OBJECTIVETo provide basis for environmental factors of genuine crude Chinese angelica.

METHODOn-the-spot investigation and indoor chemical analysis were made to study the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe physical properties and the organic matte and mineral nutrition of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica are best in Min County, Gansu Province. The ecological environment is the leading factor in forming genuine crude Chinese angelica.

Angelica sinensis ; growth & development ; Ecology ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; Potassium ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Soil ; analysis ; Zinc ; analysis

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the changes of trace element levels in hair of patients with rheumatoid arthritis after bucillamine treatment. METHODS: We performed inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in determination of trace element levels in hair of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) There was a significant increase of copper concentration, but no change in zinc level after bucillamine treatment. 2) There were no significant changes in copper and zinc concentrations between the proximal and distal portions of hair after long-term bucillamine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed the significant increase of copper level and no significant change of zinc level in hair after bucillamine treatment, but, although statistically not significant, copper and zinc levels were decreased on experiment with divided hair. So, our findings do not permit any conclusion on the influence of bucillamine on trace element levels in hair. Further studies in large samples and comparison with the effect of D-penicillamine will be necessary to clarify the association of trace element levels in hair of rheumatoid arthritis patients and bucillamine treatment.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Copper ; Hair* ; Humans ; Penicillamine ; Plasma ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of serum levels of trace elements with core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: From September 2018 to September 2019, an investigation was performed for 1 020 children with ASD and 1 038 healthy children matched for age and sex in the outpatient service of grade A tertiary hospitals and special education institutions in 13 cities of China. Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were used to assess the core symptoms of the children with ASD. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure serum levels of trace elements magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc. RESULTS: The children with ASD had significantly lower serum levels of magnesium, copper, and zinc than the healthy children ( CONCLUSIONS The serum levels of magnesium and zinc may be associated with core symptoms in children with ASD, which requires further studies. The nutritional status of trace elements should be monitored for children with ASD in clinical practice.
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Child ; China ; Copper/analysis* ; Humans ; Trace Elements/analysis* ; Zinc

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of nutrient contents in Chinese goldthread soil before and after planting Coptis chinensis.

METHODThe soil in Shizhu, Chongqing, was analyzed for nutrient contents.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the preplanted soil was strongly acidic and the levels of organic matter, total nitrogen and potassium were high. However, the content of total phosphorus was very low; so were the contents of other eleven nutrients. Variations of nutrients except zinc and molybdenum were large. After four years of planting C. chinensis, the soil pH was increased. Contents of organic matters, manganese, zinc and boron were increased, while the contents of iron and copper were decreased. In general, the variance coefficient of all nutrient elements and the difference of soil fertility were decreased.

China ; Coptis ; growth & development ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Iron ; analysis ; Manganese ; analysis ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Potassium ; analysis ; Soil ; analysis ; Zinc ; analysis

The relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and Zn, Cu, Ca levels in the meal and hair of urban and rural elderly people were studied. 470 subjects above 60 years old (urban 205 and rural 265), 178 males with an average age of 65.70 +/- 3.48 and 292 females with an average age of 65.90 +/- 4.02, were inquired. The BMD and Zn, Cu, Ca levels in the meal and hair were measured. The detected BMD in urban and rural female old people was significantly lower than that of the males; The contents of Ca and Zn in the meal of the urban females were significantly lower than those of the urban males; The Ca, Zn in the meal and Zn in the hair of the rural females were significantly lower than those of rural males (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The BMD, Ca intakes, Ca and Zn in the hair of the rural old people were significantly lower than those of the urban old people (P < 0.05 or 0.01). There was a correlation between BMD with the Ca, Zn of the hair and dietary Ca, Zn, Cu or between dietary Zn with Ca, Zn in the hair and Ca, Cu intakes. The Zn, Cu and Ca levels in the meal nutrients were correlated with BMD to some degrees. Lack of Ca and Zn in the meal can cause the reduction of BMD.
Bone Density ; Cadmium/*analysis ; Copper/*analysis ; Diet Surveys ; Hair/*chemistry ; Nutritional Status ; Osteoporosis/prevention & control ; Rural Health ; Zinc/*analysis

Using atomic absorption spectrometry Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Fe were measured in sweat and Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn, in blood. The subjects were 22 healthy males, aged between 23-44. Sweating was induced with an environmental room (1 hour at 46C dry bulb and 36C wet bulb). Sweat samples were obtained from the left arm by the armbag technique. The sweat volume was 23.3+7.3ml(n= 22). The concentrations, in ug/ml, of trace elements in sweat were : lead, 0.18+0.17(n=22); cadmium, 0.006+0.006(n=22); copper, 0.37+0.66(n=10); zinc, 0.63+0.5(n=10); and iron, 0.22+0.12(n=10). The concentrations, in ug/ml, of trace elements in blood were : lead, 0.28+0.15(n=20); cadmium, 0.005+0.007 (n=20); copper,0.69+0.22(n=20); and zinc,5.61+0.86(n=20). These results clearly showed the significance of sweating as a route of excretion of trace element.
Absorption ; Arm ; Cadmium ; Copper ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Spectrum Analysis ; Sweat* ; Sweating ; Trace Elements ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: As co-factors of metalloenzymes, zinc(Zn) and copper(Cu) have a considerable effect on nearly all the metabolism that takes place in organs of the body, including the skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate zinc and copper status in alopecia areata patients. METHODS: We measured serum levels of zinc and copper in 30 cases of alopecia areata patients and 10 normal individuals by atomic absorption spectrometry. Furthermore, we studied the significance of the ratio between serum levels of the two metals. RESULTS: The serum levels of zinc were significantly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. The serum levels of copper were slightly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. Ratios of Cu/Zn were slightly higher in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. But their differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a serum Zn assay should be included in the chemical assessment of patients with alopecia areata.
Absorption ; Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Copper* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Metals ; Skin ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc*

Seminal inflammatory white blood cells in patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis may be related to the decrease of semen quality affecting fertility. So we evaluated the change of sperm motility, the levels of antisperm antibodies, the seminal levels of various cytokines and the change of seminal biochemical compositions that may affect sperm motility in the control group. We also examined chronic nonbacterial prostatitis with pyospermia to establish the role of seminal inflammatory white blood cells on alteration of sperm motility. The relation between various affecting factors and sperm motility were also evaluated. Titers of antisperm antibodies were low in patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. Interleukin-1a and interleukin-8 of seminal inflammatory cytokines were present in increased quantities in patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis and interleukin-8 of these increases were correlated to sperm motility. Among the seminal composition, the level of zinc was decreased significantly which was not correlated to sperm motility. In conclusion, sperm motility was decreased and alterations in interleukin-8 of seminal cytokines were correlated with sperm motility in chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.
Antibodies ; Cytokines ; Fertility ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; Leukocytes ; Prostatitis* ; Semen Analysis ; Semen* ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa* ; Zinc

PURPOSE: Zinc is a dietary antioxidant which is crucial for normal development and function of the immune system. Zinc supplementation is reported to reduce respiratory infections and prevent severe pneumonia in children. We examined serum zinc levels in young children who had recurrent wheezing and evaluated the clinical and laboratory findings in relation to serum zinc levels. METHODS: Seventy three patients admitted due to lower respiratory infections with wheezing were enrolled. All children had experienced more than 3 episodes of wheezing before admission. Serum zinc levels were measured by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and serum zinc level of <64 microgram/dL was defined as zinc deficiency. Clinical and laboratory findings were evaluated and compared between the patients with zinc deficiency and those without it. Two age-matched control groups: normal controls (control 1) and patients with acute viral illnesses (control 2) were also studied. RESULTS: Zinc levels were significantly lower in the patient group than in the 2 control groups.(P<0.0001) Zinc deficiency was observed in 49.3% of the patient group, which was significantly higher than in controls.(P<0.0001) Peripheral blood CD4/CD8 was significantly lower in the patients with zinc deficiency than in the subjects with a normal value.(P=0.01) CONCLUSION: This study showed that the serum zinc level was significantly lower and that zinc deficiency was more frequently observed in the patients with recurrent early wheeze. Zinc deficiency was found to be associated with lower CD4/CD8. Our results suggest that zinc deficiency may be associated with frequent respiratory infections, a likely trigger for recurrent early wheeze.
Child ; Humans ; Immune System ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Sounds ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Zinc is an essential, mostly intracellular, trace element which participates in many oxidative or deoxidative reactions and in a protective action on liver cell activity. Plasma zinc levels are known to decrease in patients with liver disease including chronic viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to reveal whether hepatic zinc concentrations have a correlation with grades of necroinflammation or stages of fibrosis in the patients with chronic viral hepatitis. METHODS: This study consisted of 50 subjects (43 chronic hepatitis B, 4 chronic hapatitis C, and 3 cirrhosis). Each specimen of liver tissue was classified with the grade of lobular inflammation, portal/periportal inflammation, and stage of fibrosis according to Scheuer's method. Hepatic zinc concentration was determined by ICP-Atomic Emission Spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean hepatic zinc concentration in the 50 chronic viral hepatitis patients was 233.66 g/g dry weight of liver tissue. The hepatic zinc levels were significantly correlated with the grades of portal/periportal inflammation (rs=-0.385, p=0.006), and grades of lobular inflammation(rs=-0.342, p=0.015). The stages of fibrosis were also negatively related (rs=-0.423, p=0.002). The zinc concentrations differed significantly among grades of lobular inflammation (p=0.013) and among stages of fibrosis (p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic zinc concentrations showed negative correlation with grades of portal/periportal inflammation, lobular inflammation, and stage of fibrosis in the patients of chronic viral hepatitis. These results suggest that decreased hepatic zinc concentration might be associated with severe hepatic injury and reflect decreased protective activity on liver cell injury.
Fibrosis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Plasma ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc*