Chromatographic and computational studies of ligands associated with bilharziasis.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid diagnostic techniques that do not depend on microscopic analysis are urgently needed for rapid diagnosis and management of bilharziasis. Specific ligands that are excreted through urine in bilharziasis may serve as rapid diagnostic biomarkers to replace microscopy, which is cumbersome and time-consuming. The aim of this study was to identify ligands associated with bilharziasis. METHODS: Microscopy was employed to detect ova of Schistosoma haematobium in urine specimens obtained from 1032 subjects. Pooled positive urine samples and pooled normal urine samples were separately prepared in triplicates and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). Ligands identified in each pool were noted. Computational analysis was performed between the schistosome receptors and ligands. RESULTS: GC-MS revealed that the level of indole in bilharziasis sample was higher than that in normal urine. Indole was the ligand with the highest (28.63%) concentration in the pooled positive urine sample, while ethyl phenazone level was the highest (69.64%) in the pooled normal sample. Computational analysis depicted perfect docking with indole and all other ligands identified in positive urine samples. CONCLUSION: This study identified some ligands associated with bilharziasis some unique to normal (negative) urine samples.

Heavy metals obtained from waterways induced neurodegeneration in the prefrontal cortex of Wistar rats

The level of heavy metals in Nigeria waterways is grossly influenced by the irrepressible disposal and recycling of electronic waste. The impact of heavy metals obtained from waterways on the prefrontal cortex of experimental rats was investigated in this study. Thirty (30) adult male Wistar rats weighing about 150-180 g were used in this study. Ten rats apiece were assigned randomly into three groups. Pooled sampled water and water containing the highest average concentration of combined heavy metals recorded in the waterways was given to the Wistar rats within the treatment groups ad libitum for 65 days. Blood sera were obtained for analysis of oxidative stress markers. The prefrontal cortex was processed for paraffin embedding, and sections stained for histological, histochemical and immunochemical evaluations. P < 0.05 was regarded as significant for data using one-way analysis of variance. Oxidative damage was observed in animals from the treatment groups when compared to the control. The analysed levels of oxidative stress markers showed statistically significant differences, except between groups given pooled sampled water and combined metals. Neurodegeneration was attested from the histological and histochemical evaluations, and the immunohistochemical evaluation revealed marked astrocytosis with induced oxidative stress while comparing the experimental groups

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Distribution of CD4 Lymphocyte Cells Among Apparently Healthy HIV Seropositive and Seronegative Populations.

BACKGROUND: CD4 lymphocyte cells are often used as prognostic markers for monitoring the progression of immunosupression such as HIV infection. AIM: This study was conducted to assess the distribution of CD4 lymphocytes among apparently healthy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seronegative and seropositive populations in a Nigerian state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1520 apparently healthy subjects aged 18-64 years, composed of 800 males and 720 females attending some selected health institutions in the state, participated in the study. Ten milliliters of blood was collected from each subject; 5 ml of this was used for HIV antibodies sero-typing while the remaining 5 ml was anticoagulated and used for CD4 lymphocytes level determination. Only samples tested positive both with Capillus and Determine HIV test kits were further differentiated into sero-types with a standard diagnostic HIV test kit. The CD4 lymphocyte levels of all the sample were determined; mean CD4 levels of 205.1±0.09 and 287.4±0.3 cells/µl were recorded among females seropositives and seronagatives respectively. Statistical analysis by the Student t-test showed a significant difference in the mean CD4 lymphocyte count by gender. RESULTS: Findings showed a mean CD4 level of 311.7±1.2 cells/µl among seropositive males while 399.3±0.6 cells/µl was recorded among seronegatives (t=5.86). The study also recorded a CD4 lymphocyte range of 232-464 cells/µl among apparently healthy seronegative population in this locality. CONCLUSION: The findings showed a significantly higher mean CD4 lymphocyte count among adult male HIV seronegatives (χ(2)=9.22) and seropositives (χ(2)=15.07) than their female counterparts. Further research work using the automation technique is suggested to confirm this new range for monitoring HIV subjects on antiretroviral therapy.