Serum Levels of Thyroid Hormones and Thyrotropin in Some Sickle Cell Anaemia Patients in Lagos

Previous studies have shown that the rate of erythropoiesis is increased in sickle cell anaemia patients and that erythropoietin, which stimulates this process, is influenced by the thyroid hormone. This study was therefore designed in order to elucidate levels of the thyroid hormones in some patients with sickle cell anaemia attending a Lagos based Clinic. The serum levels of the thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) and thyrotropin (TSH) were measured by radio-immunoassay (RIA) in the steady state of 10 homozygous sickle cell anaemia patients and 10 normal subjects of the same age group in years (15-25) who were the control group. The results showed that sickle cell disease resulted in a decrease in serum triiodothyronine (T3) from 1.68 ± 0.14 ng/ml in the control to 1.22 ± 0.18ng/ml in sickle cell disease. This was however, not significant (P= 0.059). The serum thyroxine (T4) level was also slightly lower in the sickle cell anaemia patients (84.8 ± 4.70 ng/ml as compared with 95.8 ± 5.20ng/ml in the control subjects (P = 0.134). However, the serum TSH was significantly higher (P = 0.015) in the sickle cell anaemia patients with a value of 3.90± 0.32 µIU/ml when compared with that of the control which was 2.68 ± 0.32 µIU/ml. The results indicate that although there was an increase in TSH, the thyroid gland was unresponsive to its effect thus the thyroid function remained unchanged in sickle cell anaemia. Nig. Qt. J. Hosp. Med. Vol.12(1-4) 2002: 26-2

Insulin Resistance Induced by Short term Fructose Feeding may not affect Fertility in Female Rats

Fructose feeding causes insulin resistance and invariably Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) in rats and genetically predisposed humans. The effect of insulin resistance induced by short term fructose feeding on fertility in female rats was investigated using the following parameters: oestrous phase and length of oestrous cycle, total number of implantation and resorption sites, and weight of foetus. 14 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The control group was fed with normal rat chow, while the experimental group was fed with a special diet made up of 25% fructose mixed with 75% normal rat chow for a period of 4 weeks. They all had free access to water. Blood glucose level in both groups before pregnancy and during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy was very significant (P 0.05) in both groups. The results show that insulin resistance induced by short term fructose feeding does not disrupt the length of the oestrous cycle and has no effect on fertility in female rats. KEYWORDS: Insulin resistance, Oestrous cycle, fertility Nig. Jnl Health & Biomed. Sciences Vol.3(1) 2004: 17-1

Effect of Aloe Barbadensis on Rat's Uterine Contractility

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of Aloe barbadensis on the contractility of the uterine stip of a rat. Aqueous extract at final bath concentrations (FBC)1x10-4 mg/ml to 3x101 mg/ml produced a progressive increase in frequency of contraction of the uterine strip. The force of contraction of the uterine strip decreased gradually from FBC of 1x10-4mg/ml to 3x10-3mg/ml. However at higher FBC, Aloe bardadensis showed a progressive increase in force of contraction. We therefore suggest that Aloe barbadensis has some abortifacient effects at high does. KEY WORDS: Aloe barbadensis, Uterine contraction, Purgative. Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol.3(2) 2004: 120-12

The Serum Levels Of Thyroxine (T4) And Thyrotropin (TSH) in Some Nigerian Malnourised Children

Serum thyroxine (T4) and thyrotropin TSH) were determined in 5 malnourished children and 5 well nourished controls matched for age and sex. The age range of both groups of subjects was nine months to three years. The serum level of T4 were 80.00 +2.31 ng/ml and 45.40+ 14.03 ng/m1 for control and malnourished subjects respectively. This difference was statistically significant (

Enhanced Lung Function and Prevention of Peroxidative Damage by Vitamin E Supplementation in Childhood Asthma

This study was designed to assess the effects of vitamin E supplementation on the lung function and lipid peroxidation status of asthmatic children. Fifteen asthmatics (ten male and five female) aged between 6 and 13years, all in a stable state, were recruited from the paediatric out-patient respiratory clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba (LUTH). Three millilitres of blood was drawn from the antecubital vein of each of the 15 patients before vitamin supplementation for assessment of plasma lipid peroxidation products. Lung function tests were performed on each subject before vitamin supplementation. After all measurements have been made, each patient received vitamin E (Teva Pharmaceuticals, Tel-Aviv, Israel) supplementation at a dose of 100 I.U./day for 6 weeks. Thereafter, all previous measurements were repeated on each patient. Mean SBP after vitamin E supplementation reduced slightly (0.73%) from 97.0mmHg to 96.3mmHg. The DBP increased by (7.76%) from 58.0mmHg to 62.5mmHg. Pulse pressure reduced from 39mmHg to 33mmHg(15.39%). The MAP changed from 71.0mmHg to 73.07 mmHg (0.03%). These changes were not significant. However, after vitamin E supplementation the plasma MDA concentration was significantly reduced by 34.8% from 66.0+2.3 nmol/L to 43.0+2.9 nmol/L. FEV1 increased significantly from 1.24 ± 0.06 L to 1.39 ± 0.02 L after vitamin E supplementation. The PEFR and FVC increased slightly by 8.43% and 3.53% respectively. From the results, we therefore concluded that vitamin E supplementation may improve lung function and also supresses peroxidative damage in young asthmatics. KEY WORDS: Vitamin E, lung function, childhood asthma. Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol.4(1) 2005: 57-6

Fourteen days oral administration of therapeutic dosage of some antibiotics reduced serum testosterone in male rats

Fourteen days oral administration of therapeutic dose of Ampicillin (4mg/100g/day), Cloxacillin (6mg/100g/day) and Tetracycline (12mg/100g/day) separately to healthy adult male albino rats significantly reduced their serum testosterone level as assessed by enzyme immunoassay. The control group received equal volume of the vehicle (Normal saline) throughout the period of the treatment. A significant reduction (

Cigarette smoke causes caspase-independent apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells from asthmatic donors

Our results show that PBECs from asthmatic donors are more susceptible to CSE-induced apoptosis. This response involves AIF, which has been implicated in DNA damage and ROS-mediated cell-death. Epithelial susceptibility to CSE may contribute to the impact of environmental tobacco smoke in asthm