"Kohl" use for infants

Kohl is still being used for the eyes of infants. The habit is of concern to paediatritians because of the serious toxic effects. 1. To determine how frequent kohl was being used for infants eyes, the reasons for its use and the method of application. 2. To estimate the blood and urine level of lead in infants, and in kohl samples from the local market. 3. To document kohl induced encephalopathy. Mothers of 150 children under a year of age were interviewed and samples of 40 infants' blood and urine were analyzed for their lead content. Kohl was used for 47% of infants. Forty percent of town mothers and 57% of rural mothers were applying it to their infants eyes. Fifty percent of illiterate mothers and 33% of college graduates were applying it. The habit started in the neonatal period: 40% of which on the third day after birth. The reasons for the use were: cosmetic 54%, improving vision 41% and prevention of eye infection 4%. The mean blood and urine levels of lead were higher among kohl user, but it did not reach statistical significance. The lead contents of kohl samples varied from 0.4% to 54%. In two infants encephalitis was present, the most likely cause was kohl use. Kohl use is common during infancy. Its lead content could be high. It was usually applied to the conjunctival side of the eyelid where a higher chance of absorption into the blood stream was expected. Kohl use for infants could lead to encephalopathy. Active means should be adopted to educate mothers about the hazards of kohl use for infants, and possibly banning the sales of lead containing kohl

Brain injury markers (S100B and NSE) in chronic cocaine dependents

OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown signs of brain damage caused by different mechanisms in cocaine users. The serum neuron specific enolase and S100B protein are considered specific biochemical markers of neuronal and glial cell injury. This study aimed at comparing blood levels of S100B and NSE in chronic cocaine users and in volunteers who did not use cocaine or other illicit drugs. METHOD: Twenty subjects dependent on cocaine but not on alcohol or marijuana, and 20 non-substance using controls were recruited. Subjects were selected by consecutive and non-probabilistic sampling. Neuron specific enolase and S100B levels were determined by luminescence assay. RESULTS: Cocaine users had significantly higher scores than controls in all psychiatric dimensions of the SCL-90 and had cognitive deficits in the subtest cubes of WAIS and the word span. Mean serum S100B level was 0.09 ± 0.04 µg/l among cocaine users and 0.08 ± 0.04 µg/l among controls. Mean serum neuron specific enolase level was 9.7 ± 3.5 ng/l among cocaine users and 8.3 ± 2.6 ng/l among controls. CONCLUSIONS: In this first study using these specific brain damage markers in cocaine users, serum levels of S100B and neuron specific enolase were not statistically different between cocaine dependent subjects and controls.

OBJETIVO: Estudos têm demonstrado sinais de lesão cerebral causadas por diferentes mecanismos em usuários de cocaína. A enolase sérica neurônio-específica e a proteína S100B são consideradas marcadores bioquímicos específicos de lesão neuronal e glial. Este estudo objetivou comparar os níveis sangüíneos de S100B e enolase sérica neurônio-específica em usuários crônicos de cocaína e em voluntários que não usam cocaína ou outras drogas ilícitas. MÉTODO: Vinte sujeitos dependentes de cocaína, mas não dependentes de álcool, maconha ou outra droga, e 20 sujeitos controles não usuários de drogas foram recrutados. Os sujeitos foram selecionados por amostragem consecutiva e não-probabilística e os níveis de enolase neurônio-específica e S100B foram determinados por ensaio de luminescência. RESULTADOS: Os usuários de cocaína tiveram escores significativamente maior que os controles em todas as dimensões psiquiátricas do SCL-90 e apresentaram prejuízos cognitivos no subteste cubos do WAIS e no span de palavras. Os níveis de S100B foram em média 0,09 ± 0,04 µg/l nos usuários de cocaína e 0,08 ± 0,04 µg/l nos controles. Os níveis de enolase neurônio-específica foram em média 9,7 ± 3,5 ng/l nos usuários e 8,3 ± 2,6 ng/l nos controles. CONCLUSÃO: Neste primeiro estudo utilizando esses marcadores específicos de lesão cerebral em usuários de cocaína, os níveis séricos de S100B e enolase específica do neurônio não foram significativamente diferentes entre dependentes de cocaína e controles.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) study in chronic arsenic poisoning patients.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible neurotoxicity of arsenic to auditory sensory pathways and evaluate roles of BAEPs in the detection of early brain damage resulting from arsenic exposure. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytic study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty nine females with skin lesions consistent with arsenical dermatoses and 27 controls who met the inclusion criteria were investigatetd by Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEPs). Case findings resulted from a house-to-house survey in village 12, Ronphibun subdistrict and village 5, Saothong subdistrict, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand in 1995. RESULTS: Differences between the arsenic-exposed population and the referent group regarding BAEP parameters, BAEP latencies and interpeak latencies were not found. CONCLUSION: Evidence of the abnormalities of the auditory sensory pathways was not found among female patients with arsenical dermtoses in Ronphibun. The role of BAEPs in the detection of brain damage resulting from arsenic exposure could not be demonstrated.