(n=19),分析各组病人的急性生理和慢性健康评分(APACHE)Ⅱ和序贯器官衰竭估计(SOFA)评分,同时在入ICU第1天采取外周静脉血做IL-23和IL-17检测,并对病死率和IL-23、IL-17、APACHEⅡ、SOFA做相关性分析.结果:与存活组比较,病死组患者拥有较高的APACHEⅡ和SOFA评分(P<0.01),且外周血的IL-23和IL-17蛋白含量均明显升高(P<0.05).APACHEⅡ和SOFA评分、IL-17和IL-23含量与28天预后有明显的相关性(P<0.05).结论:脓毒症Th17细胞分泌的IL-23/IL-17增加,加重患者病情,在脓毒症发病机制中可能扮演重要角色.     

脓毒症患者炎性因子、凝血功能与APACHEⅡ评分和预后的关系

目的:研究脓毒症患者炎性因子、凝血功能与急性生理学和慢性健康状况Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)评分和预后的关系。方法:选取2017年1月至2018年1月我院收治的脓毒症患者150例为脓毒症组,所有患者根据预后结果分为死亡组(n=49)和存活组(n=101),选择同期在我院住院的非脓毒症患者98例为非脓毒症组,比较脓毒症组与非脓毒症组患者炎性因子、凝血功能指标水平及APACHEⅡ评分,同时比较死亡组和存活组患者炎性因子、凝血功能指标水平及APACHEⅡ评分,并分析脓毒症患者APACHEⅡ评分与炎性因子、凝血功能指标的相关性。结果:脓毒症组患者降钙素原(PCT)、活化部分凝血酶原时间(APTT)、凝血酶原时间(PT)水平及APACHEⅡ评分均高于非脓毒症组,血小板计数(PLT)低于非脓毒症组(P0.05),两组C-反应蛋白(CRP)比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。死亡组患者PCT、APTT、PT水平及APACHEⅡ评分均高于存活组,PLT水平低于存活组(P0.05),两组CRP比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。经Spearman相关性分析结果显示,脓毒症患者APACHEⅡ评分与PCT、APTT、PT均呈正相关关系,与PLT呈负相关关系(P0.05),与CRP无相关性(P0.05)。结论:脓毒症患者PCT、APTT、PT水平明显上升,PLT水平明显下降,且均与患者的APACHEⅡ评分密切相关,临床可通过调节炎症因子水平及凝血功能指标从而改善患者的病情和预后。     

脓毒症患者血清氧化应激因子、炎症因子水平与APACHEⅡ评分及预后的关系研究

目的:探讨脓毒症患者血清氧化应激因子、炎症因子水平与急性生理学与慢性健康状况II(APACHEⅡ)评分及预后的关系。方法:选择2016年1月-2019年10月我院收治的脓毒症患者76例作为研究组,同期收治的相同基础疾病非脓毒症患者60例作为对照组,比较两组血清氧化应激因子[丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、一氧化氮(NO)]、炎症因子[降钙素原(PCT)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、白细胞介素27(IL-27)]水平及APACHEⅡ评分,根据脓毒症患者预后将其分为死亡组25例、存活组51例,比较两组上述指标,并分析脓毒症患者预后的影响因素及血清氧化应激因子、炎症因子水平与APACHEⅡ评分的相关性。结果:研究组血清MDA、PCT、CRP、IL-27及APACHEⅡ评分显著高于对照组,血清SOD、NO显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。死亡组血清MDA、PCT、CRP、IL-27及APACHEⅡ评分显著高于存活组,血清SOD、NO显著低于存活组(P<0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析显示MDA升高、SOD降低、NO降低、PCT升高、CRP升高、APACHEⅡ评分升高均是脓毒症患者死亡的危险因素(OR=2.293、1.872、1.527、2.472、1.667、1.926,P<0.05)。Pearson相关性分析显示,脓毒症患者血清MDA、PCT、CRP、IL-27水平与APACHEⅡ评分呈正相关(r=0.563、0.582、0.441、0.302,P<0.05),血清NO、SOD水平与APACHEⅡ评分呈负相关(r=-301、-0.386,P<0.05)。结论:脓毒症患者血清MDA、PCT、CRP、IL-27与APACHEⅡ评分异常升高,血清NO、SOD异常降低,可能通过对上述指标进行检测从而判断患者病情及评估其预后。     

血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值与脓毒症患者APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分的相关性及其联合检测对预后的预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨血清可溶性血栓调节蛋白（sTM）、降钙素原（PCT）、C-反应蛋白与前白蛋白（CRP/PAB）比值与脓毒症患者急性生理和慢性健康评估Ⅱ（APACHEⅡ）评分、序贯器官衰竭评估（SOFA）评分的相关性及其联合检测对预后的预测价值。方法：选取2020年3月～2020年12月我院重症医学科收治的97例脓毒症患者,根据Sepsis-3.0诊断标准分为普通脓毒症组44例、脓毒性休克组53例,根据入院后30 d内预后情况分为死亡组35例和存活组62例。收集患者基线资料和APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分,并检测血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值。采用Spearman相关性分析脓毒症患者血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值与APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分的相关性,多因素Logistic回归分析脓毒症患者预后不良的影响因素,受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值对脓毒症患者预后不良的预测价值。结果：脓毒性休克组血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值和APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分高于普通脓毒症组（P均＜0.05）。Spearman相关性分析显示,脓毒症患者血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值与APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分呈正相关（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,收缩压升高为脓毒症患者预后不良的独立保护因素（P＜0.05）,脓毒性休克、合并器官损伤≥3个、机械通气时间延长、APACHEⅡ评分增加、SOFA评分增加、sTM升高、PCT升高、CRP/PAB比值升高为独立危险因素（P均＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值联合预测脓毒症患者预后不良的曲线下面积大于各指标单独预测。结论：脓毒症患者血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值升高与APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分增加密切相关,血清sTM、PCT、CRP/PAB比值联合检测对脓毒症患者预后不良的预测价值较高。     

微小RNA调控脓毒症患者外周血免疫因子表达及其机制研究

目的:探讨脓毒血症患者血清外周白细胞中的微小RNA(mi RNA)表达水平的变化及其在脓毒症患者中的表达意义以及免疫调控的关系。方法:采用流式细胞仪检测外周血CD4+CD25+Treg细胞表达,采用实时定量PCR(RT-PCR)方法检测110例脓毒症患者以及100例正常对照外周血白细胞中mi RNA以及Foxp3 m RNA表达量,酶联免疫吸附法测定TNF-α和IL-10浓度,序贯器官衰竭估计(SOFA)评分系统评价脓毒症患者的严重程度。对mi RNA与白细胞总数、TNF-α、IL-10和SOFA评分之间的相关性进行分析。结果:实验组mi RNA表达水平较对照组显著降低(P0.01),WBC、IL-10水平显著升高(P0.01)。实验组mi RNA表达水平以及SOFA评分、血清TNF-α和IL-10之间呈负相关关系(r值分别为-0.512、-0.623、-0.432,P0.05);与WBC无显著相关性(r=0.215,P0.05)。脓毒症患者外周血Treg表达率和Foxp3m RNA均显著高于对照组(P0.01);随病情严重而升高,轻、中、重度实验组间两两比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。死亡均在重度脓毒症患者中,死亡组Treg、Foxp3 m RNA及IL-10均显著高于存活组(P0.01);mi RNA低于存活组(P0.01)。结论:脓毒症患者外周血的mi RNA表达量显著降低,表达水平在一定程度上可以反应机体的炎症反应情况,同时还可以判断疾病的严重度,且mi RNA参与对Treg细胞增殖的调节,在脓毒症免疫失衡机制中发挥一定的作用。     

血清TRAF-6、MCP-1、sTREM-1、IL-33水平与脓毒症严重程度及与合并急性肾损伤关系的临床分析

目的:探讨脓毒症患者血清肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子(Tumor necrosis factor receptor-related factor,TRAF)-6、单核细胞趋化蛋白(Monocyte chemotactic protein,MCP)-1、可溶性髓样细胞触发受体(Soluble myeloid cell trigger receptor,s TREM)-1、白介素(Interleukin,IL)-33水平的变化及与病情严重程度及合并急性肾损伤(acute kidney injury, AKI)的相关性。方法:选择2014年2月到2018年7月在我医院ICU病房进行诊治的脓毒症患者145例,分析脓毒症相关性急性肾损伤(sepsis-associated AKI,SAKI)的发生情况,比较SAKI和非SAKI患者血清TRAF-6、MCP-1、s TREM-1、IL-33水平,采用Pearson相关分析血清TRAF-6、MCP-1、s TREM-1、IL-33含量与APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分的相关性,多因素logistic回归分析脓毒症患者发生SAKI的影响因素。结果:在145例患者中,发生SAKI者69例,发生率为47.6%。SAKI组患者的年龄、性别、原发病、白细胞(white blood cell,WBC)计数、C反应蛋白(C reactive protein,CRP)、降钙素原(procalcitonin,PCT)、体重指数、BUN、Scr与eGFR值与非SAKI组患者对比差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。SAKI组患者APACHEⅡ评分、SOFA评分血清TRAF-6、MCP-1、s TREM-1、IL-33含水平含量均显著高于非SAKI组患者(P0.05)。Pearson相关性分析显示血清TRAF-6、MCP-1、s TREM-1、IL-33水平与SAKI患者的急性生理和慢性健康Ⅱ(acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II,APACHEⅡ)评分、序贯多器官功能障碍(sequential organ failure assessment,SOFA)评分均呈显著正相关性(P0.05)。logistic回归分析显示血清TRAF-6、MCP-1、s TREM-1、IL-33水平升高均为影响SAKI发生的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:血清TRAF-6、MCP-1、s TREM-1、IL-33水平与脓毒症严重程度显著相关,可能作为诊断和治疗SAKI的参考指标及干预靶点。     

脓毒症患者血清TOLL样受体4、脂联素与炎症反应和病情严重程度的关系

目的:探讨脓毒症患者血清TOLL样受体4(TLR4)、脂联素(APN)与炎症反应和病情严重程度的关系。方法:选取2016年12月到2018年4月期间在重庆市中医院接受治疗的脓毒症患者60例作为研究组,另选取同期本院健康体检者60例作为对照组。根据急性生理及慢性健康状况Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)评分将脓毒症患者分为高分组17例(APACHEⅡ评分≥20分)和低分组43例(APACHEⅡ评分20分)。比较两组血清中的TLR4、APN、降钙素原(PCT)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、C反应蛋白(CRP)水平,比较高分组和低分组患者血清中的TLR4、APN及炎症因子水平,分析脓毒症患者TLR4、APN的表达与炎症因子、APACHEⅡ评分的相关性。结果:研究组血清中的TLR4、PCT、TNF-α、CRP水平均明显高于对照组,APN水平明显低于对照组(P0.05)。高分组患者血清中的TLR4、PCT、TNF-α、CRP水平明显高于低分组,APN水平明显低于低分组(P0.05)。脓毒症患者TLR4的表达与PCT、TNF-α、CRP、APACHEⅡ评分呈正相关,APN的表达与PCT、TNF-α、CRP、APACHEⅡ评分呈负相关(P0.05)。结论:脓毒症患者病情越严重,TLR4水平越高,而APN水平越低,TLR4、APN可能是通过调节炎症反应来影响脓毒症患者的疾病进展。     

脓毒症患者血清降钙素原、C-反应蛋白与凝血功能、病情评分的关系及预后的影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨脓毒症患者血清降钙素原（PCT）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）与凝血功能、病情评分的关系及预后的影响因素。方法：选择2017年8月至2019年10月我院诊治的150例脓毒症患者作为研究对象,根据脓毒症组患者的生存状况将其分为存活组（n=118）和死亡组（n=32）。检测两组患者血清PCT、CRP水平,凝血酶原时间（PT）和部分凝血活酶时间（APTT）。采用急性生理功能和慢性健康状况评分系统Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)和序贯器官衰竭估计(SOFA)对两组患者病情进行评估。比较两组患者临床资料。相关性分析采用Pearson检验。患者预后的影响因素采用多因素Logistic回归分析。结果：与存活组相比,死亡组血清PCT、CRP,PT、APTT,APACHE II和SOFA评分均明显升高（P<0.05）。血清PCT>7.32 ng/mL、CRP>86.73 ng/mL、PT>15.48s、APTT>36.74s、APACHE Ⅱ评分>15.88分和SOFA评分>6.48分均是脓毒症患者死亡的危险因素（OR=2.099、1.747、2.333、1.596、1.916、2.208,P<0.05）。血清PCT和CRP均与APACHE Ⅱ评分、SOFA评分、PT和APTT呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论：血清PCT和CRP水平升高与脓毒症患者死亡相关,两者与脓毒症患者APACHE Ⅱ评分、SOFA评分、PT和APTT存在正相关,并且是患者不良预后的影响因素,在脓毒症患者预后的评估中具有一定临床价值。     

脓毒症患儿血浆miR-146a、miR-223表达与IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α 水平变化的临床意义分析

目的:探讨脓毒症患儿血浆微RNA-146a(miR-146a)、miR-223表达及与白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、IL-10和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)的关系。方法:选取2016年2月至2017年2月在我院治疗的脓毒症患儿44例作为脓毒症组,同时选取32例全身性炎症反应综合征(SIRS)患儿(SIRS组)和40例健康儿童(对照组),检测和比较各组患儿血浆miR-146a、miR-223、IL-6、IL-10和TNF-α的表达,同时采用序贯器官衰竭估计评分(SOFA评分)评价脓毒症患儿的病情。结果:脓毒症组miR-146a、miR-223、IL-6和IL-10表达分别为(5.90±1.22)×10~(-5)、(13.17±2.13)×10~(-4),20.21(12.06,64.13)ng/L和17.60(8.94,70.11)pg/m L,明显高于SIRS组和对照组(P0.05);脓毒症组和SIRS组血浆TNF-水平分别为(22.50(22.50,29.80)pg/m L和(23.40(19.41,30.01)pg/m L,明显高于对照组(P0.05);患儿miR-146a、miR-223与SOFA评分呈正相关(rs=0.411和0.321,P0.05),而血浆IL-6、IL-10及TNF-α水平与SOFA评分无显著相关性(P0.05);miR-146a与血浆IL-6、IL-10水平呈显著正相关(rs=0.297和0.301,P0.05),miR-223与血浆TNF-α水平呈正相关(rs=0.284,P0.05)。结论:脓毒症患儿血浆miR-146a和miR-223表达、IL-6、IL-10和TNF-α水平均异常上调,且血浆miR-146a和miR-223表达与IL-6、IL-10、TNF-水平及病情程度显著相关。     

Distribution of N,P, K,Ca, Mg,S, Zn,Fe, Mn and Cu in groundnut

Summary Concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in summer groundnut crop was higher than in kharif while Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents were higher in summer crop. Kernel's N, P and Zn; Leaflet's Ca and Mn; Stem's K and Fe; Root's S and Cu and Petiole's Mg contents were highest. Shell's N, P, K, Mg, S, Zn and Cu; Kernel's Ca, Fe and Mn contents were the least. N, P, K, S, Zn and Cu concentrations decreased linearly as the crop grew. Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn concentrations did not display any distinct pattern. Ca concentration was positively correlated with pod yield in both the seasons.     

Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS

The goal of this article was to establish reference ranges of the concentration of trace elements in human serum and to compare these results with those reported by other authors. We describe the sample preparation and measurement conditions that allow the rapid, precise, and accurate determination of Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum samples (n=110) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy and precision were determined by analyzing three reconstituted reference serum samples by comparison with other methods and by the standard addition procedure. The advantages of the ICP-MS method include short time of analysis of the elements mentioned, low detection limit, high precision, and high accuracy. Disadventages include a high risk of contamination due to the presence of some of the elements of interest in the environment, the relatively delicate sample handling, and the high cost of the equipment.     

Reference values for the concentrations of As,Cd, Co,Cr, Cu,Fe, I,Hg, Mn,Mo, Ni,Pb, Se,and Zn in selected human tissues and body fluids

This report attempts to formulate reference ranges of elemental concentrations for 15 trace elements in selected human tissues and body fluids. A set of samples consisting of whole blood, blood serum, urine, milk, liver, and hair were chosen and considered for 15 elements of biological significance: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, I, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. The results represent wholly or partially data received from 40 countries of the global regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, North, South, and Central America, Australia, and New Zealand. This survey, even if qualitative, has been useful in demonstrating certain trends of trace-element scenarios around the world. It is of course recognized that both diet and environment exert a strong influence on the distribution pattern of several elements, such as As, Cd, Mn, Pb, Se, and Zn. A limited comparison of the available information on soil status of different countries reflected some interesting associations for elements, such as Mn and Zn. Importantly, this study revealed that only a few countries were in a position to identify a reasonable amount of data on samples requested for this project. Regretably, for a number of countries, any dependable data for even such essential elements as Cu, Fe, and Zn were not available. In view of the nutritional importance of many elements, the time is ripe for concerted efforts by intergovernmental agencies to initiate investigations or commission task forces/projects to generate reliable reference data for selected global regions, which sadly lack data of any kind at present.     

Monovalent Cation Permeation through the Connexin40 Gap Junction Channel : Cs,Rb, K,Na, Li,TEA, TMA,TBA, and Effects of Anions Br,Cl, F,Acetate, Aspartate,Glutamate, and NO3

The unitary conductances and permeability sequences of the rat connexin40 (rCx40) gap junction channels to seven monovalent cations and anions were studied in rCx40-transfected neuroblastoma 2A (N2A) cell pairs using the dual whole cell recording technique. Chloride salt cation substitutions (115 mM principal salt) resulted in the following junctional maximal single channel current-voltage relationship slope conductances (γ_j in pS): CsCl (153), RbCl (148), KCl (142), NaCl (115), LiCl (86), TMACl (71), TEACl (63). Reversible block of the rCx40 channel was observed with TBA. Potassium anion salt γ_j are: Kglutamate (160), Kacetate (160), Kaspartate (158), KNO₃ (157), KF (148), KCl (142), and KBr (132). Ion selectivity was verified by measuring reversal potentials for current in rCx40 gap junction channels with asymmetric salt solutions in the two electrodes and using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation to calculate relative permeabilities. The permeabilities relative to Li⁺ are: Cs⁺ (1.38), Rb⁺ (1.32), K⁺ (1.31), Na⁺ (1.16), TMA⁺ (0.53), TEA⁺ (0.45), TBA⁺ (0.03), Cl⁻ (0.19), glutamate⁻ (0.04), and NO₃− (0.14), assuming that the monovalent anions permeate the channel by forming ion pairs with permeant monovalent cations within the pore thereby causing proportionate decreases in the channel conductance. This hypothesis can account for why the predicted increasing conductances with increasing ion mobilities in an essentially aqueous channel were not observed for anions in the rCx40 channel. The rCx40 effective channel radius is estimated to be 6.6 Å from a theoretical fit of the relationship of relative permeability and cation radius.     

Crystal structure, detonation performance, and thermal stability of a new polynitro cage compound: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptacyclo [5.5.1.13, 11. 15, 9] pentadecane

A new polynitro cage compound 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptcyclo [5.5.1.1(3,11).1(5,9)] pentadecane (NNNAHP) was designed in the present work. Its molecular structure was optimized at the B3LYP/6-31 G(d,p) level of density functional theory (DFT) and crystal structure was predicted using the Compass and Dreiding force fields and refined by DFT GGA-RPBE method. The obtained crystal structure of NNNAHP belongs to the P-1 space group and the lattice parameters are a = 9.99 ?, b = 10.78 ?, c = 9.99 ?, α = 90.01°, β = 120.01°, γ = 90.00°, and Z = 2, respectively. Based on the optimized crystal structure, the band gap, density of state, thermodynamic properties, infrared spectrum, strain energy, detonation characteristics, and thermal stability were predicted. Calculation results show that NNNAHP has detonation properties close to those of CL-20 and is a high energy density compound with moderate stability.     

Reliability of Analyses of Hg,Fe, Ca,K, P,pH, Alkalinity,Conductivity, Hardness and Colour from Lakes

The aim of this report has been to present results concerning analytical quality controls of Hg analysis of fish and sediment, analyses of Fe, Ca, total-P, K, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, colour and hardness (Ca + Mg) of lake water samples. Despite the fact that these are standard parameters in many regular water control programs, there are major differences in the reliability with which these parameters can be determined. The focus here is on an overall inter-laboratory comparison between the parameters. Six laboratories have been involved in the analysis. Selected results: pH gives the lowest (average) relative standard deviation (error), about 2 %; conductivity gives an error of about 5–7 %; alkalinity yields an average error of as much as 13–25 %, which is the largest among the parameters studied here; colour also gives a high error, 9–15 %; hardness gives a relative standard deviation of about 6–7 %. Of the other parameters (i. e., Hg, Fe, Ca and P), Hg gives the best reliability and Fe and P the lowest. To have knowledge of the reliability of the analytical data is of paramount importance in most control programs and research projects.     

Competitive inhibition and selectivity enhancement by Ca in the uptake of inorganic elements (Be, Na, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Mn, Co, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Ce, Pm, Gd, Hf) by carrot (Daucus carota cv. U.S. harumakigosun)

We investigated the uptake of inorganic elements (Be, Na, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Mn, Co, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Ce, Pm, Gd, and Hf) and the effect of Ca on their uptake in carrots (Daucus carota cv. U.S. harumakigosun) by the radioactive multitracer technique. The experimental results suggested that Na, Mg, K, and Rb competed for the functional groups outside the cells in roots with Ca but not for the transporter-binding sites on the plasma membrrane of the root cortex cells. In contrast, Y, Ce, Pm, and Gd competed with Ca for the transporters on the plasma membrane. The selectivity, which was defined as the value obtained by dividing the concentration ratio of an elemental pair, K/Na, Rb/Na, Be/Sr, and Mg/Sr, in the presence of 0.2 and 2 ppm Ca by that of the corresponding elemental pair in the absence of Ca in the solution was estimated. The selectivity of K and Rb in roots was increased in the presence of Ca. The selectivity of Be in roots was not affected, whereas the selectivity of Mg was increased by Ca. These observations suggest that the presence of Ca in the uptake solution enhances the selectivity in the uptake of metabolically important elements against unwanted elements.     

Relations of the Al,B, Ba,Br, Ca,Cl, Cu,Fe, K,Li, Mg,Mn, Na,P, S,Si, Sr,and Zn mass fractions to morphometric parameters in pediatric and nonhyperplastic young adult prostate glands

The variation with age of the 18 trace element mass fractions and some histological characteristics of intact prostate glands of 50 subjects aged 0–30 years was investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and a quantitative morphometric analysis. Mean values ± standard error of the mean (M ± SΕΜ) for the mass fractions (in milligrams per kilogram wet tissue) of these trace elements in pre-puberty were: Al 28.5 ± 9.0, B 0.40 ± 0.11, Ba 1.48 ± 0.44, Br 10.5 ± 1.5, Ca 241 ± 30, Cl 3,203 ± 278, Cu 3.51 ± 0.89, Fe 33.7 ± 4.1, K 2,364 ± 145, Li 0.020 ± 0.004, Mg 153 ± 23, Mn 0.46 ± 0.06, Na 2,286 ± 130, P 1,391 ± 100, S 1,698 ± 132, Si 62 ± 11, Sr 0.38 ± 0.08, and Zn 27.6 ± 2.3. During puberty and postpuberty, when there is a significant increase in circulating androgens, the mean values were: Al 7.2 ± 1.4, B 0.21 ± 0.05, Ba 0.25 ± 0.06, Br 5.8 ± 1.0, Ca 433 ± 81, Cl 2,314 ± 201, Cu 1.77 ± 0.13, Fe 20.9 ± 1.6, K 2,585 ± 118, Li 0.0088 ± 0.0014, Mg 232 ± 27, Mn 0.34 ± 0.04, Na 1,875 ± 107, P 1,403 ± 98, S 1,673 ± 73, Si 22.2 ± 3.1, Sr 0.22 ± 0.03, and Zn 93.3 ± 8.9. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) of percent volumes (%) of the stroma, epithelium and lumen in the prostate before puberty were 73.4 ± 2.6, 20.4 ± 1.7, and 4.45 ± 0.94, respectively, versus 46.5 ± 2.5, 38.5 ± 1.9, and 14.9 ± 1.2 during puberty and postpuberty. This work’s results confirm that the Zn mass fraction in prostate tissue is an androgen-dependent parameter. For the first time it has been demonstrated that the glandular lumen is a main pool of Ca, Mg, and Zn accumulation and that the stroma is a main pool of Al, B, Ba, Br, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, and Si accumulation in the normal human prostate, for the age range 0–30 years. It was concluded that the Ca, Mg, and Zn binds tightly within the prostatic fluid, because the volume of glandular lumen reflects the volume of prostatic fluid.     

The Effect of Age and Gender on Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr, V, and Zn Contents in Rib Bone of Healthy Humans

The effect of age and gender on major, minor, and trace element contents in the intact rib bone of 80 relatively healthy 15–55-year-old women and men was investigated. Contents or upper limit of contents of 16 chemical elements in the rib bone were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Mean values (M?±?SΕΜ) for the mass fraction of Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn (milligram per kilogram of dry bone) were as follows: 2.54?±?0.16, 171,400?±?4,050, 1.35?±?0.22, 140?±?11, 1,874?±?71, 0.049?±?0.011, 2,139?±?38, 5,378?±?88, 75,140?±?1,660, 1,881?±?51, 291?±?20, and 92.8?±?1.5, respectively. The upper limits of contents of Al, B, Mn, and V were <7.20, <0.65, <0.36, and <0.03, respectively. Statistically significant tendency for the Ca, Mg, and P content to decrease with age was found in the human rib bone, regardless of gender. The mass fraction of Fe in the male rib bone increases with age. It was shown that higher Ca, Mg, Na, P, and Sr mass fractions as well as lower Fe content were typical of female ribs as compared to those in male ribs.