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Mohsenipour R, Aflatoonian M, Alimadadi H, Rahmani P, Esmaeili N, Yazdi M, Abbasi F, Solgi F, Sharifi F, Vafaii N, Mohebbi A, Khazdouz M. Lead poisoning as a differential diagnosis in pediatric patients with chronic abdominal pain: a case-control study in Tehran-Iran. BMC Gastroenterol 2024; 24:344. [PMID: 39358734 PMCID: PMC11446077 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-024-03337-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic abdominal pain is a potential symptom of lead poisoning, which is often challenging to diagnose. This case-control study aimed to evaluate blood lead levels in pediatric patients with chronic abdominal pain. METHODS The case-control study was conducted on 190 pediatrics who presented to the Children's Medical Center Hospital clinics, Tehran between April 2021- 2023. The children were divided into two groups: the case group, consisting of 81 patients with chronic abdominal pain, and the matched control group; 109 children without any gastrointestinal symptoms. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using STATA 16. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the association of different independent variables with chronic abdominal pain. RESULTS There was no significant difference between mean (± standard deviation [SD]) of age (8.80(2.7) years vs. control group: 9.23(3.9) years), sex, and BMI (16.55(4.6) vs. 17.32(4.7)) of the patients with chronic abdominal pain (case group) and the control group, whereas the mean weight was remarkably low in patients with chronic abdominal pain: 27.25(± 12.1) kg vs. 31.70(± 14.7) kg (P value = 0.028). Fifty-nine percent of children with chronic abdominal pain had serum lead levels ≥ 10 µg/dL. The mean (SD) of blood lead levels was statistically high in the case group: 11.09 (± 5.35) µg/dL vs. control group: 8.26 (± 5.01) µg/dL) (P value ≤ 0.05). The appetite level was significantly low in the case group: 3.8 (± 2.5) vs. control group 5.4 (± 1.3). CONCLUSIONS Lead poisoning could be a possible cause of children's chronic abdominal pain. Regarding the high rate of lead poisoning in children exerting appropriate measures to reduce their exposure to lead is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reihaneh Mohsenipour
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Growth and Development Research Center, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Aflatoonian
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Hossein Alimadadi
- Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Rahmani
- Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazanin Esmaeili
- Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Yazdi
- Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Abbasi
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Growth and Development Research Center, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Solgi
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Growth and Development Research Center, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Growth and Development Research Center, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, tehran, Iran
| | - Farshad Sharifi
- Elderly Health Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nahid Vafaii
- Growth and Development Research Center, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Mohebbi
- Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Innovation Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Khazdouz
- Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Yu G, Wu L, Su Q, Ji X, Zhou J, Wu S, Tang Y, Li H. Neurotoxic effects of heavy metal pollutants in the environment: Focusing on epigenetic mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123563. [PMID: 38355086 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The pollution of heavy metals (HMs) in the environment is a significant global environmental issue, characterized by its extensive distribution, severe contamination, and profound ecological impacts. Excessive exposure to heavy metal pollutants can damage the nervous system. However, the mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity of most heavy metals are not completely understood. Epigenetics is defined as a heritable change in gene function that can influence gene and subsequent protein expression levels without altering the DNA sequence. Growing evidence indicates that heavy metals can induce neurotoxic effects by triggering epigenetic changes and disrupting the epigenome. Compared with genetic changes, epigenetic alterations are more easily reversible. Epigenetic reprogramming techniques, drugs, and certain nutrients targeting specific epigenetic mechanisms involved in gene expression regulation are emerging as potential preventive or therapeutic tools for diseases. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of epigenetic modifications encompassing DNA/RNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs in the nervous system, elucidating their association with various heavy metal exposures. These primarily include manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), sliver (Ag), toxic metalloids arsenic (As), and etc. The potential epigenetic mechanisms in the etiology, precision prevention, and target therapy of various neurodevelopmental disorders or different neurodegenerative diseases are emphasized. In addition, the current gaps in research and future areas of study are discussed. From a perspective on epigenetics, this review offers novel insights for prevention and treatment of neurotoxicity induced by heavy metal pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxia Yu
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Lingyan Wu
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Qianqian Su
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xianqi Ji
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Jinfu Zhou
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Fujian Maternity and Child Hospital College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Siying Wu
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Fujian Center for Prevention and Control Occupational Diseases and Chemical Poisoning, Fuzhou 350125, China
| | - Huangyuan Li
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China.
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