Liver function tests of HIV/AIDS patients at the nylon district hospital, Douala, Cameroon

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) which substantially reduces morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive patients has been associated with hepatotoxicity. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of HIV infection and ART on liver function amongst HIV seropositive patients in Douala, Cameroon.Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted from March to August, 2012 at the Nylon District Hospital, Douala. Demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire.  Serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities were determined using colorimetric techniques.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 37.9 ± 6.02 years. A majority of the study participants (68.0%) were females. The mean CD4+ T lymphocyte cell count of HIV/AIDS patients on ART was significantly higher than the ART- naïve patients (p<0.05). The mean serum AST and ALT activities of ART-naïve patients were significantly higher than the control subjects (p<0.05). Similarly, the mean serum transaminases and GGT activities of HIV/AIDS patients on ART were significantly higher than the control subjects (p<0.05). The mean serum ALP and GGT activities of HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART were significantly higher than the ART- naïve patients (p<0.05).Conclusions: The present study provides evidence to suggest that both infection with HIV and treatment with ART are associated with liver injury.

EFFECT OF RUELLIA PRAETERMISSA EXTRACTS ON ERYTHROPOIESIS IN PREGNANT WOMEN

ABSTRACT The effect of the extracts of Ruellia Praetermissa Schweinf. ex Lindau. on hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV). mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell count (RBC), was investigated in 50 Pregnant women attending prenatal clinic in Belo maternity. The women were assigned to 5 groups of 10 women per group. The first group was the control and the other 4 were the experimental groups. The control was administered daily, 0.5 ml of saline solution while the experimental groups were administered daily oral doses of the plant extract in concentrations of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1,600 mg/kg respectively for 16 days. Blood samples were collected on the 17 th day and analyzed. The extracts contain flavonoids aglycones (luteolin and apigenin) and their respective, glycosides and a high concentration of triterpenes (campesterol, stigmasterol, -sitosterol, lupeol) and iridoid glycosides. It was also found to be rich in vitamins and minerals. The extracts increased the values in a dose dependent manner Hb (P &lt; 0.05), RBC (P &lt; 0.05), hematocrit (P &lt; 0.05). It however showed no remarkable effect on the values of MCH and MCHC (P &gt; 0.05) but with a dose depending decreasing effect on MCV (P &lt; 0.05). The active principles of this plant drug stimulate erythropoiesis which leads to increase in circulating RBCs with slightly microcytic sizes (MCV), normochromic weight, (MCH) normochromic hemoglobin contents (MCHC). The result of this study thus supports the traditional use of Ruellia Praetermissa in pregnancies threatened with miscarriage and as a remedy for anemia

Treatment failure in a typhoid patient infected with nalidixic acid resistant S. enterica serovar Typhi with reduced susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin: a case report from Cameroon

BACKGROUND: Fluoroquinolones or third generation cephalosporins are the drugs of choice for the treatment of typhoid fever. Treatment failure with fluoroquinolones has been reported in Asia and Europe. We report a case of ciprofloxacin treatment failure in typhoid fever in Cameroon. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old female patient with suspected typhoid fever from Kumba, Cameroon, yielded growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in blood culture. The isolate was resistant to nalidixic acid but sensitive to ciprofloxacin by disc diffusion test. However, the patient did not respond to treatment with ciprofloxacin, although the isolate was apparently susceptible to ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSION: Treatment failure with ciprofloxacin in our case indicates the presence of nalidixic acid resistant S. enterica serovar Typhi (NARST) with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin in Cameroon (Central Africa)

Antimicrobial and toxicological activities of five medicinal plant species from Cameroon Traditional Medicine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infectious diseases caused by multiresistant microbial strains are on the increase. Fighting these diseases with natural products may be more efficacious. The aim of this study was to investigate the <it>in vitro </it>antimicrobial activity of methanolic, ethylacetate (EtOAc) and hexanic fractions of five Cameroonian medicinal plants (<it>Piptadeniastum africana</it>, <it>Cissus aralioides, Hileria latifolia, Phyllanthus muellerianus </it>and <it>Gladiolus gregasius) </it>against 10 pathogenic microorganisms of the urogenital and gastrointestinal tracts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The fractions were screened for their chemical composition and <it>in vivo </it>acute toxicity was carried out on the most active extracts in order to assess their inhibitory selectivity.</p> <p>The agar well-diffusion and the micro dilution methods were used for the determination of the inhibition diameters (ID) and Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) respectively on 8 bacterial species including two Gram positive species (<it>Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis)</it>, and six Gram negative <it>(Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi) </it>and two fungal isolates (<it>Candida albicans, Candida krusei)</it>. The chemical composition was done according to Harbone (1976), the acute toxicity evaluation according to WHO protocol and the hepatic as well as serum parameters measured to assess liver and kidney functions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The chemical components of each plant's extract varied according to the solvent used, and they were found to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, triterpens, sterols, tannins, coumarins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugars. The methanolic and ethylacetate extracts of <it>Phyllanthus muellerianus </it>and <it>Piptadeniastum africana </it>presented the highest antimicrobial activities against all tested microorganisms with ID varying from 8 to 26 mm and MIC from 2.5 to 0.31 mg/ml. The <it>in vivo </it>acute toxicity study carried out on the methanolic extracts of <it>Phyllanthus muellerianus </it>and <it>Piptadeniastrum africana </it>indicated that these two plants were not toxic. At the dose of 4 g/kg body weight, kidney and liver function tests indicated that these two medicinal plants induced no adverse effect on these organs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results showed that, all these plant's extracts can be used as antimicrobial phytomedicines which can be therapeutically used against infections caused by multiresistant agents.</p> <p>Phyllanthus muellerianus, Piptadeniastum africana, antimicrobial, acute toxicity, kidney and liver function tests, Cameroon Traditional Medicine</p

Chloramphenical sensitivity of Salmonella typhi in concurrent infection with adult Schistosoma mansoni in mice

Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol.10(1) 2000: 13-1

THE BURDEN OF MALARIA AND MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN LESS THAN 14 YEARS OF AGE IN A RURAL VILLAGE OF CAMEROON

ABSTRACT Malaria and malnutrition are a major health burden in developing countries with infants and children being the most vulnerable groups. The extent of the burden of malaria and malnutrition was investigated in 339 children ≤14years residing in the village of Muea located in the South West Province of Cameroon. Malaria parasitaemia was determined microscopically from Giemsa stained thick blood films. Nutritional status was determined using age and the anthropometric parameters of weight and height. Height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) and weight-forheight (WHZ) Z scores were computed based on the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS)/World Health Organisation growth reference curves. Anaemia was assessed by measuring haemoglobin (Hb) concentration while plasma iron levels were determined by spectrophotometric assays. The prevalence of malaria in the study population was 96.2% (326/339) with a majority (68.4%) having asymptomatic disease. The geometric mean parasite density (GMPD) was 744.37 ± 89396.11 (parasitaemia range 40-153190 parasites/µL blood). The mean Hb concentration was 9.29 ± 1.8g/dL (range 4-14.1g/dL) and anaemia (Hb&lt;11g/dL) was diagnosed in 81.4% of the children, a majority of whom had microcytic anaemia. A negative correlation was observed between parasite density and haemoglobin concentration (r = -0.14). The mean plasma iron level was 53.64 ± 32.87µL/dl (range 1.8-159) with 58.7% (199/339) of the children diagnosed as iron deficient (plasma iron concentrations &lt;50µg/dL). A negative correlation was observed between plasma iron values and malaria parasitaemia (r = -0.031). The prevalence of malnutrition was 58.1% (197/339). Of the 197 malnourished children, 23.6% were wasted (&lt; -2 SD weight-for-height Z-score), 26.5% underweight (&lt; -2 SD weight-for-age Z score) and 49.9% stunted (&lt; -2 SD height-for-age Z score). There was a negative correlation between nutritional status and malaria parasitaemia (r =-0.034). The findings from this study are strongly suggestive that falciparum malaria and malnutrition exist in children residing in Muea and constitute a major health problem which needs to be immediately addressed to reduce morbidity and mortality

Impact of malaria on hematological parameters in people living with HIV/AIDS attending the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Cameroon.

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) frequently have abnormal blood counts including anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. The role of infection with plasmodia on these hematological parameters in PLWHA is not well known. In this study we compared selected hematological parameters between malaria positive and negative PLWHA.We conducted a cross-sectional study of PLWHA attending the Douala Laquintinie hospital. After obtaining consent, demographic and clinical data were obtained via a standardized questionnaire. Blood samples collected for hematological assays were run using an automated full blood counter. Malaria parasitaemia was determined by blood smear microscopy.A total of 238 adult PLWHA were enrolled, 48.3% of who were on antiretroviral therapy and 24.8% of whom had malaria parasitaemia. The respective mean (±SD) of hemoglobin level, RBC count, WBC count, platelet count, lymphocyte count and CD4+ T cell counts in malaria co-infected patients versus non-infected patients were: 10.8(±1.9) g/dl versus 11.4(±2.0) g/dl; 3,745,254(±793,353) cells/µl versus 3,888,966(±648,195) cells/µl; 4,403(±1,534) cells/µl versus 4,920(±1,922) cells/µl; 216,051(±93,884) cells/µl versus 226,792(±98,664) cells/µl; 1,846(±711) cells/µl versus 2,052(±845) cells/µl and 245(±195) cells/µl versus 301(±211) cells/µl. All these means were not statistically significantly different from each other.There was no significant difference in studied hematological parameters between malaria positive and negative PLWHA. These data suggest little or no impact of malaria infection. Hematological anomalies in PLWHA in this area need not be necessarily attributed to malaria. These need to be further investigated to identify and treat other potential causes