RESUMEN
Background & objectives: Chronic exposure to pesticides can damage DNA and lead to cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases and neurodegenerative and neurodevelopment disorders. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of DNA damage through the comet assay and micronucleus (MN) test in two groups of children, under 10 yr of age living in rural Paraguay and in relation to pesticide exposure. Methods: Two groups of 5 to 10 yr old children were formed; the exposed group (group A, n=43), born and currently living in a community dedicated to family agriculture and surrounded by transgenic soybean crops, and the control group (group B, n=41), born and living in a community dedicated to family agriculture with biological control of pests. For each child, 2000 cells were studied for the MN test and 200 cells for the comet assay. Results: The comparison between exposed and control children revealed significant differences in biomarkers studied for the measurement of genetic damage (cell death and DNA damage). The median of MN was higher in the exposed group (6 vs. 1) (P <0.001). Binucleated cells (2.9 vs. 0.5, P <0.001); broken eggs (5.5 vs. 1.0, P <0.001); karyorrhexis (6.7 vs. 0.5, P <0.001); kariolysis (14.0 vs. 1.0, P <0.001); pyknosis (7.4 vs. 1.2, P <0.001) and condensed chromatin (25.5 vs. 7.0, P <0.001) were significantly higher in the exposed group. The values of tail length (59.1 vs 37.2 ?m); tail moment (TM) (32.8 vs. 14.4 ?m); TM olive (15.5 vs. 6); % DNA tail (45.2 vs. 27.6) and % DNA head (54.8 vs. 72.4), were significantly different between the two groups. Interpretations & conclusions: In children exposed to pesticides, a greater genotoxic and cytotoxic effect was observed compared to non-exposed children. Our findings suggest that monitoring of genetic toxicity in population exposed to pesticides and agrochemicals should be done.
RESUMEN
Introducción: La enfermedad celiaca puede acompañarse de alteraciones hepáticas desde elevaciones enzimáticas, enfermedad grasa, hepatitis, etc. Objetivo: Para conocer su prevalencia y caracterizar la hepatopatía en pacientes celiacos se realizó este trabajo. Material y Método: Retrospectivo, de prevalencia, de enero de 1997 a diciembre de 2004. Resultados: 67 pacientes fueron incluidos, 38 mujeres y 29 varones (1:1,3) La edad de diagnóstico fue en promedio de 15,14 meses ( 8 meses - 11 años). La sintomatología de EC fue diarrea 86%, distensión abdominal 54%, náuseas y vómitos 46%, en 43% adelgazamiento, en 40% palidez, anorexia en 38%, cambio de carácter en 34%, edema 30% detención del crecimiento en 22%, astenia e hipotonía en 16% de los casos respectivamente. No se encontró síntoma patognomónico de afectación hepática. Se realizó ecografía abdominal en 12, en 6 (50%) se encontró hepatomegalia. Se midió la GOT en 29, encontrándose alteración en 15 (51 %). Se categorizó a los aumentos, según su incremento de una, dos, tres, cuatro o cinco veces más que el valor normal. Considerando como de riesgo el incremento por encima de tres veces el normal, encontramos a 12 de los pacientes en esa situación. GPT: se midió GPT en 27, se encontró alteración de esta enzima en 9 (33%). También en ellos se realizó la categorización por aumento de uno a cinco veces el valor normal reportado por laboratorio, encontrándose que sólo en un caso los valores fueron mayores de cinco veces, en los restantes 8 pacientes el aumento fue sólo de una vez el valor normal. La edad promedio de los pacientes con transaminasitis fue de 2 años 4 meses, con una mínima de un año y máxima de 7 años. No hubo correlación entre síntomas de posible origen hepático y el aumento de GOT en los pacientes estudiados. Se registró mortalidad en un solo paciente (1,5%) Conclusiones: La transaminasitis se encontró en 30% de los pacientes con EC estudiados, por lo que siempre debería ser investigado.
Introduction: Celiac disease can be accompanied by hepatic changes including elevated enzyme levels, fatty liver disease, hepatitis, etc. Objective: This study was done to find the prevalence of and describe hepatopathy in celiac patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective prevalence study covering the period January 1997 to December 2004. Results: The study included 67 patients: 38 girls and 29 boys (1:1.3). Age at diagnosis was on average 15.14 months (range: 8 months to 11 years). The symptom complex for celiac disease included diarrhea 86%, abdominal distension 54%, nausea and vomiting 46%, weight loss 43%, pallor 40%, anorexia 38%, changes in character 34%, edema 30%, failure to thrive and grow 22%, and debility and hypotonia in 16% of the cases. No pathognomonic symptoms of hepatic disorders were found. Abdominal ultrasound was done in 12 patients, in 6 (50%) of these hepatomegaly was found. AST was performed in 29 patients, with changes found in 15 (51%). The increases were classified as being one, two, three, four, or five times normal value. Using a three-fold or higher increase to define at risk patients, we found 12 patients in that state. ALT: ALT was performed in 27 patients, with enzyme changes found in 9 (33%). These patients were also classified as one- through five-times normal value according to the laboratory results; only one patient was found with a five-fold or greater value, in the other 8 patients the value was less than twice normal value. The average age of the patients with unexplained elevated liver enzymes (transaminasitis) was 2 years 4 months (28 months), with a range of from one-year to seven-years of age. No correlation was found between possibly hepatic symptoms and the elevated AST in the patients studied. Only one death was recorded (1.5%). Conclusion: Unexplained elevated liver enzymes (transaminitis) were found in 30% of the patients with celiac disease studied, for which reason it should always be investigated.