[en] Three methods for extracellular water (ECW) estimation via analysis of the corrected bromine space (CBS) are presented. The methods are based on the application of stable bromine as an indicator and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). The content of stable bromine can be determined in samples of ulna vein blood and daily urine (the first method) as well as in microsamples of finger blood (the second method) and mixed non-stimulated saliva (the third method). The precision and accuracy of the methods were compared using the results of both repeated analysis and CBS estimation by different procedures including the routine method with ⁸²Br as indicator. A device for XRF with a Si(Li) detector and ¹⁰⁹Cd sources was developed for bromine determination in biological fluids

[en] Full text: Senile osteoporosis and particularly osteoporosis among postmenopausal women represents an urgent problem of modern medicine. One of the main osteoporosis symptoms is a decrease in both bone mineral density and subsequent bone strength. The upper extremity of the femur in humans is a particularly vulnerable section of the skeleton, being subject to fracture and necrosis and to destruction of its cartilage. Iliac crest biopsies are commonly taken clinically on patients. It is known that the control of the mineral component providing bone strength is a good indicator to detect bone diseases like osteoporosis. Despite this, changes of chemical element contents occurring with age in the femoral head and the iliac crest of female and male separately have been little studied, but in iliac cortical bone have not been studied at all. The effect of age and sex on chemical element contents in intact cortical bone of femoral neck and iliac crest of 81 relatively healthy 15-55 years old women (n=36) and men (n=45) was investigated. All subjects had died suddenly and bone samples were obtained at necropsy from the right side of bodies within twenty-four hours after death. A tool made of titanium and plastic was used to clear samples from soft tissues and blood and to cut cortical part of bone. The IAEA and NIST reference materials (H-5 animal bone and SRM1486 bone meal) were used to estimate the precision and accuracy of results. Contents of Ca, Cl, K, Mg> Mn, Na, P, and Sr in intact bone samples were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis using short-lived radionuclides. Our means data for each element of reference materials were within the certified 95 % confidence interval, and indicate an acceptable accuracy of the obtained results. No age- and sex-related differences in the cortical femoral neck composition were detected. Mean values (M±S.E.M.) of Ca, Cl, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and Sr mass fractions (on dry weight basis) for female and male all together were: 23.0±0.4%, 1170 + 60 μg/g, 620±40 ng/g, 2740±70 μg/g, <0.43±0.02 μg/g, 5090±90 μg/g, 10.7±0.3%, and 260±18 μg/g respectively. Mean values (M±S.E.M.) of Ca, Cl, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and Sr mass fractions (on dry weight basis) in cortical iliac crest for female and male all together were: 20.8±0.3%, 1390±55 μg/g, 746±41 μg/g, 2070±65 μg/g, <0.36±0.02 μg/g, 5590±1200 μg/g, 9.53±1.7%, and 308+18 μg/g respectively. The contents of elements such as Ca, Mg, and P in the cortical iliac crest tend to decrease with age to a certain degree for both women and men. This tendency is more pronounced for men. Sex-related comparison did not show any differences in Ca, Cl, Mg, Mn, Na, and Sr mass fractions. Statistical little significant (p≤0.05, t-test) higher mass fraction of P in the female and K in the male cortical iliac crest was found only. The Ca, P, and Mg mass fractions of cortical femoral neck are statistical significant higher (p<0.001) than these element mass fractions of cortical iliac crest. From the other hand, the Cl, K, and Na mass fractions of cortical iliac crest are statistical significant higher (p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively) than these element mass fractions of cortical femoral neck. The Ca, P, and Mg contents determine the level of bone mineralization. The Cl, K, and Na contents depend more from the bone organic matrix. The comparison of cortical femoral and iliac element contents show that the level of bone mineralization and demineralization depends from the physical load. Usually a human femur is under a body mass pressure for a big part of day, but iliac crest never

[en] Here presented is the programme to study bone characteristics of healthy men and women aged 20-54 comprising the urban population of Moscow and nearby cities to define those of normal population. The study will also include patients with characteristics for early osteoporosis symptoms. The latter includes subjects who took part in the Chernobyl clean-up operation. DEXA (spine, femoral neck, whole body) and ultrasound (heel) will be used to examine those of the normal population group. To study osteoporosis patients the iliac crest biopsy samples will be taken for subsequent neutron activation analysis. Contents of major and trace elements in bone specimens (rib, iliac crest) and teeth (molar, premolar) will be estimated by neutron activation and X-ray fluorescent analysis in autopsy material of healthy accident victims depending on the age and sex. (author)

[en] The main aim of the present study was to estimate the age dependence of mineral density for the different body regions in healthy population of the Russian European area (Moscow and surroundings). Besides, bone mineral density (BMD) was to be analyzed by two ways: both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo studies were carried out using the method of DEXA (LUNAR DPX-L Densitometer) at the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (Moscow) on volunteers randomly chosen. Autopsy material received from Forensic Department of Municipal Hospital (Obninsk) was used for in vitro NAA analysis. For August 31, 1996 bone mineral density was studied by DEXA on 94 healthy citizens of Moscow aged 15-55 (62 women and 32 men). Bone mineral density of femoral neck (right and left), spine (front view, L₂-L₄) and total body was measured in each studied person. All the examined people were also put questions by a doctor to fill in the appropriate questionnaire (an adapted version of WHO osteoporosis project questionnaire, case control study, July 15, 1993)

[en] All legitimate scientific disciplines are characterized by: (1) the clear definition of subjects of the study and its corresponding clear-cut name, (2) some accepted postulates, (3) set of research methods, (4) methods of quality control and processing of the obtained information, and (5) specific terminology and definitions. The inaccuracies and uncertainties in medical elementology as a new scientific discipline are discussed and some corresponding statements are made. Another and no less important problem of medical elementology is the critical unsatisfactory reproducibility of data. The complex arrangements required for the harmonization of data acquired for studies in medical elementology are offered. Main strategic aims and tactical tasks of the new scientific discipline are outlined. (author)

[en] Concentration of Ca, Cl, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and Sr were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis using short-lived radionuclides in intact cortical and trabecular bone of femoral neck and iliac crest of 81 relatively healthy 15-55 years old women (n = 36) and men (n = 45). In cortical bone the Ca, P, and Mg mass fractions in the femoral neck were statistically significantly higher, and Cl, K, and Na lower, than the values for the iliac crest. In trabecular bone the Cl, K, and Na mass fractions in the iliac crest were significantly higher, and Ca, P also higher, than the values for the femoral neck. (author)

[en] Full text: In last decades, the determination of chemical element levels in human hair has been a subject of continual interest in the forensic, clinical, occupational and environmental medicine. Hair has been increasingly used as a monitor for many elements and has been proposed for assessing environmental exposure, nutritional status, and for diagnosis of disease. It has many advantages for assessment over the more traditional kinds of medical objects such as blood and urine because of ease of collection, transport and storage. Also, trace element concentrations in hair samples represent an integrated response over time compared with blood and urine levels, which can rapidly fluctuate in response to variations of nutritional and environmental conditions. The fact that contents of many chemical elements in hair are relatively high also facilitates the analysis. It is known that the result of the hair analysis may not directly relate to the intake amount, nor does it always reflect the amount actually absorbed. Despite these limitations, the analysis of human hair can still provide a basis for estimating ambient exposure to certain elements. The first step in construction of such basis is investigations the national population normal levels of chemical element contents in hair related to sex, age and some other factors under quality control of results. The objectives of this analytical work were to evaluate the reference range of Zn and Fe in adult scalp hair and to evaluate the effect of age and sex on elemental contents. In this study, head hair samples from adult health persons living in or near Obninsk (the small city in rural region 105 km south-west Moscow), were analysed by two methods in three analytical laboratories: instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA - one laboratory) and atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ISP-AES - two laboratories). Scalp hair samples were obtained at necropsy from eighty-three cadavers (38 women and 45 men, fifteen to fifty-five years old). Samples were collected from scalp occipital zone within 24-48 hours after accidental death of persons who were proven in good health before the accident. Ten samples of the certified reference materials (CRM): NIESNo 13 (human hair, Japan), CRM-397 (trace elements in human hair of the Community Bureau of Reference, Brussels) and GBW09101 (human hair China) were analysed simultaneously with hair samples to estimate the precision and accuracy of results. The recovery for hair CRM were close to 95 % for each element h indicates an acceptable accuracy of the results obtained in the study of chemical elements of the head hair of healthy Russians. It was shown that male hair contains significantly, as judged by p-values, more Fe and less Zn than female hair. Statistically significant differences due to age were found for Fe and Zn in human hair too. The element contents in female and male hair decrease with age. Our mean values of Fe and Zn mass fractions in human head hair were within a range of the world reference data. The data obtained in the study indicate the Fe and Zn mass fraction ranges in head hair for the non-occupationally exposed and health urban population of the Central European Part of Russia and can be accept as the population norm

[en] Full text: Human hair analysis is often used in studies of exposure of such elements as As, Hg, Pb, Cd and in estimation of nutritional status of many chemical elements too. Estimation of precision and accuracy of analytical determination or chemical element contents in human hair samples by combination of four methods: 1) instrumental neutron activation analysis with registration ol short-lived radionuclides radiations (INAA-SL), 2) instrumental neutron activation analysis with using long-lived radionuclides (INAA-LL), 3) atomic emission spectrometry and 4) mass-spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES and ICP-MS respectively) was made using certified reference materials (CRM) NIES No 13 (human hair, Japan) and GBW09101 (human hair, China) as the subject. For estimation of repeatability of the results 10 samples weighting around 50 mg were Measured by one sample per one labor shift during 10 labor shifts. Two operators carried out the measurements alternately. It was shown that no less than 38 elements were available for analysis in human hair samples by INAA: Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hf, Hg, I, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Nd, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Tm, Yb, Zn. For ICP-AES coupled with ICP-MS the maximum available elements were 40: Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hg, I, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Pt, Rb, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, V, W, Zn, Zr. All together the complex of four methods allow detect in human hair 58 different elements: Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Hg, I, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, Pt, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, V, W, Yb, Zn, and Zr. However: 1) INAA-SL of single sample with relative uncertainty (determined as ±2 RSD) less than ±10% allows to estimate mass fractions of no one element; within range from ±10% to <±20% - only Cl; within range from ±20% to <±30% - of 3 elements - Mn, Na and S; within range from ±40% to <±80% - of 4 elements - Ca, I, Mg, Sr; within range from around and more than ±100%-K. 2) INAA-LL of single sample with relative uncertainty (determined as ± 2 RSD) within <±10% allows to estimate mass fractions of 4 elements - Co, Hg, Na, Sc; within range from ±10% to <±20% - of 3 elements - Au, Se, Zn; within range from ±20% to <±30% - of 2 elements - Fe and Sr; within range from ±30% to <±40% - of 5 elements - Ag, Br, Ce, Sb, Sm; within range from ±40% to <±80% - of 11 elements - Ag, Cd, Cr, Eu, Gd, Rb, Ta, Tb, Th, Tm, Yb; within range from around and more than ±100% - of 7 elements - As, Ba, Cs, Hf, La, Lu, Nd. 3) ICP-AES of single sample with relative uncertainty (determined as 2 RSD) less than ±10% allows to estimate mass fractions of no one element; within range from ±10% to <±20% - of 4 elements - Al, Ca, Fe, Zn; within range from ±20% to ±30% - of P; around ±50% - of K and around ±100%-of Si. 4) ICP-MS of single sample with relative uncertainty (determined as <±2 RSD) less than <±10 % allows to estimate mass fractions of no one element; within range from <±10% to <<±20% - of 5 elements - As, Ba, Ga, Li, Cr; within range from <±20% to ±30% - of 10 elements Ag, B, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn; within range from <±30% to <<±40% - of 4 elements -Hg, Rb, Sb, W; within range from ±40% to <±90% - of 4 elements - Cu, Ge, Mo, Tl; within range from around and more than ±100% . of 9 elements - Au, Be, Bi, I, La, Si, Ti, V, Zr

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No abstract available