ABSTRACT
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] are at risk of developing the fatty liver as a result of being overweight. Several studies suggest that OSA per se could be a risk factor for liver injury; and ischemic hepatitis with OSA. The OSA is an independent risk factor for Insulin resistance. Therefore, we investigated liver enzymes and insulin resistance in patients with OSA, and compared with controls. Eighty-one consecutive patients with clinical suspicion of OSA were referred to the Sleep Unit of Masih Daneshvary hospital. On the basis of Polysomnography results patients were divided into two groups. The OSA and non-OSA cases, and also patients without OSA were used as internal controls. The Serum levels of liver enzymes were measured in all patients and abdominal ultrasound examination performed for screening the fatty liver and its grading. Insulin resistance was calculated via homeostasis model assessment [HOMA]. The OSA was present in 41 and absent in 40 patients. Age, sex and body mass indices were not significantly different in two groups. The mean of alanine aminotransferase [ALT] was 31.24 +/- 14.05 IU/L in OSA and 29.97 +/- 8.9 IU/L in non-OSA [p= 0.349] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] was 29.07 +/- 9.6 IU/L in OSA and 26.85 +/- 6.7 IU/L in non-OSA [p= 0.389]. The mean of HOMA was 2.05 +/- 18.2 in OSA and 1.5 +/- 0.54 in non-OSA [p< 0.001]. This study shows that OSA, independent of overweight conditions, is not a risk factor for abnormal liver enzymes. However, the OSA per se seems to be associated with increase in insulin resistance and severity of fatty liver
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Transaminases/blood , Insulin Resistance , Liver/enzymologyABSTRACT
Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor [IMT] is a rare neoplastic lesion with tendency toward local aggressive behavior and recurrence. The tumor most commonly occurs in the pulmonary system of children and young adult, although it may rarely develop in older patients and other organs. Symptoms are non-specific and depend on the location of the tumor. The gastrointestinal tract is rarely the primary site of origin for this lesion. We report an unusual presentation of this rare lesion in a 58 year old woman with intussusception and partial intestinal obstruction
ABSTRACT
Lead toxicity is caused by ingestion, inhalation, or contact with particles or vapors containing lead. It can present with nonspecific signs and symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and anemia. In this study, we have tried to find a relationship between lead poisoning and drug abuse. In a cross sectional study, drug addicts presenting with abdominal pain referring to GI center of Imam Khomeini hospital in 2008 were observed. Patients having occupational contact with lead were excluded from the study. Required data included age, sex, clinical findings, Para clinic results and blood lead level. Results were analyzed through SPSS-15 software. 42 patients [all male] with average age of 46.9 +/- 10.1 years were included in the study. Average blood lead level was 51.17 +/- 27.96 micro g/dl. 22 patients [52.6%] had lead toxicity. A significant relation was found between lead toxicity and mode of opium drug use; however relation between lead toxicity and duration of addiction was not significant. similarly, a meaningful relation was found between lead toxicity and abnormal liver function test, urine tests, ECG, presence of basophilic stippling and hyperuricemia. There seems to be a significant relation between opium drug abuse and lead toxicity. Further studies with more cases and ethnicities are needed