LEADING CAUSES AND POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRIBUTORS FOR END STAGE RENAL DISEASE IN ALMADINAH REGION IN SAUDI ARABIA

To find-out the leading causes and the possible environmental contributors for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in Al-Madinah region, KSA.. 156 patients suffering from ESRD and 160 apparently healthy subjects of comparable age and sex were included. None of the participants was occupationally exposed to lead, cadmium and/or mercury. None affection of the control subjects with renal diseases was confirmed. Patients with undefined leading causes for ESRD (44) and an equal number of the control subjects were subjected to determine their blood levels of lead, cadmium and mercury. The study revealed that the main leading causes of ESRD in Al-Madinah region were hypertension, obstructive uropathy and diabetes mellitus. Environmental pollutants of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contributed to ESRD in Al-Madinah region particularly in urban areas. Mercury (Hg) was not a pollutant in Al-Madinah region. The study recommended early diagnosis and proper control of hypertension, obstructive uropathy and diabetes mellitus. It also recommended regular environmental monitoring for (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels and finds the sources of their elevations and efforts should be raised up to eliminate them

Study of some factors associated with high-risk asthma in children

Aim of the study: To determine the association of high-risk asthma with allergy-related parameters (serum total and specific levels of IgE, eosinophil count, and eosinophil percentage) and pulmonary functions in children. Subjects and methods: Fifty children with atopic asthma were enrolled in this study. Chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests, eosinophil count, eosinophil percentage, total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum IgE levels specific to 9 allergens were measured. Results: Out of the 50 participants (20 belonged to high-risk and 30 to low-risk groups). There were no significant association in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR %) and forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) values between the two groups, whereas forced expiratory flow 25–75% (FEF 25–75%) shows a significant association with high-risk asthma. There was a significant association between total serum IgE level and high-risk asthma but eosinophil count, and eosinophil percentage showed a nonsignificant association. Serum levels of IgE specific to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, cat dander, and dog dander were significantly associated with high-risk asthma but antigens from other allergen (including cockroach, egg white, and milk) showed a nonsignificant association. Serum levels of IgE specific to Aspergillus fumigatus and fish were negative in both groups. Conclusion: Children with higher serum levels of IgE specific to D. pteronyssinus, D. farina, cat dander and dog dander antigens, total serum IgE levels, and lower FEF 25–75% values belong to the high-risk asthma group