Determination of trace elements in human nail clippings by neutron activation analysis

In this work instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied todetermine trace elements in nail clippings and to make a comparison betweenthe results obtained from samples from healthy children and those with cysticfibrosis (CF) disease. The findings indicated that fingernails from the CFgroup present higher concentrations of Cl, Cr, K and Na than those found inthe control group. On the other hand, the lowest concentrations for Cr werefound in the CF group. For the Al, As, Co, Fe, Mg, Mn, Se and Zn elementsthere were no differences between the results obtained for the CF and controlgroups. The quality control of the results was evaluated by analysing NIST1577b Bovine Liver and NIST 1566a Oyster Tissue standard reference materials.     

A simple HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and two serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in hair, nail clippings, and cerebrospinal fluid

A novel and simple high-performance liquid chromatography method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine and paroxetine) and two serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine and duloxetine) in alternative samples of toxicological interest such as hair, nail clippings, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The separation was achieved on a Hichrom Kromasil 100-5C(18) (250 × 4.6 mm) 5 μm column by using ammonium acetate (0.05 M)-acetonitrile (59:41% v/v) as the mobile phase, delivered isocratically at a flow rate of 1.3 mL/min, within ca. 10 min. Ultraviolet detection at 235 nm was used for monitoring the eluting analytes. Validation was performed in terms of linearity, selectivity, accuracy, precision, and stability. Correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9954. The limits of quantitation ranged between 0.3 and 2.1 ng/μL for all analytes in the liquid matrix (CSF), while the respective values were in the range of 0.3-3.6 ng/mg for solid matrices (hair and nail clippings), with an injection volume of 20 μL. Repeatability and intermediate precision (relative standard deviation, RSD%) were less than 16.6%. The method was successfully applied to actual hair and nail samples from a patient under fluoxetine treatment.     

Detection of bio-constituents in complex biological tissue using Raman microscopy. Application to human nail clippings

Raman spectra of human nail clippings from various sources were collected and then deconvoluted to obtain the pure component spectra of the underlying constituents present. This blind-deconvolution was performed using a self-modeling curve resolution technique, namely band-target entropy minimization (BTEM). The aim was to simplify the complexity of the Raman spectra and hence to identify the underlying biological molecules in more detail. BTEM analysis could recover 13 pure component Raman spectral estimates from the collected 438 spectra measured from 113 nail samples. Six recovered pure component spectral estimates correspond to proteins or polypeptides that contain various amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, and cysteine. Two are associated with the secondary structures of proteins, and five are associated with two carotenoid species, lipid, ferulic acid, and calcium phosphate. Subsequently, the relative concentrations of these bio-constituents were calculated from the measured mixture spectra and the pure component BTEM estimates. These profiles indicated that the concentrations of some bio-constituents are correlated while others are not. A further analysis using target transformation factor analysis (TTFA) revealed the possible presence of curcumin in the human nails. Since the present approach and analysis is rather general, it might be extended to many other biological tissues in a rather straightforward and similar manner, thus revealing more detailed underlying biochemical information such as biomarkers that may be useful for diagnostic purposes.     

微波消解-ICP-MS法测定指甲中14种金属元素的含量

有益微量元素在人体的正常生命机能和各种新陈代谢中都发挥着重要的作用,同时有害重金属含量过高会对人体产生负面的影响.指甲是微量元素代谢的途径之一,因此分析指甲中元素的含量具有重要意义.本文首先建立了指甲中元素含量测定方法,采用微波消解法对指甲样品进行前处理,再使用ICP-MS测定V、Cr、Mn、Fe、Co、Cu、Zn、A...     

指甲元素分析的生物学基础及医学应用

指甲和头发均为皮肤附属物，它们有类似的元素谱特征，但又有所不同。指甲元素和头发元素反映不同时间尺度内的身体元素状况，指甲元素分析和头发元素分析可互为补充。本文从指甲的结构和成分、指甲的元素谱特征，以及指甲元素分析的医学应用等三个方面论述了题示主题。附16表、5图和30篇参考文献。     

Determination of selenium status using the nail biologic monitor in a canine model

Toenails and fingernails are routinely used to estimate selenium status in epidemiological studies; however, literature validating nail selenium concentration as a surrogate for critical organs is limited. In this study diets of intact male dogs were selenium supplemented at two physiological levels (3 and 6 μg/kg/day) in two different forms, selenomethionine and selenium-enriched bioformed yeast. The selenium-adequate basal diet consumed by the treatment and control groups during the 4-week run-in period and throughout the trial contained 0.3 ppm selenium. After 7 months the dogs in the two treatment groups and the control group were euthanized. Representative tissue samples from prostate, brain, liver, heart and skeletal muscle were collected, rinsed and frozen. Toenail clippings from multiple toes were also collected. Selenium was determined by neutron activation analysis using Se77m (half life = 17.4 s) at the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center. NIST SRM 1577, Bovine Liver was analyzed as a quality control. The analysts were blinded to control and treatment group assignments. As expected, tissue selenium levels increased proportionally with supplementation. A slightly greater increase in tissue selenium was observed for the purified selenomethionine compared to the bioformed yeast; however this trend was significant only for brain tissue. Toenail selenium concentrations and tissue selenium were highly correlated (p < 0.003) with Pearson coefficients of 0.759 (skeletal muscle), 0.745 (heart), 0.729 (brain), 0.723 (prostate), and 0.632 (liver). The toenail biologic monitor accurately assesses selenium status in skeletal muscle, heart, brain, prostate, and liver in the canine model.     

Neutron activation analysis and X-ray Rayleigh and Raman scattering of hair and nail clippings as noninvasive bioindicators for Cu liver status in Labrador Retrievers

The heritability of chronic hepatitis in the Labrador Retriever is studied with the aim of identifying the related gene mutation. Identification of cases and controls is largely based on instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) Cu determination in liver biopsies. The burden for these companion animals may be reduced if nail clippings and hair (fur) could serve as a noninvasive indicator for the hepatic Cu concentrations. No correlation was found between hepatic Cu concentrations and Cu concentrations in hair and nail samples. However, hair and nail samples were also analyzed by X-ray tube excitation, taking advantage of the X-ray Compton, Rayleigh, and Raman scattering which reflects the organic components such as the type of melanin. Principal component analysis provided first indications that some differentiation between healthy and sick dogs could indeed be obtained from hair and nail analysis. Figure Principal component analysis of scattered region of x-ray fluorescence spectra of Labrador dog nails, demonstrating the differentiation towards dogs with high and low Cu liver levels (respectively positive and negative PC2 values) reflecting hepatitis, as well as gender (PC1: negative values for female and positive values for males)     

Detection limits in XPS for more than 6000 binary systems using Al and Mg Kα X‐rays

A simple approach to estimating the detection limits of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for any element in any elemental matrix is presented, using the intensity of the background at the expected position for the photoelectron peak to be detected. The approach has been extended to estimate the detection limit for all elements from lithium to bismuth in a similar range of elemental matrices. Using a number of assumptions, it is possible to obtain a reasonable estimate of the background intensity at any electron kinetic energy in the XPS spectrum of an element. Therefore, a detection limit for an arbitrary element homogeneously distributed in that matrix can be estimated. The results show that, although most elements are detectable at about the 1 at.% to 0.1 at.% level, for heavy elements in a light element matrix, the detection limit can be better than 0.01 at.%, whereas for light elements in a heavy element matrix, detection limits above 10 at.% are not uncommon. Two charts detailing the detection limits for all combinations of trace and matrix elements from lithium (Z = 3) to bismuth (Z = 83) are provided for Al Kα and Mg Kα X‐ray sources using a typical hemispherical analyser instrument which provides 10⁶ counts eV for the Ag 3d_5/2 peak from pure silver. These detection limits can be scaled to estimate the detection limits for any given instrument and operating conditions if the intensity of the Ag 3d_5/2 peak from pure silver under those conditions is known. © 2014 Crown Copyright. Surface and Interface Analysis © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

ICP-MS Method Validation for the Analysis of Trace Elements in Illicit Heroin

The analysis of the trace elements present in the street doses of heroin has currently been undertaken with a dual aim: to estimate the elemental compositions and to cluster the case samples. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was optimized to quantify 18 trace elements simultaneously. The method presented high repeatability and reproducibility for the target elements. The linear concentration ranges achieved linearity with r² > 0.9975. The limits of detection (LOD) were sufficiently low for almost all the elements except for Ca (LOD = 100 ppb). The limit of quantification (LOQ) for each element was also found acceptable. All target elements show mean recoveries between 92%–108%. Other major findings of this study including intra-sample (RSD < 5%) and inter-sample (RSD < 14%) precisions, sample weight test (≥30 mg), dissolution vessels, and sample filtration are also reported. The capability of the optimized method was assessed by using forty case samples. With their elemental compositions statistical classification of these case samples is also discussed herein.     

Certification of a second-generation biological reference material (freeze-dried human serum) for trace element determinations

The certification of a second-generation biological reference material (freeze-dried human serum) for trace element determinations is described. The material was prepared under rigorously controlled conditions to avoid extraneous additions. Analytical data were obtained by the authors as well as by numerous other intra- and extra-mural investigators, solicited on the basis of established experience in determining selected elements. For 14 trace elements (aluminium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, bromine, rubidium, molybdenum, cadmium and caesium) certified values (in ng g^?1 or μg g^?1 dry weight) are listed; for an additional element (nickel) a best estimate (in ng g^? dry weight) is added. Trace element concentrations in the material, which is available to the scientific community, closely approximate those in normal, lyophilized blood plasma or serum samples. The material thus provides the means to check the accuracy and precision of analytical procedures for quantifying low-level trace elements in the best possible conditions and to detect errors that can easily be overlooked when reference materials with higher levels of trace elements are used. In addition, and in contrast to already existing biological reference materials with high levels of trace elements, it offers the possibility of identifying unsuspected errors at the sample preparation stage.     

通草类中药微量元素的主成分分析和聚类分析

探讨通草类中药材中微量元素含量与其功效间的相关性。以微量元素含量为指标,运用主成分分析和聚类分析对11种通草类中药的微量元素进行分析。主成分分析结果表明前3个主因子含有通草类中药材微量元素含量84.50%的信息。利用3个主因子模型和聚类分析谱图,解释了11种通草类中药中药的相似性与差异。利用主成分分析和聚类分析法初步得出11种通草类中药的微量元素与其功效存在相关性,为该类中草药的开发利用提供了科学依据和理论基础。     

Determination of trace elements in zeolites by laser ablation ICP-MS

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a quadrupole-based mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-QMS) was applied for the analysis of powdered zeolites (microporous aluminosilicates) used for clean-up procedures. For the quantitative determination of trace element concentrations three geological reference materials, granite NIM-G, lujavrite NIM-L and syenite NIM-S, from the National Institute for Metallurgy (South Africa) with a matrix composition corresponding to the zeolites were employed. Both the zeolites and reference materials were fused with a lithium borate mixture to increase the homogeneity and to eliminate mineralogical effects. In order to compare two different approaches for the quantification of analytical results in LA-ICP-MS relative sensitivity coefficients (RSCs) of chemical elements and calibration curves were measured using the geostandards. The experimentally obtained RSCs are in the range of 0.2-6 for all elements of interest. Calibration curves for trace elements were measured without and with Li or Ti as internal standard element. With a few exceptions the regression coefficients of the calibration curves are better than 0.993 with internal standardization. NIM-G granite reference material was employed to evaluate the accuracy of the technique. Therefore, the measured concentrations were corrected with RSCs which were determined using lujavrite reference material NIM-L. This quantification method provided analytical results with deviations of 1-11% from the recommended and proposed values in granite reference material NIM-G, except for Co, Cs, La and Tb. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the determination of the trace element concentration (n = 5) is about 1% to 6% using Ti as internal standard element. Detection limits of LA-ICP-QMS in the lower microg/g range (from 0.03 microg/g for Lu, Ta and Th to 7.3 microg/g for Cu, with the exception of La) have been achieved for all elements of interest. Under the laser ablation conditions employed (lambda: 266 nm, repetition frequency: 10 Hz, pulse energy: 10 mJ, laser power density: 6 x 10(9) W/cm2) fractionation effects of the determined elements relative to the internal standard element Ti were not observed.     

茶叶专用营养剂对金萱茶微量元素和黄酮的影响

为探讨茶叶专用植物营养剂对金萱茶微量元素和黄酮含量的影响,以自研制的茶叶专用植物营养剂做试验,分别以稀释300、500、800倍施用到金萱茶中,采取每轮茶施肥一次,并以喷清水、1%尿素和其它品牌的茶叶营养剂稀释300倍作参照,用等离子体原子发射光谱法和分光光度法对施用不同肥料的金萱茶微量元素和黄酮含量分别进行了测定。结果表明,施用自研制的茶叶专用植物营养剂,金萱茶Ca,Mg,Fe,Zn,Mn,Cu,B等微量元素含量大大增加,黄酮含量也显著增多,这与施加含有益活性菌体和多种酶及微量元素的肥料有关。     

植物类中药中微量元素的因子分析和聚类分析

尝试利用化学计量学方法探讨微量元素含量与中药药性的相关性。对１０５味植物类中药４２种微量元素测定数据用因子分析和聚类分析进行了多因素分析。因子分析证实了一个１０因子模型合理解释这些微量元素间的相关关系；样本聚类分析证明了１０５株中药合理地聚类成不同组；     

Limitations of the scalp-hair biologic monitor in assessing selenium status in epidemiological investigations

Scalp hair is routinely used to assess exposure to toxic trace elements and nutritional status of some required trace elements. The advantages and disadvantages of hair as a biologic monitor have been comprehensively discussed in the literature for many years. Among the concerns is distinguishing between exogenous and endogenous contributions. Nested in this issue is the longitudinal distribution of a trace element along the hair strand. The typical observation for many elements of interest is that the element concentration increases from the root end to the distal end; and this is attributed to continuing contamination from exogenous sources. In this study we used neutron activation analysis to measure 14 trace elements in 6 mm segments of full-length scalp hair from three healthy members of the same household having light-urban environmental exposure. To extend the data set for selenium, we included three adult female subjects with longer than average scalp hair. From these trace-element concentrations we calculated the root-to-distal end ratios as a profile diagnostic of trace-element distributions. Ratios fall into three diagnostic categories, >1, ≈1, and <1 corresponding to profiles having decreasing root-to-distal concentrations, unchanging concentrations, and increasing concentrations, respectively. Of the 14 elements measured, only Se has R > 1, Zn and S have R ≈ 1, and the remaining 11 elements all have R < 1 in the order: As > I > Hg ≈ Au ≈ Mg ≈ Mn ≈ Sb ≈ Ca > Cu > Al ≈ Ag. R _Se is greater than 1 and increases with hair length (P = 0.02) corresponding to a continuous longitudinal loss of Se in stark and puzzling contrast to the other elements measured. An analogous loss of Se in the nail monitor was not observed leading us to conclude that the nail is less prone to misclassification of selenium status in epidemiological studies.     

Speciation of Se,Fe and Zn in Human Milk Whey: The use of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) to corroborate element profiles measured with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)

In human milk trace elements normally exist in a form which can easily be absorbed by the newborn infant. For investigations of the bioavailability of trace elements it is necessary to carry out a speciation analysis of the elements of interest. An independent analytical method has been used for the quality control of the shape of the element profiles obtained from the speciation analysis of Se, Fe and Zn in individual samples of human milk whey after chromatographic separation. For the element detection in the untreated milk fractions Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was chosen as the reference method. Element distribution patterns have been obtained with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) using on-line digestion of the fraction, reduction and hydride formation of Se ("T"-mode). Prior results are compared with those obtained by means of element detection in the untreated fractions ("U"-mode) with ICP-AES. The elution profiles of Se, Fe and Zn in human milk whey obtained by means of ICP-AES detection using the "T"-mode show good agreement with the distribution patterns obtained with INAA. Recoveries of 103% for Fe, 86% for Zn and 87% for Se were obtained. The element distribution patterns of Fe and Zn obtained with ICP-AES speciation using the "T"-mode also show good agreement with those obtained by means of ICP-AES using the "U"-mode.     

Raman spectroscopic investigation of cocaine hydrochloride on human nail in a forensic context

This study describes the application of Raman spectroscopy to the detection of drugs of abuse and noncontrolled substances used in the adulteration of drugs of abuse on human nail. Contamination of the nail may result from handling or abusing these substances. Raman spectra of pure cocaine hydrochloride, a seized street sample of cocaine hydrochloride (77%), and paracetamol could be acquired from drug crystals on the surface of the nail. An added difficulty in the analytical procedure is afforded by the presence of a nail varnish coating the nail fragment. By using confocal Raman spectroscopy, spectra of the drugs under nail varnish could be acquired. Spectra of the drugs could be readily obtained nondestructively within three minutes with little or no sample preparation. Raman spectra could be acquired from drug particles with an average size of 5–20 μm. Acquisition of Raman point maps of crystals from both pure and street samples of cocaine hydrochloride under nail varnish is also reported. Figure Raman spectrum and point Raman map of cocaine HCI     

Influence of Water Treatment and Wastewater Treatment on the Changes in Residues of Important Elements in Drinking Water

Drinking water is the essential medium for food production, and is also needed for direct consumption; while it must be free of harmful substances, it also must have a composition that is beneficial to health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of water and wastewater treatment on reducing the concentrations of zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in the Western Pomerania Voivodeship in Poland. The research was carried out in 2017–2019. The analysis was performed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). The concentrations of trace elements in drinking water were below maximum acceptable concentrations (MACs). Reductions in the most dangerous elements during water treatment fluctuated from 48.5% (As) to 97% (Pb). Wastewater treatment reduced the concentrations of analyzed elements by a range of 28.6 to 60.8%, and the most toxic elements (Pb and As) by over 50%. Trace element concentrations in treated wastewater were below MAC values, and ranged from 1.15% (Pb) to 6.23% (As) of MACs for toxic elements. The concentrations of both essential elements (Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu) and toxic elements (Pb, As) in drinking water were below the MACs. Water treatment had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on decreasing trace element concentrations.     

Penalized estimation of sparse concentration matrices based on prior knowledge with applications to placenta elemental data

Identifying patterns of association or dependency among high-dimensional biological datasets with sparse precision matrices remains a challenge. In this paper, we introduce a weighted sparse Gaussian graphical model that can incorporate prior knowledge to infer the structure of the network of trace element concentrations, including essential elements as well as toxic metals and metaloids measured in the human placentas. We present the weighted L1 penalized regularization procedure for estimating the sparse precision matrix in the setting of Gaussian graphical models. First, we use simulation models to demonstrate that the proposed method yields a better estimate of the precision matrix than the procedures that fail to account for the prior knowledge of the network structure. Then, we apply this method to estimate sparse element concentration matrices of placental biopsies from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. The chemical architecture for elements is complex; thus, the method proposed herein was applied to infer the dependency structures of the elements using prior knowledge of their biological roles.     

微量元素与妊娠并发症的关系

为探讨孕妇体内微量元素与妊娠并发症的关系,采用回顾性分析的方法,分析了住院分娩有妊娠并发症的孕妇体内微量元素的变化,其中妊高征、胎膜早破、胎儿宫内窘迫、FGR各5 0例,并随机选取同期住院分娩无任何合并症和并发症的孕妇5 0例作为对照组,测定其体内微量元素Zn、Fe、Cu的代谢情况,并探讨其相关性。结果表明,妊高征、胎膜早破、FGR、胎儿宫内窘迫孕妇的静脉血中Zn含量明显低于正常孕妇组,胎膜早破的孕妇血中Cu含量明显低于正常孕妇组(P <0 0 1 ) ,FGR、胎儿宫内窘迫的孕妇血中含Fe量也明显偏低,与正常孕妇组比较,差异有显著性意义。结论是妊娠并发症的出现与孕妇血中的微量元素代谢异常可能有一定的关系