Evaluation of dietary and biochemical risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of bladder stones in children of below ten years age at hyderabad Sindh

Bladder stones in children of below ten years age continue as a major pediatric health problem in Hyderabad-Sindh. To investigate dietary and metabolic risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of bladder stones in children of below ten years age. Case control study .This study was conducted at the Biochemistry and Surgery Departments, Isra University, Hyderabad from January 2011 to December 2011. Thirty four children with bladder stones admitted for treatment in the pediatric surgery unit, Liaquat Medical College Hospital Jamshoro during 6 months and 30 normal controls were examined. Information regarding diet and dietary habits of the subjects were obtained through standard questionnaire developed for that purpose. Biochemical aspect of bladder stone disease was studied by measuring creatinine, urea, uric acid, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, chloride and bicarbonate levels in serum samples of bladder stone patients and control subjects. The results of present study show that although, average intake of water and milk by patients and control subjects were comparable, majority [73.5%] of the bladder stone patients admitted to drink water when they felt thirsty, contrary to control subjects who used to take water at regular intervals. The mean tea intake by bladder stone patients was significantly [P<0.05] greater than that of the control subjects. Same was true for the intake of green leafy and seedy vegetables [P<0.05]. From the blood parameters measured in bladder stone patients and control subjects, the levels for potassium, magnesium and phosphate were found to be significantly [P<0.05] higher in bladder stone patients compared to control subjects, whereas reverse was true for creatinine, chloride and bicarbonate levels. Children with bladder stones were noted to have serum creatinine levels significantly lower than the control subjects. Their dietary and fluid intake habits were also found to be quite different from that of the control subjects. These observations suggest that malnutrition and poor dietary habits are the major risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of childhood vesicallithiasis at Hyderabad-Sindh

Comparison of serum calcium, copper and iron levels in serum samples from gallstone patients and control subjects

Present study was designed to investigate the levels of calcium, copper and iron in the serum samples of gallstone patients and control subjects with no personal or family history of gallstones. Sera of 109 gallstone patients and 100 control subjects were obtained during January 2010 to November 2010 from Memon Charitable Hospital, Hyderabad. The serum calcium, copper and iron concentrations were determined by Hitachi double beam atomic absorption spectrophotometer 180 - 50. Comparison of serum calcium, copper, and iron levels between gallstone patients and control subjects showed that all these variables were significantly [p < 0.01] higher in gallstone patients. However, no significant difference [p > 0.01] was found when mean serum concentrations for these variables were compared between male and female gallstone patients, between female gallstone patients of up to 45 and over 45 years age and between female gallstone patients having up to 3 and more than 3 children. The higher levels of calcium, copper and iron in blood samples of gallstone patients compared to controls suggest that these metals do play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of human gallstones

Gallstone disease: a review

The present article gives a broad overview of gallstone disease and focuses on the pathogenesis, prevalence and association of the risk factors, dietary risk and protective factors, with the development of gallstones. Studies reviewed were identified by searching the Pubmed database upto 2005. The criteria for the including studies on pathogenesis, prevalence and risk factors, and dietary protective factors, were: [i] language of the article had to be English; [ii] studies should be case-control, cohort or cross sectional in design; [iii] Finally, the review focuses on studies on human populations. Although extensive research on gallstones has been conducted in animal models, no other animal besides the human is known to spontaneously develop gallstones [1]; thus while animal models may offer information on specific aspects of the lithogenic process; their findings are not considered here

Association of tea and other addicitive substances with gallstone disease in southern Sindh, Pakistan

To evaluate any association of consumption and / or use of tea, paan, supari, naas, naswar, smoking, coffee and alcohol with gallstone disease. Case - Control study The study was carried out at different hospitals of Hyderabad and adjoining areas [Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro, Memon Charitable Hospital, Hyderabad, Wali Bhai Rajputana Hospital, Hyderabad, Naseem Medical Center, Hyderabad, and Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad] during January 1999 to December 2001. 160 hospitalized gallstone patients and 112 patients admitted in eye wards were taken as controls [age, sex and locality matched with negative personal and family history]. The justification of taking eye patients as controls lie in the fact that these patients have no gastrointestinal problem which could be associated with gallstones. All were interviewed through a standard questionnaire developed for that purpose. The consumption and / or use of tea, paan, naas / naswaar, alcohol and coffee were common among both the groups. Smoking was found to be the main risk factor for gallstone patients. Smokers as against non-smokers were however at risk 1.89 [95% CI, 0.68-5.26, p=0.105] to develop gallstones. Similarly consumers of more than 1 cup of tea per day were seen to be at higher risk [4.07, 95% CI; 1.71-9.64, p=0.001] for gallstone disease. No association of Supari, Naas and Naswar intake was found with the occurrence of gallstones. A significant inverse association [0.49 CI; 0.34-0.5, p=0.04] of paan, [0.39 CI; 0.11-0.52, p=0.00] alcohol, and [0.36 CI; 0.24-0.98, p=0.04] coffee was found with gallstone disease. Tea consumption is positively and Paan, alcohol and coffee consumptions are negatively associated with gallstone disease in Southern Sindh, Pakistan

Analysis of kidney stones by FTIR spectroscopy

This study was carried out to investigate the composition and type of kidney stones in our population. Analytical study. Kidney stones recovered from patients of different hospitals of Hyderabad and adjoining areas [Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro, Memon Charitable Hospital Hyderabad, Wali Bhai Rajputana Hospital Hyderabad, Naseem Medical Center Hyderabad and Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad, Sindh] during 2005 - 2006. A total of 58 kidney stone samples were collected randomly and analyzed for composition by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FTIR]. Of 58 kidney stone samples, 37.9% were pure calcium oxalate stones, 3.4% were uric acid, 44% calcium oxalate + uric acid, 3.4% calcium oxalate + aspartate and 10.3% were magnesium ammonium phosphate. The IR bands were compared with standards. Gender wise comparison revealed that majority of the stones [68.9%] analyzed were recovered from male patients. Whereas, stones recovered from females were only 31.1%. Age wise comparison data disclosed that age range for the presentation of kidney stone disease was 15-29 years. Calcium oxalate + uric acid stones are commonly found in patients of Hyderabad and adjoining areas

Association of gallstone disease risk with serum level of alkaline phosphatase

To see the relationship between personal history and blood chemistry of preoperative gallstone patients with gallstone disease. A Cross sectional study. Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro for a period of three years. Gallstone patients admitted for the treatment during January 1999 to December 2001 were studied with the help of a predesigned proforma for recording the personal history and blood chemistry results of the individual patients. A total of 172 patients was studied. Majority [85.33%] of the gallstone patients was females. Females under 45 years age [65.38%] and females having more than three children [70.55%] were more prone to develop gallstones than the respective female group of over 45 years age [34.62%] and having upto three children [29.45%]. Past history of the gallstone patients revealed that 53.5%, 23.2%, and 9.3% of the cases had jaundice, diabetes mellitus and renal stones respectively. Blood chemistry of the patients showed that 18.2%, 2.8%, 3.44% and 4.1% had respectively hyperbilirubinemia, hyperuremia, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase levels in plasma and total leuckocyte count in blood were raised in 17%, 39.7% and 9% cases respectively. However, low plasma alkaline phosphatase levels were also found in 31.1% gallstone patients. The levels of plasma alkaline phosphatase were significantly high [p<0.01] in females than in males, and in females over 45 years age than under 45. Risk of gallstone disease in females is associated with serum alkaline phosphatase level