Age-related cytokine profile in uncomplicated malaria infection / Perfil de citoquina relacionado con la edad en la infección no complicada de malaria

Objective: Malaria infection is severe in children who are believed to be more at risk because of their relative poor immunity against the disease. Some cytokine levels (IFN-g, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10) of children, adolescents, and adults were assessed in this study. Methods: Cytokine levels were assayed by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Malaria diagnosis and blood parameters were carried out by using standard parasitological and haematological techniques. Results: The mean cytokine levels were significantly elevated in children, adolescent, and adult subjects when compared to their respective healthy controls (p<0.05). Also, mean IFN-g and IL-2 levels were significantly higher in children than in adults (IFN-g: 57.31±77.79 pg/ml vs. 20.37± 2.95 pg/ml, and IL-2: 108.75±63.53 pg/ml vs. 66.09±45.34 pg/ml) (p<0.05) and adolescents (IFN-g: 20.37± 2.95 pg/ml and IL-2: 66.09±45.34 pg/ml) respectively. Furthermore, mean IL-10 level was significantly lower in children (7.39±15.08 pg/ml) than mean level in adults (22.73±13.89 pg/ml). The mean haematological parameters revealed significant increase in total white blood cell, CD4, and CD8 count and significant decrease in the hematocrit of children in relation to adolescent and adult subjects (p<0.05). However, mean monocyte count was significantly higher in subjects than in their respective healthy controls (p<0.05). Conclusion: Findings in this study revealed better Th1 driven immune response in children than in adolescents and adults.

Objetivo: La infección por malaria es grave en los niños debido a su relativa baja inmunidad contra la enfermedad. Se evaluaron en este estudio algunos niveles de citoquinas (IFN-g, IL-2, IL-4 e IL-10) en niños, adolescentes y adultos. Métodos: Se analizaron los niveles de citocinas mediante ensayo inmunoabsorbente ligado a enzimas (ELISA). El diagnóstico de malaria y sanguíneas se llevó a cabo utilizando las técnicas parasitológicas y hematológicas. Resultados: Los niveles de citoquinas eran significativamente elevados en los niños, adolescentes y adultos en comparación con sus respectivos controles sanos (p<0.05). Además, la media de IFN-g y los niveles de IL-2 fueron significativamente mayores en niños que en adultos (IFN-g: 57.31 ± 77.79 pg/ml vs. 20.37 ± 2.95 pg/ml e IL-2: 108.75 ± 63.53 pg/ml vs. 66.09 ± 45.34 pg/ml) (p<0,05) y adolescentes (IFN-g: 20.37 ± 2.95 pg/ml e IL-2: 66.09 ± 45.34 pg/ml). Por otra parte, la media de IL-10 fue significativamente menor en los niños (7.39 ± 15.08 pg/ml) que en nivel medio en los adultos (22.73 ± 13.89 pg/ml). La media de los parámetros hematológicos reveló un aumento significativo en la celda total de color blanco, CD4, CD8 y disminución significativa en el hematocrito de los niños en relación con los adolescentes y los adultos (p<0.05). No obstante, el número promedio de monocitos fue significativamente mayor en los sujetos que en sus respectivos controles sanos (p<0.05). Conclusión: Los hallazgos en este estudio revelaron una mejor respuesta inmune Th1 en niños que en adolescentes y adultos.

Effect of lamivudine [epivir], nevirapine [vivumine] and stavudine [stavir] on CD[4][+] count of HIV patients attending university of Benin Teaching Hospital [UBTH], Benin city, Edo State, Nigeria

Anti-retroviral drugs are broadly used to alleviate the sufferings of HIV patients in Sub-Saharan countries. Few studies have been carried out to assess the effects of these drugs on the immunological parameters of patients in the above-mentioned region. To assess the effect of the Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Stavudine combination on the CD4+ count of HIV patients attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. An assessment of CD4+ counts of 37 HIV patients from different socio-economic groups on tritherapy, notably Lamivudine-Nevirapine-Stavudine combinations, attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, was carried out before therapy, three months and six months after administration of the drugs using Dynabeads[R] T4 -T8 Quantification Protocol [DYNAL BIOTECH ASA: NORWAY]. Out of the 37 studied subjects, 32 [86.48%] patients showed a marked increase in their CD4+ counts at three and six months, four [12.5%] subjects showed a continuous decrease in CD4+ level up to six months after therapy, while one [3.12%] patient had a decrease in CD4+ after three months and a sudden rise at six months. The mean CD4+ cell count increased from 255 at base line to 284 at week 12, and to 346 at week 24. Traders were the most affected by HIV virus followed by people in the group referred to as 'others', civil servants, and students with prevalence rates of 43.24%, 24.32%, 18.91%, 13.51% respectively. Statistically, there was a significant difference between HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-1 and 2 which had a prevalence rate of 89.19%, 8.10% and 2.70% respectively [p<0.05]. The importance of early diagnosis, continuous evaluation and sound clinical management of HIV is strongly emphasized