Alterations in the Serum Trace Element Levels in Women Infected with Chlamydia Trachomatis

Most infectious diseases are accompanied by changes in the levels of several trace elements in the blood. A total of 88 female patients referred to the Nawroz Private Laboratory in the Duhok province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, were enrolled in this study. The enrolled patients were sent to the laboratory for investigation of their hormone levels because they were suffering from various gynecologic abnormalities. The serum levels of anti-chlamydia immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, and the serum trace element levels were evaluated by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that 10 (11.4 %) of the samples tested positive for the presence of anti-chlamydia IgG antibodies, whereas none of the samples tested positive for anti-chlamydia IgM antibodies. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the serum potassium levels was observed in response to the chlamydia infection, whereas no significant changes were observed in any of the other elements.

Beyond the Mind—Serum Trace Element Levels in Schizophrenic Patients: A Systematic Review

The alterations in serum trace element levels are common phenomena observed in patients with different psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, or major depressive disorder. The fluctuations in the trace element concentrations might act as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of many psychiatric and neurological disorders. This paper aimed to assess the alterations in serum trace element concentrations in patients with a diagnosed schizophrenia. The authors made a systematic review, extracting papers from the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Among 5009 articles identified through database searching, 59 of them were assessed for eligibility. Ultimately, 33 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. This review includes the analysis of serum levels of the following trace elements: iron, nickel, molybdenum, phosphorus, lead, chromium, antimony, uranium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, copper, selenium, calcium, and manganese. Currently, there is no consistency regarding serum trace element levels in schizophrenic patients. Thus, it cannot be considered as a reliable prognostic or diagnostic marker of schizophrenia. However, it can be assumed that altered concentrations of those elements are crucial regarding the onset and exaggeration of either psychotic or negative symptoms or cognitive dysfunctions.