Effects of the Sikle Cell (S) Gene on Serum Protein Profile

Total serum protein, albumin, total globulin levels, albumin/globulin ratio as well as the various globulin fractions were determined in 96 subjects, 39 are sickle cell (SS) disease subjects (steady state), and 30 are heterozygous sickle cell (AS) trait and 27 normal control subjects. The mean standard deviation of total protein was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in sickle cell disease when compared with heterozygous AS and normal controls. There was also significant difference (P<0.05) between AS and AA. The albumin level in sickle cell disease was significantly higher than in the other two groups. There was hyperglobuneamia observed in SS individuals with a mean ±SD of 32.6±10.0g/L when compared with AS and AA subjects with a mean ±SD of 30.8± 5.9g/L and 26.7±6.2g/L respectively. There also exist a significant difference between AS and AA (P <0.005). The Albumin/Globulin ratio is significantly lower (P <0.05) in SS than the other two groups but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) observed between AS and AA controls. The globulin fractions were observed to be higher in AS individuals except the gamma globulin which is higher in SS subjects. The hyperproteineamia as a result of the hyperglobulineamia is due to the globulin fraction present in the serum of SS individuals. The AS individuals are protected from various infectious disease conditions because of the high acute phase reactants and ß- globulin present in their serum as these has been observed to exert some immunioregulatory role

Salt intake in first degree relations of hypertensive and normotensive Nigerians.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the salt taste threshold (STT) and salt threshold (STT) and salt intake(SI) in first degree relations of hypertensive and normotensive Nigerians. Hence to determine the relevance of STT in the genesis of hypertension in the Nigerian Africans. The relevance of salt to the development of systemic hypertension continues to attract researchers. DESIGN: A comparative study of STT and salt intake in the first degree offspring of hypertensive and normotensive Nigerians. SETTING: University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Edo state of Nigeria. SUBJECTS: Fifty three normotensives youths (31 males and 22 females) whose parents were undergoing treatment at the university of Benin Teaching Hospital and 42 age and sex matched normotensive youths (22 males and 16 females) of normotensive parents from similar socio-economic background were recruited for the study. METHODS: Salt intake was determined with Corning clinical flame photometer using 24 hour urine sample produced by each participants. STT was determined by a double blind method which employed the forced stimulus drop technique. RESULTS: STT and UNa+ were significantly higher in OH than in ON (p < 0.001). There was strong positive correlation between STT and UNa+ (r = 0.77); diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.61); systolic blood pressure (SBP) (rg = 0.54) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r = 0.69) respectively (P < 0.001). UNa+ also strongly correlated with DBP (r = 0.59); MAP r = 0.60, and SBP (r = 0.36) respectively P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that OH probably consume more sodium than the ON. This tendency to increased sodium (salt) consumption is most likely genetically determined. There is a suggestion that alteration in STT and change in blood pressure tend to occur simultaneously.