Serum levels of lead and copper in a group of Egyptian children with bronchial asthma

Background: Copper and lead are trace elements required for the activity of antioxidant enzymes and changes in their levels may lead to reduction in antioxidant activities in asthma.Objective: Our study aims to investigate the serum levels of copper and lead in asthmatic children in correlation to disease severity to anticipate their role as oxidant defenders in this disease.Methods: We enrolled 45 children who were divided into two groups: group 1 included 30 asthmatic children during disease quiescence and group 2 included 15 clinically healthy children matched for age and sex as a control group. Patients were subjected to: history taking, clinical examination, spirometry before and after bronchodilator therapy, complete blood counting, and measurement of serum levels of total IgE, copper and lead (in patients and controls).Results: Patients’ group had significantly higher serum levels of lead (mean 8.2±3.1 μg/dl) and copper (122±31.5 μg/dl) in comparison to controls (mean 5.7±2.3 μg/dl and103.3±21.1 μg/dl respectively). Serum lead and copper levels were higher among patients with moderate persistent asthma than those with mild asthma. Serum total IgE levels correlated positively with serum lead levels among the asthmatic children. However, serum lead and copper levels did not correlate with any of the measured pulmonary function parameters tested.Conclusion: Increased serum level of lead and copper were high in a group of children with bronchial asthma in children and this was more evident in moderate than mild cases.Keywords: children; trace elements; lead; copper; spirometry; bronchial asthma; antioxidants; severit

Influence of early feeding practices on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in later life

Background: An analysis of risk factors linked to ischemic heart disease (IHD) shows a strong link between these risk factors and early feeding practices. Aim of the work: The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac biomarkers that could predict cardiovascular disease (lipid profile and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) for both mothers and their children and demonstrate their associations with early feeding practices. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comprising one hundred twenty pairs of mother and their children, one half of whom were exclusively breastfed for 6 months, the other half their children were formula fed from birth. The groups were matched for age and sex. Full feeding history was taken for children and assessments of risk behaviour of cardiovascular disease including Anthropometric measurements to assess Body Mass Index, blood pressures and blood samples for lipid profile and hs-CRP for both mothers and children. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding hs-CRP as it was higher in mothers and their children who were artificially feed than mothers and their children who were breastfeed (m = 3.3 + 2.2–1.72 ± 1.96, 2.08 ± 1.64–0.84 ± 1.09 respectively), however there was no a statistically significant difference for both mothers and their children regarding lipid profile. Conclusion: Early feeding practices can influence the development of cardiovascular diseases as breast fed infants and their mothers had lower hs- CRP levels which is considered as a biomarker of CVD risk