Plasma lipid profile, atherogenic and coronary risk indices in some residents of Abeokuta in south-western Nigeria

The incidence of chronic degenerative diseases like stroke and myocardial infarction in African subpopulations is reported to be increasing. In view of the association between dyslipidemia and these chronic degenerative diseases, we investigated some well-establishedcardiovascular risk factors (plasma cholesterol and its fractions as high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride, adiposity and blood pressure) in 92 subjects (43 males and 49 females) in Abeokuta, Nigeria. LDL cholesterol was significantlyhigher in the women compared with men (128.58mg/dl vs 108.73mg/dl; p = 0.028). Total cholesterol, although slightly higher in women, was not significantly different from that of men (155.71mg/dl vs 147.26mg/dl). HDL cholesterol and triglyceride were not significantlydifferent between the two sexes, although women tended to have lower HDL cholesterol when compared with men. LDL/HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol were significantly higher in women compared with men (4.20 vs 2.97; p = 0.004; 5.03 vs 4.06; p =0.024, respectively). Systolic blood pressure was higher in men compared with women (117.58 vs 104.84; p = 0.002). Results indicate that the association between cholesterol and chronic degenerative diseases is continuous with no single cholesterol level separating thosewho are at high risk from those who are not. Rather in defining cardiovascular risks in African populations, the ratios LDL/HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol should be considered. It might be appropriate at this time in Nigeria to consider physicalactivity and pharmacological interventions in lowering blood lipids

Improvement of Diabetic Dyslipidemia by Legumes in experimental rats

Grain legumes are a valuable source of food proteins; hence, their exploitation is expected to grow in relation to a growing world's food needs. Apart from high level of dietary fibre, their protein composition makes them useful in managing diabetes. This paper reports a study conducted to evaluate the effects of four different non-soy legume-based (Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana, Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata, Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Vigna subterranea) diets in rats administered with alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg bodyweight). Concentration of plasma glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and HDL-triacyglycerol as well as hepatic levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerols were determined spectrophotometrically in alloxan-induced diabetic rats fed on these legumes for five weeks. Induction of rats with alloxan monohydrate led to significant (p<0.05) elevation of fasting plasma glucose and reduction in body weight. Consumption of each of the four legumes led to a significant reduction in the fasting plasma glucose concentrations in the diabetic rats (p<0.05) with V. subterranean causing about 60% reduction. Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana and Sphenostylis stenocarpa caused a reversal of the diabetes-induced reduction of hepatic cholesterol (p<0.05). Plasma dyslipidemia was observed in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats as significant (p<0.05) increases in total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, HDL-cholesterol, HDL-triacylglycerols and LDL-cholesterol levels were observed. The legumes improved the plasma lipid profile as shown by a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the ratios of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (ranging from 1.25-2.25 for control groups to 1.00-1.35 for the legume-fed groups) and LDL-Cholesterol/HDL-Cholesterol (ranging from 0.50-1.75 for control groups to 0.50-0.75 for the legume fed groups). The results suggest that wild cowpea, white cowpea, african yam bean and bambara groundnut equally reversed diabetes-associated dyslipidemia as indicated by the indexes of cardiovascular disorder. This, therefore, underscores the potential of these underutilized legumes in managing dyslipidemia associated with diabetes in experimental rats. These data should contribute toward enhancing the nutraceutical potential and utility of these legumes

Plasma lipid profile, atherogenic and coronary risk indices in some residents of Abeokuta in south-western Nigeria

The incidence of chronic degenerative diseases like stroke and myocardial infarction in African subpopulations is reported to be increasing. In view of the association between dyslipidemia and these chronic degenerative diseases, we investigated some well-established cardiovascular risk factors (plasma cholesterol and its fractions as high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride, adiposity and blood pressure) in 92 subjects (43 males and 49 females) in Abeokuta, Nigeria. LDL cholesterol was significantly higher in the women compared with men (128.58mg/dl vs 108.73mg/dl; p = 0.028). Total cholesterol, although slightly higher in women, was not significantly different from that of men (155.71mg/dl vs 147.26mg/dl). HDL cholesterol and triglyceride were not significantly different between the two sexes, although women tended to have lower HDL cholesterol when compared with men. LDL/HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol were significantly higher in women compared with men (4.20 vs 2.97; p = 0.004; 5.03 vs 4.06; p = 0.024, respectively). Systolic blood pressure was higher in men compared with women (117.58 vs 104.84; p = 0.002). Results indicate that the association between cholesterol and chronic degenerative diseases is continuous with no single cholesterol level separating those who are at high risk from those who are not. Rather in defining cardiovascular risks in African populations, the ratios LDL/HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol should be considered. It might be appropriate at this time in Nigeria to consider physical activity and pharmacological interventions in lowering blood lipids

Improvement of diabetic dyslipidemia by legumes in experimental rats

Grain legumes are a valuable source of food proteins; hence, their exploitation is expected to grow in relation to a growing world's food needs. Apart from high level of dietary fibre, their protein composition makes them useful in managing diabetes. This paper reports a study conducted to evaluate the effects of four different non-soy legume-based (Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana, Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata, Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Vigna subterranea) diets in rats administered with alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg bodyweight). Concentration of plasma glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and HDL-triacyglycerol as well as hepatic levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerols were determined spectrophotometrically in alloxan-induced diabetic rats fed on these legumes for five weeks. Induction of rats with alloxan monohydrate led to significant (p&lt;0.05) elevation of fasting plasma glucose and reduction in body weight. Consumption of each of the four legumes led to a significant reduction in the fasting plasma glucose concentrations in the diabetic rats (p&lt;0.05) with V. subterranean causing about 60% reduction. Vigna unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana var dekindtiana and Sphenostylis stenocarpa caused a reversal of the diabetes-induced reduction of hepatic cholesterol (p&lt;0.05). Plasma dyslipidemia was observed in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats as significant (p&lt;0.05) increases in total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, HDL-cholesterol, HDL-triacylglycerols and LDL-cholesterol levels were observed. The legumes improved the plasma lipid profile as shown by a significant (p&lt;0.05) reduction in the ratios of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (ranging from 1.25-2.25 for control groups to 1.00-1.35 for the legume-fed groups) and LDL-Cholesterol/HDL-Cholesterol (ranging from 0.50-1.75 for control groups to 0.50-0.75 for the legume fed groups). The results suggest that wild cowpea, white cowpea, african yam bean and bambara groundnut equally reversed diabetes-associated dyslipidemia as indicated by the indexes of cardiovascular disorder. This, therefore, underscores the potential of these underutilized legumes in managing dyslipidemia associated with diabetes in experimental rats. These data should contribute toward enhancing the nutraceutical potential and utility of these legumes.Keywords: Diabetes, lipid profile, rats, legumesAfrican Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 13 No. 2, April 201

Patterns of chronic illness among older patients attending a university hospital in Nigeria

Background: The rising burden of chronic diseases has attracted the attention of public health researchers and policymakers worldwide. Objectives: To assess the demographic, morbidity and outcome patterns of chronic illness among the older patients at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Design: Retrospective study Setting: Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Participants: Seven hundred and eighty-eight (788) adults (60 years and over) hospitalized between 2010 and 2014 in the hospital. Interventions: None Results: The age of the selected study population ranged from 60 to 99 years with a mean of 76.08(±10.42). More than half (53.0%) were between 60–69 years, with a subsequent decline. Male patients accounted for 64.0%, but females were more frequent among patients 80 years and older. The most common health conditions were heart diseases (22.5%), neoplasm (13.2%), cerebrovascular accident (12.4%), and gastrointestinal diseases (14.5%). The records showed that 14.9% were referred to other institution for various reasons (including further management, lack of space, industrial action by workers, discharged against medical advice or dead). Conclusion: Heart diseases were the major chronic illnesses among the older adults followed by neoplasm conditions, while musculoskeletal conditions were the least. It also found that there was a poor outcome of conditions amongolder adults in this setting. Therefore, efforts should be made towards the prevention and reduction of chronic illnesses, as well as improving the outcome of care. Keywords: chronic diseases, older adults, health care, retrospective, demographic Funding: Doctoral Fellowship from Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Afric

Managing breast cancer in younger women: Challenges and solutions

Breast cancer in young women is relatively rare compared to breast cancer occurring in older women. Younger women diagnosed with breast cancer also tend to have a more aggressive biology and consequently a poorer prognosis than older women. In addition, they face unique challenges such as diminished fertility from premature ovarian failure, extended survivorship periods and its attendant problems, and the psychosocial impact of diagnosis, while still raising families. It is therefore imperative to recognize the unique issues that younger women face, and plan management in a multidisciplinary fashion to optimize clinical outcomes. This paper discusses the challenges of breast cancer management for young women, as well as specific issues to consider in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of such patients

Assessment of Parents’ Satisfaction with Paediatric Surgery Services at a Tertiary Hospital in South West Nigeria: A Quality Control Check

Background: Patient satisfaction is an important link in the chain of patient-physician interaction, patient care experience and patient health outcome. Patient satisfaction is relevant in the evaluation of quality of services received in health institutions based in low and middle income countries, and can provide important feedback for service improvement in such resource-poor settings. Aim: This study aimed to examine the patient’s level of satisfaction with pediatric surgery services in a Teaching Hospital. Subjects and Methods: Setting: Paediatric Surgery Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Prospective questionnaire based survey. Consenting literate parents of paediatric post-op patients were serially recruited from the pediatric surgery unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The consent of the Institution’s Research Ethics’ Committee was sought and obtained. Using a general sociodemographic questionnaire and the patient satisfaction with services scale, patient experiences were obtained. Results were expressed as simple percentages and presented in tables. Results: One hundred and thirty-four post-op cases participated in this study. These participants were parents of children with varied surgical conditions such as: hernia (24.6%, 33/134), hydrocoele (8.2%, 11/134), among other conditions. Majority of the cases were follow-up cases (75.4%, 101/134), compared to 24.6% being new cases. Most respondents (parents/guardians) rated the ‘assistance from the records officer’ as good/ very good/excellent (82.1%, 110/134), while 14.9% (20/134) rated it as fair/poor. Respondents were quite satisfied with the ‘amount of information given about the health problem’ with 82.9% (111/134) rating it as good/very good/excellent and 8.2% (11/134) as fair/poor. The ‘suitability of the treatment plan to needs was considered good/very good/excellent by 61.9% and fair/poor by 9.0%. However, the ‘overall quality of care’ was rated as fair/poor in 12.0%, and good/very good/excellent by 88.0% of respondents. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study serves as a useful feedback tool which provides important information on certain aspects of patient satisfaction, it identifies aspects which respondents find less satisfying and as such need improvement

Evaluación bioquímica del aceite de semilla de Hura crepitans infrautilizado: respuestas funcionales e inflamatorias en ratas albinas

Hura crepitans&nbsp;seed oil (HCSO) remains under-utilized, largely due to the scarcity in data regarding its biochemical properties. To investigate the functional and pro-inflammatory responses to HCSO, twenty-four male rats were grouped into four and received compounded diets containing 5%-HCSO; 10%-HCSO; 15%-HCSO; and 15%-AHO (as control) for eight weeks. The functional responses and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and their receptors were appraised. The organ function biomarkers in rats fed with HCSO-supplemented diets were statistically similar to those of control rats, except for uric acid and creatine levels, which were significantly lower in the HCSO-fed groups, and the urea level, which was elevated in all HCSO-fed groups. Also, HCSO significantly downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and their receptors (IL-1R and IL-6R), when compared to the control group. Our results highlight the reno- and cardio-protective potentials of HCSO, as well as its anti-inflammatory potentials.El aceite de semilla de Hura crepitans (ASHC) sigue estando infrautilizado en gran parte debido a la escasez de datos sobre sus resultados bioquímicos. Para investigar las respuestas funcionales y proinflamatorias al ASHC, veinticuatro ratas macho se agruparon en grupos de cuatro y recibieron dietas compuestas que contenían 5%-ASHC; 10%-ASHC; 15%-ASHC y 15%-AC aceite de cacahuete (aceite de cacahuete control), durante ocho semanas. Se evaluaron las respuestas funcionales y la expresión de citocinas proinflamatorias y sus receptores. Los biomarcadores de la función de los órganos en ratas alimentadas con dietas suplementadas con ASHC fueron estadísticamente similares a los de las ratas de control, excepto por los niveles de ácido úrico y creatina, que fueron significativamente más bajos en los grupos alimentados con ASHC, y el nivel de urea, que fue elevado en todos los grupos alimentados con ASHC. Además, ASHC disminuyó significativamente la expresión de citocinas proinflamatorias (TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β e IL-6) y sus receptores (IL-1R e IL-6R), en comparación con el grupo de control. Nuestros resultados destacan los potenciales renoprotectores y cardioprotectores del ASHC, así como su potencial antiinflamatorio

Effect of Coat Colour on Water Intake and Feed Utilization of Intensively Reared West African Dwarf Sheep in the Humid Tropics

The effect of coat colour on water intake and feed utilization of intensively reared West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep in the humid tropics was examined. 60 WAD sheep of different coat colours were used for the experiment which lasted for 6 months. Prominent coat colour types in the region are black, brown and badgerface.  Animals were grouped into sexes. Daily free water intake (DFWI), DFWI/metabolic weight, daily total water intake (DTWI), DTWI/metabolic weight, daily feed intake (DFI), DFI/metabolic weight, DFWI/DFI, daily weight gain (DWG) and feed efficiency (FE) were measured. Analysis of data revealed that coat colour and sex had significant (P&lt;0.05) effect on parameters measured except DTWI and DTWI/metabolic weight. Brown sheep had the highest value for the parameters measured except DFWI/DFI and FE. There was no significant (P&gt;0.05) difference in DWG of black sheep (96.64±3.42 g) and brown sheep (95.24±2.77 g). Best feed efficiency (0.17±0.01) was observed in black sheep. Rams had the highest value for the parameters measured except DFWI/DFI and FE. Based on our results, we concluded that brown WAD sheep and rams consumed more feed and water, while black sheep consumed less feed and they are better feed utilizers. Keywords: Colour variant, feed intake, qualitative trait, sex, sheep, water consumptio

Proteogenomic markers of chemotherapy resistance and response in triple-negative breast cancer

UNLABELLED: Microscaled proteogenomics was deployed to probe the molecular basis for differential response to neoadjuvant carboplatin and docetaxel combination chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Proteomic analyses of pretreatment patient biopsies uniquely revealed metabolic pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation, adipogenesis, and fatty acid metabolism, that were associated with resistance. Both proteomics and transcriptomics revealed that sensitivity was marked by elevation of DNA repair, E2F targets, G2-M checkpoint, interferon-gamma signaling, and immune-checkpoint components. Proteogenomic analyses of somatic copy-number aberrations identified a resistance-associated 19q13.31-33 deletion where LIG1, POLD1, and XRCC1 are located. In orthogonal datasets, LIG1 (DNA ligase I) gene deletion and/or low mRNA expression levels were associated with lack of pathologic complete response, higher chromosomal instability index (CIN), and poor prognosis in TNBC, as well as carboplatin-selective resistance in TNBC preclinical models. Hemizygous loss of LIG1 was also associated with higher CIN and poor prognosis in other cancer types, demonstrating broader clinical implications. SIGNIFICANCE: Proteogenomic analysis of triple-negative breast tumors revealed a complex landscape of chemotherapy response associations, including a 19q13.31-33 somatic deletion encoding genes serving lagging-strand DNA synthesis (LIG1, POLD1, and XRCC1), that correlate with lack of pathologic response, carboplatin-selective resistance, and, in pan-cancer studies, poor prognosis and CIN. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2483