Biological trace element research
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Biol Trace Elem Res · Jan 2008
Strontium levels in different causes of death: diagnostic efficacy in drowning.
Trace element determination can be applied in forensic medicine to diagnose the cause of death. Drowning is the second leading cause of death from unintentional injury. Despite the many diagnostic methods used, the post-mortem diagnosis of drowning continues to be one of the most difficult in forensic pathology. ⋯ We studied 120 cadavers selected from medico-legal autopsies with different causes of death. Strontium (Sr) levels were measured in the serum (left and right ventricles and peripheral vein) of all cadavers and, in the case of drowning, in the water medium itself, by using Zeeman AAS. Our results confirm the usefulness of blood Sr levels for diagnosing seawater and freshwater drowning, although great care should be exercised in the latter case.
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Biol Trace Elem Res · Jan 2008
Plasma copper, zinc, and selenium levels and correlates with metabolic syndrome components of lebanese adults.
Zinc, copper, and selenium statuses were reported to be linked to the development of chronic diseases, especially coronary heart disease (CHD). Metabolic syndrome, a known CHD risk factor, was found to be highly prevalent in Lebanon. Nevertheless, no data are available on the statuses of plasma zinc, copper, and selenium, especially in terms of their relation to the components of the metabolic syndrome. ⋯ Subjects were found to have normal plasma statuses of copper and selenium but were at elevated risk of zinc deficiency. Plasma selenium levels correlated positively with all the components of the metabolic syndromes, while that of copper correlated only with total, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Plasma zinc did not correlate with any of the metabolic syndrome components.