scholarly journals Mercury in the human adrenal medulla could contribute to increased plasma noradrenaline in aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Pamphlett ◽  
Stephen Kum Jew ◽  
Philip A. Doble ◽  
David P. Bishop

AbstractPlasma noradrenaline levels increase with aging, and this could contribute to the sympathetic overactivity that is associated with essential hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. The underlying cause of this rise in noradrenaline is unknown, but a clue may be that mercury increases noradrenaline output from the adrenal medulla of experimental animals. We therefore determined the proportion of people from 2 to 104 years of age who had mercury in their adrenal medulla. Mercury was detected in paraffin sections of autopsied adrenal glands using two methods of elemental bioimaging, autometallography and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Mercury first appeared in cells of the adrenal medulla in the 21–40 years group, where it was present in 52% of samples, and increased progressively in frequency in older age groups, until it was detected in 90% of samples from people aged over 80 years. In conclusion, the proportion of people having mercury in their adrenal medulla increases with aging. Mercury could alter the metabolism of catecholamines in the adrenal medulla that leads to the raised levels of plasma noradrenaline in aging. This retrospective autopsy study was not able to provide a definitive link between adrenal mercury, noradrenaline levels and hypertension, but future functional human and experimental studies could provide further evidence for these associations.

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta Burda ◽  
Aleksandra Gawęda ◽  
Urs Klötzli

Abstract Detailed cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging of zircon crystals, coupled with Laser Ablation Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS) U-Pb zircon dating was used to develop new insights into the evolution of granitoids from the High Tatra Mountains. The zircon U-Pb results show two distinct age groups (350±5 Ma and 337±6 Ma) recorded from cores and rims domains, respectively. Obtained results point that the last magmatic activity in the Tatra granitoid intrusion occurred at ca. 330 Ma. The previously suggested age of 314 Ma reflects rather the hydrothermal activity and Pb-loss, coupled with post-magmatic shearing.


2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian M. Hughes ◽  
John Stewart ◽  
Bronwyn M. Gillanders ◽  
Damian Collins ◽  
Iain M. Suthers

This study investigated how the stock structure of Arripis trutta is influenced by the movement of adult fish. Five-year-old fish were sampled from four regions in south-east Australia encompassing ~1500km of coastline. Transverse otolith sections were analysed using laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, providing age-related elemental profiles. Multivariate analyses showed that for most age groups, the elemental fingerprint of northern New South Wales (NSW) fish was significantly different from those of the other locations. Northern NSW fish also had a different fingerprint from those of all other locations for the first part of the fish’s life. These results indicate that most A. trutta originate in southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania and move progressively northward with increasing age. Some recruitment occurs in northern NSW but these fish may not mix with immigrants from further south until they are more than 5 years old. When assessed with the strong latitudinal age gradient of the population, these data are consistent with a single, panmictic stock. The data also highlight the utility of otolith transect analysis in understanding the influence of age-related movements on stock structure and appropriate spatial management of exploited fish species.


Author(s):  
Jisook Yim ◽  
Soo Beom Kwon ◽  
Jung Sun Han ◽  
Jeong-Ho Kim ◽  
Eun Hee Lee ◽  
...  

Context.— Recently, an exchangeable copper (CuEXC) assay has been suggested as a robust and feasible diagnostic tool for Wilson disease (WD). Although WD is a disorder that requires lifelong treatment and monitoring, few data are currently available regarding the status of copper levels in children. Objective.— To evaluate the performance of copper assays and establish a reference interval for total copper and CuEXC in the pediatric population. Design.— Serum samples from children aged 1–5 (n = 122), 6–12 (n = 125), and 13–18 years (n = 120) were analyzed. Total copper and CuEXC concentrations were directly measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and relative CuEXC levels were calculated. Total copper reference intervals, CuEXC levels, and relative CuEXC levels were determined based on the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of the data with 90% confidence intervals. Results.— There were significant differences in the median concentrations of total copper and relative CuEXC among the age groups. Reference intervals determined for total copper were 82 to 167, 75 to 139, and 64 to 133 μg/dL for children aged 1 to 5, 6 to 12, and 13 to 18 years, respectively. The reference intervals for CuEXC were 4.29 to 9.79, 4.02 to 9.09, and 3.55 to 8.25 μg/dL for children aged 1 to 5, 6 to 12, and 13 to 18 years, respectively. Among 11 patients with suspected WD, relative CuEXC values were elevated in all 3 diagnosed with WD. Conclusions.— The pediatric reference intervals derived in this study are expected to be useful for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of pediatric patients with WD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Sahar Younes Ibrahim Md ◽  
Rania Abdel Maguid Md ◽  
Maha Khaled Al-Mazroua

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Cosmetics' use is very popular all over the world and in some parts of Arabian countries. The use of some cosmetics as Kohl is part of culture and traditions, and is used since very young ages. This makes detection of heavy metal content in cosmetics marketed in Egypt and other Arabian markets of crucial importance.</p><p><strong>Objective:</strong> To evaluate the levels of heavy metals content among different cosmetic products in the Arabian market.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Different brands of; anti-freckle creams, eye shadows, eyeliners, facial powders, foundation, henna and lipsticks were purchased from open markets in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Sample preparation and analysis was conducted, to estimate levels of twelve different metals (Pb, As, Cd, Ag, Ba, Al, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).</p><p>Results: The mean concentration of some studied metals as Aluminium, lead, arsenic, copper and nickel were higher than permissible levels for cosmetics in some of the studied samples. Para- Phenylenediamine (PPD) was detected in all the studied 7 Henna samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> In conclusion, cosmetic contamination with metals above permissible levels is very common in most of the products available in the developing world and Arabian markets. Physicians and users must be aware of the probable toxicity of these elements and of the clinical signs of systemic poisoning. Considering popular use of cosmetics by different age groups, the hazardous cumulative effects of prolonged exposure to low concentrations of metals like; Aluminium, lead, Arsenic, nickel and copper especially in children, cannot be ruled out. Further studies are recommended in addition, cosmetic market control and legislation procedures should be thoroughly implemented.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Luan ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
Shuzhen Sun ◽  
Yuan Chen ◽  
Yanqiu Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Several researches have been conducted on the associations between elements and diseases. Few studies have examined trace elements in young people’s hair. The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of age, gender and season on the contents of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se) and strontium (Sr) as well as to establish the reference intervals (RIs). Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 589 apparently healthy children and adolescents under 19 years old. Quantitative analysis has been carried out using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Eight nutrient elements in peripheral blood of children and adolescents in eastern China were grouped according to age, sex or season, and analyzed using and Mann-Whitney U test and spearman statistical analyses. RIs were defined by using 95% confidence interval. Results Precisions of ICP-MS detecting for Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Se and Sr are 2.8%~12.2%. The linearity were all > 0.999 and the bias were all within 10%. Differences between contents of particularly Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn in girls’ and boys’ whole blood were found, and higher contents of Mg, Cu for boys were measured in some age groups. Positive correlations for Fe, Zn, Se and Sr, while negative for Ca and Cu were found with age. And substantial differences between age groups were stated. In general, an increasing trend was found for bioelements (Fe, Zn,Se) both for girls and boys in all age groups, while for Ca and Cu changes were even decreasing for children and teenagers. The most frequently correlating element pairs were Fe-Zn, Mg-Se, and Fe-Se in five successive age groups. Lower contents of essential elements (Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Se) were found in summer comparing with other seasons. Finally, the reference interval of each element was initially established according to age and gender grouping. Conclusions The contents of elements in whole blood varies depending mainly on the gender and age of children and adolescents. Besides, season is also a factor that affects the contents of elements in the body. The reference intervals of elements in whole blood grouped by age and gender provide a reference basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of element-related diseases.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Anna Sałacińska ◽  
Ianko Gerdjikov ◽  
Ashley Gumsley ◽  
Krzysztof Szopa ◽  
David Chew ◽  
...  

Abstract Although Variscan terranes have been documented from the Balkans to the Caucasus, the southeastern portion of the Variscan Belt is not well understood. The Strandja Zone along the border between Bulgaria and Turkey encompasses one such terrane linking the Balkanides and the Pontides. However, the evolution of this terrane, and the Late Carboniferous to Triassic granitoids within it, is poorly resolved. Here we present laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb zircon ages, coupled with petrography and geochemistry from the Izvorovo Pluton within the Sakar Unit (Strandja Zone). This pluton is composed of variably metamorphosed and deformed granites which yield crystallization ages of c. 251–256 Ma. These ages are older than the previously assumed age of the Izvorovo Pluton based on a postulated genetic relationship between the Izvorovo Pluton and Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous metamorphism. A better understanding of units across the Strandja Zone can now be achieved, revealing two age groups of plutons within it. An extensive magmatic episode occurred c. 312–295 Ma, and a longer-lived episode between c. 275 and 230 Ma. Intrusions associated with both magmatic events were emplaced into pre-Late Carboniferous basement, and were overprinted by Early Alpine metamorphism and deformation. These two stages of magmatism can likely be attributed to changes in tectonic setting in the Strandja Zone. Such a change in tectonic setting is likely related to the collision between Gondwana-derived terranes and Laurussia, followed by either subduction of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean beneath Laurussia or rifting in the southern margin of Laurussia, with granitoids forming in different tectonic environments.


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