Effect of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on pulmonary function and inflammatory biomarkers in healthy and asthmatic children

Environmental tobacco smoke [ETS] exposure is a well-known hazard for children we describe here the relationship between ETS exposure as assessed by urinary cotinine excretion and both lung function tests and asthma markers in children with asthma. 80 children 5-14 years of age with confirmed diagnosis of asthma were assessed. Pulmonary function, asthma biomarkers [eosinophilic count, eosinophilic cationic protein and total serum IgE] and urinary cotinine, were measured.Urinary cotinine concentration in asthmatic children was significantly correlated with symptoms score, eosinophilic count, eosinophilic cationic protein and total serum IgE. It was negatively correlated with both FVC and FEV1. Pulmonary function tests were significantly reduced in ETS exposed asthmatic children when compared to non exposed asthmatics. Measurement of urinary cotinine levels provides further evidence of association between ETS exposure and pulmonary morbidity in children with asthma. Persistent efforts are needed to stop exposure of both asthmatic and healthy children to environmental tobacco smoke

Assessment of hair content of some heavy metals in children with mental retardation and ADHD

Hair samples of 25 children with mild mental subnormality, 25 children with moderate mental subnormality and 25 children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder [ADHD] were collected and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for determination of their content of lead [Pb], Cadmium [Cd], Copper [Cu] and zinc [Zn]. The results were compared with hair content of the studied metals of 75 healthy children. A highly significant increase in lead scalp hair content was observed in both groups of mental retardation [MR] and in ADHD group when compared to controls. No difference was observed regarding the other metals between different groups. A negative correlation was found between hair Pb and Intelligence Quotient [IQ]. Also a positive correlation between scalp hair lead and total aggression score was discovered. Both mentally retarded and ADHD childen have more hair Pb content than controls. Monitoring scalp hair metals content provides a valuable screening method for assessment of environmental pollution in children

Polysomnography, a new modality in evaluating sleep disorders in children

Relatively, little is known about sleep disturbances among children, this descriptive study, examined a variety of common sleep behaviors in a group of 500 elementary school children aged from 4 to 10 years [median 7 years], using a battery of sleep questionnaires. The prevalence of parent-defined sleep problems ranged from head banging [3.2%] to teeth grinding [19.2%] and bed wetting [21.2%] with 94 children [/8.8%] of over all sample described as having significant sleep problems. Polysomnographic recordings were obtained from 21 children with severe sleep disturbances : rhythmic movement disorders [4 children], obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS] 5 children, nocturnal enuresis [5 children] and other parasomnias constitute 7 children. One of the four children with rhythmic movement disorders proved by polysomnographic records [EEG] to had nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, while 3 children out of the five children with clinically suspected OSAS met its polysomnographic criteria. We concluded from this study that sleep disturbances are common in school aged children and polysomnography is of great value in diagnosis of OSAS and violent nocturnal movements

Interleukin-one-beta, a possible role in some hormonal and metabolic changes in children with meningitis

To investigate the role of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin one-beta [IL1B] in the development of some endocrinal and metabolic changes that may accompany meningitis, 82 children with meningitis of different etiologies aged from 2 months to 12 years were included in this study. Lipid profile [Plasma cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein [HDL], Low Density Lipoprotein [LDL] and Triglycerides] and Hormonal assay [serum Triiodothyronin [T3], Tetraiodothyronin [T4], Thyroid Stimulating Hormone [TSH] and Cortisol] were evaluated in the morning, before any treatment was given and also two weeks later. Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid [CSF] levels of IL1B were also measured. Although thyroidal hormone levels were not altered during the infectious process, cortisol level was significantly increased in all studied groups [septic, viral and tuberculosis meningitis] then declines during convalescence. IL1B was significantly correlated with plasma cortisol level suggesting a possible role in the induction of these changes. Serum triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL were significantly increased in all studied groups compared to controls while a minimal non-significant decrease in serum HDL was elicited. Also, a positive correlation was noted between serum triglycerides and IL1B in plasma. These network of responses mediated by IL1B might explain the changes in lipid homeostasis. IL1B was detected in all CSF and plasma samples from different studied groups. It was higher in septic, tuberculosis, and aseptic groups respectively. IL1B seems to play an important role in the pathophysiological changes that accompany meningitis