PREVALENCE OF SOME INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN RELATION TO BODY MASS INDEX OF CHILDREN RESIDENT IN ORPHANAGES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

There is paucity of information on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in orphanage homes in Anambra State, Nigeria. This study investigated the prevalence of some intestinal parasitic infections in relation to Body Mass Index (BMI) of children resident in orphanages situated in Anambra State. A total of 272 subjects comprising 172 orphans and 100 children in family setting (control) were investigated for intestinal parasites using formol-ether concentration method. Underweight, overweight and obesity were determined from BMI using the International Obesity Task Force cut-off points. Prevalence of 23.3%, 5.8%, 4.7% and 1.2% were observed for Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus/Ancylostoma duodenale, and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar infections respectively. Prevalence of 12.8% and 9.0% were observed in children of orphanages and children living in their families respectively (P = 0.045, P < 0.05). The mean BMI of children living with their families was significantly higher than that of children in the orphanages (P = 0.000, P < 0.05). However, this was not related to parasitic infestation. It may be related to the level of care giving to the children in the orphanages. Underweight children were 8.1% and 0% in children of orphanages and families respectively while overweight children were 3.5% and 8.0% respectively. Children in family setting seem to thrive better than those in orphanages

Evaluation of Angiopoietins 1 and 2 in Malaria-Infested Children

Background. Malaria could affect people of all ages, most especially young children. The study evaluated the levels of serum angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) which are critical regulators of endothelial activation and integrity with some hematological parameters (total white blood cell counts (WBC), total red blood cell counts (RBC), platelet counts, and malaria parasite density) in malaria-infected children. Method. A total of 92 blood samples from children between the ages of 6 months to 15 years were analyzed. The samples consisted of 30 cases of severe malaria, 40 cases of uncomplicated malaria, and 22 apparently healthy subjects served as control. Serum Ang-1 and -2 levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The hematological parameters were determined using the WHO standard. Results. There was significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum Ang-1 of uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria compared with the control, while significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in Ang-2 and Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio in uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria compared with the control. RBC and platelet showed significant decrease, while WBC showed significant increase in severe malaria compared with uncomplicated malaria and control. Conclusion. This study showed that subjects with malaria infection had a significant increase of Ang-2 and Ang-2 : Ang-1 ratio but presented with a significant decrease of Ang-1. Ang-1 and Ang-2 may be used to determine the severity of malaria infection since their levels differ significantly in malaria subjects compared with the control

Pattern Of Blood Pressure, Cd4+ T Cells Count And Some Cardiac Enzymes In Hiv Seropositive Subjects

HIV/AIDS infection is a global pandemic, which is becoming a security problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria inclusive. The present study was designed to investigate the pattern of blood pressure, CD4 + T cells count and some cardiac enzymes in HIV seropositive subjects in Nnewi and its environment because HIV infection results into a lot of clinical manifestations such as cardiovascular disorders. A total number of one hundred and fifty seropositive subjects on and without antiretroviral therapy ARVT were investigated. The results showed that total creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB and total aspartate aminotransferases (AST) were significantly increased (

Bacterial evaluation of ready-to-eat sliced fruits sold for human consumption in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Introduction: Safety after consumption of ready-to-eat sliced fruits often sold by road sides is of concern. The fruits are sliced by unschooled fruit sellers with little or no knowledge of hygienic protocols for achieving food safety. Consumption of such exposed food may not be without challenges in food safety. Aim and Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the safety of ready to-eat sliced fruit sold for human consumption. The objectives include finding out bacterial contamination of the fruits, bacterial load on the fruits and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of isolated bacteria. Materials and methods: Twenty samples each of sliced pawpaw, watermelon and pineapple were evaluated for bacterial contamination using standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated bacteria were tested. Results: Ninety bacteria isolates belonging to five bacterial genera were recorded. Of these isolates, Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 34.3 %, followed by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae [17.2 % each], Salmonella typhi [15.2%], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [9.1 %] and lastly other salmonellae [7.1 %]. The total aerobic counts range from 9.36 x 105 to 7.25 x 106 /ml of fruit homogenate. Pawpaw recorded the heaviest contamination followed by watermelon and pineapple. Augmentin and cefuroxime recorded the highest mean percentage antibiotic resistance of 83.3 each, followed by ceftaxidime and cefixime [66.7 each], gentamicin [16.7]; ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin recorded no resistance against all the bacteria. Conclusion: The mean total aerobic microbial counts on sliced fruits were beyond acceptable limit for human consumption. Public enlightenment and training of fruit vendors is hereby advocated to reduce possible hazards due to consumption of these products in Nigeria and Ado-Ekiti in particular

The impact of diabetes on tuberculosis treatment outcomes: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies of tuberculosis treatment have indicated that patients with diabetes mellitus may experience poor outcomes.We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively summarize evidence for the impact of diabetes on tuberculosis outcomes. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and the World Health Organization Regional Indexes from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 2010 and references of relevant articles for reports of observational studies that included people with diabetes treated for tuberculosis. We reviewed the full text of 742 papers and included 33 studies of which 9 reported culture conversion at two to three months, 12 reported the combined outcome of failure and death, 23 reported death, 4 reported death adjusted for age and other potential confounding factors, 5 reported relapse, and 4 reported drug resistant recurrent tuberculosis. RESULTS: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of failure and death during tuberculosis treatment. Patients with diabetes have a risk ratio (RR) for the combined outcome of failure and death of 1.69 (95% CI, 1.36 to 2.12). The RR of death during tuberculosis treatment among the 23 unadjusted studies is 1.89 (95% CI, 1.52 to 2.36), and this increased to an effect estimate of 4.95 (95% CI, 2.69 to 9.10) among the 4 studies that adjusted for age and other potential confounding factors. Diabetes is also associated with an increased risk of relapse (RR, 3.89; 95% CI, 2.43 to 6.23). We did not find evidence for an increased risk of tuberculosis recurrence with drug resistant strains among people with diabetes. The studies assessing sputum culture conversion after two to three months of tuberculosis therapy were heterogeneous with relative risks that ranged from 0.79 to 3.25. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes increases the risk of failure and death combined, death, and relapse among patients with tuberculosis. This study highlights a need for increased attention to treatment of tuberculosis in people with diabetes, which may include testing for suspected diabetes, improved glucose control, and increased clinical and therapeutic monitoring