ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Globally, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is among the commonest chronic infections and the leading cause of liver cancer. This study evaluated inflammatory and liver injury biomarkers among newlydiagnosed HBV-infected patients to reveal inflammation and liver injury levels. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted among 146 newly diagnosed drug-naive patients and 64 blood donors. Questionnaires were administered to obtain demographic data. Blood samples were collected to assess viral serological markers, inflammatory markers, liver function, and hematological indices. Also, noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis (APRI: aspartate transaminase - platelet ratio index, FIB-4: fibrosis 4 index, and AAR: aspartate - alanine transaminase ratio) were mathematically derived. The patients were categorized into acute and chronic infections based on their viral serological markers. Results: Overall, 81.5% of the patients had an acute HBV infection, whereas 18.5% had a chronic HBV infection. There was a significant increase in the biomarkers of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6, and liver injury (liver transaminases, FIB-4 index, and APRI) among the drug-naive chronic HBV-infected patients. The study also revealed significant anemia and leucocytosis in patients with chronic HBV infection. Further, the study showed a strong correlation between CRP and alanine transaminase among patients with chronic HBV infection. Conclusion: There was increased anemia, inflammation, and liver fibrosis among the drug-naive chronic HBVinfected patients; hence, public education is required so patients with viral hepatitis B in Ghana would visit the clinic earlier enough for proper clinical management.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B virusABSTRACT
Aim: To assess the nephroprotective and curative effects of an aqueous seed extract of Parkia clappertoniana on gentamicin-induced renal damage (GIRD) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Study Design: Experimental Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medical Laboratory, University of Cape Coast, Ghana between September, 2012 and May 2013. Methodology: In assessing nephro protective effect, rats were pretreated (10 days) with P. clappertoniana aqueous seed extract (1-2 g kg-1; p.o) prior to induction of renal damage by treatment with gentamicin (0.08g kg-1; p.o, for 8 days. Serum biochemical markers (Creatinine, Urea, Na+ and K+) and urine parameters (leukocyte, protein, specific gravity and pH) of renal damage were determined and compared with baseline values. In a curative study, GIRD in rats was treated with Normal Saline (2 ml kg-1; p.o), Losartan (0.05 g kg-1; p.o), or extract (1-2 g kg-1; p.o) for 14 days and serum and urine parameters determined for all treatments. Histopathology and changes in kidney weights for normal and treated rats in both studies were assessed. The extract was screened for DPPH radical scavenging activity. Results: The extract significantly (P ≤ .001) reduced elevated serum creatinine and urea secondary to GIRD (P ≤ .05) and significantly (P ≤ .05) reduced elevated serum Na+ but had no effect on K+. Elevated urine proteins and leucocytes secondary to GIRD was significantly (P ≤ .05) reduced; but had no significant effect on urine pH and specific gravity. Elevated kidney weights associated with GIRD was significantly (P≤ .01) reduced. Histopathological assessment revealed healing effect by extract to GIRD. Effects of the extract were similar to Losartan. Pretreatment with extract however had no significant effect on GIRD as serum and urine parameters, as well as kidney weights were significantly (P≤ .01) elevated on induction of renal damage. Conclusion: The aqueous seed extract of Parkia clappertoniana has curative but no nephroprotective effect on gentamicin-induced renal damage in Sprague-Dawley rats.