ABSTRACT
Stored blood is used for transfusion in humans but peroxidative processes occur in stored blood before transfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the length of storage on plasma antioxidant levels and RBCs antioxidant enzyme activity. Blood collected from 15 donors and preserved with anticoagulant (citerate phosphate; dextrose adenine (CPDA-1) were examined. The concentration of total antioxidant status (TAS); malondialdehyde (MDA) and potassium (K+) in the plasma as well as glutathione peroxidise (GSH - Px); glutathione superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in erythrocytes were determined on days 1;5;10;15;20;25;30;35 and 40 of storage. Day 1 of the study is the day of donation.A 24.8increase in plasma concentration of MDA and 15.8increase in the concentration K+ on day 15 were recorded (p0.05). A 27decrease in the plasma concentration of TAS was observed on day 20 compared with day 1 (p0.05). Similarly GSH-Px activity is stored RBC decreased by 17.1; on day 15 (p0.05). SOD activities reduced by 17.1on day 20; CAT activities reduced by 12.6on day 15 (in each case p0.05). In this study blood stored in CPDA-1 shows that those glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes systems in erythrocytes and antioxidant defence in plasma were depleting gradually depending on the day of storage. We concluded based on our finding that 10 days period can be considered a safe storage limits for transfusion in relation to oxidative stress the RBCs were subjected in the storage medium
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Blood Preservation , Blood Transfusion , Erythrocytes , PlasmaABSTRACT
Chloroquine (CQ) resistance in Plasmodium falciparum contributes to increasing malaria-attributable morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite a change in drug policy, continued prescription of CQ did not abate. Therefore the therapeutic efficacy of CQ in uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients was assessed in a standard 28-day protocol in 116 children aged between six and 120 months in Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria. Parasitological and clinical assessments of response to treatment showed that 72 (62.1 percent) of the patients were cured and 44 (37.9 percent) failed the CQ treatment. High initial parasite density and young age were independent predictors for early treatment failure. Out of the 44 patients that failed CQ, 24 received amodiaquine + sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (AQ+SP) and 20 received chlorpheniramine + chloroquine (CH+CQ) combinations. Mean fever clearance time in those treated with AQ+SP was not significantly different from those treated with CH+CQ (p = 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean parasite density of the two groups. The cure rate for AQ+SP group was 92 percent while those of CH+CQ was 85 percent. There was a significant difference in parasite clearance time (p = 0.01) between the two groups. The 38 percent treatment failure for CQ reported in this study is higher than the 10 percent recommended by World Health Organization in other to effect change in antimalarial treatment policy. Hence we conclude that CQ can no more be solely relied upon for the treatment of falciparum malaria in Osogbo, Nigeria. AQ+SP and CH+CQ are effective in the treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria and may be considered as useful alternative drugs in the absence of artemisinin-based combination therapies.