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Mass Fractions of 52 Trace Elements and Zinc/Trace Element Content Ratios in Intact Human Prostates Investigated by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

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Abstract

Contents of 52 trace elements in intact prostate of 64 apparently healthy 13–60-year-old men (mean age 36.5 years) were investigated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) for mass fraction (in milligrams per kilogram, on dry-weight basis) of trace elements were as follows: Ag 0.041 ± 0.005, Al 36 ± 4, Au 0.0039 ± 0.0007, B 0.97 ± 0.13, Be 0.00099 ± 0.00006, Bi 0.021 ± 0.008, Br 29 ± 3, Cd 0.78 ± 0.09, Ce 0.028 ± 0.004, Co 0.035 ± 0.003, Cs 0.034 ± 0.003, Dy 0.0031 ± 0.0005, Er 0.0018 ± 0.0004, Gd 0.0030 ± 0.0005, Hg 0.046 ± 0.006, Ho 0.00056 ± 0.00008, La 0.074 ± 0.015, Li 0.040 ± 0.004, Mn 1.53 ± 0.09, Mo 0.30 ± 0.03, Nb 0.0051 ± 0.0009, Nd 0.013 ± 0.002, Ni 4.3 ± 0.7, Pb 1.8 ± 0.4, Pr 0.0033 ± 0.0004, Rb 15.9 ± 0.6, Sb 0.040 ± 0.005, Se 0.73 ± 0.03, Sm 0.0027 ± 0.0004, Sn 0.25 ± 0.05, Tb 0.00043 ± 0.00009, Th 0.0024 ± 0.0005, Tl 0.0014 ± 0.0001, Tm 0.00030 ± 0.00006, U 0.0049 ± 0.0014, Y 0.019 ± 0.003, Yb 0.0015 ± 0.0002, Zn 782 ± 97, and Zr 0.044 ± 0.009, respectively. The upper limit of mean contents of As, Cr, Eu, Ga, Hf, Ir, Lu, Pd, Pt, Re, Ta, and Ti were the following: As ≤0.018, Cr ≤0.64, Eu ≤0.0006, Ga ≤0.08, Hf ≤0.02, Ir ≤0.0004, Lu ≤0.00028, Pd ≤0.007, Pt ≤0.0009, Re ≤0.0015, Ta ≤0.005, and Ti ≤2.6. In all prostate samples, the content of Te was under detection limit (<0.003). Additionally, ratios of the Zn content to other trace element contents as well as correlations between Zn and trace elements were calculated. Our data indicate that the human prostate accumulates such trace elements as Al, Au, B, Br, Cd, Cr, Ga, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn. No special relationship between Zn and other trace elements was found.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Prof. A. A. Zhavoronkov of Institute of Human Morphology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, for supplying prostate samples, and they acknowledge the support of the Presidium of Russian Academy of Sciences, program for basic research “Creation and improvement of methods of chemical analysis, and investigation of substances and material structure.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radionuclide Diagnostics Department, Medical Radiological Research Center, Koroleva Str. 4, Obninsk, 249036, Kaluga Region, Russia

    Sofia Zaichick & Vladimir Zaichick

  2. Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Northwestern University, 302 East Superior Street, Morton Building, Chicago, IL, 60640, USA

    Sofia Zaichick

  3. Institute of Microelectronics, Technology and High Purity Materials, Chernogolovka, 142432, Russia

    Sergey Nosenko & Irina Moskvina

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  1. Sofia Zaichick
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Correspondence to Vladimir Zaichick.

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Zaichick, S., Zaichick, V., Nosenko, S. et al. Mass Fractions of 52 Trace Elements and Zinc/Trace Element Content Ratios in Intact Human Prostates Investigated by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Biol Trace Elem Res 149, 171–183 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9427-4

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