Evaluation of ADL and BMI in the management of diabetes mellitus at secondary and tertiary health facilities.

AIMS: Physical activities of daily living (ADL) constitutes one of diabetes management options. This study aimed to assess the extent that ADL and BMI are evaluated among diabetes patients in hospital practice. METHOD: This was a clinical observational baseline study in two hospitals. Audit of medical files was performed to assess if BMI and occupations were recorded (N = 112). Afterwards, 'N = 38' who consented to participate in prospective study were conveniently sampled to assess ADL in relation to accessible metabolic syndrome tests. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analysed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Audit shows 55/112 of clients' occupation were taken, of which 31% has BMI record. Those with lipid profile results are without blood pressure and vice versa. In the cross-sectional assessment, 74% are in physically demanding ADL occupations, but affirmed inactivity is 98% on leisure exercise. Further, 47% have BMI >25 kg/m2 and were consistently less active on all leisure ADL relative to those with BMI <25 kg/m2 (p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: This report highlights oversight in clinical practice, whereby accessible metabolic syndrome parameters and occupation of clients living with diabetes are being assessed inconsistently. This implies an unmet need in the integration BMI and occupational information to improve diabetes self-management.

Prevalence and correlations of hepatorenal functions in diabetes and cardiovascular disease among stratified adults.

BACKGROUND: The vulnerability of older adults to diabetes and cardiovascular complications is a global concern. Hepatorenal pathophysiology is implicated in these complications, but has yet to be clearly established, especially from rural low-mid income countries. This study investigates differences in prevalence of diabetes in aging groups and correlations of age with hepatorenal variables. METHODS: 203 participants of both sexes above the age of 18 years underwent anthropometric measurements at Catholic Hospital, Abbi, Nigeria. Questionnaires collected demographic information and medical history. Urinalysis as well as routine liver and renal function tests were performed. Data analysis included determination of levels of hepatorenal abnormalities and prevalence of diseases in age groups. Percentage of disease subpopulations made up by each age-group was also determined as well as Pearson's correlation coefficient between age and hepatorenal variables, and comparison of average age and hepatorenal variables in disease subgroups. RESULTS: Percentage hepatorenal abnormalities are not significantly different between age-groups. There is no significant difference in percentage level of disease between groups, but in age-groups constituting disease sub-populations (p<0.00001). The apparently healthy subpopulation comprises of younger adults compared to older adults constituting diabetes and hypertension (p < 0…). Age shows moderate correlation with renal function parameters, especially urea and chloride (r = 0.42), but relatively insignificant with liver function variables. CONCLUSION: This report affirms that diabetes cardiovascular co-morbidity comes with aging.  It also indicates that renal pathophysiology may be more associated, than liver, functions in the vulnerability of adults.

Bacterial contamination of Vhuswa--a local weaning food and stored drinking-water in impoverished households in the Venda region of South Africa.

Bacterial contaminants of Vhuswa--a traditional maize-based weaning food, and domestic drinking-water stored in impoverished rural households in Venda of Limpopo province, South Africa, were determined. One hundred and twenty-five samples of Vhuswa fed to children aged less than five years were assessed for Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, and Shigella. The microbiological quality of 125 drinking-water samples was also evaluated using total coliforms, faecal coliforms, and faecal streptococci as indicators. The frequency of isolation of E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and C. jejuni from the Vhuswa samples was 70%, 5%, 5%, and 2% respectively. The geometric mean counts of total coliforms, faecal coliforms, and faecal streptococci in tap-water stored in household containers ranged from 4.9x10(2) to 5.8x10(3) cfu 100 mL(-1), 2.6x10(2) to 3.7x10(3) cfu 100 mL(-1), and 3.1x10(3) to 5.8x10(3) cfu 100 mL(-1) respectively, and for stored spring water it was 5.1x10(3) cfu 100 mL(-1), 3.2x10(3) cfu 100 mL(-1), and 5.1x10(3) cfu 100 mL(-1) respectively. The frequent contamination of water and food samples in this study has important implications for the health of children from impoverished communities.

Evaluation of selected South African medicinal plants for inhibitory properties against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase and integrase.

Seventeen aqueous and methanol extracts from nine South African medicinal plants, ethnobotanically selected, were screened for inhibitory properties against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Isolated compounds were additionally evaluated on HIV-1 integrase (IN). The strongest inhibition against the RNA-dependent-DNA polymerase (RDDP) activity of RT was observed with the methanol extract of the stem-bark of Peltophorum africanum Sond. (Fabaceae) (IC(50) 3.5 microg/ml), while the methanol extract of the roots of Combretum molle R.Br. ex G. Don (Combretaceae) was the most inhibitory on the ribonuclease H (RNase H) activity (IC(50) 9.7 microg/ml). The known compounds bergenin and catechin, and a red coloured gallotannin composed of meta-depside chains of gallic and protocatechuic acids esterified to a 1-O-isobutyroly-beta-D-glucopyranose core, were isolated from the methanol extract of the roots and stem-bark of Peltophorum africanum. The gallotannin inhibited the RDDP and RNase H functions of RT with IC(50) values of 6.0 and 5.0 microM, respectively, and abolished the 3'-end processing activity of IN at 100 microM. Catechin showed no effect on RT but had a moderate activity on HIV-1 IN. Bergenin was inactive on both enzymes. The aqueous and methanol extracts were non-toxic in a HeLaP4 cell line at a concentration of 400 microg/ml.