Variation of Elemental Concentration in Hair in Relation to Diabetes

Abstract

With the help of reactor neutron activation analysis investigations of the trace elements such as copper, manganese, zinc, seleeium, nickel, cadmium and mercury have been performed purposing to settle the problems of distinction between healthy persons and patients sffering from diabetes.
In this technique, K_e, ₀-method as a new standardization technique, were applied, in which, the deviation of the 1/E^1+α epithermal neutron flux distributions from 1/E law, true coincidence effects of cascade γ-rays, and the efficiency of the Ge-detector were taken into consideration. Short lived nuclides were determined by a short activation with the help of a pneumatic irradiation facility and automatic correction of dead time and decay. The medium and long lived nuclides were determined after 48 h irradiation and ten days cooling. The patients head-hair samples showed a significant differences in the Cu, Zn, Se, and Hg. The result indicates that early diagnosis by means of trace elements determination could be possible.