Serum C-reactive protein levels in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients in southern Nigeria

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of hospitalization and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). C- reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of cardiovascular disease and predictor of mortality in CKD patients. CKD patients with elevated CRP should be identified early with institution of measures to treat cardiovascular risk factors in order to reduce attendant mortality.Aims: Determination of serum CRP levels in CKD patients and associated factors.Methods: This was a case-control study involving 80 consecutive CKD patients and 40 control subjects without CKD. Data obtained from participants included demographics, body mass index (BMI), and aetiology of CKD. Serum CRP levels, albumin, creatinine and lipid profile were determined. Cases and controls were compared. P values <0.05 were taken as significantResults: The mean age of the CKD subjects was 49.09±16.85 years. The median CRP value was significantly higher in the CKD group compared to controls (p=<0.001). Low, average and high cardiovascular event risk according to CRP values were present in 51(63.8%), 13(16.2%) and 16(20%) of the CKD patients respectively. Cardiovascular event risk was significantly higher in CKD subjects (p <0.001). Serum creatinine, BMI, triglyceride and atherogenic index of plasma correlated positively with CRP. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and albumin correlated negatively with CRP. Elevated serum CRP was significantly predicted by low eGFR and high BMI on multivariate analysis.Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease patients have increased cardiovascular event risk. Interventions aimed at reducing weight and treating dyslipidaemia should be instituted early in order to reduce this risk.Keywords: C-reactive protein, chronic kidney disease, Nigeri

Predicting the nutritional health status of locally produced palm oil using some physical parameters

Three physical properties of locally produced palm oil – viscosity, thermal conductivity and density for varying temperatures were determined. The values obtained were compared with corresponding internationally stipulated standard values using statistics of mean and graphs. The purpose of the comparison was to predict the nutritional health status of palm oil. Results show that the obtained mean values were (18.50 ± 5.35) Pa.s, (0.1429 ± 0.0042) W/m oC and (898.1 ± 0.28 kgm-3) for the locally produced palm oil as against (20.47 ± 5.68) Pa.s, (0.1677 ± 0.0006) W/m oC and (849.6 ± 5.47) kgm-3 for the standard. These represent respective errors of 10, 15 and 5 %. Results also show that the slopes of the respective relationships of these parameters with temperature at θ = 25 oC (RT) for instance are – 0.266 Pa.s/ oC , 0 and – 0.022 kgm/m3 oC for the locally produced while the values obtained using standard data are – 0.242 Pa.s/ oC, - 0.0008 W/m oC and – 0.442 kg/m3oC. The associated percentage errors are 7, 100 and 95. These pronounced errors give an indication that from the standpoint of the examined physical properties, the studied locally processed palm oil may not be as nutritionally healthy as the standard oil. Proper monitoring of the local palm oil mills by the relevant agency is therefore recommended.Keywords: Predict, Status, Locally produced, Palm oil, physical properties, nutritional healt