Toxic effects of subacute inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene on serum lipid profile,glucose and biochemical parameters in Sprague–Dawley rats

Abstract

The current study evaluated the inhalation toxicity of trichloroethylene (TCE) at 0, 10, 100, 250 and 400?ppm in Sprague–Dawley rats for 10 day period, because the subacute inhalation toxicity of TCE on serum lipid profile, glucose and some biochemical parameters has not been previously reported. TCE vapors were generated using the dynamic generation system based on evaporation method in the exposure chamber. On the basis of the results, mean serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and albumin (ALB) decreased significantly in all the groups exposed to TCE compared with the control group (p?<?.005), but there was a significant increase for parameters: fasting blood glucose (FBG) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p?<?.005). Rats exposed to 400?ppm TCE showed a significant decrease in serum cholesterol (CHOL) and protein (Pr) compared with the control group (p?<?.005). A negative relationship was found between triglycerides (TG), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), CHOL, LDL, Pr, ALB and urea levels and the subacute exposure to concentrations of TCE (R²?=?–0.26, p?<?.05), but there was a direct correlation for parameters FBG, ALP and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (R²?=?0.42, p?<?.05). In conclusion, studies with Sprague–Dawley rats demonstrated that subacute inhalation exposure to TCE (≥ 100?PPM) is associated with biochemical and lipotoxicity in the form of decreased serum ALB and LDL and raised ALP and glucose levels. The present study also provides additional evidence relating to decreased serum CHOL and Pr after subacute inhalation exposure to 400?ppm TCE.     

Coincidence of Niemann-Pick Disease and beta-Thalassemia; a Case Report

Background

Niemann-Pick disease and β-thalassemia are distinct conditions with specific clinical and morphological manifestations. β-thalassemia is the most common inherited blood disorder in Iran whereas Niemann-Pick disease, a lysosomal storage disorder, is rarely found in this country.

Case Presentation

This 5-month old girl, a known case of β-thalassemia major was hospitalized for failure to thrive and hepathosplenomegaly. Because of unusual splenomegaly and liver enzymes disturbance that was not compatible with the first diagnosis, further evaluation revealed cherry red spot and high lipid profile suggestive of lysosomal storage disease. Foamy cells in the bone marrow and low activity of the specific enzyme led to the diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease.

Conclusion

This unique case illustrates the importance of looking for a second pathological condition in a patient whose clinical profile does not support the first diagnosis in its entirety.     

The relationship of air pollution and surrogate markers of endothelial dysfunction in a population-based sample of children

Background  

This study aimed to assess the relationship of air pollution and plasma surrogate markers of endothelial dysfunction in the pediatric age group.     

Comparing the quality of anaesthesia in normal and inflamed teeth by pulp testing

Failure to achieve complete anaesthesia of teeth with acutely inflamed pulps is a well-known clinical symptom. In this study, we compared the quality of anaesthesia in intact and inflamed mandibular teeth by using an electric pulp tester. Thirty patients with inflamed lower teeth, which had spontaneous or night pain, were selected; two healthy teeth in the same quadrant were used as control teeth. Electric pulp testing and thermal tests were made on each inflamed and control tooth. Teeth were then anaesthetised by inferior alveolar nerve block and electric pulp tests were repeated on inflamed and control teeth. Significant differences were found between electrical stimulation of inflamed and intact pulp (p approximately 0). There was no significant difference between the responses of inflamed teeth to electric pulp testing before and after anaesthesia (p = 0.327), which showed that the teeth could become resistant to anaesthesia due to the inflammation.