ABSTRACT
Background: The role of heavy metals in the etio-pathogenesis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a burning enigma. The available studies with discordant results are from different geographical localities with different monitoring, regulations and sociocultural backgrounds. The differential association of heavy metals with ADHD severity and phenotypes has not been adequately examined. Also, there are concerns about laboratory quality control. Therefore, the present case control study was formulated.Methods: Thirty children with ADHD diagnosed by DSM IV criteria and thirty group age matched controls were enrolled. Detailed perinatal, past, developmental and possible exposure history to various heavy metals was taken. Severity of ADHD was assessed using ConnersTM Parent reporting questionnaire. Blood level of metals was estimated by inductively coupled plasma- atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).Results: The mean blood lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, zinc were comparable in children with ADHD and group age matched controls. The mean blood lead, mercury and cadmium levels in study population was higher than found in studies from developed countries. Elevated arsenic, mercury and cadmium were found in both cases and controls. Blood zinc correlated significantly with inattention T score and blood mercury with hyperactivity-impulsitivity T score of Conners parent rating scale. Blood cadmium was present in greater proportion of predominant hyperactive-impulsive type patients.Conclusions: Zinc deficiency correlates with inattention; cadmium and mercury toxicity correlate with hyperactivity. Mean blood levels of heavy metals is elevated in a substantial proportion of study population. So, there is an urgent need for sensitization and environmental control.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is a common infection in patients on haemodialysis. There is a definite role of treatment of latent TB (LTB) in these patients. However, diagnosis of LTB in these patients by tuberculin skin test (TST) is unreliable. There is suggestion that interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) will be more reliable test for diagnosis of LTB in this setting. Thus, we evaluated value of IGRA and TST for the diagnosis of LTB in patients on dialysis in an Indian setting. Methods: Patients with end stage kidney disease on dialysis were included. Patients with active TB were excluded. Each patient was subjected to TST (induration of ≥10 mm was taken as positive) and QuantiFERON TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) for diagnosis of LTB. Results: A total of 185 patients were included; 129 (69.7%) were males and mean age was 36.7 ± 12.3 yr. Past history of TB was present in 18 (9.7%) patients. One hundred and thirty four (72.4%) patients had scar of BCG vaccination. QFT-GIT test was positive in 66 (36%), TST in 32 (17%) and both in 13 (7%) patients. Of the 66 patients positive with QFT-GIT, only 13 (19.6%) were positive for TST. Of the 32 patients positive with TST, only 13 (40.6%) were positive with QFT-GIT; 100 (54%) patients were negative for both the tests. Overall, 85 (45.9%) patients were positive for either of the two tests. Poor agreement was shown between the two methods. On logistic regression analysis, odds of QFT-GIT to be positive in patients with BCG vaccination was 1.23 and with history of TB 0.99, both being insignificant. odds of tuberculin skin test to be positive in patients with BCG vaccination was 1.04 and with history of TB 0.99, both again being insignificant. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings showed that more number of patients (36%) on haemodialysis were positive for QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube test as compared to TST (17%). There was poor agreement between the two tests. no significant effect of BCG vaccination and history of TB in past was observed on both tests.
ABSTRACT
Aim Tropical sprue was considered to be the most important cause of malabsorption in adults in India. However, several reports indicate that celiac disease is now recognized more frequently. Methods We analyzed the clinical presentation, endoscopic and histological features of 94 consecutive patients (age >12 years) with chronic diarrhea and malabsorption syndrome. The spectrum of disease in these patients and features differentiating celiac disease and tropical sprue are reported here. Results Celiac disease (n=61, 65%) was the most common cause of malabsorption followed by tropical sprue (21, 22%). Other conditions including cyclosporiasis (3), Crohn’s disease (2), common variable immunodeficiency (2), lymphangiectasia (1), William’s syndrome (1), and idiopathic malabsorption (3) accounted for the remainder. A greater number (21, 34%) of patients with celiac disease than those with tropical sprue (4, 19%) presented with atypical manifestations. Patients with celiac disease were younger (p=0.001), more often had anemia, (p=0.001), scalloping of folds (p=0.001), moderate (p=0.02) or severe (p=0.001) villous atrophy, higher grade of intraepithelial lymphocytic infiltration (p=0.001), crypt hyperplasia (p=0.001), cuboidal (p=0.001) and pseudostratified (p=0.009) surface epithelial cells, and diffuse (p=0.001) epithelial damage. In comparison, patients with tropical sprue were older and more often had normal duodenal folds, normal villi, tall columnar epithelial cells and focal epithelial damage. Conclusions Celiac disease was the most frequent cause of malabsorption syndrome in this series of patients. There are significant clinical and histological differences between celiac disease and tropical sprue.