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1.
Serum Trace Elements in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Yin, J, Hong, X, Ma, J, Bu, Y, Liu, R
Frontiers in endocrinology. 2020;:572384
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is reported to be associated with certain trace elements. However, previous data are inconsistent and potentially biased due to small sample sizes. The potential utility of trace element levels for screening of PCOS remains to be established. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the potential relationships between PCOS and serum levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and ferritin. We carried out a literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for relevant cross-sectional/case-control studies published prior to October 2019. Random-effect models were used to estimate the overall standard mean differences (SMDs) between PCOS and healthy control subjects. The screening value of potential microelement biomarkers for PCOS was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Twenty-one studies featuring 2,173 women with PCOS and 1,897 healthy women were selected for analysis. Our results showed that Cu and ferritin levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS than healthy controls, with SMDs of 0.52 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38-0.67, I2 = 47.6%] and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.25-1.86, I2 = 97.0%), respectively. The serum ferritin concentration was distinguished as a potential biomarker for PCOS based on the high area under ROC curve value of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.57-0.86). Although we did not identify a statistical association between serum Zn concentration and PCOS overall, the concentration of Zn in PCOS women with insulin resistance (IR) was lower than that in healthy women (SMD = -0.89, 95% CI: -1.73 to -0.06). Furthermore, the concentrations of Mg (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI: -0.32-0.94, I2 = 95.4%) and Fe (SMD = -0.59, 95% CI: -1.29-0.12, I2 = 97.2%) were not statistically significant between the PCOS and control groups. We generated hypothetical pathways for associations among serum Cu, ferritin and PCOS. The serum concentrations of both Cu and ferritin were significantly higher in women with PCOS, and ferritin was identified as a potential early indicator for PCOS screening. Further studies are essential to determine the specific underlying mechanisms.
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2.
A Guide to Human Zinc Absorption: General Overview and Recent Advances of In Vitro Intestinal Models.
Maares, M, Haase, H
Nutrients. 2020;(3)
Abstract
Zinc absorption in the small intestine is one of the main mechanisms regulating the systemic homeostasis of this essential trace element. This review summarizes the key aspects of human zinc homeostasis and distribution. In particular, current knowledge on human intestinal zinc absorption and the influence of diet-derived factors on bioaccessibility and bioavailability as well as intrinsic luminal and basolateral factors with an impact on zinc uptake are discussed. Their investigation is increasingly performed using in vitro cellular intestinal models, which are continually being refined and keep gaining importance for studying zinc uptake and transport via the human intestinal epithelium. The vast majority of these models is based on the human intestinal cell line Caco-2 in combination with other relevant components of the intestinal epithelium, such as mucin-secreting goblet cells and in vitro digestion models, and applying improved compositions of apical and basolateral media to mimic the in vivo situation as closely as possible. Particular emphasis is placed on summarizing previous applications as well as key results of these models, comparing their results to data obtained in humans, and discussing their advantages and limitations.
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3.
Trace Element Levels and Oxidant/Antioxidant Status in Patients with Alcohol Abuse.
Saribal, D, Hocaoglu-Emre, FS, Karaman, F, Mırsal, H, Akyolcu, MC
Biological trace element research. 2020;(1):7-13
Abstract
Alcohol abuse is a well-known cause of imbalance in trace element levels and oxidant/antioxidant status of individuals with long time consumption. However, the levels of these parameters in the patients on the early stages of alcohol dependence without liver damage differ on various studies. The aim of our study was to measure the levels of trace elements in the serum and oxidative/antioxidative system members in the red blood cells (RBC) of early-stage alcoholic individuals and compare with control subjects. Our study included 21 male patients recently hospitalized for alcohol abuse and 25 healthy non-abusing male controls. Levels of Fe, Zn, and Cu in the serum and MDA, SOD, CAT, and GSH in the red blood cells (RBC) of the subjects were measured. Fe, Zn, and Cu levels were lower in the study group when compared to the controls. Levels of lipid peroxidation marker MDA was high, whereas the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT were decreased in our study group. However, levels of GSH, an antioxidant compound were higher in the alcohol abuse group. RBC SOD levels were positively correlated with Fe, Cu, Zn, and CAT. There was a positive correlation between Fe-Cu, Zn-Fe, Zn-Cu, CAT-Zn, and CAT-SOD. MDA was negatively correlated with Fe, Zn, SOD, and CAT. The results obtained from present study indicate that high levels of alcohol intake are related with increased oxidative damage and decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes and trace elements. Additionally, antioxidant compensation mechanisms are still on process in the early stages of chronic alcohol exposure.
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4.
A Review on the Beneficial Role of Silicon against Salinity in Non-Accumulator Crops: Tomato as a Model.
Hoffmann, J, Berni, R, Hausman, JF, Guerriero, G
Biomolecules. 2020;(9)
Abstract
Salinity is an abiotic stress that affects agriculture by severely impacting crop growth and, consequently, final yield. Considering that sea levels rise at an alarming rate of >3 mm per year, it is clear that salt stress constitutes a top-ranking threat to agriculture. Among the economically important crops that are sensitive to high salinity is tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), a cultivar that is more affected by salt stress than its wild counterparts. A strong body of evidence in the literature has proven the beneficial role of the quasi-essential metalloid silicon (Si), which increases the vigor and protects plants against (a)biotic stresses. This protection is realized by precipitating in the cell walls as opaline silica that constitutes a mechanical barrier to the entry of phytopathogens. With respect to Si accumulation, tomato is classified as a non-accumulator (an excluder), similarly to other members of the nightshade family, such as tobacco. Despite the low capacity of accumulating Si, when supplied to tomato plants, the metalloid improves growth under (a)biotic stress conditions, e.g., by enhancing the yield of fruits or by improving vegetative growth through the modulation of physiological parameters. In light of the benefits of Si in crop protection, the available literature data on the effects of this metalloid in mitigating salt stress in tomato are reviewed with a perspective on its use as a biostimulant, boosting the production of fruits as well as their post-harvest stability.
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5.
Iron deficiency in pregnancy.
Georgieff, MK
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 2020;(4):516-524
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Abstract
Iron is essential for the function of all cells through its roles in oxygen delivery, electron transport, and enzymatic activity. Cells with high metabolic rates require more iron and are at greater risk for dysfunction during iron deficiency. Iron requirements during pregnancy increase dramatically, as the mother's blood volume expands and the fetus grows and develops. Thus, pregnancy is a condition of impending or existing iron deficiency, which may be difficult to diagnose because of limitations to commonly used biomarkers such as hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations. Iron deficiency is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including increased maternal illness, low birthweight, prematurity, and intrauterine growth restriction. The rapidly developing fetal brain is at particular risk of iron deficiency, which can occur because of maternal iron deficiency, hypertension, smoking, or glucose intolerance. Low maternal gestational iron intake is associated with autism, schizophrenia, and abnormal brain structure in the offspring. Newborns with iron deficiency have compromised recognition memory, slower speed of processing, and poorer bonding that persist despite postnatal iron repletion. Preclinical models of fetal iron deficiency confirm that expected iron-dependent processes such as monoamine neurotransmission, neuronal growth and differentiation, myelination, and gene expression are all compromised acutely and long term into adulthood. This review outlines strategies to diagnose and prevent iron deficiency in pregnancy. It describes the neurocognitive and mental health consequences of fetal iron deficiency. It emphasizes that fetal iron is a key nutrient that influences brain development and function across the lifespan.
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6.
Trace Element Concentration Changes in Brain Tumors: A Review.
Cilliers, K, Muller, CJF, Page, BJ
Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007). 2020;(5):1293-1299
Abstract
Trace elements have been implicated in cancer, since the levels differ between cancerous and noncancerous tissue, different cancer types, and different malignancy grades. However, few studies have been conducted on trace element concentrations in brain tumors. Thus, this study aims to review the available literature on trace element changes related to brain tumors, and to identify gaps in the literature. A literature search was done on Google Scholar and PubMed from their start date to January 2018, using terms related to trace element concentration and brain tumors. All brain tumor types were included, and articles could be published in any year. From this search, only 11 articles on this topic could be found. Tumors had significantly higher concentrations of arsenic, thorium, lanthanum, lutetium, cerium, and gadolinium compared to control brain samples. Compared to adjacent tissue, tumor tissue indicated increased magnesium, decreased copper, and contradicting results for zinc. Furthermore, the higher the malignancy grade, the lower the calcium, cadmium, iron, phosphorus and sulfur concentration, and the higher the mercury, manganese, lead, and zinc concentrations. In conclusion, altered trace element levels differ amongst different tumor types, as well as malignancy grades. Consequently, it is impossible to compare data from these studies, and available data are still considerably inconclusive. Ideally, future studies should have a sufficient samples size, compare different tumor types, and compare tumors with adjacent healthy tissue as well as with samples from unaffected matched brains. Anat Rec, 303:1293-1299, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.
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7.
Disease Ionomics: Understanding the Role of Ions in Complex Disease.
Zhang, Y, Xu, Y, Zheng, L
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;(22)
Abstract
Ionomics is a novel multidisciplinary field that uses advanced techniques to investigate the composition and distribution of all minerals and trace elements in a living organism and their variations under diverse physiological and pathological conditions. It involves both high-throughput elemental profiling technologies and bioinformatic methods, providing opportunities to study the molecular mechanism underlying the metabolism, homeostasis, and cross-talk of these elements. While much effort has been made in exploring the ionomic traits relating to plant physiology and nutrition, the use of ionomics in the research of serious diseases is still in progress. In recent years, a number of ionomic studies have been carried out for a variety of complex diseases, which offer theoretical and practical insights into the etiology, early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of them. This review aims to give an overview of recent applications of ionomics in the study of complex diseases and discuss the latest advances and future trends in this area. Overall, disease ionomics may provide substantial information for systematic understanding of the properties of the elements and the dynamic network of elements involved in the onset and development of diseases.
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8.
Beyond the Mind-Serum Trace Element Levels in Schizophrenic Patients: A Systematic Review.
Baj, J, Forma, A, Sitarz, E, Karakuła, K, Flieger, W, Sitarz, M, Grochowski, C, Maciejewski, R, Karakula-Juchnowicz, H
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;(24)
Abstract
The alterations in serum trace element levels are common phenomena observed in patients with different psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, or major depressive disorder. The fluctuations in the trace element concentrations might act as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of many psychiatric and neurological disorders. This paper aimed to assess the alterations in serum trace element concentrations in patients with a diagnosed schizophrenia. The authors made a systematic review, extracting papers from the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Among 5009 articles identified through database searching, 59 of them were assessed for eligibility. Ultimately, 33 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. This review includes the analysis of serum levels of the following trace elements: iron, nickel, molybdenum, phosphorus, lead, chromium, antimony, uranium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, copper, selenium, calcium, and manganese. Currently, there is no consistency regarding serum trace element levels in schizophrenic patients. Thus, it cannot be considered as a reliable prognostic or diagnostic marker of schizophrenia. However, it can be assumed that altered concentrations of those elements are crucial regarding the onset and exaggeration of either psychotic or negative symptoms or cognitive dysfunctions.
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9.
Metallothionein 2A gene polymorphisms in relation to diseases and trace element levels in humans.
Sekovanić, A, Jurasović, J, Piasek, M
Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju. 2020;(1):27-47
Abstract
Human metallothioneins are a superfamily of low molecular weight intracellular proteins, whose synthesis can be induced by essential elements (primarily Zn and Cu), toxic elements and chemical agents, and stress-producing conditions. Of the four known isoforms in the human body MT2 is the most common. The expression of metallothioneins is encoded by a multigene family of linked genes and can be influenced by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes. To date, 24 SNPs in the MT2A gene have been identified with the incidence of about 1 % in various population groups, and three of them were shown to affect physiological and pathophysiological processes. This review summarises current knowledge about these three SNPs in the MT2A gene and their associations with element concentrations in the body of healthy and diseased persons. The most investigated SNP is rs28366003 (MT2A -5 A/G). Reports associate it with longevity, cancer (breast, prostate, laryngeal, and in paranasal sinuses), and chronic renal disease. The second most investigated SNP, rs10636 (MT2A +838G/C), is associated with breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Both are also associated with several metal/metalloid concentrations in the organism. The third SNP, rs1610216 (MT2A -209A/G), has been studied for association with type 2 diabetes, cardiomyopathy, hyperglycaemia, and Zn concentrations. Metallothionein concentrations and MT2A polymorphisms have a potential to be used as biomarkers of metal exposure and clinical markers of a number of chronic diseases. This potential needs to be studied and verified in a large number of well-defined groups of participants (several hundreds and thousands) with a focus on particular physiological or pathological condition and taking into consideration other contributing factors, such as environmental exposure and individual genetic and epigenetic makeup.
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10.
Effects of Futsal Demands on Serum and Salivary Levels of Trace Elements and Minerals Detected by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence.
Padoin, S, de Freitas, VH, Cleto, DAM, Zeffa, AC, Nakamura, FY, Andrello, AC, de Paula Ramos, S
Biological trace element research. 2020;(1):73-80
Abstract
The aim of this study was to monitor the circulating and salivary ion concentrations by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) in futsal players submitted to the futsal-specific intermittent shuttle protocol (FISP). TXRF may allow identification of changes in ion concentrations induced by physical efforts. Saliva and blood samples of 13 male futsal players were collected before (Pre) and after (Post) the FISP. Salivary and plasma ion levels were detected by TXRF, and differences from Pre to Post (paired t test or Wilcoxon test) and correlations between both biological fluids were determined (P < 0.05). All saliva samples presented phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), bromine (Br), and rubidium (Rb). S, Cl, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, and Rb were detected in all blood samples. K, Cu, Br, and Rb presented reduced secretion rate from Pre to Post samples (P < 0.05). The salivary concentrations of K (r = - 0.53) and Zn (r = 0.54) were correlated with plasmatic concentrations. After FISP, salivary secretion of S (r = - 0.76), Cl (r = - 0.64), P (r = - 0.67), Mn (r = - 0.74), and Zn (r = 0.69) were correlated with plasma levels. We concluded that TXRF may be used to monitor salivary (P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Br, and Rb) and circulating (S, Cl, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, and Rb) levels of several elements in futsal athletes. However, an acute bout of futsal-specific physical effort did not significantly imbalance ion concentrations in saliva or plasma.