Platelet count and platelets indices of mortuary workers exposed to formaldehyde: a study in Calabar, Nigeria

Background: Embalming chemicals such as formaldehyde has been shown to be toxic to human system. It’s carcinogenicity effect and ability to cause adverse health conditions has been reported. Formalin is the aqueous solution of formaldehyde and it is converted to H2C (OH)2 when dissolved in water. This study was done to provide information on the effect of formaldehyde on the platelet count and platelet indices of mortuary workers.Methods: Total of 64 subjects were recruited for the study based on convenience sampling method in Calabar, Cross River State. The test group comprised of 32 mortuary workers with age ranging from 18-60 years from University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, General Hospital, Navy Hospital, Anatomy Department-University of Calabar and Infectious Disease Hospital, all in Calabar Meteropolis and 32 non-mortuary workers of the same age bracket from Calabar municipality served as control. Sample collection was by venipuncture and method of analysis was by the use of automated haematology analyzer.Results: This study shows that mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width were significantly increased p<0.01) in mortuary workers. The platelet count of mortuary workers were also significantly decreased (p=0.918) when compared to non-mortuary workers. Three out of thirty two mortuary workers had giant forms of platelet. The result also shows that long term exposure to formaldehyde can cause a reduction in the platelet count and platelet indices of mortuary workers.Conclusions: This study has shown that exposure to formaldehyde has a negative alteration on the platelet count and platelet indices of mortuary workers

Speed of capillary blood flow and d-dimer levels in sickle cell anaemia patients in Calabar, cross river state

Background: The experience of painful episodes of ill health caused by sequelae of erythrocytes sickling, impaired blood flow, hypercoagulation and vaso-occlusion is one of the hallmarks of sickle cell disease. Preventing painful episodes and promoting the physical wellbeing of persons with sickle cell disease is usually a major objective in the management of the condition. The purpose of this study is to investigate capillary blood flow and D-Dimer activities in people with sickle cell anaemia.Methods: A total of 90 subjects (27 males and 63 females) participated in the study, the study comprised of 34 HbSS patients, three were in crisis and thirty-one in steady state, 9 sickle cell carriers (HbAS) and 47 HbAA were control subjects. The haemoglobin phenotype was determined using haemoglobin electrophoresis at alkaline pH (8.6), speed of capillary blood flow was estimated using vascular Doppler ultrasonographic technique and D-Dimer was determined using ELISA method.Results: Results obtained showed that there was a significant variation (p=0.042) in the mean levels D-Dimer among the groups. There was however no significant variations (p>0.05) in the other parameters among the groups. A post hoc analysis of mean D-Dimer in sickle cell patients, sickle cell carriers and controls showed that the sickle cell patients had significantly higher D-Dimer levels compared with controls.Conclusions: Sickle cells patients in steady state had higher D-Dimer levels compared with controls and sickle cell patients in crisis had lower speed of capillary blood flow when compared to sickle cell patients in steady state and controls

Haemostatic property of Chromolaena odorata leaf extracts: in vitro and in vivo evaluation in wistar rats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of aqueous, ethanol and crude extracts of Chromolaena odorata leaf on haemostatic mechanism of wistar rats and its possible in vitro use in coagulation study. Fifty wistar rats of both sexes weighing between 140-180 g were sorted into 10 groups each fed via oral gavage once daily for 21 days. Sample collection was done by cardiac puncture. Bleeding and clotting times were performed using Duke’s and Ivy’s methods, respectively. The prothrombin time was performed using the Quick’s one stage method, while the partial thromboplastin time using kaolin was done using Macpherson and Hardity method using Giess diagnosis reagent. Significant results were observed in the bleeding and clotting times of the three extracts in a dose-dependent manner. The 300-mg/kg ethanol extract decreased the bleeding time more than the other two extracts. Only the ethanol 150 and 300 mg/mL showed in vitro activity. The study showed the in vivo haemostatic properties of Chromolaena odorata leaf extracts and its possible use in in vitro coagulation study

Seroprevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV) among prospective blood donors in a tertiary health care facility in Calabar, Nigeria; an eleven years evaluation

Abstract Background Provision of constant and safe blood has been a public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa with high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). This study was aimed at determining the trend and seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV across the years within study among prospective blood donors at blood bank in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria. Methods A retrospective analysis of blood donor data from January 2005 to December 2016 was conducted in Blood Bank/Donor Clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. Sera samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 and Treponema pallidum using commercially available immunochromatic based kits. Results Out of the 24,979 screened prospective donors in the 2005–2016 study period, 3739 (14.96%) were infected with at least one infective agent. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV were 4.1, 3.6, 3.1 and 4.2%, respectively. During the period of study, the percentage of all transfusion-transmissible infections declined significantly with remarkable decline in HIV. The study showed male dominated donor pool (98.7%) with higher prevalence (4.2%) of transfusion-transmissible infections than in female donors (0.0%). Commercial donors constituted majority (62.0%) of the donors and as well had the highest prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections. Majority (62.9%) of the donors were repeat donors. Conclusion HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV have remained a big threat to safe blood transfusion in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa at large. Strict adherence to selection criteria and algorithm of donor screening are recommended

Some hematological parameters of Wistar rats treated with Chromolaena odorata leave extracts

This study was designed to investigate the effects of the different extracts of Chromolaena odorata leave on the hematopoietic system of Wistar rats. Solvent extraction was used for the ethanol and aqueous extractions while decoction method was used for the crude extraction. Fifty Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 140-180 g were used for this study. They were divided into ten groups each containing five rats. The animals were fed the extracts by oral gavage once daily for 21 days. Blood sample was collected via cardiac artery. Hematological parameters were analyzed using automation method. The ethanol extract gave the highest extract yield. The aqueous, ethanol and crude extraction had median lethal toxicity (LD50) of 2738.6 mg/kg, 1581.1 mg/kg and 224.7 mg/kg, respectively. Significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in the total white blood cell count was observed in the 75 mg/kg ethanol and 300 mg/kg crude extracts when compared with control group. Significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in the hemoglobin concentration was observed in the 150 mg/kg ethanol extracts when compared with the control group. Significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in the packed cell volume was seen in the 75 mg/kg aqueous, 150 mg/kg aqueous and 75 mg/kg ethanol extracts in respect to the control group. The mean cell volume, the mean platelet volume and platelet large cell ratio of the 75 mg/kg aqueous extract were significantly different (P&lt;0.05) when compared with the control group. The present study showed possible treatment-induced hematopoietic function of C. odorata leave extracts