Serum magnesium level and vascular stiffness in children with chronic kidney disease on regular hemodialysis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have a high prevalence of vascular calcifications, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in this population. Magnesium (Mg) depletion may be the missing link between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between serum Mg levels and vascular stiffness in children with CKD on regular hemodialysis (HD). The study included 25 children with CKD on regular HD in our center; the study included also 25 healthy children age-and sex-matched as a control group. Serum Mg levels were measured, and Doppler ultrasound assessment of the intima-media thickness (IMT) and the peak systolic velocities (PSVs) of the main arteries including the (aorta, carotid, and femoral) arteries were recorded in the study patients. There were significantly lower serum Mg levels in children on regular HD than in the controls (1.7 ± 0.43 mg/dL vs. 2.31 ± 0.12 mg/dL, respectively, P = 0.001). There was a significant increase in the aorta and carotid IMT in the study group than in the controls (0.45 ± 0.07 mm vs. 0.40 ± 0.09 mm; 0.98 ± 0.57 mm vs. 0.55 ± 0.1 mm, P = 0.034 and 0.001, respectively), whereas there were no significant differences regarding the PSV of the carotid, aorta, and femoral arteries between the study patients and the controls (P >0.05). A negative correlation was found between serum Mg level with aortic IMT (AIMT) (r = -0.682; P = 0.000). In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between the AIMT with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.447, P = 0.025, 0.472, P = 0.017), respectively. We conclude that lower serum Mg levels were associated with vascular calcification in chronic HD children. Confirmation of our results warrants further study.

Epidemiologic risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma in a rural region of Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide, including Egypt. In the recent past, HCC has become the second most prevalent cancer among men in Egypt. Since HCC has not been well studied in the rural population of Egypt, this case-control study was conducted to investigate the epidemiologic risk factors of HCC in the predominantly rural region of Gharbiah, Egypt. METHODS: A total of 150 cases and 150 controls matched to cases on age (±5 years) and sex were recruited from the Gharbiah Cancer Society and Tanta Cancer Center. Exposure data were collected by an interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire about epidemiologic, occupational, medical and family history of HCC. Conditional logistic regression was utilized to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The effect modification of HCC risk between viral infection and environmental risk factors was also assessed. RESULTS: Being an industrial worker was an independent risk for developing HCC (OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.18, 10.63) after adjusting for viral infection, schistosomiasis and tobacco smoking. High relative risk of HCC was observed among HCV-infected individuals who were farmers (OR 9.60, 95% CI 3.72, 24.76), industrial workers (OR 12.90, 95% CI 4.33, 38.43) or active smokers (OR 5.95, 95% CI 2.20, 16.08). CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure may play an important role in the development of HCC. Farming, industrial exposures and cigarette smoking may increase the risk of HCC among HCV-seropositive individuals. Future research focusing on mechanisms of occupational exposures among HCV patients in this population is needed.