Serum nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in a hypertensive population in Sokoto, Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is recognized as most common cardiovascular disorder and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Endothelial dysfunction, which is associated with impaired nitric oxide is an important risk factor for both hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. There is abnormal lipid peroxidation which suggested that oxidative stress is important in the pathogenesis of hypertension.  This study assessed serum levels of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in hypertensive population in Sokoto-Nigeria.Methods: A total of 474 subjects who are within the age range of 25 to 76 years, including 316 hypertensive patients and 158 age- and sex- matched normotensive subjects were included in this study. Clinical and anthropometric parameters, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde were measured using standard techniques.Results: The result indicated that, mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly (p˂0.001) higher in hypertensive patients (166.00±1.39mmHg) than controls (124.97±0.95 mmHg) similarly the mean BMI was significantly (p˂0.001) higher in hypertensive patients (27.13±0.31 Kg/m2) than controls (23.54±0.12Kg/m2). Mean serum malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly (p˂0.001) higher in hypertensive patients (3.62±0.07µmol/L) as compared to controls (1.97±0.03µmol/L), while serum nitric oxide (NO) was significantly (p=0.009) lower among hypertensive patients (7.12±0.14µmol/L) than controls (15.26±0.15µmol/L).Conclusions: Hypertension is a complex disorder that is strongly associated with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The aetiology of the association between impaired NO bioactivity, increase MDA and hypertension has not been fully elucidated. Further clarification of the role of impaired NO bioactivity and increased MDA level in hypertension could have important implications for the management of hypertension

Evaluation of immune status in patients with breast cancer in Sokoto, Northwestern, Nigeria

Background: Breast cancer is a major public health problem especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive. It is a leading cause of cancer- related deaths worldwide. The present study assessed the immune status of breast cancer patients using CD4+ T cell count, CD8+ T cell count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and some leucocytes.Methods: A total of sixty nine (69) subjects that comprised of forty six (46) breast cancer patients attending the Breast Clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto and twenty three (23) age- and gender-marched apparently healthy individuals as controls were included in the study.Results: The CD4+ T cells (cell/ μl) and CD8+ T cells (cell/ μl) were enumerated using Flow Cytometric method, while CD4/CD8 ratio was calculated from the values obtained from the CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. Even though, there were no significant differences in CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio based on breast cancer stages and therapy types.Conclusions: It is hereby concluded that, the monocyte counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were higher in breast cancer patients and this could be used to differentiate the breast cancer patients from the normal control subjects

Oxidative stress factors in Nigerians with rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive inflammatory autoimmune disorder characterized by symmetric erosive synovitis and sometimes with multi-system involvement. But the exact mechanism of the disease is not fully understood. In the light of above explanation, the present study measured the plasma levels of total peroxide potential (TPP), total antioxidant potential (TAP), malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidative stress index (OSI) and nitric oxide (NO) in relation to the titer of rheumatoid factor among RA patients compared with controls.Methods: This study included 28 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 28 apparently healthy subjects as controls who were matched for age (50-60 years), sex, and socioeconomic status. Rheumatoid factor was estimated using latex method as described by manufacturer. Anthropometric parameters and plasma levels of TPP, TAP, OSI, MDA and NO were determined using standard techniques.Results: The result indicated that with the exception of mean body weight which was significantly (p<0.001) higher among RA patients (90.61±2.02 years) as compared with controls (77.91±2.51 years), mean age, height and body mass index of RA patients (55.68±1.05kg, 1.65±0.01m and 33.40±0.83 kg/m2 respectively) were not significantly different compared with controls (54.07±1.04kg, 1.61±0.02m and 30.44±1.28 kg/m2 respectively). Plasma TPP, NO, OSI and MDA were significantly (p<0.01; p<0.001) higher while, plasma TAP is significantly lower among RA patients compared with controls. Plasma MDA was positively correlated with titer of rheumatoid factor in the RA patients.Conclusions: Our findings therefore may raise the concept that there are some yet unknown key events in the pathogenesis of RA determination of sex of the skull along with other parameters

Evaluation of immune status in patients with breast cancer in Sokoto, Northwestern, Nigeria

Background: Breast cancer is a major public health problem especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive. It is a leading cause of cancer- related deaths worldwide. The present study assessed the immune status of breast cancer patients using CD4+ T cell count, CD8+ T cell count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and some leucocytes.Methods: A total of sixty nine (69) subjects that comprised of forty six (46) breast cancer patients attending the Breast Clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto and twenty three (23) age- and gender-marched apparently healthy individuals as controls were included in the study.Results: The CD4+ T cells (cell/ μl) and CD8+ T cells (cell/ μl) were enumerated using Flow Cytometric method, while CD4/CD8 ratio was calculated from the values obtained from the CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. Even though, there were no significant differences in CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio based on breast cancer stages and therapy types.Conclusions: It is hereby concluded that, the monocyte counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were higher in breast cancer patients and this could be used to differentiate the breast cancer patients from the normal control subjects