Essential trace elements in humans

Serum arsenic concentrations of persons suffering from renal failure and undergoing hemodialysis treatment (n=85) and of healthy controls (n=25) were determined by hydride-generation AAS technique after microwave digestion. The results were evaluated by comparing the values of both groups, considering physiological factors and individual data, as well as comorbid conditions of the hemodialysis (HD) patients. Serum arsenic levels were diminished in the patient group compared with controls (mean values 8.5±1.8 ng/mL vs 10.6±1.3 ng/mL). Furthermore, additional diseases within the hemodialysis group, particularly injuries of the central nervous system (CNS), vascular diseases, and cancer, were correlated to occasionally markedly decreased serum arsenic concentrations. It was concluded that arsenic homeostasis is disturbed by HD treatment and certain additional diseases. Desirable arsenic concentrations in the body seem to be reasonable. This consideration results in the conclusion that arsenic could play an essential role in human health. Thus, reference arsenic concentrations in different human tissues and body fluids should be established in order to recognize not only arsenic intoxication, but also arsenic deficiency. Perhaps arsenic deficiency contributes to the increased death risk of HD patients, and therefore, arsenic supplementations for patients with extremely low serum arsenic concentrations should be taken into account.     

Trace elements in hair of blackfoot disease

Blackfoot disease is a peripheral vascular disease resulting in gangrene of the lower extremities. Though extensive epidemiological study has implicated that high arsenic content in artesian well water of the endemic area, bears some important connection with the disease, the etiology of the disease is still unknown. In this study, attention is paid to multielement determination in order to find out whether the trace elements in hair of Blackfoot disease patients are different from those of the controls. Experimental results indicate that the concentrations of As and Se in hair of patients are significantly higher than those of the controls, but Ca and Zn are significantly lower than those of the controls. The possible connection of these elements with the etiology of the disease is discussed.     

Particle sources and trace element reactivity in the Humber plume

Samples of suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected from the Humber Estuary had higher concentrations of particulate metals than SPM from Holderness coastal waters (U.K.). Characterised SPM from both sources was used in laboratory experiments involving the uptake of radiotracer¹⁰⁹Cd,¹³⁷Cs,⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁵Zn. Kinetic experiments, over five days, showed that the rate and extent of uptake was highly dependent on particle type, with¹⁰⁹Cd,⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁵Zn being more reactive with Humber Estuary particles than those from Holderness and¹³⁷Cs having the opposite trend. Adsorption experiments were also carried out on suspensions in which SPM from the Humber Estuary and Holderness coastal water were mixed in various proportions. These experiments revealed that K_d for⁶⁵Zn increased linearly with the proportion of Humber SPM, K_d for¹³⁷Cs decreased linearly with increase in Humber SPM and K_d for⁵⁴Mn and¹⁰⁹Cd displayed non-linear behaviour. The results of the study were used to develop an algorithm for predicting the partition coefficients in the Humber Plume based on the extent of particle mixing from the two source regions. The use of^206/207Pb ratios in determining the extent of particle mixing is discussed, along with the application of the algorithm to the modelling of particulate trace metal behaviour in the Humber-Wash coastal zone.     

霍山三种石斛与其栽培土壤中微量元素分布关系研究

本文应用灰色系统理论,对安徽霍山三种石斛与其栽培土壤中15种微量元素分布状况进行了关联分析．结果发现.其关联序为γ_根＞γ_叶＞γ_茎;γ_(-年茎)≈γ_(二年茎)≈γ_(三年茎);γ_(霍斛)＞γ_(铁斛)＞γ_(铜斛).可见霍山石斛与其栽培土壤间的微量元素相关性比其它石斛强,因而可通过增施微肥的办法来提高霍山石解中某些人体必需微量元素的含量．     

毛鹃‘紫萼’秋梢花芽发育的研究

本研究首次发现了毛鹃花芽分化过程中的一个特殊现象──秋季侧花芽伸长生长现象。并认为充足的光照,适宜的气温（２５°─２６℃）及充沛的降水伴随较高的空气相对湿度是导致这种花芽伸长生长的主要环境因子。也进一步证实了毛鹃是一类较喜阳生生境的灌木花卉。     

川西峨眉晚白垩世夹关期河流沉积中的痕迹化石群落*

晚白垩世夹关组中的痕迹化石群落至少由12个痕迹属17个痕迹种组成,其中包括5个新痕迹种,即Cystichrtium cuwatitivum,Steinichnus laryus,Paradidymaulichnus emeiertsis,Monmorphichnus lineates和Rusophycus univalvis.这一化石群落主要是无脊椎动物的进食迹、觅食迹、爬迹、停息迹和居住迹,其中多数呈下浮痕和全浮痕保存,并形成于经常干旱的河流环境(大多出现在泛滥平原沉积中).该群落可识别出两个痕迹化石组合,即1) Scoyenia-Steinichnus-Rusophycus组合,它主要产自泛滥平原和漫滩环境;2)Skolithos-Arenicolites组合,它代表一种水道砂坝或曲流砂坝环境.     

安徽宿县夹沟寒武-奥陶系界线附近生物群演变及地球化学特征

对宿县夹沟地区跨寒武系与奥陶系的三山子组的碳、氧同位素和微量元素地球化学的研究表明,寒武－奥陶系界线附近有δ＾１３Ｃ和δ＾１８Ｏ的负异常,亲铁元素、亲铜元素的正异常。这些异常与生物群面貌的变化在时间上是同步的。据此认为研究区在寒武纪末可能存在灾变事件。同时,考虑到寒武纪末和奥陶纪初生物群面貌的重大差异,综合国内,外有关研究,认为寒武纪末期可能存在全球性的重大地质事件。     

Trace amines and Tourette's syndrome

There has been considerable interest in recent years in possible neurochemical abnormalities in Tourette's Syndrome (TS). In studies combining neuropsychological and neurochemical measurements, we have investigated the possible roles of trace amines in this disorder. Urinary levels of free -phenylethylamine (PEA) and plasma levels of its precursor amino acid phenylalanine were decreased in TS patients when compared to values in normal children. These urinary PEA levels in TS patients were inversely related to several scores from the Tourette's Syndrome Global Scale (TSGS). Further investigation of the group of subjects with low urinary PEA indicated that they also had low levels of MHPG, normetanephrine, 5-HT andm- andp-tyramine. Patients with low PEA were also compared on an extensive battery of neuropsychological measures and observed to perform significantly worse than TS patients with normal urinary PEA levels. Biochemical measurements also suggest a possible abnormality in tryptamine turnover in TS since urinary levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA; the acid metabolite of tryptamine) are significantly lower in TS patients than in normal controls.