Haematological assessment of occupational exposure to lead handlers in Enugu Urban, Enugu State, Nigeria

No Abstract

Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and other haematological parameters among non-diabetic hypertensive patients

No Abstract

The Effect Of Potassium Bromate On Some Haematological Parameters Of Wistar Rats

Summary: Potassium bromate used widely in foods has been associated with various complications in humans. However there is paucity of literature on adverse effects on haematological parameters. Thus we decided tocarry out an experimental study to determine the effects of potassium bromate on some blood indices using Wister rats. Twenty (20) male Wister rats aged 2-3 months obtained from the department of VeterinaryMedicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka were acclimatized for two weeks. They were divided into five groups and fed with graded doses of potassium bromate solution for six weeks. One of the groups served as the control.Pre and post administration blood samples were collected and analyzed the same day using standard methods. The results revealed significant decrease in the platelet count when compared with the controls (

Anemia risk in relation to lead exposure in lead-related manufacturing

Abstract Background Lead-exposed workers may suffer adverse health effects under the currently regulated blood lead (BPb) levels. However, a probabilistic assessment about lead exposure-associated anemia risk is lacking. The goal of this study was to examine the association between lead exposure and anemia risk among factory workers in Taiwan. Methods We first collated BPb and indicators of hematopoietic function data via health examination records that included 533 male and 218 female lead-exposed workers between 2012 and 2014. We used benchmark dose (BMD) modeling to estimate the critical effect doses for detection of abnormal indicators. A risk-based probabilistic model was used to characterize the potential hazard of lead poisoning for job-specific workers by hazard index (HI). We applied Bayesian decision analysis to determine whether BMD could be implicated as a suitable BPb standard. Results Our results indicated that HI for total lead-exposed workers was 0.78 (95% confidence interval: 0.50–1.26) with risk occurrence probability of 11.1%. The abnormal risk of anemia indicators for male and female workers could be reduced, respectively, by 67–77% and 86–95% by adopting the suggested BPb standards of 25 and 15 μg/dL. Conclusions We conclude that cumulative exposure to lead in the workplace was significantly associated with anemia risk. This study suggests that current BPb standard needs to be better understood for the application of lead-exposed population protection in different scenarios to provide a novel standard for health management. Low-level lead exposure risk is an occupational and public health problem that should be paid more attention

Molecular characterization of exon 28 of von Willebrand’s factor gene in Nigerian population

Background: Polymorphisms in von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene are an important contributor to the expression of VWF gene and differences in ethnic distribution of these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) exists.Aims: Our objective was to molecularly characterize the exon 28 of the VWF gene in the three major ethnic groups of Nigeria.Subjects and Methods: We recruited 90 subjects, 45 had a history of bleeding. Questions included those used in the Zimmerman Program for the Molecular and Clinical Biology of von Willebrand disease (VWD), and the bleeding scores were calculated using the Molecular and Clinical Markers for the Diagnosis and Management of type 1 VWD scoring system. Full blood count, coagulation profile, VWF:antigen level and VWF:collagen‑binding activities were carried out. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism (5.03). GraphPad Software, Inc USA. The BigDye terminator chemistry was used to determine the nucleotide sequences of VWF gene (exon 28).Results: Eight SNPs were identified, rs 216310 (T1547), rs 1800385 (V1565L), rs1800384 (A1515), rs1800383 (D1472H), rs 1800386 (Y1584C), rs 216311 (T1381A), rs 216312 (intronic) and rs 1800381 (P1337).Conclusion: The SNPs rs 216311, rs 1800383 and rs 1800386 associated significantly with bleeding in study subjects. rs1800386 occurred in all with bleeding history, no ethnic variations were noted.Key words: Exon 28, polymorphism, single nucleotide, von Willebrand facto

Biochemical and haematological assessment of workers exposed to some petroleum products in Enugu Urban, Enugu State, Nigeria

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol 15 (3) July-September: 318-32

Biochemical and haematological assessment of workers exposed to some petroleum products in Enugu Urban, Enugu State, Nigeria

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol 15 (3) July-September: 318-32

Genetic studies of African populations: an overview on disease susceptibility and response to vaccines and therapeutics.

Africa is the ultimate source of modern humans and as such harbors more genetic variation than any other continent. For this reason, studies of the patterns of genetic variation in African populations are crucial to understanding how genes affect phenotypic variation, including disease predisposition. In addition, the patterns of extant genetic variation in Africa are important for understanding how genetic variation affects infectious diseases that are a major problem in Africa, such as malaria, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, and HIV/AIDS. Therefore, elucidating the role that genetic susceptibility to infectious diseases plays is critical to improving the health of people in Africa. It is also of note that recent and ongoing social and cultural changes in sub-Saharan Africa have increased the prevalence of non-communicable diseases that will also require genetic analyses to improve disease prevention and treatment. In this review we give special attention to many of the past and ongoing studies, emphasizing those in Sub-Saharan Africans that address the role of genetic variation in human disease