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1.
Trace Elements Homeostatic Imbalance in Psoriasis: a Meta-Analysis.
Chen, W, Zhou, X, Zhu, W
Biological trace element research. 2019;(2):313-322
Abstract
Studies point out that trace elements take vital roles in immunological and inflammatory reactions, such as psoriasis, while the conclusions are controversial. The purpose of this study was to analyze the existing literatures and explore the relationship between the risk of psoriasis and four trace elements zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and selenium (Se). We identified 42 studies through the databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Web of knowledge. After the meta-analysis, the serum zinc, iron, and selenium levels showed no remarkable difference between psoriasis and controls. The people with psoriasis showed a higher level of zinc in lesion tissue (standard mean difference (SMD) = 14.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.89-20.97; P < 0.0001), and a higher level of serum copper than controls (SMD = 18.23; 95% CI, 5.06-31.40; P = 0.007). Our findings indicated that the trace element of copper and zinc levels are in a homeostatic imbalance in psoriasis patients when compared with controls, which raise the question whether this imbalance can be taken as the therapy target for psoriasis.
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2.
Connecting iron regulation and mitochondrial function in Cryptococcus neoformans.
Horianopoulos, LC, Kronstad, JW
Current opinion in microbiology. 2019;:7-13
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Abstract
Iron acquisition is essential for the proliferation of microorganisms, and human pathogens such as the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans must use sophisticated uptake mechanisms to overcome host iron sequestration. Iron is of particular interest for C. neoformans because its availability is an important cue for the elaboration of virulence factors. In fungi, extracellular iron is taken up through high affinity, low affinity, siderophore-mediated, and heme uptake pathways, and the details of these mechanisms are under active investigation in C. neoformans. Following uptake, iron is transported to intracellular organelles including mitochondria where it is used in heme biosynthesis and the synthesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster precursors. One Fe-S cluster binding protein of note is the monothiol glutaredoxin Grx4 which has emerged as a master regulator of iron sensing in C. neoformans and other fungi through its influence on the expression of proteins for iron uptake or use. The activity of Grx4 likely occurs through interactions with Fe-S clusters and transcription factors known to control expression of the iron-related functions. Although the extent to which Grx4 controls the iron regulatory network is still being investigated in C. neoformans, it is remarkable that it also influences the expression of many genes encoding mitochondrial functions. Coupled with recent studies linking mitochondrial morphology and electron transport to virulence factor elaboration, there is an emerging appreciation of mitochondria as central players in cryptococcal disease.
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3.
Exposure to Trace Elements and Risk of Skin Cancer: A Systematic Review of Epidemiologic Studies.
Matthews, NH, Fitch, K, Li, WQ, Morris, JS, Christiani, DC, Qureshi, AA, Cho, E
Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology. 2019;(1):3-21
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Abstract
Exposure to environmental trace elements has been studied in relation to many cancers. However, an association between exposure to trace elements and skin cancer remains less understood. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of published epidemiologic literature examining the association between exposure to trace elements, and risk of melanoma and keratinocyte carcinoma in humans. We identified epidemiologic studies investigating exposure to arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, selenium, and zinc and risk of skin cancer in humans. Among the minerals, arsenic, selenium, and zinc had more than five studies available. Exposure to arsenic was associated with increased risk of keratinocyte carcinoma, while too few studies existed on melanoma to draw conclusions. Exposure to selenium was associated with possible increased risk of keratinocyte carcinoma. Studies of zinc and skin cancer were case-control in design and were found to have inconsistent associations. The data on the association between cadmium, chromium, copper, and iron and risk of skin cancer remain too sparse to draw any conclusions. In summary, epidemiologic studies on exposure to trace elements and cutaneous malignancies are limited. Studies with larger sample sizes and prospective designs are warranted to improve our knowledge of trace elements and skin cancer.
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4.
Trace Elements Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Insulin Resistance.
Pedro, EM, da Rosa Franchi Santos, LF, Scavuzzi, BM, Iriyoda, TMV, Peixe, TS, Lozovoy, MAB, Reiche, EMV, Dichi, I, Simão, ANC, Santos, MJ
Biological trace element research. 2019;(1):34-44
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of multifactorial origin. Studies have shown that trace elements such as zinc and copper may help maintain optimum function of the immune system and metabolism, while toxic metals such as lead may increase systemic autoimmunity. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between serum concentration of lithium (Li), vanadium (V), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) and SLE diagnosis, disease activity measured by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and insulin resistance (IR). This case-control, cross-sectional study included 225 patients, 120 healthy controls, and 105 SLE patients. Serum concentration of Li, V, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cd, and Pb was measured. Serum concentrations of V (p < 0.001), Zn (p < 0.001), and Pb (p < 0.001) were lower and Mo (p < 0.001) and Li (p < 0.001) were higher in patients with SLE compared to healthy controls. SLE diagnosis was associated with higher serum Li (p < 0.001) concentration and lower V (p < 0.001), Zn (p = 0.003), and Pb (p = 0.020). Toxic metals and trace elements were not associated with disease activity. Levels of Cd were higher in patients with IR (p = 0.042). There was no significant association between IR and the other metals. The results indicate that SLE patients have different profiles of trace elements and toxic metals compared to healthy controls. While some toxic metals and trace elements were found to be associated with SLE diagnosis, they had no effect on disease activity and IR.
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Quantifying the association between acute leukemia and serum zinc, copper, and selenium: a meta-analysis.
Kim, S, Freeland-Graves, JH, Babaei, M, Sachdev, PK, Beretvas, SN
Leukemia & lymphoma. 2019;(6):1548-1556
Abstract
Acute leukemia is a clonal malignant disorder that occurs when immature blast cells accumulate in bone marrow. Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are related to normal lymphocyte maturation and immune function regulation. Selenium (Se) is protective against oxidative damage. The aim of this meta-analysis is to statistically synthesize results from studies that have investigated the levels of Zn, Cu, and Se in acute leukemia patients. The effect size, delta, was used to standardize the raw data. The robust variance estimation (RVE) method was performed to measure the pooled effect size and variance. Results suggest significant negative differences for levels of serum Zn (p < .05, delta = -1.21; 95% CI, -2.13--0.28) and Se (p < .05, delta = -1.84; 95% CI, -3.39--0.29) and significantly positive differences between serum Cu levels (p < .01, delta = 1.94; 95% CI, 1.02-2.87) in acute leukemia, as compared to the controls.
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Role of selenium supplementation in prevention of late onset sepsis among very low birth weight neonates: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Garg, BD, Bansal, A, Kabra, NS
The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians. 2019;(24):4159-4165
Abstract
Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the most common causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Selenium has antioxidant and immune-modulating properties.Aim: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate role of selenium supplementation in the prevention of late onset sepsis (LOS) among very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates.Methods: We searched literature for this review by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) electronic PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. We also searched for ongoing clinical trials.Results: This review included two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that fulfilled inclusion criteria. There was statistically significant reduction in the incidence of LOS in the intervention group [23.7 versus 35.6%; relative risk (RR) 0.67; 95% CI 0.52-0.86; p= .001; number needed to treat (NNT) 8.4; 95% CI 5.2-20.96]. However, mortality due to any cause prior to hospital discharge was not statistically significant in between the groups (6.1% intervention group versus 6.9% control group; RR 0.88; 95% CI 0.49-1.61; p= .68).Conclusions: Evidences from current systematic review revealed that selenium supplementation has some role in the prevention of LOS. However, due to limited evidences and heterogeneity between studies, large RCTs are recommended among VLBW neonates.
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Relationship between nutritional status and the systemic inflammatory response: micronutrients.
McMillan, DC, Maguire, D, Talwar, D
The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2019;(1):56-67
Abstract
Micronutrients such as trace elements and vitamins are important as enzyme cofactors in the metabolism of all cells in the body and therefore key to determining nutritional status. The present systematic review examined the evidence of the impact of the systemic inflammatory response on plasma micronutrient status in acute (surgical) and chronic tissue injury. A literature review using targeted subject headings was carried out. Plasma C-reactive protein was used to classify minor (80 mg/l) inflammation. The literature search produced 2344 publications and plasma vitamin D, zinc and carotenoids were most commonly studied and plasma vitamins K, B2 and B6 were least studied. In acute injury thirteen studies (all prospective) and in chronic injury twenty-four studies (largely retrospective) were included in the review. There was consistent evidence that most common measured micronutrients in the plasma (zinc, selenium, vitamins A, D, E, K, B2, B6, B12, C, lutein, lycopene, α- and β-carotene) were significantly lowered from minor to moderate to major inflammation. The results of the present systematic review indicate that most plasma micronutrients fall as part of the systemic inflammatory response irrespective of acute or chronic injury. Therefore, in the presence of a systemic inflammation, plasma micronutrient concentrations should be interpreted with caution. There are a number of methods applied to adjust plasma micronutrient concentrations to avoid misdiagnosis of deficiency. Alternatively, intracellular measurements appear to obviate the need for such plasma adjustment to assess micronutrient status.
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Electrolyte minerals intake and cardiovascular health.
Mohammadifard, N, Gotay, C, Humphries, KH, Ignaszewski, A, Esmaillzadeh, A, Sarrafzadegan, N
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. 2019;(15):2375-2385
Abstract
Appropriate intake of micronutrient, such as electrolyte minerals is critical for the well-being of the cardiovascular health system. However, there are some debates regarding the impacts of dietary and/or supplemental intake of these minerals, on the risk of cardiovascular events and associated risk factors. High sodium intake is adversely associated with the risk of hypertension. Although many reports refered to the positive association of Na intake and cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, however, other studies indicated that low Na intake is related to higher risk of all-cause mortality and HF-related events. By contrast, dietary potassium, magnesium and calcium have an inverse correlation with cardiovascular events and risk factors, especially with blood pressure. There are some controversies about cardiovascular effects and all-cause mortality of high Ca intake, including no effect, preventive or adverse effect with or without vitamin D. Calcium supplementation might be beneficial for prevention of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality only in individuals with low intake. Moreover, calcium intake showed a J- or U-shaped association with the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Due to the controversies of the effect of electrolyte minerals especially sodium and calcium intake on cardiovascular events, large scale, well-designed long-term randomized clinical trials are required to evaluate the effect of minerals intake on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. In this review, we discuss the role of dietary and or supplemental sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, in cardiovascular health, as well as their clinical applications, benefits, and risks for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, in general population.
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9.
Role of iron in cancer development by viruses.
Shoja, Z, Chenari, M, Jafarpour, A, Jalilvand, S
Reviews in medical virology. 2019;(4):e2045
Abstract
Increased levels of iron in body are attributed to higher cancer risk. Given the fact that 16% of all human cancers are caused by viral infections, iron is suggested to play an important role in carcinogenesis particularly those induced by viral infections. The present study provides an updated summary of the literature and the plausible mechanisms of iron involvement in cancer development by viruses. Our understanding about the interplay between viral infections and iron in different settings particularly cancer development is yet to be improved as it may shed a new light in development of new therapeutic strategies.
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10.
Copper Deficiency: Causes, Manifestations, and Treatment.
Altarelli, M, Ben-Hamouda, N, Schneider, A, Berger, MM
Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2019;(4):504-513
Abstract
BACKGROUND The metabolism of the essential trace element copper remains incompletely understood and, until recently, nearly ignored in acute medicine. Menkes disease was for long the only known copper deficiency condition, but several case reports and investigations conducted over the last 2 decades have shown that deficiency is more frequent than previously suspected, with devastating individual consequences and potential public health consequences. The copper needs in healthy individuals are 0.9 mg/d, which translates to 0.3 mg/d intravenously in parenteral nutrition; the present review aims at gathering actual knowledge. METHOD AND RESULTS A review of literature was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane systematic reviews to identify the most recent information about copper deficiency and generate a narrative review. Copper deficiency has hereditary and acquired origins, the latter being the most frequent. Clinical manifestations are nonspecific but affect all organs and systems, particularly the hematologic (anemia) and the neurologic (myeloneuropathy) systems. Deficiency also affects the cardiovascular, cutaneous, and immune systems. Severe copper deficiency due to reduced absorption after bariatric bypass surgery has become frequent. CONCLUSION Deficiency is more frequent than previously recognized, probably because of changing nutrition patterns but also because of some treatments that have become very common such as bypass bariatric surgery and, in acute medicine, prolonged continuous renal replacement therapy. The patients may present with severe hematologic and neurologic complications that go untreated because copper deficiency was not considered in the differential diagnosis: These complications often need active intravenous repletion with doses 4-8 times the usual nutrition recommendations.