Determination of zinc and copper in urine using Zeeman effect flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

Dietary selenium- and vitamin E-induced alterations in some rabbit tissues

The present study was designed to investigate and compare the effects of dietary selenium (Se) and vitamin E on some physiological parameters and histological changes in liver, heart, and skin tissues, as well as the blood parameters and the related enzymes. Both sex young rabbits were fed with deficient (9.8 micrograms/kg diet), adequate (225 micrograms/kg diet), and rich (4.2 mg/kg diet) Se and vitamin E diets for 12-15 wk for this purpose. As the plasma Se levels and the erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) peroxidase activity decreased (79.8 +/- 9.4 ng/mL and 2.0 +/- 0.3 U/g Hb, respectively) in the deficient group, these values increased (100.4 +/- 2.7 ng/mL and 14.5 +/- 4.3 U/g Hb) in the rich group significantly with respect to the control group. The other antioxidant enzyme activities and the related element levels did not change significantly in either one of the experimental groups. Although the platelet counts of the two experimental groups were not different from the control values, the collagen and the adenosine diphosphate (ADP) stimulated platelet aggregation rate and intensity increased in the deficient group (p < 0.05) and decreased very significantly (p < 0.001) in the rich group. In both of the experimental groups, as the percentage values of the neutrophils decreased, the lymphocytes and the eosinophils increased significantly. According to the light microscopic investigations, the observed lesions of considerable intensity within the tissues that elicit cell degenerations were more pronounced in the animals fed with the rich diet than in those fed with the deficient diet. The deficiency as well as toxicity of Se and the deficiency of vitamin E caused several alterations in the physiological functions of the tissues, and these alterations were supported by the histological lesions within these tissues.

Chronic lead poisoning treated with dimercaptosuccinic acid

A 54-year-old male with chronic lead poisoning was treated with 2.3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). A daily dosage of 30 mg/kg body weight for three days and 20 mg/kg for four days resulted in a decrease of the blood-lead concentration (B-Pb) from 3.7 to 0.7 mumol/l; the total amount of lead excreted in the urine during the first seven 24 hr periods was 75 mumol. After the treatment, B-Pb slowly increased to 3.3 mumol/l. A second treatment was then initiated and resulted in similar changes in B-Pb. However, during the third treatment, the patient developed a mucocutaneous vesicular flare; the eruptions faded after cessation of the chelation therapy, but could be provoked by DMSA doses of 10 mg/kg and above. Despite the small number of treatment courses, the patient showed obvious mental improvement and reported less headache and improved memory. Thus, DMSA is an efficient chelator that results in a rapid, though temporary decrease in B-Pb. Although oral treatment with this chelator may be supervised from the out-patient clinic, careful monitoring for potential side effects is recommended.