title: Interaction between selenium and mercury in biological samples of Pakistani myocardial infarction patients at different stages as related to controls.
abstract: It has been speculated that trace elements may a play role in the pathogenesis of heart diseases. In the present study, we aimed to assess the levels of selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) in biological samples (whole blood, urine, and scalp hair) of myocardial infarction (MI) patients of both genders (age range 45-60 years) at the first, second, and third heart attack (n = 130), hospitalized in a cardiac ward of a civil hospital of Hyderabad City (Pakistan). For comparison, healthy age-matched referent subjects (n = 61) of both genders were also selected. Se and Hg in biological samples were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry, prior to microwave acid digestion, respectively. The validity of the methodology was checked by biological certified reference materials. During this study, 78 % of the 32 registered patients of third MI attack (aged >50 years) died. The concentration of Se was decreased in scalp hair and blood samples of MI patients, while Hg was higher in all biological samples as compared to referent subjects. Se concentration was inversely associated with the risk of MI attacks in both genders. These results add to an increasing body of evidence that Se is a protective element for cardiovascular health.
authors.affiliation: National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, 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: Farah Naz
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Talpur
authors.forename: Atif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Sadaf Sadia
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.forename: Salma Aslam
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.forename: Kapil Dev
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Brahman
authors.forename: Abdul Haleem
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Panhwar
authors.lastname: Naeemullah
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D010154:Pakistan; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium