Investigation of Selected Trace Elements in Hair Samples of Eczema Patients
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Sudan Academy of Sciences (SAS) Atomic Energy Council Investigation of Selected Trace Elements in Hair Samples of Eczema Patients By Nada Omer Osman Post Graduate Diploma in Nuclear Chemistry Sudan Academy of Sciences (2007) A Thesis Submitted in the Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry Main Supervisor: Dr. Rifaat khabashi Hassona Co supervisor: Dr. Abdel Gadir El Siddig Hassan December 2010 Dedication To my father To my mother To all my love Nada I fAckncywCecCgment I wouCd Cike to express my sincere appreciation to my supervisor E)r. Hi fat khahashi 3-fassona of Sudan atomic 'Energy commission for His invaCuahCe advice and guidance without which this work would not Be possihCe .1 wouCd to acknowCedgements my co-supervisor 'Dr J\6deCGjadir ECSiddig Mass an of T) er mat o Cogy fiospitaf of Xhartoum for his care and courteous remarks. My sincere appreciation is granted to aCC the staff of Sudan JAtomic Energy Commission (S//VEC), especiaCCy Mr. JAmmar Mohammed Elamean and Mr. JAmmar Mubarak for their assistance throughout the period of this work. I'm gratefuCfor the staff of the hospilaC of Xhartoum VermatoCogy for their generous support during the sampdng campaign. The practicaC component of the study was carried out at the Central Eahoratory of the Ministry of Science arid 'Technology with the help and understanding of the staff, especiaCCy Mr JadlaCmoCa Eadwi Zaed my thanks goes to aCC of the m. II ABSTRACT The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the relationship between selected trace elements and skin diseases, namely eczema. Fifty five patients affected by the most frequent eczema types were recruited at the onset of disease at the hospital of Dermatology in Khartoum together with thirty healthy controls. Fe, Zn, Cu and Ni were measured in the hair samples obtained from both patients and control group using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS).Data analysis was performed using the T-test. Partial correlation was used to study the relationship between the elemental concentrations. Certified reference material (IAEA-85 (Hair powder)) produced by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was used as a quality control to check the accuracy and precision of the analytical technique, good agreement was achieved for all elements under investigation. Significant variations (p<0.05) in the concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu and Ni in the hair of the patients compared to the control group, and this difference was a decrease of iron, zinc and copper, therefore, should be given to the patient doses of these elements, while there was an increase in the nickel, so it is not included in the treatment. These interesting associations between the levels of trace elements could be used as an indication for the disease as well as to monitor the treatment. Comparisons of the results obtained in the present study with those conducted for other populations in the literature showed very close agreement. The levels of the elements under investigation are comparable with the data obtained from the literature for other populations with the exception of Fe which was found to be very high in Sudanese population. Ill AI DEDICATION I ACKNOWLEDEMENTS 11 ABSTRACT Ill IV TABLE OF CONTENTS V LIST OF TABLES VIII LIST OF FIGURES IX CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION and LITERATURE REVIEW 1 1.1 Eczema Epidemiology 2 1.1.1 Eczema Risk Factors 3 1.1.2Eczema and psychological status 4 1.2.3 Eczema incidence in Sudan 5 1.2 Validity of bio-indicators 7 1.2.1 Hair 7 1.2.2 Blood 10 1.2.3 Urine ii 1.2.4 Nail 12 " 1.2.5 Sweat --12 1.3 Biological Role of Trace Elements 13 V 1.4 Mineral and Skin Diseases 15 1.4.1. Eczema and trace elements 17 1.4.1.1 Iron 17 1.4.1.2Zinc 19 J.4.. 1.3 Copper 22 1.4.4 Nickel 24 1.5 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry 26 1.6 Objectives: 27 CHAPTER TWO MATERIALS and METHODS 28 2.1Sample Collection 29 2.2 Sample Preparation 29 2.2.1 Sample cleaning 29 2.2.2 Sample digestion 30 2.3 Analytical Technique 30 2.3.1 Principle 30 2.3.2 Components of Atomic Absorption instrument 3 1 2.3.2.1 The light source 31 2.3.2.2 The optical system and detector 33 2.3.2.3 Double beam spectrometers 33 2.3.2.4 Atomisation of the sample 35 •2.3.2.5 Flame aspiration 35 2.3.2.6 Electrothermal atomization 37 VI 2.4. Experimental setup 38 2.4.1 Standard preparation 39 2.4.2 Measurements 40 2.4.3 Calculation 41 2.5 Statistical Analysis of the Data 44 CHAPTER THREE RESULTS and DISCUSSION 45 CHAPTER FOUR CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATION 62 References 64 VII LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1: Total number of cases eczema during 2005-2009 5 Table 1.2: Percentage of eczema cases in different states of Sudan 6 Table 2.1 Hallow cathode lamps .• 40 Table 3.1: analysis of hair standard reference material (IAEA-85) 48 Table 3.2: Comparison between the concentration of elements (Fe, Zn. Cu and Ni) in eczema patient and control group 49 Table 3.3: Mean hair levels (ppm) for the elements determined in the hair of Sudanese control population as compared to their levels in the hair of other populations 58 Table 3.4: show Correlation between elements in patient group 59 Table 3.5: show Correlation between elements in control group 60 VIII LIST OF FIGURES Figure2.1: 'hollow cathode lamp' 32 Figure2.2: Light Path for a double beam Spectrophotometer 34 Figure2.3: flame atomic absorption spectrometer 36 Figure2.4: hollow graphite tube with a platform 37 Figure2.5: The schematic diagram of atomic Absorption Spectrometer 38 Figure2.6: Calibration curve for Fe 42 Figure2.7: Calibration curve for Zn 42 Figure2.8: Calibration curve for Cu 43 Figure2. 9:Ca!ibration curve for Ni 43 Figure3.1: percentage of male and female among studied Eczema cases 47 Figure3.2: Comparison between the concentration of elements (Fe, Zn. Cu and Ni) in eczema patients and control group 50 Figure3.3: Concentration of Fe in ppm 51 Figure3.4: Concentration of Zn in ppm 52 Figure3.5: Concentration ofCu in ppm 54 Figure3.6: Concentration ofNi in ppm 56 Figure 3.7: correlation between Fe and Cu in patient group 59 Figure 3.8: correlation between Fe and Cu in control group 60 IX CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Eczema epidemiology Skin diseases have a high prevalence throughout the world: they can be classified into two main categories: Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy and onchocercias and Inflammatory disorder such as eczema and acne. Skin disorders can be inherited. Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis (some people use these two terms interchangeably). The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis. However, there are many different forms of eczema. The term "eczema" derives from the Greek word for boiling which reflects that the skin can become so acutely inflamed that fluid weeps out or vesicles appear. Eczema can affect people of any age, although the condition is most common in infants, and about 85% of people have an onset prior to 5 years of age. Eczema will permanently resolve by age 3 in about half of affected infants. In others, the condition tends to recur throughout life. People with eczema often have a family history of the condition or a family history of other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever. Up to 20% of children and 1-2% of adults are believed to have eczema. Eczema is slightly more common in girls than in boys. It occurs in people of all races. Eczema is not contagious, but since it is believed to be at least partially inherited, it is not uncommon to find members of the same family affected (Clark et til., 2005). Some things that may irritate your skin include household cleansers, detergents, aftershave lotions, soap, gasoline, turpentine and other solvents (Family doctor, 1996). In general, eczema can be classified into two groups:- * Type 1:- Is endogenous: atopic, discoid hand, seborrhoeic. venous and asteatotic eczema. 2 • Type2:- Is exogenous: contact-irritant, contact -allergic and photosensitive eczema, lichen simplex\nodular prurigo (Clark et al., 2005). 1.1.1 Eczema risk factors There are risk factors that can make someone susceptible to getting eczema. Some people are prone to dermatitis, because they have a sensitive immune system. People who have close family members with eczema, asthma, or allergies are more likely to have similar problems related to an immune system response to allergens. When a person has eczema, asthma, or allergies, their immune systems overreact to harmless substances. This sensitivity of the immune system is hereditary. Atopic dermatitis on hands is commonly caused when a person handles a substance that causes inflammation of the skin on the hands. Atopic dermatitis on hands is sometimes called hand eczema. People can be susceptible to atopic dermatitis on the hands if they handle chemicals, detergents, or other allergens in the workplace, i Dry skin is not only a symptom of eczema, but skin that has become dehydrated is at greater risk of outbreaks of eczema. Consuming water and keeping skin moisturized helps reduce the risk of flare-ups. Winter months are harder on the skin. The skin tends to be dry due to a lack of humidity in buildings. Dry heating systems can dry out the skin and increase the person's chance of developing an eczema flare-up.