Background

The baseline status of trace metals in adrenal tissue is unresolved, while the elemental profile for any adrenal pathology has not been examined so far. This study aimed to determine the baseline status of important toxic (Ni, As, Cd, Pb, Th, U) and essential trace elements (Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se) in healthy adrenal tissues (HATs) as well as to examine whether there are alterations in the elemental composition of adenomatous adrenal tissues (AATs). Furthermore, this study aimed to find potential trace metals that could play a role in the pathogenesis of adrenal adenoma (AA).

Methods

The study included 45 patients diagnosed with AA. Impacts of relevant parameters such as gender, age, smoking habits and nodular sizes were considered. All samples were subjected to microwave digestion and the trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Results

This is the first study that provided an insight into the elemental status of HATs. It was also shown that AATs had altered trace metal contents. Compared to HATs, the most significant findings were related to the high content of essential (Cu, Mn, Se, Zn) and Pb as a non-essential metal. Although gender, age and smoking habits had a modest effect on metal profiles, the most significant alterations were related to the nodular diameter above 4 cm, indicating that the growth of benign tumor could influence changes in elemental composition.

Conclusion

For the first time the baseline contents of essential and toxic trace metals in HATs were determined. The results of this study may highlight the role of toxic and essential trace metals in AAs and could provide new insights into the molecular basis of pathophysiological changes caused by the hazardous effects of trace metals on adrenal structure and function.

中文翻译：

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首次洞察人肾上腺微量元素状态伴随肾上腺腺瘤元素改变

背景

肾上腺组织中痕量金属的基线状态尚未确定，而迄今为止尚未检查任何肾上腺病理学的基本特征。本研究旨在确定健康肾上腺组织 (HAT) 中重要有毒元素（Ni、As、Cd、Pb、Th、U）和必需微量元素（Mn、Co、Cu、Zn、Se）的基线状态，以及检查腺瘤肾上腺组织 (AAT) 的元素组成是否发生改变。此外，本研究旨在寻找可能在肾上腺腺瘤 (AA) 发病机制中发挥作用的潜在微量金属。

方法

该研究包括 45 名诊断为 AA 的患者。考虑了性别、年龄、吸烟习惯和结节大小等相关参数的影响。所有样品均进行微波消解，微量元素采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法 (ICP-MS) 进行测定。

结果

这是第一项深入了解 HAT 元素状态的研究。还表明 AAT 改变了痕量金属含量。与 HAT 相比，最重要的发现与高含量的必需金属（Cu、Mn、Se、Zn）和作为非必需金属的 Pb 有关。尽管性别、年龄和吸烟习惯对金属外形的影响不大，但最显着的变化与大于 4 cm 的结节直径有关，表明良性肿瘤的生长会影响元素组成的变化。

结论

首次确定了 HAT 中必需和有毒痕量金属的基线含量。这项研究的结果可能会突出有毒和必需微量金属在 AA 中的作用，并可以为微量金属对肾上腺结构和功能的有害影响引起的病理生理变化的分子基础提供新的见解。