Is urinary porphyrin excretion in children associated with exposure to organochlorine compounds?
HCB at current levels did not induce porphyria or increase uroporphyrins. However, the increase of urinary coproporphyrins suggests an incipient toxic effect of the organochlorines, especially for p,p'-DDE, on the hepatic heme-synthesis pathway that differs from the major effects seen in PCT.
Plasma hypertonicity may be a marker of early frailty. It was prevalent in this sample of nondisabled community-dwelling older adults and predicted incident disability and mortality. Further research to identify its determinants and consequences may help inform interventions against frailty.