Creatinine In Men Research Articles

Creatinine and Cystatin C: A Measure of Renal Function in Men With Testosterone-Induced Muscle Hypertrophy.

Creatinine (Cr) is often used as a standalone gold standard marker of kidney function. Cystatin C (Cys C) is a less physiologically labile marker of renal function, particularly in certain subgroups. Herein, we analyze trends in cystatin C as compared to creatinine in men on testosterone replacement therapy with varying body mass indices and percent body fat (PBF). This retrospective analysis observes 227 men with testosterone-induced muscle hypertrophy who visited a men's health tertiary care clinic. All participants were characterized as competitive or recreational athletes. In patients with a normal body mass index (BMI), there was no clinically significant correlation between Cr and Cys C. Slight correlation was seen with overweight (R2 = .27) patients (p < .0001) and obese (R2 = .29) patients (p < .0001). Patients with PBF of 0%-10% (n = 22) exhibited minimal (R2 = .23) positive correlation between Cys C and Cr (p = .03). Positive correlation between Cys C and Cr in patients with PBF of 10%-20% was clinically negligible (R2 = .17, n = 87), modest (R2 = .49) in patients with PBF of 20%-30% (n = 42), and evident (R2 = 1.00) in patients >30% (n = 3) (p < .0001, respectively). Cystatin C measurements display less variance compared with creatinine at differing BMI distinctions. At the upper limit of BMI or PBF in our patient population, cystatin C exhibits minimal to moderate variability compared with creatinine.

The Association between Kidney Function Biomarkers and Delayed Memory Impairments among Older Adults in the European North of Russia.

The prevention of memory decline requires better knowledge of biological markers. We studied the associations between kidney function biomarkers and memory decline (assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination-MMSE) in elderly individuals without dementia (MMSE 24-30, age 60-74 years, n = 643, Arkhangelsk, Russia). Participants were divided by sex and into three groups according to the delayed memory performance: recall of 0-1, 2, and 3 out of 3 words. The median of serum creatinine was 82 μmol/L in men who recalled 2 words and both medians in those recalling 3 and 0-1 words were 87 μmol/L. The 90th percentile for creatinine in men recalling 0-1 words (115.0 μmol/L) exceeded the upper limit of the normal range (110.5 μmol/L), while those who recalled 3 and 2 words had 90th percentiles within the normal range (109 and 101 μmol/L, respectively). Glomerular filtration rates were normal (≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2) with a median of 92.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 in men who recalled 2 words, 84.4 and 84.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 in men who recalled 3 and 0-1 words, respectively. None of these associations were observed in women. A reduced serum creatinine in older non-demented men may indicate the initial stages of memory decline, while the increased creatinine may reflect further stages of memory impairment.

Total urinary polyphenol excretion: a biomarker of an anti-inflammatory diet and metabolic syndrome status

BackgroundChronic inflammation is associated with noncommunicable diseases, including obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and CVDs. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory effects, attributed in part to the polyphenol richness of many of its components. ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the value of polyphenols as a urinary biomarker of an anti-inflammatory diet and their influence on MetS status. MethodsA longitudinal analysis was performed in Spain considering 543 participants with high CVD risk in a PREDIMED study. Approximately 52% of the participants were women and 48% were men with a mean age of 67.5 (5.9) y. Total polyphenol excretion (TPE) in urine was determined at baseline and 5 y of intervention using a validated Folin–Ciocalteu spectrophotometric method, and the dietary inflammatory index (DII) was calculated from a validated 137-item food-frequency questionnaire. Three categories were built according to tertiles of change in the DII score. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association of changes in TPE with changes in the DII scores and with MetS status at 5 y. ResultsTertiles 2 and 3 compared with tertile 1 presented a lower anti-inflammatory potential of the diet and were inversely associated with TPE in women [−0.30 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g creatinine; 95% CI: −0.46, −0.15; P value = 0.006 and −0.29 mg GAE/g creatinine; 95% CI: −0.43, −0.15; P value = 0.005], respectively. The mean changes in TPE were 7.9 (56.1) mg GAE/g creatinine in women and 7.7 (48.2) mg GAE/g creatinine in men. In addition, TPE was inversely associated with changes in MetS status [−0.06 (−0.09; −0.02), P value = 0.009] in both men and women. ConclusionsUrinary polyphenols may be a potential biomarker of anti-inflammatory diet consumption in women and are prospectively associated with improvement in MetS.

Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

Introduction-Oxidative stress is linked to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and is suggested to vary by sex. However, few population-level studies have explored these associations and the majority comprise populations with advanced CVD. We assessed urinary isoprostane concentrations, a standard measure of oxidative stress, in a relatively young and healthy cohort, hypothesizing that higher oxidative stress is associated with an adverse cardiometabolic profile and female sex. Methods-Oxidative stress was measured in 475 women and 266 men, aged 48-55 years, from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study using urinary 8-isoprostane (IsoP) and 2,3-dinor-8-isoprostane (IsoP-M). Multivariable-adjusted regression was used to evaluate cross-sectional associations. As secondary analysis, previously measured plasma F2-isoprostanes (plasma IsoP) from another CARDIA subset was similarly analyzed. Results-Mean (SD) ages for men and women were 52.1(2.3) and 52.2(2.2) years, respectively (p = 0.46), and 39% of the participants self-identified as Black (vs. White). Before adjustments, female sex was associated with higher median urinary IsoP (880 vs. 704 ng/g creatinine in men; p < 0.01) and IsoP m (1675 vs. 1284 ng/g creatinine in men; p < 0.01). Higher body mass index (BMI), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides, current smoking, and less physical activity were associated with higher oxidative stress. Diabetes was not associated with urinary IsoP but was associated with lower IsoP m and plasma IsoP. Higher serum creatinine showed diverging associations with higher plasma and lower urinary isoprostane concentrations. Conclusions-Different isoprostane entities exhibit varying association patterns with CVD risk factors, and therefore are complementary, rather than interchangeable, in assessment of oxidative stress. Still, consistently higher isoprostanes among women, smokers, less active persons, and those with higher BMI and plasma triglycerides could reflect higher oxidative stress among these groups. While urinary isoprostanes are indexed to urinary creatinine due to variations in concentration, caution should be exercised when comparing groups with differing serum creatinine.

Reference intervals for 12 clinical laboratory tests in a Danish population: The Lolland-Falster Health Study

Reference intervals (RIs), developed as part of the Nordic Reference Interval Project 2000 (NORIP) are widely used in most European laboratories. We aimed to examine the validity of the NORIP RIs by establishing RIs for 12 frequently used laboratory tests based on data from a local Danish population and compare these local RIs with the NORIP RIs. Using an a posteriori direct sampling approach, blood sample data were assessed from 11,138 participants aged 18+ years in the Lolland-Falster Health Study (LOFUS), of whom 2154 turned out to meet criteria for being healthy for inclusion in establishing RIs according to the NORIP methodology. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were calculated for alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), albumin, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, creatinine, hemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, iron, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, thrombocytes, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. When comparing our estimates with the NORIP, the lower reference limits (RLs) for bilirubin and iron were lower, and higher for ALAT, thrombocytes and triglycerides. Upper RLs were lower for albumin (males and females ≥70 years), bilirubin and iron, but higher for alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides and for creatinine in men. In LOFUS, approximately 20% of the participants were healthy and qualified for inclusion in the establishment of RIs. Several of the local RIs differed from the NORIP RIs.

Assessment of nutritional status of students of medical institute according to the blood biochemical parameters

The biochemical blood parameters characterizing the students ’nutritional status were evaluated: protein, lipid, carbohydrate metabolism, a number of minerals. The mean values, errors of the mean, median (Me), boundary (Q) and the range of 25–75 percentiles were determined. In 9.1 % of students and 28.6 % of students, the total protein was increased. Creatinine in men was in the upper normal range, in women — at the upper limit of normal, of which 46.2 % was higher than normal. The interval Q25–75 of uric acid in students is determined in the lower normal zone. In 40.0 % of men, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Q25–75 corresponded to 1.15–1.79), in women — below normal, Q25–75 5 was 1.3–1.5, decreased in 73.3 %. Me and Q25–75 iron were in the lower normal range; 14.1 % of men and 13.2 % of women are below normal. Me sodium and potassium at the level of the lower boundary of the norm, Q25–75 in the lower zone of the norm: in 16.0 % and 15.4 % of students the levels are reduced. Calcium is slightly above the lower limit of the norm, Q25–75–2.1–2.24, indicating an insufficient intake in the whole group; 25.0 % are below normal. The border of the 25th percentile of magnesium is at the level of the lower border of the norm, in 19.2 % it is reduced. 7.2 % lack of chlorine. Phosphorus is normal, but Q25–75 is in the upper zone; 17.9 % increased. Biochemical markers can identify individuals with metabolic disorders of nutrients. Statistical indicators — the median, the boundaries of 25–75 quartiles and their scope characterize the metabolism of macronutrients and minerals in the group and subgroups of students. Laboratory and mathematical methods can provide a basis for identifying the specific causes of these changes. For this, you can use the questionnaire method of studying the nutrition of students, possibly using the developed questionnaires for a specific situation.

Elevated Serum Uric Acid And Heart Failure In U.S. Adults: 2007-2016 NHANES

There is limited evidence examining the relationship between elevated serum uric acid (UA) concentration and heart failure (HF) in U.S. adults. PURPOSE: Examine the associations between elevated UA and HF using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. METHODS: The final sample with complete data for this analysis (N=17,412) included men and women aged ≥40 years who participated in the 2007-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Self-reported diagnosis of HF was assessed via interview. Elevated UA was defined as values >6.0 mg/dL for women and >7.2 mg/dL for men. Multivariable gender-stratified logistic regression was utilized to examine the odds of HF. RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of HF was 3.85% and 3.39% among men and women, respectively. Age adjusted analysis revealed significantly increased odds of HF in men (odds ratio [OR], 2.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.09-3.71, P<0.01) and women (OR, 3.25; 95% CI 2.37-4.45, P<0.01) with elevated UA. Significance remained following adjustment for education, income, race, body mass index, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, physical activity, and creatinine in men (OR, 1.59; 95% CI 1.04-2.43 P=0.03) and women (OR, 2.03; 95% CI 1.33-3.08, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In a representative sample of U.S. adults, having an elevated UA concentration was associated with significantly increased odds of HF when compared to adults with normal UA.

Health Risk Assessment of Dietary Cadmium Intake: Do Current Guidelines Indicate How Much is Safe?

Background:Cadmium (Cd), a food-chain contaminant, is a significant health hazard. The kidney is one of the primary sites of injury after chronic Cd exposure. Kidney-based risk assessment establishes the urinary Cd threshold at 5.24 μg/g creatinine, and tolerable dietary intake of Cd at 62 μg/day per 70-kg person. However, cohort studies show that dietary Cd intake below a threshold limit and that tolerable levels may increase the risk of death from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.Objective:We evaluated if the current tolerable dietary Cd intake guideline and urinary Cd threshold limit provide sufficient health protection.Discussion:Staple foods constitute 40–60% of total dietary Cd intake by average consumers. Diets high in shellfish, crustaceans, mollusks, spinach, and offal add to dietary Cd sources. Modeling studies predict the current tolerable dietary intake corresponding to urinary Cd of 0.70–1.85 μg/g creatinine in men and 0.95–3.07 μg/g creatinine in women. Urinary Cd levels of < 1 μg/g creatinine were associated with progressive kidney dysfunction and peripheral vascular disease. A urinary Cd of 0.37 μg/g creatinine was associated with breast cancer, whereas dietary Cd of 16–31.5 μg/day was associated with 25–94% increase in risk of estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer.Conclusion:Modeling shows that dietary intake levels for Cd exceed the levels associated with kidney damage and many other adverse outcomes. Thus, the threshold level of urinary Cd should be re-evaluated. A more restrictive dietary intake guideline would afford enhanced health protection from this pervasive toxic metal.Citation:Satarug S, Vesey DA, Gobe GC. 2017. Health risk assessment of dietary cadmium intake: do current guidelines indicate how much is safe? Environ Health Perspect 125:284–288; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP108

Coronary Disease Risk Curve of Serum Creatinine Is Linear in Turkish Men, U-Shaped in Women

ObjectivesThe highest levels of glomerular filtration rate are associated with increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, an issue we investigated in separate sexes in a population prone to metabolic syndrome.Research...

Predictors of ischaemic heart disease in a Malaysian population with the metabolic syndrome

Cardiovascular disease is the foremost cause of mortality in Malaysia but little is known about the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its associations with other known cardiovascular risk markers. We undertook a population-based study to examine these. For the study, 4341 subjects were selected using a multistage stratified sampling method. Subjects were interviewed for personal and past medical history. Biomedical markers and anthropometric indices were measured. The metabolic syndrome was defined using the harmonized criteria. The associations between the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, microalbuminuria and HbA(1c) were examined. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 42.5%. Subjects with the metabolic syndrome are significantly more likely to have higher BMI (> 25 kg/m(2)), HbA(1c) [≥ 42 mmol/mol (6.0%)], LDL (≥ 2.6 mmol/l), elevated albumin:creatinine ratio (> 2.5 μg/mmol creatinine for men, 3.5 μg/mmol creatinine for women) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (> 3 mg/l); odds ratio 5.48, 6.14, 1.44, 3.68 and 1.84, respectively, P < 0.001. The presence of an elevated albumin:creatinine ratio and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are strong predictors for the presence of a higher number of positive criteria of the metabolic syndrome. HbA(1c) > 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) is associated with increased relative risk of elevated albumin:creatinine ratio, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and LDL (relative risk 3.10, 2.46 and 1.65 respectively, P < 0.001). We confirmed the high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Malaysia. Our study revealed a strong relationship between risk markers of elevated BMI, HbA(1c), LDL, albumin:creatinine ratio and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein with the presence of the metabolic syndrome, putting them at a statistically high risk for cardiovascular mortality.

Benchmark Dose of Urinary cadmium For Renal Effects by Hybrid Approach in a Cadmium Nonpolluted Area in Japan

PP-31-165 Background/Aims: To apply an updated hybrid approach to estimate benchmark doses (BMD) and their 95% lower confidence limits (BMDL) for cadmium-induced renal effects in humans. Using this method, the BMD and BMDL were estimated based on a continuous exposure and a continuous effect marker, thereby avoiding categorization of the subjects which was inevitable in previously used approach. Methods: The target subjects were 547 men and 723 women aged 50 years or older in a cadmium non-polluted area in Japan. We measured urinary cadmium (U-Cd) as a marker of long-term exposure, urinary protein, β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) as renal effect markers. BMD and BMDL corresponding to an additional risk (BMR) of 5% were calculated and with the background risk at zero exposure set at 5%. Results: The BMDL of U-Cd for renal effect markers were 2.1 (urinary protein), 2.6 (β2-MG), and 4.1 (NAG) μg/g creatinine in men and 1.5 (urinary protein), 1.4 (β2-MG), and 3.1 (NAG) μg/g creatinine in women. Conclusion: The BMDLs in the present study may contribute further to the discussion for the health risk assessment of cadmium exposure, compared to BMDLs by previously used approach.

A New Estimation of Benchmark Dose of Urinary Cadmium For Renal Effects by Hybrid Approach in Nonpolluted and Polluted Areas in Japan

PP-31-166 Background/Aims: We applied an updated hybrid approach to estimate benchmark doses (BMD) and their 95% lower confidence limits (BMDL) for cadmium-induced renal effects in humans. Using this method, the BMD and BMDL were estimated based on a continuous exposure and a continuous effect marker, thereby avoiding categorization of the subjects which was inevitable in previously used approach. Methods: Total number of subjects was 3103 (1397 men and 1706 women) for a Cd-polluted area and 1509 (650 men and 859 women) for non-polluted areas. We measured urinary cadmium (U-Cd) as a marker of long-term exposure, β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) as s renal effect marker. BMD and BMDL corresponding to an additional risk (BMR) of 5% were calculated and with the background risk at zero exposure set at 5%. Results: The BMDL/BMD of U-Cd for β2-MG was 3.5/4.0 μg/g creatinine in men and 3.7/4.0 μg/g creatinine in women. Conclusion: The BMDLs in the present study may contribute further to the discussion for the health risk assessment of cadmium exposure, compared with the BMDLs in the previously used approach.

Application of the hybrid approach to the benchmark dose of urinary cadmium as the reference level for renal effects in cadmium polluted and non-polluted areas in Japan

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the reference level of urinary cadmium (Cd) that caused renal effects. An updated hybrid approach was used to estimate the benchmark doses (BMDs) and their 95% lower confidence limits (BMDL) in subjects with a wide range of exposure to Cd. Methods The total number of subjects was 1509 (650 men and 859 women) in non-polluted areas and 3103 (1397 men and 1706 women) in the environmentally exposed Kakehashi river basin. We measured urinary cadmium (U-Cd) as a marker of long-term exposure, and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) as a marker of renal effects. The BMD and BMDL that corresponded to an additional risk (BMR) of 5% were calculated with background risk at zero exposure set at 5%. Results The U-Cd BMDL for β2-MG was 3.5 μg/g creatinine in men and 3.7 μg/g creatinine in women. Conclusions The BMDL values for a wide range of U-Cd were generally within the range of values measured in non-polluted areas in Japan. This indicated that the hybrid approach is a robust method for different ranges of cadmium exposure. The present results may contribute further to recent discussions on health risk assessment of Cd exposure.

Reassessment of the threshold of urinary cadmium by using hybrid approach in a cadmium non-polluted area in Japan

We applied an updated hybrid approach to estimate the benchmark doses (BMD) and their 95% lower confidence limits (BMDL) for cadmium-induced renal effects as the threshold of urinary cadmium in humans. Using this method, the BMD and BMDL were estimated based on continuous exposure and continuous effect marker, thereby avoiding categorization of subjects, an inevitable outcome of previously used approaches. The target subjects were 547 men and 723 women, aged 50 years or older, who lived in a cadmium non-polluted area of Japan. We measured urinary cadmium (U-Cd) as a marker of long-term exposure, and urinary protein, β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) as renal effect markers. BMD and BMDL corresponding to an additional risk (BMR) of 5%, were calculated with the background risk at zero exposure set at 5%. The BMDL of U-Cd for renal effect markers were 2.1 (urinary protein), 2.6 (β2-MG) and 4.1 (NAG) μg/g creatinine in men and 1.5 (urinary protein), 1.4 (β2-MG) and 3.1 (NAG) μg/g creatinine in women. The BMDLs in the present study may contribute to further discussion on health risk assessment of cadmium exposure, when compared to BMDLs obtained by previously reported methods.

ADIPONECTIN AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN ARE POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH MICROALBUMINURIA IN AN ADULT CAUCASIAN POPULATION: PP.34.358

Objective: Microalbuminuria (MAU) is a marker of early kidney injury and cardiovascular risk. We assessed the association of MAU with plasma adiponectin, leptin, and hsCRP as inflammatory marker, accounting for hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Design and Methods: Population based, cross-sectional study in Caucasian subjects aged 35 to 75 years in Lausanne, Switzerland. MAU, measured by quantitative immunonephelometry on spot morning urine, was used either as a continuous (MAU) or dichotomized variable (MA defined as MAU > 2.5 and >3.5 mg/mmol creatinine in men and women, respectively). Results: The 2955 women (age 53.3 ± 10.7, mean ± SD years) had mean body mass index (BMI) 24.9 ± 4.5 kg/m. The 2479 men (age 53.1 ± 10.8 years) had mean BMI 27.0 ± 3.9 kg/m2. Median hsCRP was 1.3 and 1.3 mg/L, median adiponectin 6.2 and 10.6 μg/mL in men and women, respectively. MA prevalence was 4.9% in women and 9.8% in men. In multivariate regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders (age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, eGFR, BMI, percent fat mass, insulin and smoking), log-transformed MAU was positively associated with hsCRP (P < 0.001) and adiponectin (P=0.002), but not with leptin. The association of adiponectin with MAU was stronger in subjects with low hsCRP, and vice versa (P interaction < 0.001). Conclusion: Adiponectin and hsCRP are significant positive determinants of MAU, independently of diabetes, hypertension and fat mass. A negative interaction between hsCRP and adiponectin was found for their effect on MAU. Whether hyperadiponectinemia represents an adequate protective response to vascular stress or has negative causal impact on the development of MAU should be assessed in further studies.

Consistency of creatinine results in Shanghai and the preliminary clinical application of estimated glomerular filtration rate

Objective To explore the consistency of the clinical serum creatinine results in Shanghai district and investigate the population distribution of apparently healthy people, modified MDRD formula adapted to Chinese population was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate and its distribution for further assessment of the clinical applicability of the eGFR.Methods A fresh pooled human serum sample with given IFCC's creatinine level from c.f.a.s.(calibration for automatic system) ,was used to calibrate the creatinine detecting systems of each participating hospital laboratory before every examination. Fourteen hospital laboratories successively conducted 6 experiments, and the test results were almost identical.They tested and studied the creatinine values of 6 837 ( male 3 289, female 2 132, children and teenagers 1 416)apparently healthy individuals, age from 0 to 99 years old, and estimated eGFR value of these apparently healthy individuals according to the documented eGFR formula [ eGFR = 175 × (Scr) -1.154 × (age) -0.203 ×0.742 (female) × 0.827 ] which was applied especially to Shanghai people.Results Before calibration,the inter-laboratory CVs of creatinine results varied from 3.1％ -9.1％, and after calibration, CVs decreased to less than 5％.A good consistency of the creatinine results was established among all these hospitals.The result of population distribution study of creatinine for men was 63.0-102.8 μmol/L,for women was 45.0-76.0 μmol/L, and for children and teenagers was 0-1 year old 11.0-77.0 μmol/L, 2 years old 15.5-33.3 μmol/L,3-5 years old 19.0-42.0 μmol/L, 6-19 years old 41.4-62.0 μmol/L.The Cr value were different between the male and femal [ male: ( 82.1 ± 10.9 ) μmol/L, femal: ( 59.4 ± 8.4 ) μmol/L, t =94.3 ,P 0.05 ].The difference of Cr and eGFR could not be eliminated between the groups divided by every 10 years(x2Cr =2 601 ,P <0.01 ;x2eGFR2= 1 105 ,P <0.01 ＝.Conclusions The pooled patients' sera could be used as calibrator for harmonizing of creatinine results among the laboratories. The reference rang of Cr should be differentiated by age and sex.Although eGFR can decrease the difference of sex, it cannot eliminate the difference of age. Key words: Glomerular filtration rate; Creatinine; Sex distribution; Age distribution

The dependence between urinary mercury concentration and carotid arterial intima-media thickness in workers occupationally exposed to mercury vapour

Mechanisms of the mercury effect on arterial vessel walls include increased free radicals generation, decreased nitric oxide synthesis and increased reactivity to vasoconstrictors, leading to accelerated development of atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between urinary mercury (Hg-U) concentration and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) or intraventricular septum diastolic diameter (IVSDD) to find the best markers of mercury cardiovascular toxicity. The study included 154 workers of a chemical factory using mercury in chlorine production. Urinary mercury concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum lipids were assessed by routine methods using enzymatic assay. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) was determined by colorimetry. Measurements of IMT and IVSDD were made by ultrasound imaging using MEDISON SA 9900 PRIME system. The mean Hg-U concentration was 1.9+/-2.7 microg/g creatinine in women (n = 29) and 5.6+/-12.2 microg/g creatinine in men (n = 125). In the group of non-smokers (n = 102) there was a positive linear correlation between Hg-U concentration and IMT (r = 0.1728; p < 0.05) and a negative dependence between high density cholesterol (HDL-C) and IMT (r = -0.2109; p < 0.01). The negative linear correlation between serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and carotid IMT (r = -0.2142; p < 0.05), and the positive correlation between HDL-C and TAS (r = 0.1953; p < 0.05) were shown to be valid for the total studied group. Serum lipids in women were normal, but in men the mean triglyceride level was higher than normal. The occupational exposure to mercury vapour remains in a relationship with early, asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis. The dependence between urinary mercury elimination and carotid intima-media thickness is evidenced in non-smoking workers. Defensive anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms in these workers are strongly related with HDL. In smokers, these protective mechanisms are disturbed.

Community‐based study in Taiwan aborigines concerning renal dysfunction in gout patients

Objective: To reveal the factors associated with renal dysfunction among gout patients in Taiwan aborigines.Methods: Social demographic data, alcohol consumption data, anthropometric measurements, blood samples, and 24‐h urine samples were collected from 128 aboriginals (101 men, 27 women) suffering from gout.Results: The men displayed higher mean creatinine clearance (Ccr) values than women. Twenty‐two post‐menopausal women had significantly lower Ccr values compared to the five pre‐menopausal women [probability (p)<0.001]. The males displayed higher 24‐h urinary creatinine value than females (8.60±5.39 versus 5.58±2.14 mmol/L; p<0.05), and showed a significantly higher positive relationship between 24‐h urinary creatinine and uric acid excretion [correlation coefficient (r)=0.7304; p<0.001], whereas the females did not (r=0.1144; p=0.5691). Overall, those who were older members of the Tsou tribe, or had excreted less uric acid from urine in 24 h tended to suffer renal dysfunction.Conclusions: Gout patients displayed diversity in renal function. An exogenous source of creatinine in men was more likely than in women.

Dose-response relationship between urinary cadmium and metallothionein in a Japanese population environmentally exposed to cadmium

The dose-response relationship between cadmium (Cd) exposure and renal dysfunction, as measured by urinary Cd and metallothoinein (MT), was evaluated in a population living in the Kakehashi River basin, a Cd-polluted area in Japan. Morning urine specimens were collected from 1397 and 1713 women who were 50 years or older. In addition, urine specimens were collected from a control population consisting of 110 men and 130 women. The 97.5% upper limits for MT in the control population were used to determine the prevalence rates for MT-uria at various urinary Cd concentrations. Probit linear regression analysis showed significant dose-response relationships between MT and Cd. In the control population, prevalence rates of MT-uria for men and women were 1.8 and 3.1%, respectively. Based on the prevalence rates of MT-uria in the control population, the upper limits for the urinary Cd concentrations were calculated from the slopes of the regression lines to be 4.2 and 4.8 μg/g creatinine for men and women, respectively. These values, which are similar to those reported previously using urinary β 2-microglobulin as the indicator, may be of use in establishing the biological threshold, i.e. maximum allowable concentration, for urinary Cd in the environmentally exposed Japanese population.

Prevalence of metallothioneinuria among the population living in the Kakehashi river basin in Japan — an epidemiological study

An epidemiological study to evaluate cadmium-induced renal dysfunction by urinary metallothionein levels was carried out in an environmentally-exposed Japanese population. the study population consisted of 3168 men and women from a cadmium-polluted area who were 50 years and older and 291 individuals from a non-polluted area. The mean metallothionein levels in urine of the control population were 138.2 ± 2.1 and 198.6 ±1.9 μg/g creatinine for men and women, respectively. The corresponding values for the cadmium-exposed population were 157.8 ± 2.2 and 248.0 ± 2.2. The 97.5% upper limits for men in the control population was determined to be 638 and for women 693 μg MT/g creatinine. Based on these values as the cut-off levels, the prevalence of metallothioneinuria was calculated to be 4.6% in men and 8.4% in women from the cadmium-polluted area. Further selection of the population, based on life-time residence in the polluted area accompanied with the consumption of cadmium-containing rice, showed an even greater prevalence of metallothioneinuria: 5.4% in men and 10.9% in women of all ages. The prevalence of metallothioneinurial increased with age and duration of residence in the polluted area. These results suggest that metallothioneinuria can be used as an indicator of renal dysfunction due to environmental cadmium exposure.