title: Evaluation of chromium, cobalt and manganese in biological samples (scalp hair, blood, and urine) of Pakistani viral hepatitis (A-E) patients and controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to compare the level of chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn) in biological samples (blood, urine, and scalp hair) of patients suffering from different types of viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E; n = 521) of both genders, ages ranging from 31 - 45 years. For comparative study, 255 age-matched control subjects of both genders residing in the same city were selected as referents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The digests of all biological samples were analysed for Cr, Co, and Mn by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The validity and accuracy of the methodology was checked by using certified reference materials (CRMs) and compared with those values obtained by conventional wet acid digestion method on same CRMs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study showed that the mean values of Cr, Co, and Mn were higher in blood and scalp hair samples of hepatitis patients than in age-matched control subjects. The urinary levels of these elements were found to be higher in the hepatitis patients than in the age-matched healthy controls (p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are consistent with literature-reported data, confirming that the overload of these trace elements can directly cause lipid peroxidation and eventually hepatic damage.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 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.lastname: Naeemullah
authors.forename: Sadaf Sadia
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.forename: Kapil Dev
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Brahman
authors.forename: Sham Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wadhwa
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003035:Cobalt / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D010154:Pakistan; D012015:Reference Standards
chemical_list: D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D008345:Manganese