Małgorzata Schlegel-Zawadzka

Alterations in serum and brain trace element levels after antidepressant treatment: part I. Zinc.

We have studied the effect of chronic treatment with imipramine, citalopram and electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on serum and brain zinc levels in rats. Chronic treatment with citalopram (but not with imipramine or ECS) significantly (approx 20%) increased the serum zinc level. Chronic treatment with both drugs slightly (by approx 10%) increase the zinc level in the hippocampus and slightly decreased it in the cortex, cerebellum and basal forebrain. Calculation of the ratio hippocampus/brain region within each group demonstrated a significantly (approx 20%) higher value after treatment with either imipramine or citalopram. Moreover, chronic ECS induced a significant increase (by 30%) in the zinc level in the hippocampus and also a slight increase (by 11–15%) in the other brain regions. Thus, these different antidepressant therapies induced an elevation of the hippocampal zinc concentration, which indicates a significant role of zinc in the mechanism of antidepressant therapy.

Serum zinc level in depressed patients during zinc supplementation of imipramine treatment

BACKGROUND Recurrent major depression is associated with decreased blood zinc concentrations that may be increased by effective antidepressant therapy. Some clinical investigations point to alterations of the zinc level in blood as a potential marker of depression. METHODS A placebo-controlled, double blind study of zinc supplementation to imipramine therapy was conducted on sixty patients fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for major depression (18-55 years old, 40 females, 20 males). Moreover, a group of 25 healthy volunteers was recruited (16 females, 9 males). Blood samples were drawn for the assay of serum zinc once from the control subjects and four times (before, and then 2, 6 and 12 weeks after the beginning of treatment) from the depressed subjects. RESULTS We report that: 1) the serum zinc level was significantly lower (by 22%) in depressed patients than in healthy volunteers, 2) all groups demonstrated a gradual increase in zinc concentrations over the period of imipramine treatment with or without zinc supplementation, 3) treatment-resistant patients demonstrated lower concentrations of zinc (by 14%) than treatment-non-resistant patients, 4) zinc concentrations were higher in zinc-supplemented patients than in placebo-supplemented patients, 5) zinc supplementation increased zinc concentrations over the period of treatment, and 6) at a 12-week imipramine treatment, a significant negative correlation was demonstrated between the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the serum zinc level together with a concomitant increase in serum zinc in patients in remission. CONCLUSIONS Serum zinc is a state marker of depression.

Evaluation of zinc content in children’s hair

The zinc content in the hair of 654 children living in various rural and industrial areas in southern Poland was assayed by means of the atomic absorption spectrometry, following the dry digestion procedure. The hair of girls exhibited statistically significant higher level of Zn than the boys’ hair, although in the site of extremal Zn contamination, the inverse relation was found.

Chromium content in the hair of children and students in Southern Poland

Chromium concentrations in hair were compared in groups of children and students from Southern Poland. There were no statistically significant differences (atp>0.05) between girls and boys. The results are similar to those found by other authors in different countries.

Alterations in serum and brain trace element levels after antidepressant treatment. Part II. Copper

We have studied the effect of chronic treatment with imipramine, citalopram, and electroconvulsive shock (ECS) on serum and brain copper levels in rats. Chronic treatment with citalopram and imipramine (but not ECS) significantly (approx 14%) decreased the serum copper level. Chronic treatment with both drugs did not alter the brain copper level. However, chronic ECS induced a significant increase (by 36%) in the copper level in the hippocampus and also in the cerebellum (by 16%). In contrast to the zinc, where both pharmacologic and ECS treatment increased its hippocampal concentration, these two antidepressant therapy (drugs versus ECS) differ in their effect on brain copper level. These findings suggest that the mechanism by which copper is involved in ECS differs from that of any involvement in the action of the drugs studied.

Pattern recognition methods in evaluation of the structure of the laboratory data biominerals, antioxidant enzymes, selected biochemical parameters, and pulmonary function of welders

A wide set of biochemical and spirometrical parameters was applied to a group of 41 welders. The obtained parameters were analyzed by the pattern recognition method: principal-components analysis (PCA) and mutual contribution analysis (MCA). The aim of the investigation was to find out which of 23 parameters had an influence on the pulmonological indices of COPD. It was found that PCA gave a substantial reduction of dimensionality. The most relevant parameters were Fe, Zn, Cu (all elements in blood, not in hair), FEV1, MEF50, bilirubin, TAS, and SOD. Only the relationships of MEF50, Cu, and TAS were statistically valid.

Characterisation of flour by means of pattern recognition methods

Abstract Samples of 20 varieties of flour were examined for contents of toxic elements (Pb, Cd) and of some macro- and microelements (Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn). Chemical composition of flour and its baking characteristics found in the course of routine analysis were also studied. The relationship between both groups of parameters was assessed by the canonical correlation method.

The disturbances of magnesium in patients with thromboembolic complications after a cholecystectomy

Thrombophlebitis of the lower limbs is an important clinical and social problem. Despite an ever greater progress in the preven1. Patients and Methods tion, diagnosis and treatment of phlebothrombosis its frequency of occurrence increases constantly. 1.1. Selection of Patients A key role is played by the prevalence of the factors that increase the risk of thrombo-embolic diseases, The analysis included 89 patients (75 women and i.e., overweight, varices of the lower limbs, past 14 men) aged 25–69 years operated on at the Clinic thrombophlebitis, old age, past delivery, and also of General Surgery of the Military Hospital in Crasurgical operations. Complications after intervencow in the period 1996–1998 because of cholelithiations are brought about, among others, by longsis. In 53 patients, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy lasting immobility, pressure on the venous trunks, was carried out; in the remaining 34, a laparotomic and catheterization of the veins [1,2]. Durlach [3] cholecystectomy. underlines, as well, that this type of complications is favored by disturbances in the magnesium me1.2. Diagnosis of the tabolism developing after operations. Because this Thrombo-embolic Complications explanation of the etiopathogenesis of the thromboembolic disease has a great practical importance, The thrombo-embolic complications of the lower permitting a self-prophylacticotherapeutic manlimbs were diagnosed on the basis of an isotopic agement, we carried out studies that were aimed test (fibrinogen labeled with I iodine). The examat determining the extent of disturbance of the ination was dependent on the blocking of the thyroid with potassium iodide, administered with a daily quantity 2 cm during the whole period of Abbreviations: TPLL, trombophlebitis of the lower limbs; FAAS, flame atomic absorption spectrometry. the tests, and a single intravenous administration Corresponding author: Assoc. Prof. Zbigniew Kopanski, Military of 4 mBq of I-fibrinogen. Measurements were Clinical Hospital, Department of Surgery, Wroclawska Str. 1-3, made at the Erb point above the heart and at six 30-901 Krakow, Poland. Tel/Fax: 148 (12) 6543949; E-mail: (M. Schlegel-Zawadzka),mfzawadz@kinga.cyf-kr.edu.pl.. points, as detailed below, of both lower limbs, 2 h

Wpływ postaw rodzicielskich na sposób żywienia dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym w Krakowie na tle uwarunkowań socjo-demograficznych

Preschool period is a stage of intensive development of the food preferences and the pro-health attitudes associated with normal eating behaviors and consequently eating habits in adulthood. The aim of the study was to assess eating behaviors of children attending kindergartens in relation to selected socio-economic factors in their families. The study was conducted in a group of 325 children, whose average age was 5.23 ±1.30 years, attending nine kindergartens in Krakow. The questionnaire was filled in by 51.4% (N = 167) of parents of boys and 48.6% (N = 158) of girls. To conduct qualitative assessment of nutrition habits the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used with addition of questions regarding the socio-economic situation of the surveyed families. Differences in selected dietary behaviors of children were evaluated by gender, family income and parents’ educational level. The study indicates the existence of the relationship between food-related behaviour of preschool children and parents’ education level and family income. The resulting image of dietary behaviours of children in the study group has identified numerous anomalies that require an active and ongoing nutrition education for children and their parents.

The disturbances of the zinc concentration in the blood in selected neoplasms

A study was carried out on 92 patients (58 males and 34 females) aged 42–76 treated for malignant neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract (54 patients with colorectal carcinoma, 38 with gastric carcinoma). In all patients, the zinc serum concentration was measured and the results obtained were referred to some epidemiological-clinical factors (sex, age, primary cause of cancer, the stage of clinical progression, and histological type). The results showed that the most pronounced hypozincemia occurred in male patients with mucous membrane carcinoma of the stomach.