Non-enzymatic antioxidants status of leprosy patients in a leprosarium settlement in Nigeria

The plasma levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and uric acid were determined in leprosy subjects from in Ossiomo leprosorium settlement in Edo state, Nigeria. In this study, antioxidant status were determined in a total of 86 subjects that comprised of 31 leprosy patients on multidrug therapy (MBT), 40 leprosy patients relieved from therapy (RFT) in Ossiomo leprosorium settlement and 15 normal individuals who served as control subjects. Of the MDT group, 10 subjects were paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients while 21 were multibacillary (MB) patients. There were significant decreases (P<0.05) in the plasma vitamin C and vitamin E levels relative to the controls. However the uric acid level was higher in the leprosy patients (P<0.05) compared with the control subjects. The uric acid levels determined in the RFT patients (10.74±0.99) obtained was significantly higher than those of MDT patients (2.90±0.29) and controls (6.69±0.32). The observed decrease in the vitamin C and vitamin E levels in the leprosy patients could be as a result of the free radicals produced during metabolism of the chemotherapeutic agents administered to the patients and the chronic pathological effects of Mycobacterium leprae on the population studied.Keywords: leprosy, multidrug therapy, antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E, Uric acid

Aqueous extracts of African mistletoe (Loranthus bengwensis) leaves exert hypoglycaemic effects in normal rabbits

The hypoglycaemic effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of African mistletoe (Lorantus bengwensis) growing on Kola nuts plants (Kola acuminate) was studied on normal rabbits. The results obtained showed that administration of 100 mg/kg aqueous extract of the plant for 21 days elicited a 49% decrease in plasma glucose, while a dose of 200 mg/kg led to a decrease of 45%. In comparison, treatment with 0.1 mg/Kg Daonil caused a 72% reduction in plasma glucose concentration. This preliminary finding provides a basis for further investigation into the mechanism through which the plant extract exerts its hypoglycaemic effect and its potential use in the management of diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Hypoglycaemia, plasma glucose, mistletoe, diabetes, rabbits

Select toxic metals status of pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications in Benin City, South-South Nigeria

Toxic metals are part of the most important groups of environmental pollutants that can bind to vital  cellular components and interfere with their functions via inhalation, foods, water etc. The serum levels  of toxic metals (lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic) in pregnant women with history of  pregnancy  complications, pregnant women without history of pregnancy complication and  non-pregnant women in Benin City, South – South Nigeria was investigated in this paper, with total of 135 healthy women comprising of 45 pregnant women with history of previous pregnancy  complications, 45 pregnant women without history of pregnancy complications and 45 non-pregnant women without history of pregnancy complications (controls). Some demographic characteristics and 4ml of blood samples were obtained from each subject for the analysis of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic by standard methods. Pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications recorded a highly significant increase in the toxic metal (lead) mean value of 25.81μg/dl as against 23.70μg/dl for pregnant women without history of pregnancy complications and 11.23μg/dl for non-pregnant (control) women without history of pregnancy complications as well as significant increases in the mean values of other toxic metals (mercury, cadmium and arsenic) compared with controls (p<0.001). The selected toxic metals (Pb, Hg, Cd and As) may be involved in the development of pregnancy complications among pregnant women in Benin City, South– South Nigeria. Lead in  particular may pose threat to mothers and fetuses as its mean values in the two groups of pregnant women were well above normal. © JASEMKeywords: Toxic metals, pregnant women, History of pregnancy complications

Biometric Indices of Arachis hypogaea Plant Grown in Kutchalli Waste Pit Materials (Soils) in Borno State, Nigeria

Kutchalli drilling waste pit materials (WPM) in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, exploration site in Borno State of Nigeria was evaluated for systemic toxicity to inhabitants (man, animal and plants) via the food chain. In this experiment, biometric indices were analysed using standard methods. Results obtained showed that thecontrol soil (group 1) had plant height of 27cm ±0.2, leaf length 2.8cm ±0.3, while those of the wpm soils of group 5 had plant height of 25cm ±0.2, leaf length 2.3cm ±0.1 and group 7 plant height of 19cm ±0.3 and 1.6cm ±0.2 with a significant difference at

Antidiabetic and Plasma Endogenous Antioxidant Activity of alstonia boonei in Alloxan-Induced Male Diabetic Rabbits

Alstonia boonei is a well-known plant of medicinal value but its effect on endogenous plasma antioxidant in diabetes remains unknown. Thus, need to investigate the effects of the methanolic extract of the plant on plasma bilirubin and uric acid level in alloxan induced diabetes rabbits. Twenty five rabbits divided into five groups of four rabbits each were used. There was a significant change in the levels of total bilirubin and uric acid in the plasma of treated groups as compared with both non diabetes and untreated diabetes group, while conjugated bilirubin level was relatively unchanged in the treated group. This work clearly indicates that methanolic extract of Alstonia boonei stem bark is effective in the management of diabetes as well as restoration of lost endogenous plasma antioxidants experienced in diabetes mellitus

Effect of academic stress on serum cortisol level and CD4 cell count in young male postgraduate students in Okada, Nigeria

To assess the effect of stress on serum cortisol level and CD4 cell count in young male postgraduate students at Igbinedion University, a cross  sectional laboratory based analysis survey was adopted for this study. A total of 104 male volunteer postgraduate students (age 22 + 7.0 years, body mass index 26 + 0.5 kg/m2) were randomly recruited. Total white blood cell (TWBC) was determined using the Sysmex® AutomatedHematology Analyzer. CD4 cell count was estimated using Partec cyflow counter. Serum cortisol level was determined by enzyme-linked  immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. It was observed that there was asignificant (P < 0.05) increase in the serum cortisol level at stage A (1st day of the semester) when compared with stage B (midway in the semester) and C (morning of the examination), while there was significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the TWBC count and CD4 cell count at A stage when compared with stage B and C. It was observed that academic stress was inhibitory of the proliferation of CD4 cells with the elevation of serumcortisol as a possible mediator.Keywords: Stress, cortisol, CD4 cell, ELISA

Clinical oxidative stress during leprosy multidrug therapy:impact of dapsone oxidation

This study aims to assess the oxidative stress in leprosy patients under multidrug therapy (MDT; dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin), evaluating the nitric oxide (NO) concentration, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, glutathione (GSH) levels, total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, and methemoglobin formation. For this, we analyzed 23 leprosy patients and 20 healthy individuals from the Amazon region, Brazil, aged between 20 and 45 years. Blood sampling enabled the evaluation of leprosy patients prior to starting multidrug therapy (called MDT 0) and until the third month of multidrug therapy (MDT 3). With regard to dapsone (DDS) plasma levels, we showed that there was no statistical difference in drug plasma levels between multibacillary (0.518±0.029 μg/mL) and paucibacillary (0.662±0.123 μg/mL) patients. The methemoglobin levels and numbers of Heinz bodies were significantly enhanced after the third MDTsupervised dose, but this treatment did not significantly change the lipid peroxidation and NO levels in these leprosy patients. In addition, CAT activity was significantly reduced in MDT-treated leprosy patients, while GSH content was increased in these patients. However, SOD and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity levels were similar in patients with and without treatment. These data suggest that MDT can reduce the activity of some antioxidant enzyme and influence ROS accumulation, which may induce hematological changes, such as methemoglobinemia in patients with leprosy. We also explored some redox mechanisms associated with DDS and its main oxidative metabolite DDS-NHOH and we explored the possible binding of DDS to the active site of CYP2C19 with the aid of molecular modeling software

Plasma Zinc Levels of Pregnant Women Visiting Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

The plasma zinc levels were evaluated in pregnant women at different trimesters visiting Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. Sixty pregnant women were evaluated and out of these, 15 each were in their first, second and their trimesters respectively, while another 15 non pregnant women served as controls. The ages of the subjects were between 19 and 35 years. Their plasma samples were analyzed using the Walsh method with alpha 4-type model of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results of the analyses were 17.113±1.600, 11.750±3.289, 9.246±4.739 and 17.350±0.504 μmol/L for the 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester and control subjects respectively. There were significant statistical differences (p< 0.05) between the values obtained from the pregnant women the values from the control subjects. There is the need for zinc supplementation during pregnancy in the study area, especially during the second and third trimesters. Keywords:Zinc, plasma, pregnant women, hospital, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(3): 281-283, 200

A study of the levels of vanadium, cadmium, chromium and iron in occupational photocopier operators at the university of Benin, Benin-city, Nigeria.

Background: There is conflicting information on the adverse health effects of photocopier toner powder on operators.This study aims to determine the possible nephrotoxic effects of some commercially available photocopier toners and the levels of selected heavy metals (vanadium, cadmium, chromium and iron) for residents of Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from photocopier operators and technicians resident in Benin City, Nigeria. Renal function and the levels of heavy metals of theses samples were assessed. The biochemical parameters used to evaluate renal function include: urea, creatinine and electrolytes. Heavy metals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, sodium and potassium ions were analyzed by flame emission photometry, urea was analyzed by the urease-betherlot method, creatinine was analyzed using the Jaffe technique while chloride and bicarbonate ions were analyzed using the Schales and Schales method and acid-base back titration respectively. Results: Plasma levels of cadmium and iron were found to be significantly lower (P<0.01) in the test subjects relative to their controls. Urea and potassium ions were found to be significantly elevated in the test subjects relative to their controls at P<0.01. Creatinine, chromium and vanadium were also found to be elevated in test subjects relative to their controls; though these were not statistically significant at P>0.05. Conclusion: The results obtained from this study are suggestive of elevated levels of metals measured. Also, prolonged exposure to photocopier toner powder may be a risk factor for the development of iron deficiency anaemia.Key words: vanadium, cadmium, chromium, iron, photocopie

Electrolytes profile of sickle-cell disease patients visiting the Central Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Serum contents of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ions were determined in 50 children (5-15 years of age) having sickle-cell disease (SCD) and visiting the Central Hospital , Benin City, Nigeria. Twenty (20) were asymptomatic and 30 symptomatic. Another 40 served as control and were apparently healthy children age–matched, without any evidence of any haemoglobinopathies. Analysis of the results showed a statistically (p<0.05) increase in the K+ in the patients, but not Na+, Cl- and HCO3. The asymptomatic group showed Na+ Cl- and HCO3- that correlated more closely to the control group. However, the overall changes bear no statistical significance (p>0.05). The results are in support of the theory of red blood cell membrane dysfunction in sickle-cell disease with cation leakage across the cell membrane especially of K+ from the intercellular into the extracellular space. Keywords: Sickle-cell disease, electrolytes, potassium, chloride, sodium, bicarbonate, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(4): 385-387, 200