Serum total adiponectin in healthy pre-pubertal nigerian school children.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is an excellent insulin sensitizer. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties that play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardio-metabolic disorders. Evaluating adiponectin distribution in children and factors that modulate its blood level is critical for advancing knowledge in its future role in managing associated non-communicable diseases. AIM: To investigate the adiponectin profile in apparently healthy pre-pubertal Nigerian school children. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study comprising 125 randomly recruited pupils from eight primary schools in Nnewi located in Anambra State, Nigeria. Anthropometric values were taken and venous blood samples assayed for adiponectin using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Analysis of data was done with SPSS software version 22 and R programming software. The level of significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: We enrolled a total number of 125 children, which comprised of 68 (54.4%) males and 57 (45.6%) females with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The mean age of all the subjects was 7.7 ± 2.0 years. The mean serum adiponectin level of all the participants was 4.67 ± 2.2 ng/mL with a range of 1.9 ng/mL to 10.0 ng/mL. Adiponectin was slightly higher in females than males (4.93 ± 2.4 ng/mL vs 4.45 ± 2.0 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.223). In males, an inverse relationship was observed between adiponectin and increasing age, whereas in females, a positive correlation was noted (P = 0.637 vs P = 0.639, respectively). The body mass index (BMI) correlated negatively with adiponectin in all the subjects and across both the genders, but these were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Adiponectin varies with sex, age and BMI in pre-pubertal Nigerian children with normal BMI. Further local studies are needed to elucidate its role in the management of associated disease states.

Public Awareness of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Cross River State, Nigeria: A Population-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a public health problem that is endemic in Nigeria. Cross River State, a tourist state, located in the coastal area of Nigeria has a relatively high prevalence rate. Insufficient knowledge and negative attitudes are barriers to effective control of infectious diseases. OBJECTIVES: To determine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of HBV amongst residents of Cross River State, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross sectional descriptive study. A total of 1,620 healthy adults from the three senatorial districts in Cross River State participated in the study from March to September, 2015. KAP towards HBV was assessed using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. Categorical variables were described as frequencies and continuous variables as median and interquartile range. In the inferential analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and median KAP scores. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. All analyses were performed using Stata 12 statistical package. RESULTS: A total of 1,465 respondents completed the questionnaire correctly giving a response rate of 91%. The M: F ratio was 1:1.8. The median age was 38 years. Majority (61%) was married and 32% had formal education up to the tertiary level. Only 45% knew that HBV causes hepatitis. Knowledge of routes of transmission was >50% for blood transfusion, sexual contact and sharps but < 48% for vertical transmission. Median and interquartile range of knowledge scores for the south, central and northern senatorial districts were 8 (2-14), 13 (5-17) and 14 (6-18) which varied significantly with age (p =0.027). The overall attitude and practice towards persons living with HBV was poor. There was good correlation between KAP scores (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Knowledge of hepatitis B is low among adults in Cross River State. This correlates with poor attitude and practice towards HBV. There is need to utilize health education strategies to improve awareness among the populace, if Nigeria is to meet the global target of elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030.

Serum Human Placental Lactogen Assays in Ultrasound Evaluated Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: A Marker of Placental Function in Pregnancy.

Human placental lactogen (HPL) is a pregnancy-related hormone produced by the placenta. The overall functions of serum HPL impacts the developing fetus and placenta. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between maternal serum concentration of HPL and sonographic fetal growth parameters in pregnancy induced hypertension as a marker of placental function. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a 9-month period in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria that involved 100 women with pregnancy induced hypertension. An obstetric ultrasound scan was done on all the subjects and their blood was collected for HPL evaluation using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. Maternal serum HPL had a significant positive correlation with PLA (P=0.000), estimated gestational age (P=0.000), estimated fetal weight (P=0.000) and amniotic fluid index AFI (P=0.000) and a significant negative correlation with proteinuria (P=0.047), fetal heart rate (P=0.032) and HC/AC (P=0.000). It is concluded that maternal serum HPL concentration increases as pregnancy advances and causes a significant increase in placental thickness, fetal weight and amniotic fluid volume, however, its reduction is significantly associated with the onset of pre-eclampsia, fetal distress and asymmetrical intra-uterine growth restriction. Thus, the evaluation of maternal serum HPL concentration is a reliable marker of placental function in the second half of pregnancy.

Prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency viruses, and evaluation of risk factors for transmission: Report of a population screening in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV are common blood-borne infections unevenly distributed across regions in Nigeria. Few population-based prevalence studies have been done in Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV and risk factors for infection with these viruses in a Nigerian population. METHODS: Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV and HIV were assayed in 1 498 healthy adult participants. A structured questionnaire was used to assess risk factors for viral acquisition. Bivariate analysis was used to compare differences in sociodemographic characteristics. Significant risk factors were identified by stepwise logistic regression. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The prevalences of HBV, HCV and HIV were 8.8%, 10.0% and 12.9%, respectively, with urban/rural disparity. HBV/HCV positivity was higher among males than females. The reverse was true for HIV. Age was significantly associated with being HBV-, HCV- or HIV-positive. Communal use of a toothbrush was significantly associated with HBV positivity in the final model (odds ratio 2.46, 95% confidence interval 1.45 - 4.18). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infection is high in Nigeria, with urban/rural disparity. HCV may be more of a public health concern than HBV in some communities. Population-based studies are required to provide vital data to inform optimal national control strategies.

Prevalence of dysglycemia in Calabar: a cross-sectional observational study among residents of Calabar, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Population data on dysglycemia are scarce in West Africa. This study aimed to determine the pattern of dysglycemia in Calabar city in South East Nigeria. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional observational study. METHODS: 1134 adults in Calabar were recruited. A multistage sampling method randomly selected 4 out of 22 wards, and 50 households from each ward. All adults within each household were recruited and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Dysglycemia was defined as any form of glucose intolerance, including: impaired fasting glucose (blood glucose level 110-125 mg/dL), impaired glucose tolerance (blood glucose level ≥140 mg/dL 2 h after consuming 75 g of glucose), or diabetes mellitus (DM), as defined by fasting glucose level ≥126 mg/dL, or a blood glucose level ≥200 mg/dL, 2 h after a 75 g glucose load. RESULTS: Mean values of fasting plasma glucose were 95 mg/dL (95% CI 92.1 to 97.5) for men and 96 mg/dL (95% CI 93.2 to 98.6) for women. The overall prevalence of dysglycemia was 24%. The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 9%, the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance 20%, and the prevalence of undiagnosed DM 7%. All values were a few percentage points higher for men than women. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of undiagnosed DM among residents of Calabar is similar to studies elsewhere in Nigeria but much higher than the previous national prevalence survey, with close to a quarter of the adults having dysglycemia and 7% having undiagnosed DM. This is a serious public health problem requiring a programme of mass education and case identification and management in all health facilities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRS/MH/CR-HREC/020/Vol.8/43.