To investigate potential health risks associated with exposure to metals from an abandoned metal mine, the authors studied people living near an abandoned mine (n=102) and control groups (n=149). Levels of cadmium, copper, arsenic, lead, and zinc were measured in the air, soil, drinking water, and agricultural products. To assess individual exposure, biomarkers of each metal in blood and urine were measured. beta2-microglobulin, alpha1-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and bone mineral density were measured. Surface soil in the study area showed 2-10 times higher levels of metals compared to that of the control area. Metal concentrations in the groundwater and air did not show any notable differences between groups. Mean concentrations of cadmium and copper in rice and barley from the study area were significantly higher than those of the control area (p<0.05). Geometric means of blood and urine cadmium in the study area were 2.9 microgram/L and 1.5 microgram/g Cr, respectively, significantly higher than those in the control area (p<0.05). There were no differences in the levels of urinary markers of early kidney dysfunction and bone mineral density. The authors conclude that the residents near the abandoned mine were exposed to higher levels of metals through various routes.
Aged ; Cadmium/*blood/*urine ; Copper/blood/urine ; Environmental Exposure ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; *Food Contamination ; Hordeum ; Humans ; Korea ; Lead/blood/urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Mining ; Oryza sativa ; Risk Factors ; Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; Zinc/blood/urine

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; genetics ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Ceruloplasmin ; metabolism ; Child ; Copper ; blood ; urine ; Copper-transporting ATPases ; Cornea ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Genetic Testing ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; blood ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Mutation

Animals ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; Copper ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fluoride Poisoning ; prevention & control ; Fluorides ; blood ; toxicity ; urine ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Molybdenum ; toxicity ; Rabbits ; Trace Elements ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the change of intestinal mucosa barrier in chronic severe hepatitis B patients and clinical intervention.

METHOD(1) 30 normal healthy controls and 60 chronic severe hepatitis B patients were enrolled in this study. The change of intestinal permeability was determined by urine lactulose/ mannitol ratio (L/M), and the serum diamine oxidase (DAO) was measured. (2) 60 chronic severe hepatitis B patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group and the treated group, each group has 30 cases. Patients in the control group received standard treatment for 2 weeks, however, in addition to standard treatment, patients in the treated group also received glutamine 10g tid. Endotoxin (ET), DAO and L/M were compared between the two group.

RESULTS(1) Compared to healthy controls, the level of L/M and DAO was significantly increased in chronic severe hepatitis B patients (t = 2.762, P less than 0.01 or t = 6.326, P less than 0.01). (2) Compared to the control group, ET, DAO and L/M were significantly lower 2 weeks after treatment (F = 11.662, P less than 0.01; F = 12.699, P less than 0.01; F = 19.981, P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSION(1) There is an early intestinal mucosa barrier damage in chronic severe hepatitis B patients. (2) Compared to standard treatment, adding glutamine can reverse intestinal mucosa barrier damage.

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Female ; Glutamine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Intestine, Small ; Lactulose ; urine ; Male ; Mannitol ; urine ; Middle Aged ; Permeability ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult