scholarly journals Network Dynamics in Elemental Assimilation and Metabolism

Entropy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 1633
Author(s):  
Austen Curtin ◽  
Christine Austin ◽  
Alessandro Giuliani ◽  
Manuel Ruiz Marín ◽  
Francheska Merced-Nieves ◽  
...  

Metabolism and physiology frequently follow non-linear rhythmic patterns which are reflected in concepts of homeostasis and circadian rhythms, yet few biomarkers are studied as dynamical systems. For instance, healthy human development depends on the assimilation and metabolism of essential elements, often accompanied by exposures to non-essential elements which may be toxic. In this study, we applied laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to reconstruct longitudinal exposure profiles of essential and non-essential elements throughout prenatal and early post-natal development. We applied cross-recurrence quantification analysis (CRQA) to characterize dynamics involved in elemental integration, and to construct a graph-theory based analysis of elemental metabolism. Our findings show how exposure to lead, a well-characterized toxicant, perturbs the metabolism of essential elements. In particular, our findings indicate that high levels of lead exposure dysregulate global aspects of metabolic network connectivity. For example, the magnitude of each element’s degree was increased in children exposed to high lead levels. Similarly, high lead exposure yielded discrete effects on specific essential elements, particularly zinc and magnesium, which showed reduced network metrics compared to other elements. In sum, this approach presents a new, systems-based perspective on the dynamics involved in elemental metabolism during critical periods of human development.

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 804
Author(s):  
Andrea Ariano ◽  
Nadia Musco ◽  
Lorella Severino ◽  
Anna De Maio ◽  
Annabella Tramice ◽  
...  

The use of seaweeds as additives in animal nutrition may be a valid option to traditional feed as they represent a rich source of minerals, carbohydrates and antioxidants. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant capacity of two tropical eucheumatoids, Kappaphycus alvarezii and Kappaphycus striatus, in Malaysian wild offshore waters. The chemical analysis was performed via inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy for evaluating the concentration of toxic (Cd, Pb, Hg, As) and essential elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Se); NMR spectroscopy was used for carrageenans investigation. Furthermore, the soluble and fat-soluble antioxidant capacities were determined by FRAP, DPPH and ABTS assays. The chemical analysis revealed a higher content of trace elements in K. alvarezii as compared to K. striatus, and both exhibited a high mineral content. No significant differences in metal concentrations were found between the two species. Both samples showed a mixture of prevailing κ- and t-carrageenans. Finally, the levels of soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants in K. alvarezii were significantly higher than in K. striatus. Our findings suggest that K. alvarezii could be used as a potential feed additive because of its favorable chemical and nutritional features.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096032712199321
Author(s):  
M Charehsaz ◽  
S Helvacıoğlu ◽  
S Çetinkaya ◽  
R Demir ◽  
O Erdem ◽  
...  

In this study, the level of arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and also essential elements in beer samples consumed in Turkey were investigated using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The heavy metal-induced non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were calculated. For essential elements, the calculated estimated daily intake of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and cobalt (Co) from beer consumption were compared with their toxicity reference values. Tukey post-hoc test showed that As was found at a significantly higher level when compared to Pb. Also, a significant correlation was found between As level and alcohol by volume percent. All samples had a hazard quotient and hazard index <1, indicating no non-carcinogenic risk from exposure to single or multiple heavy metals. Some samples exceeded the threshold limit of acceptable cancer risk for As in the high beer consumer group. This assessment showed that in addition to health implications based on the alcohol content of beer, there might be a carcinogenic risk associated with the heavy metals content of these beverages.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.23) ◽  
pp. 260
Author(s):  
Galbadrakh Ragchaa ◽  
Temujin Enkhbat ◽  
Enkhtor Lkhamsuren

In this work inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method was used to determine content of harmful to human health heavy elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Th, U, and other essential elements Zn, Cu, Ni in soil samples collected around fence of two largest in Asia copper (Oyu Tolgoi) and coal (Tavan Tolgoi) deposits. The analyses revealed average content of arsenic in the examined soil samples is exceeding 1.4 times the maximum permissible limit. It is consistent with many previous studies emphasizing on a high occurrence of arsenic in soils, well waters of North and Central Mongolia. But the contents of copper in soil samples collected from three leeward locations of the copper mine Oyu Tolgoi are up to 2.18 times higher than the maximum permitted content established by the government standard of Mongolia. The contents of Cd, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn in soil probes collected from leeward locations of Ukhaa Khudag open pit mine of Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit are higher than that of in probes collected from the windward side of that by factor ranging from 1.34 to 1.64. These facts indicate possible transport and spread of heavy elements by wind from these intense operating open pit mines into adjacent dry and windy deserted region of Mongolia.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 434-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas King ◽  
Robert Sheridan

Abstract A method was developed to determine 27 elements (aluminum, arsenic, boron, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulfur, vanadium, zinc, antimony, uranium, beryllium, thallium, and thorium) in animal feeds and pet foods using closed vessel microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma-massspectrometry. These elements can adversely affect animal health when amounts become excessive or deficient in food. For potentially toxic elements, the target LOQ was determined to be 1/10 the lowest maximum tolerable level (MTL) for the most sensitive animal species. For nutritionally essential elements,the target LOQ was determined to be 1/10 the concentration that would be considered deficient in feed if that level is lower than 1/10 the lowest MTL. The targeted high end of the quantitation range wasselected as twice the highest MTL. A single-laboratory validation (SLV) was performed to determine theaccuracy and precision of the method, and the resultswere evaluated with respect to predetermined performance characteristics. The test materials used in the SLV included two National Institute of Standardsand Technology certified reference materials, two Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) check samples, and one in-house previously analyzed feed sample. The concentrations of each elementdetermined were the result of spiked analyte,incurred analyte, or a combination of spiked and incurredanalyte. All samples were analyzed seven times on different days at 2 × LOQ and at the midrangeconcentration. For most data, the results of the SLV met or exceeded the criteria for accuracy and repeatability. For accuracy, K at the midrange level had a mean recovery of 95%, which is just below the low preferred accuracy threshold of 97%. For repeatability, all the 2 × LOQ CVr values were below the preferred values. Be, Cr, Ni, Na,Mn, and S all had midrange CVr values exceeding the preferred values. Be had the highest midrange CVr value of 9.93. Eight AAFCO check samples were also analyzed to determine the method’s accuracy and repeatability for elements at the manufacturer’s claimed levels. For accuracy, all results had z-scores &lt;1.5. For repeatability, three CVr values from two AAFCO check samples were greater than the preferred limits.


Author(s):  
Shukrullah Ahmadi ◽  
Barbara Le Bot ◽  
Roméo Zoumenou ◽  
Séverine Durand ◽  
Nadine Fiévet ◽  
...  

Lead exposure is associated with poor cognitive development in children. Very few studies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have studied blood lead levels (BLLs) and non-gasoline sources of exposure in children. Data from a birth cohort in Benin (2011–2013) suggested that 58% of 1-year-old children had BLLs > 50 ug/L. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of elevated BLLs (>50 µg/L and >100 µg /L) among 425 of these children at 6 years of age in 2016–2018 and to compare BLLs between age 1 and 6 years, and study sources of lead at age 6 years. BLLs were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multiple linear regression and quantile regressions were used to study potential sources of lead. The prevalence of BLLs > 50 µg/L in children was 59.5% (Geometric Mean (GM) 56.4 µg/L, 95% CI: 54.1–58.7) at 6 years of age compared to 54.8% (GM 56.5 µg/L, 95% CI: 53.4–59.6) at 1 year of age. The prevalence of children with BLLs > 100 µg/L decreased from 14.4% at 1 year of age to 8.2% at 6 years of age. After adjustment for all other covariates, consumption of peanuts more than once per month was significantly associated with a 22.0% (95% CI: 4.6, 42.5) increment in BLLs at age 6 years compared with no consumption. Consumption of bushmeat killed by lead bullets at age 6 years was associated with an increase in the higher percentiles of BLLs (P75) compared with the absence of this source. Other potential sources of lead associated with BLLs with marginal significance were consumption of rice, paternal occupational exposure, and the presence of activity with the potential use of lead. This prospective cohort confirms the persistently high prevalence of elevated BLLs in children residing in a rural region in the south of Benin, as well as the presence of multiple and continuous sources of lead. These results highlight the need for prevention programs to reduce and eliminate lead exposure in children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Eid I. Brima

In terms of nutrition, dates are an important commodity because they are a source of carbohydrates and minerals. Saudi Arabia is the second largest producer of dates worldwide. Khalas is the tenth most popular date type in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), but only limited information related to the levels of essential nutrients in Khalas dates is available. The concentrations of Mn, Cu, Zn, and Se were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The average concentrations in wet weight were as follows (mg/kg): Mn (2.90 ± 0.54), Cu (1.78 ± 0.64), Zn (1.72 ± 0.42), and Se (0.10 ± 0.06). The calculated intakes (μg/kg bw day) per 100 g dates for each element were as follows: Mn (4.14), Cu (2.54), Zn (2.46), and Se (0.14), which represent 0.14%, 0.51%, 0.25%, and 0.2%, respectively, of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) recommended by the EFSA/WHO. It was found that levels of the analysed essential elements in up to 100 g of Khalas dates do not exceed the level set by the EFSA/WHO.


2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. WATANABE ◽  
S. HOMMA-TAKEDA ◽  
M. YUKAWA ◽  
Y. NISHIMURA ◽  
H. IMASEKI

Micro-PIXE and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were applied to elemental distribution analyses in plant root apex which is composed of various types of tissues and cells in different developmental stages. ICP-MS was so sensitive that a large number of elements including Na, Mg, P, S, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr and Cs could be determined quantitatively. These fourteen elements included almost all the essential elements for plant growth. Only a rough estimation, however, could be obtained by ICP-MS for the elemental distribution at the tissue level, by analyzing sections from the root apex. On the other hand, micro-PIXE was effective for detailed mappings of elemental distributions. The images of elemental distributions were obtained for Na, Mg, P, S, K, Ca, Mn, Fe and Zn, corresponding to the microscopic images of the root structures. The localizations of P, K and Zn in some tissues were observed by the mappings. These results indicated that micro-PIXE and ICP-MS have different, but complementary abilities for the investigation of elemental distributions in plant tissues.


1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. S. Deng ◽  
Z. C. Fang ◽  
Y. Yin

Memory impairment is one of the most frustrating problems for older people. Several acupoints were used for the treatment of memory loss in old rats, and the elemental mechanism of acupuncture therapy was studied with Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy. The result indicates that acupuncture improves learning and memory ability significantly in aged animals when compared with controls. This study demonstrated that elevations of eight essential elements (B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and P) in the brain are the ionic basis for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. A hypothetical model of the mechanism of acupuncture therapy is described.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-125
Author(s):  
Mohammad Rezaei ◽  
Ali Akbar Malekirad ◽  
Maryam Jabbari ◽  
Maryam Karimi-Dehkordi ◽  
Bahareh Ghasemidehkordi ◽  
...  

Fruits could contain elements in various concentrations, which can have both positive and negative impacts on human health. The concentrations of essential elements, including Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), and Chromium (Cr) in five types of fruits, namely, peach, apple, grape, nectarine, and golden plum, and the soil and irrigation water from six industrial zones of Markazi province, Iran, were evaluated using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) technique. The noncarcinogenic risk was assessed by determining the target hazard quotient and the Monte Carlo simulation model. The highest concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Cr were observed in golden plum, while the highest concentrations of Cu and Zn were noted in grape and apple, respectively. The order of the mean of concentrations of elements in the soil and water samples were Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr. The transfer factor (TF) results indicate that studied fruits could not absorb a high amount of these elements from the soil (TF < 1). Target hazard quotient values of these elements in both adults and chil-dren were ranked as Cr > Cur > Fe > Mn > Zn. The target hazard quotient was 95% and total target hazard quo-tient was <1, meaning that the consumption of fruits is safe for consumers.


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