Possible Impact of Co-infections of Tuberculosis and Malaria on the CD4+ Cell Counts of HIV Patients in Nigeria

Background: This study focused on evaluating the possible impact of co-infections of tuberculosis and malaria on the CD4+ cell counts in HIV infected subjects. Methods: This is a cross sectional study. The subjects were drawn from three hospitals and a blood bank in LagosState. After due consent, blood samples were obtained from 69 subjects with single infections (HIV, TB, and Malaria), 34 subjects with multiple infections (HIV/Malaria, HIV/TB, Malaria/TB, HIV/TB/Malaria) and 24 blood donors (controls). The CD4+ cell counts of all the 127 blood samples were estimated using a FACS count. Results: Data obtained were analysed and a comparison of the results showed that the median CD4+ counts in all groups of subjects with HIV infections (whether single or co-infection) were similar and significantly lower than the median counts for the healthy control group as well as groups without HIV infection (malaria, TB and malaria/TB). Conclusion: Overall data further confirmed the progressive depletion of CD4+ cells in HIV infection while co-infections with TB and malaria did not have any impact on the CD4+ cells of HIV infected subjects. A larger prospective study is needed.Fond: Cette \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 consacr\ue9e \ue1 l'\ue9valuation de l'impact possible de co-infections de tuberculose et le paludisme sur les comptes de cellule CD4+ des sujets infect\ue9s du VIH. M\ue9thode: Ceci est une \ue9tude transversale. Les sujets ont \ue9t\ue9 choisis de trois diff\ue9rents h\uf4pitaux et une banque du sang dans l'Etat de Lagos. Apr\ue8s le consentement n\ue9cessaire, les \ue9chantillons de sang ont \ue9t\ue9 obtenus de 69 sujets avec les mono-infections (VIH, TB, et le Paludisme), 34 sujets avec les infections multiples (le VIH/PALUDISME, LE VIH/TB, LE Paludisme/TB, VIH/TB/le Paludisme) et 24 donneurs de sang (les contr\uf4les). les comptes de cellule CD4+ de tous les 127 \ue9chantillons de sang ont \ue9t\ue9 estim\ue9s utilisant une compte FACS. R\ue9sultats: les donn\ue9es obtenues ont \ue9t\ue9 analys\ue9es et une comparaison des r\ue9sultats a d\ue9montr\ue9 que le m\ue9dian des comptes CD4+ dans tous les groupes de sujets avec les infections de VIH (soit mono ou co-infection) \ue9taient similaires et significativement plus bas que les comptes m\ue9dianes pour le groupe de contr\uf4le sain de m\ueame que les groupes sans l'infection de VIH (le paludisme, TB et le paludisme/TB). Conclusion: les donn\ue9es g\ue9n\ue9rales ont confirm\ue9 le plus l'\ue9puisement progressif des cellules CD4+ dans l'infection de VIH pendant que les co-infections avec TB et le paludisme n'ont pas eu aucun impact sur les cellules CD4+ des sujets infect\ue9s de VIH. Une plus profonde \ue9tude sera n\ue9cessaire

COMPARISON OF DYNABEADS AND CAPCELLIA METHODS WITH FACSCOUNT FOR THE ESTIMATION OF CD4 T-LYMPHOCYTE LEVELS IN HIV/AIDS PATIENTS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Objective: To compare the efficacy of the Capcellia assay and the Dynabeads technique against the FACScount technique in the estimation of CD4 T-lymphocytes within a Nigerian setting.Design: Prospective study.Setting: Urban area in Nigeria.Subjects: Ninety seven subjects (51 HIV seronegative and 46 HIV seropositive adults) seen in the blood banks and two out patient clinics in Lagos within the study period.Main Outcome Measures: Dynadeads technique with a higher correlation coefficient is a feasible alternative to the FACScount method.Results: There was an overall correlation coefficient of r = 0.75 for CD4 cell counts as determined by the Dynabeads technique in comparison with the FACScount method. Also, an overall correlation coefficient of r = 0.17 for CD4 cell counts as determined by the Capcellia technique against the FACScount method.Conclusion: Dynabeads technique is simple to carry out and cheaper in terms of demand for human expertise and infrastructural requirements than the FACScounts. Therefore, it was recommended for use in the laboratory for monitoring of ARV therapy in Nigeria and any other resource poor country

Genetic studies in the nigerian population implicate an MSX1 mutation in complex oral facial clefting disorders

BACKGROUND: Orofacial clefts are the most common malformations of the head and neck with a World-wide prevalence of 1/700 births. They are commonly divided into CL(P) and CP based on anatomical, genetic and embryological findings. A Nigerian craniofacial anomalies study “NigeriaCRAN” was set up in 2006 to investigate the role of gene-environment interaction in the etiology of orofacial clefts in Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: DNA isolated from saliva from the Nigerian probands was used for genotype association studies and direct sequencing on the cleft candidate genes: MSX1, IRF6, FOXE1, FGFR1, FGFR2, BMP4, MAFB, ABCA4, PAX7 and VAX1, and the chromosome 8q region. RESULTS: A missense mutation A34G in MSX1 was observed in nine cases and four hap map controls. No other apparent etiologic variations were identified. A deviation from HWE was observed in the cases (p= 0.00002). There was a significant difference between the affected side for unilateral CL (p=0.03) and, between bilateral clefts and clefts on either side (p=0.02). A significant gender difference was also observed for CP (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The replication of a mutation previously implicated in other populations suggests a role for the MSX1 A34G variant in the etiology of CL(P)