Determination of selenium concentration in serum and toenail as an indicator of selenium status.
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Cross-Sectional Studies↗
Biomedical subjects
I Al-Saleh
Publications and source records attributed to I Al-Saleh.
Mercury content in shrimp and fish species from the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia.
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Animals↗
Levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury in human brain tumors.
This article reports on the levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury in 21 benign brain tumors and 23 malignant brain tumors. All measurements were performed by atomic absorption spectrometry following digestion by nitric acid. Average concentrations of cadmium, lead, and mercury in brain tumors were 2.02 (ND-72.78), 0.625 (ND-83.13), and 0.118 (ND-1.96) microg/g wet weight, respectively. Our values were higher than data reported by others.
Adult↗
Report on the levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury in imported rice grain samples.
In an attempt to know whether highly consumed food might contribute to metal exposure, we analyzed cadmium, lead, and mercury in 27 rice grain samples commonly consumed in Saudi Arabia by atomic absorption spectrometry after acid digestion. The mean concentrations and ranges of cadmium, lead, and mercury in tested rice samples were 20.261 (range <DL-178.026 microg/kg), 134.819 (range 23.1-1529.0 microg/kg), and 3.186 (range <DL-43.573 microg/kg), respectively. The results showed high concentrations of metals and in some cases exceeded the Provisional Tolerance Weekly Intake (PTWI) recommended by FAO/WHO. It was also noted that different rice grain samples had varying concentrations of these metals. Because the bulk of literature warns against the cumulative effects of prolonged heavy metal exposure, regular consumption of rice by local populations might pose potential health problems.
Cadmium↗
Selenium status in Saudi Arabia.
Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring trace element that is essential for animal and human nutrition, but the range between dietary requirements and toxic levels is relatively narrow. In this review, we are interested in the beneficial effects of selenium and we report on a number of studies of the selenium status of different populations in Saudi Arabia. The Status reflects the geographical area inhabited by the populations. Apart from the few available studies reviewed here, no data on the human status of Se in Saudi Arabia has been obtained. A further objective of this paper is throw some the light on the direction of future studies.
Animals↗
Residues of pesticides in grains locally grown in Saudi Arabia.
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Cholinesterase Inhibitors↗
Sources of lead in Saudi Arabia: a review.
Lead is a poison that affects virtually every system in the body. Children are more vulnerable to lead exposure than adults because of the frequency of pica, hand-to-mouth activity, and a greater rate of intestinal absorption and retention. Very acute lead exposure in children (blood lead levels > 80 microg/dL) can cause coma, convulsions, and even death. Lower levels cause adverse effects on the central nervous system, kidney, and hematopoietic system. Several studies have identified harmful effects of lead in children at blood lead levels as low as 10 microg/dL. Recently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has cut the lead allowable threshold level from 25 microg/dL of blood to 10 microg/dL. This review summarizes the main sources of lead exposure that one could expect in a modern society such as Saudi Arabia.
Adolescent↗
Residue levels of organochlorinated insecticides in breast milk: a preliminary report from Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Breast milk samples obtained from 115 mothers residing in Al-Kharj area, Saudi Arabia, were quantified by gas chromatography and confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for lindane, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, endrin, p,p-DDE, p,p-DDD, and p,p-DDT. The results showed that 80.9% of the samples contained p,p-DDT, 93.9% p,p-DDE, and 74.8% p,p-DDD. Whereas lindane, heptachlor, heptachlor-epoxide, dieldrin, and endrin were found in 23.5, 20.9, 36.5, 48.7, and 32.2% screened samples, respectively. Results of this survey clearly show that infants were exposed to organochlorinated pesticides. Although the levels of organochlorinated pesticides reported here are lower than those reported from several other countries, the maximum daily intakes of those pesticides exceeded the WHO/UNEP Acceptable Daily Intakes for a 5-kg infant. This finding warrants further research to determine the magnitude of the problem in Saudi Arabia. As there is a bulk of literature that highlights the adverse health effects of organochlorinated pesticides on children and infants, it would be advantageous to establish a regular organochlorinated pesticides monitoring program.
Adolescent↗
Pharmacokinetics of methotrexate and its 7-OH metabolite in cancer patients treated with different high-methotrexate dosage regimens.
The pharmacokinetics of methotrexate (MX) and 7-OH methotrexate (MXOH) was studied in 18 cancer patients treated with 6-hr intravenous (i.v.) infusion of 100 mg/kg (A), 80 mg/kg preceded by 20 mg/kg i.v. loading dose (B), and 70 mg/kg preceded by 30 mg/kg i.v. loading dose (C). Simultaneous analysis of MX and MXOH was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The data for MX conformed to a 2-compartment model with overall mean +/- SD for beta, k12, k21, and k13 of 0.225 +/- 0.196, 1.33 +/- 1.44, 0.954 +/- 1.06, and 0.994 +/- 1.28 hr-1, respectively. The total body clearance, Vc, and V-beta were 0.123 +/- 0.037 l/hr.kg, 0.15 +/- 0.122 l/kg, and 0.965 +/- 0.875 l/kg, respectively. No significant differences (p greater than 0.05) in these parameters, attributable to the difference in regimens, were observed. With regimens A, B and C, the maximum observed concentrations of MXOH occurred at 9.2, 11.5, and 9.2 hr and the mean +/- SD values of these concentrations were 15.02 +/- 14, 18.96 +/- 13.63, 14.91 +/- 9.95 microM, respectively. With regimens A and C, maximum observed concentrations of MX equal to 231 +/- 67.1 and 204 +/- 69.5 microM occurred at 0.5 and 6 hr, respectively. Only with regimen B was a steady-state MX concentration of 179 microM achieved throughout infusion; this regimen is therefore highly advantageous for high-dose MX treatment.
Adolescent↗
Rapid determination of platinum by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry following the administration of cisplatin to cancer patients.
An improved flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometric method for the analysis of platinum in plasma is described. Following a simple dilution with Triton X-100, the sample is directly injected into the graphite furnace with a total analysis time of less than 2 min. The assay is precise (CV less than 4.3%) and linear (r greater than 0.9922) in the ranges 0.05-1 and 1-4 mg/L for cisplatin. The applicability of the method is examined by analyzing samples obtained at different intervals from two patients treated with cisplatin.
Cisplatin↗
Concentrations of zinc, iron, molybdenum, arsenic, and lithium in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with brain tumors.
We used flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry to measure concentrations of Fe, Mo, Li, As, and Zn in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with malignant brain tumors benign brain tumors, non-brain malignant tumors and control (non-neoplastic disease) patients. Mean (and SD) concentrations (microgram/L) of these elements in the control group were 62.7 (28.7) for Fe, 6.8 (4.8) for Mo, 0.7 (2.0) for Li, 1.3 (0.7) for As, 7 (5.9) for Zn. We could detect Li in less than 53% of controls. Zn concentrations in CSF of patients with astrocytoma (malignant brain tumor), benign brain tumors, or non-brain tumors were significantly (p less than 0.05) less than in control patients; the ratios for mean concentrations of Zn in tumor patients/control patients for the above groups were 0.3, 0.20, and 0.17, respectively. Concentrations of As in CSF of patients with non-brain malignant tumors were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than in the controls; the ratio for mean CSF concentration of As in patients with non-brain tumors/control patients was 2.9. Differences in the concentrations of Fe, Li, or Mo among the various groups were nonsignificant.
Adolescent↗
Rapid analysis of doxorubicin in plasma by radial compression liquid chromatography.
A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of doxorubicin (Adriamycin) in plasma is described. The analysis was performed on a radial compression separation system with a 10-micron phenyl cartridge. The mobile phase consisted of methanol:acetonitrile:0.001 M tetrabutylammonium phosphate (36.4:8.6:55) adjusted to pH 3.5 with 85% phosphoric acid. The flow rate was 2.8 mL/min. Fluorometric detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 478 and 594 nm, respectively, was used. C18 sample cleanup cartridges were utilized for extraction. A doxorubicin-related compound, 4-demethoxydaunorubicin (IMI 30), was used as an internal standard. The retention times for doxorubicin and IMI 30 were 3.34 and 7.21 min, respectively. The assay was highly linear (r greater than 0.997) in the concentration range utilized in this study (i.e., 10-5,000 ng/mL). No interferences from doxorubicin metabolites or other anticancer drugs were observed. The assay is currently used for monitoring doxorubicin levels in high-risk patients.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
Concentrations of Ag, Al, Au, Bi, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Se in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cerebral neoplasms.
We measured the concentrations of nine trace elements in cerebrospinal fluid of 11 patients with malignant brain tumors, 11 with benign brain tumors, and 10 control patients, using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean and standard deviation for these concentrations (microgram/L) in the control group were 5.1 +/- 2.9 (silver), 326.6 +/- 171.2 (aluminum), 38.5 +/- 32.2 (gold), 36.6 +/- 23.7 (bismuth), 1.5 +/- 1.3 (cadmium), 39.8 +/- 24.7 (copper), 15.7 +/- 11.5 (lead), 20.9 +/- 3.8 (antimony), and 19.1 +/- 13.3 (selenium). Concentrations of silver and lead were markedly increased in patients with malignant cerebral neoplasms. The malignant-tumor/control patient concentration ratios were 2.31 for silver and 2.11 for lead. We observed no significant differences between the results for the benign tumor patients and the control group.
Adolescent↗
Lead exposure in the city of Arar, Saudi Arabia.
In follow-up to a case of lead encephalopathy, high prevalences of lead exposure (23%) and iron deficiency (60%) were found in children who lived in Arar, Saudi Arabia. Environmental factors had minor effects on the blood lead concentrations of these children. We concluded that traditional cosmetics and remedies were the major sources of lead exposure in this Arar population.
Acute Disease↗
Determinants of blood lead levels in Saudi Arabian schoolgirls.
Blood lead levels were measured in 538 girls aged 6 to 12 years who attended primary public schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Of the 538 screened children, 24.4% had blood lead levels > or =10 microg/dL, the Centers for Disease Control's level of concern. Variation in the blood lead levels was investigated with respect to a number of risk factors. The main determinant of blood lead levels was the regional location of the school. Pupils who attended schools located in the Central region of Riyadh had significantly higher blood lead concentrations than did pupils who attended schools in the peripheral areas. This is most likely to be due to the heavy vehicular emissions in the Central region. Other variables such as low family income, grade, and application of kohl to the child's eyes and/or umbilicus at birth were also contributors to the blood lead levels. These observations emphasize the importance of health education programs to promote the reduction of lead exposure in the general population.
Child↗