Fluorosis and cognitive development among children (6-14 years of age) in the endemic areas of the world: a review and critical analysis.

The fluoride contamination in water is still a live discussion among the scientific community, because of its beneficial and injurious health effects inflicted on the human population. The magnitude of groundwater fluoride contamination is aggravated by increasing anthropogenic activities. Groundwater is supposedly the main source through which people are highly exposed to fluoride, compared with other sources of exposure. Among human populations, fluoride-related health issues span from mild effects on teeth and bones to severe kidney problems, neurotoxicity, and even cancer. Nowadays, fluoride toxicity is gaining much attention in the endemic areas due to its adverse impact on the children's cognitive function, since children are more susceptible to fluoride toxicity as compared to adults. The primary mechanism behind the neurotoxicity of fluoride is still not clearly understood. However, knowingly, fluoride disrupts the biochemical mechanism and thus alters the normal functioning of the brain. Several human studies are suggestive of lowering children's IQ who was exposed to fluoride during their childhood. The conclusive findings of past research suggest that the fluoride concentration in potable water tends to grossly affect the children's IQ level. However, the body of proof is limited, because most of the studies are concentrated in few countries, and have their own limitations and data gaps. The grave implications of fluoride toxicity, therefore, demand extensive and properly designed research to bridging the data gap in developing countries. Furthermore, spanning research work across all the endemic areas of the world could generate larger database, helping resolve the issue on a large scale.

Inferring the fluoride hydrogeochemistry and effect of consuming fluoride-contaminated drinking water on human health in some endemic areas of Birbhum district, West Bengal.

This research work is carried out to evaluate fluoride (F) hydrogeochemistry and its effect on the population of two endemic villages of Birbhum district, West Bengal. Fluoride concentration in drinking water varies from 0.33 to 18.08 mg/L. Hydrogeochemical evolution suggests that ion-exchange mechanism is the major controlling factor for releasing F in the groundwater. Most of the groundwater samples are undersaturated with respect to calcite and fluorite. Health survey shows that out of 235 people, 142 people suffer from dental fluorosis. According to fluoride impact severity, almost 80 and 94 % people in an age group of 11-20 and 41-50 suffer from dental and skeletal fluorosis, respectively. Statistically drinking water F has a positive correlation with dental and skeletal fluorosis. Bone mineral density test reveals that 33 and 45 % of the studied population suffer from osteopenic and osteoporosis disease. IQ test also signifies that F has a bearing on the intelligence development of the study area school children. The existence of significant linear relationship (R (2) = 0.77) between drinking water F and urinary F suggests that consumption of F-contaminated drinking water has a major control over urinary F (0.39-20.1 mg/L) excretion.

The long-term efficacy study of surgical treatment of partial seizures with children / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the long‐term effect of surgical treatment of partial seizures in children .Methods The au‐thor was studying in the University of Stellenbosch ,Tygerberg Children′s Hospital .The clinical data of 158 children with partial seizures selected from June 2005 to June 2008 were retrospective analyzed .The postoperative quality of life ,improvement of IQ and the situation of seizure control ,and affect long‐term efficacy of surgery‐related factors were analyzed .Results The patients were followed up for 5 years .The control rate of seizures of 1 ,3 ,5 years were 100 .00% ,94 .85% ,94 .35% ,MRI findings and the course were control independent risk factors affecting the rate of seizure .The rates of IQ improvement of 1 ,3 ,5 years were 89 .87% , 89 .71% ,88 .71% ,of which preoperative IQ ,disease duration ,age at surgery in children were independent risk factors affecting IQ improvement .life .Quality improvement rate of 1 ,3 ,5 years were 93 .04% ,91 .18% ,90 .32% ,and IQ preoperative ,operative ap‐proach were independent risk factors affecting the quality of life postoperatively .Conclusion The surgery operating as soon as pos‐sible could be better for children to improve the range of lesions ,and also could effectively control seizures ,improving the level of intelligence in children and the quality of life postoperatively .