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Biomedical subjects

G S Fell

Publications and source records attributed to G S Fell.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The effect of steroid therapy on serum trace metal levels in sub-fertile males.

The effect of 96 mg methylprednisolone on trace metals and hormone levels was measured in 13 males with sub-fertility associated with an antibody problem. Over a period of 5 days the serum zinc was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) as was the serum testosterone (p less than 0.01). By contrast the luteinising hormone levels rose (p less than 0.01) within 3 days of administration of the steroid. The lability of serum zinc to the administration of steroids is further demonstrated by its significant fall (p less than 0.01) after 3 days of therapy. These results suggest an adreno-cortical control of zinc in serum.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1984

Histopathology of early effects of oral cadmium in the rat kidney.

Adult male Wistar rats were given 50 ppm Cd in drinking water over a period of 1-24 weeks. The rats were killed and the cadmium concentration of whole blood, blood plasma red cells, liver and kidneys estimated. The plasma metallothionein concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay. Kidney samples were taken for light, transmission and scanning electron microscopic examination. The accumulation of cadmium in the tissues was shown by a linear increase with time, after exposure for 12 weeks. Plasma Cd concentrations showed a clear increase after 3 weeks and preliminary investigation suggests that most is present as Cd-thionein. Early pathological changes in the rat kidney were seen around the 4-6 week period which coincided with the distinct rise in plasma Cd. At 12 weeks, signs of tubular necrosis, interstitial fibrosis and glomerular epithelial cell hypertrophy were present in small areas of the cortex. By 24 weeks, the renal cortex showed clear evidence of tubulo-interstitial nephritis at a Cd concentration of 60 micrograms Cd/g wet weight.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1983

Effect of acute aluminium overload on calcium and parathyroid-hormone metabolism.

Accidental exposure of 25 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis to a high aluminium level in the dialysate for a month provided an opportunity to investigate the interrelation between the metabolism of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, and aluminium. After exposure to the high-aluminium dialysate, the mean serum aluminium had risen from 1.85 to 7.11 mumol/l and serum calcium from 2.27 to 2.44 mmol/l, and serum PTH had fallen from 744 to 580 ng/l. After a further 2 months, during which time the dialysate was aluminium-free, the mean serum aluminium and calcium fell to previous levels. There were no changes in calcium or vitamin-D therapy which could have influenced these results. The rise in serum calcium and fall in PTH during a period of aluminium toxicity strongly support the hypothesis that aluminium suppresses PTH through an elevation of serum calcium.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1983

Renal cadmium content in the West of Scotland.

The trace element content of kidneys has been documented in very few international centres. Significant differences can be demonstrated between the cortical and medullary levels of calcium, zinc and cadmium. For the West of Scotland the values for the latter are similar to those found in Scandinavia. There are significantly higher cadmium contents in subjects who smoke and who have evidence of ischaemic heart disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Analytical procedures for diagnosis of trace element disorders.

Trace elements levels in tissues show changes in various diseases including inborn errors of metabolism. Such changes may be primary or secondary due to stress or diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Measurement of trace elements in these cases may be essential both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Trace element measurements can also be useful in other areas of clinical interest including nutrition, toxicity and therapy with inorganic pharmaceutical agents. The available techniques for measuring trace elements in tissues are summarized and the various problems of each are discussed.

Electron Probe Microanalysis↗
PubMed1983

The effect of environmental temperature on protein and energy changes following burn injury in the rat.

The metabolic response to a standard burn injury in rats (25% of body surface area) was investigated at environmental temperature 20 degrees C and 30 degrees C. With an intake of 15 g diet (20% w/w protein) per day, burned rats at 20 degrees C were found to be in negative energy balance mainly due to increased insensible (evaporative) losses, and they lost weight. Fat was the main endogenous source of energy, although protein was also catabolised from both carcass and pelt. At 30 degrees C, insensible losses of burned rats were still high, but they had lower sensible (mainly radiative) losses leading to a positive energy balance and a gain in weight. This consisted mainly of carcass water, fat and protein. Urine catecholamines were higher in burned rats at 20 degrees C than at 30 degrees C and correlated with heat loss, urine nitrogen and urine 3-methylhistidine, supporting the hypothesis that catecholamines play a central role in mediating the protein and energy changes following burn injury. For the first 4-6 days, urine nitrogen and 3-methylhistidine excretion increased in rats at 30 degrees C, suggesting that this early part of the metabolic response is obligatory. These findings support the use of raised environmental temperatures to reduce the metabolic response to burns.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

A study of zinc metabolism in alcoholic cirrhosis.

1. Zinc metabolism was studied in 11 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and 13 healthy volunteers using the isotope tracer 65Zn. 2. Intestinal absorption, whole-body content and total daily elimination of zinc were all increased in alcoholic cirrhosis, but the biological half-life of zinc did not differ from controls. 3. Hepatic zinc concentration was reduced in alcoholic cirrhosis and correlated with changes in hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity. 4. Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis in this study were not demonstrated to be zinc-deficient.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The influence of aluminium on parathyroid hormone levels in haemodialysis patients.

In order to investigate the relationship between parathyroid hormone (PTH) and aluminium we studied 86 haemodialysis patients whom we separated into three groups according to their serum PTH values. Group I: PTH less than 600ng/L; Group II: PTH 600-900ng/L; Group III: PTH greater than 900ng/L. A significant difference was found between Groups I and III in the serum aluminium (Group I: 4.85 mumol/L; Group III: 2.84 mumol/L, p less than 0.003) and serum calcium (Group I: 2.43mmol/L; Group III: 2.32mmol/L, p less than 0.0125). The association of higher serum aluminium and calcium with lower PTH concentrations suggests that aluminium can suppress PTH release through an elevation of the serum calcium.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Hypercalcaemic osteomalacia due to aluminium toxicity.

In 16 patients with chronic renal failure and osteomalacia resistant to vitamin-D therapy, aluminium was demonstrated in bone biopsy specimens at the interface between thickened osteoid and calcified bone by means of both X-ray microanalysis and a specific histochemical stain. 14 patients also had hypercalcemia. It is suggested that this is due to the blocking by aluminium of additional calcium uptake into bone coupled with the availability of additional calcium from dialysis fluid and vitamin-D therapy. This study provides more aetiological evidence linking aluminium and the development of osteomalacia in chronic renal failure. Further, if hypercalcaemia develops in such patients it is important that aluminium toxicity be excluded as the cause to prevent unnecessary parathyroidectomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

The importance of cadmium as a factor in calcified upper urinary tract stone disease--a prospective 7-year study.

The non-essential trace metal cadmium may cause major pathological effects on the kidneys. A group of coppersmiths who have been chronically exposed to cadmium poisoning was systematically studied over a 6-year period. The stone prevalence in the group is now just under 40% as compared with 3.5% in a general population. The blood cadmium levels have remained persistently elevated despite removal of the cadmium source. The measurement of cadmium as a means of monitoring chronic poisoning has been undertaken in terms of the prospective study in the coppersmiths and also in its relationship to other trace metals, namely serum zinc and copper. Urologists should be aware of the possibility of cadmium poisoning.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1982

Clinical experience of zinc supplementation during intravenous nutrition in Crohn's disease: value of serum and urine zinc measurements.

Serum zinc concentrations and urine zinc excretion have been studied in 10 patients with severe Crohn's disease before and during 59 patient-weeks of intravenous nutrition. Before serum zinc concentrations (9.9 +/- 1.0 mumol/l: mean +/- SEM) and urine zinc excretion (3-3 +/- 0.6 mumol/24h) were less than controls (p less than 0.01). No patients had clinical signs of zinc deficiency before intravenous nutrition and none developed signs during it. There was no overall change in serum zinc concentrations, despite improvements in body weight, skinfold thickness, and mid-arm circumference in all patients, and increased serum albumin and serum transferrin concentrations during all but two periods of intravenous nutrition. Nor was there any relationship between serum zinc concentrations and zinc uptake (up to 220 mumol/day), serum zinc concentrations remaining significantly lower than control levels. Urine zinc excretion during the first week of intravenous nutrition showed a 1.2 to 53-fold increase (mean 11-fold) over pre-intravenous nutrition levels, and a positive relationship was demonstrated between zinc intake and urine zinc excretion. It is suggested that zinc supplied by the intravenous route is inefficiently transported to the tissues, and that some is excreted in the form of small molecular weight chelates into urine. Recommendations are made for the supply of intravenous zinc, based on monitoring urine zinc excretion in individual patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Studies of lead and cadmium exposure in Glasgow, U.K.

Domestic water and whole blood samples were collected early in 1981 from two hundred volunteers living in the Glasgow area of Scotland, U.K. The concentration of lead in the water and blood samples, and of cadmium in the blood, was measured. The blood lead and cadmium concentrations were compared to those obtained in the Survey of 1979. There has been a fall in blood lead concentrations since the 1979 Survey. In contrast, the blood cadmium levels had remained similar. This diminution in blood lead concentration is attributed to a fall in water lead concentration caused by raising the pH of the water supply in the Glasgow area. The main determinant for cadmium in blood appears to be cigarette smoking habits, which had not changed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

The effect of oral aluminium therapy on plasma aluminium levels in patients with chronic renal failure in an area with low water aluminium.

In a low water aluminium area ( less than or equal to 0.4 micromoles/1) plasma aluminium levels were normal in 31 non-dialyzed and 7 peritoneally-dialyzed patients unless oral aluminium hydroxide was prescribed. Plasma aluminium levels were above normal in 26 patients on maintenance hemodialysis, but when aluminium hydroxide intake stopped there was a decrease in pre-dialysis plasma aluminium. Poor compliers (indicated by plasma phosphate levels) showed no change. Oral aluminium hydroxide can make a major contribution to plasma aluminium levels in patients with renal failure and should be treated with the same caution as high dialyzate aluminium. Post-dialysis plasma aluminium levels were always higher than pre-dialysis levels both on and off aluminium therapy despite the low dialyzate aluminium concentration. This rise may be due to tissue redistribution.

Administration, Oral↗