Eighty infertile men and 38 men of known fertility were studied for investigation of both the importance of zinc, copper, cadmium, and lead to fertility and the possible interrelationships between these trace elements. The infertile men had higher mean concentrations of plasma copper than those of proven fertility. The difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.01) but was of small magnitude (approximately 1.5 mumol mean difference). The concentrations of plasma zinc, erythrocyte zinc, whole blood lead and cadmium, and seminal plasma zinc and copper did not differ significantly between infertile and fertile men. There was a significant positive relationship between sperm density and seminal plasma zinc concentration in the fertile, but not in the infertile, men. The infertile men with antisperm antibodies or counts greater than 20 million/ml had significantly higher mean levels of seminal plasma zinc than infertile men with oligospermia. The higher semen zinc in these two groups may reflect an abnormal fragility of the spermatozoa, resulting in the release of zinc, but the absence of significant overall differences between fertile and infertile men suggests that measurement of the concentration of zinc in plasma or zinc and copper in seminal plasma has little value in the routine investigation of infertility.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Effects of cloned interferon alpha 2 in normal volunteers: febrile reactions and changes in circulating corticosteroids and trace metals.

Six healthy volunteers were given single intramuscular injections of an ascending dose schedule of human interferon alpha 2 (Hu IFN alpha 2) from Escherichia coli. At a dose of 3 X 10(6) U, all of the volunteers had febrile reactions with influenza-like symptoms as previously described for purified natural leukocyte interferon. Significant rises in serum 11-hydroxycorticosteroids and falls in plasma zinc levels were observed at this highest dose. Although there was a reduction in the febrile reaction complex, the simultaneous administration of indomethacin with a "toxic" dose of interferon did not alter the changes in white cells, corticosteroids, or trace metals. Nonspecific effects must be considered in the therapeutic activity of interferon.

11-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗

PubMed1983

The effect on rats of practical diets containing different protein and energy levels.

Rats of 3 strains were fed diets of natural ingredients in 4 different laboratories. The diets contained different levels of protein and energy within ranges comparable to those found in existing laboratory diets. Energy level over the range examined appeared to exert greatest influence on bodyweight gain, but had no effect on food intake. The diet with the highest amino acid content was consumed in smaller amounts than the other diets. Food utilization was less efficient in the lower energy diets. Fat deposition was reduced in animals fed the lowest energy diet. It is concluded that energy level of the diet exerts an effect on the rate of bodyweight gain in rats, but that for longer-term studies a reduced energy level may be beneficial by leading to smaller fat deposits with consequent increase in longevity.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1983

The effect on mice of practical diets containing different protein and energy levels.

Mice of 2 strains were fed diets of natural ingredients in 3 different laboratories. The diets, which were fed before and after pelleting, contained levels of protein and energy within the ranges comparable to those found in existing laboratory diets and were the same formulation as those fed to rats in a previous paper. The diet with the lowest energy level supported the lowest rate of bodyweight gain, as it had with rats. Little effect was noticed on food consumption, conversion efficiency or water intake. Animals fed the pelleted diets gained bodyweight faster and there were indications of greater food and water consumption and also food conversion efficiency. It was concluded that food intake was improved with the pelleted diets resulting in the other increases.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1981

Drug packaging invites confusion.

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Drug Packaging↗

PubMed1979

Determination of antimony in biological materials by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy.

An electrothermal atomic absorption method for the determination of antimony in biological fluids, derived from Triostam or Pentostam, is described. Comparison of the results obtained by this method has been made with hydride generation atomic absorption and by measuring the gamma emission of 125Sb-Pentostam. Using electrothermal atomic absorption, the concentrations and distributions of the pentavalent and trivalent antimony drugs, either in free or liposome-entrapped forms, have been determined in vitro after incubation with human blood. The effect of entrapping Pentostam within liposomes has also been studied in vivo in mice, and its concentration and distribution compared with results obtained using the free drug.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Validity of written examinations.

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Anesthesiology↗

PubMed1978

Significance of blood cadmium concentrations in patients with renal disorders or essential hypertension and the normal population.

Cadmium concentrations in whole blood have been determined in normal control subjects, in patients with untreated essential hypertension or with treated essential hypertension, and in those with acute or chronic renal disorders. High cadmium concentrations were not found in the patients with untreated essential hypertension. Most tobacco smokers were found to have high blood cadmium concentrations. When the mean cadmium concentrations from each group of patients were compared with those of the control subjects no significant differences were found. When the four groups were divided into smokers and non-smokers, however, a significantly higher mean value was found for the non-smoking renal patients in comparison with the non-smoking normal subjects. The marked increases in blood cadmium concentration in the patients with renal disorders may be attributed to impaired excretion.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1977

Determination of gold in plasma and plasma fractions by atomic absorption spectrometry and by neutron activation analysis.

Three techniques of gold analysis, flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and neutron activation analysis, have been compared, using plasma and plasma fractions (derived by gel chromatography) from rheumatoid patients receiving aurothiomalate therapy and from plasma samples incubated with aurothiomalate in vitro. The three methods correlated well in the analysis of gold in whole plasma, but only neutron activation analysis was suitable for the assay of all the plasma fractions. The susceptibility of the two atomic absorption methods to interference by sodium chloride was investigated.

Gold↗

PubMed1977