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Dustri-Verlag
Volume 23, No. 3/2006(3rd Quarter)
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Report
Trace Elements in Hessia Report of the 6th Workshop on Trace Elements and Electrolytes – AKTE 2/2004, Wiesbaden, Germany, November 13, 2004
R. Mücke, J. Büntzel, K. Kisters and O. Micke
0
4$
Abstract
R. Mücke, J. Büntzel, K. Kisters and O. Micke
Abstracts
NA
0
4$
Abstract
Letter to the Editor
Adiponectin, magnesium and arterial stiffness
K. Kisters, H. Liebscher, B. Gremmler and M. Hausberg
0
4$
Abstract
K. Kisters, H. Liebscher, B. Gremmler and M. Hausberg
Laudations
Laudatio for Prof. Dr. Manfred Anke
K. Kisters, U. Sch
145
8$
Abstract
Prof. Dr. Manfred Anke was born on September 26th, 1931 in Altenhain, Saxony. He received his early professional training at the Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena majoring in Agricultural Sciences and Chemistry.
After receiving his Ph.D. degree in 1959 he remainded in Jena to continue research on the roles of essential and toxic trace elements in animal nutritition and was promoted to the position of Lecturer in 1967. In the subsequent years his research led him to investigate the effects of dietary cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, copper, chromium, zinc, and iron. In 1970 he was appomted to the Department of Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine in Jena, a subsidiary of Karl-Marx-University, Leipzig, where he became an Associate Professor in 1979. Anke published numerous papers on the role of trace minerals in animal nutrition. In 1975 and 1977 he organized international symposia on magnesium and cadmium, in 1980 on nickel and arsenic, and in 1983 on lithium. He is also the author, with M. Risch, of the book Haaranalyse und Spurenelement-Status (Hair Analysis and Trace Element Status), published in 1979 by VEB Gustav Fischer, Jena. This book is regarded to be an authoritative treatise of the subject. In 1983 he received Klaus Schwarz Award from the University of California in San Diego, USA.
During the past ten years, his Macro and Trace Elements Workshop at Jena, Germany changed from a national to a famous international event. In 2000, 75 % of the contributions to this workshop were from foreign experts coming from thirty different countries.
He is also a doctor honoris causae, of Brno, Czech Republic, 1995, Banater University Timisoara, Romania 2000, University of Ceske Budejorice, Czech Republic. In 2004 he became member of the Royal National Academy Madrid, Spain.
K. Kisters, U. Sch
Prof. Dr. Manfred Anke was born on September 26th, 1931 in Altenhain, Saxony. He received his early professional training at the Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena majoring in Agricultural Sciences and Chemistry.
After receiving his Ph.D. degree in 1959 he remainded in Jena to continue research on the roles of essential and toxic trace elements in animal nutritition and was promoted to the position of Lecturer in 1967. In the subsequent years his research led him to investigate the effects of dietary cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, copper, chromium, zinc, and iron. In 1970 he was appomted to the Department of Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine in Jena, a subsidiary of Karl-Marx-University, Leipzig, where he became an Associate Professor in 1979. Anke published numerous papers on the role of trace minerals in animal nutrition. In 1975 and 1977 he organized international symposia on magnesium and cadmium, in 1980 on nickel and arsenic, and in 1983 on lithium. He is also the author, with M. Risch, of the book Haaranalyse und Spurenelement-Status (Hair Analysis and Trace Element Status), published in 1979 by VEB Gustav Fischer, Jena. This book is regarded to be an authoritative treatise of the subject. In 1983 he received Klaus Schwarz Award from the University of California in San Diego, USA.
During the past ten years, his Macro and Trace Elements Workshop at Jena, Germany changed from a national to a famous international event. In 2000, 75 % of the contributions to this workshop were from foreign experts coming from thirty different countries.
He is also a doctor honoris causae, of Brno, Czech Republic, 1995, Banater University Timisoara, Romania 2000, University of Ceske Budejorice, Czech Republic. In 2004 he became member of the Royal National Academy Madrid, Spain.
Laudations
A life for Trace Elements – Tribute to Manfred Anke
M. Seifert and O. Micke
146
20$
Abstract
The number of essential mineral and trace elements, which are indispensable for life, exceeds the number of vitamins or amino acids that are essential to the diet. Over the last half century, several elements have been shown to play a key role at nearly every step of the entire life process, and the name Manfred Anke is closely associated with the discovery of trace element essentiality. When he was born in 1931, only a few elements were known to support animal and plant life, i.e. iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, iodine, phosphorus, calcium, copper, magnesium and manganese provided evidence of mineral and trace element essentiality. For the next 7 decades, scientists wondered why out of all the elements of the periodic table, which were available to living organisms during the course of evolution, only about 1/3 were selected as essential and the rest rejected as unessential or even as positively detrimental to life. Today, more than 25 elements are considered to be essential or possibly essential to biological functions. Last but not least we owe this to Manfred Anke.
After finishing his school education in Chemnitz and Zwickau in Saxony, Manfred Anke decided to study agricultural sciences at the University of Jena, Thuringia; later on he added chemistry to his curriculum, and he earned his doctorate in 1959 with a thesis on trace element content (Fe, Mn, Cu, Mo, Co) of grassland and forage crops and deficiency symptoms of dairy cows. This was the beginning of an incalculable but highly fruitful scientific course. Consequently, he achieved in 1967 his lecturer qualification with a thesis on the macro- and trace element content of hair as an indicator for trace element supply.
During the subsequent years his research led him to investigate the effects of dietary cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, zinc and iron, as to mention only few elements, mainly by means of absorption studies with isotopes. Furthermore, he deepened knowledge of element content in flora and fauna and their relation to the geological origin of the soil.
In 1970, he received a call to the Department of Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine at Jena, a subsidiary of Karl Marx University Leipzig, where he was appointed Associate Professor in 1980. The objective of the new research undertaken by Manfred Anke was to investigate the importance of trace (and ultratrace) elements for adequate growth, reproduction and health of plants and animals. Essentiality and function of an element has proceeded along multiple routes, however, he chose to study animals deficient in specific elements using the purified diet as a tool. As a consequence, he could claim to provide evidence of arsenic and lithium essentiality for goats in 1976 and 1981, respectively (Figures 1, 2) [O’Dell and Sunde 1997]. Then he decided to present his scientific work in the field of trace element to an interdisciplinary audience and organized numerous international meetings over the years: on magnesium (1976), cadmium (1979), arsenic and nickel (1980), lithium and trace elements (1983), iodine and trace elements (1986), and on molybdenum, vanadium and trace elements (1989), which was followed by the World Congress on “Trace Elements in Man and Animals – TEMA 8" in Dresden (1993) [Anke et al. 1993].
However, the mere mention of the name Manfred Anke brings to mind his most famous activity, which was organizing and conducting the annual meeting “Mengen- und Spurenelemente, Arbeitstagung”, held in Jena from 1981 – 2000 every year and after that biannually in 2002 and 2004. Originally planned as a compensation for the very limited possibilities of scientists from Eastern Germany to attend international congresses and to publish in international scientific journals, the meeting grew continuously every year. After German reunification, the workshop became an all-German event, resulting in an international contribution of 75% and more from foreign experts of over 30 different countries in the last years. Recently, a scientists stated that “current publications in many fields of study tend to make little or no reference to early work” and that the field of trace elements “is no exception” [Beavington 2000]. Therefore, it is remarkable that the extent of all 22 proceedings of “Mengen- und Spurenelemente” embraces approximately 2,000 authors and more than 16,000 pages, dealing with virtually all elements of the periodic table of elements [Seifert et al. 2000].These proceedings can be classified not only as scientific textbooks but as historical documents in the field of trace element research.
The scientific work of Manfred Anke has been recognized outside of Germany, too. In 1983 he received the Klaus Schwarz Medal from the University of California, which is awarded in recognition of contributions to biological trace element research. The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic, awarded him an honorary doctorate (Dr. medicinae veterinariae honoris causa) in 1995, and in 2000, he received another Dr. h.c. from the Banat Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine University in Timisoara, Romania. Of course, he was also honored by a lot of scientific memberships, for example, he became a member of the Parent Committee “Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA)”, member of the Board of Directors of “International Society of Trace Element Research in Humans (ISTERH)” and member of the Board of Directors of the “International Council for Control on Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD)”. In 1999, he was granted full membership of the “Akademie gemeinnütziger Wissenschaften zu Erfurt”, and in 2004, he became a member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain.
In 1996, Manfred Anke retired. However, because he was always ready to sacrifice his own interests for the collective benefit, a personality trait he demonstrated throughout his life, he continued to work for a while in an academic context as a lecturer and tutor of several doctoral theses. Since reunification of Germany in 1989, as many as 20 scientists of his lab were awarded their doctorate. The last 15 years of his activity were strongly shaped by his interest in the transfer of elements in the food chain from soil to plants, animals and humans. From 1998 – 2004, Manfred Anke (and co-workers) contributed several full articles to the journal Trace Elements and Electrolytes [Arnhold et al. 1998a, 1998b, Glei et al. 1998, Röhrig et al. 1998, Seifert and Anke 1999, Schäfer et al. 2004, Seifert et al. 2000] as well as some abstracts in 2005 [Anke et al. 2005, González et al. 2005, Schäfer and Anke 2005] within the field of element transfer in the food chain and element toxicology and/or essentiality. One of his working hypotheses was that it is likely that calculating metal intake overestimates the real trace element ingestion, which he proved in fact for a number of elements [Anke 2004].
Manfred Anke’s complete publication list is most impressive and comprises hundreds of original contributions, reviews and conference proceedings. His Opus Magnum Elements and Their Compounds in the Environment, was published in 2004. This handbook, which he wrote together with M. Ihnat and M. Stoeppler, comprises all aspects of occurrence, analysis and biological relevance of elements in nature [Anke et al. 2004].
In the last few years, he kept up his relationship to the oncological sciences by regularly attending and lecturing at the annual meeting of the German Working Group on Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Oncology [Micke et al. 2005b]. He invited leading experts of the field to the annual meetings in Jena. This focus on interdisciplinary exchange leaded to a mutual stimulation of both trace elements research and oncological sciences [Büntzel et al. 2004a, 2004b, Micke et al. 2000, 2005a,b].
We will celebrate Manfred Anke’s 75th birthday on September 26, 2006. He deserves his place amongst the most renowned pioneers and authorities in trace element research – may he contribute to progress of trace element research for many more years to come!
M. Seifert, Bundesforschungsanstalt für Ernährung
und Lebensmittel, Detmold, and
O. Micke, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie
Franziskus Hospital, Bielefeld, Germany
M. Seifert and O. Micke
The number of essential mineral and trace elements, which are indispensable for life, exceeds the number of vitamins or amino acids that are essential to the diet. Over the last half century, several elements have been shown to play a key role at nearly every step of the entire life process, and the name Manfred Anke is closely associated with the discovery of trace element essentiality. When he was born in 1931, only a few elements were known to support animal and plant life, i.e. iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, iodine, phosphorus, calcium, copper, magnesium and manganese provided evidence of mineral and trace element essentiality. For the next 7 decades, scientists wondered why out of all the elements of the periodic table, which were available to living organisms during the course of evolution, only about 1/3 were selected as essential and the rest rejected as unessential or even as positively detrimental to life. Today, more than 25 elements are considered to be essential or possibly essential to biological functions. Last but not least we owe this to Manfred Anke.
After finishing his school education in Chemnitz and Zwickau in Saxony, Manfred Anke decided to study agricultural sciences at the University of Jena, Thuringia; later on he added chemistry to his curriculum, and he earned his doctorate in 1959 with a thesis on trace element content (Fe, Mn, Cu, Mo, Co) of grassland and forage crops and deficiency symptoms of dairy cows. This was the beginning of an incalculable but highly fruitful scientific course. Consequently, he achieved in 1967 his lecturer qualification with a thesis on the macro- and trace element content of hair as an indicator for trace element supply.
During the subsequent years his research led him to investigate the effects of dietary cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, zinc and iron, as to mention only few elements, mainly by means of absorption studies with isotopes. Furthermore, he deepened knowledge of element content in flora and fauna and their relation to the geological origin of the soil.
In 1970, he received a call to the Department of Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine at Jena, a subsidiary of Karl Marx University Leipzig, where he was appointed Associate Professor in 1980. The objective of the new research undertaken by Manfred Anke was to investigate the importance of trace (and ultratrace) elements for adequate growth, reproduction and health of plants and animals. Essentiality and function of an element has proceeded along multiple routes, however, he chose to study animals deficient in specific elements using the purified diet as a tool. As a consequence, he could claim to provide evidence of arsenic and lithium essentiality for goats in 1976 and 1981, respectively (Figures 1, 2) [O’Dell and Sunde 1997]. Then he decided to present his scientific work in the field of trace element to an interdisciplinary audience and organized numerous international meetings over the years: on magnesium (1976), cadmium (1979), arsenic and nickel (1980), lithium and trace elements (1983), iodine and trace elements (1986), and on molybdenum, vanadium and trace elements (1989), which was followed by the World Congress on “Trace Elements in Man and Animals – TEMA 8" in Dresden (1993) [Anke et al. 1993].
However, the mere mention of the name Manfred Anke brings to mind his most famous activity, which was organizing and conducting the annual meeting “Mengen- und Spurenelemente, Arbeitstagung”, held in Jena from 1981 – 2000 every year and after that biannually in 2002 and 2004. Originally planned as a compensation for the very limited possibilities of scientists from Eastern Germany to attend international congresses and to publish in international scientific journals, the meeting grew continuously every year. After German reunification, the workshop became an all-German event, resulting in an international contribution of 75% and more from foreign experts of over 30 different countries in the last years. Recently, a scientists stated that “current publications in many fields of study tend to make little or no reference to early work” and that the field of trace elements “is no exception” [Beavington 2000]. Therefore, it is remarkable that the extent of all 22 proceedings of “Mengen- und Spurenelemente” embraces approximately 2,000 authors and more than 16,000 pages, dealing with virtually all elements of the periodic table of elements [Seifert et al. 2000].These proceedings can be classified not only as scientific textbooks but as historical documents in the field of trace element research.
The scientific work of Manfred Anke has been recognized outside of Germany, too. In 1983 he received the Klaus Schwarz Medal from the University of California, which is awarded in recognition of contributions to biological trace element research. The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic, awarded him an honorary doctorate (Dr. medicinae veterinariae honoris causa) in 1995, and in 2000, he received another Dr. h.c. from the Banat Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine University in Timisoara, Romania. Of course, he was also honored by a lot of scientific memberships, for example, he became a member of the Parent Committee “Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA)”, member of the Board of Directors of “International Society of Trace Element Research in Humans (ISTERH)” and member of the Board of Directors of the “International Council for Control on Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD)”. In 1999, he was granted full membership of the “Akademie gemeinnütziger Wissenschaften zu Erfurt”, and in 2004, he became a member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain.
In 1996, Manfred Anke retired. However, because he was always ready to sacrifice his own interests for the collective benefit, a personality trait he demonstrated throughout his life, he continued to work for a while in an academic context as a lecturer and tutor of several doctoral theses. Since reunification of Germany in 1989, as many as 20 scientists of his lab were awarded their doctorate. The last 15 years of his activity were strongly shaped by his interest in the transfer of elements in the food chain from soil to plants, animals and humans. From 1998 – 2004, Manfred Anke (and co-workers) contributed several full articles to the journal Trace Elements and Electrolytes [Arnhold et al. 1998a, 1998b, Glei et al. 1998, Röhrig et al. 1998, Seifert and Anke 1999, Schäfer et al. 2004, Seifert et al. 2000] as well as some abstracts in 2005 [Anke et al. 2005, González et al. 2005, Schäfer and Anke 2005] within the field of element transfer in the food chain and element toxicology and/or essentiality. One of his working hypotheses was that it is likely that calculating metal intake overestimates the real trace element ingestion, which he proved in fact for a number of elements [Anke 2004].
Manfred Anke’s complete publication list is most impressive and comprises hundreds of original contributions, reviews and conference proceedings. His Opus Magnum Elements and Their Compounds in the Environment, was published in 2004. This handbook, which he wrote together with M. Ihnat and M. Stoeppler, comprises all aspects of occurrence, analysis and biological relevance of elements in nature [Anke et al. 2004].
In the last few years, he kept up his relationship to the oncological sciences by regularly attending and lecturing at the annual meeting of the German Working Group on Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Oncology [Micke et al. 2005b]. He invited leading experts of the field to the annual meetings in Jena. This focus on interdisciplinary exchange leaded to a mutual stimulation of both trace elements research and oncological sciences [Büntzel et al. 2004a, 2004b, Micke et al. 2000, 2005a,b].
We will celebrate Manfred Anke’s 75th birthday on September 26, 2006. He deserves his place amongst the most renowned pioneers and authorities in trace element research – may he contribute to progress of trace element research for many more years to come!
M. Seifert, Bundesforschungsanstalt für Ernährung
und Lebensmittel, Detmold, and
O. Micke, Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie
Franziskus Hospital, Bielefeld, Germany
Originals
Oral intake of aluminum from foodstuffs, food additives, food packaging, cookware and pharmaceutical preparations with respect to dietary regulations
U. Schäfer and M. Seifert
150
52$
Abstract
Background: Aluminum (Al) and its compounds are used in a wide variety of industrial and modern lifestyle products as well as in several food additives and medical preparations. Due to elevated industrial and medical exposures of Al, which may lead to large increases in systemic Al, it became a potentially chronic toxicant to various human tissues. Objective: Against this background, the aim of the present study was to compare Al intake data worldwide and to assess its toxicological relevance to healthy adults and to susceptible groups of the population. Content in foodstuffs: Generally, in Germany, foodstuffs vary largely in their Al concentration ranging from about 1,000 mg/kg dry matter, DM (black tea leaves) via about 100 – 200 mg/kg DM (vegetables, herbs, spices) and about 20 – 40 mg/kg DM (table salt, meat, coffee, fruits, potatoes, cocoa) to about 10 mg/kg DM (sugar, bread, rice, dairy products, fish, legumes, flours). Dietary intake: It has been calculated that adults in the USA consume 2 – 25 mg Al daily, with 1 – 10 mg from natural sources (foods, beverages, drinking water), 0 – 20 mg from food additives, and 0 – 2 mg from cooking utensils. The worldwide mean Al intake typically ranges from 2 – 17 mg/day, with a lower range of 1 mg Al/day naturally present in diets, whereas in some countries (Sweden, USA) the upper range of Al present in foods is about 100 mg daily, due to foods prepared with Al-containing additives. In the USA, restaurant pancakes were found to contain even up to 180 mg Al per serving. In Germany, the mean daily Al intake from all three sources amounted to 3 and 4 mg for adult subjects on a mixed and vegetarian diet, respectively. Dietary regulations: The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of the FAO/WHO is 0 – 7 mg/kg body weight equivalent to 0 – 1 mg/kg body weight and day. In the Member States of the European Union, the limit value for Al in drinking water has been set at 0.2 mg/l. In Germany, the use of Al-containing food additives is permitted for definite foods and specific purposes only, mostly to a limited extent. Intake from pharmaceutical preparations: The amount of Al taken by individuals as Al-containing pharmaceutical preparations (antacids, analgesics, anti-ulceratives, phosphate binders) is reported to be 126 – 5,000 mg daily. Conclusions: In Germany, the mean daily Al intake of 3 – 4 mg is about 5% of the upper range of the PTWI value, whereas in Sweden and the USA, the mean daily Al intake of 13 mg and 14 mg, respectively, is about 20% of this value. In both countries, the individual intake of 100 mg Al/day from foods prepared with Al-containing additives may exceed it by about 50%; in the USA, a pancake serving with 180 mg Al may exceed it even by 180%.Correspondence to:
Dr. U. Schäfer
Institute of Nutrition
Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Dornburger Straße 24
07743 Jena, Germany
Email: ulrich.schaefer@uni-jena.de
U. Schäfer1 and M. Seifert2
1Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 2Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food, Institute for Biochemistry of Cereals and Potatoes, Detmold, Germany Background: Aluminum (Al) and its compounds are used in a wide variety of industrial and modern lifestyle products as well as in several food additives and medical preparations. Due to elevated industrial and medical exposures of Al, which may lead to large increases in systemic Al, it became a potentially chronic toxicant to various human tissues. Objective: Against this background, the aim of the present study was to compare Al intake data worldwide and to assess its toxicological relevance to healthy adults and to susceptible groups of the population. Content in foodstuffs: Generally, in Germany, foodstuffs vary largely in their Al concentration ranging from about 1,000 mg/kg dry matter, DM (black tea leaves) via about 100 – 200 mg/kg DM (vegetables, herbs, spices) and about 20 – 40 mg/kg DM (table salt, meat, coffee, fruits, potatoes, cocoa) to about 10 mg/kg DM (sugar, bread, rice, dairy products, fish, legumes, flours). Dietary intake: It has been calculated that adults in the USA consume 2 – 25 mg Al daily, with 1 – 10 mg from natural sources (foods, beverages, drinking water), 0 – 20 mg from food additives, and 0 – 2 mg from cooking utensils. The worldwide mean Al intake typically ranges from 2 – 17 mg/day, with a lower range of 1 mg Al/day naturally present in diets, whereas in some countries (Sweden, USA) the upper range of Al present in foods is about 100 mg daily, due to foods prepared with Al-containing additives. In the USA, restaurant pancakes were found to contain even up to 180 mg Al per serving. In Germany, the mean daily Al intake from all three sources amounted to 3 and 4 mg for adult subjects on a mixed and vegetarian diet, respectively. Dietary regulations: The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of the FAO/WHO is 0 – 7 mg/kg body weight equivalent to 0 – 1 mg/kg body weight and day. In the Member States of the European Union, the limit value for Al in drinking water has been set at 0.2 mg/l. In Germany, the use of Al-containing food additives is permitted for definite foods and specific purposes only, mostly to a limited extent. Intake from pharmaceutical preparations: The amount of Al taken by individuals as Al-containing pharmaceutical preparations (antacids, analgesics, anti-ulceratives, phosphate binders) is reported to be 126 – 5,000 mg daily. Conclusions: In Germany, the mean daily Al intake of 3 – 4 mg is about 5% of the upper range of the PTWI value, whereas in Sweden and the USA, the mean daily Al intake of 13 mg and 14 mg, respectively, is about 20% of this value. In both countries, the individual intake of 100 mg Al/day from foods prepared with Al-containing additives may exceed it by about 50%; in the USA, a pancake serving with 180 mg Al may exceed it even by 180%.Correspondence to:
Dr. U. Schäfer
Institute of Nutrition
Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Dornburger Straße 24
07743 Jena, Germany
Email: ulrich.schaefer@uni-jena.de
Originals
Exposure, bioavailability, distribution and excretion of aluminum and its toxicological relevance to humans
U. Schäfer and G. Jahreis
162
44$
Abstract
Background: Anthropogenic aluminum (Al) sources (acidification of soil and water, atmospheric release of dissolved and particulate Al) increase Al concentration in the chain soil-plant-animal-man. Furthermore, the particular physical and chemical properties of Al are extensively used in the production of industrial and modern lifestyle materials and also in the production of food additives, medical preparations and cosmetics. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of Al by different routes of uptake and to assess its toxic potential to healthy humans and to susceptible groups of the population. Exposure: Although Al is the most abundant metallic element on earth, its concentration in air, water and in human body fluids and tissues is normally low. However, anthropogenic sources can increase environmental and occupational exposure to humans, and also medical preparations can represent a high Al exposure. Toxicity: Elevated industrial and medical exposure of Al may lead to accumulation of systemic Al and cause toxicity to the respiratory, central nervous, skeletal and hematopoietic systems. Bioavailability: Parenterally administered Al from allergy immunotherapy, hemodialysis fluids, and total parenteral nutrition solutions leads to 100, 25, and 100% of assumed Al bioavailability, respectively. Also intramuscularly injected Al from vaccines appears to result in complete absorption. Due to the effective absorption barriers of gut, lung and skin, the absorption rates via the oral, inhalational and dermal routes are with 0.1 – 0.3%, 1.5 – 2%, and about 0.01% considerably lower, respectively. Transport: About 90% of plasma Al are bound to transferrin, 7% occur as citrate, and less than 1% as phosphate and hydroxide. However, citrate forming a small molecular weight complex with Al enhances its distribution and elimination more rapidly as compared to transferrin-bound Al. Distribution: The skeleton, lung and brain contain about 50, 25, and 1% of the total body Al (30 – 50 mg), respectively. In humans with dialysis encephalopathy, Al concentrations of brain and bone are about 10- and 85-fold higher, respectively, compared to healthy subjects. Excretion: More than 99% of the orally ingested Al are eliminated via feces. Of the small amounts of Al absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, more than 95% are excreted in the urine. Al clearance from bone is more rapid than from brain. Regulations: In Germany, the MAK value for Al (metal), Al oxide and Al hydroxide has been set at 1.5 mg/m3 as the concentration of the respirable fraction in the workplace air and the BAT value for Al in urine has been established at 200 mg/l. The European Communities have adopted a resolution concerning the protection of dialysis patients by limiting Al concentrations in the relevant solutions. Conclusions: With an extremely high oral exposure of up to 5 g daily and an assumed absorption rate of 0.1%, antacids and phosphate binders have the potential to produce the greatest increase of absorbed Al among all Al sources, i.e. an increase by up to 80 mg/kg body weight and day. Thus, oral and parenteral Al administration may involve a high risk of Al accumulation and intoxication particularly in uremic subjects.Correspondence to:
Dr. U. Schäfer
Institute of Nutrition
Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Dornburger Straße 24
07743 Jena, Germany
Email: ulrich.schaefer@uni-jena.de
U. Schäfer and G. Jahreis
Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany Background: Anthropogenic aluminum (Al) sources (acidification of soil and water, atmospheric release of dissolved and particulate Al) increase Al concentration in the chain soil-plant-animal-man. Furthermore, the particular physical and chemical properties of Al are extensively used in the production of industrial and modern lifestyle materials and also in the production of food additives, medical preparations and cosmetics. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of Al by different routes of uptake and to assess its toxic potential to healthy humans and to susceptible groups of the population. Exposure: Although Al is the most abundant metallic element on earth, its concentration in air, water and in human body fluids and tissues is normally low. However, anthropogenic sources can increase environmental and occupational exposure to humans, and also medical preparations can represent a high Al exposure. Toxicity: Elevated industrial and medical exposure of Al may lead to accumulation of systemic Al and cause toxicity to the respiratory, central nervous, skeletal and hematopoietic systems. Bioavailability: Parenterally administered Al from allergy immunotherapy, hemodialysis fluids, and total parenteral nutrition solutions leads to 100, 25, and 100% of assumed Al bioavailability, respectively. Also intramuscularly injected Al from vaccines appears to result in complete absorption. Due to the effective absorption barriers of gut, lung and skin, the absorption rates via the oral, inhalational and dermal routes are with 0.1 – 0.3%, 1.5 – 2%, and about 0.01% considerably lower, respectively. Transport: About 90% of plasma Al are bound to transferrin, 7% occur as citrate, and less than 1% as phosphate and hydroxide. However, citrate forming a small molecular weight complex with Al enhances its distribution and elimination more rapidly as compared to transferrin-bound Al. Distribution: The skeleton, lung and brain contain about 50, 25, and 1% of the total body Al (30 – 50 mg), respectively. In humans with dialysis encephalopathy, Al concentrations of brain and bone are about 10- and 85-fold higher, respectively, compared to healthy subjects. Excretion: More than 99% of the orally ingested Al are eliminated via feces. Of the small amounts of Al absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, more than 95% are excreted in the urine. Al clearance from bone is more rapid than from brain. Regulations: In Germany, the MAK value for Al (metal), Al oxide and Al hydroxide has been set at 1.5 mg/m3 as the concentration of the respirable fraction in the workplace air and the BAT value for Al in urine has been established at 200 mg/l. The European Communities have adopted a resolution concerning the protection of dialysis patients by limiting Al concentrations in the relevant solutions. Conclusions: With an extremely high oral exposure of up to 5 g daily and an assumed absorption rate of 0.1%, antacids and phosphate binders have the potential to produce the greatest increase of absorbed Al among all Al sources, i.e. an increase by up to 80 mg/kg body weight and day. Thus, oral and parenteral Al administration may involve a high risk of Al accumulation and intoxication particularly in uremic subjects.Correspondence to:
Dr. U. Schäfer
Institute of Nutrition
Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Dornburger Straße 24
07743 Jena, Germany
Email: ulrich.schaefer@uni-jena.de
Originals
Sodium selenite in gynecologic radiation oncology – results of a prospective randomized observation study
R. Mücke, M. Glatzel, B. Reichl, R. Bernd-Skorka, J. Büntzel, F. Bruns, K. Kisters, F.J. Prott and O. Micke
173
24$
Abstract
Background: The aim of this prospective observation study was to evaluate, whether sodium selenite is able to compensate a preexisting selenium deficiency in adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for pelvic gynecologic malignancies. Further, we proved the use of sodium selenite in the prevention of radiation induced diarrhoea. Patients and methods: Whole blood selenium levels were measured in patients undergoing adjuvant RT after curative surgical resection of a pelvic gynecologic tumor before RT, after completing 50% of RT, at the end of RT and six weeks after RT depending on the supplementation of sodium selenite in the verum group till the end of RT. Data were calculated for the patients who completed the study protocol. From 12/2000 to 12/2005 77 patients (median age: 65 years) completed the protocol. Results: All patients with histologically proven squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix or corpus had decreased whole blood selenium levels. There is a significant increase of the mean level of whole blood selenium in the supplementation group reaching the lower border of the normal range and a decrease after cessation of selenium intake. In the control group we could not see any change of investigated mean selenium levels. Concerning diarrhoea, there has been a statistically significant difference between the study groups towards a lower incidence of diarrhea CTC 1/2 in week 5 with selenium supplementation (u-test, p=0.03). With a median follow up of 24 months (1-60) the actuarial 4 year overall survival rate of patients with supplementation of selenium was 96% compared to the control group with 71.6% (p = 0.1102). Conclusion: Our first data may serve as evidence for a successful selenium supplementation during radiotherapy of gynecological tumors. Selenium does not diminish the cytotoxic effect of radiation treatment.Correspondence to:
PD Dr. O. Micke
Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie
Franziskus Hospital
Kiskerstraße 26
33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Email: strahlenklinik@web.de
R. Mücke1,10, M. Glatzel2,10, B. Reichl3, R. Bernd-Skorka4, J. Büntzel5,10, F. Bruns6,10, K. Kisters7,10, F.J. Prott1 and O. Micke8,9,10
1Strahlentherapie am St. Josefs-Hospital Wiesbaden, 2Zentralklinikum Suhl, Klinik für Strahlentherapie, Suhl, 3Klinikum Weiden, Abteilung für Strahlentherapie, Radioonkologie und Nuklearmedizin, Weiden, 4Klinikum Neubrandenburg, Klinik für Strahlenther Background: The aim of this prospective observation study was to evaluate, whether sodium selenite is able to compensate a preexisting selenium deficiency in adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for pelvic gynecologic malignancies. Further, we proved the use of sodium selenite in the prevention of radiation induced diarrhoea. Patients and methods: Whole blood selenium levels were measured in patients undergoing adjuvant RT after curative surgical resection of a pelvic gynecologic tumor before RT, after completing 50% of RT, at the end of RT and six weeks after RT depending on the supplementation of sodium selenite in the verum group till the end of RT. Data were calculated for the patients who completed the study protocol. From 12/2000 to 12/2005 77 patients (median age: 65 years) completed the protocol. Results: All patients with histologically proven squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix or corpus had decreased whole blood selenium levels. There is a significant increase of the mean level of whole blood selenium in the supplementation group reaching the lower border of the normal range and a decrease after cessation of selenium intake. In the control group we could not see any change of investigated mean selenium levels. Concerning diarrhoea, there has been a statistically significant difference between the study groups towards a lower incidence of diarrhea CTC 1/2 in week 5 with selenium supplementation (u-test, p=0.03). With a median follow up of 24 months (1-60) the actuarial 4 year overall survival rate of patients with supplementation of selenium was 96% compared to the control group with 71.6% (p = 0.1102). Conclusion: Our first data may serve as evidence for a successful selenium supplementation during radiotherapy of gynecological tumors. Selenium does not diminish the cytotoxic effect of radiation treatment.Correspondence to:
PD Dr. O. Micke
Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie
Franziskus Hospital
Kiskerstraße 26
33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Email: strahlenklinik@web.de
Originals
Selenium as radioprotector in head and neck cancer patients – first clinical results
J. Büntzel, M. Glatzel, K. Kisters, R. Mücke, F. Bruns, K. Schönekaes und O. Micke
178
16$
Abstract
Objective: A majority of radiotherapy patients is using complementary and alternative methods during anti-cancer treatment in order to improve the quality of life during this period. We investigate the influence of selenium substitution on the treatment toxicity (radiochemotherapy) in the group of head and neck cancer patients. Material and methods: 31 patients received concomittant radiochemotherapy (2 Gy Single dose, 60 Gy total dose, Week 1 and 5 with daily carboplatin 70 mg/m2 about 5 days) because of their squamous cell carcinoma of the ENT region. All patients had performed primary surgery of the basic tumor and the regional lymph nodes. Additionally the patients got sodium selenite orally (1,000 mg on the days of radiochemotherapy and 500 mg an the days of radiotherapy alone). Results: We observed severe mucositis in 7/31 (22%), severe xerostomia in 8/31 (26%), and resulting severe dysphagia in 2/31 (6%) of all patients. The Karnofsky performance status decreased from mean 85.5% to 30.4% at the end of radiochemotherapy. The median survival time was 21 month (range 2 – 62 month) after primary treatment. Conclusion: This first pilot investigation has shown decreased incidences and grades of typical toxicities as mucositis and xerostomia if selenium was substituted during the anticancer therapy. Further investigations are necessary to support this hypothesis.Correspondence to:
Dr. J. Büntzel
Department of Otolaryngology
Südharzkrankenhaus Nordhausen
Dr.-Robert-Koch-Strasse 39
99734 Nordhausen, Germany
Email: Jens.buentzel@shk.ndh.de
J. Büntzel, M. Glatzel, K. Kisters, R. Mücke, F. Bruns, K. Schönekaes und O. Micke
AKTE e.V., Bielefeld, Germany Objective: A majority of radiotherapy patients is using complementary and alternative methods during anti-cancer treatment in order to improve the quality of life during this period. We investigate the influence of selenium substitution on the treatment toxicity (radiochemotherapy) in the group of head and neck cancer patients. Material and methods: 31 patients received concomittant radiochemotherapy (2 Gy Single dose, 60 Gy total dose, Week 1 and 5 with daily carboplatin 70 mg/m2 about 5 days) because of their squamous cell carcinoma of the ENT region. All patients had performed primary surgery of the basic tumor and the regional lymph nodes. Additionally the patients got sodium selenite orally (1,000 mg on the days of radiochemotherapy and 500 mg an the days of radiotherapy alone). Results: We observed severe mucositis in 7/31 (22%), severe xerostomia in 8/31 (26%), and resulting severe dysphagia in 2/31 (6%) of all patients. The Karnofsky performance status decreased from mean 85.5% to 30.4% at the end of radiochemotherapy. The median survival time was 21 month (range 2 – 62 month) after primary treatment. Conclusion: This first pilot investigation has shown decreased incidences and grades of typical toxicities as mucositis and xerostomia if selenium was substituted during the anticancer therapy. Further investigations are necessary to support this hypothesis.Correspondence to:
Dr. J. Büntzel
Department of Otolaryngology
Südharzkrankenhaus Nordhausen
Dr.-Robert-Koch-Strasse 39
99734 Nordhausen, Germany
Email: Jens.buentzel@shk.ndh.de
Originals
Scavenging of free radicals and the late toxicity of radiochemotherapy in head and neck cancer patients
J. Büntzel, M. Glatzel, R. Mücke, F. Bruns, K. Kisters and O. Micke
181
24$
Abstract
Objective: We analyzed the late toxicity due to multimodal therapy of advanced head and neck cancers. The impact of cytoprotection with amifostine is the specific objective of this report. Methods: We included 851 patients (717 men, 134 women) with head and neck cancer into this prospective study. 519/851 had received amifostine before radio(chemo)therapy, 332 control subjects had not got any kind of cytoprotection before irradiation. A primary radiochemotherapy was performed in 282 patients, an adjuvant radiation was administered in 569 patients. The follow-up examination was done at our out-door department 21.4 months (median, range 2.3 – 149) after the primary therapy. Results: Late xerostomia was seen in 765/851 patients (89.9%). Altered taste was reported by 284/851 (33.5%). These symptoms were reduced significantly by amifostine. No influence were seen in interstitial lymph edema (48,4%) and stenosis of cervical esophagus (20.4%). Secondary symptoms like dysphagia (78.8%) were also reduced in trend. Conclusions: The administration of amifostine offers a opportunity to reduce selected long-time toxicity for survivors of head and neck cancer.Correspondence to:
Dr. J. Büntzel
Department of Otolaryngology
Südharzkrankenhaus Nordhausen
Dr.-Robert-Koch-Strasse 39
99734 Nordhausen, Germany
Email: Jens.buentzel@shk-ndh.de
J. Büntzel1,3, M. Glatzel2,3, R. Mücke3, F. Bruns3, K. Kisters3 and O. Micke3
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Südharzkrankenhaus Nordhausen gGmbH, Nordhausen, 2Department of Radiooncology, Zentralklinikum Suhl, Germany, 3German Working Group “Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Oncology” (AKTE) Objective: We analyzed the late toxicity due to multimodal therapy of advanced head and neck cancers. The impact of cytoprotection with amifostine is the specific objective of this report. Methods: We included 851 patients (717 men, 134 women) with head and neck cancer into this prospective study. 519/851 had received amifostine before radio(chemo)therapy, 332 control subjects had not got any kind of cytoprotection before irradiation. A primary radiochemotherapy was performed in 282 patients, an adjuvant radiation was administered in 569 patients. The follow-up examination was done at our out-door department 21.4 months (median, range 2.3 – 149) after the primary therapy. Results: Late xerostomia was seen in 765/851 patients (89.9%). Altered taste was reported by 284/851 (33.5%). These symptoms were reduced significantly by amifostine. No influence were seen in interstitial lymph edema (48,4%) and stenosis of cervical esophagus (20.4%). Secondary symptoms like dysphagia (78.8%) were also reduced in trend. Conclusions: The administration of amifostine offers a opportunity to reduce selected long-time toxicity for survivors of head and neck cancer.Correspondence to:
Dr. J. Büntzel
Department of Otolaryngology
Südharzkrankenhaus Nordhausen
Dr.-Robert-Koch-Strasse 39
99734 Nordhausen, Germany
Email: Jens.buentzel@shk-ndh.de
Originals
Changes in serum trace element levels during cardiopulmonary bypass and its effects on myocardial damage
M.K. Demirag and H.T. Keçeligil
186
32$
Abstract
Aim: Inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) continues to be a significant problem today. Material and method: A total of 40 patients who had undergone arterial bypass under elective conditions were included in the study. Of all patients, 32 were male (80%) and 8 were female (20%). Mean age was 62.50 ± 1.95 (range 45, min 36 – max 81). 36 patients (90%) had triple vessel disease and 4 patients had (10%) double vessel disease. 14 patients (35%) had previously undergone angioplasty or stent operations. Two patients (5%) had Canada Class I, 25 patients had (62.5%) Class II, 12 patients had (30%) Class III and 1 patient had (2.5%) Class IV functional capacity. Results: The number of bypass grafts applied on the patients was 3.27 ± 0.12 in average. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass duration was 113 ± 3.93 min. The mean aortic cross-clamp (ACC) duration was 75.4 ± 3.99 min. Operative mortality was 2.5%. Serum copper (Cu) values, which had been measured as 0.83 ± 0.01 mg/ml in average preoperatively, increased throughout the operation and reached its peak value (1.36 ± 0.02 mg/ml) at the end of CPB. Despite the drastic fall in serum copper level in the first 24 hours, it reached its normal blood value on the fifth day following the operation. Serum zinc (Zn) value, which had been 1.06 – 0.02 mg/ml preoperatively, showed a dramatic fall in the first 30 min of the CPB and reached 0.65 ± 0.01 mg/ml (p < 0.001). Serum zinc level gradually decreased throughout the CPB and reached its lowest level at the end of the operation. It reached its normal blood value on the fifth day following the operation. Serum CPKMb mass value gradually increased throughout the CPB and reached its peak value at the end of the operation. It fell to its normal blood value on the third day following the operation. Discussion: Trace element changes occurring during the cardiopulmonary bypass have been found to be closely related with myocardial ischemia.Correspondence to:
Prof. H.T. Keçeligil, MD
Ondokuz Mayis University
Faculty of Medicine
Cardiovascular Surgery Department
55139, Samsun, Turkey
Email: htkeceligil@yahoo.com
M.K. Demirag and H.T. Keçeligil
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey Aim: Inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) continues to be a significant problem today. Material and method: A total of 40 patients who had undergone arterial bypass under elective conditions were included in the study. Of all patients, 32 were male (80%) and 8 were female (20%). Mean age was 62.50 ± 1.95 (range 45, min 36 – max 81). 36 patients (90%) had triple vessel disease and 4 patients had (10%) double vessel disease. 14 patients (35%) had previously undergone angioplasty or stent operations. Two patients (5%) had Canada Class I, 25 patients had (62.5%) Class II, 12 patients had (30%) Class III and 1 patient had (2.5%) Class IV functional capacity. Results: The number of bypass grafts applied on the patients was 3.27 ± 0.12 in average. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass duration was 113 ± 3.93 min. The mean aortic cross-clamp (ACC) duration was 75.4 ± 3.99 min. Operative mortality was 2.5%. Serum copper (Cu) values, which had been measured as 0.83 ± 0.01 mg/ml in average preoperatively, increased throughout the operation and reached its peak value (1.36 ± 0.02 mg/ml) at the end of CPB. Despite the drastic fall in serum copper level in the first 24 hours, it reached its normal blood value on the fifth day following the operation. Serum zinc (Zn) value, which had been 1.06 – 0.02 mg/ml preoperatively, showed a dramatic fall in the first 30 min of the CPB and reached 0.65 ± 0.01 mg/ml (p < 0.001). Serum zinc level gradually decreased throughout the CPB and reached its lowest level at the end of the operation. It reached its normal blood value on the fifth day following the operation. Serum CPKMb mass value gradually increased throughout the CPB and reached its peak value at the end of the operation. It fell to its normal blood value on the third day following the operation. Discussion: Trace element changes occurring during the cardiopulmonary bypass have been found to be closely related with myocardial ischemia.Correspondence to:
Prof. H.T. Keçeligil, MD
Ondokuz Mayis University
Faculty of Medicine
Cardiovascular Surgery Department
55139, Samsun, Turkey
Email: htkeceligil@yahoo.com
Originals
Studies on the neurotoxicity of arsenic in rats in different exposure timing schemes
A. Szabó, Z. Lengyel, A. Lukács and A. Papp
193
28$
Abstract
Arsenic has long been recognized as human poison and, more recently, as an essential micronutrient. Here, the effects of low-level arsenic exposure on the central and peripheral nervous system functions were studied in rats, in a 4-8-12-week subchronic exposure scheme, and in a 3-generation scheme involving treatment of the parents and the offspring. From the rats, spontaneous and evoked activity of the sensory cortical areas, and compound action potential from the tail nerve, was recorded in urethane anesthesia, then dissection with organ weight measurement was done. Body weight gain of the treated animals did not differ significantly from the control. There were, however, dose-dependent changes in the weight of the liver and other organs. Latency of the cortical-evoked potentials increased in the treated rats in both schemes. The change was significant after long exposure times and in the higher dose groups. A shift of the spontaneous cortical activity to higher frequencies was also observed, with similar dose- and time dependence. Low-level arsenic affected the behavioral and electrophysiological functions in the brain, indicating that long-lasting arsenic exposure can result in manifest alteration of the central and peripheral nervous system. Consequently, arsenic-exposed populations may have a higher risk of behavioral and functional neurotoxic effects and potentially be an additive to the neurotoxicity of other environmental xenobiotics.Correspondence to:
Dr. A. Szabó
Department of Public Health
University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine
Dóm tér 10.
6720 Szeged, Hungary
Email: szaboa@puhe.szote.u-szeged.hu
A. Szabó, Z. Lengyel, A. Lukács and A. Papp
Department of Public Health, University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine, Szeged, Hungary Arsenic has long been recognized as human poison and, more recently, as an essential micronutrient. Here, the effects of low-level arsenic exposure on the central and peripheral nervous system functions were studied in rats, in a 4-8-12-week subchronic exposure scheme, and in a 3-generation scheme involving treatment of the parents and the offspring. From the rats, spontaneous and evoked activity of the sensory cortical areas, and compound action potential from the tail nerve, was recorded in urethane anesthesia, then dissection with organ weight measurement was done. Body weight gain of the treated animals did not differ significantly from the control. There were, however, dose-dependent changes in the weight of the liver and other organs. Latency of the cortical-evoked potentials increased in the treated rats in both schemes. The change was significant after long exposure times and in the higher dose groups. A shift of the spontaneous cortical activity to higher frequencies was also observed, with similar dose- and time dependence. Low-level arsenic affected the behavioral and electrophysiological functions in the brain, indicating that long-lasting arsenic exposure can result in manifest alteration of the central and peripheral nervous system. Consequently, arsenic-exposed populations may have a higher risk of behavioral and functional neurotoxic effects and potentially be an additive to the neurotoxicity of other environmental xenobiotics.Correspondence to:
Dr. A. Szabó
Department of Public Health
University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine
Dóm tér 10.
6720 Szeged, Hungary
Email: szaboa@puhe.szote.u-szeged.hu
Originals
Influences of ascorbic acid on interaction between endothelin-1 and oxidative-nitrosative stress markers
G. Ozelci Kavas and P. Aribal Kocaturk
199
28$
Abstract
Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid before exogenous endothelin-I administration on oxidative-nitrosative stress markers and trace element concentrations. Material: Wistar-Albino male rats, 9 – 10 weeks old, with mean body weight of 295 g were used in the study. Systolic blood pressures were recorded by tail plethysmography. For the determination of plasma total nitrite, nitrite, nitrate and MDA concentrations and red cell Cu-Zn/SOD and catalase activities spectrophotometry was used. Plasma and red cell zinc and copper concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Method: After a training period daily systolic blood pressures of both the control (n = 10) and the experimental groups (n = 15) were recorded by tail plethysmography. Following ascorbic acid treatment for 3 days in maximum dose (100 mg/kg/day), exogenous endothelin-I was administered (1 nmol/kg) and systolic blood pressures were recorded. Results: The results showed that plasma total nitrite, nitrate, copper, zinc concentrations, red cell catalase activity, copper, zinc concentrations and systolic blood pressure and heart rates were increased statistically in the experimental group compared to controls. However, red cell superoxide dismutase activity was decreased significantly compared to controls. As reported in our other study, the increase in systolic blood pressure was not as high as in the group administered endothelin-I only. Conclusions: Ascorbic acid administration has affected the interaction between exogenous endothelin-I and oxidative-nitrosative stress markers.Correspondence to:
P. Aribal Kocaturk, MD, PhD
Fizyopatoloji Bilim Dali
Morfoloji Binasi
Ankara Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi
Sihhiye 06100, Ankara, Turkey
Email: kocaturk@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
G. Ozelci Kavas and P. Aribal Kocaturk
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid before exogenous endothelin-I administration on oxidative-nitrosative stress markers and trace element concentrations. Material: Wistar-Albino male rats, 9 – 10 weeks old, with mean body weight of 295 g were used in the study. Systolic blood pressures were recorded by tail plethysmography. For the determination of plasma total nitrite, nitrite, nitrate and MDA concentrations and red cell Cu-Zn/SOD and catalase activities spectrophotometry was used. Plasma and red cell zinc and copper concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Method: After a training period daily systolic blood pressures of both the control (n = 10) and the experimental groups (n = 15) were recorded by tail plethysmography. Following ascorbic acid treatment for 3 days in maximum dose (100 mg/kg/day), exogenous endothelin-I was administered (1 nmol/kg) and systolic blood pressures were recorded. Results: The results showed that plasma total nitrite, nitrate, copper, zinc concentrations, red cell catalase activity, copper, zinc concentrations and systolic blood pressure and heart rates were increased statistically in the experimental group compared to controls. However, red cell superoxide dismutase activity was decreased significantly compared to controls. As reported in our other study, the increase in systolic blood pressure was not as high as in the group administered endothelin-I only. Conclusions: Ascorbic acid administration has affected the interaction between exogenous endothelin-I and oxidative-nitrosative stress markers.Correspondence to:
P. Aribal Kocaturk, MD, PhD
Fizyopatoloji Bilim Dali
Morfoloji Binasi
Ankara Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi
Sihhiye 06100, Ankara, Turkey
Email: kocaturk@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
