Trace elements and minerals are essential for cellular physiology and components of biological structures. Previous studies demonstrated that proper serum concentration of trace elements/minerals such as copper maintains optimum function of the immune system, and trace elements/mineral imbalance was associated with various autoimmune disorders. The current study aimed to measure the serum concentrations of trace elements/minerals potassium (K), sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg) in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (dSSc). Fifty-one patients with dSSc were enrolled in this study. Healthy 106 participants with similar age and gender to the patients were used as healthy control. Roche Cobas 8000 was used to measure the serum concentrations of K, Na, Cl, Ca, P, Fe, Cu, and Mg. The results demonstrated that the serum concentrations of K, Ca, P, and Mg were significantly increased in patients with dSSc, while the serum concentration of Cu was decreased. We next examined the serum concentration of trace elements/minerals in dSSc patients with or without pulmonary fibrosis. The result revealed that the serum concentration of Cu in dSSc patients with pulmonary fibrosis was significantly lower than that in patents without pulmonary fibrosis. Our study provided evidence that serum concentrations of K, Ca, P, Cu, and Mg were changed significantly in dSSc patients, and lower serum concentration of Cu was associated with pulmonary fibrosis.

中文翻译：

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弥漫性系统性硬化症患者的微量元素/矿物质血清浓度。

微量元素和矿物质对于细胞生理学和生物结构的组成部分是必不可少的。先前的研究表明，铜等微量元素/矿物质的适当血清浓度可维持免疫系统的最佳功能，微量元素/矿物质失衡与各种自身免疫性疾病有关。目前的研究旨在测量微量元素/矿物质钾 (K)、钠 (Na)、氯 (Cl)、钙 (Ca)、磷 (P)、铁 (Fe)、铜 (Cu) 和弥漫性系统性硬化症 (dSSc) 患者的镁 (Mg)。51 名 dSSc 患者参加了这项研究。以与患者年龄和性别相近的106名健康参与者作为健康对照。Roche Cobas 8000 用于测量 K、Na、Cl、Ca、P、Fe、Cu 和 Mg 的血清浓度。结果表明，dSSc患者血清K、Ca、P、Mg浓度显着升高，而Cu浓度降低。我们接下来检查了有或没有肺纤维化的 dSSc 患者的微量元素/矿物质的血清浓度。结果显示，合并肺纤维化的 dSSc 患者血清 Cu 浓度显着低于无肺纤维化患者。我们的研究提供的证据表明，dSSc 患者血清 K、Ca、P、Cu 和 Mg 浓度发生显着变化，并且较低的血清 Cu 浓度与肺纤维化有关。我们接下来检查了有或没有肺纤维化的 dSSc 患者的微量元素/矿物质的血清浓度。结果显示，合并肺纤维化的 dSSc 患者血清 Cu 浓度显着低于无肺纤维化患者。我们的研究提供的证据表明，dSSc 患者血清 K、Ca、P、Cu 和 Mg 浓度发生显着变化，并且较低的血清 Cu 浓度与肺纤维化有关。我们接下来检查了有或没有肺纤维化的 dSSc 患者的微量元素/矿物质的血清浓度。结果显示，合并肺纤维化的 dSSc 患者血清 Cu 浓度显着低于无肺纤维化患者。我们的研究提供的证据表明，dSSc 患者血清 K、Ca、P、Cu 和 Mg 浓度发生显着变化，并且较低的血清 Cu 浓度与肺纤维化有关。