W Indian Med J
-
Samples of Jamaican plants used as bush teas were collected from households in high soil-cadmium (Cd) areas of central Jamaica and analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry for total cadmium and for cadmium extractable with a hot water brew as prepared for human consumption to determine their contribution to dietary cadmium exposure. The concentrations ranged from < 0.03 to 6.85 µg/g for total Cd, between 1 and 15% of which was extracted with a hot water brew. ⋯ This is significantly below the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of 7 µg Cd/kg body weight established by the World Health Organization (WHO). While this suggests that bush tea consumption does not contribute significantly to the PTWI, some of the teas examined exceed the WHO recommendation of less than 0.3 mg/kg Cd for medicinal plants.
-
This study aimed at detecting the protective effects of resveratrol on diabetes-induced renal damage and on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), collagen IV and Th17/Tregrelated cytokines in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. ⋯ Resveratrol might ameliorate diabetes-induced renal damage through mediating the balance of Th17/Treg-related cytokines and inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1 and collagen IV.
-
Vitamin A toxicity is a well-described medical condition with a multitude of potential presenting signs and symptoms. It can be divided into acute and chronic toxicity. Serum vitamin A concentrations are raised in chronic renal failure even with ingestion of less than the usual toxic doses. ⋯ Her vitamin A level was elevated with a daily intake of 7000 IU. The vitamin A supplement was stopped. A few months later, vitamin A level diminished substantially and serum calcium levels returned to normal.
-
Retracted Publication
WITHDRAWN: Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels of Children: A Case Study in Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.
-
Many neurosurgical cases are done without the need for blood transfusion, yet blood is unnecessarily cross-matched, resulting in wasted resources. This study was undertaken to document and compare the number of units of blood components requested, cross-matched and transfused in neurosurgical cases at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). ⋯ The transfusion rate was low with a high cross-match to transfusion ratio, suggesting that less cross-matching is needed. A new approach to blood ordering for neurosurgical cases is recommended.