Evaluation of nephrotoxic effect of lead exposure among automobile repairers in Nnewi Metropolis

Background:Lead toxicity is one of the most common occupational hazards that affect several organs of the body, kidney inclusive. Auto repairers are exposed to lead in petrol, radiator, leaded battery, lead soldering wire, and spray paints, thus this study was designed to evaluate lead-induced nephrotoxic effect among automobile repairers.Methods:A total of 80 male subjects within the age range of 20 and 65 years were recruited for this study. 50 subjects were occupationally exposed automobile repairers, of which 15 were electricians, 21 mechanics and 14 panel beaters/spray painters, whereas 30 were non-exposed students and staff from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus. Blood sample was collected from these individuals and their blood lead levels were determined alongside creatinine, urea, uric acid, sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate.Results:The results showed that the mean levels of blood lead is significantly higher in automobile repairers than in control group (P 0.05). The evaluation of the renal function markers show that, there were significant increases in the mean serum concentration of creatinine, urea, and uric acid in the study group compare to the control subjects (P 0.05).Conclusion:Findings from this study show that blood lead level is high among automobile repairers above CDC recommended level for adults. This high blood lead level among automobile repairers may be responsible for raised levels of renal markers which may eventually lead to their renal damage.

CD4+ Cell Count, Lipid And Lipoprotein Levels In Hiv Patients On Drug Treatment

Background: Previous reports showed lack of consensus on the possible etiology of coronary artery disease (CAD) between HIV-treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and HIV-infection in particular. The aim of this study was to find out correlations of HIV-treatment and HIV-infection with CAD risk. Method: One hundred and twenty (120) participants involving HIV-patients on treatment (n = 40), treatment-naïve (n = 40) and equal number of age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. The total cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein (HDL-C) were analyzed using spectrophotometry. The LDL-C was calculated using Friedewald equation, TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were also calculated. The CD4+ cell count was determined using flow cytometry. Result: The mean plasma total cholesterol levels in patients’ groups on treatment and treatment-naïve were significantly reduced when compared with controls, but the mean triglyceride levels for both treatment and the treatment-naïve groups were significantly increased when compared with controls. However, HDL-C and LDL-C values for patients on HAART and the treatment-naive were significantly reduced when compared with controls respectively. The CAD risk predictors, LDL-c and TC/HDL-C ratio, were significantly increased in patients on HAART when compared with the treatment-naive. The mean CD4+ cell count in treatment-naive was significantly lowered against both groups for treatment and controls. Conclusion: In this present study, abnormal lipid profile was associated with both HIV-infection and HAART-treatment. However, TC/HDL-C ratio, the strong predictor of CAD events in metabolic disorder was markedly high in HAARTtreatment and the associated difference may threaten higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) during treatment