Chronic renal failure in children admitted to children welfare teaching hospital

Chroic renal failure [CRF] is a devastating medical, psychological, social and economic problem for patients and their families. The aim of the present study was to determine the etiology, clinical presentations and highlight treatment modalities used for patients with CRF admitted to children welfare teaching hospital. A Retrospective study of all children with CRF admitted to children welfare teaching hospital during the period from 1[st] of jan.2002 to 1[st] of jan.2007 were included in the study .CRF was defined as having glomerular filtration rate less than 80ml /min/1.73m2. The study group included 50 patients with CRF below 17 years of age, 29[58%] males and 21[42%] females. Male: female ratio 1.38:1. Their age ranged between [1m -17 year].Twenty [40%] patients were above 10 years of age. In this study the mean glomerular Filtration rate was [29.5 + 18.5ml /min/1.73m2]. Congenital abnormalities were the major cause of CRF, it was found in 18 patients [36%], followed by hereditary conditions in 14 [28%] patients and glomerular diseases in 13 [26%] patients. The most common presenting symptom was anemia. It was found in 16[32%] patients followed by hypertension in 12 patients [24%] and failure to thrive in 12[24%] patients. Twenty-one patients [42%] received peritoneal dialysis, four [8%] received hemodialysis. Renal transplant was done to 3 patients [6%]. Congenital abnormalities was to the most common cause of CRF in our patients. Establishing registry system that provide detailed information concerning the incidence, causes, and overall outcomes of mild to severe renal functional impairment acquired during developmental age can clarify further the natural history of the disease and the factors that influence its course

Carcinogenic potential of catechin in salmonella-microsomal test system

Different varieties of catechu [widely used as betal paste] were subjected to mutagenic/ carcinogenic potential in Ames Salmonella-microsomal screening system. The findings indicated that none of the varieties of catechu, in recommended concentrations [500 Ug/plate] was able to increase [compared with the spontaneous reversions] the reversion mutations on his marker. Ethyl methane sulfonate and benzo [alpha] pyrene were used as standard mutagens