Prognostic values of adiponectin and leptin in assessment of osteoarthritis in menopausal HIV women in Nauth Nnewi Nigeria

Background: Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) has progressively been implicated with development of inflammatory disease including osteoarthritis. This study evaluated serum levels of adiponectin and leptin in women living with HIV with/without osteoarthritis who have been placed on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria. Methods: Eighty eight participants aged between 18 and 65 years attending HAART unit of NAUTH, Nnewi were randomly selected and grouped thus: Group A (premenopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoarthritis), group B (postmenopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoarthritis), group C (premenopausal HIV seropositive women) and group D (postmenopausal HIV seropositive women). Five milliliters of blood sample collected from each of participants for determination of adiponectin and leptin using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Adiponectin level was significantly higher in postmenopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoarthritis compared with pre and postmenopausal HIV seropositive women without osteoarthritis (p<0.05 respectively). Similarly, leptin level was significantly higher in pre and post-menopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoartritis compared with their counterparts without osteoarthritis (p<0.05 respectively). A positive significant correlation was observed between Leptin and age in premenopausal HIV seropositive women with osteoarthritis. Also, a significant negative correlation was observed between adiponectin, age in pre and postmenopausal HIV seropositive women without osteoarthritis. Conclusions: The significant increases in adiponectin and leptin levels in pre and postmenopausal HIV seropositive women can be linked to severe inflammatory reaction due to osteoarthritis which might have been aggravated by combined effects of menopause and HIV infection

Assessment of Alpha Fetoprotein Levels and Gamma Glutamyl Transferase Activity in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Seropositive Subjects in Nnewi, Nigeria

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections are the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. These conditions, which mar the hepatic functional integrity, are characterized by alterations in the liver function markers such as alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and gamma glutamyl tranferase (GGT). In the present study, a total of 90 subjects were recruited. Out of this number, 30 were hepatitis B seropositive subjects, 30 hepatitis C seropositive individuals and the remaining 30 were apparently healthy individuals. The last group served as the control. Serum alpha fetoprotein levels were estimated by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique and the method adopted for the determination of gamma glutamyl transferase activity was the kinetic-spectrophotometric procedure. The mean serum level of alpha fetoprotein was significantly higher in hepatitis B seropositive subjects compared with the control (P<0.05). The same pattern was observed when the mean serum activity of GGT of the hepatitis B seropositive subjects was compared with that of the control (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mean serum level of AFP and the mean serum GGT activity were significantly higher in hepatitis C seropositive individuals compared with the control (P<0.05). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the mean serum levels of alpha fetoprotein in hepatitis B seropositive individuals compared with that of hepatitis C seropositive subjects (P>0.05). A positive correlation existed between AFP levels and GGT activity in hepatitis B seropositive subjects (r=0.31) and between AFP levels and GGT activity in hepatitis C seropositive subjects (r=0.25). These findings suggest that evaluation of serum alpha fetoprotein levels and gamma glutamyl transferase activity may be a valuable adjunct in the assessment of disease progression in hepatitis B and hepatitis C seropositive individuals. Keywords: Hepatitis, alpha fetoprotein, glatamyl transferase, disease progression

Cytokine Expression in Homozygous Sickle Cell Anaemia

Background: Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disease in which the red blood cells become rigid and sticky, and change from being disc-shaped to being crescent-shaped. The change in shape is due to the presence of an abnormal form of haemoglobin. This results in severe pain and damage to some organs. Aim and Objective: The study was carried out to determine the levels of cytokine in sickle cell anemia. Material and Methods: Thirty confirmed sickle cell patients in steady state (HbSS-SS) and thirty persons with normal haemoglobin (HbAA) as well as sixteen sickle cell disease in crises (HbSS-cr) between the ages of 15 to 30 years were selected in this study. Cytokines including interleukin 1 beta (IL- 1β), interleukin 2 (IL- 2), interleukin (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon gamma (IFN- λ) were measured by commercially available ELISA kits. Results: The results obtained showed that the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in sickle cell anaemia patients in crisis were significantly elevated when compared with sickle cell in steady state (P<0.05). Similarly, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN- λ were significantly increased in sickle cell anaemia stable state when compared to HbAA subjects (P<0.05). Conclusion: This may probably implies that cytokine imbalance is implicated in the pathogenesis of sickle cell crisis. Also, cytokines could be used as an inflammatory marker as well as related marker in disease severity and hence therapeutic intervention

Cobalt, copper, selenium and zinc levels in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women in Nnewi, South-East Nigeria

Background: The effect of oestrogen deficiency after menopause on the trace elements may give rise to some metabolic disturbances leading to osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, arterial hypertension, thyroid disorders and many other pathological conditions.Objective: This study was meant to unravel the possible effects of menopause on some select trace elements.Methodology: A total of 100 subjects were selected for this study which comprised 50 pre-menopausal (control) and 50 post-menopausal (test). The subjects were divided into different age categories and duration. Determination of the concentrations of trace elements was performed using the FS-240 atomic absorption spectrophotometry method.Results: There was a significant decrease in the mean concentrations of zinc and cobalt in the post-menopausal subjects (test), compared with the pre-menopausal group (p&lt;0.01). However, a significant increase was observed in the mean levels of selenium in the post-menopausal group (test), compared with that of the pre-menopausal individuals (p&lt;0.01), while there was no significant difference in the mean concentration of copper in the post-menopausal subjects, compared with the pre-menopausal group (p=0.428).Conclusion: Oestrogen deficiency after menopause may be the cause of some fluctuations in the serum concentrations of trace elements. This work has established that the serum concentrations of zinc and cobalt are diminished with a concomitant increase in selenium in post-menopausal women. The precise impact of this deficiency and possible influence of oestrogen therapy on trace element status in post-menopausal women need further larger-population studies.Keywords: Oestrogen deficiency, serum concentrations, trace elements, wome

Short-term aerobic exercise does not change kidney function in students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria

Background Exercise has been known to have beneficial effects on human health. The kidneys play an important role in regulating acid-base and water-electrolyte balance disturbances induced by exercise. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of short term aerobic exercise (volleyball training) on the kidney function of apparently healthy individuals. Methods An experimental study of pre-post test design was conducted involving 41 amateur volleyball players, comprising 22 males and 19 females. They were randomly divided into seven different teams. Each team trained for at least 45 minutes for four consecutive days for two weeks. Both pre-and post-exercise blood pressure (BP) was measured using an automatic blood pressure measuring device OMRON 907 (OMRON, Hoofddorp, Netherlands). Likewise, both pre- and post-exercise blood samples were collected into lithium heparin tubes and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes and the plasma separated into plain tubes. Electrolytes were analysed using ion selective electrode machine (SFRI 4000, Germany), urea using modified Berthelot method, creatinine using Jaffe-Slot method and uric acid using the uricase method and estimated glomerular filtration state (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Results The mean levels of pre- and post-exercise systolic blood pressure, creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate and eGFR did not differ significantly (p>0.05). However, serum uric acid was significantly increased (p<0.05), while diastolic BP significantly decreased after exercise (p<0.05). Conclusion The study showed that short-term moderate intensity aerobic exercise does not have any significant effect on the renal functions