Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using bovine serum albumin as stabilizers through a facile one-pot strategy in aqueous media. The morphology and crystal phase of the zinc oxide nanoparticles were determined ...Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using bovine serum albumin as stabilizers through a facile one-pot strategy in aqueous media. The morphology and crystal phase of the zinc oxide nanoparticles were determined by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractograms, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles exhibited strong absorption and photoluminescence properties in the visible wavelength region based on the fluorescence and UV-visible spectroscopy. Based on the results, the zinc oxide nanoparticles could effectively degrade the organic dyes through the mediation of the hydroxyl radical under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the zinc oxide nanoparticles show good recycling stability during the photocatalytic experiments. These results suggested that the as-prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles might be used as a potential photocatalyst to efficiently treat the organic pollutants.展开更多
Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is defined as hepatic encephalopathy (HE) without symptoms on clinical/neurological examination, but with deficits in some cognitive areas that can only be measured by ...Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is defined as hepatic encephalopathy (HE) without symptoms on clinical/neurological examination, but with deficits in some cognitive areas that can only be measured by neuropsychometric testing. Aim: Our aim was to study serum zinc levels in cirrhotic patients with and without MHE and correlate it with the results of neuropsychological tests and P300 event related potential. Patients and Methods: Fifty-five patients with liver cirrhosis were recruited for the present study. All patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, laboratory investigations including liver function tests and serum zinc, psychometric studies (line tracing test and serial dotting test) and P300 event related potential. According to the results of psychometric studies and P300 event related potential, the patients were divided into 3 groups in addition to the control group. Results: Among the 55 patients included in the study, 30 patients had no clinical evidence of HE and 25 patients had overt HE with different grades. In patients with no clinical evidence of HE, psychometric tests and P300 event related potential revealed that 13 patients had MHE, while 17 had no HE. There were significantly lower serum zinc levels in patients with MHE and in cirrhotic patients without HE compared with the healthy controls. Also, zinc levels were significantly lower in higher grades of hepatic encephalopathy. Serum zinc levels showed positive correlation with serum albumin levels and inverse correlation with serial dotting test and P300 latency. Conclusion: Reduced serum zinc level and prolonged P300 latency can serve as predictors of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients. Zinc deficiency is common in cirrhotic patients with MHE. These findings may have important prognostic and therapeutic implications in MHE and overt HE patients with zinc deficiency.展开更多
173 simultaneous determinations of serum copper levels (SCL), serum zinc levels (SZL) and copper/zinc ratio (CZR) were made by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 51 previously untreated lymphoma patients. SCL and ...173 simultaneous determinations of serum copper levels (SCL), serum zinc levels (SZL) and copper/zinc ratio (CZR) were made by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 51 previously untreated lymphoma patients. SCL and CZR were significantly higher in patients before treatment (mean value 22.97 μmol/L, 1.55, respectively) and in those who did not reach complete remission (mean 21.21 μmol/L, 1.36) as compared with the patients in complete remission (mean 16.36 μmol/L, 1.06) or normal controls (mean 15.67 μmol/L, 0.98). The mean value of SCL and CZR of patients in complete remission did not differ significantly from those of normal controls. Patients in stages HI and IV had higher SCL and CZR (mean 25.15 μmol/L, 1.79) than those in stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ (mean 19.30 μmol/L, 1.16). No significant difference in SZL was observed between the patient groups and normal controls. Thus, SCL and CZR may be used as prognostic indicators for monitoring disease activity and response to therapy in malignant lymphoma.展开更多
Background:Copper and zinc are involved in the development of multiple malignancies;yet,epidemiological evidence on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is limited.This study aimed to investigate the association between dieta...Background:Copper and zinc are involved in the development of multiple malignancies;yet,epidemiological evidence on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is limited.This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake and serum levels of copper and zinc with the risk of HCC.Methods:A total of 434 case-control pairs matched for sex and age(±1 year)were included in this study.Cases with newly diagnosed HCC were from the Guangdong Liver Cancer Cohort(GLCC)study,and healthy controls were from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study(GNHS).A semi-quantitative 79-item food frequency questionnaire(FFQ)was used to assess habitual dietary intakes of copper and zinc.Serum levels of copper and zinc were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.The copper(Cu)/zinc(Zn)ratio was computed by dividing copper levels by zinc levels.Conditional logistic regression models were performed to calculate the odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI)for per 1 standard deviation increase(per-SD increase)in copper and zinc levels.Results:Higher dietary intake(OR_(per-SD increase)=0.65,95%CI:0.44,0.96,P_(trend)=0.029)and serum levels of zinc(OR_(per-SD increase)=0.11,95%CI:0.04,0.30,P_(trend)<0.001)were both associated with a lower risk of HCC.Subgroup analyses showed that the inverse association was only pronounced in men but not in women(P_(interaction)=0.041 for dietary zinc intake and 0.010 for serum zinc levels).Serum copper levels(OR_(per-SD increase)=2.05,95%CI:1.39,3.03,P_(trend)=0.020)and serum Cu/Zn ratio(OR_(per-SD increase)=6.53,95%CI:2.52,16.92,P_(trend)<0.001)were positively associated with HCC risk,while dietary copper intake and dietary Cu/Zn ratio were not associated with HCC risk.Conclusion:Zinc may be a protective factor for HCC,especially among men,but the effects of copper on HCC risk are not clear.展开更多
Aim: To evaluate the early and late long-term effects of vasectomy on the serum and prostatic fluid trace elements.Methods: In 37 vasectomized and 25 non-vasectomized (control) men, the Zn, Cd and Cu levels in the ser...Aim: To evaluate the early and late long-term effects of vasectomy on the serum and prostatic fluid trace elements.Methods: In 37 vasectomized and 25 non-vasectomized (control) men, the Zn, Cd and Cu levels in the serum andprostatic fluid were measured by means of inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Re-suits: No significant difference was found in the prostatic Zn, Cd and Cu levels between the vasectomized and controlgroup. The Zn level in the semm were significantly lower in the vasectomized men than in the controls (11.04 and 13.54 umol/L, respectively; P < 0.05), while the serum Cd and Cu levels were not significantly different between thetwo groups. Conclusion: Vasectomy may decrease the serum, but not the prostatic Zn levels. Its pathophysiologicalsignificance is worthy of further investigation.展开更多
Colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots, QDs) have attracted a lot of interests in numerous biological and medical applications due to their potent fluorescent properties. However, the possible toxic effec...Colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots, QDs) have attracted a lot of interests in numerous biological and medical applications due to their potent fluorescent properties. However, the possible toxic effects of quantum dots remain an issue of debate. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cytocompatibility of bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugated zinc oxide QDs for C2C12 cells. In the experiment, ZnO QDs were synthesized by using BSA as the structure directing agent, and the morphology and crystal phase of ZnO QDs were determined by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractograms and Fourier transform infrared spectrograph techniques. The inverted fluorescence microscope results showed that ZnO QDs were distributed inside the cells. The toxicity of ZnO QDs was assessed by MTT methods, which revealed that ZnO QDs were highly cytocompatible in the concentration less than 200 μM. However, when the concentration of QDs was higher than 1 000 μM ZnO QDs showed significantly toxicity, which was ascribed to generation of free zinc and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the morphological observations exhibited that cells treated with ZnO QDs showed altered morphology, depolymerized cytoskeleton and irregular-shaped nuclei. This study provides helpful guidances on the future safe use and manipulation of QDs to make them suitable tools in nanomedicine.展开更多
Zinc deficiency is a public health concern and is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of zinc deficienc...Zinc deficiency is a public health concern and is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of zinc deficiency among infants and preschool children. Based on a community, the cross-sectional study was conducted in East Gojjam between October 2011 and April 2012. Two hundred and forty infants and preschool children were randomly selected in the study. Data on potential determinants of zinc deficiency were collected using a structured questionnaire. Serum zinc concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectrometer. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA, independent sample student＇s t-test and linear regression model. The mean serum zinc concentration of infants and preschool children was 62.98 （±13.03） μg/dL in 95% confidence interval （CI） between 61.32 and 64.63 （i.e., 95% CI： 61.32, 64.63）. About 57,1% of the subjects were zinc deficient. The main determinants of low serum zinc status of infants and preschool children were age and number of family members living on the same land. Zinc status of older children was 3.67 μg/dL （95% CI： -5.58, -1.77） lower than children who were aged 6-10 months. Serum zinc status of infants and preschool children is decreased by 0.83 p.g/dL （95% CI： -1.36, -0.30） with each additional family member. Food insecurity, dietary diversity, sex, child health, anthropometric indices, maternal education and wealth index were not associated with serum zinc status. Zinc deficiency among infants and preschool children is highly prevalent. Such potential deficiencies require urgent attention, including complementary food preparation education, traditional phytate reduction method and family planning implementation recommended in the study area.展开更多
基金Funded by the Science&Technology Foundation of Dongguan City(No.2015108101014)Chinese Medicine Science&Technology Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.20151257)+3 种基金Medical Science and Technology Development Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.A2016355)Excellent Young Scientist Training Foundation of Guangdong Province in 2014(No.4CX16054G)Science&Technology Fundation of Guangdong Medical College(No.B2014007)Undergraduate Science&Technology Innovation Foundation of Guangdong Province(Nos.201610571041,201610571015)
文摘Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using bovine serum albumin as stabilizers through a facile one-pot strategy in aqueous media. The morphology and crystal phase of the zinc oxide nanoparticles were determined by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractograms, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles exhibited strong absorption and photoluminescence properties in the visible wavelength region based on the fluorescence and UV-visible spectroscopy. Based on the results, the zinc oxide nanoparticles could effectively degrade the organic dyes through the mediation of the hydroxyl radical under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the zinc oxide nanoparticles show good recycling stability during the photocatalytic experiments. These results suggested that the as-prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles might be used as a potential photocatalyst to efficiently treat the organic pollutants.
文摘Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is defined as hepatic encephalopathy (HE) without symptoms on clinical/neurological examination, but with deficits in some cognitive areas that can only be measured by neuropsychometric testing. Aim: Our aim was to study serum zinc levels in cirrhotic patients with and without MHE and correlate it with the results of neuropsychological tests and P300 event related potential. Patients and Methods: Fifty-five patients with liver cirrhosis were recruited for the present study. All patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, laboratory investigations including liver function tests and serum zinc, psychometric studies (line tracing test and serial dotting test) and P300 event related potential. According to the results of psychometric studies and P300 event related potential, the patients were divided into 3 groups in addition to the control group. Results: Among the 55 patients included in the study, 30 patients had no clinical evidence of HE and 25 patients had overt HE with different grades. In patients with no clinical evidence of HE, psychometric tests and P300 event related potential revealed that 13 patients had MHE, while 17 had no HE. There were significantly lower serum zinc levels in patients with MHE and in cirrhotic patients without HE compared with the healthy controls. Also, zinc levels were significantly lower in higher grades of hepatic encephalopathy. Serum zinc levels showed positive correlation with serum albumin levels and inverse correlation with serial dotting test and P300 latency. Conclusion: Reduced serum zinc level and prolonged P300 latency can serve as predictors of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients. Zinc deficiency is common in cirrhotic patients with MHE. These findings may have important prognostic and therapeutic implications in MHE and overt HE patients with zinc deficiency.
文摘173 simultaneous determinations of serum copper levels (SCL), serum zinc levels (SZL) and copper/zinc ratio (CZR) were made by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 51 previously untreated lymphoma patients. SCL and CZR were significantly higher in patients before treatment (mean value 22.97 μmol/L, 1.55, respectively) and in those who did not reach complete remission (mean 21.21 μmol/L, 1.36) as compared with the patients in complete remission (mean 16.36 μmol/L, 1.06) or normal controls (mean 15.67 μmol/L, 0.98). The mean value of SCL and CZR of patients in complete remission did not differ significantly from those of normal controls. Patients in stages HI and IV had higher SCL and CZR (mean 25.15 μmol/L, 1.79) than those in stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ (mean 19.30 μmol/L, 1.16). No significant difference in SZL was observed between the patient groups and normal controls. Thus, SCL and CZR may be used as prognostic indicators for monitoring disease activity and response to therapy in malignant lymphoma.
基金supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81803219)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(Nos.2022A1515011744,2020A1515110682,and 2018A030310335)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2020M683135)
文摘Background:Copper and zinc are involved in the development of multiple malignancies;yet,epidemiological evidence on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is limited.This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake and serum levels of copper and zinc with the risk of HCC.Methods:A total of 434 case-control pairs matched for sex and age(±1 year)were included in this study.Cases with newly diagnosed HCC were from the Guangdong Liver Cancer Cohort(GLCC)study,and healthy controls were from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study(GNHS).A semi-quantitative 79-item food frequency questionnaire(FFQ)was used to assess habitual dietary intakes of copper and zinc.Serum levels of copper and zinc were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.The copper(Cu)/zinc(Zn)ratio was computed by dividing copper levels by zinc levels.Conditional logistic regression models were performed to calculate the odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI)for per 1 standard deviation increase(per-SD increase)in copper and zinc levels.Results:Higher dietary intake(OR_(per-SD increase)=0.65,95%CI:0.44,0.96,P_(trend)=0.029)and serum levels of zinc(OR_(per-SD increase)=0.11,95%CI:0.04,0.30,P_(trend)<0.001)were both associated with a lower risk of HCC.Subgroup analyses showed that the inverse association was only pronounced in men but not in women(P_(interaction)=0.041 for dietary zinc intake and 0.010 for serum zinc levels).Serum copper levels(OR_(per-SD increase)=2.05,95%CI:1.39,3.03,P_(trend)=0.020)and serum Cu/Zn ratio(OR_(per-SD increase)=6.53,95%CI:2.52,16.92,P_(trend)<0.001)were positively associated with HCC risk,while dietary copper intake and dietary Cu/Zn ratio were not associated with HCC risk.Conclusion:Zinc may be a protective factor for HCC,especially among men,but the effects of copper on HCC risk are not clear.
文摘Aim: To evaluate the early and late long-term effects of vasectomy on the serum and prostatic fluid trace elements.Methods: In 37 vasectomized and 25 non-vasectomized (control) men, the Zn, Cd and Cu levels in the serum andprostatic fluid were measured by means of inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Re-suits: No significant difference was found in the prostatic Zn, Cd and Cu levels between the vasectomized and controlgroup. The Zn level in the semm were significantly lower in the vasectomized men than in the controls (11.04 and 13.54 umol/L, respectively; P < 0.05), while the serum Cd and Cu levels were not significantly different between thetwo groups. Conclusion: Vasectomy may decrease the serum, but not the prostatic Zn levels. Its pathophysiologicalsignificance is worthy of further investigation.
基金Funded by the Chinese Medicine Science&Technology Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.20151257)Medical Science and Technology Development Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.A2016355)+3 种基金Excellent Young Scientist Training Foundation of Guangdong Province in 2014(No.4CX16054G)Innovation Team Construction Foundationin Ordinary University of Guangdong Province(No.2015KCXTD022)Unique Innovation Foundation in Ordinary University of Guangdong Province(No.2015KTSCX049)Undergraduate Science&Technology Innovation Foundation of Guangdong Province(Nos.201610571041and 201610571015)
文摘Colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots, QDs) have attracted a lot of interests in numerous biological and medical applications due to their potent fluorescent properties. However, the possible toxic effects of quantum dots remain an issue of debate. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cytocompatibility of bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugated zinc oxide QDs for C2C12 cells. In the experiment, ZnO QDs were synthesized by using BSA as the structure directing agent, and the morphology and crystal phase of ZnO QDs were determined by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractograms and Fourier transform infrared spectrograph techniques. The inverted fluorescence microscope results showed that ZnO QDs were distributed inside the cells. The toxicity of ZnO QDs was assessed by MTT methods, which revealed that ZnO QDs were highly cytocompatible in the concentration less than 200 μM. However, when the concentration of QDs was higher than 1 000 μM ZnO QDs showed significantly toxicity, which was ascribed to generation of free zinc and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the morphological observations exhibited that cells treated with ZnO QDs showed altered morphology, depolymerized cytoskeleton and irregular-shaped nuclei. This study provides helpful guidances on the future safe use and manipulation of QDs to make them suitable tools in nanomedicine.
文摘Zinc deficiency is a public health concern and is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of zinc deficiency among infants and preschool children. Based on a community, the cross-sectional study was conducted in East Gojjam between October 2011 and April 2012. Two hundred and forty infants and preschool children were randomly selected in the study. Data on potential determinants of zinc deficiency were collected using a structured questionnaire. Serum zinc concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectrometer. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA, independent sample student＇s t-test and linear regression model. The mean serum zinc concentration of infants and preschool children was 62.98 （±13.03） μg/dL in 95% confidence interval （CI） between 61.32 and 64.63 （i.e., 95% CI： 61.32, 64.63）. About 57,1% of the subjects were zinc deficient. The main determinants of low serum zinc status of infants and preschool children were age and number of family members living on the same land. Zinc status of older children was 3.67 μg/dL （95% CI： -5.58, -1.77） lower than children who were aged 6-10 months. Serum zinc status of infants and preschool children is decreased by 0.83 p.g/dL （95% CI： -1.36, -0.30） with each additional family member. Food insecurity, dietary diversity, sex, child health, anthropometric indices, maternal education and wealth index were not associated with serum zinc status. Zinc deficiency among infants and preschool children is highly prevalent. Such potential deficiencies require urgent attention, including complementary food preparation education, traditional phytate reduction method and family planning implementation recommended in the study area.
