Serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and mineral elements of human immunodeficiency virus positive subjects in Sokoto, Nigeria

Background : Undernourishment and micronutrient deficiencies exacerbate immunosuppression, oxidative stress, acceleration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and CD4 T-cell depletion in HIV-infected individuals. Materials and Methods : The current work reports the serum levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C and E) and minerals (Zn, Fe, Cu) in 90 HIV positive subjects attending the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. The serum levels of the micronutrients were correlated with the CD4 count of the subjects. Results : The results showed that the HIV positive subjects have significantly lower (P < 0.05) levels of vitamins A, C and E. Also, serum Zn, Fe, Cu and CD4 count were also significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared with the HIV negative subjects. Micronutrient deficiencies were more pronounced in HIV positive subjects with CD4 counts less than 200 cell/μl. The results based on age and sex showed no significant (P > 0.05) difference. Vitamins A, E and C and Zn and Fe showed positive correlation with CD4 count of the HIV positive subjects. Conclusion : The results suggest that the HIV subjects in the study area have lowered serum levels of antioxidant micronutrients and that the levels decrease with increase in the severity of the infection. These may increase the chances of the symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects progressing into full-blown Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.Arrière-plan: Sous-alimentation et les carences en micronutriments exacerbent immunosuppression, stress oxydant, accélération de la réplication du virus de l’immunodéficience humaine (VIH) et l’appauvrissement de la cellule-T CD4 de personnes infectées par le VIH. Matériel et méthodes: Travail le courant signale les niveaux de sérum de vitamines antioxygènes (vitamines A, C et E) et les minéraux (Zn, Fe, Cu) dans 90 sujets positives au VIH qui fréquentent le Usmanu Danfodiyo University Hospital de l’enseignement (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. Les niveaux de sérum des micronutriments étaient en corrélation avec le nombre de CD4 du sujets. Résultats: Les résultats ont montré que les sujets de positifs au VIH ont sensiblement inférieur (P < 0,05) niveaux de vitamines A, C et e. Aussi, sérum Zn, Fe, Cu et de CD4 nombre étaient également significativement (P < 0,05) inférieur comparé avec les sujets négatifs du VIH. Carences en micronutriments étaient plus prononcées dans les Séropositifs sujets avec CD4 compte moins de 200 cellules/μl. Les résultats basés sur l’âge et le sexe a montré non significatifs (P > 0,05) différence. Vitamines A, E et C et Zn et Fe a montré une corrélation positive avec nombre de CD4 du VIH positif sujets. Conclusion: Les résultats suggèrent que les sujets du VIH dans le domaine de l’étude ont abaissé sérique de micronutriments antioxygènes et que les niveaux diminuent avec l’augmentation de la gravité de l’infection. Ces peuvent accroître les chances des sujets symptomatiques et asymptomatiques progresse en véritable immunodéficience acquise syndrome

Serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and mineral elements of human immunodeficiency virus positive subjects in Sokoto, Nigeria

Background : Undernourishment and micronutrient deficiencies exacerbate immunosuppression, oxidative stress, acceleration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and CD4 T-cell depletion in HIV-infected individuals. Materials and Methods : The current work reports the serum levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C and E) and minerals (Zn, Fe, Cu) in 90 HIV positive subjects attending the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. The serum levels of the micronutrients were correlated with the CD4 count of the subjects. Results : The results showed that the HIV positive subjects have significantly lower (P &lt; 0.05) levels of vitamins A, C and E. Also, serum Zn, Fe, Cu and CD4 count were also significantly (P &lt; 0.05) lower compared with the HIV negative subjects. Micronutrient deficiencies were more pronounced in HIV positive subjects with CD4 counts less than 200 cell/\u3bcl. The results based on age and sex showed no significant (P &gt; 0.05) difference. Vitamins A, E and C and Zn and Fe showed positive correlation with CD4 count of the HIV positive subjects. Conclusion : The results suggest that the HIV subjects in the study area have lowered serum levels of antioxidant micronutrients and that the levels decrease with increase in the severity of the infection. These may increase the chances of the symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects progressing into full-blown Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.Arri\ue8re-plan: Sous-alimentation et les carences en micronutriments exacerbent immunosuppression, stress oxydant, acc\ue9l\ue9ration de la r\ue9plication du virus de l\u2019immunod\ue9ficience humaine (VIH) et l\u2019appauvrissement de la cellule-T CD4 de personnes infect\ue9es par le VIH. Mat\ue9riel et m\ue9thodes: Travail le courant signale les niveaux de s\ue9rum de vitamines antioxyg\ue8nes (vitamines A, C et E) et les min\ue9raux (Zn, Fe, Cu) dans 90 sujets positives au VIH qui fr\ue9quentent le Usmanu Danfodiyo University Hospital de l\u2019enseignement (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. Les niveaux de s\ue9rum des micronutriments \ue9taient en corr\ue9lation avec le nombre de CD4 du sujets. R\ue9sultats: Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que les sujets de positifs au VIH ont sensiblement inf\ue9rieur (P &lt; 0,05) niveaux de vitamines A, C et e. Aussi, s\ue9rum Zn, Fe, Cu et de CD4 nombre \ue9taient \ue9galement significativement (P &lt; 0,05) inf\ue9rieur compar\ue9 avec les sujets n\ue9gatifs du VIH. Carences en micronutriments \ue9taient plus prononc\ue9es dans les S\ue9ropositifs sujets avec CD4 compte moins de 200 cellules/\u3bcl. Les r\ue9sultats bas\ue9s sur l\u2019\ue2ge et le sexe a montr\ue9 non significatifs (P &gt; 0,05) diff\ue9rence. Vitamines A, E et C et Zn et Fe a montr\ue9 une corr\ue9lation positive avec nombre de CD4 du VIH positif sujets. Conclusion: Les r\ue9sultats sugg\ue8rent que les sujets du VIH dans le domaine de l\u2019\ue9tude ont abaiss\ue9 s\ue9rique de micronutriments antioxyg\ue8nes et que les niveaux diminuent avec l\u2019augmentation de la gravit\ue9 de l\u2019infection. Ces peuvent accro\ueetre les chances des sujets symptomatiques et asymptomatiques progresse en v\ue9ritable immunod\ue9ficience acquise syndrome

Characteristics, predictors and prospects of lung function among male cigarette smokers in Sokoto Metropolis, North-West Nigeria

Background: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for airflow limitation in addition to its other multi-systemic deleterious effects. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurement offers an opportunity to assess ventilatory function abnormalities in cigarette smokers.Objective: The objective of this study is to determine ventilatory function using peak expiratory flow rate among adult male cigarette smokers in comparison with matched predicted value.Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study among 150 current cigarette smokers aged 18-60years that were consecutively sampled in Sokoto metropolis. Peak expiratory flow was measured using Mini Wright’s Peak Flow Meter and adapted questionnaire was used to record all measurements and relevant data. Comparison was made between the measured and predicted peak expiratory flow rate.Result: A total of 150 male subjects who were predominantly below the age of 40years (76%) with mean age of 34.27±8.91years participated in this study. The mean pack-years and cigarette smoking index were 8.71±8.92 and 163.98±192.62, respectively. While the mean age of cigarette smoking commencement was 16.90±4.17years (9-36years).The mean measured PEF was 405.63±76.5 with the age group mean consistently decreasing with advancing age. Similarly, the difference between measured PEF and predicted PEF was significant and the magnitude of difference increased with advancing age. There was a negative correlation between PEF and pack-years smoked.Conclusion: Cigarette smoking is associated with decline in ventilatory function. The intensity of cigarette smoking and advancing age were the main predictors that determine the airflow status among cigarette smokers.Keywords: Determinants, pack-years, tobacco use, ventilatory functio

Comparative Diagnosis of Falciparum Malaria Infections by Microscopy, Two RDTs, and Nested PCR in the Three States of North-Western Nigeria

One of the most pronounced problems in controlling the morbidity and mortality caused by malaria is limited access to effective diagnosis. Microscopy remains the gold standard for malaria diagnosis, but it is labor intensive, requires significant skills and time. Thus, this study was conducted in search of any prompt, reliable, and good alternative of microscopy, when it is not available. A total of 540 patients in the three states of north-western Nigeria were prospectively enrolled to compare the performance of the Pf-HRP2 rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), Pf/PAN-pLDH RDTs, and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) with gold standard expert microscopy by 2x2 contingency tables, using standard formulae. For P. falciparum diagnosis, the sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) of Pf-HRP2 RDTs was 82% and 95%, while the Sn and Sp of Pf/PAN-pLDH RDTs (line 1) was 75% and 99%. Both Sn and Sp of nPCR were excellent with 98% and 100% respectively. The sensitivities of RDTs in this study were not optimal for P. falciparum diagnosis. Although, nPCR can be a good alternative of microscopy but the cost, qualitative nature and urgency of obtaining results with suspected malaria limits its use in routine clinical practice. Thus, microscopy should remain the diagnostic test of choice for malaria in this region. Key word: falciparum malaria, microscopy, RDTs, nPCR, Nigeri