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

Analysis was performed using simple quantitative indexes divided into 6 categories (S, A, B, C, D, and E). In this study, we applied this scoring model to wider recipes and evaluated its nutritional relevance.MATERIALS/METHODS: National or known regional databases were searched for recipes from 6 categories: Korean out-dining, Korean home-dining, Western, Chinese, Mediterranean, and vegetarian. These recipes were scored using the ACFS formula and the nutrition profiles were analyzed.RESULTS: Eighty-eight international recipes were analyzed. All S-graded recipes were from vegetarian or Mediterranean categories. The median code values of each category were B (Korean home-dining), C (Korean out-dining), B (Chinese), A (Mediterranean), S (vegetarian), and D (Western). The following profiles were correlated (P < 0.05) with ACFS grades in the univariate trend analysis: total calories, total fat, animal fat, animal protein, total protein, vitamin D, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B₁₂, pantothenic acid, sodium, animal iron, zinc, selenium, and cholesterol (negative trends), and carbohydrate rate, fiber, water-soluble fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, and plant calcium (positive trends). Multivariate analysis revealed that animal fat, animal iron, and niacin (negative trends) and animal protein, fiber, and vitamin C (positive trends) were statistically significant. Pantothenic acid and sodium showed non-significant negative trends (P < 0.1), and vitamin B₁₂ showed a non-significant positive trend.CONCLUSION: This study provided a nutritional basis and extended the utility of ACFS, which is a bridgehead for future cancer-preventive clinical trials using ACFS.]]>
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Humans ; Iron ; Multivariate Analysis ; Niacin ; Pantothenic Acid ; Plants ; Riboflavin ; Selenium ; Sodium ; Vegetarians ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin K ; Vitamins ; Zinc

In this paper, some quality problems of mineral medicine Calamina and calcined Calamina have been discussed after determination and analysis of the quality parameters of a large number of market samples, and the countermeasures are put forward. According to the XRD results, as well as the results of tests included in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2015 edition), the authenticity of Calamina and calcined Calamina samples were identified. The content of zinc oxide in samples were determined by the method of determination in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Individually, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS) methods were used for the determination of impurity elements and harmful elements in Calamina and calcined Calamina samples. Four kinds of impurity elements of magnesium(Mg), iron(Fe), aluminum(Al), calcium(Ca) and five harmful elements such as lead(Pb), cadmium(Cd), arsenic(As), copper(Cu), mercury(Hg) were measured. The study showed that: ① Fake Calamina products on the market were overflowing; ② The mineral origin of the mainstream Calamina in the market is inconsistent with that stipulated in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2015 edition); ③ The contents of harmful elements Pb and Cd in Calamina and calcined Calamina are generally higher, while the contents of harmful elements As and Cu in some inferior Calaminae are higher; ④ Parts of calcined Calamina were improperly or inadequately processed. In view of these quality problems, the countermeasures are put forward as follows: ① It is suggested that hydrozincite should be approved as the mineral source of Calamina, and be included by Chinese Pharmacopoeia; ② Strengthen the research on the specificity of Calamina identification methods to improve the quality control level; ③ Strengthen the research on the processing of Calamina, and formulate the limit standards for the content of Pb and Cd in Calamina; ④ Carry out research on the artificial synthesis of Calamina and calcined Calamina, in order to cope with the current shortage of Calamina resources and ensure the sustainable development of Calamina medicinal materials.
Arsenic ; Cadmium ; Copper ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Ferric Compounds/standards* ; Iron ; Lead ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mercury ; Minerals ; Quality Control ; Trace Elements/analysis* ; Zinc Oxide/standards*

PURPOSE: Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is known to play a crucial role in carcinogenesis in various malignancies, including lung cancer regarding tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and cellular differentiation. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of components of Shh pathway as a prognostic marker in extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 36 patients who were diagnosed with ES-SCLC between 2008 and 2012 at a single center. We performed immuo-histochemistry for glioma-associated oncogene homolog zinc finger protein 1 (Gli1), patched, Shh, and Ptch-mediated repression of smoothened (Smo) proteins using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue derived from primary tumors. We then conducted survival analysis to evaluate the prognostic impact of these markers. RESULTS: All 36 patients received platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. The median progression free survival and median overall survival were 6.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 6.5–7.3] and 11.7 months (95% CI, 9.1–14.3), respectively. The overall response rate was 84%. Of the 36 tissue specimens examined, over-expression of Gli1, Patched, Shh, and Smo was found in 12 (33.3%), five (13.9%), five (13.9%), and six (16.7%) cases, respectively. We found that high expression of Shh was associated with worse progression free survival (6.3 vs. 7.6 months, p=0.005) and overall survival (9.2 vs. 12.0 months, p=0.039) by both univariate and multivariate analyses, whereas other markers were not related to patient prognosis. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of small cell lung cancer tumors express proteins related to Shh pathway, and over-expression of Shh is correlated with poor prognosis.
Carcinogenesis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Hedgehog Proteins ; Hedgehogs ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oncogenes ; Prognosis ; Repression, Psychology ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Zinc Fingers

BACKGROUND: Abnormal upregulation of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) is considered to be a key oncogenic event in the development and progression of inflammation-associated human colon cancer. It has been reported that 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), an enzyme catabolizing PGE₂, is ubiquitously downregulated in human colon cancer. 15-Deoxy-Δ(12,14)-prostaglandin J₂ (15d-PGJ₂), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ ligand, has been shown to have anticarcinogenic activities. In this study, we investigate the effect of 15d-PGJ₂ on expression of 15-PGDH in human colon cancer HCT116 cells. METHODS: HCT116 cells were treated with 15d-PGJ₂ analysis. The expression of 15-PGDH in the treated cells was measured by Western blot analysis and RT-PCR. In addition, the cells were subjected to a 15-PGDH activity assay. To determine which transcription factor(s) and signaling pathway(s) are involved in 15d-PGJ₂-induced 15-PGDH expression, we performed a cDNA microarray analysis of 15d-PGJ₂-treated cells. The DNA binding activity of AP-1 was measured by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. To determine whether the AP-1 plays an important role in the 15d-PGJ₂-induced 15-PGDH expression, the cells were transfected with siRNA of c-Jun, a major subunit of AP-1. To elucidate the upstream signaling pathways involved in AP-1 activation by 15d-PGJ₂, we examined its effect on phosphorylation of Akt by Western blot analysis in the presence or absence of kinase inhibitor. RESULTS: 15d-PGJ₂ (10 μM) significantly upregulated 15-PGDH expression at the mRNA and protein levels in HCT-116 cells. 15-PGDH activity was also elevated by 15d-PGJ₂. We observed that genes encoding C/EBP delta, FOS-like antigen 1, c-Jun, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were most highly induced in the HCT116 cells following 15d-PGJ₂ treatment. 15d-PGJ₂ increased the DNA binding activity of AP-1. Moreover, transfection with specific siRNA against c-Jun significantly reduced 15-PGDH expression induced by 15d-PGJ₂. 15d-PGJ₂ activates Akt and a pharmacological inhibitor of Akt, LY294002, abrogated 15d-PGJ₂-induced 15-PGDH expression. We also observed that an inhibitor of HO-1, zinc protoporphyrin IX, also abrogated upregulation of 15-PGDH and down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by 15d-PGJ₂. CONCLUSIONS: These finding suggest that 15d-PGJ₂ upregulates the expression of 15-PGDH through AP-1 activation in colon cancer HCT116 cells.
Blotting, Western ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; DNA ; Down-Regulation ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; HCT116 Cells ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; Heme ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxidoreductases ; Peroxisomes ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: Little is known about epigenetic silencing of genes by promoter hypermethylation in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim of this study was to identify prognostic methylation markers in surgically treated clear cell RCC (ccRCC). METHODS: Methylation patterns were assayed using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array on pairs of ccRCC and normal tissue from 12 patients. Using quantitative PSQ analysis, tumor-specific hypermethylated genes were validated in 25 independent cohorts and their clinical relevance was also verified in 152 independent cohorts. RESULTS: Using genome-wide methylation array, Zinc finger protein 278 (ZNF278), Family with sequence similarity 155 member A (FAM155A) and Dipeptidyl peptidase 6 (DPP6) were selected for tumor-specific hypermethylated genes in primary ccRCC. The promoter methylation of these genes occurred more frequently in ccRCC than normal kidney in independent validation cohort. The hypermethylation of three genes were associated with advanced tumor stage and high grade tumor in ccRCC. During median follow-up of 39.2 (interquartile range, 15.4–79.1) months, 22 (14.5%) patients experienced distant metastasis. Multivariate analysis identified the methylation status of these three genes, either alone, or in a combined risk score as an independent predictor of distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: The promoter methylation of ZNF278, FAM155A and DPP6 genes are associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and early development of distant metastasis in patients with surgically treated ccRCC. These potential methylation markers, either alone, or in combination, could provide novel targets for development of individualized therapeutic and prevention regimens.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epigenomics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney ; Methylation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phenotype ; Zinc Fingers

PURPOSE: Five members of the zinc finger of the cerebellum (ZIC) family—ZIC1, ZIC2, ZIC3, ZIC4, and ZIC5—have been shown to be involved in various carcinomas. Here, we aimed to explore the clinicopathologic and prognostic roles of ZIC family members in invasive breast cancer patients using immunohistochemical analysis, western blotting analysis, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). METHODS: A total of 241 female invasive breast cancer patients who underwent radical mastectomy between 2009 and 2011 were enrolled. ZIC proteins in 241 pairs of breast tumors and corresponding normal tissues were investigated using immunohistochemistry and the clinicopathologic roles of proteins were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were also used to analyze the prognostic value of the ZIC proteins. In addition, 12 pairs of fresh-frozen breast tumors and matched normal tissues were used in the western blotting analysis and RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Only ZIC1 expression in normal tissues was obviously higher than that in tumors (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, ZIC1 expression (in overall survival analysis: hazard ratio [HR], 0.405, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.233–0.702, p=0.001; in disease-free survival analysis: HR, 0.395, 95% CI, 0.234–0.669, p=0.001) was identified as a prognostic indicator of invasive breast cancer. CONCLUSION: ZIC1, but not the other proteins, was obviously decreased in breast tumors and associated with clinicopathologic factors. Thus, ZIC1 might be a novel indicator to predict the overall and disease-free survival of invasive breast cancer patients.
Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cerebellum* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Zinc Fingers* ; Zinc*

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to assess selenium and zinc status in female collegiate athletes and their relationship with dietary intake. METHODS: Female collegiate athletic groups of judo and aerobics, and healthy sedentary collegiate females were recruited for this study and their serum selenium and zinc contents were measured by the neutron activation analysis (NAA) method. In addition, the dietary intake of subjects was measured using the two days 24-hour recall method. RESULTS: Serum selenium in judo athletes was 10.7 µg/dl, which was significantly lower than that of aerobic athletes (12.2 µg/dl), but not different from that of the sedentary group (11.4 µg/dl). Additionally, serum zinc levels were 96.1 µg/dl and 90.2 µg/dl in aerobic and judo athletes, respectively, which did not differ significantly. Moreover, dietary selenium and zinc intake of the athletic groups did not differ significantly from that of the sedentary female group. Overall, 33.3% of the serum selenium concentration variation was explained by the intake of vitamin E, selenium and saturated fatty acids, while 14.7% of the serum zinc level variation was explained by the intake of saturated fatty acids. The strongest dietary indicator for serum selenium and zinc levels was saturated fatty acids intake. CONCLUSION: Judo athletes appear to have lower selenium status than aerobic athletes, suggesting different body selenium status according to sport type. To maintain body selenium and zinc levels, the dietary intake of saturated fatty acids should be decreased.
Athletes* ; Fatty Acids ; Female* ; Humans ; Martial Arts ; Methods ; Neutron Activation Analysis ; Selenium* ; Sports ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins ; Zinc*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to measure fat-soluble vitamins and minerals in breast milk of Korean lactating mothers who exclusively breastfed their babies. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Breast milk samples were collected from 334 mothers. Concentrations of retinol and α-tocopherol were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet spectrometry while concentrations of minerals were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. RESULTS: Retinol and α-tocopherol contents of breast milk were 39.58 ± 19.64 µg/dL and 0.23 ± 0.13 mg/dL, respectively. Average sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels in breast milk were 11.11 ± 5.16, 38.56 ± 9.01, 27.87 ± 6.10, 13.56 ± 3.30, and 3.05 ± 0.65 mg/dL, respectively. Contents of trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, and manganese were 40.26 ± 46.21, 98.40 ± 62.47, 24.09 ± 9.03, and 0.90 ± 1.63 µg/dL, respectively. Fat-soluble vitamin concentration was positively correlated with total fat in milk samples, but no significant differences were observed in levels of retinol, α-tocopherol, or minerals based on whether or not lactating women were taking dietary supplements. CONCLUSIONS: Micronutrient contents of breast milk samples from Korean lactating women were comparable to those of other nations. Retinol and α-tocopherol levels were correlated and also with total fat in breast milk.
Breast* ; Calcium ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Copper ; Dietary Supplements ; Fats ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Iron ; Korea* ; Magnesium ; Manganese ; Micronutrients ; Milk ; Milk, Human* ; Minerals* ; Miners* ; Mothers ; Phosphorus ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Spectrum Analysis ; Trace Elements ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamins ; Zinc

The rapidly increasing annual global volume of e-waste, and of its inherently valuable fraction, has created an opportunity for individuals in Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana to make a living by using unconventional, uncontrolled, primitive and crude procedures to recycle and recover valuable metals from this waste. The current form of recycling procedures releases hazardous fractions, such as heavy metals, into the soil, posing a significant risk to the environment and human health. Using a handheld global positioning system, 132 soil samples based on 100 m grid intervals were collected and analysed for cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Using geostatistical techniques and sediment quality guidelines, this research seeks to assess the potential risk these heavy metals posed to the proposed Korle Ecological Restoration Zone by informal e-waste processing site in Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana. Analysis of heavy metals revealed concentrations exceeded the regulatory limits of both Dutch and Canadian soil quality and guidance values, and that the ecological risk posed by the heavy metals extended beyond the main burning and dismantling sites of the informal recyclers to the school, residential, recreational, clinic, farm and worship areas. The heavy metals Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn had normal distribution, spatial variability, and spatial autocorrelation. Further analysis revealed the decreasing order of toxicity, Hg>Cd>Pb> Cu>Zn>Cr, of contributing significantly to the potential ecological risk in the study area.
Agriculture ; Burns ; Cadmium ; Chromium ; Copper ; Geographic Information Systems ; Ghana ; Humans ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy ; Recycling ; Soil ; Spatial Analysis ; Zinc