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Biomedical subjects

A Favier

Publications and source records attributed to A Favier.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Effects of zinc deficiency in pregnancy on the mother and the newborn infant].

There seems to be a zinc deficiency during pregnancy in view of the low serum zinc levels, but especially low zinc levels in hair and leucocytes. The need for zinc supplements is still ill-defined but represents at least 5 mg per day which are not covered by the diet and taken from the maternal reserves. Therefore the risk of deficiency is real and its manifestations are numerous. There is a risk of spontaneous abortion, gravidic toxemia, treatment-resistant anemia, abnormally prolonged gestation and difficult delivery for the mother. As for the fetus, with zinc deficiency there is a risk of hypotrophism and malformations with potentialization of the teratogenic effect of alcohol and many medications. Besides, in animals, zinc deficiency during pregnancy results in late effects several months after birth: decrease immunity, learning or memory disorders. In view of all these consequences, administration of supplements is imperative and must be evaluated providing that it does not exceed 50 mg of zinc per day. Besides, it seems preferable to provide balanced multisupplements in minerals and vitamins, since supplement in iron alone results in zinc deficiency.

Congenital Abnormalities↗
PubMed1990

[Role of zinc deficiency in the etiology of neural tube malformations].

The authors study the hypothesis of zinc deficiency as an etiology of malformations of the neural tube. This hypothesis is based on several facts: decrease of maternal zinc levels in this disease found by many authors, malformations of the neural tube induced by experimental deficiency in several animal species, zinc membrane transfer disorders found in fibroblasts cultures in affected newborns. Numerous zinc related biochemical mechanisms could explain this effect. But the most interesting would a disturbance of folate metabolism. In fact, neither a strict isolated zinc deficiency nor a strict folate deficiency can clearly explain these malformations. On the contrary, an interaction, genetic as well as nutritional, between these nutrients would explain these anomalies.

Fetus↗
PubMed1990

[Determination of trace elements in the hair: significance and limitations].

Trace elements analysis in hair is sometimes used by clinician for a diagnosis of nutritional deficiency. Hair contents are supposed to reflect the elements status on an extended period. Hair may be contaminated by environment and its mineral composition may be modified in the different steps of the analytical process. Experiments in well known physiological conditions show a wide variability of the analytical results. These results are poorly correlated to the nutritional status so their interpretation is difficult. An epidemiological use of samples obtained from a wide population may provide worthwhile informations to the clinician. It is necessary to be very careful interpreting results coming from isolated samples.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Value of micronutrient supplements in the prevention or correction of disorders accompanying menopause].

The risk of nutritional disturbances, in particular vitamin and trace element deficiencies, is high during the menopause. Such deficiency, revealed by nutritional surveys, results for life style as well as the natural events of ageing, together with hormonal disturbances. The consequences of these deficiencies concern sensitivity to estrogens, structure of the skin and its accessory structures, bone metabolism, immune function and increased risk of degenerative pathology, in particular cardiovascular. Balanced and appropriate, multivitamin and mineral supplements i.e. containing all vitamin (A, B2, B5, B6, B9, E) and minerals (Cr, Cu, Mg, Se, Si, Zn), thus appear to be justified.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1989

[Short- (1 session) and long-term (6 months) course of the serum level of zinc in 33 hemodialysis patients].

In patients with chronic renal insufficiency undergoing hemodialysis, the seric zinc level was significantly lower than in normal subjects. In 7 patients this was even more marked prior to their first hemodialysis session. Following hemodialysis this level increased, but by comparing the zinc level to that of the binding proteins it could be seen that this result was a reflection of the hemo-concentration phenomenon. During hemodialysis there was no change in the zinc level of dialysate. Finally, a significant increase in the seric level of the 7 new patients was noted after 6 months of hemodialysis treatment. This increase reached the mean level observed in the 26 other patients who had been undergoing hemodialysis from between 8 and 87 months, but pre-dialysis normalization of seric zinc levels was not attained. The reasons for this increase in the 7 recently hemodialysed patients receiving no zinc treatment are discussed.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Simple assay of serum copper fractions by ultrafiltration and flameless atomic absorption.

The authors present a simple and rapid method for assaying ultrafilterable copper (Cu UF) and albumin-bound copper (Cu ALB). It is based on the ultrafiltration of serum in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), used to prevent adsorption on the membranes. EDTA at 0.4 g/L has no effect on the equilibrium of serum copper vectors and enables Cu UF to be assayed by flameless atomic absorption. EDTA at 2 g/L is used to assay total exchangeable copper (CU EXC) (ultrafilterable + albumin-bound). The evaluation criteria of the method are furnished, as are the normal values in healthy subjects: 14.6 micrograms/L for Cu UF and 87 micrograms/L for Cu EXC. Finally, the usefulness of the methods described here for the diagnosis of Wilson's and Menkes' disease was demonstrated.

Copper↗
PubMed1988

Concentration of selected metals in normal and pathological human seminal plasma.

The levels of zinc, ultrafilterable (UF) zinc, copper and manganese in normal and pathological (astheno-, azoo-, oligospermic) seminal plasma were measured by flameless atomic absorption. For ultrafiltrable zinc, a special method was used to treat Amikon membranes. A lower ultrafiltrable zinc level was found in azoospermic and a lower manganese level in oligospermic seminal plasma. At this time the meaning of these results is unknown.

Copper↗
PubMed1987

[Can zinc deficiency in the mother be responsible for the occurrence of spina bifida aperta in the fetus?].

The occurrence in the fetus of closure defects of the neural tube and especially spina bifida aperta (SBA) has been related, by some authors, to nutritional deficiencies of the mother, in addition to well-known genetic factors: a folic acid deficiency and more recently a zinc deficiency have been evoked. The retrospective study of 23 couples mother/newborn selected from the presence of a SBA in the child, and 14 reference couples, shows that the mothers of children with SBA have a zinc blood level lower than that of the reference group; this result is confirmed by the alkaline phosphatases and zinc enzymes which are markedly decreased. Measurement of the incorporation of radioactive zinc in the skin fibroblasts shows, in case of SBA, in the mother, an increased incorporation rate, and in the newborn a decrease of that rate in relation to the reference group. We believe that the results of our study which confirm those from other authors, demonstrate that the administration of zinc during pregnancy is at least as important as the administration of folic acid to prevent recurrence of neurulation abnormalities.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1987

[Serum and tissue concentrations of zinc after oral supplementation in chronic alcoholics with or without cirrhosis].

Seric and hepatic zinc concentrations are decreased in chronic alcoholics, particularly those with cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was: 1) to assess the duration of zinc intake necessary to normalize seric and hepatic zinc concentrations; 2) to demonstrate that this supplementation did not increase zinc concentrations in other tissues (erythrocytes, leukocytes and hair) and did not induce adverse reactions. Twenty alcoholic patients with (group A: n = 13 or without (group B: n = 7) cirrhosis received zinc sulfate 600 mg daily during 10 days, 10 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis during 30 days (group C) and 7 during 60 days (group D) and were compared with a group of 30 normal subjects. Serum zinc concentrations increased to normal values in all groups of patients. Hepatic zinc increased significantly in groups B (p less than 0.05) and D (p less than 0.01). Zinc concentrations in erythrocytes, leukocytes and hair were unchanged. No adverse reactions were observed. We conclude that seric zinc concentrations reached normal values in alcoholics with or without cirrhosis by daily supplementation of 600 mg zinc sulfate during 10 days to 2 months while hepatic zinc concentrations increased but remained under normal values in some patients, particularly those with cirrhosis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

[Changes in blood zinc and serum zinc distribution after surgical intervention].

It is well established that blood zinc concentrations fall postoperatively but documented data does not exist proving a direct relation between the fall in levels and the serious or otherwise nature of surgery performed. This relation was investigated in 25 patients, distributed into three groups as a function of severity of operation, by determining total serum zinc and also its distribution amongst vector proteins and amino acids. Findings indicated that minor procedures such as leg varicose vein stripping failed to affect blood zinc whereas major surgery (extracorporeal circulation) provoked a fall of 47% in blood zinc levels. In addition, this reduction affected only the exchangeable fraction (which is therefore the only one biologically active) of serum zinc. This suggests the need for zinc supplementation to assist healing and re-establish immunity phenomena after major surgery.

Extracorporeal Circulation↗
PubMed1986

[Serum trace elements and myocardial infarction].

The authors report trace elements concentrations (zinc, nickel, selenium, copper, manganese and chromium) during myocardial infarction described in some publication. Serum zinc decreases during the first two days after acute myocardial infarction and returns to normal level in two weeks. Serum nickel increases during the first 36 hours and copper during the first four days. The different explanations of these disturbances are also exposed.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed1986

[Methods of determination of selenium in biological matter].

Main techniques used: graphite furnace atomic absorption direct or after preliminary treatment of the sample, graphite furnace atomic absorption by generation of hydrides, fluorometry, gaz chromatography, differential pulse voltammetry. The various quality criteria of these methods are compared as well as the usual values in the different biological fluids (whole blood, plasma, serum, erythrocytes, urine).

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1985

[Trace elements (zinc, copper, manganese) in alcoholic cirrhosis: effect of chronic alcoholism].

The authors studied the influence of alcohol intake and liver disease in the disturbances of trace elements detected in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. A determination of zinc, copper and manganese was carried out in the serum, the 24 h urine and a liver sample in 15 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, 11 chronic alcoholics and 17 control subjects. In the serum of cirrhotic patients, zinc was significantly decreased, copper and manganese significantly increased. In the liver, zinc was decreased and copper increased, but the difference did not read significantly. The elimination of zinc in urine was increased and that of manganese decreased. In the chronic alcoholic patients only the serum zinc was decreased. Chronic alcoholism seemed to be therefore one of the factors responsible for low serum zinc in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Zinc nutritional status during pregnancy: a longitudinal study.

Dietary zinc (Zn) intake and selected biochemical indices of Zn status were studied longitudinally at monthly intervals in 46 pregnant middle-income women, 10 of whom received a daily supplement of 15 mg Zn. Mean dietary Zn intake for the nonsupplemented subjects (group A) was 11.3 +/- 4.1 mg/day (56% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances), and for the Zn-supplemented subjects (group B) was 21.7 mg/day (109% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance), including an average intake of 11.1 mg/day as supplemental Zn. The mean plasma Zn concentration of group A at 2 months gestation, 71.4 +/- 9.8 micrograms/dl, was 17% lower than that of nonpregnant control women, and continued to decline significantly (p less than 0.01) between 2 and 10 months gestation. Plasma Zn of group B did not differ significantly from group A at any stage of gestation. Mean serum alkaline phosphatase activity of group B was higher than that of group A at 7 of 8 months studied (p less than 0.05). The level of prenatal iron supplementation in group A was negatively correlated with alkaline phosphatase activity and plasma Zn in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, respectively. It is concluded that an early and progressive decline in plasma Zn which is not influenced by Zn intake occurs during gestation. Tentative standards for lower limits of normal at monthly intervals have been suggested. The higher alkaline phosphatase activity of group B compared with group A suggested that the dietary Zn intake of the latter was suboptimal. Prenatal supplemental iron may adversely affect maternal Zn status.

Adolescent↗