Potential toxicity of Chlorpheniramine plus chloroquine for the treatment of childhood malaria

Objectives: To compare the adverse effects of two regimens of chlorpheniramine plus chloroquine (CP+CQ) in childrenwho live in a countrywhere chloroquine resistantmalaria is endemic. Methods: 99 children with acute uncomplicated malaria were randomised into two treatment groups. Group I received high dose chlorpheniramine (6mg +12mg/day for 7days in children = 5years; 8mg + 18mg/day for 7days in those >5years) plus chloroquine 10mg/kg daily for 3 days. Group II received a 50% higher dose of chlorpheniramine plus chloroquine 10mg/kg daily for 3 days. Outcome measures were vital signs, clinical response and parasite clearance on days 0-7 and day 14. Results: Parasite clearance, fever clearance and cure rate were comparable for the two groups. Drowsiness occurred in 66.7% of high dose and 86.3% of higher dose CP+CQ subjects (p = 0.05). Compared to children treated with high dose, those treated with higher dose CP+CQhad significantly lower respiratory rates on day 2 (p = 0.001), day 6 (p = 0.015), and on day 14 (p = 0.003). Conclusion: The higher rates of drowsiness and lower respiratory rates in children treated with higher dose CP+CQ calls for caution in the clinical application of the higher dose combination. The higher dose has no additional benefit andmay in fact be dangerous.Keywords: Chloroquine resistant malaria, chlorpheniramine-chloroquine, treatment, adverse effects, drowsiness, respiratory depressio

Combination of Reduced Levels of Serum Albumin and Αlpha-2-Macroglobulin Differentiates Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients from Patients on Chemotherapy

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is global disease affecting about one third of the world’s population with its attendant mortality and morbidity. Acute phase proteins have been used in monitoring the progression of infections but not in relation to PTB in this environment. The levels of total protein, albumin, α-2-macroglobulin, transferrin, and haptoglobulin were determined in 23 patients with PTB and 17- age / sex matched PTB-free controls using spectrophotometric and immunodiffusion methods respectively. The result showed that α-2-macroglobulin was significantly raised in PTB patients compared with controls (p<0.001), while the levels of transferrin and albumin were significantly reduced in PTB patients compared with the controls (p <0.001,0.000 respectively). The levels of α-2-macroglobulin and albumin were significantly raised in PTB patients on treatment compared with newly diagnosed PTB patients (p=0.05, p=0.01 respectively). The combination of reduced levels of albumin and α-2-macroglobulin may be used to differentiate newly diagnosed PTB and those on chemotherap

Serological Survey of Brucellosis in Livestock Animals and Workers in Ibadan, Nigeria

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is global disease affecting about one third of the world’s population with its attendant mortality and morbidity. Acute phase proteins have been used in monitoring the progression of infections but not in relation to PTB in this environment. The levels of total protein, albumin, α-2-macroglobulin, transferrin, and haptoglobulin were determined in 23 patients with PTB and 17- age / sex matched PTB-free controls using spectrophotometric and immunodiffusion methods respectively. The result showed that α-2-macroglobulin was significantly raised in PTB patients compared with controls (p<0.001), while the levels of transferrin and albumin were significantly reduced in PTB patients compared with the controls (p<0.001,0.000 respectively). The levels of α-2-macroglobulin and albumin were significantly raised in PTB patients on treatment compared with newly diagnosed PTB patients (p=0.05, p=0.01 respectively). The combination of reduced levels of albumin and α-2-macroglobulin may be used to differentiate newly diagnosed PTB and those on chemotherapy

Safety, Efficacy and Tolerability of Meprasilm in the Treatment of Dyspepsia among Nigerians.

A clinical trial was carried out to establish the tolerability, safety and efficacy of Meprasil brand of omeprazole among Nigerians with acid peptic disease using 20mg daily or 20mg bid of Meprasil. Forty patients were enrolled for the study and were asked to rate their abdominal pains pre-commencement of therapy using a scale of mild, moderate or severe. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT), urinalysis, electrolytes, creatinine and urea were carried out before and after treatment. Patients were then evaluated on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28, thereafter monthly for 4 months for relief of symptoms and adverse drugs effect. Only 32 patients completed the study, 17 (Group I) and 15 (Group II).fe, efficacious and well tolerated in amelioration of pain of acid peptic disorder among Nigerian patients

Safety, efficacy and tolerability of meprasilm in the treatment of dyspepsia among nigerians.

A clinical trial was carried out to establish the tolerability, safety and efficacy of Meprasil brand of omeprazole among Nigerians with acid peptic disease using 20mg daily or 20mg bid of Meprasil. Forty patients were enrolled for the study and were asked to rate their abdominal pains pre-commencement of therapy using a scale of mild, moderate or severe. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT), urinalysis, electrolytes, creatinine and urea were carried out before and after treatment. Patients were then evaluated on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28, thereafter monthly for 4 months for relief of symptoms and adverse drugs effect. Only 32 patients completed the study, 17 (Group I) and 15 (Group II).fe, efficacious and well tolerated in amelioration of pain of acid peptic disorder among Nigerian patients

Incidence of Syphilis in Prostate Specific Antigen Samples of Patients Attending Cancer Screening Unit in Nigeria

The relationship between prostate cancer and syphilis and the relevance of the known risk factors such as age, occupation and physical/social activities of these patients on this relationship was determined. Blood samples were collected by convenience sampling method from 132 men (45 – 89 yrs) attending the Cancer Screening Clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan between January and June 2006. All these patients presented for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test for various reasons ranging from suspicious of prostate cancer to routine screening. The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) of these patients was categorized into 0-4µg/L (normal), 4.1-20µg/L and >20µg/L. Out of the 132 patients used in this study, fifty-six (42.4%) had Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) value of 0-4µg/L, twenty-six (19.6 %) had PSA value of 4.1-20µg/L and the rest of the patients ( 56%) with values; >20µg/L. A total of fourteen (10.6%) of these patients were syphilis positive, patients with normal PSA value had the least incidence of syphilis, 7.1% (4 out of 56). In patients with PSA >20µg/L the incidence was 12.0% (6 of 50) while the group 4.1-20µg/L recorded the highest incidence of syphilis with 15.4% (4 of 26). Highest incidence of syphilis was found at the age group 70-79 with PSA value 4.1-20µg/L, 25.0%, followed by age group 60-69 with PSA value >20µg/L, 22.2%. Retirees had 14.3 and 9.1% incidence of syphilis at the age groups 50-59 and 60-69 years respectively and at PSA value of 0-4µg/L. High PSA value was found to be more prevalent in retirees 65.0% (52 out of 80). This study suggests social status and age related relationship between syphilis and PSA

SERUM ALBUMIN, CREATININE, URIC ACID AND HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY

ABSTRACTBackground: Pre-eclampsia is a form of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. It is a commoncause of both maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in both developed anddeveloping countries.Objective: To evaluate the possibility of early prediction of hypertensive disorders ofpregnancy using single estimation of serum protein, creatinine and uric in serum samples ofhealthy primigravidae with singleton pregnancy.Setting: University College Hospital, Ibadan.Subjects: Fifty nine normortensive primigravidae.Methods: Fifty nine healthy normotensive primigravidae with singleton pregnancy whobooked for antenal care and delivered at the University College Hospital, Ibadan had singleestimations of their serum albumin, creatinine and uric acid levels at booking before the 20thweek of pregnancy. The women were followed up longitudinally throughout pregnancy.Results: Pre-eclampsia occurred in five of the patients (21.7%), two had pregnancy inducedhypertension only (8.7%) while 16 remained normotensive (69.6%). The difference in themean serum concentration of uric acid (0.162± 0.02 mmol/L) and creatinine (93.70± 10.08μmol/L) respectively were not statistically significant (p&gt;0.05). However, the difference in themean serum albumin levels (4.06± 0.06 versus 3.71±0.33 gm/dl) was significantly higher inthe pre-eclampsia group (p&lt;0.05). The predictive performance of these tests was generallylow whether alone or in combination.Conclusion: Single estimation of serum uric acid and creatinine levels early in pregnancy areof little value in the prediction of pre-eclampsia. A large study is recommended to properlydefine the value of serum albumin levels in pregnancy in the prediction of pre-eclampsia inthe light of the findings of this study