OBJECTIVE: To establish the electricity plate digestion and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for determination of 33 inorganic elements in human hair. METHODS: Lithium (6Li), Germanium (72Ge), Yttrium (89Y), Indium (115In), and Terbium (159Tb) were used as internal standards. The electric heating board digestion in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was used as the pre-treatment of the hair. Thirty-three inorganic elements in human hair were analyzed by ICP-MS method. RESULTS: The detection limit of ICP-MS was 0.0001 microg/g(Th)-10.9 microg/g (Ca) and the limit of quantitation was 0.0005 microg/g (Th)-25 microg/g (Ca). The recovery rate of this method was 86%-113%. The RSD for the intra-day and inter-day were less than 9.2%. The method was not statistically different from microwave digestion method. CONCLUSION This method is highly efficient and accurate. It can be used for analysis of 33 inorganic elements in human hair.
Electricity ; Hair/chemistry* ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Microwaves ; Reference Standards ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Trace Elements/analysis*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the normal reference values of 33 elements, Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zn and Zr, in the blood and urine samples from the general population in Sanmen County of Zhejiang province, a typical coastal area of eastern China. METHODS: The 33 elements in 272 blood and 300 urine samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The normality test of data was conducted using SPSS 17.0 Statistics. The data was compared with other reports. RESULTS: The normal reference values of the 33 elements in the blood and urine samples from the general population in Sanmen County were obtained, which of some elements were found to be similar with other reports, such as Co, Cu, Mn and Sr, while As, Cd, Hg and Pb were generally found to be higher than those previously reported. There was a wide variation between the reports from different countries in blood Ba. CONCLUSION The normal reference values of the 33 elements in the blood and urine samples from the general population in Sanmen County are established, and successfully applied to two poisoning cases.
Blood Chemical Analysis ; China ; Elements ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Urinalysis

Selection and affinities of Cd binding peptides were assayed by phage random dodecapeptide library and affinity chromatography. Two Cd binding peptides were obtained, it was found that the affinities of Cu~ 2+ ,Co~ 2+ ,Zn~ 2+ ,Ni~ 2+ for Cd binding peptides were higher than that of Cd~ 2+ and Cr~ 2+ after detection of the amplified Cd binding peptides displayed phages to different heavy metal-charged resins; the detoxification of E.coli to Ni~ 2+ and Cd~ 2+ was enhanced when infected by Cd binding peptide displayed phages as compared with those of the control. The interaction of Cd binding peptide displayed phages with heavy metals charged resins was also observed under microscope. The work would be of great value and consequences for the study of interaction between heavy metals and proteins(peptides), as well as thedetoxification and bioremediation of heavy metals.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the inevitable uncertainty of determining heroin by GC. METHODS: The source of the uncertainty was confirmed from the determining procedure. Each component's uncertainty was calculated. The combined uncertainty was then obtained by synthesizing the uncertainties of various components variables, and the expand uncertainty was finally obtained. RESULTS: The uncertainty of repeated measurement was greater than other uncertainty components introduced by balance,content vessels and instruments in determining heroin. CONCLUSION The errors of repeated measurement and GC instrumental were confirmed as the major sources of uncertainty in determining heroin by GC.
Algorithms ; Chromatography, Gas/methods* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Heroin/chemistry* ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Reproducibility of Results ; Solvents/chemistry* ; Substance Abuse Detection/methods* ; Uncertainty

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is the most common technique for elements analysis at present. ICP-MS with high sensitivity and wide linear range can be applied to multi-elements analysis in blood and urine. This paper reviews the common means of sample pretreatment (direct dilution method and wet digestion method), the method for correction of mass spectral interference and non-interference, the main influence factors of analysis results, and provides an outlook of the application of ICP-MS in forensic toxicological analysis.
Body Fluids/chemistry* ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Metals, Heavy/urine* ; Microwaves ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Specimen Handling/methods* ; Trace Elements/urine*

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the association between susceptibility to aflatoxin B1(AFB1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the polymorphism of detoxication gene GSTM1.

METHODSThe peripheral white blood cell DNA samples were obtained from all the subjects including 140 HCC cases and 536 controls from an AFB1 high risk area in Guangxi province. The GSTM1 polymorphism was detected using PCR technique.

RESULTS(1) The GSTM1-present was associated with a decreased HCC risk. The GSTM1-null was associated with an increased HCC risk [adjusted OR (95% CI)= 2.07 (1.20-3.57)]. (2) In the cohorts of both low/median and high exposure levels of AFB1, GSTM1-null genotype was associated with a conspicuous significantly increased risk for HCC [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.92 (0.92-4.00) and 1.80 (0.77-4.17)].

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that genetic polymorphism of GSTM1 was susceptible to HCC and individuals who are GSTM1-null have an increased risk of developing HCC. There is evidence of interaction between GSTM1 polymorphism and AFB1 exposure, especially with low/median degrees of AFB1 exposure.

Aflatoxin B1 ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic susceptibility to chemical carcinogens of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in a high-risk area in Guangxi.

METHODSPCR technique was used to examine the frequency of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 gene deletion in a matched case-control study of 91 patients with NPC and 135 control subjects.

RESULTSThe deletion frequency of control subjects was 47.4% (65/135) for GSTM1 and 40.7% (55/135) for GSTT1, whereas that of NPC patients was 61.5% (56/91) for GSTM1 and 59.3% (54/91) for GSTT1 with statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Furthermore, the frequency of codeletion of both genes was also higher in NPC patients than the control with statistically significant difference (chi2 = 12.533, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONIn high-risk area, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and local residents have high frequency of GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 gene deletion. It suggests that a genetic susceptibility to putative chemical carcinogens may be responsible for NPC clustering in the high-risk area studied.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the association between susceptibility to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and the null genotypes of detoxication gene gstM1 and gstT1.

METHODSPeripheral blood white blood cells DNA samples were obtained from all the subjects including 140 HCC cases and 536 controls from AFB1 high risk area Guangxi. gstM1 and gstT1 polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction technique.

RESULTS(1) gstM1- and gstT1-present were associated with decreasing risk of HCC. gstM1- and gstT1-null were associated with the increasing risk of HCC [adjusted OR (95 % CI) = 2.07 (1.20-3.57) and 1.44 (0.85-2.45), respectively]; (2) The appearance of both gstM1- and gstT1-null genotypes were more susceptible to HCC than either one of them(adjusted OR and 95% CI are 2.43 and (1.19-4.97); (3) From low/median to high level of AFB1 exposure, both gstM1- and gstTl-null genotypes were associated with significantly conspicuous increasing risk of HCC [adjusted OR(95% CI) = 12.76(5.38-30.24) and 7.82(3.61-16.90) respectively].

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that: genetic polymorphisms of gstM1 and gstT1 were susceptible to HCC; individuals who were gstM1- or gstT1-null would have an increasing risk of developing HCC while individuals with both nulls were more susceptible. There was evidence of interaction between gstM1- and gstT1-null and the level of AFB1 exposure which was associated with the increasing risk of HCC.

Adult ; Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objective To observe the influence of anti-oxidative stress effect of lycopene (LP) on motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods 36 healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into Groups A, B and C with 12 rats in each group.SCI model was made by Allen's mode (10 g×25 mm) on T9. Group A received no treatment, 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone sodium succinate was injected for Group B in peritoneal cavity 30 min after SCI, 20 mg/kg LP was given orally for Group C. On the 1st d, 3rd d and 7th d after operation, the motor function was assessed by slanting board test and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale (BBB); superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in serum. Results Compared with Group A, the scores of the slanting board test significantly increased in Group C 1 d, 3 d, and in Group B 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after operation (P<0.05); the BBB scores significantly increased in Group C 1 d, 3 d and 7 d, and in Group B 1 d, 7 d after operation (P<0.05); the activity of SOD significantly increased in Group C 1 d, 3 d and 7 d, and in Group B 3 d, 7 d after operation (P<0.05); the content of MDA significantly decreased in Group C 3 d, 7 d, and in Group B 1 d, 7 d after operation (P<0.05). Conclusion Lycopene can reduce the level of oxidative stress and promote the motor function in rats after acute SCI.

OBJECTIVE: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of opiates in biological samples according to the emerging problem in drugs abuse. METHODS: Opiates such as heroin, 6-acetylmorphine, morphine, codeine, acetylcodeine, hydrocodone and hydromorphone were isolated from human blood, urine, oral fluid and hair using a simple extraction and consequently analyzed using LC-MS/MS. The method was evaluated by real cases. RESULTS: The mobile phase give the optimum separation for opiates. The detection limit of morphine in urine with dilution and liquid-liquid extraction and in hair is 10ng/mL, 0.01 ng/mL and 0.01 ng/mg, respectively. CONCLUSION The method is simple and rapid, offering superior sensitivity and selectivity for opiates. The target compounds comprising hydrocodone and hydromorphone enlarge the applied area.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Codeine/analysis* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Hair/chemistry* ; Humans ; Hydrocodone/analysis* ; Hydromorphone/analysis* ; Morphine/analysis* ; Narcotics/analysis* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Saliva/chemistry* ; Substance Abuse Detection/methods* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry