Association between Parameters Related to Oxidative Stress and Trace Minerals in Athletes

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the basal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and retinol in plasma or erythrocytes, and the plasma concentrations of 16 trace minerals in endurance athletes from Extremadura (Spain). In addition, we aimed to assess the possible relationships between some parameters related to cellular oxidative stress with plasma concentrations of some trace minerals. Sixty-two national long-distance men athletes participated in this study. The parameters related to oxidative stress and antioxidant activity were analyzed through high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and trace minerals analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We found that plasma MDA was positively correlated with selenium and rubidium. Plasma ascorbic acid was positively correlated with manganese and negatively correlated with cobalt and cadmium. Erythrocyte ascorbic acid was related to arsenic and cesium. Plasma α-tocopherol correlated with copper and manganese negatively and positively with arsenic. Erythrocyte α-tocopherol was positively related to copper, rubidium, and lithium. The findings show that athletes with a high degree of training should monitor their intake and concentrations of α-tocopherol for its fundamental role of neutralizing the excess of reactive oxygen species produced by exercise and the prooxidant effects of several minerals such as arsenic, copper, and lithium.

Formation of a Cesium Plasma by Continuous-Wave Resonance Excitation

The generation of a plasma in cesium vapor via a resonance process is described. The maximum irradiance used was 1.5 W/cm2, which is several orders of magnitude lower than the irradiances conventionally used to form plasmas. Plasma emission consisted of radiative decay from excited-state Cs atoms. Optical emission from the plasma was observed from laser powers of 200 μW with a nonintensified charge-coupled device (CCD). The ionization efficiency of the plasma was approximately 0.001, with the majority of the atoms in the plasma ionized. The plasma was found to behave linearly with respect to laser power; however nonlinear behavior was observed as the number density was altered. A collisional mechanism is proposed for the formation of the plasma.