Health point prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and pulmonary tuberculosis among patients in various parts of Delta State, Nigeria

To assess the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and pulmonary tuberculosis [PTB] in the study population in Delta State of Nigeria. Two hundred and five patients suspected of HIV and TB were prospectively studied in Kwale, Agbor and Eku in Delta State of Nigeria from February 2006 to February 2008. Human immunodeficiency virus status was determined using World Health Organization systems II, and Zeihl Nelson staining technique was used for TB screening. A health point prevalence rate of 53.2%, was obtained for HIV, 49.3% for TB, and 16.6% for HIV/TB. The population of HIV positive [p=0.890, p=0.011, p=0.006] and TB positive [p=0.135, p=0.0003, p=0.0001] subjects were statistically significant among the suspected subjects while the HIV/TB positive cases were not statistically significant [p=0.987, p=0.685, p=0.731]. Our study showed that HIV and PTB infections remains high in parts of Delta State in Nigeria

Hematological indices in human immunodeficiency virus and pulmonary tuberculosis infections in parts of Delta State, Nigeria

To enhance the care and management of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and pulmonary tuberculosis [TB] positive patients, as part of an overall effort to reduce morbidity and mortality of HIV-related death in Nigeria. Hematological investigations were carried out on 205 patients suspected of HIV and/or TB, and 100 apparently healthy control subjects in Kwale, Agbor, and Eku in parts of Delta State, Nigeria from February 2006 to February 2008. World Health Organization systems 2 for HIV-1 and 2 antibodies screening technique was used for the screening of the subject's HIV status, Ziehl Nelson technique for TB, hematocrit, and Leishman staining techniques were used for full blood count determination. Our results showed that the mean packed cell volume obtained for infected subjects was statistically significant [p=0.0000074] when compared to the control subject's value. The mean neutrophil and eosinophil counts obtained were of specific disease diagnostic relevance when compared to the control group. The gender related distributions of hematological indices were compared with the control group. The study confirms the importance of full blood count in the monitoring and management of HIV and TB infections

Nitric oxide: biological role and clinical uses.

Nitric oxide is a product of the conversion of L-arginine by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide is involved in a variety of physiological situations and is produced by many different cell types. It is involved in neurotransmission, maintenance of vascular smooth muscle tone, and cytotoxicity. Nitric oxide has been suggested to play an anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting the expression of the genes for inflammatory cytokines. The pathophysiological role of nitric oxide is also evident in a variety of diseases, including septic shock, asthma, reperfusion injury, etc. Nitric oxide, by stimulating the production of cyclic GMP, relaxes smooth muscles of the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genito-urinary systems. Recent studies have provided important information on the use of inhaled nitric oxide for the management of several diseases characterized by the presence of abnormal pulmonary vascular tone, such as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. This review addresses the biology and clinical uses of inhaled nitric oxide.

Physiological aspects of blastocyst uterine interaction.

An interaction between the blastocyst and the uterus is essential for establishment of pregnancy. Because maternal estrogen is not an absolute requirement, estrogen of embryonic origin has been implicated in this process in the pig and the rabbit. Furthermore, estrogen forming capacity has been documented in the blastocyst of these species. However, while the complete machinery for steroid synthesis in the pig balstocyst has been demonstrated, the issue is still unresolved for the rabbit blastocyst. In the present communication we have shown that 17α-hydroxylase and C17-20-lyase, enzymes involved in the formation of androgens (C19-steroids) from C21-steroids (progestins), are present in day-6 rabbit blastocysts. C17-20-lyase activity was undetectable to low in day-5 and increased in day-6 balstocysts. The activity was further increased in day-6 blastocysts cultured for 24 h. Because prostaglandins have been implicated in uterine vascular changes at about the time of implantation and pregnancy establishment, and because catechol estrogens are more potent than phenolic estrogens in stimulating prostaglandin synthesis in the blastocyst and the uterus, we determined catechol estrogen forming capacity in the rabbit and pig blastocyst. Catechol estrogen forming capacity (estrogen-2/4-hydroxylase) in the pig blastocyst appears on day 10 of pregnancy, peaks on day 12 and then declines. Our preliminary experiments also indicate that day-6 rabbit blastocysts have catechol estrogen forming capacity. On the basis of our present findings and of others, we propose that catechol estrogens of embryonic origin mediate the stimulatory effect of estrogens on prostaglandin synthesis in the embryo and/or the uterus and thus participate in the process of establishment of pregnancy.

Togavirus infection in rural Thailand.

Hemagglutination inhibition tests for antibody against chikungunya virus and the four dengue viruses were performed on a rural Thai village population. The 50% and 90% prevalence indices fell at about ages 3 and 15 for dengue virus exposure. This is considerably earlier exposure than comparable urban populations. The prevalence of chikungunya virus antibody was also age related with 50% prevalence at about age 45.