The association between heavy metal and serum cholesterol levels in the US population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2012.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the relationship between heavy metal and serum cholesterol levels, and no recent study has examined this relationship in the US population. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 19,591 individuals aged 0-80 years were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2012; the current study was composed of survey participants for whom some or all low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, blood lead (Pb), total blood mercury (Hg), and blood cadmium (Cd) levels had been measured. Three tertiles (T1-T3) of heavy metals were used to explore dose-response association between heavy metal exposure and serum cholesterol level. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between tertiles of blood heavy metal levels and serum cholesterol levels after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. We have shown that the groups with the highest levels of Pb, Hg, and Cd had a 56%, 73%, and 41% chance, respectively, of having a high total cholesterol level. In study subjects with the highest Pb levels, there was also a 22% chance of being in the group with the highest LDL-C level. An increase in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels was observed from the first to the third tertiles of the heavy metals studied. CONCLUSION: Increasing blood Pb, Hg, and Cd levels were associated with significantly increased odds of high total cholesterol after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.

Post-renal transplant infections: single-center experience from Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Infections are the leading cause of hospitalization and mortality in transplant recipients. Nigeria has a growing number of renal transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of infections in renal allograft recipients in one of the major renal transplant centers in Nigeria. METHODS: All case records of renal allograft recipients on follow-up were retrieved. Those that had infection at any time after transplantation were selected. Demographic and clinical information was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-three case records were analyzed, out of which 24/33 (72.7%) were males, with a mean age of 42.3 years (± 7.38). The median duration of developing infection post transplant was 270 days (range 2-2190). Most of the infections occurred after 6 months in 15/33 (45.5%). Urinary tract infection was the most common infection, noted in 13/33 (39.4%), followed by pneumonia, which was seen in 12 (33.3%), 9/12 (75%) of which were culture-positive. There were 2 cases (5.6%) of tuberculosis and 1 case (2.8%) of cytomegalovirus colitis. Out of the 9 culture-positive pneumonia cases, 6 (66.7%) were caused by gram-negative pathogens, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most common isolate seen in 3/9 (33.3%) of the patients. Among those with urinary tract infection, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species were isolated with equal proportion in 3/13 (23.1%), while Enterococcus faecalis was the most common isolate in 4/13 (30.8%). Overall infection-related mortality was 10/33 (30.3%), out of which 5/10 (50%) of deaths were from pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Post-transplant infection surveillance must be strengthened. The role of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in post-renal transplant infection in Nigeria needs to be evaluated.