Objective To study the relationship between the changes of ten elemental contents in serum and schizophrenia.Methods Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) in serum in the of schizophrenic patients and normal subjects are measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer, compared the content of elements between the schizophrenia and normal.Results There were significant differences ( P<0.05) in other elements between two groups except lead.The contents of Ca,Fe,Mg,Zn,As,Se,Cu in the patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than those in control, while Al, Mn were significantly higher than those in control.Most of elements in serum between case and control groups were correlated (P<0.05).Some of element ratios which have physiological significance were significant statistically (P<0.05), such as: Ca/Mg, Ca/Fe and so on.Conclusion These findings suggest that the patients with schizophrenia might have an abnormal elemental metabolism.Given the relationship among the elements, the element ratios are more valuable in reflecting the relationship between schizophrenia and elements.

OBJECTIVEThis study attempts to test the total amount of 41 inorganic elements in traditional Chinese medicine materials (TCMM), to analyze to surpass the set standard of 5 toxic heavy metal elements and to explore possible method of modification.

METHODBy using microwave as digestion tool, ICP-MS and ICP-AES as detective instrument, 41 elements in 466 samples are tested. While the amount of elements Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, S, Sr are determined by ICP-AES, the amount of the rest 32 elements are determined by ICP-MS. SPSS 16.0 is used as the statistical tool for data analysis.

RESULTTesting of reference material Astragalus showed that the measurements of each element are within the reference range, and except for element I, RSD of determination for each element is less than 10%, thus the accuracy and precision of the study method is confirmed. Using above mentioned instruments and methods, general information of elements in 466 TCMM are obtained.

CONCLUSIONThe concentrations of each elements in TCMM varied a lot and are different among each TCMM. The over standard rate of 5 heavy metal elements are lower than previous results, however, the over standard rate is still descending in the order of Cd > Cu > Pb > As > Hg. The content of heavy metal elements in TCMM varies among different areas, especially, over standard of heavy metals are not detected in locality as Gansu, Qinghai, Shanxi, Xinjiang and Hainan provinces.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Background Printing and copying equipment is likely to release a large amount of particulate matter, thereby endangering human health. However, there is insufficient research on the level of particulate matter released by printers in offices and its influencing factors. Objective This study is designed to investigate the usage of printing equipment in college teachers' offices and the level of indoor particulate matter during printing, and to explore the influence of printer location and indoor ventilation on the particulate matter pollution level released during printer operation. Methods From 9:00 to 16:00 on January 4 to 6, 2021, 20 faculty offices in a university in Beijing were selected by convenient sampling to measure the indoor particulate matter level during printing, and to investigate the printing equipment usage of 31 users in the offices. Besides, experiments were designed to explore the influence of position and distance from a printer, ventilation, and the distance between a printer and a nearby window during ventilation on the number concentration of particulate matter released by the printers. Results Except one printer being placed on the ground, the other 30 printers were placed on office desks (0.71±0.16) m above the ground. Among them, 65% of the printers (n=20) were less than 1 m away from the users horizontally, and 74% of the users (n=23) accessed the printers 1-5 times a week, printing (7.03±4.07) pages per time. The peak mass concentrations in users' offices during printing of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ were (21.96±12.96), (7.92±5.54), and (5.77±5.00) μg·m⁻³, respectively, and the peak number concentration of PM_0.25−0.28 was (40941±36926) P·L⁻¹. The experiments showed that when the particle sizer was located in the front, side, and back of the printers, the peak values of PM_0.25−0.28 number concentration during printing were (24257±551), (12588±1354), and (11192±249) P·L⁻¹, respectively, and the difference among them was statistically significant (F=214.9, P<0.01); when the particle sizer was placed 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 m away from the printers, the peak values of PM_0.25−0.28 number concentration during printing were (24257±551), (19847±1426), and (16480±878) P·L⁻¹, respectively, and the difference among them was statistically significant (F=44.66, P<0.01); when the experiment room was ventilated or not, the peak values of PM_0.25−0.28 number concentration during printing were (18595±488) and (24257±551) P·L⁻¹, respectively, and the difference between them was statistically significant (F=192.6, P<0.01); when the distance between the printer and the window was 1, 2, 3 m, the peak values of PM_0.25-0.28 number concentration during printing were (16780±823), (18347±348), and (18595±488) P·L⁻¹, respectively, and the difference among them was statistically significant (F=8.407, P<0.05). Conclusion The overall printer workload is small and the concentration of particulate matter in the faculty offices is low when the printers are working. Printer position, distance, ventilation, and the distance from a nearby window under ventilation conditions are factors affecting the concentration of particulate matter released by the printers.

Objective To investigate the relationship and potential pathways between metal(loid)exposure and the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)in women of childbearing age. Methods This case-control study included 200 patients with PCOS(cases)and 896 non-PCOS controls with the age of 25-37 years.The concentrations of 29 metal(loid)s in the follicular fluid(FF)and clinical indicators in the serum were measured in all participants.Logistic regression analysis and mediation analysis were conducted to evaluate the associations between metal(loid)exposure and PCOS risk and investigate the possible roles of clinical indicators,respectively. Results Logistic regression analysis revealed an association between high copper levels in FF and increased PCOS risk(highest vs.lowest quartile:adjusted odds ratio=2.94,95%confidence interval:1.83-4.72).A high luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio and elevated levels of testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH)were strongly associated with increased PCOS risk induced by high copper exposure.The mediation analysis indicated a mediating effect of AMH in the association between copper exposure and PCOS risk. Conclusion Copper may affect PCOS risk through the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis,mediated by AMH.Copper exposure and internal AMH levels are important indicators for early warning of PCOS development.

Objective The study aimed to investigate the impact of rare earth elements(REEs)exposure on pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET)by analyzing samples from spouses. Methods A total of 141 couples were included.Blood and follicular fluid from the wives and semen plasma from the husbands,were analyzed for REEs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).Spearman's correlation coefficients and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess correlations and compare REE concentrations among three types of samples,respectively.Logistic models were utilized to estimate the individual REE effect on IVF-ET outcomes,while BKMR and WQS models explored the mixture of REE interaction effects on IVF-ET outcomes. Results Higher La concentration in semen(median 0.089 ng/mL,P=0.03)was associated with a lower fertilization rate.However,this effect was not observed after artificial selection intervention through intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)(P=0.27).In semen,the REEs mixture did not exhibit any significant association with clinical pregnancy. Conclusion Our study revealed a potential association between high La exposure in semen and a decline in fertilization rate,but not clinical pregnancy rate.This is the first to report REEs concentrations in follicular fluid with La,Ce,Pr,and Nd found at significantly lower concentrations than in serum,suggesting that these four REEs may not accumulate in the female reproductive system.However,at the current exposure levels,mixed REEs exposure did not exhibit reproductive toxicity.

OBJECTIVE To assess the profiles of elements in benzo[a]pyrene(BaP)induced carci-nogenesis,and explore the joint effects of copper with cisplatin or vinorelbine on cell proliferation.METHODS Forty-four elements were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer in 16HBE cells and BaP malignantly transformed 16HBE(T-16HBE-C1)cells.Partial least square was used to validate the robustness of cell classification of elements.Cell viability was measured by MTT assay for copper(0,237,340,487,1000 and 1432 μmol·L-1),cisplatin(0,4.4,6.1,8.6,12.0 and 16.8 μmol·L-1),and vinorelbine(0,3.8,9.8,25.0,40.0 and 64.0 μmol·L-1)to acquire their half maximal inhibitory concentra-tion(IC50).Mixtures of copper and chemotherapeutics were prepared according to the ratio of each IC50.Their joint effects on cell viability were assessed by MTT assay and isobolographic analysis.Inhibition effect of copper(0,50,100,200,400 and 800 μmol·L-1)with IC50 of cisplatin or vinorelbine on prolifera-tion of T-16HBE-C1 cells was also assessed.RESULTS A total of 29 elements were quantified in 16HBE and T-16HBE-C1 cells,among which concentrations of copper,zinc,silver,selenium and rubidium decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while those of molybdenum,arsenic,lithium,germanium,strontium,nickel,lanthanum,mercury,iron,and cesium increased(P<0.05,P<0.01)in T-16HBE-C1 cells.Element concen-tration could be used to distinguish T-16HBE-C1 cells from 16HBE cells.Copper concentration-dependently inhibited proliferation of both cells,with a statistically significant lower IC50 of(613±16)μmol·L-1 in 16HBE cells than(776±15)μmol·L-1 in T-16HBE-C1 cells(P<0.01).Mixtures of copper and cisplatin(1∶69.5)or vinorelbine(1∶33.4)could inhibit cell proliferation,and copper had additive effects with cisplatin or vinorelbine.When copper concentration was higher than 400 μmol·L-1,copper combined with IC50 of cisplatin or vinorelbine inhibited cell proliferation of T-16HBE-C1 cells compared with IC50 of cisplatin(11.2 μmol·L-1)or vinorelbine(23.2 μmol·L-1)alone.CONCLUSION Element profiles and correlations can change significantly after 16HBE cells are malignantly transformed by BaP.Copper could inhibit the proliferation of T-16HBE-C1 cells and have additive effects with cisplatin or vinorelbine in higher concentration.