Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in relation to socioeconomic status among Jamaican young adults: a cross-sectional study

Background  

The metabolic syndrome has a high prevalence in many countries and has been associated with socioeconomic status (SES). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components among Jamaican young adults and evaluate its association with parental SES.     

Prevalence and risk factors of hyperuricemia in patients with IgA nephropath

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of hyperuricemia in patients with IgA nephropathy and find out the risk factors of hyperuricemia, including clinical and pathological characteristics. Methods A retrospective study enrolled 2566 adult patients, who admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from 1996.01 to 2012.12 and diagnosed with biopsy- proven IgA nephropathy was conducted. Results Among 2566 IgA nephropathy patients, the prevalence of hyperuricaemia was 36.6%. Prevalence of hyperuricaemia for CKD stage 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 was 16.2%, 37.4%, 66.4%, 87.7% and 76.4%, respectively. Adjusting Logistic regression analysis showed male gender, progressive stages of CKD, increased percentage of global glomerulosclerosis were independent risk factors of IgA nephropathy; male gender, progressive stage of CKD, increased level of cholesterol, increased percentage of global glomerulosclerosis were independent risk factors for CKD stage 1 - 2 patients; progressive stages of CKD and increased percentage of global glomerulosclerosis were independent risk factors for CKD stage 3 - 5 patients. Conclusion The prevalence of hyperuricemia in patients with IgA nephropathy was 36.6%, and identifying the risk factors associated with hyperuricaemia among different CKD stages of IgA nephropathy will be important to improve our understanding in intervention of this disease.     

Management of childhood gastroenteritis in the community

Good evidence-based research exists for the management of gastroenteritis. However, we encountered local anecdotal evidence of wide variations in the management of gastroenteritis. In order to assess the prevailing practice in gastroenteritis management in primary care, in the Tees Health region, an anonymous questionnaire study involving general practitioners (GPs) and health visitors (HVs) was performed. Three case scenarios were presented in the questionnaire, involving a breast-fed infant, a formula-fed infant and a four-y-old child all with diarrhoea and vomiting, but able to tolerate oral fluids and not ill enough to need hospital admission. Most GPs (78.6%) and HVs (80.5%) advised continuation of breast-feeding, though the practice of giving advice to stop breast-feeding, starve the child and substitute inappropriate fluids such as flat coke, was still common. For infants who were bottle-fed, this inappropriate advice was given much more commonly (only 25.6% and 52.8% of GPs and HVs, respectively gave advice to continue bottle-feeding). This was even more true for the four-y-old, for whom advice to continue with a normal diet was very much the exception (7.7% of GPs and 19.5% of HVs). Advice given to parents of children with gastroenteritis was inconsistent and, in many cases, inappropriate. This has implications for clinical governance. There is an urgent need for the development and implementation of local guidelines.     

Food Insecurity and Depression among US Adults: NHANES 2005–2016

A growing body of evidence suggests that food insecurity is associated with adverse mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety. In this study, the relationship between food insecurity and depression was examined using data from the 2005–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Food insecurity was assessed with the 18-item United States Food Security Survey Module with zero affirmative responses indicating high food security, 1 or 2 affirmative responses indicating marginal food security, and ≥3 affirmative responses indicating food insecurity. Depression was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 with scores ≥10 indicating depression. Data were analyzed from 28,448 adult participants aged 20 or older. Food insecurity was present in 19.2% of the sample population (n = 5452). Food security status was significantly associated with gender, race, education level, marital status, smoking status, and BMI (Rao-Scott chi-square, p < 0.05). Fully food secure and very low food security adults experienced depression at a rate of 5.1% and 25.8%, respectively (Rao-Scott chi-square, p < 0.0001). Participants with very low food security had a significantly greater odds of depression than food secure adults, OR = 3.50 (95% CI: 2.98, 4.12). These findings suggest that food insecurity is a significant risk factors for depression in US adults over 20 years of age. To address this issue in our citizenry, police initiatives and public health interventions addressing both food access and mental health should be prioritized.     

Interleukin-5 is at 5q31 and is deleted in the 5q- syndrome

Human interleukin-5 (IL-5) is a selective eosinophilopoietic and eosinophil-activating growth hormone. By in situ hybridization this gene is mapped to chromosome 5q23.3 to 5q32. It is shown to be deleted in two patients with the 5q-syndrome and in one patient previously diagnosed with myelodysplasia whose condition had progressed to acute myeloblastic leukemia. The clustering of other genes involved in hematopoiesis (IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, colony-stimulating factor 1) to the same region as IL-5 suggests a nonrandom localization and raises interesting questions concerning the evolution and regulation of these genes.     

Renal vein thrombosis in patients with nephrotic syndrome: CT diagnosis

A retrospective evaluation of the computed tomography (CT) findings in 50 patients with the nephrotic syndrome was undertaken. In four patients with clinical manifestations of acute renal vein thrombosis (RVT) on initial examination, the diagnosis was confirmed by CT findings. Three patients had left RVT, one had right RVT, and all four had thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) at the level of the renal veins. Of the remaining 46, otherwise asymptomatic patients, one had bilateral RVT, two had left RVT, and five had isolated IVC thrombus. The abnormalities noted on CT scans were widened renal vein(s) containing thrombus, thrombus in the IVC, renal enlargement, thickened Gerota fascia and formation of pericapsular venous collaterals, and an abnormal renal parenchymal enhancement pattern consisting of prolonged corticomedullary discrimination, delayed and/or persistent paraenchymal opacification, and delayed or absent pyelocalyceal visualization.     

The microstomia prevention appliance: 14 years of clinical experience

Partial- or full-thickness perioral facial burns may lead to a contracture of the tissues surrounding the oral commissures that results in microstomia. The current investigators have used the microstomia prevention appliance (MPA) exclusively in the management of commissure burns at the University of Iowa Burn Center since 1972. To assess the effectiveness of the MPA, a retrospective chart review was conducted. The study population consisted of 85 patients admitted to the center between 1974 and 1986 who had incurred burns to the perioral region or to the lower two thirds of the face. The chart analysis of 83 patients revealed that, with diligent and persistent use of the MPA, only one patient required surgical repair for the development of microstomia. The MPA has proved effective in decreasing the need for reconstructive procedures and in preventing the occurrence of microstomia.     

Establishment and characterization of a childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, PER-255, with chromosome abnormalities involving 7q32-34 in association with T-cell receptor- beta gene rearrangement

A human leukemia cell line, PER-255, was established from the bone marrow of a 5-year-old boy with features typical of lymphomatous T- acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The leukemic origin of cell line PER-255 is indicated by its cytochemical and immunologic similarity to the patient's fresh leukemic cells, which correspond to immature cortical thymocytes. Southern blot analysis showed that the IgJH genes were in germline configuration, whereas both alleles of the T-cell receptor-beta (TCR-beta) gene were rearranged in PER-255 cells, with identical rearrangements present in the patient's leukemic cells. Cytogenetic analysis of the cell line revealed a single abnormal clone with the karyotype 46,XY,t(7;10)(q32-34;q24),t(9;12) (p22;p12-13). Reciprocal translocations involving chromosome bands 7q32-36, containing the gene for the TCR-beta chain, have been reported for a number of tumors of T-cell origin. Translocations involving the 7q32-36 region appear to be nonrandomly associated with childhood T-ALL, whereas abnormalities of 9p and 12p have been reported to be nonrandomly involved in ALL but not specifically associated with the T- cell phenotype.     

pO(2) measurement in murine tumors by Eppendorf 'Histograph'

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the Eppendorf 'Kistograph' as a device for measuring pO(2) in tumor and normal tissues of the laboratory mouse. To determine the appropriate calibration and electrode condition, nitrogen bubbling time was changed, and the current during calibration was recorded. Reproducibility of pO(2) measurements was tested in the series of human xenografts and murine isoplants at different time points or in the same tumor in successive determinations. pO(2) values obtained with the Eppendorf 'Histograph' were compared to those obtained with a manually controlled needle-type electrode manufactured by the Diamond-General Company. The pO(2) values after 9 min of nitrogen bubbling were closer to the expected values than those after 3 min bubbling. The current during nitrogen bubbling in calibration declined following the pO(2) measurement by an amount corresponding to 0.8 mm Hg. Good reproducibility of pO(2) measurement was shown in i) pO(2) values in the same cell line at different time points and ii) pO(2) values in two or three consecutive measurements in related regions within the same tumor. The Eppendorf 'Histograph' and the Diamond-General device showed no significant differences in pO(2) distribution in either subcutaneous tissue or MCaIV tumors. In conclusion, results of the Eppendorf 'Histograph' were consistent and reproducible and were similar to those obtained by the Diamond-General set-up.