Ahmet Keskinoglu

Lead exposure and urinary N-acetyl β D glucosaminidase activity in adolescent workers in auto repair workshops

PURPOSE To investigate levels of lead (Pb) exposure and renal tubular damage among adolescent workers in auto repair workshops in Turkey. METHODS The study was conducted on 39 adolescent workers (mean age: 16.18 +/- 3.19 years) in auto repair workshops (8 autoelectrician, 10 motor repairman, 8 auto painter, 5 turner, 8 bonnet straighter). Thirteen adult employees of battery production in the workshops (mean age: 32.08 +/- 10.94 years) and 29 healthy rural adolescent (mean age: 14.78 +/- 2.68 years) constituted the control groups. The level of blood Pb was investigated by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and urinary N-acetyl beta- D glucosaminidase (NAG) activity was measured by a colorimetric method. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to examine group differences. RESULTS All subjects and controls had normal blood urea, creatinine, uric acid, sodium, potassium levels, normal routine urine examination and tubular phosphorus reabsorption. Blood Pb levels in auto repair workers (8.13 +/- 7.41 mug/dL) were significantly higher than the rural control group (3.49 +/- 1.39 mug/dL) but lower than the battery workers (25.27 +/- 9.82 mug/dL). Urinary NAG (U/gr creatinine) (4.71 +/- 2.11) was lower than the battery workers (7.39 +/- 4.37), however significantly higher than the normal control group (3.07 +/- 1.20). In addition, auto painters had higher levels of Pb exposure and urinary NAG activity than the other workers (p <.05). CONCLUSION Chronic low dose Pb exposure was found to cause renal tubular injury in children workers of auto repair workshops.

Lymphocyte subpopulations in children with vitamin D deficient rickets.

Recent studies have shown 1,25(OH)2D3‐mediated modulation of the immune system. We examined lymphocyte subpopulations of 16 children with nutritional rickets. Most of the patients suffered more frequent infection episodes than the control group of 15 healthy children and low serum levels of 25OHD and 1,25(OH)2D, such as 38.2 ± 8.6 ng/mL and 15.7 ± 2.6 pg/mL respectively. This decrease correlated with a significant decrease in total T lymphocytes and an increase in B lymphocytes expressing surface IgA, IgM, IgG molecules. These results suggest that vitamin D plays an important role in the impaired functions of T lymphocytes which may lead to frequent infection episodes in nutritional rickets.

Effect of hemodialysis on carnitine levels in children with chronic renal failure

Background : Impaired structural and metabolic integrity of the kidney in chronic renal failure (CRF) effects carnitine metabolism by means of many factors. Depletion due to hemodialysis (HD) is one of the major concerns. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of chronic renal failure and HD on plasma free carnitine (FC) concentrations in children.

Free carnitine levels in children with steroid–sensitive nephrotic syndrome

Background : Carnitine transports long‐chain fatty acids accross the inner mitochondrial membrane. Carnitine metabolism is disturbed in some renal diseases, such as chronic renal failure. Previous studies have shown that children had normal serum free carnitine (FC) and total carnitine levels in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, IgA nephropathy, non‐IgA nephropathy and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to determine FC concentrations in plasma and urine during acute and remission periods of steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) and its association with hyperlipidemia.