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Metabolic Syndrome (MS), which affects 33.1% of Nigerians, predisposing them to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, has been associated with the female gender. The cardioprotective effect of oestradiol against CVD is now controversial and was investigated in premenopausal with MS (PRMMS) and postmenopausal women with MS (POMMS). A total of 191 women (44 PRMMS, 126 POMMS and 21 premenopausal women without MS (PRM) (controls) with mean (s.d) age of 40.0 (6.9), 57.0 (8.8), 29.0 (6.8) years were participants of this study. Demography, blood pressure (BP), anthropometry, hormones, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and lipids were obtained by standard methods. Data were significant at (P<.05). Age, parity, all anthropometric measures, FPG, leptin, ET ratio and FSH were significantly higher while HDLC, testosterone and prolactin were significantly lower in PRMMS compared with controls (P<.03). In comparison of POMMS with PRMMS, age, parity, WHR, systolic BP, TG, FSH and LH were significantly higher while body weight, HC, and leptin were lower in POMMS compared with PRMMS (P<.05). DBP positively predicted oestradiol in PRM only (P=.044) while oestradiol positively predicted testosterone in PRMMS only (P<.001). In POMMS only, DBP positively predicted testosterone; testosterone, ET ratio and FSH positively predicted oestradiol while LDLC and oestradiol positively predicted the ET ratio (P<.03). Metabolic syndrome may predispose both pre and postmenopausal women to the risk cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Oestradiol may protect against cardiovascular diseases in women without metabolic syndrome only.
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Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients are prone to require long-term frequent blood transfusion because of chronic haemolysis and overlapping hyper-haemolysis. Hence, they become vulnerable to iron overload and its complications. On the other hand, iron deficiency has been documented among un-transfused SCA cases. Thus, there is a need to effectively and efficiently determine iron status of SCA patients. Objective: We investigated whether adult SCA patients in steady state (SSt) or those with vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) have significantly different iron status viz-a-viz Serum Iron (SI), Serum Ferritin (SF), Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), Transferrin (TRF), percentage TFS and haematological parameters when compared with age and sex-matched controls. Materials and Methods: Ninety subjects, comprising 30 SCA patients in SSt, 30 SCA patients with VOC and 30 HbAA, ethnicity, age and sex-matched controls (NC), were consecutively recruited. Serum samples were analysed for SF, TRF and TIBC using ‘WATER’ HPLC 616 and 626; SI was determined using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic (AAS) method. Haematological parameters were determined using a Sysmex Kx21 auto-analyser. Results: The SCA groups (VOC and SSt) had significantly lower SI, SF, TRF and TIBC compared to the control group. The VOC group had a significantly lower mean ferritin level but higher SI, TRF and percentage TFS levels compared to SSt group. The MCV, MCH (in SSt group) were significantly lower while MCHC was significantly higher in the SCA groups compared to the NC group. Using the normal ranges for all parameters, all parameters were within normal for the controls while TIBC was below normal and percentage TFS was higher in SCA groups. Percentage TFS was significantly higher in VOC compared to SSt group. Conclusions: The study reported lower SI and TRF, lower MCV and MCH, below normal TIBC, within normal Ferritin but elevated WBC and platelet counts, elevated percentage TFS (more elevated in VOC than SSt) and higher MCHC in SCA patients. The use of percentage TFS as a marker of VOC is suggested.
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Aim: To assess the prevalent components of metabolic syndrome (MSC) and their related determinants of lipid metabolism in the Nigerian for early diagnosis, prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and its associated diseases. Study Design: Cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan between March and August 2010. Methodology: 534 apparently healthy Nigerian traders aged 18–105 years were participants of a cohort study. The IDF (2005) criteria was used for MS diagnosis. Anthropometric indices and blood pressure (BP) were obtained by standard methods. Fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) were determined by enzymatic methods while low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) was calculated. Data analysed were statistically significant at P<0.05. Results: 60.1% of traders had 2 and 3MSC. 0.6%, 1.1% and 9.6% of traders had all 5MSC, ≥3MSC without elevated waist circumference (WC) and zero MSC respectively. Elevated WC, reduced HDLC and high BP were more frequent MSC representing 70.2%, 63.1% and 47.9% while FPG and TG were less frequent representing 11.2% and 2.2% of traders respectively. This pattern was similar in MS and non-MS groups. 25.3% of males and only 2.2% of females had no MSC. Reduced HDLC and elevated WC were the most frequent MSC in males and females respectively. All metabolic risk factors (MRF) except TC were significantly different in comparison between MS and non-MS groups as well as among traders with 0-5 MSC. WHR was the only parameter that correlated significantly with all MRF. Conclusion: Elevated waist circumference, reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high blood pressure may be prevalent metabolic syndrome components and important in managing metabolic syndrome in Nigeria. Regional specific cut-offs for these components for the African population is needed.
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Background: Immunology laboratories carry out researches and training coupled with accurate diagnosis and prognosis of diseases for effective treatment and elimination of diseases. Information on the patterns of research activities in Immunology laboratories in developing countries is scarce. Aims: This review of pattern of research activities in Immunology Unit of Department of Chemical Pathology, University Of Ibadan, Nigeria aims to provide useful information on outcomes of researches carried out by eminent Nigerian Immunologists so as to provide template for designing further immunological studies. This review also provides basis for more intensive immunological studies on Nigerians exposed to environmental or occupation chemicals which is yet to be extensively explored. The applications of the research outcomes on diagnosis and management of patients is also stressed. Design: A retrospective review of research activities in Immunology Unit of the Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria till May 2012 was done. Major contributions to knowledge and diagnostic importance of results were enumerated. Results: Majority of the specimens processed for researches were blood, breast-milk, saliva and urine. The subjects recruited were those with malaria parasitemia, urinary schistosomiasis, malnutrition, cancers, HIV infection, pulmonary tuberculosis, periodontitis, pregnancy, neonates, different age groups, different social life-styles and those exposed to chemicals. Most of the immunological studies were carried out on subjects with infectious agents or parasites but little emphasis was placed on immunological studies during physiological diseases, social life styles or exposure to environmental agents.
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Aims: To compare the mean levels of plasma total Homocysteine (tHct), Meth ylm alonic ac id ( MMA), vitamin B12, folate and haematological parameters(PCV, WBC, Platelet counts, MCV, MCH, MCHC) among adult SCA patients in steady state (SS), SCA in (VOC) and age and sex matched controls in order to determine significant differences. Study Design: Case-control study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Haematology and Department of Chemical Pathology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between March 2012 and July 2012. Methodology: We included 60 SCA patients (30 in VOC, 30 in Steady State; and 30 age and sex matched controls. Plasma tHct, MMA, folate and vitamin B12 were assessed using HPLC and haematological parameters were determined using haematological autoanalyzer (Syxmex Kx21). Results: The mean plasma tHct, MMA, vitamin B12 of SCA patients (VOC and SS) were significantly lower (p=0.000) compared to control population but the mean folate levels were comparable (p=0.085). The SCA (in VOC) had significantly lower (p=0.000) MMA and folate levels compared to SS group but the SS group had significantly lower (p=0.001) tHct level compared to VOC group. While the PCV, Hgb, MCV, and MCH were significantly lower; the WBC, platelet count and the MCH were significantly elevated in SCA patients compared to controls. Conclusion: A larger, better controlled, multicenter study is required to confirm lower tHct and MMA found in SCA groups compared to control group and higher tHct in SCA (VOC) but higher MMA level in SCA (SS) when VOC and SS groups were compared. The haematological parameters in SCA groups were not in keeping with macrocytic anaemia but were indicative of chronic haemolytic and inflammatory process.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Considerations of both inter-pregnancy intervals and malaria parasitaemia may help in understanding some aspects of susceptibility and pregnancy outcomes in malaria endemic areas. METHODS: Pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia were recruited and divided into groups based on their inter-pregnancy intervals and malaria specific-IgG, body mass index, and birth weights were studied in the groups. RESULTS: The results showed that the P. falciparum specific-IgG concentration (f=3.52, p<0.02), malaria parasites density (f=6.44, p<0.001) and birth weights (f=7.36, p<0.001) were significantly different amongst the groups with varying inter-pregnancy intervals. In addition, different levels of associations between variables such as 'inter-pregnancy intervals vs P. falciparum specific-IgG concentration' (r = 0.23, p<0.05); 'malaria parasites density vs birth weight' (r = -0.84, p < 0.01) was observed. INTERPRETATIONS & CONCLUSION: This study suggests that inter-pregnancy intervals could be one of the factors influencing dynamic serum concentrations of P. falciparum specific-IgG while malaria parasitaemia could be one of the factors affecting birth weights. Hence, observance of inter-pregnancy intervals has its own implications in malaria endemic areas.
Subject(s)
Analysis of Variance , Azure Stains , Birth Intervals , Birth Weight , Body Mass Index , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Malaria, Falciparum/immunology , Nigeria , Parasitemia/immunology , PregnancyABSTRACT
Background: The acute phase proteins (APPs) are plasma proteins whose concentration rise or reduce in reaction to infection, inflammation or trauma (Baumann and Gauldie, 1990). The circulating concentration of these proteins are related to the severity of the underlying condition, thus quantification of their concentrations provide a ready means of giving valuable clinical information and extent of the disease processes (Thompson et. al., 1992). Materials and Methods: Serum levels of three acute phase proteins (transferrin, á2-macroglobulin and haptoglobin) were determined using single radial immuno-diffusion technique in one hundred and eight Nigerian women aged between 15 and 30 years. They were made up of thirty pregnant women with urinary schistosomiasis (P+USS), thirty-six pregnant women without USS (P-USS), eighteen non-pregnant women with USS (NP+USS), and twenty-four healthy non-pregnant women without USS (NP-USS) as controls. Results: The result shows that transferrin was least in P-USS group and highest in NP+USS. The highest mean value of alpha-2 macroglobulin was found in P+USS group and the least in NP+USS. Haptoglobin was significantly reduced in P+USS compared with other groups. Conclusions: The finding of this study suggests an independent effect of USS and pregnancy on serum levels of APPs, therefore APPs could be used to distinguish P+USS from P-USS