Changes in serum trace element levels following local irradiation of a solid tumor.

The changes in concentrations of a number of trace elements have been determined by neutron activation analysis in tumor, liver, and blood serum of host animals, following local irradiation of a solid tumor (3924A Morris hepatoma). These trace element changes are compared to the changes observed in a parallel study of the effects of the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil on the same tumor. Since the changes in some of the trace elements parallel the changes in pathological and biochemical factors resulting from the insult of radiation on the tumor, these trace elements may be valuable markers in the clinical evaluation of therapeutic response and as monitors of the long term effects of cancer therapy.     

Trace elements in the atmosphere.

The distribution and behaviour of particulate trace elements in the atmosphere have been studied by continuous measurements for 5 years at seven non-urban sites in the United Kingdom. Samples have been taken regularly of airborne dust, rainwater and dry deposition: these have been analysed for up to 36 elements. Concentrations of trace elements vary considerably between sites but the relative concentrations are among uniform: this suggests similarity of origin or good atmospheric mixing. By comparing the relative concentrations with those in soil it is possible to differentiate between trace elements that are derived from soil and those that may be attributed to industrial activity. This classification is supported by estimates of the particle sizes in air. The deposition of trace elements can be related to the concentrations presnet in soil and to the annual removal by crops. Retrospective analyses of stored samples from one site describe the history of trace element concentrations in air since 1957. The sea surface is considered as a possible source of atmospheric trace elements.     

Determination of plasma trace elements in tumor-bearing animals by proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy

Although altered levels of circulating essential trace elements are known to accompany malignant disease, the lack of sensitivity of conventional detection methods has generally limited their study to clinical conditions involving extensive disease (i.e., significant tumor burden). As such, the application of altered trace element levels as potential prognostic guides or as response indicators subsequent to treatment has been of limited use. During this study, proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy was evaluated as a tool to determine trace element imbalances in a murine tumor model. Using plasma from C57B1/6 mice bearing the syngeneic Lewis lung carcinoma (LLCa), levels of Fe, Cu, and Zn, as well as changes in the Cu/Zn ratio, were measured in animals carrying an increasing primary tumor burden. The plasma levels of Fe, Cu, and Zn were found to decrease significantly 7 d following implants of LLCa cells with no significant change observed in the Cu/Zn ratio. By d 21, however, an increase in the Cu/Zn ratio was found to accompany increased growth of the LLCa tumor; the plasma levels of Cu had returned to normal levels, whereas both the Fe and Zn plasma levels remained lowered. Collectively, the results suggest that although a net change in individual plasma trace element concentrations might not be accurately associated with tumor growth, a clear relationship was established between the Cu/Zn ratio and tumor size.     

Cell proliferation in organs of rats bearing hepatoma 3924A: effects of X-rays of surgery

For inbred rats with Morris hepatoma 3924A, increases in tumor size were accompanied by increases in weight and DNA content of spleen, DNA content of tibial marrow, and peripheral white cell concentrations of blood. White blood cell concentrations of rats with tumors weighing more than 5 g were approximately two-fold greater than for rats without tumors. Neutrophils were primarily responsible for the increase in white cells. Local x-radiation of 3750R to the tumor when the tumor was small prevented tumor growth and the increases in spleen weight, incorporation of 3H-thymidine into spleen DNA, white blood cell count, and tibial marrow DNA content related to tumor growth. Surgical removal of large tumors resulted in a return of spleen weight and DNA content to near normal values within 1 week. Despite the evidence for increased cell proliferation in hematopoietic tissues of rats with hepatoma 3924A, no systematic relationship has been observed between tumor size and animal survival following treatment with the cell cycle specific agent 5-fluorouracil when tumors have varied in size from 0.5 g to 5 g at the time of drug treatment.     

Study of Zn,Cu and Pb content in plants and contaminated soils in Sardinia

Trace elements in soils exist as components of several different fractions. We have analyzed the correlation between total and extractable (EDTA, calcium chloride and deionized water) Zn, Pb and Cu concentrations in soils and the concentration of these elements in plant leaves. Soil and plant samples have been taken from Sulcis-Iglesiente (Sardinia), an area rich in mining tailings. This has made that the concentrations of the trace element under study in soils were varied. Three plants have been studied: Dittrichia viscosa, Cistus salviifolius, and Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. cupanii. Soil samples beneath each of them at depths of 0–30 and 30–60 cm have been considered. The highest concentration of trace elements in the leaves of the studied species has been found for Zn. The calcium carbonate content and the crystalline and amorphous forms of iron in the soil have determined the concentration of metal in plant leaves. The soil concentrations that have been found with the extraction methods are uncorrelated with Pb and Cu concentrations in plants, but Zn is correlated with the fraction extracted with EDTA and calcium chloride. The concentrations of trace metals in plants are most closely related to the soil contents of CaCO₃, electrical conductivity, Fe_ox, and Fe_dc.     

Studies on a pyrimidine phosphoribosyltransferase from murine leukemia P1534J. Partial purification, substrate specificity, and evidence for its existence as a bifunctional complex with orotidine 5-phosphate decarboxylase.

A pyrimidine phosphoribosyltransferase, previously shown to utilize 5-fluorouracil and possibly also uracil and orotate (Reyes, P. (1969) Biochemistry 8, 2057-2062), has been purified about 100-fold from murine leukemia P1534J. Roughly 20% of the original activity was recovered to yield an enzyme preparation with a specific activity of 7.4 mumol of 5-fluorouracil utilized/hour/mg of protein. Disc gel electrophoresis of this preparation revealed the presence of a major band of protein accompanied by several trace contaminants. Emphasis was placed on a study of the substrate specificity of this enzyme. 5-Fluorouracil, uracil, and orotate phosphoribosyltransferase activities purified in parallel during fractionation with ammonium sulfate and protamine sulfate and eluted together from columns of Sephadex tG-150 and DEAE-cellulose. The three phosphoribosyltransferase activities eluted from the Sephadex columns with an apparent molecular weight of 55,000 to 60,000. In spite of this coordinate fractionation, preferential losses of orotate activity were experienced during DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Orotate activity continued to behave in a unique manner under other conditions, such as during proteolytic digestion. In the latter case, however, all three activities responded in parallel when digestion took place in the presence of 5mM UMP. The following results provided additional evidence to support the view that all three phosphoribosyltransferase activities may be catalyzed by the same enzyme: (a) the apparent Km for 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PP-ribose-P) did not change significantly when enzyme activity was measured with either 5-fluorouracil, uracil, or orotate; (b) 5-fluorouracil and uracil were found to be mutually competitive inhibitors; the effect of 5-fluorouracil on orotate activity was likewise competitive in nature; (c) in the absence of UMP, orotate was a noncompetitive inhibitor of 5-fluorouracil and uracil activities, but in the presence of 5mM UMP it became a competitive inhibitor of both of these activities; (d) 5-fluorouracil and orotate activities co-sedimented in 5 to 20% sucrose gradients (uracil activity was not examined); and (e) a wide variety of normal mouse tissues displayed virtually the same 5-fluorouracil to uracil to orotate activity ratio as found in P1534J enzyme preparations. The apparent Km and Ki values reported in this study indicate that the preferred pyrimidine substrate is orotate. It seems likely, therefore, that this enzyme functions in vivo as an orotate phosphoribosyltransferase. Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidine 5'-monophosphate (OMP) decarboxylase activities (a) eluted together during gel filtration on Sephadex G-150, (b) co-sedimented in 5 to 20% sucrose gradients, (c) remained associated during fractionation with ammonium sulfate and protamine sulfate, and (d) separated into a phosphoribosyltransferase and decarboxylase component when enzyme preparations previously subjected to limited proteolysis by elastase were sedimented in sucrose gradients...     

Trace element uptake by L-cells as a function of trace elements in a synthetic growth medium

The concentration of trace elements in L-cells has been studied as a function of the trace metal content of the growth medium. Cells were cultured in synthetic media which contained varying trace amounts of the elements manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc and molybdenum. The cellular concentration of the elements potassium, iron, copper and zinc were then determined. It was found that the cell accumulates trace metals at a different rate than they are made available. Deficiencies in zinc could be “induced” in the cell by increasing the concentration of iron, manganese and cobalt; cellular iron deficiencies were observed at larger medium concentrations of zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt. Trace metal uptake by the cell was seen to parallel the utilization by multicellular organisms.     

Viral RNA kinetics is associated with changes in trace elements in target organs of Coxsackie virus B3 infection

Trace elements are pivotal for the host defense, as well as potentially important for viral replication and virulence. Studies of sequential changes in viral replication in target organs of infection are sparse and a possible association with changes in specific trace elements is unknown. In this study Balb/c mice were infected with Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3). Results indicated that sequential changes in viral replication (RT-PCR) were related to changes in trace element (arsenic, copper, iron, selenium and zinc) concentrations (as determined by ICP-MS) on days 3, 5 and 7 of the infection in serum, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney, spleen, intestine and brain. After an initial viral peak on day 3, viral load drastically decreased in all organs, i.e. by >99% (serum), 97% (lung), 98% (liver), 60% (pancreas), 95% (kidney) and 93% (spleen), except in the heart, intestine and brain in which viral load increased after day 3. Selenium decreased in all organs except the heart while arsenic decreased in all organs except the kidney, spleen and brain. Moreover, selenium was negatively correlated to viral load in serum, liver, pancreas and intestine. To conclude, these findings give evidence that trace elements are directly involved in the replication of CVB3.     

Fluoropyrimidine-mediated changes in small nuclear RNA

Studies were completed to examine the effects of the antineoplastic agent 5-Fluorouridine (FUrd) on the metabolism of the small molecular weight nuclear RNA (snRNA). Cultured Sarcoma-180 murine tumor cells were exposed to FUrd concurrent with [3H]cytidine for 6 h, the drug was removed, and the RNA was isolated at 0, 24, or 48 h following the drug treatment. The results of these studies demonstrated that FUrd produced three dose-dependent changes in snRNA metabolism. The electrophoretic migration of the U4 and U6 snRNA was altered in nondenaturing 10% polyacrylamide slab gels. These results were not observed in denaturing gels or when RNA was extracted at temperatures exceeding 25 degrees C, suggesting that the incorporation of 5-fluorouracil induced secondary structural changes in these RNA. A dose- and time-dependent selective reduction in the turnover of the U1 snRNA synthesized in the presence of FUrd was observed as well, with levels over 100% higher than control cells at 48 h after exposure to 10 microM FUrd. These changes in snRNA metabolism may contribute to the reported alterations in large molecular weight RNA metabolism that also result in fluoropyrimidine-treated cells, or to cytotoxicity.     

Distribution of Cd and Zn in annual xylem rings of young spruce trees [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] grown in contaminated soil

Concentrations and total amounts of Cd and Zn in individual annual xylem increments of 5-year-old spruce trees (Picea abies) were investigated after one growing season in contaminated soils. The plants had been potted in soils amended with different concentrations of Cd and Zn and kept in open air conditions. In the outer xylem rings formed during the treatment period lowest concentrations of Cd and Zn were found. In inner rings concentrations of both elements increased and were highest at the pith. Total amounts of both elements showed reversed distribution patterns with highest values in the outermost rings. The observed increase of total dry matter of the rings from pith towards the outer rings was stronger than the parallel increase in total element amounts in the rings. Thus, concentrations dropped in younger rings. The time of the soil contamination event cannot be inferred from element concentrations in annual rings. The results challenge the concept of monitoring historical trends in trace element pollution using analytical data of tree rings of conifers.     

Trace element distributions in some saline lakes of the Vestfold Hills,Antarctica

The distributions of trace elements in Shield, Ace and Burton Lakes of the Vestfold Hills were investigated. Three aspects are discussed as follows: (1) the vertical distribution of 18 trace elements in the three lakes, (2) the behaviour of trace elements in the lakes, especially that of manganese in Shield Lake, and (3) the origin of trace elements in antarctic saline lakes.High concentrations of trace elements were found in these coastal saline lakes, when compared to open ocean water.We suggest that the peak of total extractable manganese, found at 20 m in Shield Lake, was related to the oxic/anoxic water interface brought about by microbiological activity. Solid phase manganese at the upper oxic layer may have precipitated and then reached the anoxic boundary to be there reduced to manganese ion. This dissolved manganese may then have diffused upwards to be reoxidized to a solid form. This cycle, repeated many times, may have produced the Mn profile.The alkali, alkaline earth elements and Cl were probably derived from relict seawater. Other elements were present in similar concentration ratios to those of South Polar aerosols. Residence time calculations indicate that fallout of aerosol particles, themselves derived from various sources, is capable of accounting for the measured concentrations of some trace elements in Shield Lake. This source of trace elements may be significant for other antarctic saline lakes.     

Variations in pO2 and pH response to hyperthermia: dependence on transplant site and duration of treatment.

It has been clearly established that changes in intratumor pO2 and pH occur following hyperthermia, and it has been hypothesized that these changes may, in some way, be related to the ultimate response (i.e., cure) of the lesion. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to examine the changes in intratumor pH during the course of a hyperthermia treatment at biologically related end point "doses"; second, to examine the response of pO2 after treatment in a different lesion transplant site. During hyperthermia treatment of the tumor transplanted in the leg, intratumor pH was found to drop from a control value of 6.74 +/- 0.17 to 6.47 +/- 0.13 within 15 min following the start of treatment. The values then remained relatively constant throughout the remainder of the treatment (either 1 or 2 h at 43.5 degrees C). Following the subcurative (10% tumor cures at 30 days; 60 min at 43.5 degrees C) treatment the pH began to rise immediately, while after the higher dose (60% tumor cures at 30 days; 120 min at 43.5 degrees C) a slight rise in pH was followed by a continuous drop in pH for up to 4 h, as we have reported previously. Oxygen response in the two transplant sites (leg and flank) was found to be remarkably different even though the tumor cure rate was identical for a given hyperthermia "dose" in terms of time and temperature. In the leg, only very low levels of oxygen can be measured in the tumor 24 h after treatment with either "dose" studied (all measured pO2 values less than or equal to 5 mm Hg). In the flank, the tumor response is dependent on hyperthermia "dose." Only 28% of measured oxygen values are less than or equal to 5 mm Hg 24 h following a subcurative "dose," while 4 h following the higher "dose" there is a nonsignificant trend toward hypoxia (approximately 65% of values less than or equal to 5 mm Hg) with a subsequent shift toward reoxygenation. These latter observations are contrary to results reported previously and tend to contradict some current theories regarding the physiological mechanisms associated with hyperthermia treatment.     

不同施肥模式下土壤微量元素变化与转化特征

以长期定位试验为平台,研究不同施肥制度下土壤Fe、Mn、Zn、Cu、Pb含量的变化及转化情况。结果表明:施肥对土壤全量微量元素含量没有显著影响,但对元素有效态含量影响显著,施肥导致土壤有效态微量元素含量增加,具体表现为化肥配施循环猪圈肥(NPK+M)处理微量元素有效态最高,单施化肥(NPK)处理次之,循环猪圈肥(M)处理更低,对照(CK)处理最低。各处理土壤微量元素收入均小于支出,不同处理间收支差额NPK+M相似文献   

Do moss bags containing devitalized Sphagnum denticulatum reflect heavy metal concentrations in bulk deposition?

The trace elements contained in atmospheric deposition have long been of environmental and human health concern. The concentrations of trace elements in bulk deposition are usually monitored using traditional methods, which are often complemented by use of the simpler and less expensive moss bag technique. However, some theoretical aspects of the latter technique are still not well understood, such as the relationship between the levels of trace elements accumulated in moss and the concentrations of these in the atmosphere. In the present study, the correlation between the concentrations of trace elements (i.e., Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in devitalized moss bags (Sphagnum denticulatum) and bulk deposition was studied during 12 exposure periods at 21 sampling sites (SS) affected by different degrees of contamination. Most of the significant correlations involved Cd and to a lesser extent Cu and Zn; however, no significant correlations were found for Pb and Hg. The environmental conditions and particularly the abundance of precipitation are the main causes of the absence of correlations in some cases, presumably because of the loss of elements via washing. Thus, although the moss bag technique is a very useful and economical environmental tool, the limits of the method must always be borne in mind.     

Trace metal loss following whole-tree harvest of a northeastern deciduous forest, U.S.A.

We examined changes in the biogeochemistry of trace metals following a commercial whole-tree harvest (WTH) at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. Within 6 months after completion of the WTH, maximum streamwater concentrations of Ni, Cd, Ba, Sr, Mn, Zn and Fe increased two- to nine-fold. Streamwater concentration of Cu remained unchanged after harvest. Streamwater pH decreased from 5.2 to 4.5 after the harvest, and correlated strongly with trace metal concentrations except for Fe. The decrease in pH apparently resulted from increased nitrogen mineralization and nitrification following harvest. All streamwater metal concentrations (except Mn and Fe) in the disturbed watershed increased prior to the decrease in streamwater pH, suggesting that the loss of readily exchangeable metals, not increased mineral dissolution, was responsible for the initial increase in streamwater trace metal concentrations. In contrast, streamwater Mn concentrations did not increase until streamwater pH dropped to 4.5, due in part to increased mineral dissolution. Although pH related strongly to trace metal concentrations in the harvested watershed, it did not account for much of the variation in metal concentrations in the reference (W6) watershed. Annual flux of trace metals increased two- to eight-fold following WTH. Annual losses of Mn and Sr were 14% and 12%respectively of the forest floor pool for each element, and less than 10% of forest floor pools for all other elements. Except for Cd and Cu, annual trace metal losses in streamwater exceeded annual inputs in bulk precipitation.Deceased     

Zinc and Copper Levels in Iranian Patients with Psoriasis: A Case Control Study

Zinc and copper are important cofactors and modulators of many critical biological functions in many dermatological diseases including psoriasis. Studies must be performed in different societies to organize a governmental health organization nutritional program. Due to the lack of information related to these trace elements in Iranian psoriasis patients, the aim of this observational case–control study was to compare the serum zinc and copper levels and the zinc/copper ratio in psoriatic patients and healthy volunteers in Northern Iran. Zinc and copper serum concentrations were assayed in 25 selected psoriasis patients and compared with sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. The mean copper level in psoriatic patients was significantly higher than in healthy volunteers (p?=?0.003), but no significant difference was observed in the zinc concentration between the two groups (p?=?0.57). This study was the first one among Iranian society, and no information have been published in the field yet. The results bring some new information related to Iranian psoriatic patients in contrast to some other studies in different region so that preventive programs could be made in this regard particularly for Iranian population. With respect to the high copper concentration in the Iranian psoriatic population, using copper-chelating agents, such as penicillamine may be suggested for Iranian patients following further comprehensive investigations.     

TRACE METAL CYCLING IN THE U.S. COASTAL ZONE: A SYNTHESIS

This synthesis of trace element research in estuarine communities of the U.S. coastline and the Caribbean provides a summary applicable to the shoreline of the tropical and temperate regions of the world which have mangroves, kelp beds, riverine marshes and seagrass communities. An inventory of sediments and leaf tissues shows Mn and Fe to be the most highly concentrated elements with Hg and Cd present in lowest concentrations. Generally, trace element concentrations in roots are much higher than in leaves and other tissues above the sediment. Tissue to sediment concentration ratios show that Cd is most likely to be bioamplified and that Cu, Hg, Sr and Zn may have relatively high concentration ratios which can exceed unity. A conceptual model was constructed to integrate the forcing functions, compartmental couplings, and dynamics common to these estuarine systems. Seasonality is important for changes in some trace element concentrations in plants and litter. Trace element additions to water or sediment increased certain trace element concentrations in plants and dead organic matter. It is clear that estuarine plant communities serve as living filters of estuarine trace elements. However, increased knowledge of trace element cycling in estuarine systems and relationships between trace element concentrations in plants and the estuarine food chain is needed, particularly food chains to man. There is a need for structured long-term estuarine research to allow direct comparison of results among estuarine study sites, to identify the similarity of population and system processes among estuaries and to define the geographical scale over which estuarine research results may be generalized.     

The effect of embryonic development on metal and calcium content in eggs and eggshells in a small passerine

Published information relating to changes in the chemical element content of avian eggs caused by embryonic development is extremely scarce, although it may be crucial for understanding both the presence of anthropogenic pollutants as well as physiological levels of micronutrients. We assessed the variation in concentrations of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and nine trace elements: seven essential (chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and zinc (Zn)) and two non‐essential (lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)) in shells and contents (both egg yolk and egg white) of embryonated and non‐embryonated eggs. We investigated the eggs of the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, a large proportion of whose eggs are infertile in our study population (almost 43% of clutches contain unhatched eggs) as well as significant embryo‐induced eggshell thinning at the equator of embryonated eggs. We found significantly higher concentrations (≥ 22.7%) of all the focal elements in the contents of embryonated eggs in comparison with non‐embryonated eggs, and a very pronounced one for Ca (nearly twice as high). The shells of embryonated eggs contained significantly higher concentrations of Zn (104.1%), Fe (56.5%), Pb (32.8%) and Cu (28.0%) but significantly lower ones of Co (8.9%) and Ca (9.3%) than the shells of non‐embryonated eggs. The simultaneous higher concentrations of all elements in the content of thinner‐shelled embryonated eggs suggest the parallel transfer of these elements along with Ca resorption from the shell into the egg interior during embryo formation. The higher concentration of most elements in the thinner shells of embryonated eggs may be indicative of the maternal deposition of some of these elements in a shell layer not subject to embryonic depletion, or in the eggshell membrane. Our results highlight the need for the careful selection of egg samples, which should differentiate between embryonated and non‐embryonated eggs in the analytical treatment of eggs and eggshells.     

Trace element profiles in cancer patients

It has become evident over the last two decades that there is an intimate relationship between the trace elements and cancer. Some trace elements have been shown to be carcinogens, others appear to provide protection against cancer. Profound changes in trace element concentrations and distribution occur in patients with cancer, but most changes remain undefined. A review of a number of studies of trace element changes in patients with cancer demonstrates that simple correlations of trace element levels in disease are of only limited use. Such reports underscore the need for large-scale studies that consider the many variables of malignancies and of trace element chemistry. The variables that must be considered for cancer include tissue of origin; histologic, pathologic and clinical staging; nutritional status as reflected by serum levels of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, the electrolytes, pH, albumen, and globulin; endocrine balance, effects of previous and concurrent therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal manipulation, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy; history of exposure to toxic agents; and the presence of other disease. Similarly, trace element studies entail variables that must be considered and controlled prospectively, including timing and techniques of sampling, storage, and analysis, and simultaneous measurement of at least the majority of possibly interrelated elements rather than studying one element at a time. The various national cooperative oncology groups such as ECOG, SWOG, and SEOG now offer unusually well-studied groups of cancer patients who are managed according to carefully and prospectively defined protocols in participating institutions. With present knowledge, it is now time to approach these groups with a proposal to incorporate trace element studies in their protocols. A potential protocol will be discussed.     

Trace element concentrations in the fruit peels and trunks of Musa paradisiaca

Chemical analyses for the elementary compositions of the ashes of the fruit peels and trunks of the tropical plantain Musa paradisiaca have been undertaken. The elements, categorized as trace elements, generally are found to have higher mean concentrations in the fruit peels than in the trunks (except in the case of Zn). Their peel-trunk uptake ratios have been calculated and range between 1 and 4, showing normal levels of accumulations in the fruit peels over the trunks.