Serum zinc level in children with beta-thalassemia major on iron chelator

Zinc as a second trace element of human body plays an important role in numerous functions Thalassemic patients are at risk of zinc deficiency due to various causes including the use of iron chelating agents oral or injectable. In this study we aim to measure the serum zinc level in beta-thalassemic patients on oral versus injectable iron chelator. A hospital based case control study conducted in the Center of Hereditary Blood Disorders in Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital for the period between 1st of December 2011 to 31th of Augest 2012. Seventy children with beta-thalassemia major were studied, patients were divided into two groups: 37 patients were treated by deferoxamine constituent of group A and 33 were those on deferasiroxe therapy constituent group B. Control group consisted of 35 healthy children. Serum zinc was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometery. Patients aged between 5-11 years, boys were 34 and girls 36. The mean age of patients was 7.5 years. The mean serum zinc level in group A [patients on deferoxamine] 59.3784 +/- 28.44913 microg/dl was significantly lower than that of group B [patients on deferasiroxe] 105.5667 +/- 30.25488 microg/dl and control group 96.8974 +/- 24.98083 microg/dl respectively. Hypozincemia found in 70.7%, 20% and 17.9% in group A, B and control group respectively. There was a significant difference between patients of both groups and control [p<0.05], while high significant difference between patients of different iron chelators [p<0.001]. Hypozincemia is common in thalassemic patients. The low level of serum zinc mainly found in those with injectable iron chelator. Routine follow up of serum zinc level and other possible causes of hypozenicemia should be studied before giving zinc to these patients

Assessment of thyroid functions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] is no longer considered to [COPE]; affect only the lungs and airways but also the rest of the body. The systemic manifestations of Thyroid hormones; COPD include a number of endocrine disorders, such as those involving the pituitary, the thyroid, the gonads, the adrenals and the pancreas. The severity of airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases [COPD] is associated with the impairment of thyroid gland function. This study was carried out to evaluate thyroid abnormalities in patients with COPD and relationship between pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases and thyroid functions. Serum free triiodothyronine [ft3], free thyroxin [ft4], and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] were measured in 50 patients with COPD and 50 healthy volunteers [control group] and its relation to some ventilatory function tests [FEV1/FVC, FEV1, FVC%, and FEF25-75] and ABG parameters [PH, Paco2, Pao2, Hco3 and O2 saturation] were studied. There was no significant difference in mean levels of TSH, FT3 and FT4 between COPD and control group. The mean values of free T3, free T4, and TSH were within normal limits in both groups however, free T3 values in the case group were toward upper normal limits and the mean values of free T3 were increased in the case group compared to their values in the control group. The mean values of free T3 of the cases were significantly increasing with increased severityof COPD. Significant negative correlations were present between free T3 levels and pulmonary function tests of the cases. Significant negative correlations were present between free T3 levels and both PaO2 and SO2 of the cases and also show a significant positive correlation between free T3 levels and PaCO2 of the cases. Thyroid function tests among COPD patients showed a significant increase of the mean free T3 values and a non significant decrease of the mean free T4 and TSH values compared to the control group. With increasing severity of COPD, the mean free T3 values showed a significant increase. Significant negative correlations were noticed between free T3 levels and both PaO2 and SO2 of the cases. A significant positive correlation was observed between free T3 levels and PaCO2 of the cases. Significant negative correlations were observed between free T3 levels and pulmonary function tests of the cases

Effect of acute antioxidants overdose on blood hemostasis: experimental study

The current study was carried out to investigate the effects of the excessive use of large doses of the most widely used antioxidants, d-alpha-tocopherol [vitamin E], retinol acetate [vitamin A], and I-ascorbic acid [vitamin C], on the blood hemostasis. 160 albino rats were divided into 4 experimental groups of 40 animals each as follows: Group I: A control group [negative and positive]; Group II: Each animal of this group received a daily oral dose of 24 mg of d-alpha-tocopherol; Group III: Each animal of this group received a daily oral dose of 1 mg of Trans-retinal acetate, and; Group IV: Each animal of this group received a daily oral dose of 20 mg of l-ascorbic acid. The results of the current study have revealed that both d-alpha-tocopherol and retinol acetate produced a significant prolongation of prothrombin time [PT] and activated partial thromboplastine time [PTT] with a significant reduction of factor X activity. On the contrary, I-ascorbic acid produced no significant effect on these parameters. Histopathological examination of liver, kidney, and brain specimens of the different treated animal groups revealed the presence of significant hemorrhages in most samples of both d-alpha-tocopherol- and retinal acetate-treated animals, while the specimens of I-ascorbic acid-treated animals showed no hemorrhage in nearly all samples. These histopathological changes were confirmatory to the biochemical ones. It could be concluded that the excessive use of large doses both d-alpha-tocopherol and retinal acetate alters the blood hemostasis with increased bleeding tendencies, while I-ascorbic acid doesn't. In fact, I-ascorbic acid could be considered a safe drug even in excessive doses for long periods

Ophthalmia neonatorum

One hundred thirty-eight [138] cases in neonatal ward at the maternity and childhood hospital in Najaf city, were diagnosed as having ophthalmia neonatorum. Eye swabs were obtained from 114 neonates included in the study, age ranged [1-28] day, the aim of the study to investigate bacterial causes of ophthalmia neonatorum. Of these, 57[50%] yielded growths and five group of bacterial microorganism were identified using standard techniques. klebsiella sp. was the most prevalent [23] [20%] Enterobacter accounted for [12] [10%], Staphylococcus aureus [9] [7%], Escherichia coli [7] [6%], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [6] [5%] Susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates to antibiotics were determined. Also male sexes, normal vaginal delivery, prolong rupture of membrane and age less than one week was identified as risk factors. MPH: Maternity and pediatric hospital. N.V.D: Normal vaginal delivery. CIS: Cesarean section. P.R.O.M: Prolonged rupture of membrane. A.B: Antibiotic. E.coli: Escherichia coli. GM: Gentamycin. CTX: Cefotaxim. NA: Norfioxacin. TOB: Tobramycin. NX: Nalidaxic acid. CIP: Ciprofloxacin. No: Number