The role of cytokines as inflammatory mediators in preeclampsia

Introduction: this study is to determine the concentrations of IL-6, TNF 5, and C reactive protein (CRP) in women with severe preeclampsia, andcompare with those of gestational age- matched normotensive pregnant women and to correlate CRP levels with markers of organ damage inwomen with preeclampsia.Methods: this was a case control study of fifty women with severe preeclampsia and fifty gestational age matched pregnant women with normal blood pressure. The women were drawn from The Antenatal Clinic of The Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Severe pre eclampsia was defined as systolic blood pressure ;160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ;110mmHg and ;2+ of proteinuria. After obtaining an informed consent, each participant completed a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire sought information on socio-demographic and clinical data. From each participant, mid-stream urine was collected for urinalysis and culture, and blood sample was collected for biochemical analysis. Comparisons of continuous variables and categorical variables were done using the Student's t test and Chi square test respectively. Correlation analysis was used to determine the associations between variables. Statistical  significance was set at P Results: the women were similar in their socio demographic characteristics. There was a statistically significant difference in the systolic blood pressure ( p < 0.0001), diastolic blood pressure ( p < 0.0001), uric acid ( p < 0.0001), AST ( p < 0.0001), ALP ( p < 0.0001), creatinine ( p < 0.0013), GGT ( p < 0.005), IL 6 ( p < 0.021), CRP ( p < 0.0002), and TNF 5 ( p < 0.023), between the group with severe preeclampsia and the group with normal blood pressure. This study also reports a significant association between CRP and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, uric acid AST and ALP (pConclusion: the inflammatory cytokines, IL6, TNF 5 and CRP are elevated in severe preeclampsia and may mediate some of the clinical manifestations of the disorder. A role may exist for anti inflammatory  agents in the management of women with preeclampsia

Planning and Installation of 3.5 Megawatts Off grid Solar Hybrid Power Plant: A Case Study of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Nigeria

This report highlights the processes involved in the planning and installation of a 3.5 Megawatts solar hybrid power plant situated at the campus of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka, University Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. These processes include Photovoltaic (PV) cells installations, Inverter Installations, transformer installations, and the installation of string combiner boxes (SCBs).  The Solar Hybrid Power plant installed is a hybrid power system that uses a combination of solar PV cells, batteries, and diesel-powered generators as energy sources to meet the energy need of the various load centers on the University campus. The solar PV cells array serves as the primary power source while the diesel-powered generators serve as the power backup. Since the project is a hybrid installation, it becomes necessary to synchronize the power sources to increase the efficiency of the power supply and reduced downtime. The back-ups are the three Diesel-powered generators labeled (DG1, DG2, and DG3) and the Battery Banks labeled (BBR1, BBR2, BBR3). The secondary power source turns ON automatically when the primary power source fails. During the installation of the primary source, rigid flat framed PV modules made of Poly-Crystalline were used because of its temperature resistive advantage. Twenty (20) PV modules were wired together in series to form a table, two tables connected in parallel to form a String. The result shows that the power of each panel used was 330W while the output voltage varies between 37.5 to 40.5 Volts. The total voltage per table was between 736 to 823 volts during the day. The total number of PV modules installed at the site was 12,140. Three sets of diesel Generators, comprising of two 1 MVA capacity and a 1.5 MVA capacity, all terminated at their respective transformers. Their output voltage is 0.415 kV each, terminating at the Low Voltage (LV) side of their respective transformers. The transformer steps it up to 11kV to supply the High Tension (HT) panel.  The Minimum and Maximum PV power and load demand data obtained by the plant Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System within one year period after installation shows the  Maximum and Minimum power at 2.5 MW and 1.75 MW, while the maximum and minimum load demand stood at 850 kW and 350 kW. The average daily power consumption stood highest at 900kW during weekdays and lowest at 200 kW during weekends.

Circulating Adipokine levels in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Type 2 diabetes remains a global concern with its numerical increase occurring in developing countries which include Nigeria. Adipose tissue-secreted factors called “adipokines” are involved in energy homeostasis and regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Objective: This study was undertaken with the aim of investigating adipokine levels in the Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), a-700 bed tertiary hospital centre in Lagos, Nigeria. 53 diabetic subjects and 27 non-diabetic controls with mean age (56.72±10.44) and (38.67±9.63) years respectively, were recruited into the study. Fasting blood glucose, HbA₁C, leptin and resistin levels and body mass index (BMI) were assayed. Results:  Mean  BMI  was  higher  but  not  statistically significant in diabetics than in non diabetics (diabetics 28.77±5.35; non diabetics 27.38±6.04; p > 0.05). Resistin level was significantly higher in diabetics ( 31.26±2.5) as compared with non diabetics (16.61±2.16) compared to non-diabetics. Leptin correlated very strongly with BMI (r = 0.620, p< 0.0001) and was significantly higher in females than males (female 9.72±1.70; male 1.79±0.54; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The circulating adipokines have variable effect on the glucose and fat metabolism. BMI and resistin level were higher in diabetics. Leptin was found in this study to correlate very strongly with BMI (adiposity). There was also a strong gender dependence observed as leptin level was signficantly higher in females than males.Key words: Circulating adipokine levels, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Lagos, Nigeri

Plasma urea, uric acid and creatinine in Nigerian Women with Pre eclampsia

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The Relationship Between Microalbuminuria, Cardiovascular Riskfactors and Disease Management in Type 2 Diabetes

Background :In patients with type 2 diabetes, microalbuminuria is an early clinical sign suggestive of vascular damage to the glomerulus. Microalbuminuria has also been currently reported as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and becomes relevant in the management of type 2 diabetes.Objectives :This study is to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria, identify the risk factors associated with microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes, and to asses the achievement of treatment goals for cardiovascular risk reduction in type 2 diabetics.Subjects and Methods : Seventy- two subjects with microalbuminuria were recruited from three hundred consecutively screened type 2 diabetics attending the Diabetic Clinic at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Clinical data were obtained by interviewing the participants. Anthropometric measurements were made and blood specimens were collected for analysis.Results: The prevalence of microalbuminuria was twenty four percent (24%)intype 2 diabetes. Multiple logistic regression identified duration of diabetes (odds ratio 1.3(95% CI; 0.03 – 1.58), hypertension(odds ratio5.2 (95%CI; 1.24-18.62), Body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio 1.27 (95%CI; 1.0 - 1.6),waist / hip ratio (WHR) (odds ratio 1.9 (95% CI; 1.3 – 3.5), andHbA c (odds ratio 6.6 (95% CI; 1 1.02 – 27) as independent risk factors associated with microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetics. Optimum blood pressure, glycemic and weight control were achieved in eighty five percent (85%), fifty eight percent (58%) and nineteen percent (19%) of the type 2 diabetes respectively.Conclusion : This study showed that microalbuminuria is common among patients with type 2 diabetes. It also showed improvement in glycemic control and modifiable cardiovascular risk factor control when compared with previous studies.Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, Microalbuminuria, Hypertension, Glycated haemoglobin (HbA c)

The role of inflammation in the metabolic syndrome

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in adult Nigerians with the metabolic syndrome and to determine the relationship between components of the metabolic syndrome and CRP in adult Nigerians. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study of 50 adult men and women with metabolic syndrome and 50 age- and sex-matched men and women without metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken and venous blood was collected after an overnight fast. The Ethics Committee of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria approved the study protocol. Comparisons of the continuous variables and the categorical variables were done using the Student's t-test and Chi-square test, respectively. Regression analysis was used to determine the associations between the variables. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The study subjects differed in some clinical and laboratory parameters such as diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.048), waist circumference (P = 0.002), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.012), waist/hip ratio (P = 0.023), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P = 0.012), and insulin resistance (P = 0.042). There was a statistically significant increase in the inflammatory marker, CRP (P = 0.019), cytokines, IL-6 (P = 0.040), and TNFα (P = 0.031) between the subjects with and without metabolic syndrome. There was also a positive significant association between CRP, waist circumference, and insulin resistance and a negative significant association between CRP and HDL in metabolic syndrome (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study reports increased plasma levels of the inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, TNFα and in the inflammatory marker and CRP in metabolic syndrome. Understanding the role of inflammation in the metabolic syndrome may provide novel strategies for the management of metabolic syndrome and related disorders