Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium Concentrations in Blood Products Transfused to Neonates: Elimination Not Just Mitigation.

Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) are identified as potent developmental neurotoxicants. Neonates are the main group receiving multiple blood transfusions. The exposure of neonates to these heavy metals (HMs) can occur through blood transfusions. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in various blood products (plasma, platelets, packed red blood cells (pRBCs), and whole blood (WB)) to explore the probability of concurrent exposure of these HMs and to identify the metal load per transfusion with risk assessment. Residual bloods from blood bank bags were collected after neonatal transfusion. Pb, Hg, and Cd concentrations were determined in 120 samples of blood products by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pb and Cd levels were over the normal levels in 19.2 and 5.9% of all blood units, respectively. In 35 and 0.8% of blood units, the Pb and Cd concentrations, respectively, were higher than that recommended for transfusions in premature neonates. The anticipated safe value was surpassed by 2.5% for Cd of all transfusions, primarily because of WB. However, Hg was detected only in 5.8% of all samples and their concentrations were within the normal range. The concurrent neonatal exposure to Pb, Hg, and Cd was statistically significant. Hazard quotients of Hg and Cr were >1 and Pb cancer risk was 2.41 × 10-4. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report examining Pb, Hg, and Cd in blood products other than WB and pRBCs using ICP-MS. This study demonstrated the exposure of neonates to Pb, Hg, and Cd during transfusion with a considerable amount of Pb. It confirms the significant concurrent exposure to the three HMs, which maximize their potential developmental neurotoxicity with a high probability of developing non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effects.

Recurrent Fever with Oral Lesions in Egyptian Children: A Familial Mediterranean Fever Diagnosis Not to Be Missed.

OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study was to describe the genetic and clinical features of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in a group of Egyptian children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 65 children diagnosed with FMF according to the (Eurofever/PRINTO) classification criteria. The complete blood count (CBC), and acute phase reactants such as Serum amyloid A (SAA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were all measured during the febrile episode. Mutation analysis for the MEFV gene was carried out for all subjects. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients with FMF were included in the study. The first clinical manifestation was recurrent fever in all patients. Recurrent oral lesions accompanied fever in 63% of cases, abdominal pain in 31%, and musculoskeletal pain in 6%. The mean SAA level was 162.5 ± 85.78 mg/L. MEFV mutations were detected in 56 patients (86%). Among these patients, 6 (10.7%) were homozygous, while 44 (78.6%) were heterozygous. The most frequently observed mutation was E148Q 24 (37.5%), followed by M694I 18 (32.1%), and V726A 13 (20.3%). Half of the patients with oral lesions were E148Q positive, however abdominal pain was found to be higher in the patients with the M694I mutation. CONCLUSION: Recurrent fever with oral lesions could be an important atypical presentation of FMF in Egyptian children that should not be ignored and/or missed.

Lung Ultrasound and Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio in Early Diagnosis and Differentiation between Viral and Bacterial Pneumonia in Young Children.

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a crucial diagnostic tool for identifying pneumonia in the pediatric age group. However, it plays a limited role in the early distinction between viral and bacterial pneumonia in children. The objectives of our study were to determine if LUS and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were useful in identifying and distinguishing between viral and bacterial pneumonia in Egyptian children under the age of two. Within the first 12 h of being admitted to our department, 52 children with clinical symptoms and signs suggestive of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) underwent LUS and the NLR. LUS and the NLR strongly differentiated children with viral from those with bacterial pneumonia. For the early diagnosis and differentiation between viral and bacterial pneumonia in young Egyptian children, LUS was proven to be a noninvasive and reliable method. Combining the NLR with LUS increased the diagnostic accuracy when evaluating children suspected of having pneumonia.

Association of VDBP rs4701 Variant, but not VDR/RXR-α Over-Expression with Bone Mineral Density in Pediatric Well-Chelated ß-Thalassemia Patients.

BACKGROUND: The reduced rate of bone formation despite the availability of vitamin D has been reported in ß-thalassemia. Genetic factors, together with environmental ones, could be implicated in this condition. Since vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) maintains bioavailability of vitamin D which binds to vitamin D receptor (VDR)-retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA) heterodimer to exert its molecular actions, we speculated that vitamin D metabolic-axis expression signature and variants could be potential molecular candidates for bone turnover/disease in thalassemia. To this end, this study aims to analyze VDR/RXRA expression signature, and two VDBP variants in a pilot sample of Egyptian ß-thalassemia children in correlation with bone mineral density (BMD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-four well-chelated ß-thalassemia children and 40 unrelated controls were enrolled. The serum bone chemistry profile was measured. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMN) VDR/RXRA expression levels were quantified by Real-Time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). VDBP rs7041 and rs4588 variants were identified by Real-Time allelic discrimination assay. All patients were subjected to lumbar-spine Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). RESULTS: VDR/RXRA expressions were significantly higher in ß-thalassemia children compared to controls (P = 0.001 and <0.001, respectively) and showed higher values in ß-thalassemia major relative to ß-thalassemia intermedia. Expression levels of both genes were not associated with sex or BMD. However, VDBP rs4701 genotyping revealed lower BMD-L4 and a higher frequency of osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: ß-Thalassemia children had higher expression levels of PBMN VDR/RXRA. VDBP rs4701 variant was associated with osteoporosis in our ß-thalassemia patients on vitamin D supplementation. Further large-scale studies in other ethnic populations are warranted.