Metabolic dysfunctions in Nigerian pre-eclamptics.

AIM: The patho-physiology of pre-eclampsia is not fully understood. This study determined the plasma levels of markers of oxidative stress, thyroid hormones, nitric oxide, C-reactive protein, and nutritional profiles in pre-eclamptic patients. METHODS: Thirty-two pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and 40 women with normal pregnancy (controls) participated in this study. The pre-eclamptics were recruited after 20 weeks of gestation. They presented with hypertension (systolic pressure = 169 ± 26.0 mmHg, diastolic pressure = 102 ± 11.0 mmHg), significant proteinuria (368 ± 39 mg/24 h), severe headache, abdominal pain and vomiting. The plasma levels of total antioxidant potential (TAP), total plasma peroxides (TPP), total cholesterol (TC), total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, nitric oxide (NO), C-reactive protein (CRP), total tri-iodotyronine (TT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined in them using spectrophotometry, radial immunodiffusion and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods, respectively. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated as the percent ratio of TPP and TAP. RESULTS: The weight and body mass index of pre-eclamptics increased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with the controls. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly (p < 0.001) in pre-eclamptics when compared with the controls. Plasma mean values of TAP, NO, albumin, TP and TT3 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in pre-eclamptics when compared with the controls. The plasma mean values of TSH, TPP, OSI, CRP, and TC increased significantly (p < 0.05) in pre-eclamptics when compared with the controls. There was no significant change in the plasma value of globulin when compared with the controls. TT3 correlated positively with plasma TP and globulin in the pre-eclamptics. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that hypothyroidism, hypercholesterolemia, oxidative stress and deranged inflammatory responses are possible features of pre-eclampsia.

Human erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase during occupational exposure to lead.

OBJECTIVE: Erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was determined in workers occupationally exposed to lead because of the prevalence of elevated blood lead in auto-mobile workers in some urban areas in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood lead levels, biochemical profiles, lipid peroxidation, basal and calmodulin-stimulated Ca(2+)-ATPase activities were determined in erythrocytes of different categories of workers occupationally exposed to lead. These subjects were mainly battery chargers (BC), spray painters (SP) and auto mechanics (MC). RESULTS: Estimation of erythrocyte Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in the absence of calmodulin (basal activity) in test groups indicated that there were significant reductions in the pump function and this correlated very well with the levels of lead in their blood. Specifically, blood lead levels were of the order: BC (5.5 folds) > SP (4 folds) > MC, although there was no significant difference between the blood lead levels in MC (10.60 +/- 2.55 microgPb2+/dl) and CT (8.51 +/- 4.55 microgPb2+/dl). Similarly, the order of reduction in Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was BC (69.8%) > SP (52.8%) > MC (32.6%). There was significant difference in the values obtained for MC and CT, ATPase activity being lower in MC compared to CT or healthy individuals. In the presence of calmodulin, basal ATPase activity was increased by at least four fold in erythrocytes from healthy subjects (CT) while the basal activity of the enzymes in membranes of BC, SP and MC was enhanced by about one and half times the activity of the pump in membranes from CT. The levels of total serum protein and albumin increased significantly in BC, SP and MC when compared to healthy subjects (CT). C-reactive proteins (C-RP) levels were higher in BC, SP and MC in comparison to CT. The levels of MDA were high in all lead-exposed workers, BC > SP > MC relative to CT. Although, there were significant decreases in the PCV values of all the groups occupationally exposed to lead compared to values obtained for CT, cholesterol level increased significantly only in BC when compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: These observations are probably due to the integrity of the plasma membrane of these workers and the ability of the heavy metal to compete with Ca2+ in the catalytic cycle and Ca2+ transport mechanism of the pump protein.

Acute phase proteins, trace elements in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection in Nigerians.

The natural history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is incompletely understood. Factors other than HIV infection alone may be required for the development of the profound immunosuppression that characterizes advanced HIV disease. Nutritional status plays an important role in maintaining normal immunity and thus may be one of these factors. The plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein, transferrin, selected trace elements (Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Se and Cr,), total protein and albumin were determined in 25 asymptomatic HIV-infected Nigerian subjects and 30 age matched HIV-seronegative controls using single radial immunodiffusion and spectrophotometric methods. The mean values of Cu (73.2 + 23.9 microg/dl), Mg (9.83 + 5.5 mg/dl), Fe (126 + 21 microg/L), Cd (24.6 + 7.2 microg/L), Se (22.0 + 12.2 microg/dl) and Cr (19.0 + 5.2 microg/L) were low in asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects when compared with the controls (Cu = 119.3 + 30.8 microg/dl; Mg = 14.5 + 4.6 mg/L; Fe = 155 + 8.8 microg/ dl; Cd = 33. 1 + 8.3 microg/L; Se = 30.9 + 8.3 microg/dl; Cr = 32.1 + 7.8 microg/ L). The level of Zn was similar in asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects (5.1 + 1.9 mg/dl) and the controls (4.6 + 1.7mg/dl). The value of albumin in asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects (3.43 + 0.7 g/dl) was significantly low when compared with the controls (4.04 + 0.52 g/dl). Significant correlation existed between albumin and Mg in asymptomatic HIV subjects (r = + 0.758, p < 0.001). The mean value of C-reactive protein was significantly higher in HIV-infected subjects compared with the controls while the level of transferrin in HIV-infected subjects (92.86 + 26.3 mg/dl) did not show any significant difference when compared with the controls (84.36 + 16.9 mg/dl). This study revealed the deficiencies of trace elements in asymptomatic HIV infection and therefore suggests dietary supplementation of these trace elements in the infected subjects.