title: Evaluation of zinc in scalp hair and blood samples of tuberculosis and diarrhea male human immunodeficiency virus patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The consequence of zinc (Zn) deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined the association between low scalp hair and blood Zn concentrations and opportunistic infections in hospitalized patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The study was performed on sixty two male HIV+ patients (HIV-1) from different cities in Pakistan. The patients were divided in two groups according to secondary infections (tuberculosis, diarrhea, and high fever). The biological samples (scalp hair and blood) were collected from AIDS patients, and for comparative study, 120 healthy subjects (males) of same age group (31 - 45 years), socio-economic status, localities, and dietary habits were also included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Zn in biological samples was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The proposed method was validated by a certified sample of human hair BCR 397 and Clincheck control-lyophilized human whole blood. It was observed that the low levels of Zn may be predictors for secondary infections in HIV-1 patients. There was a significant decrease in mean values of Zn in whole blood and scalp hair samples in both groups of AIDS patients as compared to a controlled healthy male group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deficiency of zinc might play a role in the development of AIDS in the subjects of this study.
authors.affiliation: Hassan Imran Afridi, Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University ofSindh, Jamshoro 76080, Sindh, Pakistan. hassanimranafridi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hassan Imran
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Afridi
authors.forename: Tasneem Gul
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Naveed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Ghulam Abbas
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kandhro
authors.forename: Jameel Ahmed
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Abdul Qadir
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Sumaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Nida Fatima
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Kolachi
authors.forename: Sham Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wadhwa
authors.forename: Faheem
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012535:Scalp; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc