C- Reactive Protein in Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections in Abeokuta, Nigeria

This study was conducted to evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and the follow-up therapeutic response to tuberculosis (TB) among patients aged 19-68 years attending out-patient clinics of two hospitals in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria. Of 246 blood samples examined, the CRP value was highest (4.0%) among age group 21-40 years and there was significant difference between CRP values of age groups (p<0.001). More males (4.6%) had higher CRP value than females (1.5%), however there was no significant difference between their CRP values (p=0.173). C-reactive protein values was significantly higher (30.8%) among patients with severe anaemia (p<0.001). Also, the CRP value was significantly higher (57.1%) among patients with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate value greater than 100mm/h (p<0.001) and patients (38.1%) with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (p<0.001). C-reactive protein value was also significantly highest (50.0%) among patients infected with HIV only and HIV patients co-infected with TB (p<0.001). The elevated CRP values were progressively reduced to normal values (0-10mg/L) among TB infected patients but not HIV co-infected patients within the eight weeks therapeutic period. In conclusion, CRP level in blood could be regarded as a sensitive indicator to monitor the response to chemotherapeutic treatments of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.Keywords: C-reactive protein, Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency, Virus, Outpatient, Abeokuta, Nigeri

Spoils politics and environmental struggle in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

The protracted conflict in the Niger Delta communities is currently being diagnosed with a view to understanding the nature of the resource struggle. From the 1980s, the region’s cry of marginalization and exclusion from oil revenue allocation was couched in a wave of environmentalism. Environmental activism had assumed the shape of peaceful community protests against the transnational oil companies and was largely directed at ecological remediation and environmental justice. Environmentalism has now assumed new dimensions both in demands and strategy. The struggle has advanced to a low intensity conflict ostensibly against the state which has resulted in the militarization of the region. Although amnesty has been granted the militants by the federal government since October 2009 as a first step to resolving the conflict, there has been criticism trailing its framing and implementation that did not take into account some historical and socio-political antecedents of conflicts in the region. This paper revisits these and applies the greed and grievance framework to investigate the nature of the conflicts. It examines the pattern of environmentalism and discusses the complex nature of the conflicts against the curtailment of primordial motivations if environmental justice is to be achieved. Contrary to the literature, it demonstrates how grievance may manifest in greed in a mutually reinforcing pattern.Keywords: Greed, grievance, militancy, environmentalism, Niger Delta, Nigeri

Triple positivity of HBsAg, anti-HCV antibody, and HIV and their influence on CD4+ lymphocyte levels in the highly HIV infected population of Abeokuta, Nigeria

Background: Few studies exist on hospital-based seroprevalence of triple positivity of HIV/HBV/HCV in Nigeria.Objectives: The study aimed at determining the triple positivity of HIV, HBsAg and HCV among  HIV-infected individuals in Abeokuta, Nigeria and defining the influence of these triple infections on CD4+ counts of HIV-infected individuals as antiretroviral therapy improves in Nigeria.Methods: Enumeration of CD4+ levels in 183 HIV-infected persons was done with Partec Flow  Cytometer. Seropositivity of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody was detected with rapid kits.Results: From the result obtained, significance variance (p<0.05) existed between HIV positive persons and persons who tested positive to HIV/HBV/HCV triple infection before and after the commencement of HAART. Of these infections, 31(16.9%) had HBV/HCV/HIV triple infection, while 152(83.1%) had HIV mono infection only, 56(30.6%) had HBV/HIV dual infection only and 43(23.5%) had HCV/HIV dual infection only. Significant variance (p<0.05) also existed between subjects with CD4 counts of <200 cells/μl, 200-499 cells/μl and >500 cells/μl. Highest seroprevalence of HIV (35.0%) was found in age groups 35-44 years and >65 years had the least (2.7%). Significant variance (p<0.05) also existed in the progression of CD4+ lymphocytes cells between subjects with persistent decrease (32.3%) in CD4+ lymphocytes cells and those with fluctuation in their CD4+ lymphocytes cells (12.9%) after the commencement of ART.Conclusion: The study further confirms that triple positivity of HIV/HBV/HCV infection is common in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Testing of these triple infections should be a big concern in the best choice and commencement of ART. Also, the study showed that consistent and prolonged use of HAART had a  positive impact on the CD4 count of HIV-infected individuals.Keywords: AIDS, ART, HAART, CD4, HIV/HBV/HC

Diagnostic value of procalcitonin in neonatal sepsis

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of mortality in developing countries. Accurate and quick diagnosis are difficult because clinical presentation are non-specific, bacterial cultures are time-consuming and other laboratory tests lack sensitivity and specificity. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as an early marker of infections in neonates.Objectives: This study investigated the value of PCT in the diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis.Methods: Neonates undergoing sepsis evaluation at the Special Baby Care Unit, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria between January and April 2013 were included. Blood samples were obtained for white cell count, blood cultures, serum CRP and PCT analysis. Neonates were categorised into Proven Sepsis, Suspected Sepsis and Clinical Sepsis groups on the basis of laboratory findings and risk factors. A control group with no clinical and biological data of infection was also included. Predictive values and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of PCT were evaluated.Result: Of the 85 neonates, 19 (22.4%) had positive blood culture. PCT level was significantly higher in neonates in all sepsis groups in comparison with those in the control group (P< 0.05). At a cut-off of 0.5 ng/ml, the negative predictive value (NPV) of PCT was 80% and the positive predictive value (PPV) 39%. There were no significant statistical difference between the AUC values of PCT in Early onset and Late onset sepsis, as well between AUC in Preterm and term cases. A higher percentage of neonates who died (96%) had elevated PCT levels compared to those who survived (46%).Conclusion: These findings support the usefulness of the PCT in diagnosis of Neonatal sepsis.Keywords: Neonatal Sepsis, Diagnosis, Procalcitonin, Receiver Operating Characteristic Curv

Prevalence of Tuberculosis among patients attending two Secondary Hospitals in Abeokuta Ogun State.

This study was conducted to examine the rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among individuals attendingthe outpatient clinic of two hospitals in Abeokuta Metropolis in Southwestern Nigeria. Of the 132 individuals examined, the overall rate of tuberculosis infection was 16.7%. Infection was highest among patients in the 21-40 year age group (11.4%). Results also showed that 10.6% of male patients were infected with tuberculosis and 6.1% of female patients infected with tuberculosis. There was no significant difference between the sex and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. There was also no significant difference between age-groups and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. But there was a significant difference between the ESR and tuberculosis infection. Cette étude a été menée afin d’examiner le taux d’infections à Mycobacteriumtuberculosi schez les individus suivis à la clinique externe de deux hôpitaux de métropole de Abeokuta au Sud-ouest du Nigéria. Sur les 132 individus examinés, le taux global d'infection de la tuberculose était de 16,7%. L'infection était plus élevée chez les patients âgés de 21-40 ans (11,4%). Les résultats ont également montré que 10,6% des patients de sexe masculin ont été infectés par la tuberculose et 6,1% des patientes infectées par la tuberculose. Il n'y avait pas de différence significative entre le sexe et l'infection à Mycobacteriumtuberculosis. Il n'y avait pas de différence significative entre les groupes d'âge et l'infection à Mycobacteriumtuberculosis. Mais il y avait une différence significative entre l'ESR et la tuberculose.Article in English

The contribution of alcohol to chronic liver disease in patients from South-West Nigeria

Objective: This study aimed at determining the level and type of alcohol consumed by patients diagnosed with chronic liver disease (CLD) and, hence, the extent to which alcohol may have contributed to the development of the condition.Study Design: Patients with diagnosis ofCLDwere consecutively recruited and a structured questionnaire was administered on each of them. Diagnosis of CLD was made based on liver histology and/or typical clinical and laboratory features.Alcohol consumption was considered significant if a patient took 50g/day for 10 years.Results: A total of 145 patients were studied consisting of 102 males and 43 females. Their ages ranged from 20- 80 years with a mean of 46.8 ± 15.7 years. Fifty-one (35.2%) patients, all males, drank significant alcoholwhile consumption was not significant in 43 (29.6%) patients. Alcohol was not consumed at all by 51 (35.2%) patients made up of 18 males (35.3%) and 33 females (64.7%). Beer was the commonest form of alcohol consumed (70.2%) followed by palm wine (50%) and locally-brewed gin (20.2%).The diagnoses made were liver cirrhosis [LC] (60, 41.38%), chronic hepatitis [CH] (54, 37.20%), hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] (23, 15.86%), alcoholic liver disease [ALD] (6, 4.14%) and non-alcoholicfatty liver disease [NAFLD] (2, 1.38%). The liver disease spectrum did not differ between the patients who drank significant alcohol and those who did not. However, the proportion of LC/HCC cases increased relativetoCHwith increasing age and consumption of alcohol.Conclusions: The proportion of CLD directly attributable to alcohol (i.e. ALD) is low among the patients studied. However, the burden of LC andHCCis directly related to age and the amount of alcohol consumed andthe determinants of alcohol abuse are gender and affluence

Evaluation of Rapid Methods in Malaria Diagnosis from Persons attending Primary Health Facilities, Ogun State, Nigeria

Malaria in Nigeria is treated blindly in most cases and where diagnostic measures exist, efficacies of several are still in doubt. This study evaluated performance of microscopy and rapid (RDT) methods in confirming prevalence of malaria parasites (MP),parasite species and percent parasitized red blood cells in 384 persons systematically selected from seven primary healthcare facilities in Ogun State, Nigeria from October to December 2012. Giemsa thin and thick film techniques and RDT (SD Bioline Ag P.f/Pan kit) were employed on the blood samples. Data were analysed using SPSS version 16. Demographic results showed that females were 61% and males 39%,but of varying age groups. Seventy-one percent of the blood samples were positive for MP by microscopic blood films, and only 24% samples were positive by RDT. Paired sample T-test showed a significant difference (P=0.000)between microscopy and RDT methods. Of the 273 positive blood samples,95.6%were P. falciparum,3.3% were P. malariae, 0.7% was P. ovale and P. vivax (0.4%). For RDT, P. falciparum was 74% while mixed infections were 26%. Prevalence in risk groups 0–10 and 11–20 age groups was observed to be higher with significant differences (p=0.011, p=0.023) for both microscopy and RDT respectively. RDT sensitivity and specificity were 23.4% and 74.7% compared to microscopy. Positive Predictive Value and Negative Predictive Value were 69.6% and 28.4%. The efficiency of the RDT was 38.3%. The low sensitivity of RDT observed means that malaria diagnosis by microscopy method remains the gold standar

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Bacteria isolated from Septicaemia Cases in a Tertiary Health Care in Abeokuta

ABSTRACT: The term septicaemia is often used in describing severe bacteraemic infections or a condition in which the blood serves as a site of bacteria multiplication. A total of 120 blood culture samples were collected during year 2011 to 2012. Bacteria isolated were characterized and the antibiotic sensitivity patterns were determined. The antibiotic sensitivity was carried out using Kirby-Bauer diffusion method. Bacteria isolated include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The highest number of bacteria was found among patient age 10 years. Escherichia coli accounted for 12(46.2%) of the bacteria isolated while Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella sp and Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for 6(23.1%), 6(23.1%) and 2(7.6%) respectively. The least prevalent isolate Streptococcus pneumoniae was found only in age group 10. Ceftazidime and Levoxin showed high sensitivity rate to most of the bacterial isolates. From this study, the uncontrolled use of antibiotics may have implication for emerging resistance of bacteria to commonly -used antibiotics. [Akingbade OA, Ojo DA, Okerentugba PO, Adejuwon AO, Okonko IO

Optimisation of pH of cadmium chloride post-growth-treatment in processing CDS/CDTE based thin film solar cells

The role of Chlorine-based activation in the production of high quality CdS/CdTe photovoltaic have been well discussed and explored with an overlook of the effect of Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) post-growth treatment acidity on the property of the fabricated devices. This work focuses on the optimisation of CdCl2 post-growth treatment pH as it affects both the material and fabricated device properties of all-electrodeposited multilayer glass/FTO/n-CdS/n-CdTe/p-CdTe configuration. CdCl2 treatments with acidity ranging from pH1 to pH4 were explored. The properties of the ensued CdTe layer were explored using optical, morphological, compositional structural and electrical property analysis, while, the effect on fabricated multilayer glass/FTO/n-CdS/n-CdTe/p-CdTe configuration were also explored using both I-V and C-V measurements. Highest improvements in the optical, morphological, compositional and structural were observed at pH2 CdCl2 post-growth treatment with an improvement in absorption edge, grain size, crystallinity and crystallite size. Conductivity type conversions from n-CdTe to p-CdTe, increase in pin-hole density and collapse of the absorption edge were observed after pH1 CdCl2 treatment. The highest fabricated solar cell efficiency of 13% was achieved using pH2 CdCl2 treatment as compared to other pH values explored