ABSTRACT
Background: The purpose of this research was to compare the effect of duration of cement dust on the liver organ of albino rats. In this study, a glass house animal exposure chamber was fabricated using a plexi-glass and two blowing fans of adjustable revolution. Methodology: A total of twenty five rats averagely weighing 135g were used and categorized into five groups composed of 5 rats each: A group (without cement exposure); B group (exposed to 200g of cement dust for 1 hour daily for 15days); C group (exposed to 200g of cement dust for 1 hour daily for 30 days); D group (exposed to 200g of cement dust for 1 hour daily for 45 days) and E group (exposed to 200g of cement dust for 1 hour daily for 60 days). The means of exposure was by inhalation. After the exposure periods, the animals were sacrificed, blood collected in plain bottle and analyzed for some liver function. Results: The ANOVA result showed that there were significant changes (p < 0.05) in the levels of some liver function markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Total protein (TP), Albumin and Conjugated bilirubin (CB), and the alteration patterns were irregular. On the other hand, there were no changes (p>0.05) in the levels of Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT) and Total bilirubin (TB) among the groups. Conclusion: This study has therefore shown that exposure to cement may cause some decrease of liver injury in rats regardless of the duration of the exposure.
ABSTRACT
Background:This research work studied the durational effects of cement dust inhalation on the haematological parameters of exposed Albino rats. In this study, a glass house animal exposure chamber was fabricated using a plexi-glass and two blowing fans of adjustable revolution. Methodology:Twenty five Albino rats were divided into five groups. Group A served as the control, while group B, C, D and E served as the test, and were exposed for 15, 30, 45 and 60 days interval respectively, for one hour daily to cement dust (200g), at a revolution of 3000rpm of the fans. At the end of the exposure, the animals were sacrificed, blood collected in EDTA bottle and was analysed for some haematological variables. Results:The result showed that there were significant durational increase (p < 0.05) in the levels of Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell (RBC), Lymphocyte, Monocytes and Eosinophils of the test group compared to control group but there was no significant difference in the Wbc, Basophils, Platelets and Neutrophils levels among the groups (p >0.05). Conclusion:There is a durational exposure haematotoxic effect of cement dust inhalation on rat exposed to cement dust.
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
Diabetes is a costly disease, placing a high financial burden on the patient and the healthcare system in every nation. If poorly managed, it can cause a lot of damage to body parts such as blindness, loss of kidney function. The aim of this study is to determine the challenges faced in accessing drugs for diabetes mellitus management in south-eastern Nigeria. The study was conducted between January and December, 2014 in Aba North which is one of the Local Government Areas in Abia State. The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving face-to-face interview with patients based on a structured questionnaire format. Stratified random sampling technique was used to obtain the required sample size of 200 from the sampling frame on only those who met the inclusion criteria. The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire. The generated data were presented into table/charts, and also analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square statistics. The level of association was accepted at 0.05 significant differences. The results of this study showed that age of the respondents, from 51 years and above were highest 71(35%) compared with other age ranges. The educational level of the respondents was majorly on secondary level of education (46.5%). Access to diabetes drugs, 136(68%) of the respondents said they have access to diabetes drugs. Socioeconomic status influences the access of diabetes drugs (55%) and availability of diabetes drugs (80%).Also cost of diabetes drugs have high influence of (82.5%) on accessing diabetes drugs. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that majority of the patients with diabetes have access and knowledge of diabetes drugs but still some are yet to meet up with it due to some factors. Therefore, there is need to strengthen diabetes care centres with special focus on improving drugs availability and integration of health services for diabetes at the community level.