Quantification of some trace elements in humans

本研究的重点是进一步开发、评估、验证和应用新的技术来测量人体骨骼中的微量和有毒元素。测量是非侵入性的，不需要取样，也不会给病人带来不适。最近在骨质疏松症患者中发现了低剂量锶的有益作用。在中剂量和高剂量下，锶可诱发疾病，如肾病患者的骨软化症和儿童的佝偻病。体内x射线荧光技术已经发展到测量储存在骨头中的锶。我们希望进一步发展和提高该技术的灵敏度，促进其临床应用，造福骨质疏松症患者。铝和锰是有毒元素。据记载，在透析患者中检测到铝含量增加，造成各种健康问题和死亡。此外，人们对铝是否与阿尔茨海默病有关一直存在激烈的争论。锰对人类生命至关重要，尤其是对神经和骨骼功能。长时间接触低水平的锰会导致比锰中毒更轻微的神经系统症状，类似帕金森病的综合症：包括记忆缺陷、运动控制丧失和某些身体运动的精细程度降低。为了测量元素的浓度，利用低能加速器对骨进行了体内中子活化分析。这种技术的一个关键特点是，干涉反应在能量上是不允许的。本研究项目的重点是，但不限于：进一步的系统开发和人体骨骼元素体内测量新技术的体内试点研究。

This research concentrates on the further development, evaluation, validation and application of the new techniques for in vivo measurements of  trace and toxic elements in human bone. Measurements are non-invasive, no sample is taken, nor is there discomfort to the patient.   A beneficial effect of low strontium doses has been recently found in osteoporosis patients.  At intermediate and high doses, strontium can induce diseases such as osteomalacia in renal patients and rickets in children. The in vivo X-ray fluorescence technique has been developed to measure strontium stored in the bone. We would like to further develop and improve the sensitivity of the technique, and facilitate its clinical application to benefit patients suffering from osteoporosis.    Aluminum and manganese are toxic elements. It is documented that increased aluminum levels are detected in dialysis patients causing a variety of health problems and deaths. Furthermore, it has been vigorously debated whether aluminum in any form is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Manganese is essential to human life, in particular, to neurological and skeletal functions. Exposure to manganese at low levels for a prolonged period of time can result in milder neurological symptoms than those seen in manganism, Parkinson's disease like syndrome: including memory deficit, loss of motor control and reduction in the refinement of certain bodily motions. To measure the elements concentration, in vivo neutron activation analysis of bone is developed using a low-energy accelerator. A critical feature of this technique is that the interfering reactions are not energetically permitted. This research project focuses on, but is not limited to: a further system development and an in vivo pilot study of the new techniques of in vivo measurements of elements in human bone.