Derivation of a formula for adjusting the total serum calcium in Nigeria environment

The total calcium concentration, total protein, albumin and globulin were estimated for 302 patients that reported for serum calcium estimation at the clinical biochemistry laboratory of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria. Based on regression analysis, three formulae werederived for adjusting the total serum calcium concentration. It was observed that the total serum concentration correlated closely with albumin (a = 0.919 70) but poorly correlated with total protein (a =-0.25 960); where a = correlation coefficient. Adjusted calcium = total calcium – (0.91972 x albumin) +3.70429 was obtaine

Prevalence of HIV positive blood donors among screened volunteers who satisfied the criteria for blood donation in a semi-urban Nigeria population

Two thousand five hundred and thirty two (2,532) males, aged 25 – 50 years potential blood donors were randomly selected from the total number of volunteer blood donors who satisfied the initial screening criteria for donating blood, and were screened for HIV using Immunocomb II (HIV 1 and 2 Bispot) and Recombigen HIV-1/HIV-2RTD. Results from the study reveal that this procedure of screening volunteer donors by initial criteria alone does not fully eliminate all HIV positive donors. The prevalence of HIV positive donors among the screened volunteers who satisfied the criteria for blood donation was 0.87%.Keywords: Prevalence, blood donor, hiv positive and semi urban populatio

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in Newly Admitted Undergraduates of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was studied in newly admitted undergraduates of Olabisi Onabanjo University. A total of 2,421 apparently healthy young adults (undergraduates) were randomly selected from the newly admitted undergraduates who registered in a session (period of 9 months) in Olabisi Onabanjo University Health Centre, Ago-Iwoye. These subjects were screened biochemically for diabetes mellitus, by carrying out urinalysis as well as capillary blood glucose estimation using the standard glucometer. The 1997 World Health Organization criteria for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was used. The overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 3.47%. Generally the prevalence increases with age among the study population. There was no statistically significant difference between the sexes (Male/Female = 2.9% - 4.2%). Key words: Prevalence, Diabetes Mellitus, University Health Centre, Newly admitted undergraduates. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol.47(3) 2005: 26-2

Atherosclerosis – A Review

Atherosclerosis although a normal concomitant of aging, is the major pathogenic factor in coronary and cerebral thrombosis. While coronary thrombosis is implicated in the development of ischaemic heart disease, cerebral thrombosis is implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke, a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Furthermore, the microangiopathic changes resulting in diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy are due to atherosclerosis. The increasing incidence of each of these pathological conditions seems to cause fear to every knowledgeable person about fat consumption. It is misleading to link atherosclerosis to an abnormal lipid metabolism, although studies have shown that cholesterol ester is the major class of lipid that accumulates while triglycericles, phospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol are present in smaller amounts. Past studies have also indicated that essential fatty acid (EFA) and Vitamin E prevent atherogenesis. This review emphasizes the biochemical events of atherogenesis as well as the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerosis. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 48 (1), 2005: 22 - 2

Assessment of the renal status of pregnant women through biochemical parameters at various trimesters of pregnancy

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