Pro–inflammatory cytokines profiles in Nigerian pregnant women infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the pro-inflammatory cytokines profiles in in Nigerian pregnant women infected with Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria.MethodsPeripheral, and placental blood samples were collected from 96 consenting volunteers comprising 76 P. falciparium infected pregnant women and 20 healthy uninfected pregnant women in Ekpoma, Nigeria, and subjected to ELISA for cytokines evaluation.ResultsIncreased serum concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was observed in infected pregnant women than their uninfected counterparts [(31.2±20.9) pg/mL vs (1.8±0.9) pg/mL] and these differences were statistically significant (χ2 = 26.18, P <0.05). The depressed levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) seen in peripheral blood of the infected pregnant women than the uninfected women [(13.9±3.6) pg/mL vs (28.4±5.28) pg/mL] respectively was not statistically significant (χ2 = 4.96, P >0.05). The interleukin -6 (IL-6) was significantly elevated in infected pregnant women (81.0±26.1 pg/mL) than in the uninfected pregnant women [(25.0±5.0) pg/mL] (χ2 = 29.58, P <0.05). In all, mean cytokines concentration of IL-6, IL-12 and IFN-γ in the placental blood from infected pregnant women were (53.5±23.4) pg/mL, (8.7±6.9) pg/mL and (16.4±4.0) pg/mL, respectively. The multigravidae had a higher haemoglobin level of 10.2 g/dL and birth weight of 3 000 g than the primigrivadae with lower haemoglobin level of 7.5 g/dL and birth weight of 2 430 g.ConclusionsThe elevated IFN-γamong the malarous pregnant women implicates it as the major cytokine mediator in the host responses to systematic P. falciparum malaria in our locality

Effect of potash on renal profile of albino wistar rats

This study is intended to investigate the effect of Potash on renal function. Twenty four (24) Albino wistar rats with mean weight of 126.3±23.9g were used. They were subdivided into four groups -A, B, C and D (n=6 each); with A serving as control while B, C and D served as test groups. Group A received normal feed and water while B, C and D received 3.0g/kg, 6.0g/kg and 9.0g/kg of potash per body weight for 21 days respectively. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed under light anesthesia to obtain blood samples for the estimation of renal function parameters. Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Urea, Uric acid and Creatinine was analyzedusing standard analytical chemical methods. The results showed a  significant (P&lt;0.05) reduction in body weight and serum levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, urea and creatinine among the test groups. Serum levels of uric acid in the test groups were not significantly different  (P&gt;0.05) from that of the control. Our findings therefore, suggest that potash may have dosage dependent nephrotoxic and weight reduction potentials and by implication, may induce growth retardation. This indicates therefore, that potash is toxic to the kidney and there is need for further studies