ABSTRACT
Background: Primary Open Angle Glaucoma has been noted to be more prevalent and aggressive in blacks. Treatment of glaucoma involves lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) to a targeted level where further glaucomatous damage is unlikely. The aim of this study was to determine sociodemographic factors and clinical history among primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients on medical treatment at the glaucoma clinic of Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital Parklane (ESUTTHP), Enugu with a view for better patient management.Methods: The study was a hospital based cross sectional study on POAG patients on medical treatment attending the eye clinic of ESUTTHP, Enugu. Patients were selected by simple random sampling. Their socio-demographics and clinical history were obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20 (U.S.A). Categorical variables were presented in percentages.Results: A total of 130 POAG patients on medical treatment were interviewed comprising of 56 males (43.1%) and 74 females (56.9%). Their age ranged between 42 and 83 years with mean age of 62.25 ± 9.002. Civil servants made up of 27.7% of the patients while 26.9% were traders, 16.2% were farmers and 9.2% were artisans. One hundred patients were on prostaglandin analogues, 90 patients were on beta blockers, 31 patients were on topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, 20 patients were on alpha agonist while 2 patients were on miotics. These drugs were used either singly or in combination. Ninety-five of the patients (72.1%) reported they were using their drugs regularly while 35 (26.9%) reported they were not using their drugs regularly. Out of those that do not use their drugs regularly, 62.9% reported that it was due to forgetfulness, 40.0% reported that it was due to limited finances and none of the patients reported that it was due to the side effects of the drug. Approximately, 66.2% of the patients had used drugs for 1 - 5 years with the mean duration of treatment being 4.5±3.36 years. About half (57.7%) of the patients did not have family history of glaucoma, 30% of the patients had family history of glaucoma while 17.3% were not sure of any family history of glaucoma).Conclusion: The study revealed that greater number of the patients suffering from glaucoma were women and civil servants. Majority of the patients use their drugs regularly and higher number of the patients do not have family history of glaucoma. Women, civil servants and the entire society should check their eyes with ophthalmologists regularly to avert the danger associated with glaucoma.
ABSTRACT
For centuries honey has been regarded as wonderful gift of nature in which the properties of an excellent food, beneficial alike to adults and children, are combined with medicinal properties. Surprisingly, its sub-acute effect on coagulation is unknown. Hence; this present study aims at evaluating the effects of raw honey on coagulation in albino wistar rats. Thirty (30), 3-4 months old albino wistar rats both males and females were used for the study. The experimental animals were divided into five (A, B,C, D, E) groups with six rats per group. The test groups (B-E) were gavaged with graded doses (625, 1250, 2500, 5000mg/kg body weight) respectively of the raw honey once daily for nine days. Group A served as control. Two (2) animals were bled from each group after 3, 6 and 9 days through the ocular plexus. Four (4) ml of venous blood was collected. Two (2) ml was delivered into 0.25ml trisodium citrate anticoagulant bottle for determination of Prothrombin Time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT). The remaining two (2) ml was delivered into K3EDTA anticoagulant bottle for platelet value determination. There was no statistical significant difference (P > 0.05) recorded in all the parameters investigated among the test groups when compared with the control group on Day 3. However, group B revealed a statistical significant decrease (P < 0.05) in PT when compared with the control group on Day 6. In addition, no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) was recorded on Day 9 when all the parameters investigated among the test groups were compared with the control group. Furthermore, there was no exposure related statistical significant difference (P>0.05) in the test groups in PT and APTT in the ANOVA. However, there was a time related significant difference (P<0.05) in platelet value of group C when Days 3, 6 and 9 were compared. It can be concluded that raw honey possesses a sub-acute coagulation stimulatory potentials which is likely to be dose and duration related.
ABSTRACT
Malaria has been reported as a condition caused by infestation with Plasmodium parasite species, is a major public health problem globally especially in developing countries like Nigeria. This study was carriedout in Federal Medical Centre Umuahia in Abia State, Nigeria. A study was done to determine the maternal serumlevels of alpha tumour necrotic factor, interleukin 10, interleukin 6and interleukin 4 in malaria infected pregnant women based on their gestational age in Southeast, Nigeria. A total of 150 subjects between the ages of 18-45 years were recruited for the study comprising of fifty (50) subjects each of the 3 trimesters. Commercial ELISA Kit by MELSIN Medical Co Limited was used to measure all the cytokines. The results of Table 1 showed no significant difference of TNF-α (p=0.346), IL-10 (p=0.059), IL-6 (p=0.811) and IL-4 (p=0.257) of malaria infected pregnant women at first trimester and second trimester respectively. The results of Table 2 showed no significant difference of TNF-α (p=0.642), IL-10 (p=0.678), IL-6 (p=0.551) and IL-4 (p=0.280) of malaria infected pregnant women at first trimester and third trimester respectively. The results of Table 2 showed no significant difference of TNF-α (p=0.062), IL-10 (p=0.016), IL-6 (p=0.352) and IL-4 (p=0.914) of malaria infected pregnant women at first trimester and third trimester respectively. The study showed no changes in the cytokines studied among the malaria infected pregnant women based on gestational ages except when IL-10 was compared between the subjects on second trimester and third trimester. This study shows that malaria infection does not changes these cytokines in pregnant women based on gestational ages except the il-10 when compared at second trimester and third trimester but changes when compared at other trimesters.
ABSTRACT
A study to evaluate the levels of interferon-gamma, interleukins 6 and 10, hepcidin, iron status and some haematological parameters in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus was carried out. A total of 150 subjects aged 18-60 years were enlisted for this study. The subjects were grouped into: Group A (50 control subjects) and Group B (100 HIV subjects, 50 subjects were non ART HIV patients, 50 subjects were on Lamivudine, Tenofavir and Efavirenz). About 7ml of venous blood were collected from each subject;4.5ml of blood were placed into plain tubes for assay of interferon gamma, interleukins (6&10), hepcidin and iron and 2.5ml for FBC, CD4 count and HIV screening. The cytokines and hepcidinwere measured using Melsin ELISA Kits and Teco Diagnostics kits used for iron. Full blood count was determined by automation using Mindray BC-5300, China. The data was analysed with the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20 using ANOVA and the level of significance set at P<0.05. The results showed difference that was statistically significant (P<0.05) in IFN-γ (16.25±0.87pg/ml, 29.31±1.44pg/ml,18.49±1.48pg/ml, P=0.000),IL-6(7.98±0.22pg/ml, 11.08±1.21pg/ml,8.79±0.76pg/ml,P=0.000), IL-10(8.52±0.62pg/ml, 16.62±1.53pg/ml,10.39±1.06Pg/ml P=0.000), CD4 (1045.54 ±247.24Cells/L, 195.60 ±35.94Cells/L,10.39±1.06cells/L P=0.000), hepcidin (6.03±1.38ng/ml, 39.59 ±4.50ng/ml, 20.86±3.43ng/ml, P=0.000), Iron (86.29±7.27 μg/dl, 73.43±5.45 μg/dl,85.44±8.45μg/dl, P=0.000), TIBC (345.56±28.40 μg/dl, 287.19 ±8.21μg/dl,305.46±18.82μg/dl, P=0.000),%TSA (25.16±3.18%, 25.61±2.22%,28.08 ±3.42%,P=0.000) WBC (5.87 ±0.88 X 109/L, 4.69±0.72X 109/L,4.80±0.45X 109/L, P=0.000), Neutrophils (60.57±2.83%, 75.16±3.68%,69.04±2.90%, P=0.000), Lymphocytes (30.69 ±2.84%, 17.24±2.50%, 24.46±2.60%,P=0.000), Monocytes (5.59 ±1.2%, 4.18±1.12%,3.97±0.92%, P=0.000), Eosinophils (2.30 ±1.05%, 2.16±0.82%,1.67±0.57%, P=0.000), Basophil 0.86 ±0.39%, 1.31±0.94%, 0.86±0.44%,P=0.018), RBC (4.92±0.30 X 1012/L, 3.34±0.21 X 1012/L,3.60 ±0.18X 1012/L, P=0.000), Haemoglobin (14.75±0.90,g/dl, 10.05±0.65g/dl,10.80±0.53g/dl, P=0.000), PCV (44.25±2.70%, 30.14±1.95,32.56±1.50%, P=0.000), MCV(89.92±2.3fl, 79.49±1.28fl,88.15±2.08fl, P=0.029), MCH (36.12±1.53pg, 26.60±0.48P, P=0.002), Platelets (261.75±22.71 X 109/L, 246.16±9.93 X 109/L,189.32±17.00X 109/L, P=0.000), ESR (7.03 ±1.38mm/hr, 59.52 ±6.46mm/hr,43.34±4.82mm/hr, P=0.000) when compared among Control, Non ART HIV and ART positive subjects.g,28.57±1.78pg, P=0.000), MCHC (368.46±12.28g/l, 318.92±7.33g/l,333.56±22.61g/l. The study shows that interferon gamma, interleukin 6, interleukin 10 and hepcidin are some of the biomarkers in thepathogenesis of HIV. The infection of HIV increases the levels of the cytokines. The cytokines and hepcidin can be used as prognostic and diagnostic markers as their levels decreased with treatment of the patients
ABSTRACT
The study was done to determine the levels of interferon-gamma, interleukin 6, interleukin 10, iron status, hepcidin and haematologicalparameters of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus in Southeast, Nigeria. This study was carried out at the directly observed treatment-short course Tuberculosis (TB DOTS) centre of Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, located in South-Eastern Nigeria. Therefore, sample size of 240 was used to give room for attrition. A total of two hundred and forty (240) subjects aged 18-60 years were enlisted for this study. Seven milliliters (7ml) of venous blood was collected from each subject and 2.5ml was dispensed into bottles containing di-potassium salt of ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (K2-EDTA) and was used for full blood count, CD4 count and HIV screening. Also, 4.5ml was dispensed into plain tubes. Serum was obtained after clotting by spinning at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes and was used for interferon gamma, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10, iron and hepcidin determination. Data was analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20. Student t-test, ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), Pearson Product Moment and Chi-Square were the tools employed. Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and are presented in table and significance level was set at P<0.05.The results showed difference that was statistically significant (P<0.05) in IFN-γ (P=0.000), IL-6 (P=0.000) IL-10 (P=0.000), CD4 (P=0.000), hepcidin (P=0.000), Iron (P=0.000), TIBC (P=0.000), %TSA (P=0.001) ,WBC (P=0.000), Neutrophils (P=0.000), Lymphocyes (P=0.000), Monocytes (P=0.000), Eosinophils (P=0.000), Basophils (P=0.018), RBC (P=0.000), haemoglobin (P=0.000), PCV (P=0.000), MCV (P=0.000), MCH (P=0.000), MCHC (P=0.000), Platelets (P=0.000), ESR (P=0.000) when compared among control, TB, HIV and TB-HIV subjects respectively. The co infection of HIV on pulmonary TB patients increases the levels of the cytokines. The cytokines and hepcidin can be used as adjunct to prognostic and diagnostic markers as their levels decreased with increased duration of treatment of the patients. The study hasshown wide variations in the haemtological indices studied
ABSTRACT
Background: Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disorder in which the red blood cells become rigid and sticky, and change from being disc-shaped to being crescent-shaped. The change in shape is as a result of an abnormal form of haemoglobin which leads to damage of some organs. Aim: The study was carried out to determine the levels of hepcidin and erythropoietin in sickle cell anemia. Materials and Methods: Thirty confirmed sickle cell patients in steady state (HbSS-SS) and thirty persons with normal hemoglobin (HbAA) between the ages of 15 to 30 years were selected in this study. Results: The results obtained showed that the levels of hepcidinin sickle cell anaemia patients were significantly elevated when compared with normal haemoglobin (HbAA) (P<0.05). However, the levels of erythropoietin were significantly decreased in sickle cell anaemia stable state when compared to HbAA subjects (P<0.05). Conclusion: This could probably imply that the elevation in hepcidin affect level of erythropoietin negatively. Therefore, it is possible that an antihepcidin could be developed as a therapeutic tool in sickle cell anaemia.