ABSTRACT
In order to analyze the possible relationship between metabolic rate and oxidative stress; we examined the susceptibility of erythrocytes in vitro oxidative challenge in hyperthyroid, hypothyroid and euthyroid patients in comparison to control subjects. The study included three groups of patients with either hyper, hypo- or euthyroidism. Each of these groups was compared with a control group [twenty-five apparently health subjects]. The hormonal parameters [T4, T3 and TSH] were measured by RIA technique. Erythrocytes thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were determined as basal values following their exposure to in vitro challenge with H20 2 as a marker for lipid peroxidation. H20 2 induced met-Hb was another parameter studied as an index for protein oxidation. Reduced glutathione was determined to be indicative for the antioxidant status in erythrocytes Hyperthyroid patients expressed significantly higher susceptibility to lipid peroxidation by producing greater thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentrations before and after incubation with 5, 10 or 15 mM H20 2 [P>0.01]. H20 2 - induced met-Hb level was modified by different thyroid disorders as compared to control samples. Abnormal thyroid hormone levels were associated with significant reduction in the major intracellular antioxidant [glutathione]. Thyroid disorders were found to be associated with abnormal modifications in both oxidants production [reflected by increased lipid and protein oxidation] and antioxidants defenses [presented by glutathione]. Taken together these effects could explain the enhanced susceptibility in tissues of such disorders [presented here by erythrocytes] and later development of cardiovascular complications. Hence, we suggest the administration of antioxidants as adjuvant to the regular therapy, hopping to minimize the unavoidable thyroid complications
ABSTRACT
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of children. To fill the gap in data concerning this disease in Iraq, we investigated the socio-demographic and other risk factors related to asthma occurrence among primary school children. A case control study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq among primary school children aged 6-12 years, for the period between October 2000 and June 2002. Six hundred and forty-four children with asthma were investigated with a control group of 1618 children without asthma. Well-constructed standardized modified questionnaires of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood were completed by the parents of the chosen children. From the studied risk factors, the following were found as significant risk factors for asthma development: crowding rate of >/= 5 [odds ratio [OR]=1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.1 - 2.4], lower educational level of parents, prematurity [OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.003-2.59], low birth weight [OR=2.41, 95% CI=1.87-3.09], family history of asthma whether father [OR=3.86, 95% CI=2.54-5.87], or mother [OR=8.27, 95% CI=5.21-13.15] or sibling [OR=4.33, 95% CI=3.24-5.8] and environmental exposure to tobacco smoking during pregnancy or currently from both parents. On the contrary, our study failed to detect significant association for the following factors: gender, residency, type of birth, breast feeding and duration. Crowding, low parental education, prematurity, low birth weight, family history of asthma and smoking are significant risk factors for asthma development among our primary school children. Efforts must be concentrated for hygienic environment, good antenatal care and quitting smoking habits in order to overcome this health problem