Association between preeclampsia and cancer antigen 125 in women attending antenatal clinic in Usmanu, Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto

Background: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that is characterized by the development of elevated blood pressure and  proteinuria after 20 weeks of conception in a previously normotensive and non‑proteinuric patient. It is one of the leading and most important  causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality and it occurred in about 6% of human pregnancies. In Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital Sokoto, preeclampsia and its complications were the leading causes of death in the year 2016. Preeclampsia has many suggested biomarkers, some of which are not well‑defined. It has been assumed that failure in trophoblastic invasion and induction of an inflammatory process within the placenta in patients with preeclampsia may trigger the expression of CA‑125 antigen. This study established a definite association between CA‑125 and preeclampsia. Aims: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between cancer antigen 125 and preeclampsia and its correlation with severity. Settings and Design: Hospital‑based study, comparative cross‑sectional study. Methods and Materials: Ninety‑seven pregnant women with preeclampsia were recruited as cases while 97 pregnant women without preeclampsia were similarly recruited as controls. In both groups (cases and controls), only women with singleton pregnancies at ≥32 weeks’ gestational ages were recruited. Sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, family history, and clinical data were obtained using a standard interviewer‑administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Blood samples were taken for measurement of serum cancer antigen 125. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was used as an indicator of the severity of the disease. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS computer statistical software version 22, percentages, Chi‑square, mean, Pearson correlation test. Results: The age range of the respondents was between 16 and 45 years. The mean age for the control was 28.6 ± 5.9 years, 27.9 ± 7.5 and 28.7 ± 7.2 years, for the control and severe preeclampsia groups, respectively. The mean level of CA‑125 in the preeclampsia group was significantly higher than the control (36.13 ± 23.02 vs 24.53 ± 9.42). The mean levels of CA‑125 in severe preeclampsia were significantly higher than mild preeclampsia  (45.68 ± 23.38 vs 21.94 ± 13.18), P = 0.001. The MAP in mild and severe preeclampsia was 112.82 ± 3.55 mmHg and 130.63 ± 12.87 mmHg respectively. A negligible positive correlation was observed between the MAP and CA‑12

Comparison of genital microbial isolates between intrauterine contraceptive device users and nonusers in Sokoto, Nigeria

Background: In the past, the use of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), in particular, Dalkon Shield was found to be associated with increased risk of pelvic infection. Recent literature illustrates that the risk of pelvic infection after insertion of an IUCD is low and that the risk peaks in the 1st month after insertion. We set out to determine the incidence of genital infection among IUCD users after the 1st and 3rd months of insertion compared to users of other contraceptive methods; to determine the risk of genital infections among IUCD users compared to users of other contraceptive methods and to determine the organisms associated with genital infection among the contraceptive users.Materials and Methods: This was a cohort study involving new clients who chose various forms of contraceptives.Results: The incidence of genital infection was 3 (8.5%) at 1 month and 4 (12.1%) at 3 months. The incidence in non‑IUCD contraceptive users was 2 (5.9%) at 1 month and 3 (8.8%) at 3 months. The relative risk was 1.44 and 1.5 at 1 and 3 months, respectively. The observed difference in the rate of infection between IUCD users and other contraceptive users was not statistically significant. Bacteria vaginosis and Trichomonas vaginalis were commonly observed in the two groups.Conclusion: The incidence of genital infection among IUCD users was relatively low compared to non‑IUCD users. IUCD s do not significantly increase the of rate genital infection.Keywords: Contraceptives; genital; infection; intrauterine contraceptive device; Nigeri

Effect of Exposure to Soot on Activities of Alanine Transaminase, Gamma Glutamyl Transferase and Lipase among Cooks in Nnewi

Exposure to soot can lead to hepatic and pancreatic dysfunction. This study determined serum alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and triacylglycerol lipase activities of cooks exposed to soot. Thirty (30) participants (cooks) were exposed to soot (test group), and thirty (30) participants not exposed to soot (control group) were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and informed consent from the participants was obtained. Alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and triacylglycerol lipase activities were determined using the spectrophotometric method while the Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using weight (kg)/height2 (m2). An Independent t-test was used for statistical analysis. The results showed that the mean serum activities of alanine transaminase (14.69±1.84), of cooks exposed to soot, were significantly higher compared with the control(12.83±0.94)(p<0.05). The mean serum activities of gamma-glutamyl transferase (7.81±4.08), of cooks exposed to soot, were significantly higher when compared with the control (3.54±2.00)(p<0.05). The mean serum activities of triacylglycerol lipase of cooks exposed to soot were significantly low compared with the control (p<0.05),  while there was no significant difference in the BMI, systolic pressure, and diastolic pressure levels respectively in the test group, compared to the control.  This study observed higher serum activities of alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and low serum activity of triacylglycerol lipase among cooks exposed to soot, this suggests a predisposition to hepatic and pancreatic dysfunction in the cooks Keywords: Soot, alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lipase enzyme