Background: Few studies have examined the relationship between heavy metal and serum cholesterol levels, and no recent study has examined this relationship in the US population. Methods and Results: A total of 19,591 individuals aged 0–80 years were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2012; the current study was composed of survey participants for whom some or all low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, blood lead (Pb), total blood mercury (Hg), and blood cadmium (Cd) levels had been measured. Three tertiles (T1–T3) of heavy metals were used to explore dose–response association between heavy metal exposure and serum cholesterol level. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between tertiles of blood heavy metal levels and serum cholesterol levels after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. We have shown that the groups with the highest levels of Pb, Hg, and Cd had a 56%, 73%, and 41% chance, respectively, of having a high total cholesterol level. In study subjects with the highest Pb levels, there was also a 22% chance of being in the group with the highest LDL-C level. An increase in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels was observed from the first to the third tertiles of the heavy metals studied. Conclusion: Increasing blood Pb, Hg, and Cd levels were associated with significantly increased odds of high total cholesterol after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease with an incidence that has been trending upwards in the United States over the last two decades. This is evident by an increase in the incidence from 10,100 cases in 1974 to a peak of >48,000 cases noted in the last decade. Pertussis disease severity ranges from mild to severe, with resultant complications capable of causing significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of pertussis in a 5-week-old female infant who presented with fever, paroxysms of cough, apnea, and seizures leading to cardiopulmonary arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation lasted 11 minutes before the return of spontaneous circulation. She was transferred to our tertiary facility and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. Complete blood count revealed significant leukocytosis, chest X-ray revealed bilateral pulmonary edema with pleural effusion, and echocardiogram demonstrated pulmonary hypertension. Bordetella pertussis infection was confirmed on respiratory polymerase chain reaction. She was treated with antibiotics, ventilatory management, and other supportive care. She was discharged on room air after a hospital course of 7 weeks with care coordination between her primary care provider, pulmonologist, and neurologist. Despite the positive outcome in this case, it is important to note that managing severe pertussis involves multidisciplinary care, and the morbidity and cost implications can be mitigated on a population scale through vaccine optimization strategies.
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