Elemental concentration analysis in brain structures from young,adult and old Wistar rats by total reflection X-ray fluorescence with synchrotron radiation

The knowledge of the spatial distribution and the local concentration of trace elements in tissues are of great importance since trace elements are involved in a number of metabolic and physiological processes in the human body, and their deficiency and excess may lead to different metabolic disorders. In this way, the main goal of this work is to compare the elemental concentration in different brain structures, namely temporal cortex, entorhinal cortex, visual cortex and hippocampus, from Wistar female rats (n = 15) with different ages: 2, 8 and 48 weeks. The measurements were performed at the Synchrotron Light Brazilian Laboratory, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. In the entorhinal cortex, the following elements decreased with age: Zn, S, Cl, K, Ca and Br. In the temporal cortex, Ca, Fe and Br levels increased with aging and on the other hand, P, S, Cl, K and Rb levels decreased with aging. In the visual cortex almost all the elements decreased with aging: Cl, Ca, Fe, Ni and Zn. In the hippocampus, in turn, most of the elements identified, increased with aging: Al, P, S, K, Fe, Cu, Zn and Rb. The increase of Fe with aging in the hippocampus is an important fact that will be studied, since it is involved in oxidative stress. It is believed that oxidative stress is the one of the main causes responsible for neuronal death in Parkinson's disease.     

Quality control in large sample analysis

To investigate the effects of lanthanum exposure on regional distribution of inorganic elements in rat brain. Wistar rats were exposed to lanthanum chloride through oral administration at 0, 0.1, 2, and 40 mg/kg concentration for 6 months. The elements such as Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn were identified in the brain slices by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) analysis. Differences of brain elemental distributions were noticed. Cl, Ca, and Zn were primarily concentrated in hippocampus of the controls. With the increase of the lanthanum dosage, the Ca and Zn levels significantly decreased, while the Cu levels significantly elevated in cortex, hippocampus and thalamus. Our results suggest that subchronic lanthanum exposure in rats appears to change elemental distributions in brain.     

Trace elements in sickle cell disease

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analysis (employed as a complementary technique) have been used to determine the concentration of 11 elements in blood samples and its components erythrocytes and plasma obtained, from three groups of subjects in Nigeria viz: sickle cell anaemia (SCA) subjects, subjects with sickle cell trait and normal control subjects. The results suggest that SCA subjects have significantly higher concentrations of Na, Cl, Ca and Cu in their whole blood and erythrocytes and a higher concentration, of Cl and Cu in their plasma relative to the control subjects. Furthermore, a significantly lower concentration of K, Fe, Zn, Se, Br and Rb were found in the whole blood and erythrocytes of the SCA subjects as compared to the controls while the concentration of K and Fe in the plasma of the SCA subjects were however, found to be significantly higher than that of the control group. The study also shows that there was no significant differences between the concentration of these 11 elements in the group with sickle cell trait and the normal control group.     

脑部磁共振结合静息态fMRI方法在卒中患者认知障碍中的应用

本研究主要探讨脑部磁共振结合静息态fMRI方法在卒中患者认知障碍中的应用。本研究将符合卒中认知障碍患者25例设为患者组,将25例健康者设为对照组。采用脑部静息态核磁共振对实验者进行扫描,以脑部双侧海马为种子点进行功能连接分析,并通过软件分析两组实验者静息态双侧海马差异。结果发现,与对照组相比,患者组右侧海马与左右侧额中回、左侧额下回等的连接减少;右侧海马与左侧颞上中回、双侧丘脑的连接增加;左侧海马与左侧颞额中回、右侧颞额上回、右侧额下回的连接减少;左侧海马与右侧顶下回连接增加。总之,本研究发现卒中患者海马脑区与颞叶皮层、额叶皮层之间的连接减少,可能是由卒中患者脑损害导致。     

Elemental concentration in the cortex and hippocampus of Wistar rats by X-ray total reflection fluorescence with synchrotron radiation

Summary The study of trace element levels is of great importance due to their relevance in agingand several neurodegenerative diseases. This work compares the elemental concentrations in different postnatal ages and between the temporal cortex, entorhinal cortex and hippocampus from Wistar rats, using X-ray total reflection fluorescence with synchrotron radiation. Ten elements were determined in brain samples: Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, (at trace level) and P, S, Cl and K (at major levels). The elements that increased with aging in cortical areas were: S, K, Fe, Cu and Zn. Ca and Zn levels decreased with advancing age in the hippocampus. In addition to this, Ti, Mn and Fe levels were more conspicuous in the entorhinal cortex.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis,a technique for measurement of Se,Hg, Fe,Zn, K,Mn, Br,and the Hg:Se ratio in brain tissue samples with results from the Memory and Aging Project (MAP)

An INAA method for measurement of Se, Hg, Fe, Cr, Zn, Mn, K, and Br in autopsy cerebellum, anterior putamen, white matter, mid-frontal cortex, and inferior temporal lobe. Se, Hg, Fe, Cr, and Zn were measured autopsy samples collected from participants of the Memory and Aging Project. The first study examined the association between seafood consumption, brain Hg and Se, Apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) status, and brain neuropathology. Following the initial study, the samples were archived. A subsequent method was developed to measure Mn, K, and Br in the archived brain tissue samples.     

Trace elements in head hair of hemodialysis patients

Instrumental neutron activation analysis /INAA/ was applied to measure trace elements in head hair of 19 patients with impaired renal function /14 males and 5 females/ and of 40 normal individuals /20 males and 20 females/. It was the aim to use head hair as a possible indicator of total body trace elements status and to investigate whether significant changes occur as a result of chronic hemodialysis. The elemental concentrations of 20 elements /i.e. Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Ag, Cd, Sb, I and Au/ are presented and compared with published data. The present study revealed that the hair of the dialysis patients contained about ten times more iodine than that of the control group. No significant differences were observed for the other elements measured, except for sodium and antimony.     

Assessment of atmospheric deposition of metals in Ha Noi using the moss bio-monitoring technique and proton induced X-ray emission

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The concentration of 22 metal elements including Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Ba and Pb in Barbula...     

老年髋部骨折患者血清中宏量及微量元素含量分析

为探讨微量元素与骨质疏松症及髋部骨折的关系,采用原子吸收分光光度计等方法分别测定了40例老年髋部骨折患者血清中微量元素铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)、硒(Se)、铁(Fe)、锰(Mn)及宏量元素钙(Ca)、磷(P)、镁(Mg)、钾(K)、钠(Na)的含量,并与30例青壮年髋部骨折患者对照。结果表明,老年髋部骨折患者血清中的Ca含量明显升高(P<0.01)、Cu、Mn有显著提高(P<0.05),其它元素有升高趋势,但无显著性差异,Zn的含量明显降低(P<0.01)。测定血清中宏量及微量元素含量可能对预测髋部骨折及骨质疏松症的疗效评价有一定临床价值。     

Trace elemental analysis of rice grown in two regions of Tanzania

The concentrations of elements in rice, locally cultivated in two regions of Tanzania (Mbeya and Morogoro), were determined using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) for Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Cu and Br, and Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) for P, Fe and Zn. There were no statistical differences in concentrations of the essential elements Fe, Zn, Cu and P in rice from both regions. There was also no significant correlation between grain P and Fe content, suggesting the possibility of growing Tanzanian rice with low phytic acid and high Fe contents.     

The use of Tillandsia usneoides L. as bioindicator of air pollution in São Paulo, Brazil

Epiphytic bromeliadTillandsia usneoides was used as a biomonitor of metal atmospheric pollution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The samples were collected from an unpolluted area and were exposed for 8 weeks in 10 sites of the city and in a control site. The data obtained showed that the control site presented lower concentration for most elements analyzed and the highest concentrations of Na, Cl, Br, K. The highest concentrations of Zn, Cu and V were observed in stations submitted to industrial and vehicular sources. The results obtained for rare earth elements, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Rb and Sc indicate mineral dust origin. The elements Ba, As and Sb presented higher values in stations near streets with heavy traffic.     

Investigation on major,minor and trace elements in some medicinal plants using Particle Induced X-ray Emission

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Elemental concentrations namely P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Br and Sr were determined using Particle Induced X-ray Emission...     

尿毒症患者与血清八种元素含量关系的研究

检测了３７例尿毒症患者血清微量元素Ｆｅ、Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ和常量元素Ｋ、Ｎａ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ、Ｐ的含量，并进行比较，探讨其相互关系，以期为尿毒症的发生发展及防治措施提供依据．结果发现尿毒症患者血清Ｋ、Ｐ、Ｍｇ极显著高于对照组（均Ｐ＜０．０１），而Ｎａ、Ｃａ、Ｚｎ、Ｃｕ、Ｆｅ及Ｎａ／Ｋ、Ｃａ／Ｍｇ则极显著低于对照组（均Ｐ＜０．０１），且Ｎａ／Ｋ、Ｃａ／Ｍｇ与肾实质受损程度呈负相关，提示Ｎａ／Ｋ、Ｃａ／Ｍｇ降低与尿毒症的发生发展过程有密切的关系．     

浙江天目山石竹笋矿质元素营养成分的研究

对浙江天目山石竹笋中的铁、锰、锌、铜、硒等微量元素和磷、钾、钙、镁、钠等常量元素含量作了测定。结果表明,其铁、锰、锌、铜和磷、钾含量甚为丰富,且明显高于大多数常见蔬菜,为传统名优特产天目笋干的原产地域产品保护和地理标志产品保护提供了新的科学依据。     

Elemental concentrations of some Ayurvedic drugs using energy dispersive XRF

Summary Elemental concentration of nineteen Ayurvedic drugs have been measured using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis. Concentrations of nineteen elements: Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr and Hg have been determined using emission transmission method with Mo target. K, Ca and Fe were detected in all samples and their concentrations ranged from 0.35-2.88%, 0.346-8.65% and 0.007-36.7%, respectively. Maximum concentration measured in other elements ranged from 0.006% to 40.7%. The multi element and non-destructive nature of the method offers a simple way to establish the quality of the drugs that contain heavy metals in considerable concentration.     

Brain regional distribution of the minor and trace elements, Na, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Co, Zn and Se, in mice bred under Zn-deficient, -adequate and -excessive diets

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was to study the regional distributions of the minor (Na, K) and trace (Sc, Cr, Mn, Co, Zn, Se) elements in mice bred under the controlled diets with Zn content from 0.7 to 3520 ppm in small amounts of brain regions (cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus and hypothalamus, midbrain, cerebellum, pons and medulla, olfactory bulb). The trace elements were distributed heterogeneously among all brain regions and concentrated in corpus striatum and hippocampus. No significant changes were observed in Zn concentration of most brain regions among the mice bred under Zn-deficient ([Zn] = 3.6 ppm), -adequate and -excessive diets. The results indicate that the homeostasis of Zn seems to be maintained and the brain regional concentrations of Zn seem to be generally constant in all brain regions over a wide range of dietary Zn content from a deficient content as few ppm up to apparently excessive content as 3520 ppm. In an extremely severe Zn-deficient diet ([Zn]<0.7 ppm) where mice can hardly survive, the brain regions may have higher Zn concentration.     

Study of the Nutritional Status of Maternal Breast Milk in Preterm Infants in Nigeria

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis were used to determine the concentration of 13 elements in the breast milk collected within the first week of lactation and after morning feed from 16 pre-term mothers and 20 term mothers. The results of the study show that pre-term milk has a significantly higher concentration of Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn while term mothers have a significantly higher concentration of P and Br. No significant differences were, however, found in the mean concentration of Al, Ca, I and Rb. Furthermore, the mean concentration for most of the elements found in the breast milk fall within the range of the concentrations obtained for the commercial infant milk formulae.     

Position-resolved determination of trace elements in mandibular gnathobases of the Antarctic copepod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calanoides acutus</Emphasis> using a multimethod approach

Previous studies have revealed silica formation in the teeth of mandibular gnathobases of copepods while significant amounts of zinc and copper are present, which might improve mechanical stability of the teeth and represent an adaptation to compact food particles. The present study aimed at analysing the distribution and concentration of trace elements in the mandibular gnathobases of females of the Antarctic copepod species Calanoides acutus. Because of the low overall masses of few micrograms per specimen the application of a combination of position-resolved micro-beam techniques was necessary and micro-particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to determine Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ni, P, S, Si and Zn in the samples with μm to sub-μm resolution. Calibration strategies were optimised to fit for the carbonate matrix. The analyses revealed a distinct enrichment of Br, Ca, Fe, K, S, Si and Zn in the teeth of the gnathobases.     

Study of Br,Zn, Cu and Fe concentrations in healthy and cancer breast tissues by TXRF

Tissue samples of fifteen breasts were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in order to compare the elemental concentration in healthy and carcinoma regions of the same individual. Five women were from Germany and ten from Portugal living in big cities. The elemental distribution of P, S, K, Ca, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cu and Br present in both normal and cancerous breast tissues were studied. Several contiguous thin sections (up to 10 μm thickness) of each tissue were analyzed by TXRF in order to study the homogeneity in the elemental concentration along each tissue. Correlations between elemental concentrations were established.     

Method Development and Quantitative Elemental Analysis of Mentha Longifolia L. Leaves from Saudi Arabia by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence

A method has been developed for the quantitative elemental analysis of Mentha longifolia L. leaves collected from different cities in Saudi Arabia using total reflection X-ray fluorescence. Using a microwave digestion system, 100?mg of each sample was completely digested using 3?mL of nitric acid and 2?mL of hydrogen peroxide. The stabilization of the digested samples on the silicon reflectors was studied using a silicone solution and polyvinyl alcohol. 5?µL of either silicone solution or polyvinyl alcohol (1% m/v) was pipetted and dried on the silicon reflector prior to the deposition of the digested samples. It was recognized that there is some enhancement on the intensity of the peak area with the silicone solution at photon energies less than 11?keV. However, the obtained results confirm the ability of using silicone solution or polyvinyl alcohol (1% m/v) as the stabilizer prior to the deposition of the sample droplet on the quartz reflector. However, the silicone solution was more applicable. Based on the developed method, 15 elements were quantified, namely, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, and Ba. Based on the present quantitative analysis results, M. longifolia samples collected from Al-Madina city had the highest concentration of P, Cl, K, Ti, Fe, Ni, and Cu. The lowest concentrations of P, S, Cl, K, Mn, Ni, and Br were found in Taif-Shafa.