Impact of pesticides of renal function tests in collaboration with liver function tests among workers of pesticide formulation and packing plants in Pakistan

Objective: to evaluate the impact of pesticides on renal function tests in collaboration with liver function tests among workers of pesticide formulation and packing plants in Pakistan

Material and Methods: one hundred workers, 20-50 years of age, working at different pesticide formulation and packing units for at least one year were included in this study. One hundred healthy age and sex matched industrial workers were taken as controls. Renal function tests i.e. blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and liver function tests i.e. alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, gamma glut amyl transferase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin, were performed. Screening for hepatitis Band C virus was also done to confirm that all the samples included in current study were negative for Hepatitis Band C virus

Results: in current study, mean blood urea nitrogen value for 100 control subjects was 8.37 mg/di while that of 100 pesticide industrial workers was 12. 70 mg/di. Mean serum creatinine value of 100 controls was 0.65 mg/di and that of patient population were 0.98 mg/di. These results revealed that all the hundred pesticide industrial workers had normal blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels but on the higher side as compared to control subjects. P value was significantly high. The results of liver function tests in serum samples of control subjects were within normal range. Liver function tests of 80 pesticides industrial workers out of 100 were within normal range whereas 20 workers had abnormally raised levels

Conclusion: pesticide exposure among workers of pesticide plants might cause liver toxicity

Impact of pesticides on liver enzymes in workers of pesticide formulation and packing plants in Pakistan

To evaluate the impact of pesticides on Gamma Glutamyl Transferase [GTT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP], Alanine Transaminase [ALT] and Aspartate Transaminase [AST] in workers of pesticide formulation and packing plants in Pakistan. One hundred workers in the age group of 20-50 years working at different pesticide formulation and packing units for at least one year were included in this study. One hundred healthy workers from other than pesticides industry, with no history of exposure to pesticides and matching age, sex and social status were taken as controls.Biochemical tests for GGT, ALP, ALT, and AST, were carried out employing Chemistry Auto analyzer. In current study, serum of one hundred control subjects indicated mean GGT value 37.19+8.07U/L. Mean GGT value for one hundred pesticide industrial workers was found to be 30.08_10.63U/L. These results revealed that all the hundred pesticide industrial workers had normal GGT levels, but on the lower side as compared to control subjects. P value was significant. Data of hundred pesticides industrial workers was taken and it was found that ALP, ALT, AST of eighty workers was within the normal range whereas the remaining twenty workers had raised level of ALP, ALT, and AST. Data of the control group showed that ALP, ALT, and ASTof all one hundred workers were within the normal range. All Pesticide industrial workers had normal GGT levels. High or upper normal levels of ALP, ALT, and AST were observed in serum of pesticide industrial workers

Decreased serum zinc levels in patients with senile cataract

Age related cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world today and cataract extraction is the most often performed surgery. If a practical large scale intervention could slow the onset of cataract by ten years, the need for cataract surgery would be reduced by 45%. The causes of cataract are multiple, with nutrition playing a definite role. The usually high concentration of zinc in the ocular tissue, along with zinc deficiency being an established cause of Age Related Macular Degeneration, has led to an increasing interest in this trace element's potential role in Age related cataractogenesis. This study was conducted in The University of Health Sciences in collaboration with The Institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore and The University of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Lahore. The sample size was 50 patients with senile cataract. Serum of 35 age and sex matched controls were taken. These patients were undergoing trabeculectomy for glaucoma. Zinc levels were measured in the serum, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results supported the hypothesis that zinc deficiency could be one of the factors responsible for the development of senile cataract. Significant difference was observed in serum zinc levels of patients and controls [P < 0.001] showing that the patient serum zinc levels [0.896 +/- 0.202 vs. 0.478 + 0.278.] are significantly lower than the serum zinc levels of controls

Elevated lipoprotein [a] levels seen in patients with coronary artery disease

There are a number of risk factors involved in the etiology of coronary artery disease. Lipoprotein [a] [[Lp[a]] is a genetically determined variant of low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol which is highly atherogenic. It has been found to be a common risk factor in families suffering from premature coronary artery disease [CAD]. Our study was an analytical cross sectional study, in which Lp[a] levels were measured by ELISA assay in 60 cases of coronary artery disease [CAD], [both sexes, aged 40-60 yrs] and 60 healthy controls. There was a significant difference in serum Lp[a] level between the two with higher levels seen in the CAD cases. It is concluded that it is needed to measure Lp[a] levels as well as the routine lipid profile in CAD patients

Serum adiponectin levels in patients with coronary artery disease

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine secreted from white adipose tissue. Serum level of adiponectin has been shown to be reduced in several disease states like obesity and diabetes. Hypoadiponectinemia has also been included in the list of newer risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease [CAD]. In this analytical cross-sectional study serum adiponectin level was measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay [ELISA] in 60 cases of coronary artery disease [CAD] [both sexes, aged 40-60 yrs] and 60 healthy controls. Low levels of adiponectin were seen in CAD patients as well as controls. These levels were lower as compared to western standards. Our study conforms to the previous observation of lower serum adiponectin levels in South Asians compared to the western standards. Serum adiponectin level should be considered in the laboratory work-up of CAD patients