Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in blood plasma of neurology patients

The etiology of many neurological cases cannot be easily delineated, making the investigation, and treatment to be challenging.This study aimsto screen the blood of neurology patients presenting for the first time in the hospital for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) using Flame Ionization Detector –Gas Chromatography. Fourteen PAHs were detected in the samples. The results showed that flourene and phenanthrene were common to all the patients in the range (1.37to8.08 and 1.66 to8.34 ng/mL respectively), but were not detected in the control samples. Pyrene, fluoranthene and acenaphthene were present in 80, 75 and 70% in the blood plasmaof the patients at the range of 2.96 to236.86 ng/mL, 1.96 to 11.55ng/mL and 1.08 to 1.81 ng/mL respectively. These were not found in the control samples. The body burden of these congeners wasmuch higher in neurology patients than controlsand literature values of similar study. The concentrations detected were statistically significant, and could be possible causative agents. This can also become one of the investigative tools for these disease

Association between body anthropometric parameters and indices of cardiac autonomic function among apparently healthy young adults

Background: Anthropometric parameters are useful for indexing cardiovascular variables. Objectives: This study aimed at determining the association between anthropometric parameters and autonomic cardiovascular indices (ACIs) among young adults. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 204 healthy young adults who were residents of Ile-Ife. The weight (kg) and height (m) were measured with health scale while body mass index and body surface area were calculated using Quetelet index and Mosteller formula, respectively. Each participant was evaluated through a battery of procedures; systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to standing, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) response to sustained handgrip (SH), resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate (HR) variability during Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, and change of posture while the ACIs were derived as outcome of the procedures. The relationship between the anthropometry and ACI was determined by correlation. Results: Height positively correlated with SBP response to posture (r = 0.107, P = 0.128), DBP response to SH (r = 0.143, P = 0.041), and heart rate response to deep breathing (HDB) (r = 0.043, P = 0.540). Height negatively correlated with Valsalva ratio (r = −0.022, P = 0.759), 30:15 ratio (r = −0.009, P = 0.902), and RHR (−0.152, P = 0.030). Weight correlated positively with postural change in SBP (r = 0.096, P = 0.172), DBP response to SH (r = 0.091, P = 0.197), and 30:15 ratio (r = 0.005, P = 0.948). Weight negatively correlated with HR response to deep breathing (r = −0.114, P = 0.105) and RHR (r = −0.153, P = 0.029). Conclusion: Anthropometric parameters correlated weakly with most indices of cardiac autonomic function except RHR

Blood Pressure Control and Exaggerated Blood Pressure Response in Nigerians with Essential Hypertension

Background Blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensives is important in preventing cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. This work was done to assess control of BP among Nigerian hypertensives at rest and during exercise. Materials and Methods A total of 85 male hypertensives were recruited consecutively and had clinical evaluation and treadmill (TM) exercise testing using the Bruce protocol. Independent t -test, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare patients with controlled and uncontrolled BP using SPSS version 16 software. Adjustment for confounders was by logistic regression and general linear model. Results Resting systolic BP (rSBP) (mmHg) and resting diastolic BP (rDBP) (mmHg) were significantly lower in the controlled group (115.0 ± 12.29, 133.1 ± 12.27, P = < 0.001 and 76.00 ± 6.55, 91.4 ± 8.00, P = < 0.001). The proportion of subjects with controlled BP was 37.7%. Adjusted peak SBP (PSBP) during exercise (mmHg) was significantly higher in the uncontrolled than in the controlled group (210.5 ± 27.31, 191.8 ± 20.77, P = 0.001). Adjusted exaggerated blood pressure response (EBPR) was found in 37 subjects (44%) in the uncontrolled group while seven subjects (0.1%) had EBPR in the controlled group ( P = 0.003). Conclusion This study shows that EBPR is significantly higher in subjects with uncontrolled BP compared with those with controlled BP. Therefore, good BP control may be the key factor in preventing EBPR in hypertensives