Assessment of heavy metals by ICP-OES and their impact on insulin stimulating hormone and carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes

Arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) have recently emerged as major health concerns owing to their strong association with diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to investigate the heavy metals exposure towards incidence of DM at various enzymatic and hormonal levels. Additionally, association of As and Cd with Zinc (Zn, essential metal) was also evaluated. Spot urine samples were collected to assess As, Cd and Zn through ICP-OES. Serum was analyzed by assay method for fasting blood glucose, liver and renal function biomarkers. ELISA was performed to investigate the impact of heavy metals on HbA1c, α-amylase, DPP-IV, IGF-1, leptin, GSH, MDA, SOD, HDL, FFA, TG and interleukin (IL)-6. Association of heavy metals with DM was measured by odds ratio (OR) and level of significance was assessed by Chi-squared test. Unpaired student's t-test was used to compare DM-associated risk factors in heavy metals-exposed and unexposed participants. As and Cd were detectable in 75.4% and 83% participants with mean concentration of 75.5 ppb and 54.5 ppb, respectively. For As exposure, OR in the third quartile was maximum ie 1.34 (95% CI, 0.80 to 2.23), however the result was not statistically significant (P > .05). For Cd exposure, OR in the fourth quartile was considerably high, 1.62 (95% CI, 1.00 to 2.61), with a significant probability value (P < .05). Urinary Cd was negatively associated with Zn. As and Cd exposure increases the incidence of DM in the general population. Impaired hormonal and enzymatic levels in diabetic and non-diabetic exposed participants reflect the multiple organ damage by heavy metal exposure.     

Preexisting posterior capsule defect progressing to white mature cataract.

We present two children discovered to have a total cataract in one eye with a posterior subcapsular cataract in the other eye. Sequential photography documented rapid progression of the posterior subcapsular cataract to a preexisting posterior capsule defect and subsequently to a white, mature cataract. We propose that early intervention be considered in cases with any posterior subcapsular changes (no matter how subtle) and history of total cataract in the fellow eye, especially in any situation where loss of follow-up is likely to occur. In the event surgery is not advised, parents should be warned about possible cataract progression and the importance of regular follow-up examinations.     

Ulcer of the tongue as a presenting feature of pulmonary tuberculosis

Oral tuberculosis is very rare and when present they are usually secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculous lesions of the tongue have become so infrequent that they are virtually a forgotten disease entity and may pose a diagnostic problem. The case reported in this paper emphasizes the importance of including tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of any chronic oral ulcer. The low number of oral infections by M. tuberculosis could be due to underreporting.     

Divergent dislocation of the elbow in a child (a case report).

A rare case of simultaneous disruption of superior radio-ulnar joint and posterior dislocation of the same elbow in a 6 year old boy is presented. It was possible to achieve the stable reduction by means of closed manipulation, restoring normal function in 6 weeks time. The possible mode of injury is discussed. There are only 4 cases reported of such a divergent elbow dislocation in modern literature.     

Anosognosia in mild cognitive impairment: Relationship to activation of cortical midline structures involved in self-appraisal.

Awareness of cognitive dysfunction shown by individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition conferring risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), is variable. Anosognosia, or unawareness of loss of function, is beginning to be recognized as an important clinical symptom of MCI. However, little is known about the brain substrates underlying this symptom. We hypothesized that MCI participants' activation of cortical midline structures (CMS) during self-appraisal would covary with level of insight into cognitive difficulties (indexed by a discrepancy score between patient and informant ratings of cognitive decline in each MCI participant). To address this hypothesis, we first compared 16 MCI participants and 16 age-matched controls, examining brain regions showing conjoint or differential BOLD response during self-appraisal. Second, we used regression to investigate the relationship between awareness of deficit in MCI and BOLD activity during self-appraisal, controlling for extent of memory impairment. Between-group comparisons indicated that MCI participants show subtly attenuated CMS activity during self-appraisal. Regression analysis revealed a highly significant relationship between BOLD response during self-appraisal and self-awareness of deficit in MCI. This finding highlights the level of anosognosia in MCI as an important predictor of response to self-appraisal in cortical midline structures, brain regions vulnerable to changes in early AD.     

Secondary intraocular lens implantation for pediatric aphakia.

PURPOSE: We sought to report the outcome of secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children. METHODS: This was a retrospective case review. RESULTS: A total of 77 eyes were identified. An average age at secondary implantation was 7.8 +/- 5.0 years, whereas the average age at primary cataract surgery was 1.5 +/- 2.6 years. Average follow-up was 2.7 +/- 1.9 years. Thirty eyes received a hydrophobic acrylic IOL implantation whereas 47 eyes received a PMMA IOL. The sites of fixation for implanted IOLs were as follows: anterior-chamber (n = 6), sulcus (n = 42), in-the-bag (n = 14), optic-capture (n = 6), piggyback (n = 4), and sutured (n = 5). Complications included clinically significant decentration, 4 (5.2%); visual axis opacification, 4 (5.2%); dislocation of the IOL, 2 (2.6%); and pupillary capture requiring repositioning of IOL, 1 (1.3%). Clinically significant decentration requiring surgical intervention was noted only in eyes with sulcus-fixated foldable IOLs (28.6%; 4/14). None of the 29 eyes with sulcus-fixated PMMA IOL implantation developed decentration. All the decentrations were in an inferior direction and occurred in eyes of male patients (P = 0.03). Eyes with an axial length of >23 mm were 4 times more likely to develop decentration if implanted with a sulcus-fixated foldable IOL when compared with eyes measuring <23 mm (P = 0.03). Postoperative geometric mean visual acuity was significantly better than preoperative visual acuity (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Secondary IOL implantation can be safely achieved in pediatric eyes. In-the-bag fixation of foldable IOLs is associated with a low rate of complications. Foldable lenses appear to have a higher rate of decentration than PMMA lenses when placed in the sulcus in eyes of myopic male patients.