Strategies for the Reactivation of Human Vaccine Laboratories in Nigeria

No Abstract. Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol. 13 (2) 2004: pp. 1-

Citocinas Th1 e Th2 em crianças com hemoglobinopatias e infecção por malária não complicada

The relative balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines appears crucial in the outcome of infections. Weassessed the levels of proinflammatory Th1 cytokines, interleukin2 (IL2) and gamma interferon (IFNγ),and anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines, IL4 and IL10 in homozygous haemoglobin (Hb) AA, SS and heterozygousAS genotyped individuals with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Benin city, Nigeria. Levels of Th1 andTh2 cytokines of 111 children with uncomplicated malaria and 89 healthy controls were determined byEnzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. CD4 and CD8 cells were counted using the Dynabeads T4T8Quantification protocol while haematological parameters were estimated using standard haematologicaltechniques. Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were significantly higher in HbAA, HbAS and HbSS genotypedpatients than their respective healthy controls (PO relativo equilíbrio entre as citocinas Th1 e Th2 parece crucial para o resultado das infecções. Foram avaliados osníveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias Th1, interleucina 2 (IL2) e interferon gama (IFNγ) e as citocinas antiinflamatóriasTh2, IL4 e IL10 em indivíduos homizigotos para hemoglobina (Hb) AA, SS e heterozigotos AS com malária nãocomplicada por P. falciparum, na cidade de Benin, na Nigéria. Os níveis de citocinas Th1 e Th2 de 111 crianças commalária não complicada e 89 controles saudáveis foram determinados por método imunoenzimático. Células CD4 eCD8 foram contadas utilizando o protocolo T4T8 Dynabeads Quantification, enquanto os parâmetros hematológicosforam estimados através de técnicas hematológicas. Níveis de citocinas Th1 e Th2 foram significativamente maioresem pacientes HbAA, HBAs e HbSS do que os respectivos controles (

Chlamydia trachomatis Infecion Among Apparently Healthy Students of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Chlamydia trachomatisinfection is one of the sexually transmitted diseases (STD) occurring asymptomatically and frequently causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Randomized control screening was conducted using immunochromatographic (ICG) tests for the detection of chlamydial antigen in extracts from urine and endo-cervical swab (ECS) samples from 530 University students. Positive samples were further subjected to Giemsa staining technique and microscopy for elementary bodies. Of the 530 students screened, a total of 80 (15.1%) males and 40 (7.5%) females were found positive by the immunochromatographic (ICG) method, but no inclusion bodies were found in any of the positive samples further examined by the Giemsa's staining method. ICG tests were found to be more sensitive for detecting chlamydial infection in ECS samples than the matching urine samples (P>0.05). Routine screening and appropriate treatment, especially of sexually-active youths is imperative if control measures are to be effective. Immunochromatographic screening method for chlamydial infection can give an on-the-spot diagnosis; hence the prevalence of infection and an estimate of the cost of its management. Keywords: Prevalence, Chlamydia trachomatis, asymptomatic infection Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol. 14 (2) 2005: pp. 62-6

Effects of Triphasic Exercise on Blood Rheology and Pathophysiology

The aim of this work is to study the relevance of physiology and pathophysiology in blood rheology as effects of triphasic exercise. Regular exercise which has been established as life prolonging has led to decrease in both peripheral vascular and coronary morbidity that has been associated with certain improvements in cardiovascular disease (VCD) risk factors. Haemorheology is affected by exercise, which has a possible connection between beneficial haemodynamics and metabolism. This is affected by exercise of any type. A possible link between the beneficial metabolic and haemodynamic effects of exercise could be blood rheology, which is markedly affected by exercise. It was proposed here a description of the haemorheological effects of exercise as a triphasic phenomenon. Short-term effects of exercise are an increase in blood viscosity resulting from both fluid shifts and alterations of erythrocyte rheological properties (rigidity and aggregability). Increased blood lactate, stress and acute phase play a role in this process. Middle-term effects of regular exercise are a reversal of these acute effects with an increase in blood fluidity, explained by plasma volume expansion (autohaemodilution) that lowers both plasma viscosity and haematocrit. Long term effects further improve blood fluidity in parallel with the classical training-induced hormonal and metabolic alterations. While body composition, blood lipid pattern, and fibrinogen improve (thus decreasing plasma viscosity), erythrocyte metabolic and rheologic properties are modified, with a reduction in aggregability and rigidity. On the whole, these improvements reflect on reversal of the so-called “insulin-resistance syndrome” induced by a sedentary life-style. Since impaired blood rheology has been demonstrated to be a risk for vascular diseases, the haemorheologic effects of exercise can be hypothesized to be a mechanism (or at least a marker) of risk reversal. The latter point requires further investigation. The physiological meaning of the triphasic pattern of exercise-fluidity may improve several steps of oxygen transfer to the muscle, as clearly demonstrated in hypoxic conditions. Increasing evidence emerges from the literature, that blood fluidity is a physiological determinant of fitness. Keywords: Triphasic exercise, blood rheology, aggregation, physiology. Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol. 14 (2) 2005: pp. 13-2

Prevalence of Lassa virus among rodents trapped in three South-South States of Nigeria

Background & objectives: Lassa fever has been endemic in Nigeria since 1969. The rodent Mastomys natalensis has been widely claimed to be the reservoir host of the Lassa virus. This study was designed to investigate the dis- tribution of species of rodents in three states (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa) of Nigeria and to determine the prevalence of Lassa virus amongst trapped rodents in the selected states. Methods: Rodents were trapped during November 2015 to October 2016 from the three states in South-South re- gion of Nigeria. Total RNA was extracted from the blood collected from the trapped rodents. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to confirm the presence of Lassa virus in the rodents. Results: The results revealed that six species of rodents were predominantly present in these geographical locations. Mus musculus (39.4%) had the highest prevalence, closely followed by Rattus rattus (36.1%), R. fuscipus (20.3%), M. natalensis (2%), Myosoricinae soricidae (1.2%) and R. norvegicus (1%). The overall positivity (carrier rate) of Lassa virus was 1.6% amongst the 1500 rodents caught in the three states. In Edo and Delta States, the RT-PCR results showed presence of Lassa virus in R. rattus, M. musculus and M. natalensis. On the other hand, only M. na- talensis was detected with the virus, amongst the species of rodents caught in Bayelsa State. M. natalensis recorded the highest Lassa virus among rodents trapped in Edo (87%), Delta (50%) and Bayelsa (11%) States respectively. Interpretation & conclusion: The rather low Lassa virus positive among rodents in Bayelsa State of Nigeria may explain the absence of reports of outbreak of Lassa fever over the past 48 yr in the state. The results also confirmed that apart from Mastomys natalensis, other rodents such as Rattus rattus and Mus musculus may also serve as res- ervoirs for Lassa virus. From the findings of this cross-sectional study, it was concluded that a more comprehensive study on rodents as reservoir host, need to be undertaken across the entire states of Nigeria, for better understanding of the epidemiology and endemicity of Lassa fever