Effect of Heavy Metals on Creatinine Level in Human Blood Samples of Inhabitants Living in the Vicinity of Hudiara Drain, Lahore, Pakistan

Aims: Modern industrialization, anthropogenic and industrial activities have increased the risk of human exposure to heavy metals and in turn effecting human health badly. Hundreds of millions of people are globally affected by heavy metal toxicity through contaminated water in one way or. another. In order to find a correlation between the heavy metal concentrations and serum creatinine level, a study was conducted on the inhabitants living near the Hudiara drain suffering from kidney diseases. Study Design: The subjects (n=498) were selected from the vicinity of polluted Hudiara drain to conduct this matched case–control study in 2019-2020. Instrumental techniques were used for the determination of heavy metals and creatinine was determined by using Kit. The correlation between heavy metals and creatinine was checked. Place and Duration of Study: To determine heavy metals and creatinine in blood, samples were collected from the habitants of Hudiara drain and the control group 100Km far from Hudiara drain. Methodology: Blood samples of male subjects with and tested for heavy metals in the blood using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and creatinine level using Creatinine Elisa Kit. The study was conducted in 2020 and included n= 498 healthy volunteers (control) and n=498 effected (suffering from chronic kidney disease). Results: The ANOVA shows the significant difference between two groups i.e. control group and affected group in all traits of the respondents (weight, age, heavy metal values and serum creatinine level). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated for heavy metals and creatinine subjects’ blood samples. It was found that heavy metal levels in subjects have a significant correlation with serum creatinine. The study shows that serum creatinine level has no significant correlation with age, so is independent of age. Conclusion: The concentration of heavy metal contaminants (Cd, Hg, Pb) in the blood of the inhabitants of Hudiara drain flowing in Lahore city, Pakistan is highly polluted by industrial effluents. The effects of higher concentration of heavy metals in the inhabitants of Hudiara drain have been determined in serum creatinine levels. It was observed that high serum creatinine values are found in subjects suffering from CKD.

RENAL FUNCTION AND CLINICAL PROFILE IN CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE – AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY FROM TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN CENTRAL INDIA.

Purpose: To evaluate the renal function and clinical prole in children with congenital heart disease. Method: After taking informed consent from the parents of 118 children aged 1 month to 14 years were recruited in study. Anthropometry and vitals were noted. Complete physical examination and USG abdomen done to identify any other associated congenital anomaly. Laboratory evaluation of serum creatinine was done on day 1 and day 5. 24 hours urine output was strictly measured till day 5 of admission. Result: The maximum number of cases belonged to age group 1-6 month. Male children were affected more than females (1.5:1) and majority of the children belong to family of lower middle and lower socioeconomic status. Most of the children belong to rural area. Among syndromic features, microcephaly and cleft lip and cleft palate were most frequently observed. Most of the cases had weight /height <-3SD. There was no major signicant difference in mean value of urine output and serum creatinine level in different age groups and in between cyanotic and acyanotic group. Conclusion: Congenital heart disease forms a significant diagnosis in hospitalized children. Larger studies are needed to evaluate newer associations (like male gender and low socioeconomic status). Microcephaly and cleft lip/palate were most observed associated syndromic features. No signicant effect was observed on the mean urine output and serum creatinine level in children with congenital heart disease.

Change in Glomerular Filtration Rate with Febuxostat in Patients with Advanced Chronic Renal Failure

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), is defined as progressive loss in kidney function. The study evaluated the mean change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with febuxostat in patients of advanced chronic kidney dysfunction with hyperuricemia. Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted at the department of Nephrology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore for 6 months, from January 2019 to October 2019. At baselines, the blood sample was obtained and sent to the laboratory for assessment of serum creatinine level. The eGFR was calculated by using the MDRD formula. Patients were then advised to take one oral Febuxostat 40 mg daily for 6 months. After 6 months, the blood sample was obtained for assessment of serum creatinine level. Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.72±14.90 years, male to female ratio was 1:1. The mean value of eGFR at baseline was 23.53±11.09 and its mean value at 6th month was 34.28+12.31, which was significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Febuxostat effectively improved estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients presenting with advanced chronic kidney dysfunction with hyperuricemia. Keywords: Hyperuricemia, Kidney, Disease, Febuxostat, Dysfunction, Glomerular, Filtration

Chronic kidney disease and pregnancy outcomes

Pregnancy complicated by CKD is currently not fully understood topic. Outcome of pregnancy in patients with CKD is related to impaired glomerular filtration rate and the degree of proteinuria. In our study we evaluated the association of serum creatinine level and proteinuria with both maternal and fetal outcomes in the cohort of 84 pregnant patients with CKD. In CKD group we confirmed negative correlation of highest serum creatinine level in pregnancy to fetal weight (p value < 0.001) and gestation period (p value < 0.001). Likewise, negative correlation of preconception serum creatinine to fetal weight (p value < 0.001) and gestation period (p value 0.002). Negative correlation of proteinuria to gestation period (p value < 0.001) and fetal weight (p value < 0.001) was also demonstrated. CKD is serious risk factor for pregnancy outcome. Proteinuria and serum creatinine level should be examined before pregnancy and regularly monitored during pregnancy. Higher serum creatinine levels and higher proteinuria predispose to shorter gestation period and lower birth weight of the neonate.

Association between diabetes mellitus and anemia among Korean adults according to sex: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2016)

Background There are many conflicting opinions regarding the association between anemia and diabetes mellitus (DM), and the mechanism by which DM influences anemia remains uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between anemia and DM in Korean adults and to analyze the risk factors for anemia among these patients according to sex. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V, VI, and VII between January 2010 and December 2016. In total, 25,597 Korean adults aged ≥19 years (10,117 men, 15,480 women) were included. Patients with a fasting blood sugar level of ≥126 mg/dL or who have been diagnosed with DM were classified as the DM group. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels of < 13 g/dL in men and < 12 g/dL in women. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for demographic characteristics and lifestyle-, disease-, and health-related factors. Results Approximately 11.3% of patients had DM. The prevalence of anemia was significantly higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group. After adjusting for confounding factors, the odds of the prevalence of anemia in men were higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group (odds ratio [OR] 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42–2.50, p < 0.0001). When investigated according to the serum creatinine level, the association was significantly stronger among women (OR 42.63, 95% CI 17.25–105.36, p < 0.0001) than among men (OR 6.30, 95% CI 3.08–12.90, p < 0.0001). Conclusions We found a strong association between DM and anemia that was more prominent among men than among women. We also determined that the serum creatinine level had a greater influence on DM and anemia in women than in men.

Bilateral Giant Hydronephrosis Secondary to Ureteropelvic Junction Stricture: a Case Report

Introduction: Giant hydronephrosis, which implies a collecting system containing more than one liter of fluid, is becoming increasingly rare with the widespread availability of imaging facilities. We aimed to report a case and management of bilateral giant hydronephrosis due to bilateral ureteropelvis stenosis.Case presentation: A 45-year old male presented at the Emergency Department with the complaint of difficulty passing stools. On computed tomography (CT), bilateral giant hydronephrosis was determined covering the whole abdomen. After bilateral nephrostomy, 8 liters of urine was drained from the right kidney and 10 liters of urine from the left kidney after bilateral nephrostomy in the patient whose serum creatinine level was 1.06 mg/dl at the time of admission. Bilateral pyeloplasty was applied to the patient who was diagnosed with bilateral ureteropelvis stenosis after dynamic renal scintigraphy. After 4 years of follow-up, serum creatinine level was 1.3 mg / dl. Hydronephrosis was still present despite being smaller than its previous condition and the presence of bilateral double J stents.Conclusions: An interesting finding of the current case was that the creatinine level might be normal despite the fact that bilateral giant hydronephrosis. So rather than nephrectomy, pyeloplasty was applied and to date there has been no need for hemodialysis.

Prevalence, risk, and outcome of deep vein thrombosis in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background Few data exist on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by acute hypoxemia. Study design and methods We retrospectively enrolled 225 adults with ARDS admitted to the Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2020. We analyzed clinical, laboratory, and echocardiography data for groups with and without DVT and for direct (pulmonary) and indirect (extrapulmonary) ARDS subgroups. Results Ninety (40.0%) patients developed DVT. Compared with the non-DVT group, patients with DVT were older, had lower serum creatinine levels, lower partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen, higher serum procalcitonin levels, higher Padua prediction scores, and higher proportions of sedation and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Multivariate analysis showed an association between age, serum creatinine level, IMV, and DVT in the ARDS cohort. The sensitivity and specificity of corresponding receiver operating characteristic curves were not inferior to those of the Padua prediction score and the Caprini score for screening for DVT in the three ARDS cohorts. Patients with DVT had a significantly lower survival rate than those without DVT in the overall ARDS cohort and in the groups with direct and indirect ARDS. Conclusions The prevalence of DVT is high in patients with ARDS. The risk factors for DVT are age, serum creatinine level, and IMV. DVT is associated with decreased survival in patients with ARDS.

Drug-Induced Kidney Injury Caused by Osimertinib: Report of a Rare Case

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have shown highly favourable outcomes in patients with advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The adverse effects of EGFR-TKIs are generally less severe than those of conventional cytotoxic therapies. We report a patient with NSCLC who presented with acute kidney injury associated with biopsy-proven acute tubular injury during osimertinib treatment and whose renal function recovered after reducing the osimertinib dose. A 61-year-old male smoker complained of dyspnoea on exertion for 1 month before his visit to the medical centre. He was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma of the left lower lobe (cT4N3M1a, stage IVA) and was positive for an <i>EGFR</i> mutation (exon 19 deletion). Osimertinib was initiated at 80 mg/day. At treatment initiation, the patient’s serum creatinine level was 0.64 mg/dL, with microscopic haematuria; by day 83, this level had increased to 1.33 mg/dL, with proteinuria. On day 83, we reduced the osimertinib dose to 40 mg/day and performed a kidney biopsy on day 98. The histological diagnosis was tubular injury with IgA deposition. Based on the clinical course and histological findings, we speculated that the kidney injury was associated with osimertinib. After dose reduction, the patient’s serum creatinine level decreased to 1.07 mg/dL, and proteinuria disappeared. He maintained a partial response for &#x3e;6 months after osimertinib administration. We report the first case of biopsy-proven mild IgA deposition, crescent formation, and tubular injury probably caused by osimertinib and demonstrate how reducing the osimertinib dose could strike a balance between its anti-cancer efficacy and adverse effects.

Endovascular Treatment of Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective Endovascular treatment through either percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) alone or stenting has been previously used as a treatment for transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS). This review aimed to investigate the results of endovascular treatment for renal artery stenosis in transplanted kidneys as compared with the outcomes of interventions, medical management, and graft survival in non-TRAS patients. Methods A systematic review of PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Scopus was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines in which studies that reported outcomes of the treatment of TRAS via the endoluminal approach were identified, and their results were meta-analyzed. Results Fifty-four studies with a total of 1522 patients were included. A significant reduction of serum creatinine level was found, favoring the stenting group, with a mean difference of 0.68 mg/dL (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17–1.19; Z=2.60, p=0.0009). Comparison of pre- and post-intervention values of any intervention revealed a significant decrease in overall serum creatinine level (0.65 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.40–0.90; Z=5.09, p=0.00001), overall blood pressure, with a mean difference of 11.12 mmHg (95% CI, 7.29–14.95; Z=5.59, p=0.00001), mean difference in the use of medications (0.77; 95% CI, 0.29–1.24; p=0.002), and peak systolic velocity (190.05; 95% CI, 128.41–251.69; p<0.00001). The comparison of serum creatinine level between endovascular interventions and best medical therapy favored endovascular intervention, with a mean difference of 0.23 mg/dL (95% CI, 0.14–0.32; Z=5.07, p<0.00001). Graft survival was similar between the treated patients and those without TRAS (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.75–1.28; p=0.091). The overall pooled success rate was 89%, and the overall complication rate was 10.4%, with the most prevalent complication being arterial dissection. Conclusion The endovascular treatment of TRAS improves graft preservation and renal function and hemodynamic parameters. PTA + stenting appears to be a more effective option to PTA alone in the stabilization of renal function, with additional benefits from decreased restenosis rates. Further high-quality studies could expand on these findings.

Comparative Study Between Serum Level of Total L-carnitine in Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN)

Background: Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy. Objectives: We aimed to compare the serum levels of total L-carnitine in newborns with HIE and transient tachypnea of newborn and to determine the correlation between associated demographic data, associated changes in laboratory findings, and outcome in cases with HIE. Methods: This comparative, prospective, and observational study was conducted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of University Children Hospital. All the cases of perinatal asphyxia and TTN admitted to the NICU during 2016 - 2018 were included. Results: It was found that the serum level of total L-carnitine decreased in both HIE (I) and TTN (II) cases, but the difference was not significant (5.51 ± 1.30 µmol/L in group I vs. 6.22 ± 2.56 µmol/l in group II). Male factor with changes in the serum sodium level (132.63 ± 9.30) and abnormal serum creatinine level (1.4 [0.7 - 15.0]) were significantly related to the outcome of HIE cases. Conclusions: The serum level of total L-carnitine declined in both HIE and TTN cases. Male factor with changes in serum sodium level and abnormal serum creatinine level were significantly related to the mortality of cases with HIE.