BACKGROUND: There is little data on the association between the lower nutrition represented by serum albumin levels and related factors in a general population. The present study aimed to determine whether the albumin level positioned as some kind of biomarker with frailty measures, trace elements, and an inflammation marker. METHODS: In 2018, we performed an epidemiological survey in 1368 subjects who resided in Tanushimaru, Japan, in which we examined the blood chemistry including albumin, trace elements, hormone levels, and carotid ultrasonography. Albumin levels were categorized into 4 groups (G1 [3.2-3.9 mg/dL], G2 [4.0-4.3 mg/dL], G3 [4.4-4.6 mg/dL], and G4 [4.7-5.3 mg/dL]). The participants underwent measurements of handgrip strength and were tested by asking to walk 5 m. Their cognitive functions were evaluated by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). RESULTS: Multiple stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that albumin levels were significantly and independently associated with age (inversely), systolic blood pressures, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), MMSE score, frailty measures (handgrip strength), an inflammation marker (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), hormones (growth hormone (inversely) and insulin-like growth factor-1), and trace elements (calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc), with a linear trend. CONCLUSIONS Lower albumin levels, even in the normal range, were found to be related factors of frailty measures, trace elements, and an inflammation marker in a general population.
Aged ; Albumins/metabolism* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Frailty/physiopathology* ; Hand Strength/physiology* ; Humans ; Inflammation/blood* ; Japan ; Male ; Trace Elements/blood*

BACKGROUND: The effects of prenatal exposure to toxic elements on birth outcomes and child development have been an area of concern. This study aimed to assess the profile of prenatal exposure to toxic elements, arsenic (As), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), mercury (total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MHg), inorganic mercury (IHg)), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn), and essential trace elements, copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), using the maternal blood, cord blood and placenta in the Tohoku Study of Child Development of Japan (N = 594-650). METHODS: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentrations of these elements (except mercury). Levels of THg and MeHg were measured using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry and a gas chromatograph-electron capture detector, respectively. RESULTS: Median concentrations (25th-75th) of As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn and THg in the maternal blood were 4.06 (2.68-6.81), 1.18 (0.74-1.79), 10.8 (8.65-13.5), 0.2 (0.06-0.40) and 0.2 (0.1-0.38) ng mL and 5.42 (3.89-7.59) ng g, respectively. Median concentrations (25th-75th) of As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn and THg in the cord blood were 3.68 (2.58-5.25), 0.53 (0.10-1.25), 9.89 (8.02-12.5), 0.39 (0.06-0.92) and 0.2 (0.2-0.38) ng mL and 9.96 (7.05-13.8) ng g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS THg and Sb levels in the cord blood were twofold higher than those in the maternal blood. Cord blood to maternal blood ratios for As, Cd and Sb widely varied between individuals. To understand the effects of prenatal exposure, further research regarding the variations of placental transfer of elements is necessary.
Adult ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Japan ; Maternal Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Metals ; blood ; Placenta ; chemistry ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Urban Health

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Anemia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease significantly affects the quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of and risk factors for anemia and to describe the management of anemia in patients with intestinal Behcet's disease (BD) in actual clinical practice. METHODS: We included 64 patients with intestinal BD who visited the outpatient clinic of a tertiary referral center in June 2011 and had available laboratory data for the subsequent 6 months. RESULTS: Anemia was detected in 26 patients (40.6%). After 6 months, anemia was still present in 14 of these patients (53.8%). The cause of anemia was investigated in eight patients (30.8%), and oral iron supplementation was prescribed to four patients (15.4%). Of these four patients, two (50%) recovered completely within 6 months. Anemia was associated with a high Disease Activity Index for Intestinal Behcet's Disease (DAIBD, p=0.024), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p=0.003), and C-reactive protein (p=0.049) in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, the factor predictive for anemia in patients with intestinal BD was a higher DAIBD (> or =40; odds ratio, 4.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 13.71; p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Although anemia is common in intestinal BD patients, its clinical importance is overlooked in daily practice. Moderate to severe disease activity is predictive of anemia.
Adult ; Anemia/drug therapy/epidemiology/*etiology ; Behcet Syndrome/blood/*complications/pathology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Dietary Supplements ; Disease Management ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases/blood/*complications/pathology ; Iron/therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Trace Elements/therapeutic use

In Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province, China, 41 echinococciasis patients who had received surgical treatment were recruited in the study, and 82 health persons who had lived in Garze for at least 10 years were selected as controls. The serum levels of Zn, Se and Cu of the cases and controls were detected. The results showed that most echinococciasis cases were distributed in Shiqu county (17.1%, 7/41), and only 1 case was distributed in Yajiang county (2.4%). The male to female ratio of the cases was 1:1.56. The echinococciasis patients were mainly aged 30-39 years (36.59%, 15/41). And, the cases aged 20-49 years accounted for 68.29% (28/41). Compared with health controls, the serum levels of Zn and Se of the cases significantly declined. However, the serum level of Cu of the cases had no significantly change. It was confirmed that the serum levels of Zn and Se were interrelated with the prevalence of echinococciasis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Copper ; blood ; Echinococcosis, Hepatic ; blood ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Selenium ; blood ; Sex Distribution ; Tibet ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Young Adult ; Zinc ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of Xuanfeijiedu granules on trace elements, immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) of allergic rhinitis. METHOD: One hundred and ten cases of allergic rhinitis ere randomly divided into two groups, 55 cases of the observation group were treated with budesonide, 55 cases of the control group were treated with Xuanfeijiedu granules, the treatment efficacy and serum trace elements, IgE, ECP level were observed. RESULT: The total effective rate of observation group and control group were 92. 7% and 96. 4%, there was no significant difference between two groups (P>0. 05). Before treatment, the serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and IgE, ECP levels of two groups were compared, there was no significant difference (P>0. 05); after treatment, the serum Zn level was significantly increased, the serum Cu, Mn, IgE, ECP levels were significantly reduced, and the observation group changed more significantly, there were significant differences between two groups (P<. 05). CONCLUSION Xuanfeijiedu granules in the treatment of allergic rhinitis can significantly improve the patient's serum trace elements and IgE, ECP levels, improve the state of patient's disease, and promote the rehabilitation of patients.
Budesonide ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; blood ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Trace Elements ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To determine the normal range of the 33 elements (Li, Be, B, Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Th and U) in human whole blood of general population in Hunan province. METHODS: Blood samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the normal range. The influences of district, gender and age to the element content in blood samples were also observed. RESULTS: The normal range of 33 elements in blood samples from general population in Hunan province were obtained. Gender was shown to statistically influence the concentrations of B, Mg, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Ag, Cd, Cs, Hg and Pb (P < 0.05), while age was shown to influence the concentrations of Co, Ni, Cs and Hg in women (P < 0.05) as well as Cu, Se and Hg in men (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Although there are variables in different districts, the normal ranges of trace element in blood of the four cities in Hunan province are established.
Age Factors ; Asian People/ethnology* ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Reference Standards ; Reference Values ; Residence Characteristics ; Sex Factors ; Trace Elements/blood*

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Selenium ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; immunology ; pathology ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Trace Elements ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of tic disorders (TD) among pupils in the Shunde Longjiang area, and their relationship to trace elements.

METHODSA cross-sectional study of 4062 children aged 6-12 years, who were selected from the Shunde Longjiang area by stratified cluster sampling to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of TD, was conducted, and blood concentrations of trace elements in children with TD were determined. Forty normal children were selected as controls.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence rate of TD was 2.98%; the prevalence rates of transient tic disorder, chronic motor or vocal tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome were 3.62%, 2.39% and 1.21% respectively. Boys had a significantly higher prevalence rate of TD than girls (3.92% vs 1.96%; P<0.05). There were no significant differences in blood copper, manganese and magnesium levels between children with TD and normal children (P>0.05), however, children with TD had a significantly increased blood lead level and significantly decreased blood zinc and iron levels compared with the normal children (P<0.05). No significant differences in trace elements were found between children with different subtypes of TD (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTD is common in children aged 6-12 years and more prevalent in boys than in girls. High blood lead level and zinc and iron deficiencies may be one of the causes of TD, and thus should be considered during therapy.

Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Lead ; blood ; Male ; Tic Disorders ; blood ; epidemiology ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Zinc ; blood

Adolescent ; Blood Cell Count ; Child ; Copper ; blood ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Magnesium ; blood ; Male ; Students ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Zinc ; blood

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