L-arginine increases nitric oxide and attenuates pressor and heart rate responses to change in posture in sickle cell anemia subjects

Pressor and heart rate changes following change in posture without or with L-arginine supplementation (1g/day for 6 weeks) were studied in 28 sickle cell anemia (SCA) and 32 non-sickle cell anemia (NSCA) subjects. Change in posture increased HR (p<0.01), RPP (p<0.05) in both groups of subjects, MABP (p<0.05) in SCAS but reduced MABP (p<0.01) in NSCAS and PP (p<0.01) in SCAS. L-Arginine supplementation increased plasma L-Arginine concentration ([R]) in both groups of subjects (p<0.001 in each group) and serum nitric oxide metabolites concentration ([NOx]) (p<0.01 in each group). Change (Δ) [R] correlated positively with Δ [NOx] in both groups (+ 0.7 in each group). L-Arginine supplementation caused greater reduction of MABP (p<0.001) in NSCAS than in SCAS. However, reduction in HR was greater (p<0.001) in SCAS than in NSCAS. After supplementation, MABP and PP responses to change in posture were attenuated in the two groups. However, while HR and RPP responses in SCAS were attenuated, the same responses were enhanced in NSCAS by change in posture after supplementation. In conclusion, study shows that oral, low dose, chronic supplementation with L-arginine increased NO availability and attenuated pressor and heart rate responses to change in posture in sickle cell anemia subjects.Keywords: Sickle cell anemia, Change in posture, L-arginine, Pressor and heart rate changes, Nitric oxid

Effects of Nigeria Ekete light crude oil on plasma electrolytes, packed cell volume (PCV) and lipids profile in wistar (Rattus norvegicus) rats

Hydrocarbon is known to alter blood parameters; some of these blood parameters may affect the activities of certain systems like cardiovascular system. Hydrocarbon gets into man and animal either through ingestion of contaminated food and water, bio-concentration through food chain, occupational exposure or by using hydrocarbon products. Effects of crude oil on plasma electrolytes, packed cell volume (PCV) and plasma lipid profile were examined in male Rattus norvegicus in this study. Crude oil was administered orally at dosages of 5 ml/kg (group I), 10 ml/kg (group II) and 20 ml/kg (group III) for two weeks while the control group received drinking water only. The result shows a reduction in packed cell volume in all treated groups compared to control (37.14±0.85, P < 0.05) and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma sodium level in treated groups compared to control (22.486±2.983 mg/L) while there was no significant alteration in plasma lipids profile of the treated groups relative to the control. Oral administration of crude oil significantly altered the plasma levels of electrolytes and PCV.Keywords: Electrolytes, crude oil, plasma lipids profile, packed cell volume

Promotion of plasma membrane repair by vitamin E

Severe vitamin E deficiency results in lethal myopathy in animal models. Membrane repair is an important myocyte response to plasma membrane disruption injury as when repair fails, myocytes die and muscular dystrophy ensues. Here we show that supplementation of cultured cells with α-tocopherol, the most common form of vitamin E, promotes plasma membrane repair. Conversely, in the absence of α-tocopherol supplementation, exposure of cultured cells to an oxidant challenge strikingly inhibits repair. Comparative measurements reveal that, to promote repair, an anti-oxidant must associate with membranes, as α-tocopherol does, or be capable of α-tocopherol regeneration. Finally, we show that myocytes in intact muscle cannot repair membranes when exposed to an oxidant challenge, but show enhanced repair when supplemented with vitamin E. Our work suggests a novel biological function for vitamin E in promoting myocyte plasma membrane repair. We propose that this function is essential for maintenance of skeletal muscle homeostasis

The burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in the WHO African region in 2019: a cross-country systematic analysis

Background A critical and persistent challenge to global health and modern health care is the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Previous studies have reported a disproportionate burden of AMR in low-income and middle-income countries, but there remains an urgent need for more in-depth analyses across Africa. This study presents one of the most comprehensive sets of regional and country-level estimates of bacterial AMR burden in the WHO African region to date. Methods We estimated deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to and associated with AMR for 23 bacterial pathogens and 88 pathogen–drug combinations for countries in the WHO African region in 2019. Our methodological approach consisted of five broad components: the number of deaths in which infection had a role, the proportion of infectious deaths attributable to a given infectious syndrome, the proportion of infectious syndrome deaths attributable to a given pathogen, the percentage of a given pathogen resistant to an antimicrobial drug of interest, and the excess risk of mortality (or duration of an infection) associated with this resistance. These components were then used to estimate the disease burden by using two counterfactual scenarios: deaths attributable to AMR (considering an alternative scenario where infections with resistant pathogens are replaced with susceptible ones) and deaths associated with AMR (considering an alternative scenario where drug-resistant infections would not occur at all). We obtained data from research hospitals, surveillance networks, and infection databases maintained by private laboratories and medical technology companies. We generated 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for final estimates as the 25th and 975th ordered values across 1000 posterior draws, and models were cross-validated for out-of-sample predictive validity. Findings In the WHO African region in 2019, there were an estimated 1·05 million deaths (95% UI 829 000–1 316 000) associated with bacterial AMR and 250 000 deaths (192 000–325 000) attributable to bacterial AMR. The largest fatal AMR burden was attributed to lower respiratory and thorax infections (119 000 deaths [92 000–151 000], or 48% of all estimated bacterial pathogen AMR deaths), bloodstream infections (56 000 deaths [37 000–82 000], or 22%), intra-abdominal infections (26 000 deaths [17 000–39 000], or 10%), and tuberculosis (18 000 deaths [3850–39 000], or 7%). Seven leading pathogens were collectively responsible for 821 000 deaths (636 000–1 051 000) associated with resistance in this region, with four pathogens exceeding 100 000 deaths each: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant K pneumoniae and meticillin-resistant S aureus were shown to be the leading pathogen–drug combinations in 25 and 16 countries, respectively (53% and 34% of the whole region, comprising 47 countries) for deaths attributable to AMR. Interpretation This study reveals a high level of AMR burden for several bacterial pathogens and pathogen–drug combinations in the WHO African region. The high mortality rates associated with these pathogens demonstrate an urgent need to address the burden of AMR in Africa. These estimates also show that quality and access to health care and safe water and sanitation are correlated with AMR mortality, with a higher fatal burden found in lower resource settings. Our cross-country analyses within this region can help local governments to leverage domestic and global funding to create stewardship policies that target the leading pathogen–drug combinations. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and Department of Health and Social Care using UK aid funding managed by the Fleming Fund

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

Electrocardiographic and blood pressure changes in apparently health male subjects following oral, chronic, low-dose vitamin c supplementation and /or change in posture

No Abstract

Effects of vitamin C supplement on vascular responses induced by warmth or cold stimulation in normal Nigerians

No abstract Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 13(1-2): 61-6

Effects of chronic administration of Vitamin C on haemodynamic responses to postural stress or cutaneous cold stimulation in healthy young men

No Abstract.Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 14 (2) 2007: pp.42-4

Musculoskeletal Discomfort Accompanying the Regular Use of High Heeled Shoes among Professional Women

Background: The use of high-heeled shoes (HHS)has been reported to tone calf and thigh muscles. However, there is a high risk of developing musculoskeletal discomforts/pain (MSD), including back pain, in individuals who regularly use high heels but who do not have an already existing back pain.Objective: To determine the prevalence of MSD accompanying the regular use of HHS among professional women.Methods: Two hundred (200) female bankers (22 - 55 years old) participated in this descriptive cross sectional survey study. They were required to complete a 30-item structured closed ended questionnaire which was selfadministered. The questionnaire was divided into three sections and it collected information on the prevalence of MSD, usage of HHS and the risk factors of MSDResults: The 12-months prevalence of MSD was 56%. Respondents who wore HHS strictly occasionally n(%)reported the highest number of MSD. Although the reported MSD required no treatment in the majority (175 86.4%), it was severe enough to warrant taking time off work in (25,13.6%). Back pain (112, 56.0%) was the most reported MSD among the respondents. Only (38,33.9%) of the respondents who reported 12-months prevalence of MSD attributed the cause to regular wearing of HHS.Conclusion: Back pain was the most common MSD reported by the respondents, and was most common among occasional users. The pain may be severe enough to warrant taking time off work. Reduction in the frequency of wearing HHS and/or interchanging with flat sole shoes might be beneficial.Key Words: Musculoskeletal disorders, High-Heeled shoes, Professional wome