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Worldwide Public Health Problem (worldwide + public_health_problem)
Selected AbstractsMineral metabolism disturbances in patients with chronic kidney diseaseEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 8 2007B. Kestenbaum Abstract Background Kidney disease, especially chronic kidney disease (CKD), is a worldwide public health problem with serious adverse health consequences for affected individuals. Secondary hyperparathyroidism, a disorder characterized by elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels, and alteration of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis are common metabolic complications of CKD that may impact cardiovascular health. Materials and methods Here, we systematically review published reports from recent observational studies and clinical trials that examine markers of altered mineral metabolism and clinical outcomes in patients with CKD. Results Mineral metabolism disturbances begin early during the course of chronic kidney disease, and are associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality in observational studies. Vascular calcification is one plausible mechanism connecting renal-related mineral metabolism with cardiovascular risk. Individual therapies to correct mineral metabolism disturbances have been associated with clinical benefit in some observational studies; clinical trials directed at more comprehensive control of this problem are warranted. Conclusions There exists a potential to improve outcomes for patients with CKD through increased awareness of the Bone Metabolism and Disease guidelines set forth by the National Kidney Foundation,Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative. Future studies may include more aggressive therapy with a combination of agents that address vitamin D deficiency, parathyroid hormone and phosphorus excess, as well as novel agents that modulate circulating promoters and inhibitors of calcification. [source] Ghrelin and leptin modulate immunity and liver function in overweight childrenPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2009Yuki Okamatsu Abstract Background:, The rising prevalence of obesity represents a growing worldwide public health problem. Interactions of adipocytokines and low-grade systemic inflammation presently are considered important in the development of obesity, as well as associated chronic disease including bronchial asthma, obesity-related liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the present study was to investigate metabolic, hormonal, immunologic and inflammatory factors in overweight children and to further clarify possible immunomodulatory effects of obesity-related hormones and cytokines. Methods:, Forty-nine prepubertal overweight children and 49 age-matched controls of normal weight without underlying disease were enrolled. Levels of plasma ghrelin and serum leptin, cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-10, IL-12, 1L-13), C-reactive protein, immunoglobulin, and insulin were measured, and liver function tests were done to better understand their status in the setting of obesity. Results:, Overweight subjects had significantly higher measures of adiposity (body mass indexI, % body fat) and had significantly higher serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgE than non-obese children (P = 0.038, 0.0043, 0.0034, respectively); the opposite was true for IgM (P = 0.025). The incidence of presumed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was 28.6% in overweight children. In overweight children, serum leptin levels were associated with liver function index (aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio) and serum insulin levels. Some elevated immunoglobulin levels significantly correlated with plasma ghrelin levels and liver function index. Conclusions:, It is possible that appetite-regulating hormones modulate both humoral immunity and liver function. Further studies with a larger number of subjects are needed to clarify the precise mechanisms of this association. [source] Analysis of TPI gene promoter variation in three sub-Saharan Africa population samplesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Licínio Manco Population samples from Angola, Mozambique, and S. Tomé e Príncipe were screened for the TPI gene promoter variants -5A,G, -8G,A and -24T,G. Three haplotypes were identified in the three populations: the haplotype -5A-8G-24T (average frequency 65.3%) and two less common haplotypes -5G-8G-24T (average frequency 24.7%) and -5G-8A-24T (average frequency 10.0%). A population sample from Central Portugal showed the haplotype -5A-8G-24T in 139 chromosomes and one subject heterozygous for haplotype -5G-8A-24G. The exact test of sample differentiation among three groups of malaria-infected individuals classified according to the severity of the disease showed no significant differences. We confirmed TPI gene diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, but we could not detect any association between TPI promoter variation and a malarial protective effect. Larger scale epidemiological studies are thus required to clarify this putative mechanism of natural host defense against this worldwide public health problem. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Clinical application of antibody microarray in chronic kidney disease: How far to go?PROTEOMICS - CLINICAL APPLICATIONS, Issue 7-8 2008Lin-Li Lv Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) that affects about 10% of the adult population has been shown as a worldwide public health problem in recent years. Both basic and clinical investigations have identified complex disease-associated protein networks involved in the pathophysiologic processes of CKD. The traditional single-assay approach and proteomic analysis of those related proteins have given birth to a steadily increasing panel of molecules that may have the potential to serve as biomarkers for CKD. However, both approaches suffered from some shortcomings from a technological point of view. Antibody microarray (AbM) is characterized by high sensitivity, specificity, and quantitative ability for a particular set of known proteins. However, its application in CKD has been very limited so far. The objective of this review, therefore, is to address the potential applications of AbM in studying of CKD. We will briefly discuss the proteins involved in the development of CKD, future directions in which AbM approaches would probably display its potential and also some key issues that need to be considered in application of this novel technique. [source] Detection of HCV-RNA in Cerumen of Chronically HCV-Infected Patients,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 3 2005Yasar Bayindir MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: Viral hepatitis C is a worldwide public health problem. Hepatitis C virus is mainly transmitted by parenteral or percutaneous route. Nonparenteral transmission, such as through sexual activity, household contact, and vertical or perinatal exposure to body fluids or secretions, can occur, which has been studied before. Cerumen, however, has not been investigated for its ability to transmit hepatitis C virus. The aim of this study is to evaluate the importance of cerumen in transmission of hepatitis C virus infection. Study Design: This study was performed on 35 patients with confirmed chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Methods: Thirty-five cerumen specimens collected from the patients with hepatitis C virus RNA in their sera were prospectively analyzed for the presence of hepatitis C virus RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Results: None of the 35 cerumen specimens were positive for hepatitis C virus RNA. Conclusion: This study showed that cerumen has no risk for transmission of hepatitis C virus infection, even in patients with high hepatitis C virus RNA serum levels; however, standard infection control precautions should be applied carefully in all examinations and surgical operations of the ears. [source] | |||||||||||||