Effect of tramadol addiction alone and its co-abuse with cannabis on urinary excretion of Copper, Zinc, and Calcium among Egyptian addicts

Background: The use of illicit drugs has become a worldwide health problem. Substances with the potential to be abused may have direct or indirect effects on physiologic mechanisms that lead to organ system dysfunction and diseases.Objective: The present study aims to investigate the structural and reabsorption integrity of the nephron among Egyptian addicts of tramadol alone and coabused with cannabis.Methods: Sixty-five males were included in the study, they were classified into control group (G1=19), tramadol addicts group (G2=18), and tramadol coabused with cannabis addicts group (G3=28). Parameters investigated for structural integrity were urinary levels ofleucineaminopeptidase and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, and urinary parameters for reabsorption integrity were levels of copper and zinc as well as calcium, also urinary creatinine was measured. In addition, urinary levels of tramadol and tetrahydrocannabinol were estimated.Results: Among the two addicted groups, all measured parameters were not significantly different in comparison with the control group except for urinary calcium excretion which was found to be significantly increased among the two addicted groups.Conclusion: Both tramadol addiction alone or coabused with cannabis causes increased urinary excretion of calcium, indicating reabsorption dysfunction of calcium without affecting structural integrity along the nephron.Keywords: Enzymuria, copper, zinc, calcium, reabsorption impairment, tubular structural integrity

Effect of tramadol addiction alone and its co-abuse with cannabis on urinary excretion of Copper, Zinc, and Calcium among Egyptian addicts

Background: The use of illicit drugs has become a worldwide health problem. Substances with the potential to be abused may have direct or indirect effects on physiologic mechanisms that lead to organ system dysfunction and diseases. Objective: The present study aims to investigate the structural and reabsorption integrity of the nephron among Egyptian addicts of tramadol alone and coabused with cannabis. Methods: Sixty-five males were included in the study, they were classified into control group (G1=19), tramadol addicts group (G2=18), and tramadol coabused with cannabis addicts group (G3=28). Parameters investigated for structural integrity were urinary levels ofleucineaminopeptidase and N-acetyl-\u3b2-D-glucosaminidase, and urinary parameters for reabsorption integrity were levels of copper and zinc as well as calcium, also urinary creatinine was measured. In addition, urinary levels of tramadol and tetrahydrocannabinol were estimated. Results: Among the two addicted groups, all measured parameters were not significantly different in comparison with the control group except for urinary calcium excretion which was found to be significantly increased among the two addicted groups. Conclusion: Both tramadol addiction alone or coabused with cannabis causes increased urinary excretion of calcium, indicating reabsorption dysfunction of calcium without affecting structural integrity along the nephron

Sinc-Galerkin Method For Solving Linear Sixth-Order Boundary-Value Problems

There are few techniques available to numerically solve sixth-order boundary-value problems with two-point boundary conditions. In this paper we show that the Sinc-Galerkin method is a very effective tool in numerically solving such problems. The method is then tested on examples with homogeneous and nonhomogeneous boundary conditions and a comparison with the modified decomposition method is made. It is shown that the Sinc-Galerkin method yields better results

The effect of 'renal-dose' dopamine on renal tubular function following cardiac surgery: Assessed by measuring retinol binding protein (RBP)

Objective: Acute renal failure complicating open heart surgery is not uncommon. Dopamine infusion (2.5–4.0 mg/kg per min) has often been advocated for prophylactic ‘renal protection ’ in this setting despite little objective evidence of real benefit. We aimed to investigate whether dopamine offers any ‘renal protection ’ in patients with normal heart and kidney functions undergoing routine coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Urinary excretion of retinol-binding protein (RBP), previously validated as a sensitive and accurate marker of early renal tubular injury, was used to assess the renal effects of dopamine during the first postoperative week. Methods: Forty consecutive patients from the elective waiting list were prospectively randomized into two equal groups: those in Group A received dopamine infusion at ‘renal dose ’ (2.5–4.0 mg/kg per min) starting from induction of anaesthesia for 48 h, whereas those in Group B served as untreated controls. Daily measurements were made of weight-adjusted urine output (ml/kg), fluid balance (input/output), serum creatinine, blood urea and urinary RBP. Statistical comparisons were made using Mann–Whitney U-test. Results: The two groups matched in terms of age, time and temperature on cardiopulmonary bypass, number of grafts performed and perioperative haemodynamic status. No differences were detected in the weight-adjusted urine output, fluid balance, serum creatinine and blood urea between the groups. Control subjects (Group B) showed an increase in urinary RBP during the first and second postoperative days (323 – 4 mg/ mmolCr and 50 – 3 mg/mmolCr; mean – SD). However, patients treated with dopamine (Group A) demonstrated much greater urinary excretion of RBP over the same period (1257 – 15 mg/mmolCr and 449 – 21 mg/mmolCr; P = 0.0006 and 0.03) than those in Group B