The objective of this work was to study teeth and blood lead levels in Egyptian schoolchildren and to relate lead levels to sociodemographic and environmental factors, the degree of urbanization and suspected manifestations of possible lead exposure. The study was conducted on 60 children aged 6-12 years: 30 children living in an urban area at Alexandria City and 30 children living in a rural area at Kafr El-Sheikh Province. Both groups are matched for age and gender. Every child was subjected to history taking, clinical examination and IQ measurements. Laboratory investigations included measuring teeth and blood lead levels, haemoglobin, serum iron and total iron binding capacity. The results showed that the mean blood lead level of children in Alexandria was significantly higher than that of the children in Kafr El-Sheikh; also 56.7% and 6.7% of children from Alexandria and Kafr El-Sheikh had a blood lead level of >20 microg dl(-1), with the most frequent symptoms of headache, arthralgia and lack of school interest. The children in Alexandria had significantly lower mean teeth lead and haemoglobin levels than those of the Kafr El-Sheikh group. A history of wrapping sandwiches in newspapers, age and distance between the home and school were significant predictors of lead exposure. These findings support the concept that teeth lead concentration may be a valid addition to the indicators used for assessment of the body burden of environmental lead. In addition, children living in urban areas such as Alexandria need special consideration regarding protection from lead exposure, as well as teeth and blood lead evaluation.
Background: Bone marrow is a readily accessible source for autologous adult bone marrow stem cells which can be applied therapeutically without possessing the risk of immune rejection and without raising ethical concerns. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of direct transplantation of autologous adult bone marrow stem cells in patients with chronic cord injuries.Methods: Thirty consecutive patients (5 females and 25 males, aged 6 to 64 y) having chronic traumatic dorsal spinal cord injury with durations of at least 6 months were included in the study. Twenty patients were treated with autologous adult bone marrow stem cells transplantation through open surgical intraparenchymal and intralesional injection into the site of cord injury. The treatment was continued with monthly intrathecal injection of stem cells through lumbar or cisternal punctures. Ten other patients were not treated with stem cells and served as control cases.Results: Clinical improvement was observed in 6 (30%) of 20 patients treated with stem cells transplantation. Short duration of injury and small cord lesions correlated with good outcome. Follow-up electrophysiologic studies did not show statistically significant changes. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging did not show significant changes. Minor and temporary treatmentrelated morbidity were recorded.Conclusions: The application of autologous adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells directly into the spinal cord is relatively safe and has clinical benefits in patients with chronic spinal cord injury. However, multicenter studies should be conducted to further elucidate the safety and efficacy of stem cells therapy in patients with spinal cord injury.
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