Haemoglobin Level and Intestinal Parasites in Pregnant Women in Eziama, Imo State of Nigeria

This prospective study was carried out between January to June, 2008 at Eziama in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State to determine the haemoglobin level and intestinal parasites in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. In total, 281 stool and blood samples were collected from the women. The stool samples were examined using direct wet preparation and formol ether concentration technique while the haemoglobin levels of the women were estimated using cyanmethaeoglobin technique. The overall prevalence of E. histolytical, A. Lumbricoides, Hookworm Spp, T. trichuria and G. lamblia  was 10(3.6), 31(11.0), 29(10.3), 10(3.6) and 3(1.1) respectively. The proportion of pregnant women with helminithic infestation was 83 (29.6%) while their mean Heamoglobin concentration was 9.7+1.8g/dl while the pregnant women without helminthic infestation had Heamoglobin concentration of 10.4 + 1.3g/dl. The poor socioeconomic status of the women coupled with poor environmental sanitation and lack of clean portable water supply may have contributed to the high prevalence

Effects of exercise on growth hormone concentrations of female students in Madonna University

Human growth hormone is secreted in a pulsatile fashion, generally following a circadian rhythm. The growth hormone concentrations of 25 female students of Madonna University, Elele within ages groups 19-27years were determined before (Pre) and after (Post) exercise. Growth hormone levels were assayed using the commercially available Human Growth Hormone quantitative test kit whose principle is based on a solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data generated was calculated statistically using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. The result showed significant difference in 5.45 + 0.97 ng/ml  in pre exercise and 13.89 + 1.77 ng/ml in post exercise (P<0.05). There was no significant increase in growth hormone pre and Post exercise at different age groups 19-21years (13.91± 9.51 ng/ml and 14.78 ± 3.09 ng/ml), 22-24 (6.73 ±1.73 ng/ml and 11.73 ± 1.97ng/ml) and 25-27(4.77 ± 2.10ng/ml and 19.61 ± 7.54ng/ml).The study has shown that exercise can affect concentration of growth hormone in females

Assessment of the Antimalarial Treatment Failure in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria

The fight against malaria is a continuum as the epidemic is not abating. For proper deployment of tools in the fight against malaria, an assessment of the situation is necessary. This work assessed the level of antimalarial drug treatment failure in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Both survey and in vitro analyses were adopted. The survey was used to obtain qualitative information from both the malaria subjects and the pharmacies where antimalarial drugs are sourced. The results from the survey were complemented by an in vitro assay of the level of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the commonly used artemisinin combination in Nigeria; artemether/lumefantrine. Results from the survey revealed that artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) remain the mainstay in the treatment of malaria, even though other non-artemisinin drugs are still used. It also revealed that many patients still self-medicate, although, this may not be connected to the treatment failure seen among some malaria subjects. The in vitro assay showed that ACT contains the right quantity of APIs. Further surveillance is, therefore, necessary to understand the real cause of treatment failure among malaria subjects in Nigeria