Hepatic zinc,copper, and iron in the developing turkey embryo and newly hatched poult

The ontogeny of hepatic tissue growth and trace metal deposition was examined in the developing turkey embryo and newly hatched poult. Hepatic concentrations of zinc and iron in the embryo declined by about twofold between day 16 of incubation and hatching. Hepatic copper concentration increased approximately fourfold by day 23 of incubation and then declined rapidly through hatching. During the post-hatching period, hepatic zinc concentration increased twofold by day 10, whereas a small increase in hepatic iron concentration occurred just prior to hatching and continued through the third day post-hatching. A significant positive correlation existed between hepatic zinc and iron concentrations in the developing embryo. The concentrations of both these metals were inversely correlated with hepatic copper concentration during the same time. Total hepatic zinc and iron content increased throughout the entire time studied, whereas total copper content increased up to hatching and then declined during the first week post-hatching. The most rapid phase of hepatic metal accretion differed for each metal, with zinc being rapidly accumulated during the post-hatching period, copper during the last half of incubation and iron at about the time of hatching and the first few days post-hatching. Each of these metals demonstrated a specific relationship to hepatic tissue growth that changed between the embryonic and neonatal periods of development.     

Serum zinc and copper in myocardial infarction with particular reference to prognosis

Serum copper and zinc estimations in humans were made to find their diagnostic and prognostic value in cases of myocardial infarction. Following infarction, there was an increase in serum copper levels from the first 24 h up to the 7th day, with gradual decline that did not reach the normal value up to the 14th day. The serum zinc levels declined in the first 24 h until the 4th day and increased to the normal value on the 14th day. It is concluded that, for diagnosis of myocardial infarction, serum zinc levels are more useful during the first week and copper levels in the second week after the onset of infarction.     

Enzymic Analysis of Feruloylated Arabinoxylans (Feraxan) Derived from Zea mays Cell Walls : III. Structural Changes in the Feraxan during Coleoptile Elongation

Changes in structural features of feraxan (feruloylated arabinoxylans) in cell walls during development of maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptiles were investigated by analysis of fragments released by feraxanase, a specific enzyme purified from Bacillus subtilis. The following patterns were identified: (a) The total quantity of carbohydrate dissociated from a given dry weight of cell wall by feraxanase remained rather constant throughout the initial 10 days of coleoptile development. However, during the same period the proportion of ferulic acid in the fraction increased 12-fold. The absolute amount of ferulic acid per coleoptile also increased rapidly during this developmental phase. (b) Fragments dissociated by the enzyme were resolved into feruloylated and nonferuloylated components by reversed phase chromatography. While the quantity of feruloylated fractions represented a small portion of the total arabinoxylan during the phase of maximum coleoptile elongation (days 2-4) this component increased in abundance to reach a plateau (after 8-10 days). In contrast, nonferuloylated fractions were most abundant during the stage of maximum elongation but declined to a constant level by day 6. (c) Glycosidic linkage analysis of carbohydrate reveals that substitution of the xylan backbone of feraxan by arabinosyl residues decreased during coleoptile growth. We conclude that significant incorporation of ferulic acid occurs and/or more feruloyated domains are added to the arabinoxylan during development. This augmentation in phenolic acids is accompanied by a concerted displacement of arabinosyl residues and/or a reduction in the incorporation of regions enriched in arabinosyl sidechains.     

Metallothionein in kidney and liver of the macular mouse as an animal model of Menkes' kinky hair disease

The tissue copper and metallothionein-Cu (MT-Cu) content of kidney and liver were measured in mutant (hemizygous macular male and homozygous macular female), heterozygous macular female and normal mouse. The tissue copper and MT-Cu contents in kidneys from 7-8 day mutants and heterozygotes were significantly greater than those of the normal kidney. Marked elevations in kidney copper and MT-Cu contents were also observed in the 8-9 week mutant (which achieved long-term survival with a single dose of subcutaneous copper administered at day 7) and in the heterozygote. The L-[35S]cystine incorporation experiments also revealed an abnormal synthesis of renal MT in the 8-9 week mutant and in the heterozygote. In contrast to kidney Cu levels, the tissue copper and MT-Cu contents of 7-8 day normal livers were extremely high, whereas the tissue copper and MT-Cu contents of mutant and heterozygote livers were extremely low. The tissue copper contents of livers of 8-9 week mutants and heterozygotes were slightly low compared to normal, and the MT-Cu contents of livers of the 8-9 week mouse were extremely low in all groups. In contrast to the changes in copper content, the changes in tissue zinc and MT-Zn contents in kidney and liver were slight in the 7-8 day and 8-9 week mouse.     

Effect of ethylene producer ethrel and antioxidant ionol (BHT) on the proteolytic apparatus in coleoptiles of wheat seedlings during apoptosis

It was established that total proteolytic activity in etiolated wheat seedlings changes in ontogenesis in cycles: peaks of proteolytic activity correspond to the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of seedling growth, respectively. The maximum of proteolytic activity preceded the maximum of nuclease activity, which may be due to activation of nucleases by proteolytic enzymes. According to inhibitory analysis the cysteine and serine proteases play the main role in apoptosis in wheat coleoptiles. Growing of seedlings in the presence of ethrel stimulated apoptosis in the coleoptile, and it increased (almost 6-fold) the proteolytic activity in its cells. On the other hand, the antioxidant ionol (BHT) suppressed the induction of proteases, particularly at the second stage of coleoptile development, and it slowed down the increase in the nuclease activity after 6th day of the seedling life. It is suggested that phytohormones and antioxidants participate in regulation of apoptosis in the ageing coleoptile, directly or indirectly effecting the proteolytic apparatus in the coleoptile cells.     

Zinc concentrations in hair,plasma, and saliva and changes in taste acuity of adults supplemented with zinc

The effect of zinc supplementation as zinc acetate (15 mg Zn/day for 5 weeks) was determined on stimulated parotid salivary zinc levels and taste acuity. In addition, zinc and copper levels of hair and plasma in 10 healthy subjects (five male and five female) between the ages of 17 and 37 years were studied. Presupplementation and 5 weeks postsupplementation levels were evaluated as well. Taste acuity for sweet improved with zinc supplementation and returned to presupplementation levels after supplementation ceased. No changes in plasma copper or salivary zinc levels were found with zinc supplementation although stimulated parotid saliva flow rate increased. Plasma zinc levels increased significantly while hair copper increased slightly with supplementation. All indices returned to presupplementation levels by 5 weeks after cessation of supplementation.     

Effect of lead, zinc, mercury, and copper with and without estrogen on serum vitellogenin level in Magur fish (Clarias batrachus L.)

Injection(s) of lead, zinc, and mercuric acetate decreased the serum vitellogenin content in Magur fish, while cupric acetate failed to cause any change in the vitellogenin level. Estrogen injections on 7th, 8th and 9th d increased the serum vitellogenin level in normal and copper salt treated fish, but were totally ineffective in altering the reduced vitellogenin content in lead, zinc, and mercury salts treated fish. Vitellogenin level almost restored to normal level at 6 week in lead, zinc, and mercury treated fish, and estrogen injections on 37th, 38th, and 39th d enhanced the serum vitellogenin content in all groups.     

Influence of copper on the early post-implantation mouse embryo: An in vivo and in vitro study

Summary Female mice were injected intravenously with copper sulphate on either the 7th day (early egg cylinder stage of development), the 8th day (late egg cylinder stage), or the 9th day (early somite stage of development), and examined on the 10th day of gestation. Injection on the 7th day was found to be embryo-lethal; when females were injected on the 8th day, the majority of the surviving embryos exhibited anomalies of the neural tube and/or the heart, while injection on the 9th day resulted in a very low incidence of anomalies. The most common malformations seen on the 10th day involved failure of closure of the neural tube in the head region of the embryo, and various types of anomalies of cardiac rotation and shape. When additional females injected on the 8th day were examined on the 12th day, a high proportion of the fetuses examined had developed exencephaly.A further group of embryos from untreated females were explanted on the 9th day and cultured in vitro in various concentrations of copper sulphate. The lowest levels tested had little obvious effect on neural tube closure. Intermediate doses resulted in, retarded and anomalous embryonic development, while the highest levels employed resulted in neural tube and cardiac anomalies similar to those produced in vivo.The results demonstrate both the direct toxic effect of copper on embryonic development and that the stage of embryonic development at the time of exposure determines both the nature and the extent of the effect.     

Effect of acute administration of mercuric chloride on the disposition of copper, zinc, and iron in the rat

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of mercuric chloride administration on copper, zinc, and iron concentrations in the liver, kidney, lung, heart, spleen, and muscle of rats. The results showed that after dose and time exposure to mercuric chloride, the concentration of mercury in the six tissues was significantly elevated. Data showed that there were no interaction between mercury and tissue iron. There was a considerable elevation of the content of copper in the kidney and liver. The most significant changes in the copper concentration took place in the kidneys. About a twofold increase in the copper content of the kidney was noted after exposure to mercuric chloride (3 mg and 5 mg/kg). Only slight elevations in the copper content occurred in the liver, especially in high dose and longer exposure time. In the remaining organs, the copper content was not changed significantly (p>0.05). The most significant changes in the zinc concentration took place in liver, kidney, lung, and heart (5 mg/kg). Marked changes in kidney zinc concentrations were observed at any of the specified doses. Zinc concentrations were significantly increased in kidney of rats sacrificed 9–48 h after sc injection of HgCl₂ (5 mg/kg); in liver obtained from rats at 18, 24, or 48 h after injection; and in lung after 24 or 48 h of treatment. The heart and spleen zinc concentrations were elevated at 24 and 48 h after injection of HgCl₂ (5 mg/kg), respectively. The results of this study implicate that effects on copper and zinc concentrations of the target tissues of mercury may play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute mercuric chloride intoxication.     

Fatty acids of rice coleoptiles in air and anoxia

The metabolism of lipids, like that of other components, was adversely and strongly affected when rice (Oryza sativa L.) coleoptiles were grown anaerobically. In aerobic coleoptiles, the amounts of total fatty acid, phospholipid, and total lipid per coleoptile increased by 2.5- to 3-fold between days three and seven, whereas under anoxia, the increases were all less than 60%. The total amount of lipid at day seven in anoxia was less than 30% of that in air. In air, the total fatty acid content at day three was 25 nanomoles per coleoptile and this increased to over 71 nanomoles per coleoptile at day seven. All acids except 18:0 showed substantial increases. In anoxia, the corresponding values for total fatty acids were 24 nanomoles and 27 nanomoles. The small increases were confined to the saturated fatty acids; no significant increase occurred in unsaturated fatty acids. A minor fatty acid constituent (16:1) increased from 0.09 to 1.99 nanomoles per coleoptile between days three and seven in air. This component was never observed in any fatty acid preparation from anaerobic coleoptiles. The major phospholipids under all conditions were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid. A small amount of unidentified phosphoester, not present on thin layer chromatography plates from aerobic coleoptiles, was seen in extracts of anaerobic coleoptiles. The fatty acyl substituents of each of the phospholipids were analyzed at days three and seven in coleoptiles grown aerobically and in anoxia. Each phospholipid had its own distinctive fatty acid composition which remained fairly constant under all treatments; 16:0 and 18:2 were the most abundant fatty acids in every phospholipid class. In air, the percentages of total fatty acids that were in the phospholipids were 86% on day three and 87% on day seven. In anoxia, the values at the corresponding ages were 47 and 57%. Since no net synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids occurred in anaerobic conditions, the small increase in total unsaturated acids in the phospholipids between days three and seven must have occurred at the expense of fatty acids preexisting in the neutral lipid. No unusual pathways of biosynthesis or unusual precursors are required to explain the presence of unsaturated fatty acids in the rice coleoptile. The present study and results of experiments where coleoptiles were fed [¹⁴C]acetate (BB Vartapetian et al. 1978 Plant Sci Lett 13:321-328) clearly show that unsaturated fatty acid synthesis in rice coleoptiles requires O₂, as it does in other plants.     

重金属Cd、Zn、Cu、Pb对土壤微生物和酶活性的影响

采用室内培养实验(25℃),研究了不同培养时间下重金属Cd、Zn、Cu、Pb(浓度分别为50,800,400,800mg.kg-1)污染对土壤微生物和酶活性的影响。结果表明,土壤蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶和脱氢酶活性随着培养时间的增加而显著下降,在培养20d的时候达到最小值,然后酶活性缓慢升高。Cu对脲酶活性以及Cd对酸性磷酸酶和脲酶活性的抑制作用随时间增加而增加。土壤微生物生物量碳、细菌、真菌和放线菌数量随培养时间的增加均表现出先降低后升高的变化趋势。Cd和Cu对微生物生物量氮的抑制作用则随着培养时间的增加而增强,在培养30d时微生物生物量氮到达最低值,分别较培养10天减少了12.6%和16.5%。     

Association Between Zinc, Copper, and Iron Concentrations in Breast Milk and Growth of Healthy Infants in Tabriz, Iran

The aims of this study were to determine the effect of breast milk zinc, copper, and iron concentrations on infants’ growth and their possible correlations with maternal dietary intake. Milk samples and information on food intake were collected from 182 lactating women. Concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron in milk were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The infant’s weight for age Z-score (WAZ) and height for age Z-score (HAZ) were calculated. The mean milk zinc, copper, and iron concentrations were 1.85?±?0.5, 0.53?±?0.3, and 0.85?±?0.2 mg/l, respectively. Only zinc mean level was lower than the recommended range. Association between zinc, copper, and iron concentrations of milk and WAZ or HAZ of infants were not significant. However, the WAZ of infants whose mothers' milk zinc was more than 2 mg/l was significantly (P?<?0.039) higher than for others. The mean dietary zinc (5.31?±?2.3 mg/day) and copper (1.16?±?0.7 mg/day) intake of mothers was significantly less than the required daily intake (RDA) recommendations (P?<?0.05). The mean dietary iron intake (11.8?±?8.2 mg/day) was significantly higher than RDA recommendation (P?<?0.001). No significant association was found between maternal mean dietary zinc, copper, and iron intakes with their concentrations in milk. Dietary consultation or/and zinc supplementation is suggested for lactating women and infants.     

The effects of cadmium and copper on the renal uptake and metallothionein binding of gold in the rat and hamster

Rats and hamsters, (pre)-treated with copper and cadmium, were used to investigate whether species-differences in renal metallothionein synthesis in response to gold were determined by changes in the kidney concentrations of other metals. The effects of both dietary copper limitation and excess on the renal metabolism of gold also were studied in the rat. In this species, all of the pre-treatments affected the renal concentrations of total and metallothionein-bound copper, but none of them altered either the kidney uptake or thionein-binding of gold. Incorporation of zinc into the metallothionein, which accompanied the binding of gold in this fraction of the kidney, however, was influenced slightly by the pretreatments. In hamsters, pretreatment with cadmium, which increased the concentrations of total and thionein-bound zinc in the kidneys, also did not affect the renal uptake of gold, although it increased significantly the binding of gold to the metallothionein fraction of the renal cytosol. This increased binding of gold also was accompanied by further increases in the zinc and copper contents of the metallothionein; the contents of total and thionein-bound cadmium, however, remained essentially unchanged. Concentrations of copper and zinc in the hamster kidney were not affected significantly by subcutaneous administration of copper alone (five daily doses, each of 3.2 mg Cu/kg body wt.), but were increased when gold was given during the copper-treatment. The concentrations of gold, copper and zinc in the renal metallothionein fraction also were increased under these conditions. From these results it seems that kidney metallothionein synthesis in response to gold may be related to the changes in either the concentration or distribution of zinc, rather than copper.     

Effect of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on the Hepatic Distribution of Iron,Copper, Zinc,and Magnesium in Rats

The distribution of iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium in hepatic subcellular fractions of male and female rats treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was determined. Animals received 40 μg TCDD per kilogram per day for three days by mouth (PO) or the vehicle and were killed seven or nine days posttreatment. Iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The iron content of liver from female animals was twofold higher than male animals. The administration of TCDD increased the iron content of mitochondria in female and male rats and decreased iron content of microsomes of both sexes. Significant increases occurred in the copper content of whole liver, mitochondria, and cytosol of male rats and in whole liver and cytosol of female rats. Decreases in the copper content of the microsomes of male rats were observed following TCDD treatment; however, TCDD produced no changes in the zinc content of hepatic subcellular fractions of either sex. The magnesium content of female TCDD-treated rats increased in whole liver, mitochondria, and cytosol, while the magnesium content of microsomes was not altered. With respect to the subcellular distribution of iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium, TCDD produces differential effects. The altered distribution of some cations may contribute to the broad range of effects of TCDD.     

Necessity of Superoxide Production for Development of Etiolated Wheat Seedlings

It was found that production of superoxide (O₂ ^{– ·}) is crucial for normal morphogenesis of etiolated wheat seedlings in the early stages of plant development. The development of etiolated wheat seedlings was shown to be accompanied with cyclic changes in the rate of O₂ ^{– ·} production both in the entire intact seedling and in its separated organs (leaf, coleoptile). First increase in the rate of O₂ ^{– ·} production was clearly observed in the period from two to four days of seedling development, then the rate of O₂ ^{– ·} production decreased to the initial level, and then it increased again for two days to a new maximum. An increase in O₂ ^{– ·} production in the period of the first four days of seedling development correlates with an increase in DNA and protein contents in the coleoptile. The second peak of increased rate of O₂ ^{– ·} production observed on the sixth or seventh day of seedling development coincides with a decrease in DNA and protein contents and apoptotic internucleosomal nuclear DNA fragmentation in the coleoptile. Incubation of seedlings in the presence of the antioxidant BHT (ionol) strongly affects their development but it does not influence the increase in DNA and protein contents for the initial four days of seedling life, and it slows down the subsequent age-dependent decrease in protein content and fully prevents the age-dependent decrease in DNA content in the coleoptile. A decrease in the O₂ ^{– ·} amount induced by BHT distorts the seedling development. BHT retards seedling growth, presumably by suppression of cell elongation, and it increases the life span of the coleoptile. It seems that O₂ ^{– ·} controls plant growth by cell elongation at the early stages of seedling development but later O₂ ^{– ·} controls (induces) apoptotic DNA fragmentation and protein disintegration.     

Effects of inflammation and antiinflammatory treatment on serum trace elements concentrations

We investigated the serum concentrations of zinc and copper during the inflammatory process together with the effect of treatment with a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agent on these trace elements concentrations. In the present study, we used 92 guinea pigs, 12 of which constituted the control group; the remaining 80 were the experimental group. To start with, proquazone (as anti-inflammatory agent) was administered orally to 40 guinea pigs of the experimental group at 20-mg/kg doses 2 h before the surgery. Throughout the experimental period, the above dose was administered to the animals twice a day. We produced inflammation in all animals of the experimental group by using carrageenan (inflammatory agent) dropped into mandibular surgical defects. Serum concentrations of zinc and copper were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in both groups at the 6th, 48th, 120th, 168th, and 240th h. The serum zinc concentrations of the carrageenan-administered group decreased significantly (p<0.01). When comparing the serum zinc concentrations of the carrageenan plus proquazone-administered group with those of control group, the decrease (p<0.05) at the 6th, 48th, and 120th h were statistically significant. When the copper serum concentrations of the carrageenan-administered group were compared with those of the control group, at the 48th, 120th, and 168th h, a statistically significant increase (p<0.01) was observed. However, there was no significant change in the carrageenan plus proquazone-administered group at the 168th and 240th h. As a result during the acute phase of inflammation, serum zinc concentrations decreased, whereas serum copper concentrations increased. The alterations in zinc concentrations were more rapid than those in copper concentrations, but the administration of proquazone slowed the rate of decrease in serum zinc concentrations. This work was presented at the Fourth International Congress of Pathophysiology, June 29–July 5, 2002, Budapest, Hungary.     

Vegetation-environment relationships in a heavy metal-dry grassland complex

Heavy-metal content is assumed to be the most important edaphic factor that determines vegetation composition on contaminated soil. We compared the effects of heavy metals on species composition and species richness in the heavy metal-dry grassland complex of the Bottendorf Hills (Central Germany) with those of other environmental factors. Based on 206 relevés, we distinguished nine communities of the classesKoelerio-Corynephoretea andFestuco-Brometea. Four communities in which the metallophytesArmeria maritima subsp.halleri andMinuartia verna subsp.hercynica occurred with high frequency were classified as heavy metal subassociations of four different dry grassland associations because of the dominance of dry grassland species. We measured the soil content of copper, zinc and lead, and the carbonate content, C/N ratio, pH and conductivity of the soil, soil depth and incident radiation per site. The first axis resulting from a DCA was positively correlated with the cover and height of the herb layer, the soil depth and soil carbonate content, and negatively with the soil content of copper, the proportion of rocks, the soil C/N ratio and incident radiation per site. The number of vascular plants, bryophyte and lichen species per plot increased with pH up to 7.5 and then decreased slightly. Species richness increased with carbonate content and conductivity of the soil and decreased with the soil C/N ratio. Heavy metal content of the soil and species richness were not correlated. The occurrence of the metallophytes was strongly related to the copper content of the soil. In conclusion our study has shown that heavy metal content is not necessarily the main factor determining the total composition and richness of grasslands on soil containing heavy metals. Heavy metal grasslands are not necessarily floristically distinct from “normal” dry grasslands.     

Preferential digestion of chloroplast nuclei (nucleoids) during senescence of the coleoptile ofOryza sativa

Summary The coleoptile ofOryza sativa develops, grows and ages within 4 days that follow imbibition. It is, thus, a very useful system for experimental analysis of the life cycle of organelles, for example, the development, growth and aging of plastids in higher plants. We examined the behavior and levels of DNA and chlorophyll in the plastid by epifluorescence microscopy after staining with 4-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and by fluorimetry with a video-intensified-photon counting system (VIMPCS). The whitish yellow coleoptile appeared soon after imbibition and, between the first 24 and 60 h that followed imbibition, it grew markedly in a longitudinal direction, with concomitant elongation of the cells, and an increase in the volume of plastids and in the amount of DNA in the plastids. The chlorophyll content per plastid began to increase when the coleoptile turned green, 48 h after imbibition, and reached a plateau value when the coleoptile was 3.5 mm in length, 72 h after imbibition. More than 12 h later, the chlorophyll disappeared just before the breakdown of chloroplasts was initiated. Proplastids in young coleoptiles, contained a plastid nucleus which was located in the central area of the plastids and each nucleus consisted of approximately 6 copies of plastid DNA (ptDNA). The number of copies of ptDNA per plastid increased gradually, with a concomitant increase in the volume of the plastids after imbibition, and reached approximately 130 times the value in the young proplastids, 60 h after imbibition, when the plastid developed into a chloroplast. However, each plastid nucleus did not scatter throughout the entire interior region of each chloroplast. The disappearance of each plastid nucleus occurred more than 12 h before the degeneration of the chloroplasts. The number of plastids per cell increased from 10 to 15 in young coleoptiles within 12 h after imbibition. Yet the number remained constant throughout subsequent growth and aging of the coleoptile. Thus the preferential reduction in the amount of chloroplast DNA was not due to the division of the plastid but could, perhaps, be associated directly with the aging of the cells of the coleoptile which precedes senescence of the coleoptiles.     

Copper, iron, and Zinc contents in human milk during the first three months of lactation

The aim of the study has been to analyze the evolution of copper, iron, and zinc contents in human milk, from colostrum to the third postpartum month, following a longitudinal design, under specific conditions of sample collection and to apply an analytical procedure previously optimized to reduce any variation outside physiological lactation. The copper, iron, and zinc concentrations in 144 milk samples from 39 healthy puerpera women, were analyzed in five stages by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, following a standardized protocol. Copper presented a gradual decrease from 0.38 mg/L to 0.19 mg/L by the 90th day; the particular analysis from colostrum to transitional milk manifested the following two tendencies. Whereas an increase from 0.19 to 0.42 mg/L was observed in some women, a decrease from 0.53 to 0.45 mg/L was detected in others; therefore, copper presented two significant behaviors in the evolution from colostrum to transitional milk. In both cases, the evaluated changes were significant. The iron content varied from 0.56 to 0.40 mg/L by the 30th day, remaining constant until the first trimester concluded. The average zinc concentration decreased sharply from 7.99 to 3.3 mg/L on d 15; the rate of decrease slowed down gradually until 1.05 mg/L.     

Oral Treatment of Pressure Ulcers with Polaprezinc (Zinc L-carnosine Complex): 8-Week Open-Label Trial

Polaprezinc (zinc L-carnosine complex) is a tablet commonly prescribed for gastric ulcers in Japan. Recently, we reported the effects of polaprezinc on pressure ulcer healing at 4-week follow-up. We aimed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of polaprezinc in 8-week treatment for chronic pressure ulcers. Patients with stage II–IV pressure ulcers for ≥8 weeks received 150 mg/day polaprezinc (containing 116 mg L-carnosine and 34 mg zinc) per os for a maximum of 8 weeks. We measured the severity of pressure ulcers weekly using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) score and monitored blood biochemistry. Fourteen patients (nine men; 68.4?±?11.8 years) were enrolled. Pressure ulcer stages were II (one patient; 7 %), III (nine; 64 %), and IV (four; 29 %). The PUSH score improved significantly from 8.1 [95 % CI, 6.0–10.3] at baseline to ?1.4 [?4.0 to 1.1] after 8 weeks (P?<?0.001). Differences from baseline were significant after 1 week (P?<?0.05). The mean weekly improvement in PUSH score was 2.0. Eleven patients healed within 8 weeks and none dropped out. Serum zinc levels increased significantly (P?<?0.001), whereas serum copper levels (P?=?0.001) and copper/zinc ratios (P?<?0.001) decreased significantly. In one patient, preexisting copper deficiency deteriorated. These preliminary data suggest that polaprezinc may be effective and well-tolerated in 8-week treatment of pressure ulcers and could be a candidate for their oral treatment.