Дисертації з теми "Zinc levels in sputum"

The main purpose of the work reported in this thesis was to investigate and characterise the deep levels in zinc selenide crystals grown from the vapour phase at Durham, and by the CVD technique at AWRE, Aldermaston. The methods of TSC, TSL and DLTS were applied to samples of Durham-grown and CVD ZnSe. The study revealed the presence of traps at 0.14-0.16,0.23, 0.26, 0.30-0.31, 0.45, -0.60 and 0.70 eV in Durham-grown material, whereas the CVD material was found to contain trapping levels at 0.10, 0.20 and 0.27-0.28 eV. The 0.10 eV level in CVD ZnSe is ascribed to the Na acceptor. The traps occurring at 0.26-0.31 eV in both materials are thought to be due to a vacancy-impurity complex. Examination of the CVD material using the EBIC technique in an SEM revealed that the conductivity was limited by electrically-active grain boundaries which were shown to obey a simple potential barrier model. Cathodoluminescence studies showed that the emission bands at 465 nm (edge emission) and 630 nm (copper-red) were quenched at the grain boundaries. A relationship between the absorption coefficient at 10.6 ym and the intensity of the copper-red emission was demonstrated, which has important implications in the production of low absorption zinc selenide for laseroptics.

Experiments were carried out to examine the value of CCS (copper chaperone for CuZn superoxide dismutase) as a novel biomarker of zinc-induced mild copper deficiency and to evaluate the changes in expression of zinc transporters in response to graded levels of moderately high dietary zinc. Weanling male Wistar rats were fed graded levels of zinc (30, 60, 120 and 240 mg zinc/kg diet) for 5 weeks. Results showed a dose-dependent decrease in copper content and an increase in CCS expression in tissues of rats fed the Zn-60 and Zn-120 diets. Surprisingly, rats fed the Zn-240 diet showed better copper status than rats fed the Zn-120 diet. Expression of zinc transporters was significantly upregulated in the small intestine of Zn-240 rats. Collectively, these data show that CCS is responsive to zinc-induced mild copper deficiency, and can serve as a sensitive biomarker of mild copper deficiency. The increased expression of intestinal zinc transporters expression may account for the better copper status of Zn-240 rats.

Heavy metal contamination in food is a worldwide concern. Man-made ponds are domestic sites in the production of Procambarus clarkii and Procambarus zonangulus, two edible species of crayfish. Ponds may be constructed in former sugar cane or rice fields. Crayfish farming is an ancillary seasonal business within the rice-growing season. The use of products to control insects, pests, and weeds in rice and sugar cane production, may cause an accumulation of heavy metals in the crayfish tail within pond structures. Arsenic, cadmium, copper, and zinc are heavy metals that are absorbed through the roots of and distributed through rice products. Metabolites associated with rice products are absorbed in the human body. Research suggests that metabolites associated with heavy metals cause disease in animals and humans.

High levels of Cu and Zn application to agricultural soils are considered to pose a potential hazard to plants and animals. The levels of Cu and Zn which can be safely added to cropland have yet to be established. This study was conducted on a Davidson silty clay (Rhodic Paleudult) to determine the response of corn (Zea mays L.) to cumulative application of up to 469 kg Cu and 1032 kg Zn ha⁻¹ as sulfates over the 22-year period from 1967 through 1988. Neither corn grain nor silage yield was affected by the metal additions even though the cumulative amount of Cu and Zn added exceeded the maximum allowable Cu and Zn loading rates based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines (i.e., 250 kg Cu and 560 kg Zn ha⁻¹) for this soil. The twenty-first annual application of Cu as CuSO₄, increased Cu concentrations in ear leaves. However, Cu concentrations in ear leaves were unaffected by the twenty-second year of Cu application. Concentrations of Zn in ear leaves were increased by the high level of Zn application during the two years of the study. Twenty-first year Cu and Zn concentrations in com grain were not increased by the high levels of Cu and Zn sulfates. All grain and ear leaf Cu and Zn concentrations were within the normal ranges from the high amount of metal application. The DTPA extractable Cu and Zn in the soil increased with an increase in level of applied Cu and Zn. More Cu and Zn were extracted from the soil by the Mehlich-3 method than by the DTPA method. This higher rate of extraction was attributed to the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in the Mehlich-3 solution.
Master of Science

Copper and Zn deficiencies of crop plants occur in various areas throughout the world. The sulfate forms of Cu and Zn are generally used to correct these micronutrient deficiencies. In agricultural practices, Cu and Zn are applied to soils not only as a fertilizer but also as manures, pesticides and waste materials such as sewage sludge. High levels of Cu and Zn application to agricultural soils are considered to pose a potential hazard to plants and animals. Research findings have not established Cu and Zn levels that either injure plants or increase Cu and Zn concentrations in edible plant portions to undesirably high levels. Published data on the fate of applied Cu and Zn indicate that there is little, if any, downward movement of these micronutrients in soils and that, with time, applied Cu and Zn revert to plant unavailable forms in soils.

Master of Science

Limited research has examined the effects that plant-based diets have on copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) absorption and utilization in rainbow trout. Few studies have been conducted to determine if interactions exist in the utilization of Cu when increasing levels of supplementary Zn were offered. The objectives of this research were to: first determine what effect protein source (plant vs. animal based), Cu source (complex vs. inorganic) and concentrations of Cu (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 ppm) in the diet had on rate and efficiency of gain and Cu tissue levels in rainbow trout. The second experiment was to determine if interactions occur due to increasing diet content of Zn (0, 30, 300, 1500 ppm) and Cu provided at two levels (0 or 10 ppm) on tissue levels of Cu in rainbow trout. From experiment one, trout fed plant-based diet had higher (P < 0.05) ADG and improved (P < 0.05) FCR in comparison to fishmeal fed trout. Highest (P < 0.05) hepatic Cu concentrations were also observed in trout fed plant-based diets. No differences (P >0.05) were observed in growth or hepatic concentrations due to Cu source. From experiment two, no antagonistic interactions were observed between increasing levels of dietary Zn and Cu. Trout fed the two highest levels of dietary Zn (300 and 1500 ppm) had the greatest (P < 0.05) weight gains. Dietary Zn supplementation increased (P < 0.05) whole body Cu at 12 wks. With increasing dietary Zn supplementation, resulted in increased (P < 0.05) whole body Zn. Cataracts and tail rot were observed at 12 wks in trout fed the Cu and Zn deficient diet. In conclusion, plant-based diets enhanced Cu bioavailability indicated by higher weight gains and hepatic Cu concentrations in experiment one, compared to trout fed fishmeal-based diets. Cu supplementation is required in a plant-based in order to achieve optimal growth in trout. Results of the second study indicate rainbow trout fed plant-based diets require Zn supplementation to obtain sufficient growth. The highest levels of Zn supplementation did not impair Cu uptake in rainbow trout.

It is hypothesized that exposing endothelial cells to steady or non-reversing pulsatile shear stress produces a healthy, anti-atherogenic endothelium, whereas a reversing pulsatile shear stress promotes an unhealthy, pro-atherogenic endothelium. To further investigate this hypothesis, a novel parallel plate flow chamber system was used to expose human endothelial cells to a pro-atherogenic reversing shear stress waveform designed to simulate the wall shear stress at the carotid sinus, a region prone to atherosclerosis. Cells exposed to this reversing shear stress were compared to cells exposed to high levels of steady shear stress (15 dynes/cm²), low steady shear stress (1 dyne/cm², the time-average of the carotid shear stress), and static culture conditions. Functional analysis confirmed previous findings that reversing shear stress increases cell proliferation and monocyte adhesion. Microarray results indicate that although there are unique sets of genes controlled by both low average shear stress and by reversing flow, more genes were controlled by low average shear stress. We propose that low-time average shear stress, and not fluid reversal/oscillation, may be the more significant mechanical force. The reversing shear stress system was also used to investigate two shear stress-responsive genes, CYP1A1 and CYP1B1. Both were maximally up-regulated at arterial steady shear stresses of at least 15 dynes/cm² and reversing pulsatile shear stress attenuated expression of both genes. Furthermore, AhR nuclear localization and CYP1A1 protein expression correlate with the flow patterns in the mouse aortic arch. The data strongly suggest that the AhR/CYP1 pathway promotes an anti-atherogenic phenotype in the endothelium. Changes in free zinc were measured under different shear stresses. High steady shear stress dramatically increases the levels of free zinc in endothelial cells as compared to cells grown in static culture. This increase in free zinc is attenuated under reversing shear stress and low steady shear stress, which correlates with an increase in zinc-binding metallothinein proteins and zinc exporter Znt-1. Overall, the findings provide further insight into endothelial responses to mechanical forces and may be important in understanding mechanisms of atherosclerotic development and localization to regions of disturbed flow.

Heat stress is a physiologic state where an animal can no longer properly regulate it’s body temperature to prevent hyperthermia. It has been well documented that heat stress can negatively impact feed intake, growth performance, carcass characteristics, gut morphology and integrity in swine. Finishing swine are particularly sensitive to heat stress which costs the U.S. swine industry millions of dollars annually. There are several ways heat challenges can be mitigated to reduce the negative impacts of heat stress during warmer temperatures, one of which being nutrition. Knowing that heat stress alters intestinal barrier function and morphology, we took a holistic approach in assessing how supplementing finishing pigs with an inorganic zinc source and an organic/inorganic zinc blend during cyclic heat stress could potentially improve gut function and thus growth performance and carcass characteristics.

Six hundred cross-bred pigs were housed under thermoneutral (TN) or cycling heat (HS) conditions simulating summer heat with acute 3-day heat waves for a 70-day study. Thermoneutral conditions were 18.9–16.7 °C throughout the study. Heat stress pigs were housed at the same temperature as TN from d 0–18, then increasing temperatures d 18–21 (28 °C/24 °C for 12h:12h, 50.0% humidity) followed by 30 °C/26.7 °C (12h:12h, 52.4% humidity) d 24–70 except during acute heat (32–33 °C/29–30 °C, 12h:12h, 51.5% humidity) on d 21–24, 42–45, and 63–66. Treatments were arranged in a 2×6 factorial with main effects of environment (HS vs. TN) and six dietary zinc supplementations, from either an inorganic (ZnO) or organic (Availa^®Zn) source. Dietary Zn treatments were: 1) 50 mg/kg ZnO; 2) 130 mg/kg ZnO: 3) 50 mg/kg organic Zn; 4) 50 mg/kg ZnO + 40 mg/kg organic Zn; 5) 50 mg/kg ZnO + 60 mg/kg organic Zn; and 6) 50 mg/kg ZnO + 80 mg/kg organic Zn. Pigs (5/pen) were blocked by initial BW (72.2 kg) and randomly allotted to 1 of 12 temperature and diet treatment combinations across 10 replicates. There were 5 rooms per thermal environment, each containing 2 blocks of dietary treatments. Body weight and feed intake were determined at the beginning/end of each acute and chronic heat event. All pigs were ultrasonically scanned at the 10^th rib for loin eye area (LEA) and backfat (BF) to calculate percent lean on d 63. Pigs were marketed on d 64 (TN) and d 71 (HS). Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and gut morphology were analyzed by the MIXED procedure and gene expression was anazlyzed with the GLM procedure in SAS 9.4. At d 63, HS pigs were lighter (124.11 vs. 128.34 kg; P < 0.001), had lower overall ADG (826 vs. 901 g/d; P < 0.001), ADFI (2.740 vs. 3.032 kg/d; P < .001), but tended to have greater G:F (0.301 vs. 0.297; P = 0.1204). A diet by environment interaction was noted for overall ADG ( P = 0.0039) and ADFI (P < 0.001). The interaction is an order of magnitude in the reduction of ADG as a result of diet 5 having only a 3.9% reduction in ADG whereas diet 6 had 14.4% reduction in ADG under HS conditions. Pigs under HS had less BF at the 10th rib (16.9 vs. 18.0 mm; P < 0.001) and a smaller LEA (53.5 vs. 55.2 cm²; P < 0.001), but a greater calculated percent lean (54.6 vs. 54.1%; P = 0.039). Overall, HS pigs used 6.13 L more water per day than TN pigs (P = 0.0007) with the biggest difference in water utilization during the d 42–45 acute heat wave (6.17 vs. 15.6 L/pig/day; P < 0.0001). Cyclic heat stress simulating summer conditions reduced growth performance by approximately 8.3%, resulting in 4 kg lighter pigs after 63d.

To explore how zinc supplementation impacted gut morphology and jejunal gene expression during cyclical HS, one pig/pen (n = 80) from diets 1, 2, 3, and 6 from each environment was harvested on d 65 at the Purdue University meats lab. Intestinal tissue was collected and analyzed for gene expression (heat shock proteins (HSP) 27, 70, and 90, occludin, and mucin-2) and morphology (n = 80). Ileal villi were shorter in HS pigs (P = 0.020) and jejunal HSP70 (P < 0.080) also tended to increase with HS. A 3-way interaction (Environment x Zn Source x Zn Level) was observed for villus height (P < 0.02) and HSP27 (P = 0.05) expression in the jejunum. The villus height 3-way interaction was primarily caused by the 50 mg/kg inorganic Zn treatment increasing villus height under HS and all other treatments decreasing villus height under HS. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)

Inicialmente o presente estudo objetivou avaliar os efeitos de diferentes fontes de cobre e zinco na dieta de leitões desmamados. Porém, houve a necessidade de utilizar as mesmas fontes e alterar apenas os níveis de inclusão desses minerais, o que justifica o título (que não pôde ser substituído posteriormente). Os leitões recém-desmamados apresentam reduzida digestibilidade de nutrientes pela falta de maturidade do sistema digestório frente à dieta sólida, levando à redução na absorção dos mesmos, e consequentemente diarreia e queda no desempenho. Uma das alternativas utilizadas após o desmame, principalmente com a proibição do uso de antibióticos como promotores de crescimento, tem sido os microminerais, principalmente o zinco (Zn) e o cobre (Cu). Dentre as fontes, o óxido de zinco (ZnO) e o sulfato de cobre (CuSO4) são as comumente utilizadas em níveis farmacológicos, 3000 mg/kg e 250 mg/kg, respectivamente devido ao baixo custo e por melhorar o desempenho, a consistência fecal e a manutenção da integridade intestinal. É possível que leitões suplementados com a associação de CuSO4 e níveis reduzidos de ZnO na dieta apresentem desempenho, frequência de dias com diarreia e morfometria intestinal semelhantes aos leitões suplementados com maiores níveis, e que não ocorra interferência na absorção hepática de Cu e na concentração de Zn na tíbia. Assim, o presente estudo avaliou a associação entre o CuSO4 e o ZnO, em níveis reduzidos, sobre o desempenho, a morfometria intestinal, a frequência de dias com diarreia e a concentração desses minerais no fígado e na tíbia de leitões na fase de creche. Utilizaram-se 80 leitões desmamados aos 21 dias de idade distribuídos em 2 tratamentos, de acordo com as fases: Pré-inicial (21 aos 35 dias): T1, 3000 mg/kg ZnO + CuSO4; T2, 2500 mg/kg ZnO + CuSO4; Inicial 1 (35 aos 49 dias): T1, 2500 mg/kg ZnO + CuSO4; T2, CuSO4; e na Inicial 2 (49 aos 63 dias): T1 e T2, 100 mg/kg ZnO + CuSO4, sendo a inclusão de 180 mg/kg CuSO4 em todas as fases. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, sendo a sala e o peso considerados como bloco. A frequência de dias com diarreia foi transformada pela função arco-seno e as características foram submetidas à análise de variância, empregando-se o software SAS (v. 9.3), o nível de significância considerado foi de 5%. Os leitões que receberam menor nível de ZnO apresentaram maior frequência de diarreia dos 35 aos 49 dias de idade (P < 0,05), contudo o desempenho, a morfometria intestinal e a concentração de cobre no fígado foram semelhantes entre os tratamentos. Infere-se que esse resultado foi obtido pela atuação do Zn, Cu e aos cuidados paliativos como o fornecimento de soro via oral e antibioticoterapia terapêutica nos animais com fezes líquidas. Conclui-se que os leitões que receberam reduzida inclusão ZnO, níveis inferiores a 3000 mg/kg, associado a 180 mg/kg de CuSO4 apresentaram maior frequência de dias com diarreia dos 35 aos 49 dias, sem prejuízos no desempenho e na morfometria intestinal, sendo possível a redução de custos e na poluição ambiental.
Initially the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different sources of copper and zinc in the diet of weaned piglets. However, it was necessary to use the same sources and only change the inclusion levels of these minerals, which justifies the title (which couldnt be replaced later). Newly weaned piglets show reduced nutrients digestibility, due to the lack of maturity of the digestive system to the solid diet, leading to a reduction in nutrient absorption and consequently, diarrhea and performance reduction. One of the alternatives used after weaning, especially with the reduction of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters, is the use of microminerals, mainly zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu). Among the sources, zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper sulfate (CuSO4) are commonly used at pharmacological levels, 3000 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively, due to low cost and to improve performance, fecal consistency and maintenance of intestinal integrity. It is possible that piglets supplemented with the association of CuSO4 and ZnO at reduced levels in the diet show performance, diarrhea frequency and intestinal morphology similar to piglets supplemented with higher levels and that there is no interference on Cu hepatic absorption and Zn concentration in tibia. Thus, the present study evaluated the association between CuSO4 and ZnO at reduced levels on performance, intestinal morphology, frequency of days with diarrhea and concentration on the liver and tibia in piglets during the nursery phase. A total of 80 piglets were weaned at 21 days of age divided into 2 treatments according to the following phases: Pre-starter (21 to 35 days): T1, 3000 mg/kg ZnO + CuSO4; T2, 2500 mg/kg ZnO + CuSO4; Starter 1 (35 to 49 days): T1, 2500 mg/kg ZnO + CuSO4; T2, CuSO4; and in the Starter 2 (49 to 63 days): T1 and T2, 100 mg/kg ZnO + CuSO4, with inclusion of 180 mg/kg of CuSO4 in all phases. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with room and weight considered as blocks. The diarrhea frequency was transformed by the sine function and the characteristics were submitted to analysis of variance using SAS software (v. 9.3). The level of significance was 5%. Piglets receiving lower levels of ZnO had greater diarrhea frequency from 35 to 49 days of age (P < 0.05), however performance, intestinal morphology and Cu concentration in the liver were similar between treatments. Infers that this result was obtained by Zn, Cu and palliative care, such as oral serum supply and therapeutic antibiotic therapy in animals with liquid feces. It is conclude that the piglets that received reduced ZnO inclusion, levels below 3000 mg/kg, associated with 180 mg/kg of CuSO4 showed higher frequency of days with diarrhea from 35 to 49 days, with no impairment in performance and intestinal morphology, enabling possible the reduction of costs and environmental pollution.

Induced sputum examination (IS), an established research tool to measure airway inflammation (AI), is normally confined to specialised institutions and selected populations with airway disease, especially asthma. This thesis examines the role of IS in the diagnosis of asthma in a community. The first study explores the accepted definitions of asthma, the utility of IS, and another marker of AI, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), in establishing the diagnosis of asthma. The findings confirm that symptoms, variable airflow obstruction and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) are inter-linked in the definition of asthma. Bronchodilator reversibility (BDR), used traditionally, remains the most specific test to aid a diagnosis of asthma in the community. The results favour a tailored approach in the diagnosis of asthma using BDR initially, then selecting a test, either eNO or IS depending on the clinical scenario. The usefulness of AHR with hypertonic saline to diagnose asthma is equivocal given the moderate sensitivity and poor specificity of the test documented within. If a global assessment of AI is required, an eNO measurement is recommended initially, given its ease of use. Sputum examination is useful in delineating the subtype of AI present. Dyspnoea is a cardinal symptom in asthma. Studies have shown a correlation between AI measured by IS and an altered perception of dyspnoea (POD) in selected subjects with asthma. The aim of the second and third studies was to determine if a similar relationship exists in subjects with and without AHR from a community sample. In both groups, increasing POD was related to worsening lung function and increased BMI. Increased POD was also associated with poorer psychosocial and economic outcomes in subjects with AHR. In the context of previous research, these results illustrate that heightened POD itself, rather than asthma, is associated with these outcomes. Sputum eosinophilia was not associated with an altered POD in subjects with and without asthma. There has been mounting research establishing the role of zinc as an immunomodulator in asthma. Mouse models have demonstrated that zinc deficiency is associated with airway eosinophilia. Two pools of zinc exist in the body: largely fixed, enzyme-bound zinc, and free or labile zinc, the biologically active component. With zinc deficiency, it is the latter pool that is preferentially depleted. Our laboratory has developed a novel method, Zinquin fluorometry, allowing measurement of labile zinc in body fluids. The final two studies demonstrate that IS lends itself to labile zinc measurements. Zinquin fluorometry was optimised to measure free pools of zinc in sputum. It was then used to quantify labile sputum zinc concentrations in subjects with and without asthma. Lower zinc concentrations were found in the sputum of subjects with asthma and a significant association noted between lower zinc concentrations and worsening asthma severity. From a community perspective, these findings suggest that while IS has a limited role in diagnosing asthma, it lends itself to measurement of airway zinc. This work has been conducted in a cross-sectional community cohort where relationships were explored. Ongoing research is required to establish causal links conclusively.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, 2010

The effect of zinc on neuronal systems is growing interest in scientific research due to a possible role as a modulator of synaptic activity. Additionally, recent research points to the therapeutic potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on neuronal cells. These nanoparticles are excellent drug carriers to the brain because, besides having positive characteristics for the protection of cellular homeostasis, they are small, allowing them to pass the blood brain barrier and interact directly within these cells. In this sense, the present thesis explored the effect of sub-toxic ZnO NP concentrations on cell viability and ROS production in SH-SY5Y cells, as well as their impact on the expression levels of PSD-95, SHANK 3 and β-actin proteins. The results showed increases in PSD-95 and SHANK 3 protein expression without variations in β-actin expression after neuronal cell exposure to sub-toxic concentrations and at reduced exposure times to ZnO NPs. Future efforts should be implemented to investigate how this increase may reduce brain impairment associated with neurodegenerative diseases. However, the results here presented have clearly identified some of the synaptic molecular targets of ZnO NPs and that these NPs are worthwhile exploring for their therapeutic potential.
O efeito do zinco nos sistemas neuronais está a aumentar o seu interesse na pesquisa científica devido a um possível papel como modulador da atividade sináptica. Além disso, pesquisas recentes apontam para o potencial terapêutico de nanopartículas de óxido de zinco (ZnO NPs) em células neuronais. Essas nanopartículas são excelentes transportadoras de fármacos para o cérebro porque, além de terem características positivas para a proteção da homeostase celular, são pequenas, permitindo que elas ultrapassem a barreira hematoencefálica e interajam diretamente dentro dessas células. Nesse sentido, a presente tese explorou o efeito de concentrações sub-tóxicas de ZnO NPs na viabilidade celular e produção de ROS em células SH-SY5Y, bem como seu impacto nos níveis de expressão das proteínas PSD-95, SHANK 3 e β-actina. Os resultados mostraram aumentos na expressão das proteínas PSD-95 e SHANK 3, sem variações na expressão da β-actina após a exposição das células neuronais a concentrações sub-tóxicas e em tempos de exposição reduzidos aos ZnO NPs. Esforços futuros devem ser implementados para investigar como esse aumento pode reduzir o comprometimento cerebral associado a doenças neurodegenerativas. No entanto, os resultados aqui apresentados identificaram claramente alguns dos alvos moleculares sinápticos das ZnO NPs e que vale a pena explorar o seu potencial terapêutico.
Mestrado em Biomedicina Molecular

碩士
高雄醫學大學
醫學檢驗生物技術學研究所
100
英文摘要 A diabetes epidemic has emerged during the 20th century. The prevalence of diabetes for all age groups was estimated to be 2.8％ in 2000，and this number will increase to 4.4％ by 2030. Alterations in trace elements have been reported in a number of diseases. Patients with diabetes mellitus are inclined to result in the imbalance of trace elements and elevated oxidative stress markers. Trace elements are well known to play an important role in the maintenance of health. Zinc is essential for normal insulin production, and plays a central role in cellular protection against apoptosis and oxidative stress. Copper is an essential trace element for enzyme systems catalase, superoxide dismutase and cytochrome oxidase and its deficiency can lead to a variety of nutritional and vascular disorders. Vitamin D through its active form 1, 25-dihydroxyviyamin D, is essential for intestinal calcium absorption and plays a central role in maintaining calcium homeostasis and skeletal integrity. Vitamin D deficiency may be also related to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and multiple sclerosis in human. In this study, trace elements and vitamin D in body fluids of type 1 diabetic patients were evaluated. We further explored the possible relationship between trace elements, vitamin D and parameters (duration of the disease, HbA1c, gender, BMI value) of diabetic patients. Part I: The aim of this study was to explore the serum copper and zinc levels in type 1 diabetic patients by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Zinc level was significantly lower than controls, but they failed to reach statistical significance. Copper levels was significantly higher in type 1 diabetic patients when compared with the control groups (p＜0.001). No significant differences were observed while analysimg the relationship between five parameters and trace elements. In summarys, there are no significant correlation between trace elements (Zn﹐Cu) levels and duration of diabetes, HbA1c, gender, BMI values in type 1 diabetic patients. Part II: There were controversial results of serum vitamin D in type 1 diabetic patients. There were still very rare previous literatures concerning serum vitamin D level in diabetic patients by using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We found that our type 1 diabetic patients had significantly higher serum 25(OH)D and 25(OH)D3 levels than that of control groups. There were no significant difference of serum 25(OH)D2 levels in type 1 diabetes and control groups. Our study revealed that 41.5% of type 1 diabetes male patients were 25(OH)D insufficient and 7.3% deficient. In type 1 diabetes female patients, 13.3% were 25(OH)D insufficient and 36.7% were 25(OH)D deficient. There were no correlation between 25(OH)D levels and HbA1c in type 1 diabetes patients. There were also no correlation between 25(OH)D levels and duration of the disease in type 1 diabetes patients. There were no correlation between serum copper, zinc levels and serum 25(OH)D levels in type 1 patients, respectively.

碩士
臺北醫學大學
公共衛生學系
92
Recently, infertility issue is more important to be discussed. In the past 50 years, the trend of the semen quality in globe males is descending. The situation is caused by possible reason including age, environmental factors and lifestyles. In developed countries, environmental factors, lifestyles, smoke habits, alcohol consumption and stress have suggested to play a role in human subfertility. The environmental toxicant which adverse effects on male reproductive function have been extensively studied. As a matter of fact, many metals have been investigated in vivo or vitro, such as lead, zinc, cadmium, magnesium and copper. However, the metals effect upon the male semen qualities is still controversial. The aim of the study is to explore the association between the distribution of metals and male fertility. The study is perormed by case-control study. The subjects are selected from a local medicine university in Taipei. Subfertile men are diagnosed in the division of urology in the hospital. Volunteers are searched from the division of Obstetrics and Gynecology whose wife are pregnancy at the study period. All subjects’ socioeconomic state, habits, job, and history of medicine are collected by questionnaire. The semen samples are processed and examined to determine the sperm count and motility using a Markler Counting Chambers and Computer-aided sperm analysis. The metals concentrations in blood and semen are detected by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The results show that the concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone , luteinizing hormone , and prolactin in the fertile males are lower than the subfertile males, but the concentration of testosterone is reverse. The concentrations of blood lead, selenium, magnesium and semen count, motility, normal morphology percentage among the fertile males and the subfertile males are statistically different. But no correlation could be demonostrated between the concentrations of metals in semen and the male fertility. The multiple logistic regression model displays that amount of smoking habit and lead are hazards for semen quality, but selenium and magnesium are protective factors for male semen quality.

A twelve month pilot plant study was conducted to evaluate the relative ability of various corrosion control treatments to reduce metal leaching from typical household plumbing materials. A pipe loop system with seven loops, each consisting of lead/tin soldered copper piping, coils of lead/tin solder material and brass faucets, was used to test six treatment options and a control. pH and alkalinity were adjusted by the addition of lime (Ca(OH)2) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHC03) respectively, and two different doses of zinc orthophosphate were tested. Treated water samples, that had been left standing in the pipe loop system for a predetermined time period of eight or sixteen hours, were drawn at regular intervals and measured for lead, copper, and zinc. The results led to the following conclusions. There were some small reductions of lead and copper in the pH/alkalinity loops; however, overall, when compared to the control loop, pH/alkalinity treatment appeared to exacerbate metal leaching in standing samples. Metal levels in the treated loops were very unstable, with some spikes of very high concentrations. It is thought that these high spikes were a result of, not just leached metals, but sloughing off the scale that forms during flowing conditions. The instability of the scale may be related to the high variability of the pH that occurred in the treated loops. The control loop which had relatively stable metal concentrations and no episodes of extremely high metal spiking, maintained a relatively stable pH. The zinc orthophosphate showed good results and was consistently effective at reducing lead and copper levels to below that of the control. The two different standing times showed little difference in the levels of metals that were leached into the water from the pH/alkalinity loops and the lower dose zinc orthophosphate loop. The exception to this, however, was the higher dose zinc orthophosphate loop, which had higher copper and zinc levels at the longer standing time.

Sheep breeding is nowadays a developing branch of agriculture again. There is a lot of different breed and they react distinctly on the same conditions of the enviroment. Sheep of breeds charollais, suffolk, šumavská ovce and valaška bred in similar conditions were observed in spring and autumn of years 2007 and 2008. In these seasons were taking blood samples (from {$\pm$}7{--}24) ewes and lambs and were analyzed in hematology laboratory. There were determined haemoglobin level, haematocrit indicator, erytrocytes and leucocytes levels, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides levels, urea and plasmatic proteins, activity of ALP and GMT enzymes, phosphor, calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper levels. The main objective of this project was determine seasonal changes in observed parametres. Next objectives were determine different changes in blood parametres in different breeds and different aimes of breeds. There were recognized that all the observed breeds don`t react the same way on similar conditions. There were not provably determined seasonal changes in observed parametres, but average Hb level was higher in autumn than in spring. Urea level was conversely higher in spring season than in autumn. The demostrable fact is, that the similar conditions induce different answers not only in different breeds but also in different aimes of breeds.