Pulmonary ventilatory functions and obesity in Kuwait

To study the relationship between obesity and pulmonary ventilatory functions in Kuwaiti adults. A total of 200 male and 180 female Kuwaiti adults aged 20-65 years were investigated in six medical centers from April 2004 to March 2006. Parameters measured included forced expiratory volume in 1 s[FEV[1]], forced vital capacity [FVC], FEV[1] as a percentage of FVC [FEV%]; body mass index [BMI in kg/m[2]] and waist-to-hip ratio [W/H]. For the whole group, males or females, BMI [kg.m[2]] and W/H were poor individual predictors of pulmonary ventilatory functions. However, central adiposity [W/H] was associated with restrictive respiratory impairment [10.6-13.9% decrease in FEV[1] And 10-12.3% decrease in FVC], independent of sex, age or height. In obese females and males [BMI >30], increasing severity of obesity was significantly associated [p < 0.05, R[2] >0.06] associated with increasing restrictive respiratory impairment [8.7-14.4% decrease in FEN[1] And 8-11.7% decrease in FVC], with no evidence of obstructive disease [FEV[1]/FVC >0.8]. In adult Kuwaiti males and females, increase in body fat at BMI >30 or W/H >1 was associated with a restrictive effect on pulmonary ventilation

Renal functional disorders in children with liver cirrhosis: role of renal prostaglandins

Renal prostaglandins have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the renal dysfunction of cirrhosis, but the information is fragmentary and often contradictory. To assess the role of renal prostaglandins in renal hemodynamics and sodium handling in cirrhosis, the urinary levels of PGE2 and TXB2 were measured and correlated with the severity of cirrhosis [grade A to C according to Pugh-Child's score] in 40 children, 4 - 14 years of age. From the results obtained it was concluded that, both PGE2 and TXB2 excretion are increased in children with severe cirrhosis [grade B and C]. A larger increase in vasoconstrictor TXB2 than in vasodilator PGE2 is associated with a decrease in GFR. The low FENa in patients with severe cirrhosis in the presence of high PGE2 may be viewed as an sufficient attempt at natriuresis