Effects of Moringa oleifera leaves on the blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid profile of type 2 diabetic subjects: A parallel group randomized clinical trial of efficacy.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of information on the antidiabetic potential of graded amounts of Moringa leaves on diabetes human subjects. AIM: To ascertain the effeccts of Moringa leaves on type 2 diabetic subjects' blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid profile levels in a rural Nigerian community. METHODS: This study adopted a parallel group randomized control design. Participants included 40 adult male and female diabetic subjects who met the inclusion criteria and consented to participate in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to four groups. The control group was fed diets without Moringa oleifera leaves while the experimental groups received 20, 40, and 60 g of Moringa leaves respectively daily for 14 days in addition to the diets. The subjects' baseline data and post-intervention data were collected before and after the intervention, respectively. Data were analyzed using paired-sample t-test and analysis of covariance. Significance was accepted at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean fasting blood glucose levels in all the groups did not differ significantly from one another. Group 3 had significantly (p = 0.01) lower mean systolic pressure (from 136.40 ± 7.66 to 123.90 ± 13.82) after the intervention. Group 3 subjects had a significant (p = 0.04) increase in their triglyceride values (from 123.80 ± 53.69 before intervention to 151.20 ± 41.47) after intervention. After adjusting for the pre-intervention values, there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in all the parameters at the end of the intervention. CONCLUSION: There were marginal improvements in the parameters assessed which were not dose-dependent.

Prevalence and predictors of different patterns of hypertension among adults aged 20-60 years in rural communities of Southeast Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension, a major cardiovascular disease risk factor exists several years without symptoms. Few data exist on prevalence and predictors of hypertension among apparently healthy Nigerian adults. This makes it difficult for policy-makers to concentrate efforts to control emerging health burden of the disease. This study assessed prevalence and predictors of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) and combined systolic and diastolic hypertension (CSDH). METHODS: Cross-sectional survey design was employed in the study of 517 adult participants (20-60 years) in a rural setting. Selection of the respondents was through multistage sampling which involved systematic, proportionate and simple random sampling. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference were collected. Frequencies, T-test, analysis of variance and Chi square were used in statistical analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to evaluate variables associated with different patterns of hypertension with significance accepted at P < 0.05. Frequencies, percentages, crude and adjusted odd ratios were reported. Statistical Product and Service Solutions version 21.0 was used in statistical analysis. RESULTS: ISH (10.6%), IDH (18.2%) and CSDH (37.8%) were observed among the participants. ISH was less likely among 20-29 year-olds (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.35, 95% confidence interval (C.I.) = 0.13-0.94), 30-39 year-olds (aOR = 0.30, 95% C.I. = 0.11-0.82) and those with abdominal obesity (aOR = 0.12, 95% C.I. = 0.03-0.56). Participants who perceived their health status as good (aOR = 3.80, 95% C.I. = 1.29-11.18) and excellent (aOR = 5.28, 95% C.I. = 1.54-18.07) were respectively 3.80 and 5.28 times more likely to have ISH. Those with secondary education had significantly higher likelihood for IDH (aOR = 2.05, 95% = 1.02-4.14) whereas self-perceived poor health status (aOR = 0.24, 95% C.I. = 0.09-0.65), absence of obesity (aOR = 0.10, 95% C.I. = 0.01-0.81) and general obesity (aOR = 0.35, 95% C.I. = 0.17-0.72) were associated with reduced risk for IDH. Secondary (aOR = 0.60, 95% C.I. = 0.36-0.99) and tertiary (aOR = 0.49, 95% C.I. = 0.28-0.85) education were associated with reduced risk for CSDH but combined obesity (aOR = 4.39, 95% C.I. = 2.25-8.58) increased the risk for CSDH by 4. CONCLUSION: ISH, IDH and CSDH were problems among the adults with age, obesity, self-perception of good/excellent health status and low education level as significant predictors. Health and nutrition education to prevent comorbidities and cerebrovascular accidents are recommended.

Prevalence and associated factors of dyslipidaemia among university workers in Southeast Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The job one does for a living may increase ones propensity to cardiovascular diseases due to many associated risk factors. University staff may be at high risk of dyslipidaemia, a major cardiovascular disease risk factor. This study assessed prevalence of dyslipidaemia and its associated factors among the staff of University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 386 workers selected through a 4-stage sampling technique was conducted. Data were obtained through questionnaire and lipid profile determination. Bivariate analysis using Cochran and Mantel-Haenszel test was used to determine associations between dyslipidaemia and selected variables. Odds ratios and significance at p < 0.05 were reported. RESULTS: Respondents who were 46 years and above accounted for 51.3 % while 95.3 % had tertiary education. Administrative/technical staff were 76.4 % while academic staff were only 23.6 %; 73.8 % were senior staff and 26.2 % were junior staff. More than half (60.4 %) consumed alcohol above recommendation. Lipid biomarkers of the workers were not sex dependent (p > 0.05). Few (23.4 and 6.5 %) of the respondents had borderline high and high total cholesterol values, respectively. Whereas none (0.0 %) had low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), borderline low values were observed among 1.3 %. High low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) affected 1.3 %. Triglyceride was high among 3.9 %; 20.8 % had high atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and 2.6 % had impaired fasting blood glucose (IFBG). Dyslipidaemia had a prevalence of 54.5 % with female dominance. Hypercholesterolemia with high LDL-c was the commonest combined dyslipidaemia observed (7.8 %). Dyslipidaemia was dependent on hypercholesterolemia (OR = 0.352, 95 % C.I.=0.245-0.505), high LDL-c (OR = 0.462, 95 % C.I.=0.355-0.600) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.462, 95 % C.I.=0.355-0.600). Alcohol intake above normal was associated with almost 6 times higher risk of dyslipidaemia (OR = 5.625, 95 % C.I.=1.062-29.799). CONCLUSIONS: Dyslipidaemia is a problem among the workers with hypercholesterolemia in combination with high LDL-c and hypertriglyceridemia compounding the problem. Nutrition education and physical activity are advocated to prevent cardiovascular events among the university staff.

Assessing computational genomics skills: Our experience in the H3ABioNet African bioinformatics network.

The H3ABioNet pan-African bioinformatics network, which is funded to support the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) program, has developed node-assessment exercises to gauge the ability of its participating research and service groups to analyze typical genome-wide datasets being generated by H3Africa research groups. We describe a framework for the assessment of computational genomics analysis skills, which includes standard operating procedures, training and test datasets, and a process for administering the exercise. We present the experiences of 3 research groups that have taken the exercise and the impact on their ability to manage complex projects. Finally, we discuss the reasons why many H3ABioNet nodes have declined so far to participate and potential strategies to encourage them to do so.

Development of Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Genomics Research.

BACKGROUND: Although pockets of bioinformatics excellence have developed in Africa, generally, large-scale genomic data analysis has been limited by the availability of expertise and infrastructure. H3ABioNet, a pan-African bioinformatics network, was established to build capacity specifically to enable H3Africa (Human Heredity and Health in Africa) researchers to analyze their data in Africa. Since the inception of the H3Africa initiative, H3ABioNet's role has evolved in response to changing needs from the consortium and the African bioinformatics community. OBJECTIVES: H3ABioNet set out to develop core bioinformatics infrastructure and capacity for genomics research in various aspects of data collection, transfer, storage, and analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Various resources have been developed to address genomic data management and analysis needs of H3Africa researchers and other scientific communities on the continent. NetMap was developed and used to build an accurate picture of network performance within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world, and Globus Online has been rolled out to facilitate data transfer. A participant recruitment database was developed to monitor participant enrollment, and data is being harmonized through the use of ontologies and controlled vocabularies. The standardized metadata will be integrated to provide a search facility for H3Africa data and biospecimens. Because H3Africa projects are generating large-scale genomic data, facilities for analysis and interpretation are critical. H3ABioNet is implementing several data analysis platforms that provide a large range of bioinformatics tools or workflows, such as Galaxy, the Job Management System, and eBiokits. A set of reproducible, portable, and cloud-scalable pipelines to support the multiple H3Africa data types are also being developed and dockerized to enable execution on multiple computing infrastructures. In addition, new tools have been developed for analysis of the uniquely divergent African data and for downstream interpretation of prioritized variants. To provide support for these and other bioinformatics queries, an online bioinformatics helpdesk backed by broad consortium expertise has been established. Further support is provided by means of various modes of bioinformatics training. CONCLUSIONS: For the past 4 years, the development of infrastructure support and human capacity through H3ABioNet, have significantly contributed to the establishment of African scientific networks, data analysis facilities, and training programs. Here, we describe the infrastructure and how it has affected genomics and bioinformatics research in Africa.

Iron status of schoolchildren (6-15 years) and associated factors in rural Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Schoolchildren are vulnerable to anaemia because of their higher iron need to meet the demands of puberty and adolescence. OBJECTIVE: The survey determined the haemoglobin levels of schoolchildren aged 6-15 years and the factors affecting their haemoglobin status. DESIGN: Data were obtained through a cross sectional survey of 450 randomly selected schoolchildren in Ede-Oballa, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Ninety were selected for clinical examination, biochemical tests, and nutrient intake study. Haemoglobin, malaria, and stool analysis were carried out by the cyanmethaemoglobin, thin blood film, and wet mount direct methods, respectively. Iron intake was determined by a three-day weighed food intake. RESULTS: Results showed that the schoolchildren had pallor (35.6%), brittle hair (31.1%), koilonychia (2.2%), oedema (4.4%) and sore/smooth tongue (7.8%). The children also had malaria (58.9%) and Entamoeba histolytica (42.2%), hookworm (36.7%), tapeworm (35.6%), whipworm (34.5%), and roundworm (27.9%) infestations. Iron intake was inadequate (<100% of recommended nutrient intake) for most of the children. The mean haemoglobin levels of the schoolchildren were low. The 6-9, 10-12, and 13-15 year olds had 9.0, 9.1, and 9.3 g/dl, respectively. Most (85.5%) of them had anaemia. Moderate anaemia was prevalent in 62.2%. Severe anaemia affected the 6-9 year olds more. Malaria (P<0.001), Entamoeba histolytica (P<0.01), hookworm (P<0.05), tapeworm (P<0.01), and whipworm (P<0.001) caused significant reduction in haemoglobin level. Age (b=1.284, P<0.05), birth order (b=-0.629, P<0.01), frequency of illness attack (b=-1.372, P<0.01), household size (b=-0.526, P<0.05), and frequency of skipping breakfast (b=-1.542, P<0.001) were factors that influenced the haemoglobin status of the children. CONCLUSION: The schoolchildren had poor iron status as a result of consumption of plant sources of iron with low bioavailability, parasitic infections, birth order, skipping of breakfast, large household size, and frequent bouts of illnesses.