NAT2 genetic polymorphisms and anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity in Chinese community population.

BACKGROUND: Anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) is one of the most prevalent and serious adverse drug reactions in the course of anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Some researchers suggested that determination of N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) genotype may be clinically useful to identify patients at high risk of developing ATDH. AIM: To evaluate whether the NAT2 genotype could be as a predictor for ATDH in Chinese community TB population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 4304 community-based TB patients were followed up six to nine months prospectively. A nested case-control study was designed. Each ATDH case was 1:4 matched with controls by age (within 5 years old), gender, treatment history, disease severity and drug dosage. The polymorphisms of NAT2 were determined using polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism. Conditional Logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), as well as corresponding P-values. RESULTS: A total of 89 ATDH cases and 356 controls were included in this study. Allele frequency of NAT2*5, NAT2*6 and NAT2*7 in cases and controls were 4.5 and 3.2%, 25.3 and 26.5%, and 13.5 and 13.5%, respectively. Frequencies of genotypes and alleles of NAT2*5, NAT2*6 and NAT2*7 did not differ significantly between cases and controls. The OR of intermediate acetylator and slow acetylator compared with rapid acetylator was 1.040 (95%CI 0.616-1.758) and 0.990 (95%CI 0.509-1.925), respectively. The NAT2 haplotype distribution in cases was similar to controls. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we did not find significant association between NAT2 genotype and ATDH in community-based Chinese population. It may be deficient to take NAT2 genotype as a predictor for ATDH in Chinese community TB patients.

Brief report: Cross-cultural replication of an anomalous psychometric pattern in children with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To replicate an anomalous psychometric profile previously documented in children with Type 1 diabetes living in the mainland United States with a cross-cultural sample selected from Puerto Rico. METHODS: Ninety-three Spanish-speaking children (M age = 12.8 years) with Type 1 diabetes living in Puerto Rico were administered the Puerto Rican version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). The factor structure of the Puerto Rican sample's WISC-R was then compared to that of a United States sample (n = 95) in which an anomalous factor structure in children with diabetes was first documented. RESULTS: As in the United States sample, a four-factor IQ structure was obtained. Instead of the traditional three-factor structure of the WISC-R, the Perceptual Organization factor split into a Spatial Conceptual factor and an anomalous Visual Discrimination factor. CONCLUSIONS: Results support previous findings and suggest anomalies in the psychometric profiles of children with Type 1 diabetes. Cross-cultural replication of the anomalous IQ factor structure, and atypical visual discrimination, suggests that differences are illness-related, and consideration may therefore be warranted when administering some subtests of the Wechsler scales to children with Type 1 diabetes.

Brief report: self-care behaviors of children with type 1 diabetes living in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: To examine self-care behaviors among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes living in Puerto Rico, to determine the relationship between self-care and demographic variables, and to investigate the utility of the 24-hour recall interview within a Hispanic population. METHOD: Forty-one children (M age = 12.6 years) with type 1 diabetes, and their mothers, were administered the 24-hour recall interview on three separate occasions to assess diabetes-related self-care behaviors. RESULTS: Children reported self-care behaviors that included daily administration of an average of two insulin injections and two blood glucose tests, and consumption of 5.5 meals a day comprised of 52% carbohydrates and 29% fat. Younger age, female gender, longer illness duration, and better metabolic control were associated with higher rates of several self-care behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Data provide a first look at self-care behaviors of children with type 1 diabetes living in Puerto Rico and suggest the utility of the 24-hour recall interview within this population.