Renal and Hepatic Dysfunction in Malaria Patients in Minna, North Central Nigeria

Information on kidney and liver involvement in malaria in Africa is still very scanty. Kidney and liver functions were assessed in 70 malaria patients using serum levels of creatinine and urea and urinary protein levels as test indicators of kidney function and serum levels of bilirubin, aspartate aminotranferase (AST or SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as indicators of liver function. Descriptive analysis of results obtained showed that 67.14% of patients had creatinine level above the 126µmole/L which is considered the upper limit of the normal range. Three cases (4.29%) had creatinine levels well above 265µmoles/L. The serum concentrations of creatinine, urea, protein, conjugated and total bilirubin, AST, ALT, and ALP in malaria patients were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of malaria free individuals. We conclude that renal dysfunction, acute renal failure and liver dysfunction are clinical features of malaria in Minna, North Central Nigeri

Assessment Of Renal Function In Malaria Patients In Minna, North Central Nigeria

Establishment of prevalence of malaria-associated renal impairment in Nigeria is important for proper prognosis and management of malaria and its associated complications. Using biuret method for protein estimation, alkaline picrate-slot method for creatinine and urea estimation, and flame photometry and titrimetric method for electrolytes estimation, selected kidney function parameters which included proteinuria, serum levels of urea, creatinine and electrolytes were determined in 169 malaria patients and in 58 individuals without malaria. Data obtained were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance to compare variation among malaria patients and individuals without malaria, Duncan multiple range test to compare variation among means, and correlation matrix to evaluate correlation between the parameters measured. Proteinuria in malaria cases differed significantly (p< 0.05) from individuals without malaria, and a positive correlation existed between proteinuria and parasitaemia. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the creatinine levels of malaria patients and those without malaria. It is concluded that there is a form of renal impairment associated with malaria infection in Minna irrespective of age and sex. Keywords: Malaria, Renal function, Assessment, ARF African Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 57-6

Determination of Anti-nutrients and Toxic Substances of Selected Fresh Leafy Vegetables Obtained from Minna Town, Nigeria

Determination of antinutrients and toxic substances in leafy vegetables is an imperative facet in nutritional studies as it establishes the baseline concentrations index for phytotoxins in the vegetables. Concentrations of cyanide, nitrate, soluble and total oxalates were quantitatively determined in the common leafy vegetables (Amaranthus cruentus, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Corchorus olitorius, Telfairia occidentalis and Vernonia amygdalina) consumed in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria, using colourimetric and titrimetric methods. The results show  that the concentration of cyanide in the leafy vegetables is within the permissible level of 200 mg/kg fresh weight while the concentration of nitrate in V. amygdalina and H. sabdariffa is within the acceptable daily intake of 219.00 mg/day, those of A. cruentus, C. olitorius and T. occidentalis is enough to induce toxicity in man. The soluble and total oxalates content in the vegetables are higher than the permissible level except that the concentration of soluble oxalate in H. sabdariffa is within the acceptable level of 250 mg/100 g. The results suggest that while the concentrations of cyanide in the analysed vegetables and nitrate in V. amygdalina and H. sabdariffa are safe for consumption, the concentrations of soluble and total oxalates in the vegetables and nitrate in A. cruentus, C. olitorius and T. occidentalis may contribute to nutritional problems if ingested without proper processing.Keywords: Leafy vegetables, toxic substances, cyanide, nitrate, oxalates                      

The effect of processing and preservation methods on the oxalate levels of some Nigerian leafy vegetables

Titrimetric analysis was used to estimate the level of oxalate in some Nigerian leafy vegetables treated in different ways in two sets of experiments. The treatments were boiling with retention of the water used for boiling, and freezing followed by boiling without retention of the water used for boiling. Results obtained showed that the former in which five different vegetables were used led to significant increases (

Effect of fruiting on micronutrients, antinutrients and toxic substances in Telfairia occidentalis grown in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of fruiting on antinutrients (soluble and total oxalates), toxic substances (cyanide and nitrate) and some micronutrients namely: vitamin C, &beta;-carotene (provitamin A) and mineral elements [(sodium (Na), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca) potassium (K)] in Telfairia occidentalis grown in nitrogen and non-nitrogen treated soil. Vegetable leaves were harvested at both market maturity (vegetative phase) and fruiting (reproductive phase), and were subjected to chemical analysis. Results showed that the cyanide and total oxalate concentrations were significantly higher at fruiting stage of vegetables grown on both control and nitrogen applied soil, while the nitrate and &beta;-carotene concentration in T. occidentalis were significantly reduced irrespective of the soil nitrogen levels. Fruiting however, had no significant effect on soluble oxalate and vitamin C concentration in T. occidentalis grown under control and nitrogen treatment conditiond. The results also revealed that while Fe and Mg contents were increased, K and Cu content decreased significantly with fruiting in both control and nitrogen fertilization treatment. Similarly, the Na content in the vegetable was decreased significantly only when nitrogen fertilizer was used. The levels of Zn and Ca were not affected by fruiting. We conclude that consumption of the leaves of T. occidentalis at vegetative phase (market maturity) reduces the levels of most of the plant toxins and still retain most of the micronutrients in an amount to meet nutritional requirements.Key words: Telfairia occidentalis, anti-nutrients, toxic substances, micronutrients, market maturity and fruiting, soil nitrogen levels

Anti-Trypanosomal Potential Of Momordica Balsamina Linn Fruit Pulp Extract Against Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infection

The search for new trypanocides has not been keenly pursued due to high cost of design and development with no promise of financial returns. Momordica balsamina fruit pulp extract was screened for antitrypanosomal activity in experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in rabbits. The extract was administered prior to parasite inoculation, 24 hours post parasite inoculation and on establishment of infection. The treatment was by oral administration of the extract at 500mg/kg body weight for 14 consecutive days. Parasitaemia was monitored daily while body weight and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined before commencement of studies and subsequently at weekly intervals for 28 days. The result showed a significant (

Alternative mRNA Editing in Trypanosomes Is Extensive and May Contribute to Mitochondrial Protein Diversity

The editing of trypanosome mitochondrial mRNAs produces transcripts necessary for mitochondrial functions including electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation. Precursor-mRNAs are often extensively edited by specific uridine insertion or deletion that is directed by small guide RNAs (gRNAs). Recently, it has been shown that cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (COXIII) mRNAs can be alternatively edited to encode a novel mitochondrial membrane protein composed of a unique hydrophilic N-terminal sequence of unknown function and the C-terminal hydrophobic segment of COXIII. To extend the analysis of alternative editing in Trypanosoma brucei we have constructed libraries with over 1100 full-length mitochondrial cDNAs and the sequences of over 1200 gRNA genes. Using this data, we show that alternative editing of COXIII, ATPase subunit 6 (A6), and NADH dehydrogenase subunits 7, 8 and 9 (ND7, 8, 9) mRNAs can produce novel open reading frames (ORFs). Several gRNAs potentially responsible for the alternative editing of these mRNAs were also identified. These findings show that alternative editing of mitochondrial mRNAs is common in T. brucei and expands the diversity of mitochondrial proteins in these organisms

A Protein-Protein Interaction Map of the Trypanosoma brucei Paraflagellar Rod

We have conducted a protein interaction study of components within a specific sub-compartment of a eukaryotic flagellum. The trypanosome flagellum contains a para-crystalline extra-axonemal structure termed the paraflagellar rod (PFR) with around forty identified components. We have used a Gateway cloning approach coupled with yeast two-hybrid, RNAi and 2D DiGE to define a protein-protein interaction network taking place in this structure. We define two clusters of interactions; the first being characterised by two proteins with a shared domain which is not sufficient for maintaining the interaction. The other cohort is populated by eight proteins, a number of which possess a PFR domain and sub-populations of this network exhibit dependency relationships. Finally, we provide clues as to the structural organisation of the PFR at the molecular level. This multi-strand approach shows that protein interactome data can be generated for insoluble protein complexes

TbPIF5 Is a Trypanosoma brucei Mitochondrial DNA Helicase Involved in Processing of Minicircle Okazaki Fragments

Trypanosoma brucei's mitochondrial genome, kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), is a giant network of catenated DNA rings. The network consists of a few thousand 1 kb minicircles and several dozen 23 kb maxicircles. Here we report that TbPIF5, one of T. brucei's six mitochondrial proteins related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial DNA helicase ScPIF1, is involved in minicircle lagging strand synthesis. Like its yeast homolog, TbPIF5 is a 5′ to 3′ DNA helicase. Together with other enzymes thought to be involved in Okazaki fragment processing, TbPIF5 localizes in vivo to the antipodal sites flanking the kDNA. Minicircles in wild type cells replicate unidirectionally as theta-structures and are unusual in that Okazaki fragments are not joined until after the progeny minicircles have segregated. We now report that overexpression of TbPIF5 causes premature removal of RNA primers and joining of Okazaki fragments on theta structures. Further elongation of the lagging strand is blocked, but the leading strand is completed and the minicircle progeny, one with a truncated H strand (ranging from 0.1 to 1 kb), are segregated. The minicircles with a truncated H strand electrophorese on an agarose gel as a smear. This replication defect is associated with kinetoplast shrinkage and eventual slowing of cell growth. We propose that TbPIF5 unwinds RNA primers after lagging strand synthesis, thus facilitating processing of Okazaki fragments

Identification of a Bacterial-Like HslVU Protease in the Mitochondria of Trypanosoma brucei and Its Role in Mitochondrial DNA Replication

ATP-dependent protease complexes are present in all living organisms, including the 26S proteasome in eukaryotes, Archaea, and Actinomycetales, and the HslVU protease in eubacteria. The structure of HslVU protease resembles that of the 26S proteasome, and the simultaneous presence of both proteases in one organism was deemed unlikely. However, HslVU homologs have been identified recently in some primordial eukaryotes, though their potential function remains elusive. We characterized the HslVU homolog from Trypanosoma brucei, a eukaryotic protozoan parasite and the causative agent of human sleeping sickness. TbHslVU has ATP-dependent peptidase activity and, like its bacterial counterpart, has essential lysine and N-terminal threonines in the catalytic subunit. By epitope tagging, TbHslVU localizes to mitochondria and is associated with the mitochondrial genome, kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). RNAi of TbHslVU dramatically affects the kDNA by causing over-replication of the minicircle DNA. This leads to defects in kDNA segregation and, subsequently, to continuous network growth to an enormous size. Multiple discrete foci of nicked/gapped minicircles are formed on the periphery of kDNA disc, suggesting a failure in repairing the gaps in the minicircles for kDNA segregation. TbHslVU is a eubacterial protease identified in the mitochondria of a eukaryote. It has a novel function in regulating mitochondrial DNA replication that has never been observed in other organisms