Abo blood group system: in the context of human diseases

The expression of ABO blood group antigens on red cell surface and a variety of human cells, tissues and fluids is well documented. Studies in the recent times have reported association between these blood group antigens and some disorders in man. Cancer, Cardiovascular disease and infection are some of the disorders reported. The interplay has given rise to the assertion that ABO blood group system has extended its clinical significance beyond the natural frontier of transfusion Science. This narrative review aims at summarizing information concerning the role of these blood antigens in the pathogenesis of human disorders such as cardiovascular, cancer and infectious diseases. Methodology: Literature on the role of ABO blood group antigens in human disease was searched from BMCMed, PubMed and text books. The search words were ABO blood group antigens, cardiovascular disease, Von Willebrand factor, cancer, infectious disease, and neuroscience. We reviewed, evaluated and summarized the relationship between these disorders and ABO blood group; and possible pathogenic mechanism involved. Conclusion: It is now known that non – O blood group antigens are linked with the risk for cardiovascular disease, oncological states and infectious disorders. However further studies are needed to elucidated molecular mechanism/s in the interplay between these antigens and human health. This may as well elevate ABO blood typing as a veritable tool for cardiovascular and oncologic disorders risk assessment

Alterations in some coagulation biomarkers of pulmonary tuberculosis subjects in the settings of human immunodeficiency virus infection: as seen in Maiduguri North-eastern Nigeria

Synergistic association between Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) infection has resulted in variable haematological manifestations including coagulopathies; these accelerated the morbidity and mortality burden of HIV/PTB co-infection. Objectives: Based on this preposition, we prospectively evaluated some coagulation biomarkers in a case-controlled study of 102 HIV sero-positive subjects consistent with WHO clinical stages I and II, 56 HIV/PTB co-infected subjects; both groups were therapy naive. Also 104 HIV sero-negative healthy blood donors were recruited as control subjects. Method: All participants were tested for platelet count (PLT), Plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC), Protein C (PC), prothrombin time (PT) and Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Results: In HIV/PTB co- morbidity PT, APTT were prolonged (P<0.001); PLT and PFC were also elevated (P< 0.001), while PC % activity was down-regulated (P<0.01) all in comparison to the HIV groupand the controls. Conclusion: We asserted that alterations occur in some coagulation indices of PTB/HIV coinfected individuals found in our environment. Clinical findings are however, needed to shed more light on thesefindings to aid patient's management

Children Consuming Cassava as a Staple Food are at Risk for Inadequate Zinc, Iron, and Vitamin A Intake

Cassava contains little zinc, iron, and β-carotene, yet it is the primary staple crop of over 250 million Africans. This study used a 24-hour dietary recall to test the hypothesis that among healthy children aged 2–5 years in Nigeria and Kenya, cassava’s contribution to the childrens’ daily diets is inversely related to intakes of zinc, iron, and vitamin A. Dietary and demographic data and anthropometric measurements were collected from 449 Kenyan and 793 Nigerian children. Among Kenyan children 89% derived at least 25% of their dietary energy from cassava, while among the Nigerian children 31% derived at least 25% of energy from cassava. Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the fraction of dietary energy obtained from cassava and vitamin A intake was r = −0.15, P < 0.0001, zinc intake was r = −0.11, P < 0.0001 and iron intake was r = −0.36, P < 0.0001. In Kenya, 59% of children consumed adequate vitamin A, 22% iron, and 31% zinc. In Nigeria, 17% of children had adequate intake of vitamin A, 57% iron, and 41% zinc. Consumption of cassava is a risk factor for inadequate vitamin A, zinc and/or iron intake

Performance and usefulness of the Hexagon rapid diagnostic test in children with asymptomatic malaria living in the Mount Cameroon region

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rapid and correct diagnosis of malaria is considered an important strategy in the control of the disease. However, it remains to be determined how well these tests can perform in those who harbour the parasite, but are asymptomatic, so that rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) could be used in rapid mass surveillance in malaria control programmes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Microscopic and immunochromatographic diagnosis of malaria were performed on blood samples from the hyperendemic Mount Cameroon region. Thin and thick blood films were stained with Giemsa and examined under light microscopy for malaria parasites. The RDT was performed on the blood samples for the detection of <it>Plasmodium </it>species. In addition, the performance characteristics of the test were determined using microscopy as gold standard.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results revealed 40.32% to be positive for microscopy and 34.41% to be positive for the RDT. Parasites were detected in a greater proportion of samples as the parasite density increase. <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>was the predominant <it>Plasmodium </it>species detected in the study population either by microscopy or by the RDT. Overall, the test recorded a sensitivity and specificity of 85.33% and 95.05% respectively, and an accuracy of 91.40%. The sensitivity and specificity of the RDT increased as parasite densities increased.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Hexagon Malaria Combi™ test showed a high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing malaria in asymptomatic subjects and so could be suitable for use in mass surveillance programmes for the management and control of malaria.</p

Exploring the relationship between chronic undernutrition and asymptomatic malaria in Ghanaian children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A moderate association has been found between asymptomatic parasitaemia and undernutrition. However, additional investigation using the gold standard for asymptomatic parasitaemia confirmation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), is needed to validate this association. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples from children less than five years of age in a rural Ghanaian community were used to determine if an association exists between chronic undernutrition and PCR-confirmed cases of asymptomatic malaria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 214 children less than five years of age from a community near Kumasi, Ghana. Blood samples and anthropometric measurements from these children were collected during physical examinations conducted in January 2007 by partners of the Barekuma Collaborative Community Development Programme.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Findings from the logistic model predicting the odds of asymptomatic malaria indicate that children who experienced mild, moderate or severe stunting were not more likely to have asymptomatic malaria than children who were not stunted. Children experiencing anaemia had an increased likelihood (OR = 4.15; 95% CI: 1.92, 8.98) of asymptomatic malaria. Similarly, increased spleen size, which was measured by ultrasound, was also associated with asymptomatic malaria (OR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.44, 3.28). Fast breathing, sex of the child, and age of the child were not significantly associated with the asymptomatic malaria.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>No significant association between chronic undernutrition and presence of asymptomatic malaria was found. Children who experience anaemia and children who have splenomegaly are more likely to present asymptomatic malaria. Programmes aimed at addressing malaria should continue to include nutritional components, especially components that address anaemia.</p

HIV Seropositivity And CD4 T-Lymphocyte Counts Among Infants And Children In Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Most published reports on HIV prevalence are centered on adults of sexually active age and antenatal mothers with little or no regard to infants and children.Methods: A total of one thousand (1000) children aged 1 to less than 15 years attending the various clinics at the Braithwait Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port Harcourt were recruited into the study. Blood samples (3 millilitres of blood) were collected into a five millilitres syringe and the serum was used for serological testing of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and CD4 cell counts from EDTA blood. The WHO HIV testing strategy III was adopted for defining the HIV status. The CD4 cell count was estimated using the Dynamal ® Quant Kit (Dynal Biotechn, ASA, Oslo, Norway).Results: The overall HIV prevalence rate in this study was 23.2%. The distribution of HIV prevalence among different age group revealed a high prevalence rate among the under fives (24.1% for males and 26.4% for females). There was a significant negative correlation between age and HIV status of children (r = -0.94, P &lt; 0.01). The mean CD4 count of the infected children was 647.25 ± 340.1 (95% CI 603.3 – 691.1). Logistic regression analysis showed that both age and sex exert an influence of the CD4 count only in the under fives (0 - &lt; 5 yrs). 10. 3% of the children were immuno compromised with CD4 count below 200 cells, 27.9% fell into the moderate category while 61.8% had normal CD4 counts of 500 cells and above.Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HIV among infants and children is high in this part of the world and this call for urgent intervention through voluntary counseling of antenatal mothers and proper monitoring in order to reduce the paediatric HIV prevalence

Clinical utility of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test and haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns among premarital couples in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a relatively non-specific test that is often ignored during the diagnosis and monitoring of disease. However, in recent times, the test is often requested alongside haemoglobin electrophoretic pattern as pre marital test. This study was aimed at determining the ESR values among these apparently healthy populations, correlate this parameter with Hb electrophoretic pattern and evaluate its usefulness in modern medicine.Materials and Methods: Standard haemoglobin electrophoresis run withcellulose acetate paper at pH 8.9 and Westergren method for ESR were used in the determinations.Results: The mean ESR value for the males was 12.48±10.0mm/hr while 20.77 ± 18.8 was obtained for the females. There was significant difference between the male and female values (t = 3.94; p 100mm/hr) was observed in the study population. ESR was found to correlate negatively with gender (r = -0.248;

Comparative Analysis of the ABO and Rh CDE Phenotype Frequencies Among Various Ethnic Groups in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Data presented in this report further evaluate the distribution and inter-ethnic phenotypic variability of the ABO and Rh blood groups among students of a tertiary institution in Port Harcourt. Standard haemagglutination procedures were used. ABO blood group frequencies were obtained as follows: 23.8% for blood group A, 15.5% forB, l.0% for AB and 59.8% for O. The distribution of the ABO blood groups among the four ethnic groups within the students’ population did not show any statistical significance. However, slight variations were observed with the B allele with Ijaws having a higher frequency (8.0%) than the other three ethnic groups, lkwerre, Ekpeye and Ogoni (3.3%, 2.0% and 2.3% respectively). Out of the nine phenotypes that were found to occur in the study population, Dccee, Dccee, DccEe, DccEe DccEE, dccee, dCcee and DCCee, two phenotypes DccEE (0.3%) and DCCee (0.3%) occurred only among the Ekpeyes and were completely absent in the other ethnic groups. The distribution of the Rh phenotypes was found to vary significantly among the four ethnic groups. (X2 = 30.127,

Subclinical leukopenia in a cross section of Nigerian blood donors

Zaccheaus A Jeremiah1, Ruth E Umoh2, Teddy C Adias31Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; 2Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; 3College of Health Technology, Ogbia, Bayelsa State, NigeriaBackground: Most studies on blood donors are centered on the selective evaluation of red blood cell parameters with little or no regard to white blood cells and platelets.Methods: One hundred and twelve male blood donors comprising 43 first-time and 69 regular blood donors, drawn from a tertiary health facility in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, participated in the study. Their hematological parameters were assessed using a 3-part differential autohematology analyzer (PCE-210 N).Results: Of the blood donors, 18.8% were found to be anemic (packed cell volume [PCV] &amp;lt;33%) while 12.5% were leukopenic (white blood cell [WBC] count &amp;lt;2.0 &amp;times; 109/L). The leukopenia observed in this study was largely due to the significant reductions in both the absolute lymphocyte (P = 0.019), percent lymphocyte (P = 0.016), and percent monocyte count (P = 0.008). Anemia was obviously due to the reduction in the red blood cell (RBC) count, PCV, hemoglobin (Hb), mean cell Hb (MCH), and red cell distribution width (RDW) values. Significant positive correlations were found between PCV and total WBC count (r = 0.309; P &amp;lt; 0.01) while a negative correlation was found between PCV and absolute lymphocyte counts (r = &amp;mdash;0.191; P &amp;lt; 0.005) and RDW (r = &amp;mdash;0.219; P &amp;lt; 0.05). Comparison of the mean values of the first-time versus regular blood donor parameters revealed that six parameters were significantly reduced in the regular blood donors (PCV, absolute WBC count, percent monocytes, RBC count, Hb, PCV). The reference ranges of hematological parameters for Port Harcourt donors are also presented in this study. No thrombocytopenia was observed.Conclusion: Regular blood donation not only affects red cell parameters but also those of white cells. Subclinical leukopenia is present among regular blood donors in this locality. First-time blood donors would be most preferable when the concentrated white blood cell component of blood needs to be prepared.Keywords: anemia, leukopenia, hematological indices, blood donors, Nigeri