Association between serum vitamin D status and uterine leiomyomas: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Uterine leiomyoma is a common gynecological condition that negatively affects women's quality of life. Vitamin D plays an important role in tumor development and progression. However, clinical studies comparing serum vitamin D levels between women with and without uterine leiomyomas are limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to compare serum vitamin D levels in women with and without uterine leiomyomas. METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study included 150 women who visited a gynecological clinic. The cases included 75 women with uterine leiomyoma, whereas the controls included 75 age-and parity-matched participants without uterine leiomyoma. Serum vitamin D levels were measured in each participant and volumes of the uterine leiomyomas were determined using the water displacement method following myomectomy. The statistical significance was inferred at P<0.05. RESULTS: The mean serum vitamin D level was 15.26±4.96 ng/mL and 22.45±6.93 ng/mL for the case and control groups, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (t-value -7.302 and P<0.001). Within the fibroid group, nine (12.0%), 49 (65.33%), and 17 (22.67%) participants had vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency, respectively; and in the control group, two (2.67%), 24 (45.33%), and 39 (52.0%) participants had vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency, respectively. There was significant negative correlation between the fibroid volume and the serum vitamin D level (r=-0.591, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Women with uterine leiomyoma had lower vitamin D levels than women in the control group. Lower vitamin D levels were associated with larger fibroid masses. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation may reduce fibroid growth and development.

Adiponectin and Disease Severity in Sickle Cell Anemia Patients Attending a Tertiary Health Institution in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Hemoglobin polymerization in sickle cell anemia (SCA) leads to abnormally rigid and adhesive erythrocytes that obstruct blood vessels, leading to poor tissue perfusion, hence provoking inflammation and damage of surrounding tissues. Adiponectin, a protein hormone, presumptively has anti-inflammatory characteristics, hence may be an important therapeutic target in SCA. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the status of adiponectin and its correlation with disease severity in SCA. Patients and Methods: A total of 84 subjects were recruited for the study comprising 34 homozygous sickle cell (HbSS) subjects (25 in the steady state and nine in the resolving crisis state) and 50 controls (25 heterozygous sickle cell [HbAS] and 25 hemoglobin phenotype AA subjects). The hemoglobin phenotype, adiponectin levels, and full blood counts were evaluated. Anthropometric measurements were also conducted. Results: A significant difference was observed in the mean body mass index between the different hemoglobin phenotype groups and also between the SCA in crisis resolution patients and the control group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the median serum levels of adiponectin in the different hemoglobin phenotype groups and between SCA patients in the steady state compared with those in the crisis resolution state. Also, there was no correlation between disease severity and adiponectin in SCA patients in the steady state (p = 0.87). Conclusion: Our study seems to suggest that in our data set of sickle cell anemia patients in the steady state, adiponectin does not constitute part of the endocrinopathy that affects these patients.

Short-term energy drink consumption influences plasma glucose, apolipoprotein B, body mass index and pulse rate among students.

OBJECTIVE: Energy drinks are becoming more popular every year, particularly among young adults such as college students, despite evidence that they have harmful health effects. The effect of energy drink consumption on plasma glucose, serum apolipoproteins, and triglyceride levels in students was investigated. METHODS: In order to test this, we chose two representative types of energy drinks in Nigeria, namely fearless and predator. These energy drinks are brand names of non-alcoholic beverages aimed to provide energy. 30 students, apparently healthy male human subjects aged 18 to 30 years who gave informed consent to the research work were randomly selected and divided into two groups: Group A (fearless energy drink consumers, n=15) and Group B (predator energy drink consumers, n=15).   RESULTS: The results demonstrated significant reductions in pulse rate (86.00±41.32 vs. 78.87±27.72; p=0.03) and BMI (21.41±1.93 vs. 21.7±12.02; p=0.00) as compared to baseline values after one month of "fearless energy drink" consumption. Plasma glucose levels were significantly higher (97.53±10.62 vs. 88.80±11.33; p=0.01) and Apo B levels were significantly lower (21.41±1.93 vs. 21.71±2.02; p=0.00) following two weeks of fearless energy drink consumption than in baseline. In addition, BMI and Apo B levels were significantly lower after two weeks of predator energy drink consumption, but plasma glucose levels were significantly higher after two weeks and one month of predator energy drink consumption, respectively (p<0.05). SBP, DBP, TG and Apo A levels did not differ significantly in both fearless and predator energy drink consumers at baseline and after the study period respectively (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the consumption of energy drinks causes significant alterations in BMI, pulse rate, plasma glucose and apolipoprotein B levels which may have important clinical consequences for energy drink consumers.

Millettia aboensis ameliorates oxidative stress through synergic interaction of its active compounds.

Background M. aboensis has wide ethnopharmacological applications but very little has been done on the pharmacological basis for these indications. This study evaluated the antioxidant potentials of the leaf extracts of M. aboensis. Methods Total phenolic content of the extract and fractions was carried out using folin-ciocalteu method while in vivo site specific effect determined using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver oxidative damage. Chromatographic separations of the most active fraction led to the isolation of compounds 1 and 2 with their structures elucidated by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry. Inhibition of liver microsome lipid peroxidation was used to evaluate the antioxidant activities of these compounds while DPPH test was used to study their interaction. Results Ethyl acetate fraction had the highest phenolic content of 305.2 mgGAE/g with n-hexane fraction having the least (26.1 mgGAE/g). Structural elucidation revealed compound 1 as epicathechin-(2ß→O→7, 4ß→8)-cathechin and compound 2 as epicathechin-(2ß→O→7, 4ß→8)-epicathechin. Compounds 1 & 2 inhibited liver microsome lipid peroxidation with EC50 of 46 and 55 µg/mL respectively. Combination of the compounds produced synergic inhibition of DPPH radical with EC50 of 7 µg/mL against 9 µg/mL produced by ascorbic acid. Conclusion M. aboensis expressed strong antioxidant property which may explain its diverse ethnopharmacological uses.

Normal pregnancy and coagulation profile: from the first through the third trimester.

BACKGROUND: Normal pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state; a physiological safety valve aimed at preventing excessive maternal blood loss at delivery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of normal pregnancy on blood coagulation and to explore changes in activity from the first through the third trimester. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Sixty (60) apparently healthy pregnant women (20 from each trimester) and 20 healthy non-pregnant age-matched controls were recruited. Each participant had Prothrombin time (PT). Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and platelet count done. Multiple comparisons were made between control values and coagulation profile at different stages of pregnancy using the Bonferroni statistics. Results were expressed as means and standard deviations, p < 0.01 was significant at 95 % CI. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional review board. RESULTS: The means of the APTT were significantly lower in the first, second and third trimesters compared with controls (35.59 ± 4.95 seconds, 32.22 ± 5.79 seconds and 29.60 ± 3.66 seconds, respectively, vs. 40.55 ± 5.95 seconds; p = 0.01). Correspondingly, the platelet count was significantly lower in the 3 trimester of pregnancy compared with controls (178.35 ± 41.52 x 10(9)/L vs. 233.86 ± 55.34 x 10(9)/L; p < 0.01) and equally with level in the 2nd trimester (178.35 ± 41.52 x 10(9)/L vs. 232.10 ± 48.67 x 10(9)/L; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The APTT and platelet counts are significantly lower in the 3 trimester of normal pregnancy.

Evaluation of serum ferritin levels and blood counts in apparently normal individuals in Nnewi, South-east Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Serum ferritin levels as well as blood counts are variously affected in diverse disease conditions, particularly those characterized by inflammation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and blood counts in apparently healthy Nigerian subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Five (5ml) of venous blood was collected for full blood count, malaria parasite, serum ferritin and C- reactive protein (CRP) estimation from 88 apparently healthy subjects. Those positive for malaria parasite (on blood film examination) or had elevated serum CRP were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 16; (SPSS Inc., Chicago IL). Associations were tested between parameters using Pearson's correlation, set at a coefficient of p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board and all participants gave informed consent. RESULTS: The median, mean and modal ages of subjects were 23.50 years, 25.25 years and 16.00 years, respectively while the mean packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell (TWBC), platelet count and serum ferritin level were 0.37L/L, 7.10 x 10(9)/L, 246.39 x 10(9)/L and 18.35 ng/ml, respectively. Age of subjects varied significantly with serum ferritin, platelet count and TWBC (p > 0.05). The PCV, platelet count and TWBC varied significantly across the different age groups of the study population (p < 0.05), likewise the PCV in males, compared to females (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum ferritin level in our apparently healthy subjects is lower than previously reported but did not vary significantly with blood counts.