Note: This article was originally published with an incorrect version of the Acknowledgments, which appeared on p. 218 of the print version. The correct version of the Acknowledgments appeared on pp. 1–2. The corrected article is available below.

/pdf/human-health-risk-assessment-for-aluminium-aluminium-oxide-5dfetd69xm.pdf

Human Health Risk Assessment for Aluminium, Aluminium Oxide, and Aluminium Hydroxide

Aluminum (Al) is one of the most extended metals in the Earth’s crust. Its abundance, together with the widespread use by humans, makes Al-related toxicity particularly relevant for human health.

Aluminum and Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Minerals, metals, clays and rocks were widely used by physicians in the past. However, it was and it is well known that some inorganic elements at high dosage may have curative effects but also serious toxicity. The effects at low or ultra-low concentrations, on the contrary, are less documented, but the idea that low dosage supplementation might be beneficial to human health is widespread even in the present period. Methods: The main information about aluminium, bismuth, cobalt, gold, lithium, nickel and silver was selected and evaluated from a vast body of medical literature. Results: In modern times, most elements are proposed for human use at levels comparable with normal dietary intake, probably for precautionary considerations. Conclusion: Some inorganic trace compounds might have unexpected effects at extremely low dosages, but scientific demonstrations of beneficial effects of supplementation are mostly not available in the medical literature.

Occurrence, exposure, effects, recommended intake and possible dietary use of selected trace compounds (aluminium, bismuth, cobalt, gold, lithium, nickel, silver)

/pdf/advanced-bredigite-containing-magnesium-matrix-composites-59ohrd6g8y.pdf

Advanced bredigite-containing magnesium-matrix composites for biodegradable bone implant applications.

INTRODUCTION The determination of toxic elements in the biological samples of human beings is an important clinical procedure. This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of abnormal blood contents of 2 trace elements (TEs), aluminum (Al),and lead (Pb) in hemodialysis (HD) patients and to analyze their relationship with the medications, such as CaCO(3), Ca acetate, 1,25-dihydroxy vit. D(3), and erythropoietin (EPO), as well as hematocrit level. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included 43 patients on maintenance HD and they had continued the previously mentioned medications for at least 3 months. None of the patients were on Al containing phosphate binding agents. RESULTS Serum aluminum and lead levels were significantly increased than in the healthy controls, but levels of both of them were far below toxic values. Male patients had higher mean levels of lead than did females. A strong positive correlation was found between serum Al and serum Pb levels among patients (r = 0.075, p = 0.0001).The serum level of Pb was positively correlated with the serum albumin in HD patients (r = 0.45, p = 0.03). Both serum aluminium and lead levels positively correlated with the EPO dose taken by the patients (r = 0.77, p = 0.0001 and r = 0.67, p = 0.0001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS The blood level of trace metals of these HD patients was not related to their medications except for the EPO dose. However, caution must be exercised in interpreting this result as dose and duration of medication may play an important role. Al and Pb over load may be considered from the causes of inadequate response to epoetin therapy.

/pdf/clinical-research-aluminium-and-lead-abnormalities-in-4d837sqiak.pdf

Clinical research Aluminium and lead abnormalities in children on haemodialysis: relationship with some medications

The well-described long-term effects of sustained exposure to aluminium in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) are a result of uptake and storage of aluminium, leading to cellular toxicity. A case is presented suggesting that this aluminium may be mobilizable, and indicating the consequence of such release. A patient on haemodialysis (HD) presented acutely with infection, a raised CRP, decreased conscious level, impaired cognition and agitation. Subsequent neurological recovery over six to seven days appeared to follow the return of markedly elevated plasma aluminium concentrations to basal (i.e. from 25.2 micromol/L to 2.5 micromol/L; reference range < 0.5 micromol/L), coupled with a resolution of the infection. The patient was on long-term aludrox therapy 3 g/day, and showed relative resistance to the exogenous hormone erythropoietin, resulting in a refractory anaemia and suggesting aluminium toxicity. A series of HD patients (n = 5) presenting with bacteraemia, not on aludrox, showed no appreciable rise in the plasma aluminium mean of 1.3 micromol/L (SD 0.9; range 0.6-2.0 micromol/L). We suggest that infection can result in release of tissue aluminium, leading to acutely elevated plasma aluminium concentrations and signs of neurotoxicity. The amount of tissue storage and resultant aluminium release seemed to be related to the use of aluminium hydroxide as a phosphate binder.

Norman B Roberts

Papers

In end-stage renal failure, does infection lead to elevated plasma aluminium and neurotoxicity? Implications for monitoring