Renal Tubular Acidosis Presenting as Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

Background: Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (DI) can be primary or secondary to variouscauses. Case Characteristics: One child with Fanconi syndrome with proximal renaltubular acidosis (RTA) due to nephropathic cystinosis, and other with Distal RTA withhearing loss. Observation: Both cases showed features of nephrogenic DI, which resolvedafter treating the primary pathology. Message: Renal Tubular acidosis may causenephrogenic DI.

LDL Susceptibility to Oxidative Stress in Smokers.

In 30 cigarette smokers and in 30 sex and age matched nonsmoker controls, susceptibility of LDL to oxidative stress following incubation with copper sulphate (1mM) was measured in terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. Susceptibility of LDL to oxidation in smokers was found to be 0.514131±0.468231picomol MDA/μg protein/hr. LDL susceptibility to oxidation in non-smokers was found to be 0.711726 ± 0.447324picomol MDA/μg protein/hr. These two values were not statistically different (p=0.1) by unpaired T test. This study therefore suggests that cigarette smoke does not increase LDL susceptibility to oxidation.

Staphylococcal catalase regulates its virulence and induces arthritis in catalase deficient mice.

To figure out whether in vivo expression of Staphylococcal catalase could correlate with the virulence and pathogenicity of the bacteria in the catalase deficient Swiss albino mice. 3 Amino 1, 2, 4 triazole (ATZ) (2 mg/g body wt) treated catalase deficient mice were infected with virulent S. aureus and bacterial burden, antioxidant enzyme levels were estimated after 3, 5 and 10 days of infection. Arthritic scores and levels of serum uric acid in mice were also determined. ATZ treatment was found to have slowed down the clearance of bacteria from blood and their rapid elimination from spleen. Increased tissue catalase activities in the spleen and liver of ATZ pre-treated mice even after 5 days of infection suggested its bacterial origin. It was further verified by zymographic analysis. Increased swelling of joints was observed after 5 days of infection. Uric acid level was found lesser in ATZ treated mice. ATZ treatment slowed the bacterial passage from blood with a lower tissue anti-oxidant enzymes leading to induction of joint inflammation.