Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Diet of Urban and Rural Dwellers in Northern Nigeria

Over the last 30 years, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including stroke and myocardial infarction, have increased in developing countries. Serum lipids and diet of the Fulani, a rural Nigerian population, were previously studied. Despite their consumption of a diet rich in saturated fat, the overall blood lipid profiles of Fulani men and women are generally favourable. However, Fulani males in the same study had mean serum levels of homocysteine, an emerging risk factor for CVD, that exceeded the upper limit of the homocysteine reference range. The authors were interested in knowing if these findings in the Fulani nomads were representative of the biochemical parameters of CVD risk in other ethnic groups in the same region of Nigeria. To address this question, the nutrient content of diets of 55 men, aged 20-75 years, and 77 women, aged 20-70 years, who were inhabitants of a large urban centre in northern Nigeria, was assessed, and their serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and homocysteine were determined. These data were compared with those of the same rural Fulani population studied previously. Urban subjects consumed more calories than rural subjects (men: 2,061 vs 1,691 kcal; women: 1,833 vs 1,505 kcal) and had a significantly higher mean body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat than rural subjects. Both urban males and females had carbohydrate intakes that were greater than those of Fulani pastoralists (men: 56% vs 33% total calories; women: 51% vs 38% total calories), but had a significantly lower dietary intake of total fat and saturated fat (men: 36% vs 51% of total calories; women: 40% vs 51% of total calories). With the exception of HDL-cholesterol levels, which were significantly lower in the rural population, the blood lipid profiles of rural subjects were more favourable compared to those of urban subjects. Both urban and rural males had homocysteine levels above the upper limit of the reference range for healthy adults (urban males-12.7\u3bcmol/L; rural males-15.2 \u3bcmol/L). The dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B12 were lower for rural Fulani subjects, and this was reflected in their significantly lower serum concentrations of these two vitamins. Results of this study suggest that, although the lipid profiles of urban and rural men and women in northern Nigeria indicate a relatively low risk for CVD, their elevated serum homocysteine levels are a cause for concern. The high homocysteine levels among rural men and women could be explained in part at least by their marginal status with respect to folate and vitamin B12

Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in Plasmodium falciparum infected children under six years of age

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>-infected children, the relationships between blood cell histopathology, blood plasma components, development of immunocompetence and disease severity remain poorly understood. Blood from Nigerian children with uncomplicated malaria was analysed to gain insight into these relationships. This investigation presents evidence for circulating neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and antinuclear IgG antibodies (ANA). The presence of NETs and ANA to double-stranded DNA along with the cytokine profiles found suggests autoimmune mechanisms that could produce pathogenesis in children, but immunoprotection in adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Peripheral blood smear slides and blood samples obtained from 21 Nigerian children under six years of age, presenting with uncomplicated malaria before and seven days after initiation of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) treatment were analysed. The slides were stained with Giemsa and with DAPI. Levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF, CRP, and IL-6, select anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-β and IL-10, and ANA were determined by immunoassay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The children exhibited circulating NETs with adherent parasites and erythrocytes, elevated ANA levels, a Th2 dominated cytokine profile, and left-shifted leukocyte differential counts. Nonspecific ANA levels were significant in 86% of the children pretreatment and in 100% of the children seven days after SP treatment, but in only 33% of age-matched control samples collected during the season of low parasite transmission. Levels of ANA specific for dsDNA were significant in 81% of the children both pre-treatment and post treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this investigation suggest that NET formation and ANA to dsDNA may induce pathology in falciparum-infected children, but activate a protective mechanism against falciparum malaria in adults. The significance of in vivo circulating chromatin in NETs and dsDNA ANA as a causative factor in the hyporesponsiveness of CpG oligonucleotide-based malaria vaccines is discussed.</p

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Diet of Urban and Rural Dwellers in Northern Nigeria

Over the last 30 years, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including stroke and myocardial infarction, have increased in developing countries. Serum lipids and diet of the Fulani, a rural Nigerian population, were previously studied. Despite their consumption of a diet rich in saturated fat, the overall blood lipid profiles of Fulani men and women are generally favourable. However, Fulani males in the same study had mean serum levels of homocysteine, an emerging risk factor for CVD, that exceeded the upper limit of the homocysteine reference range. The authors were interested in knowing if these findings in the Fulani nomads were representative of the biochemical parameters of CVD risk in other ethnic groups in the same region of Nigeria. To address this question, the nutrient content of diets of 55 men, aged 20-75 years, and 77 women, aged 20-70 years, who were inhabitants of a large urban centre in northern Nigeria, was assessed, and their serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and homocysteine were determined. These data were compared with those of the same rural Fulani population studied previously. Urban subjects consumed more calories than rural subjects (men: 2,061 vs 1,691 kcal; women: 1,833 vs 1,505 kcal) and had a significantly higher mean body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat than rural subjects. Both urban males and females had carbohydrate intakes that were greater than those of Fulani pastoralists (men: 56% vs 33% total calories; women: 51% vs 38% total calories), but had a significantly lower dietary intake of total fat and saturated fat (men: 36% vs 51% of total calories; women: 40% vs 51% of total calories). With the exception of HDL-cholesterol levels, which were significantly lower in the rural population, the blood lipid profiles of rural subjects were more favourable compared to those of urban subjects. Both urban and rural males had homocysteine levels above the upper limit of the reference range for healthy adults (urban males-12.7μmol/L; rural males-15.2 μmol/L). The dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B12 were lower for rural Fulani subjects, and this was reflected in their significantly lower serum concentrations of these two vitamins. Results of this study suggest that, although the lipid profiles of urban and rural men and women in northern Nigeria indicate a relatively low risk for CVD, their elevated serum homocysteine levels are a cause for concern. The high homocysteine levels among rural men and women could be explained in part at least by their marginal status with respect to folate and vitamin B12

The Effect of Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 on Intestinal Calcium Absorption in Nigerian Children with Rickets

Context: Children with calcium-deficiency rickets have high 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D values

Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in infected children under six years of age-6

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in infected children under six years of age"</p><p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/41</p><p>Malaria Journal 2008;7():41-41.</p><p>Published online 29 Feb 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2275287.</p><p></p

Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in infected children under six years of age-4

additive combinatorial effect of elevated IL-6 and IL-10 cytokine levels on TNF is significant (without random sampling error). Line, multivariate regression line (r= 0.726).<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in infected children under six years of age"</p><p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/41</p><p>Malaria Journal 2008;7():41-41.</p><p>Published online 29 Feb 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2275287.</p><p></p

Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in infected children under six years of age-2

E Pre-Rx samples in (A) and (B) were collected before SP treatment. The Post-Rx samples in (A) and (B) were collected seven days after SP treatment. Samples from children exhibiting no evidence of falciparum infection were collected during a season of low transmission (A, LT). ANA Index values were calculated according to assay kit instructions and interpreted as negative, ≤0.90; equivocal, 0.91-1.09; and positive, ≥1.10. Anti-dsDNA levels were calculated according to assay kit instructions and interpreted as negative 200 IU/ml.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in infected children under six years of age"</p><p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/41</p><p>Malaria Journal 2008;7():41-41.</p><p>Published online 29 Feb 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2275287.</p><p></p

Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in infected children under six years of age-5

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Cytokine-associated neutrophil extracellular traps and antinuclear antibodies in infected children under six years of age"</p><p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/41</p><p>Malaria Journal 2008;7():41-41.</p><p>Published online 29 Feb 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2275287.</p><p></p