Effect Of Chronic Exposure To Low Levels Of Lead On Renal Function And Renal Ultrastructure In SD Rats

Chronic exposure to lead is associated with adverse effects on renal function in laboratory animals and man. There is controversy concerning the direction of change of renal function parameters following chronic lead intoxication. The renal effects of low-dose lead exposure, as opposed to acute and pharmacological doses, require further scrutiny. In order to determine the effect of prolonged low-dose lead exposure, male Sprague Dawley rats (initial weight, 150.5±17.4g; final weight, 300.5±17.4g; n=10) administered lead acetate (100 p.p.m.) in drinking water over a period of 3 months, were investigated for renal function parameters. Treated rats had elevated blood pressures (114.4±4.2 vs. 95.7±3.5 mmHg;

Relationship Between Household Socio-Economic Status and under-five Mortality in Rufiji DSS, Tanzania.

Disparities in health outcomes between the poor and the better off are increasingly attracting attention from researchers and policy makers. However, policies aimed at reducing inequity need to be based on evidence of their nature, magnitude, and determinants. The study aims to investigate the relationship between household socio-economic status (SES) and under-five mortality, and to measure health inequality by comparing poorest/least poor quintile mortality rate ratio and the use of a mortality concentration index. It also aims to describe the risk factors associated with under-five mortality at Rufiji Demographic Surveillance Site (RDSS), Tanzania. This analytical cross sectional study included 11,189 children under-five residing in 7,298 households in RDSS in 2005. Principal component analysis was used to construct household SES. Kaplan-Meier survival incidence estimates were used for mortality rates. Health inequality was measured by calculating and comparing mortality rates between the poorest and least poor wealth quintile. We also computed a mortality concentration index. Risk factors of child mortality were assessed using Poisson regression taking into account potential confounders. Under-five mortality was 26.9 per 1,000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI) (23.7-30.4)]. The poorest were 2.4 times more likely to die compared to the least poor. Our mortality concentration index [-0.16; 95% CI (-0.24, -0.08)] indicated considerable health inequality. Least poor households had a 52% reduced mortality risk [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.48; 95% CI 0.30-0.80]. Furthermore, children with mothers who had attained secondary education had a 70% reduced risk of dying compared to mothers with no education [IRR = 0.30; 95% CI (0.22-0.88)]. Household socio-economic inequality and maternal education were associated with under-five mortality in the RDSS. Targeted interventions to address these factors may contribute towards accelerating the reduction of child mortality in rural Tanzania

Effect Of Theobromine Exposure On Haematological Parameters In Rats

This work was carried out to investigate the effect of theobromine exposure on haematological indices in rats and thus evaluate whether its use in chemotherapy may be associated with possible side effects such as anaemia. Theobromine in two doses was administered by oral gavage to albino Wistar rats of both sexes (n =8 for each group) for a four day period. Haematological parameters – indices of blood and erythropoietic status namely packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were assessed in whole blood obtained from the animals. The same parameters were assessed in the control group (n =8) administered with only the vehicle. Theobromine administration in moderate (600 mg/Kg body weight) to high (700 mg/Kg body weight) doses produced a significant (

Lead-induced hypertension is associated with impaired nitric oxide bioactivity

This study was designed to discern whether alteration in baroreceptor sensitivity, renin-angiotensin system, calcium coupling mechanism or nitric oxide activity is/are responsible for lead-induced hypertension. The effect of exposure to 100 ppm of lead in tap water for 4 months on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were investigated in male Sprague-Dawley. After the treatment period, femoral artery and vein were cannulated for blood pressure measurement and infusion of drugs respectively. Baroreceptor sensitivity was determined through bilateral carotid occlusion (BCO), while the effect of angiotensin II, calcium channel and nitric oxide were blocked by infusing 1 mg/kg-body weight of captopril, 10 mg/kg-body weight of diltiazem and 30 mg/kg-body weight of L-NAME respectively. Exposure to chronic lead led to an increase (