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Aim: We attempted to determine the frequencyand percentage distributionof Lewis blood group antigens among indigenes of Ogoni ethnicity in Rivers State, Nigeria.Study Design:The study consisted of 101 Ogoni people, who were apparently healthy and free from transfusion transmissible infections confirmed by serological screening. Ogoniland is located along the Niger Delta Eastern edge, and to the north-east of the Imo River and Port Harcourt city. All subjects were recruited and their blood samples were collected. The presence of Lewis-a and -b (Lea/Leb) blood group was examined using Anti-Leaand Lebmonoclonal antibody, respectively (Lorne Laboratories).Results:Leaand Lebblood group was observed in 17.8%and 11.9%, respectively.Conclusion:Leaand Lebin this population was observed less frequently than those in other population previously reported. The Lewis antigen was reported to be associated with thrombotic disorders and Helicobacter pylori infection. Further studies may be directed to examine the association between Lewis blood group antigens and the risk of these conditions in Ogoni subjects
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Aim: The study was aimed at evaluating the levelsof subclinical malaria infection and haemolysis among the residents of Opobo, Rivers State, Nigeria.Study Design:A cross sectional study design was used. The subjects were grouped into males and females and comparisons were made between positive and negative subjects of the same genderand positive subjects of different gender.Place and Duration of Study:The study area wasOpobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areaof Nigeria. The study was carried out within August 2ndto August 26th, 2019 and a total of 89 apparently healthy subjects were recruited, 35 males and 54 females, aged between 16 –70 years. Methodology:Malaria parasite identification was done by thick and thin film using Giemsa’s stain,packed cell volume was by microhaematocrit method, plasma haemoglobin concentrationand wholeblood haemoglobin concentration was determined by cyanmethaemoglobin method Results:The result revealed a total of 24.72% positivity and 75.28% negativity for malaria parasite infection. Among the males, 17.14% positivity and 82.86% negativity for malaria parasite infection were observed while that of the females was20.37% positivity and 79.63% negativity. In comparison of the studied parameters made between females infected with malaria parasites and those that were not infected with malaria parasites, there was no statistical significant difference at p<0.05 in plasma haemoglobin and percentage haemolysis. In comparison of the studied parameters between males infected with malaria parasites and those not infected with malaria parasites, there was no statistical significant difference in plasma haemoglobin and percentage haemolysis. On gender based comparison, there was also no statistical significant difference in level haemolysis.Conclusion:The study has revealed a prevalence rate of 24.72% for subclinical malaria infection and the percentage haemolysis of red blood cells in malaria infected subjects residing in Opobo Town compared to subjects without malaria parasite was not statistically significant. Based on gender difference, males were affected more than females, but the level of red blood cell haemolysis was notstatistically significant after comparison.
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Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of occurrence and percentage distribution of Kell blood group antigens in indigenes of Ogoni ethnic group of Rivers State, Nigeria. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among indigenes of Ogoni whose first generational parental origin is Ogoni. A total of 101 subjects (49 females and 52 males), within the age of 30� years were recruited for the study and they were apparently healthy and free from transfusion transmissible infections upon serological screening. Place and Duration of Study: Ogoniland is located in an area along the Niger Delta Eastern edge, and to the north-east of the Imo River and Port Harcourt city. Ogoniland covers about 1036 Sq Km and borders the Bay of Guinea. All participants were recruited in Bori. Bori is the traditional headquarter of Ogoni. Bori is located on latitude: 4040?34.64? N and longitude: 7021?54.68? E. The analysis was carried out at the Post Graduate Laboratory of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, is located on latitude 4.750N and longitude 7.000E and lies along Bonny River in the Niger Delta. All subjects were recruited the same day and their blood samples collected on 2nd October, 2019, and analysis conducted on 3rd October, 2019. Methodology: Identification of Kell blood group antigens was done using Anti-Kell monoclonal reagent, prepared by Lorne Laboratories Ltd, UK. Lot No: 76090-A5; Expiry Date: 2021/02/21. Phenotyping of red cells was done using tube method as described by Lorne Laboratory Ltd. Results: The result showed zero frequency of occurrence and percentage distribution of Kell blood group antigen in the studied population (49 males and 52 females). Conclusion: The presence of Kell blood group antigens in indigenes of Ogoni recruited for the study which serve as representative of the Ogonis was rare. It is therefore necessary to take into cognizance that haemolytic transfusion reactions due to Kell antigens and antibodies will rarely occur, and as such Kell blood group is not significant in blood transfusion and in antenatal and blood group serology amongst the Ogonis.
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Background and Purpose: Cellular component and clotting factors are involved in thrombotic events such as stroke, but the type and nature of alteration of those haemostatic parameters remain unclear. Our objective was to identify possible abnormal changes in some haemostatic parameters in established stroke patients.Materials and Methods: This was a prospective case-control study conducted at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Standard operating procedures were adopted to assayfibrinogen, antithrombin, tissue plasminogen activator, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time as well as the determination of platelet count and platelet indices.The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17.0 software Results: A total of 108 individuals comprised of 54 stroke patients aged between 45 and 73 years(mean, 59± 13.04 years), 20 (37.04%) men and 34 (62.96%) women and another 54 age-and sex-matched healthy control subjects were studied. Significantly (p<0.05) higher mean values of mean platelet volume (MPPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), Platelet larger cell ratio (PLCR), antithrombin, tissue plasminogen activator and fibrinogen were observed in the stroke patients when compared to those of the control subjects. Whereas, significantly lower (p<0.05) mean values of platelet count, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were observed in the stroke patients than in those of the control subjects. Conclusion: Several haemostatic parameters were found to be altered in stroke patients and have the potential to be risk factors but have not been demonstrated as being causative. Further work is needed to establish where they begin to contribute to stroke prognosis
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Aims: The study was aimed at determining subclinical malaria and estimating reticulocyte count in apparently healthy female undergraduate students of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.Study Design:This is a non-randomized, comparative case-control study.Place and Duration of Study:The study was conducted using female students residing at the hostels of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. Analysis was carried out at the Haematology Laboratory, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between July and August, 2018. Methodology:For the subjects used in this study, a total of 32 students (32%) that were diagnosed of having Plasmodium falciparum malariainfection were used as test subjects, while a total of 68 students (68%) that were diagnosed to be Plasmodium falciparumnegative, and withoutOriginal Research Article malaria, were used as control.Thick and thin blood films examination using Giemsa staining technique was used to detect and calculate the malaria parasite density while a thinbloodfilm examination using new methylene blue staining technique was used to evaluate the reticulocyte count in the blood.Results:The reticulocyte count of test subjects (subjects with Plasmodium falciparummalaria) was 0.15 ± 0.04%and that of control subjects (subjects without any malaria parasite) was 0.31 ± 0.08%. The test subjects had significantly lower reticulocyte count (p ˂ 0.0001) than the control subjects. The age range “15-19” years had the highest malaria parasite density of 0.52 ± 0.18%, while “25-29” years had the least parasite density of 0.33 ± 0.24. There was no statistical variation in malaria parasite density according to age ranges (p = 0.13; p ˃ 0.05). However, the age range of “15-19” years had the lowest reticulocyte count as most of the female students within this age group were diagnosed to have been infected with malaria parasite.Conclusion:This study revealed that reticulocyte counts of malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) infected individuals decreased when compared to those without malaria parasite and this decreasewas statistically significant. There was no statistical significant variation in malaria parasite density irrespective of age ranges. Prophylaxis for malaria in such settings would be an efficient means of preventing infectious reservoirs and higher rates of subclinical malaria infection.
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Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of blood storage using CPDA-1 on packed cell volume, methaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin in different ABO/Rhesus blood types donated by some residents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Study Design: This is a comparative study aimed at evaluating the effect of storage on the levels of methaemoglobin, oxyhaemoglobin and packed cell volume using CPDA-1. A total of eight donors were recruited with each sample obtained from the eight (8) known blood groups A+,B+,O+,AB+, A-,B-,O-,AB- and analysis of samples were in triplicate. The donors were adult males with age ranging from 35-45 years and they were apparently healthy and free from transfusion transmissible infections. The different blood group samples were stored for 30 days and samples for analysis were collected at 5 days interval. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. All blood donors were residents of Port Harcourt. Blood donated was stored at Military Hospital Blood Bank, Port Harcourt, in a blood bag of 450 ml containing 63 ml of citrate phosphate dextrose adenine-1 (CPDA-1). The analysis was carried out at Rivers State University, Post Graduate Laboratory within March 1st to May 27th, 2019. Methodology: A total of eight (8) different ABO/Rhesus blood types (A+,B+,AB+,O+,A-,B-,AB- and O-) were collected and stored using a blood bank refrigerator at temperature of 4°C. Day 0 was taken to be control and 5 days intervals in-between to day 30 acted as the test. Packed cell volume was estimated using micro-haematocrit method while oxyhaemoglobin and methaemoglobin levels were estimated spectrophotometrically as described by Evelyn and Malloy. Results: The result showed a significant decrease in mean packed cell volume, oxyhaemoglobin and methaemoglobin levels compared to a higher mean of these parameters in the control; and these differences were statistically significant (p<0.05) across all blood groups under study. The decrease in values were as a result of haemolysis that occurs during storage. Conclusion: Storage of blood irrespective of the blood group type using CPDA-1 for 30 days indicates that there are “storage lesions”. This is attributed to red cell haemolysis and ageing of red blood cells. In general, all blood types showed no significant difference in their haematological (packed cell volume, methaemoglobin, oxyhaemoglobin) characteristic deterioration or storage lesion based on blood type differences. It is therefore necessary to state that storage lesion characteristics are the same irrespective of the blood type, and that fresh blood be transfused, and if blood is stored, prolonged storage beyond 10 days should be avoided.
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Aim: This study assessed the level of plasma haemoglobin concentration in CPDA-1 stored blood with a view to determine the extent of haemolysis during the 35 days storage period. Study Design: This is an observational and comparative case-control study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted using healthy male donors residing in Port Harcourt. Analysis was carried out at the Blood Bank of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, formerly Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria, from February 1st to March 8th, 2017. Methodology: Blood for transfusion was collected from prospective male blood donor found to be in good health, aged between 18 and 52 years, with haemoglobin level within the range of 13.5 g/dl – 16 g/dl, body weight within 55 kg – 75 kg, and body temperature within 37.0 to 37.50C / 99.50F, into plastic bags containing anticoagulant CPDA-1, and handled under strict sterile condition to prevent bacterial contamination. The blood was stored in a blood bank refrigerator with a constant temperature of +2 to +60C under proper inspection at intervals for colour, turbidity, haemolysis and clot formation. Two milliliters of the sample was collected aseptically at different interval days of collection from the blood bag and analyzed using the HemoCue photometer. Results: Results showed no significant changes in plasma haemoglogin from day 1, 5, and 10, while significant increase in haemolysis occurred from day 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 (p = 0.000), a significant increase (p<0.05) in plasma haemoglobin was observed from day 15 to day 35 of storage. Conclusion: It is pertinent therefore to note that the use of CPDA-1 does not completely stop the changes that occur in RBC as there are several changes occurring in stored blood collectively called “storage lesions”. Therefore, it is advisable that blood should be transfused within 14 days of storage to avoid transfusion of blood products that has lost most of its benefits to recipients, and where possible whole blood should be processed and components separated before storage to reduce the level of non-viable red blood cells.