Tarek Elnimr

Assessment of trace elements levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes using multivariate statistical analysis

The trace elements metabolism has been reported to possess specific roles in the pathogenesis and progress of diabetes mellitus. Due to the continuous increase in the population of patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D), this study aims to assess the levels and inter-relationships of fast blood glucose (FBG) and serum trace elements in Type 2 diabetic patients. This study was conducted on 40 Egyptian Type 2 diabetic patients and 36 healthy volunteers (Hospital of Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt). The blood serum was digested and then used to determine the levels of 24 trace elements using an inductive coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Multivariate statistical analysis depended on correlation coefficient, cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to analysis the data. The results exhibited significant changes in FBG and eight of trace elements, Zn, Cu, Se, Fe, Mn, Cr, Mg, and As, levels in the blood serum of Type 2 diabetic patients relative to those of healthy controls. The statistical analyses using multivariate statistical techniques were obvious in the reduction of the experimental variables, and grouping the trace elements in patients into three clusters. The application of PCA revealed a distinct difference in associations of trace elements and their clustering patterns in control and patients group in particular for Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn that appeared to be the most crucial factors which related with Type 2 diabetes. Therefore, on the basis of this study, the contributors of trace elements content in Type 2 diabetic patients can be determine and specify with correlation relationship and multivariate statistical analysis, which confirm that the alteration of some essential trace metals may play a role in the development of diabetes mellitus.

Heroin dependence effects on some major and trace elements.

In this study, 56 (14 control and 42 addicts) adult human subjects of both sexes of different periods of heroin dependence were subjected to the measurement of whole blood, serum, and red blood cell levels of some trace elements (zinc, managanese, iron copper, and bromine), as well as some major elements (phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, potassium, and chlorine). This was done by the energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique, in which copper and bromine showed a significant rise in whole blood (male) (22 and 32%, respectively), while zinc, iron, manganese, calcium, sulfur phosphorus, potassium, and chlorine showed a significant drop (49, 8, 25, 34, 21, 51, 61 and 72%, respectively) in proportion to the period of heroin intake (6 yr) and in comparison with the control group. No significant sexual variation has been reported.

Effect of γ-radiation on some elements in certain organs of albino rats

Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to determine the concentrations of Ca, Cl, Fe, Ni, P, K, Se, S, and Zn in heart, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney of adult albino rats 2 mo after they were subject to a single gamma γ-radiation dose from60Co at 5 gy.In female rats, K levels were significantly higher and the Ca levels significantly lower for the irradiated animals when compared to age-matched nonirradiated controls. Significant differences between irradiated and nonirradiated tissues were observed for other elements, although no sex-related differences could be found.Tissue damage and disturbances of biological functions were observed as a result of γ-irradiation.

Factors affecting the distribution of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in the coastal Burullus Lake.

In the present study, measurements of naturally occurring radioactive materials and (137)Cs activity in sediment were conducted for locations covering the entire Burullus Lake in order to gather information about radionuclides mobility and distribution. Low-background γ-spectrometry was employed to determine the activity concentrations of water and sediment samples. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra and (232)Th are close to uniform distribution in the lake environment. Among the different physical and chemical characteristics measured for water and sediment, only salinity and total organic matter content have the potential to affect the mobility of (137)Cs and (40)K. The results suggest that these two radionuclides are attached to different mobile particulates. Increasing salinity tends to strengthen the adsorption of (137)Cs and solubilization of (40)K in sediment. On the other hand, sediment with high organic matter content traps (137)Cs and (40)K associated particulates to bottom sediment.

Effect of salinity on the concentrations of radioisotopes in the aquatic environment of a hypersaline coastal lagoon

Research of the effect of salinity on the fate of radionuclides has been focused on seas or estuarine systems while there is almost no information on marine environments with a salinity higher than that of sea water. The hypersaline Bardawil lagoon is a concentration basin, with evaporation exceeding precipitation. This study presents the characteristics of some environmental factors including salinity and their influence on the distribution of natural and artificial radionuclides in different compartments of the lagoon. The concentrations of 238U, 234Th, 228Ra and 137Cs in sediments show some degree of dependency on the waters salinity. Migration of these radionuclides in the lagoons sediments must take place from high salinity to low-salinity regions. Cluster analysis revealed the data structure for sediment by separating 137Cs and 40K from 232Th, 226Ra, and 234Th and for sand by separating 40K from the other radioisotopes.

CRITICAL EVALUATING FOR FIVE DIGESTION METHODS USING ICP - MS

The metals Al, As, B, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Ru, Sn, V and Zn and the non - metal Se are considered ‘‘trace elements’’(TE) because of their essentiality and very limited quantity in humans . Therefore, this study aims to understand the heavy metal contents in human biological materials, using different digestion methods and to recommend the most appropriate digestion method making this me asurement. Three reference m aterials from different so urces were selected to be digested by five method s to determine the contents of these trace elements by ICP - MS. The five digestion methods were nitric acid, nitric acid - hydrogen peroxide , nitric - sulfuric acid, nitric – perchloric acid and sulfuric acid m ethods. Analytical results indicated that the nitric acid procedure was the most efficient for recovering Br, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn from most certified reference materials. The sulfuric acid procedure yielded the lowest recovery of Pb f rom the certified reference material . The nitric acid procedure was recommended as the method for digesting the human biological materials samples herein, based on recovery analysis, cost and time taken. Nitric – perchloric acid procedure was not recommended because perchloric acid is potentially hazardous during digestion and it recovers relatively little heavy metal.

Development and characterization of multifunctional electrospun ferric oxide-gelatin-glycerol nanofibrous mat for wound dressing applications

In this study, we developed optimal multifunctional electrospun wound dressings possessing an antibacterial activity and rich in iron, a vital trace element for cell growth. Therefore, synthetic ferric oxide nanoparticles (α-Fe2O3 NPs) were ultrasonically dispersed into preheated gelatin-glycerol solution. A variety of techniques (X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential thermal analysis (DTA), in-vitro swelling-degradation studies and antibacterial tests) were used to characterize the electrospun mats. The results highlight that α-Fe2O3 NPs could be successfully dispersed into the electrospun gelatin nanofibers. The electrospun ferric oxide-gelatin-glycerol nanofibrous mats revealed free beads nanofibers with appropriated swelling-degradation behavior. It was observed that addition of α-Fe2O3 NPs enhanced the antibacterial activity of electrospun mats against positive and negative bacteria.

Assessment of elemental and NROM/TENORM hazard potential from non-nuclear industries in North Sinai, Egypt.

Non-nuclear industries use raw materials containing significant levels of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). The processing of these materials may expose workers engaged in or even people living near such sites to technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) above the natural background. Inductively coupled plasma and gamma ray spectrometry have been used to determine major and trace elements and radionuclide concentrations in various samples, respectively, in order to investigate the environmental impact of coal mining and cement plant in North Sinai, Egypt. Generally, very little attention was directed to the large volumes of waste generated by either type of industrial activities. Different samples were analyzed including various raw materials, coal, charcoal, Portland and white cement, sludge, and wastes. Coal mine and cement plant workers dealing with waste and kaolin, respectively, are subjected to a relatively high annual effective dose. One of the important finding is the enhancement of all measured elements and radionuclides in the sludge found in coal mine. It may pose an environmental threat because of its large volume and its use as combustion material. The mine environment may have constituted Al, Fe, Cr, and V pollution source for the local area. Higher concentration of Al, Fe, Mn, B, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr, V, and TENORM were found in Portland cement and Zn in white cement. Coal has higher concentrations of Al, Fe, B, Co, Cr, and V as well as 226Ra and 232Th. The compiled results from the present study and different worldwide investigations demonstrate the obvious unrealistic ranges normally used for 226Ra and 232Th activity concentrations in coal and provided ranges for coal, Portland and white cement, gypsum, and limestone.

Inter-relations between habitual abortion and lead levels in venous blood, abortuses, and drinking water in Egyptian women

In Egypt, one of the main sources of lead exposure is a network of lead pipes used for water supply. Adverse effects of high lead exposure are well known. Many studies have focused on the health effects of low blood lead levels after sharp decline of its exposure levels. Currently, there is a growing concern about threats posed on pregnancy outcomes among women with low to moderate blood lead levels. Aim of the work This study was conducted to evaluate the role of contaminated water as one source of multifactorial lead exposure chain, and to be acquainted if the currently observed lead levels are associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion in pregnant women in Egypt. Patients and Methods This study was conducted at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tanta University Hospital from January to September 2012. The participants were 26 pregnant female with history of habitual abortion in early pregnancy (8-14 weeks) who presented by dilated cervix with bleeding, non-pulsating fetal node on ultrasound, and/or decreasing beta-HCG level. Results The results of this study revealed significant positive correlations between drinking-water lead with both blood lead and abortus lead levels in cases of abortion. Each woman with unexplained spontaneous abortion should be subjected to blood lead estimation. Primary prevention by removing lead from the environment is the only pathway to avoid threats posed on pregnancy outcome since there is no effective remedy to remove lead from the body at levels below 30 μg/dl.