Evaluation of zinc status in whole blood and scalp hair of female cancer patients.

Background: Zinc is essential for all life forms and plays a vital role in human nutrition and biochemical functions. Epidemiologic studies suggest that zinc deficiency may be associated with increased risk of cancer.

Methods: We measured the concentration of Zn in whole blood and scalp hair of female patients with breast and ovarian cancers from different cities of Pakistan.

Effect of ultrasound agitation on the release of heavy elements in Certified Reference Material of human hair (CRM BCR 397).

An ultrasonic-assisted leaching procedure was developed for the determination of heavy elements (As, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn) in Certified Reference Material of human hair (CRM 397) provided from the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the Commission of the European Community. Concentrated nitric acid-30% hydrogen peroxide (2 + 1) was used for the leaching method. The effects of different factors on acid leaching of elements, such as presonication time (without ultrasonic stirring), sonication or exposure time to ultrasound, and temperature of the ultrasonic bath have been investigated.

Evaluation of essential and toxic metals by ultrasound-assisted acid leaching from scalp hair samples of children with macular degeneration patients.

Background: The causes of night blindness in children are multifactorial and particular consideration has been given to childhood nutritional deficiency, which is the most common problem found in underdeveloped countries. Such deficiency can result in physiological and pathological processes that in turn influence hair composition.

Method: An ultrasonic-assisted acid leaching procedure was developed as a sample pretreatment for the determination of Zn, Cu, Cd, As and Pb in human scalp hair samples of night blindness male children with age between 5 to 15 y and compared with the children without vision anomalies that lived in the same localities.