EVALUATION OF SOME INFLAMMATORY AND MUSCLE MARKERS IN PREMENOPAUSAL AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Background: Menopause is associated with an array of metabolic changes which results into the appearance of inflammatory conditions. Objectives: The study evaluated the levels of some inflammatory markers; C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and uric acid. The muscle markers evaluated were creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate transaminase (AST) as well as body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (Bp) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Method: The study is a case-controlled study involving 50 premenopausal and 50 postmenopausal women in Nnewi metropolis. In both study groups, anthropometric measurements including body mass index (Kg/m2) and blood pressure (mmHg) were carried out. Serum levels of uric acid, creatine kinase, C-reactive protein, aspartate transaminase, rheumatoid factor and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured using appropriate techniques. Results: The result showed significant increase (p<0.05) in the mean serum levels of uric acid (μmol/L), CRP (mg/L), ESR mm/hr, and AST IU/L but no significant change was observed in creatine kinase in post menopausal women. A significant positive relationship was observed between CRP and BMI (r = 0.562; p<0.01), CRP and ESR (r = 0.553; p<0.01). The prevalence of positive rheumatoid factor among postmenopausal women was determined as 16%. Conclusion: The study concluded that in postmenopausal women, there is significant increase in the levels of CRP, ESR and uric acid. There is also a significant positive relationship between CRP, ESR and BMI indicating that the degree of changes in metabolites and obesity might have a role in the mediation of inflammation in post menopausal women

Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors in obese individual in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria

Background: Risk factor modification can reduce clinical events and premature death in people with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as in those who are at high cardiovascular risk due to one or more risk factors. Obesity, a common nutritional disorder in industrialized countries is associated with an increased mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular disease (CVD).Objective This study evaluated the CV risk factors in obesity and significance of obesity as a risk factor for acute coronary and cerebrovascular conditions which occur frequently in our society.Method:Cardiovascular risk assessment was carried out in 250 subjects, 125 obese and 125 non-obese   using the following methods: Framingham risk score, Gamma glutamy1 transferase, (GGT), CK-MB,  very high single risk factor (VHSRF) and more than 3 high risk factors (&gt;3HRF)Results With the different methods used for the assessment, percentage of individual at high risk tended to be higher in obese individual than in non obese, only Framingham Risk score method shows significant difference in risk percentage (P &lt; 0.05). High blood pressure is the most predominant risk factor among the obese assessed (37.6%).  The mean value of all the variables (risk factor) except HDL were higher in obese subjects than non obese. Statistically, there were no significant differences between the means of FBG, HDL and GGT (P&gt;0.05) whereas there were significant differences between the mean value of total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, triglyceride, CK-MB and CRP (P&lt;0.05).Conclusion: In conclusion, hypertension happens to be the most predominant cardiovascular risk factor observed among obese assessed. Obesity is a serious risk factor for cardiovascular disease because most cardiovascular disease risk factors assessed were  more predominant in obese  than in normal subjects  therefore reduction in weight of an individual is very important to reduce cardiovascular disease.   

Immunodiagnosis of bovine trypanosomiasis in Anambra and Imo states, Nigeria, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: zoonotic implications to human health

Background & objectives: The prevalence of trypanosomiasis was studied in cattle, being a major source of animal protein in Nigeria, thus, a very likely means of spread of Human African Trypano-somosis (HAT). Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to diagnose bovine trypanosomiasis in 264 samples collected from adult cattle of mixed breeds, age and sex, in Anambra and Imo states, Nigeria. Results: Out of 264 samples analysed, 21 (7.96%) were seropositive for Trypanosoma congolense while 20 (7.58%) were seropositive for T. vivax and 8 (3.03%) were seropositive for T. brucei infections in both the states. Interpretation & conclusion: The predominant species was found to be T. congolense. Mixed infection of three species, T. vivax, T. congolense and T. brucei was found to dominate other mixed infections in both the states. ELISA detected the infection of the three species of trypanosomes in the same group of animals. The usefulness of antigen capture ELISA in the diagnosis of human or animal trypanosomiasis was established, and the possibility of the spread of HAT caused by T. brucei gambiense and T.b. rhodesiense through cattle was expressed