Anna Błażewicz

Determination of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in thyroid glands of patients with diagnosed nodular goitre using ion chromatography

The aim of this study was to estimate and compare the contents of selected metals in 65 pathological (diagnosed nodular goitre) and 50 healthy human thyroid tissues (taken during autopsies). Ion chromatography (IC) preceded by microwave mineralization was applied for the first time for determination of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in human thyroid samples. The study proved that the concentrations of Cu(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(3+), and Zn(2+) were significantly higher in the control group (healthy thyroids) in comparison with the studied group (nodular goitre) (p<0.05), whereas for Co(2+) the difference between two means of concentration (healthy vs pathological thyroids) was not significant statistically at 0.05 significance level. Measurement accuracy was verified by measurements of NIST standard reference material (1566a Oyster Tissue). Very good precision (RSD below 5%) and recoveries (above 90%) were evaluated.

Serum and urinary selenium levels in obese children: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE To determine serum and urinary selenium (Se) levels in children with and without obesity, and to assess if Se influences the risk of obesity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS High-resolution-continuum source-atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-AAS) was used to determine the content of Se in 80 children (age 6-17; 40 boys, 40 girls). Correlations between variables were tested with the use of Spearmans correlation coefficient. U Mann-Whitney test was applied to assess the difference of Se contents in samples. Measured metabolic risk factors (blood pressure, glucose level, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total cholesterol), age, gender, and BMI were correlated. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify predictors of obesity interacting with selenium content in serum and urine, separately. RESULTS Obese children, regardless of gender, had lower Se content. Se level in serum (p=0.001, OR 0.74, 95%CI 0.62-0.88) and total cholesterol (p=0.001, OR 1.19, 95%CI 1.08-1.31) were the independent factors significantly influencing the risk of obesity in children. Two separate models were observed for Se in urine: (i) Se level (p<0. 0001, OR 0.70, 95%CI 0.58-0.84) and glucose level (p<0.0001, OR 1.22, 95%CI 1.10-1.35), and (ii) Se level (p=0.002, OR 0.60 95%CI 0.43-0.83) and total cholesterol level (p=0.003, OR 1.16, 95%CI 1.05-1.28). CONCLUSION The current study suggests a possible role of Se in obesity. Further research needs to be performed to check if obese children are an at-risk group for Se deficiency.

Determination of total iodine in serum and urine samples by ion chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection - studies on analyte loss, optimization of sample preparation procedures, and validation of analytical method.

A fast, accurate and precise ion chromatography method with pulsed amperometric detection was applied to evaluate a variety of parameters affecting the determination of total iodine in serum and urine of 81 subjects, including 56 obese and 25 healthy Polish children. The sample pretreatment methods were carried out in a closed system and with the assistance of microwaves. Both alkaline and acidic digestion procedures were developed and optimized to find the simplest combination of reagents and the appropriate parameters for digestion that would allow for the fastest, least time consuming and most cost-effective way of analysis. A good correlation between the certified and the measured concentrations was achieved. The best recoveries (96.8% for urine and 98.8% for serum samples) were achieved using 1ml of 25% tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution within 6min for 0.1ml of serum/urine samples. Using 0.5ml of 65% nitric acid solution the best recovery (95.3%) was obtained when 7min of effective digestion time was used. Freeze-thaw stability and long-term stability were checked. After 24 weeks 14.7% loss of iodine in urine, and 10.9% in serum samples occurred. For urine samples, better correlation (R(2)=0.9891) of various sample preparation procedures (alkaline digestion and application of OnGuard RP cartidges) was obtained. Significantly lower iodide content was found in samples taken from obese children. Serum iodine content in obese children was markedly variable in comparison with the healthy group, whereas the difference was less evident when urine samples were analyzed. The mean content in serum was 59.12±8.86μg/L, and in urine 98.26±25.93 for obese children when samples were prepared by the use of optimized alkaline digestion reinforced by microwaves. In healthy children the mean content in serum was 82.58±6.01μg/L, and in urine 145.76±31.44μg/L.

A comparative analytical assessment of iodides in healthy and pathological human thyroids based on IC-PAD method preceded by microwave digestion

The aim of the study was to examine correlations between the content of iodides in 66 nodular goiters and 100 healthy human thyroid tissues (50- frozen and 50 formalin-fixed). A fast, accurate and precise ion chromatography method on IonPac AS11 chromatographic column (Dionex, USA) with a pulsed amperometric detection (IC-PAD) followed by alkaline digestion with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) in a closed system and with the assistance of microwaves was developed and used for the comparative analysis of two types of human thyroid samples. Statistical analysis revealed over eightfold reduction of iodine concentration in the pathological tissues (the mean value was 77.13±14.02 ppm) in comparison with the control group (622.62±187.11 ppm for frozen samples and 601.49±192.11 ppm for formalin-fixed ones). A good correspondence (for 10 additional determinations) between the certified (3.38±0.02 ppm with variation coefficient (V.C.) of 0.59% for Standard Reference Material (SRM) NIST 1549-non-fat milk powder) and the measured iodine concentrations (3.52±0.29 ppm; V.C.=10%) was achieved. It was pointed out that the way of tissue preservation (either in formalin or by freezing) had no significant effect on the iodine determination result (α=0.1). Significantly lower iodide content was found in nodular goiter thyroid samples. The applied conditions of digestion, reinforced by the action of microwaves, brought about a decidedly shorter (less than 20 min) sample preparation time. Suitability of the developed IC method was supported by validation results.

Alterations of Hair and Nail Content of Selected Trace Elements in Nonoccupationally Exposed Patients with Chronic Depression from Different Geographical Regions

The aim of this study was to determine if altered levels of selected trace elements manifest themselves during chronic depression. To identify elements strongly associated with chronic depression, relationships between the elemental contents of hair and nails and the interelement correlations were checked. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ion chromatography were used to evaluate the contents of Zn, Cu, Co, Pb, Mn, and Fe in hair and nail samples from a total of 415 subjects (295 patients and 120 healthy volunteers). The study included logistic regression models to predict the probability of chronic depression. To investigate possible intercorrelations among the studied elements, the scaled principal component analysis was used. The research has revealed differences in TE levels in the group of depressed men and women in comparison to the healthy subjects. Statistically significant differences in both hair and nails contents of several elements were observed. Our study also provides strong evidence that the intermediary metabolism of certain elements is age- and gender-dependent. Zn, Mn, Pb, and Fe contents in hair/nails seem to be strongly associated with chronic depression. We found no statistically significant residence-related differences in the contents of studied elements in nonoccupationally exposed patients and healthy subjects.

Association between Serum Selenium Concentrations and Levels of Proinflammatory and Profibrotic Cytokines—Interleukin-6 and Growth Differentiation Factor-15, in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis

According to some authors, serum selenium levels are strongly associated with the severity of liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the concentration of selenium and pro-inflammatory and profibrotic cytokines—interleukin-6 (IL-6) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The parameters studied were determined in the serum of 99 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis divided based on the severity of disease according to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh criteria. In patients with liver cirrhosis, the serum selenium concentration was statistically lower, whereas serum IL-6 and GDF-15 concentrations were higher than those in the control group. Moreover, the concentration of selenium negatively correlated with the levels of GDF-15 and IL-6. The above results may indicate a role of selenium deficiency in the pathogenesis and progression of alcoholic liver disease.

Iodine in autism spectrum disorders.

OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to assess the iodine status of Polish boys with severe autism compared to their healthy peers and evaluate the relationship between urinary iodine, thyroid hormones, body mass index and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptomatology. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Tests were performed in 40 boys with ASD and 40 healthy boys, aged 2-17 from the same geographic region in Poland. Urinary iodine (UI), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), BMI, and individual symptoms measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were correlated. Validated ion chromatography method with pulsed amperometric detection was applied for the determination of urinary iodine after optimized alkaline digestion in a closed system assisted with microwaves. RESULTS 19 out of 40 children with ASD had mild to moderate iodine deficiency. Statistically significant lower levels of UI, fT3 and fT4 and higher levels of TSH were found in the autistic group when compared with the control group. Concentration of iodine in urine was negatively associated with clinicians general impression for children between 11 and 17 years. Emotional response, adaptation to environmental change, near receptor responsiveness, verbal communication, activity level, and intellectual functioning are more associated with UI than other symptoms listed in CARS. CONCLUSION The severity of certain symptoms in autism is associated with iodine status in maturing boys. Thyroid hormones were within normal reference ranges in both groups while urinary iodine was significantly lower in autistic boys suggesting that further studies into the nonhormonal role of iodine in autism are required.

LiChroprep-nH2 modified with calconcarboxylic acid as a sorbent in trace analysis of metal ions

Two new chelating sorbents for metal ions have been prepared by modification of chemically modified silica, i.e. by treatment of LiChroprep-NH 2 with calconcarboxylic acid (CCA). The molecular mechanism of binding of this reagent by the surface of the carrier is presented. The sorbents are compared with analogous sorbents with a plain silica carrier and chemically modified silicas - LiChroprep-RP containing CCA. The new sorbents are demonstrated to have higher stability than the silica and LiChroprep-RP chelating sorbents. They are used in solid phase extraction (SPE) for additional purification of aqueous solutions of salts of alkali metals from trace amounts of heavy metals and as stationary phase in column extraction chromatography for chromatographic separations of some chosen mixtures of metal ions.

Serum Concentrations of Selected Heavy Metals in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis from the Lublin Region in Eastern Poland

According to the WHO report, alcohol is the third most significant health risk factor for the global population. There are contrary reports about heavy metals concentrations in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of selected heavy metals in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis living in the eastern part of Poland according to cirrhosis stage. The participants came from various hospitals of the Lublin region were enrolled. The study group included 46 male and 16 female patients. The control group consisted of 18 healthy individuals without liver disease. High Performance Ion Chromatography was used to determine the concentrations of metal ions (Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, and Pb) in serum samples. The concentrations of copper, zinc, nickel, and cobalt were found to be significantly lower in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. The serum concentration of cadmium was significantly higher in patients with advanced alcoholic liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. We hypothesize that disorders of metabolism of heavy metals seem to be the outcome of impaired digestion and absorption, which are common in cirrhosis, improper diet, environmental and occupational exposure.

Angiogenic imbalance as a contributor of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is one of the most serious pregnancy - specific medical conditions affecting 3- 6% of all gestations. It remains a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The aetiology of preeclampsia is not fully elucidated yet, although a huge progress has been made in its understanding within the last decade. Numerous studies have provided compelling evidence that an excess of some antiangiogenic molecules released by the placenta to maternal circulation, in particular soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin (sEng) and decreased levels of proangiogenic substances like placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) play a key role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. In this review, we report recent knowledge about possible predictive, diagnostic and therapeutic roles of these pro- and antiangiogenic biomarkers as well as analyzed the background of their use in these fields. Discoveries in the area of circulating factors of angiogenesis are exciting and give promising perspectives for future clinical management of preeclampsia. Currently, it can be difficult, especially in developing countries due to high cost of such studies.