ABSTRACT
Aims: To assess the serum albumin and selected antioxidant status in 51 children with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in Sokoto, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was performed comparing two groups of children, one with confirmed case of PEM and the other apparently healthy children; both groups were gender, age and socioeconomically matched. Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Paediatrics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, between April, 2014 and September, 2015. Methodology: We included fifty (51) children (of both sexes, aged range 6-60 months) with confirmed cases of protein energy malnutrition were included in this study. The modified Wellcome classification was used to classify the protein energy malnourished children into underweight (14), marasmus (17), kwashiorkor (10) and marasmic-kwashiorkor (10). Fifty (50) gender- age-and socioeconomically-matched apparently healthy children were used as controls. The subject selection, anthropometric parameters and clinical examinations were performed by the consultant paediatricians in the clinic. Standard procedures were used for the analyses of biochemical parameters. Results: Our results showed that, mean mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), weight, body mass index (BMI), were significantly (P<0.001) lower in the malnourished group compared with the control group. With the exception of MUAC which decreased significantly (p<0.001) with increasing severity of malnutrition, the mean weight, and BMI were not significantly (p>0.05) different among the different classes of PEM. Serum Albumin, α-tocopherol, copper and zinc were significantly (P<0.001) lower in the malnourished group compared with the control group. Serum Albumin, α-tocopherol, copper and zinc decreased significantly (P<0.001) with increasing severity of malnutrition. Conclusion: Our results showed that serum albumin, α-tocopherol, copper and zinc were significantly lower in the malnourished group than the control group (p<0.001). The decrease in the serum albumin, α-tocopherol, copper and zinc progressed with the increasing severity of malnutrition among the children. These findings suggest an altered protein and antioxidant status in protein energy malnutrition. In addition to providing proteins and calories, adequate supplementations of zinc, copper and α-tocopherol should be provided. These should be part of nutritional rehabilitation of malnourished children in order to achieve optimal results of management and avoid clinical complications associated with zinc, copper and vitamin E deficiencies.
ABSTRACT
Aims: Alcoholism is a global public health problem with significant socioeconomic implications. The aim was to investigate the effect of alcoholism on the haematological and haemostatic parameters of consecutively recruited alcoholics in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State and North Western Nigeria. Study Design and Methodology: This prospective case-control study included one hundred adults alcoholics [≥18 years), aged range (18-60), mean age (38.46 ± 13.26) and made up of 68 males (68%) and 32 females (32%)]. Fifty gender and age matched non-alcoholics were monitored as controls. Ethical approval was obtained from the research and ethics committee in the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. Written informed consent was obtained from all study subjects after counselling. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the service laboratory in the Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science in Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto North Western Nigeria between May 2011 to February, 2012. Result: Participants for this study included 50 heavy alcoholics and 50 moderate alcoholics (subjects) and 50 age and gender –matched non-alcoholics (controls). Platelet count of non-alcoholics, moderate and heavy alcoholics was; 260.7 ± 48.17, 253.3 ± 43.16 and 130.6 ± 6.79 respectively. Platelet count was significantly lower among heavy alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics (p=0.0001). Although marginally higher, there was no statistically significant difference in the platelet count of moderate alcoholics and non-alcoholics (p=0.10). We observed a negative correlation between platelet count and duration of alcoholism (r=-0.62). The mean prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) values of non-alcoholics, moderate alcoholics and heavy alcoholics was; (14.46 ± 0.97 and 34.82 ± 13.71), (15.74 ± 1.26 and 35.78 ± 3.50) and (19.46 ± 0.93 and 43.42 ± 5.13) respectively. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time values were significantly lower among heavy alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics (p=0.0001). PT and APTT were marginally higher among moderate alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics but the difference however was not statistically significant (p= 0.08 and 0.62 respectively). We observed a positive correlation between duration of alcoholism and prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (r = 0.46 and 0.55 respectively). Conclusion: Our study has shown that alcoholism produces a significant adverse effect on some haematological and haemostatic parameters. Evidenced data generated from this study can facilitate the development of a policy on the effective management of haematological and haemostatic complications associated with alcoholism. There is need to enact laws that regulate the production, sales and consumption of various alcoholic beverages to prevent abuse and protect the health of citizens.
ABSTRACT
Background: Globally prostate cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is present in small amount in the serum of men with healthy prostates, but is often elevated in the presence of prostate cancer and other prostate-related disorders. The aim of this present study was to determine the PSA levels among healthy men of African descent resident in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. Methods: Testing was carried out using the CTK Biotech PSA kit (CTK Biotech Inc, San Diego, USA). The Onsite PSA Rapid Test is a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in human serum or plasma at a cut-off level of 4.0 ng/mL. Result: We investigated the PSA levels in 106 consecutively recruited men of African descent with age range and mean age of 40-70 years and 44.75 ± 7.91 years respectively. We observed a PSA of > 4ng/mL among 7 (6.6%) of subjects studied. Men > 60 had the highest prevalence of raised PSA level (33.3%) compared to those younger men (p= 0.001). We observed a higher prevalence among farmers (11.1%) compared to business men, civil servants and students. Conclusion: In this present study we observed a high prevalence of PSA >4ng/mL and a positive and significant correlation between age and raised PSA levels among men in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. We recommend an annual PSA blood test for men ≥ 40 years of age and that those with a PSA value > 4.0 ng/mL should be considered for further evaluation. There is also the need to build capacity among biomedical and medical staff in Nigeria to facilitate effective diagnosis of prostate cancer. There is also the need for increased prostate cancer awareness in the area to facilitate voluntary testing.