Comprehensive assessment of postischemic vascular reactivity in Hispanic children and adults with and without diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: To examine the whole postischemic hyperemic response period in Hispanic children and adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and offer insight into the potential adaptive mechanisms involved in the arterial response to disturbances in vascular homeostasis. METHODS: Ninety-eight adults and 124 children of Hispanics participated in the study. Endothelial function was assessed in the brachial artery using high-resolution ultrasonography (HRU). A continuous scan was taken for 5 min during the hyperemic response, flow velocity (FV) recordings and diameter measurements were obtained, and brachial arterial blood flow (BF) was calculated after the cuff deflation. RESULTS: The increment in FV during the reactive hyperemic period was higher in obese and in diabetic children than in lean healthy children, although the time to reach peak brachial artery diameter (BAD) and the per cent increase in peak diameter were comparable in all three groups. In subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), the hyperemic peak increase in FV was comparable to those in healthy adults. In diabetic patients, the peak increase in BAD as well as the per cent increment in the diameter were reduced at 50-60 s after the release of the arm cuff. The time to reach the peak increase in diameter also was prolonged in diabetics when compared with healthy adults. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates clear differences in the normal vascular response between healthy children and healthy adults and discloses the presence of additional abnormalities in the flow-mediated vasodilation in diabetic and 'prediabetic' subjects.     

Erionite exposure in North Dakota and Turkish villages with mesothelioma

Exposure to erionite, an asbestos-like mineral, causes unprecedented rates of malignant mesothelioma (MM) mortality in some Turkish villages. Erionite deposits are present in at least 12 US states. We investigated whether increased urban development has led to erionite exposure in the United States and after preliminary exploration, focused our studies on Dunn County, North Dakota (ND). In Dunn County, ND, we discovered that over the past three decades, more than 300 miles of roads were surfaced with erionite-containing gravel. To determine potential health implications, we compared erionite from the Turkish villages to that from ND. Our study evaluated airborne point exposure concentrations, examined the physical and chemical properties of erionite, and examined the hallmarks of mesothelial cell transformation in vitro and in vivo. Airborne erionite concentrations measured in ND along roadsides, indoors, and inside vehicles, including school buses, equaled or exceeded concentrations in Boyali, where 6.25% of all deaths are caused by MM. With the exception of outdoor samples along roadsides, ND concentrations were lower than those measured in Turkish villages with MM mortality ranging from 20 to 50%. The physical and chemical properties of erionite from Turkey and ND are very similar and they showed identical biological activities. Considering the known 30- to 60-y latency for MM development, there is reason for concern for increased risk in ND in the future. Our findings indicate that implementation of novel preventive and early detection programs in ND and other erionite-rich areas of the United States, similar to efforts currently being undertaken in Turkey, is warranted.     

Effect of environmental tobacco smoke from smoker parents on gingival pigmentation in children and young adults: a cross-sectional study

Background: Non‐smokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) absorb nicotine and other compounds just as smokers do, and as the exposure to ETS increases, the level of these harmful compounds in the body also increases. The ill effects of ETS range from gingival pigmentation to lung cancer and death. The exposure to ETS is difficult to quantitatively measure and has been approximated by self‐reported estimates, primarily of the smoking history of spouses. However, the documentation of gingival pigmentation in non‐smokers is meager and has remained contentious. We aimed to assess the effects of ETS from smoker parents on gingival pigmentation in children and young adults and assess the urine cotinine levels in these individuals. Methods: A total of 153 non‐smoking participants with ≥1 smoker parent were randomly selected from the outpatient Department of Periodontics, Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences and Postgraduate Research Center, Bangalore, India. These participants were divided into three groups based on age, and the smoking history of parents was established by an interview with participants and parents. The degree of gingival pigmentation of participants was assessed by using the gingival pigmentation index and a standardized digital oral photograph. A urine analysis was conducted to assess levels of cotinine. The κ statistic was performed for interexaminer agreement, and χ² and Fisher exact tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: The prevalence of gingival pigmentation in passive smokers was statistically significant (P <0.05). Increased levels of urinary cotinine were observed in all three groups with the highest levels in group 3 (19 to 24 years old). Conclusion: This study depicts the effects of ETS on gingival melanin pigmentation.     

From in Silico Discovery to Intracellular Activity: Targeting JNK–Protein Interactions with Small Molecules

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Incidence of vincristine induced neurotoxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its correlation with nutritional deficiencies

Abstract

Injection vincristine is an important component of therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). An important adverse effect of vincristine is neurotoxicity. The incidence of this adverse effect is well studied. The present was undertaken to determine the incidence of vincristine-induced neurotoxicity in children with ALL after the induction of remission phase of chemotherapy and to ascertain its correlation with undernutrition, vitamin B12, folate and iron deficiency. Thirty children (1–18?years) with ALL were enrolled at the commencement of chemotherapy. The electrophysiological evaluation was done at baseline and repeated after four doses of vincristine (1.5?mg/m²/dose). Clinical evaluation was done regularly. Anthropometry and serum B12, folate and ferritin levels were assessed at baseline. Twelve children over a 4-week period of observation had peripheral neuropathy clinically. The autonomic system was most commonly involved followed by motor and sensory system respectively. On electrophysiological testing, half of the patients had evidence of neuropathy. Micronutrient deficiencies were present in a significant number of patients—63.3% had a B12 deficiency, 20% were deficient in folate and 43.3% in iron. The incidence of vincristine-induced neuropathy in patients with/without these micro-nutrient deficiencies was not statistically significantly different. Vincristine-induced neuropathy is common in Indian children with ALL. The present study did not find any correlation between the occurrences of vincristine-induced neuropathy and nutritional deficiencies. Larger studies are warranted to evaluate the contribution of micronutrient deficiencies to the development of peripheral neuropathy in childhood ALL.