Responses of selected inflammatory, kidney and liver function markers in Serum of Nigerian Children with Severe Falciparum Malaria to treatment with artesunate/artemether-lumefantrine combination therapy

Malaria tolerance is a defence strategy that limits the damage caused by Plasmodium species irrespective of pathogen burden. The mechanisms responsible for this, responses of these mechanisms and their impact on organs to treatment have not been extensively studied. Thus, in this study, serum levels of selected pro- and anti-inflammatory markers, liver and kidney function indices with leucocytes indices in 100 children (1-10 years) with severe falciparum malaria were determined before treatment, at 48 hours during treatment and 48 hours after treatment with WHO recommended dosage of artesunate/artemether-lumefantrine combination therapy using standard methods. Data were analysed using SPSS, differences were considered significant at p<0.05. The results revealed that the serum levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide (NO), creatinine, albumin, total protein and conjugated bilirubin were not significantly changed at higher parasite densities before treatment. Only serum IL-4, CRP, total bilirubin, urea and creatinine levels and alanine aminotransferase activity were significantly reduced below the ranges of those with severe malaria. The results suggest a self-protective feed-back control, indicating tolerance, which reduced the adverse effects of the disease on kidney and liver functions at higher parasite densities. The results also suggest serum IL-12, IL-4, TNF-α, IFN-γ, CRP and NO levels as immune-protective markers for tolerance and serum IL-4 level as an effective marker for disease severity and recovery from the disease in children with severe malariaKeywords: Immunity, falciparum malaria, inflammatory markers, childrenAfr. J. Biomed. Res. Vol. 22 (May, 2019); 165-17

Synergistic interaction between two linear inhibitors on a single enzyme: Vanadate and L-phenylalanine inhibition of rat liver alkaline phosphatase

The combined effect of two linear inhibitors of rat liver alkaline phosphatase (ALP). vanadate (Van) and L-phenylalanine (L-phe) were studied using a modification of the common Yonetani-Theorell procedure proposed for studying synergistic inhibition. The modes of inhibition of ALP by Van and L-phe as analysed using the double reciprocal plots of the Michaelis-Menten equation were mixed and uncompetitive inhibition respectively. Analysis of the combined effect of the two inhibitors showed that their inhibitory effects were mutually enhanced. The mechanistic aspects and practical applications of the procedure are discussed.Key words: alkaline phosphatase, synergistic inhibitio

TOXICITY EVALUATION OF CRANKCASE OIL IN RATS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of crankcase oil on the cellular and func-tional integrity of rat skin. Thirty (30) rats were randomly grouped into six viz groups A–F. Group A (base-line control) received 2 ml of distilled water. 2.5 %, 5.0 %, 7.5 %, and 10.0 % v/v of the crankcase oil were prepared using unused oil as solvent and 2 ml of the concentra-tions were topically administered to groups C–F respectively for seven consecutive days. Group B served as positive control and received 2 ml of the unused oil. The rats were sacri-ficed 24 hours after the last administration, and blood and part of the skin were collected. Al-kaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde level in the blood and skin samples collected were evaluated. Elemental analysis of the crankcase oil was also carried out. The result revealed high lead, iron and chromium levels. Blood lead concentration of rats was significantly (P<0.05) high after seven days of administration. ALP level in skin and serum increased significantly (P<0.05) with the concentration of crankcase oil. There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in skin ACP activity while it increased significantly (P<0.05) in the serum. Similar results were observed in the SOD levels of the serum and the skin. The level increased significantly (P<0.05) in groups D–F when compared with controls. The MDA concentration of both serum and skin were signif-icantly (P<0.05) elevated. This suggests toxic potential of used lubricating oil and its potential predisposition to cance

Medication adherence and perceived family support among patients with type 2 diabetes melitus seen at a primary care clinic in South-west Nigeria

No Abstract

Ivermectin Protects against Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity in the Rat

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), an established excitotoxic food additive, has been found to induce oxidative stress in all tissues. To examine the protective effects of ivermectin on MSG-induced excitotoxicity, 28 male albino rats were randomized into four groups. Group 1, the control, received 1 ml of oral distilled water, group 2 was administered an aqueous solution of MSG (4 mg/kg body weight/day). Group 3 was co-administered with the same dose of MSG and 0.4 mg/kg body weight of ivermectin, while group 4 rats received orally the same dose of MSG for 2 weeks, after which ivermectin was administered orally for 1 week. Administration of MSG orally for 21 days and for 14 days, followed by oral administration of ivermectin for 7 days, significantly increased (p 0.05) in all the parameters studied compared to the control. This result suggests that ivermectin may protect against MSG-induced excitotoxicity in rats

TOXICITY EVALUATION OF CRANKCASE OIL IN RATS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of crankcase oil on the cellular and func-tional integrity of rat skin. Thirty (30) rats were randomly grouped into six viz groups A–F. Group A (base-line control) received 2 ml of distilled water. 2.5 %, 5.0 %, 7.5 %, and 10.0 % v/v of the crankcase oil were prepared using unused oil as solvent and 2 ml of the concentra-tions were topically administered to groups C–F respectively for seven consecutive days. Group B served as positive control and received 2 ml of the unused oil. The rats were sacri-ficed 24 hours after the last administration, and blood and part of the skin were collected. Al-kaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde level in the blood and skin samples collected were evaluated. Elemental analysis of the crankcase oil was also carried out. The result revealed high lead, iron and chromium levels. Blood lead concentration of rats was significantly (P<0.05) high after seven days of administration. ALP level in skin and serum increased significantly (P<0.05) with the concentration of crankcase oil. There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in skin ACP activity while it increased significantly (P<0.05) in the serum. Similar results were observed in the SOD levels of the serum and the skin. The level increased significantly (P<0.05) in groups D–F when compared with controls. The MDA concentration of both serum and skin were signif-icantly (P<0.05) elevated. This suggests toxic potential of used lubricating oil and its potential predisposition to cance

Kinetics of angiotensin -1 converting enzyme inhibition and antioxidative properties of Azadirachta indica seed protein hydrolysates

Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed protein hydrolysates were investigated forin vitroantioxidant and angiotensin 1-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activities. Neem seed proteins were hydrolysed using pepsin, trypsin andAlcalase. The degree of pepsin hydrolysis of neem seed protein was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those oftrypsin and Alcalase hydrolysis. Proteolytic hydrolysis of the isolate resulted in hydrolysates with improved Arg/Lys ratio, with pepsin hydrolysates still being able to maintain an acceptable level of essential amino acidscomparable to that of the isolate. At 2.5 mg/mL, pepsin neem seed protein hydrolysate (NSPH) demonstrated thestrongest antioxidant activity with 67.15 % and 50.07 % DPPH- and superoxide anion radical-scavenging ac-tivities, respectively, while trypsin NSPH had the highest ferric-reducing power. Using N-[3-(2-furyl)acryloyl]-L-phenylalanyl-glycyl-glycine (FAPGG) as substrate, NSPHs strongly inhibited ACE (69.20–80.39 %) in aconcentration-dependent manner. Pepsin NSPH had higher ACE-inhibitory activity than trypsin and AlcalaseNSPHs. Kinetic studies showed the mechanism of ACE inhibition to be mixed-type withKivalues of 0.62, 0.84, 1.5for pepsin, trypsin and alcalase NSPH, respectively. These results suggest that NSPH can be used as a potentialnutraceutical with antioxidant capacity and inhibitory activity against AC