Prevalence and risk factors of hypocalcemia among pregnant and non-pregnant women in Maiduguri, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a period of heightened calcium demand necessary for the optimum growth and development of the fetus and placenta. Women with low calcium intake may manifest with hypocalcemia in pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hypocalcemia among pregnant and non-pregnant women in Maiduguri, Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2018. For each patient, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were noted. Serum calcium, phosphate, total protein, and albumin were determined using spectrophometric methods with their specific reagents. The data obtained was analyzed using the SPSS statistical software for windows version 20. Chi-square test, Student t-test and ANOVA were used as appropriate. Odd ratio with multiple logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for hypocalcemia. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 1,500 (1,000 pregnant and 500 non-pregnant) women were analyzed. The mean age, total protein, and albumin were similar in the pregnant and non-pregnant women. However, the non-pregnant women were of higher parity than the pregnant women (3.75 ± 2.79 versus 2.45 ± 2.24, P < 0.001). The staple food of both group were mainly high carbohydrate diets. The prevalence of hypocalcemia was 29.20% among the pregnant women and 14.20% among the non-pregnant women (X2 = 64.34, P < 0.001). The mean serum calcium was lower among the pregnant compared to the non-pregnant women (2.08 ± 0.22 mmol/L versus 2.2 ± 0.19 mmol/L, F = 5.73, P = 0.02). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean serum calcium across the trimesters of pregnancy (F = 1.58, P = 0.21). CONCLUSION: Hypocalcemia in pregnancy is common in our environment and it is associated with anemia in pregnancy, anorexia, and primigravidity while attainment of at least basic education is protective. We recommend routine calcium supplementation in pregnancy and preconception period.

Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) Nk-lysin induces protection against the pathogenic parasite Philasterides dicentrarchi via membrane disruption.

P. dicentrarchi is one of the most threatening pathogens for turbot aquaculture. This protozoan ciliate is a causative agent of scuticociliatosis, which is a disease with important economic consequences for the sector. Neither vaccines nor therapeutic treatments are commercially available to combat this infection. Numerous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and even tumor cells; an example is Nk-lysin (Nkl), which is an AMP belonging to the saposin-like protein (SAPLIP) family with an ability to interact with biological membranes. Following the recent characterization of turbot Nkl, an expression plasmid encoding Nkl was constructed and an anti-Nkl polyclonal antibody was successfully tested. Using these tools, we demonstrated that although infection did not clearly affect nkl mRNA expression, it induced changes at the protein level. Turbot Nkl had the ability to inhibit proliferation of the P. dicentrarchi parasite both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, a shortened peptide containing the active core of turbot Nkl (Nkl71-100) was synthesized and showed high antiparasitic activity with a direct effect on parasite viability that probably occurred via membrane disruption. Therefore, the nkl gene may be a good candidate for genetic breeding selection of fish, and either the encoded peptide or its shortened analog is a promising antiparasitic treatment in aquaculture.

The use of plasma lipid and lipoprotein ratios in interpreting the hyperlipidaemia of pregnancy.

The aim of this study was to determine the lipid and lipoproteins ratio in pregnant mothers and to evaluate their role in the interpretation of hyperlipidaemias. A total of 222 pregnant women who registered for ANC and 222 non-pregnant healthy women of the sameage and parity as control were recruited for the study. A sample of venous blood after an overnight fast was collected for analysis and interpretation. The mean ± SD age (years) of pregnant women, 27.317 ± 7.283 years and that of the non-pregnant women, 26.234 ± 6.234 years are not significantly different, p = 0.429. Total cholesterol, HDL-c and TGs were significantly higher in pregnant women (5.29 ± 1.04 mmol/l, 1.64 ± 0.42 mmol/l and 1.74 ± 0.42 mmol/l) compared with that of non-pregnant women (4.64 ± 0.92 mmol/l, 1.25 ± 0.35 mmol/l and 1.37 ± 0.45 mmol/l, respectively) All showed p < 0.000. The frequencies of hypercholesterolaemia, 96(43.2%) and hypertriglyceridaemia, 82 (36.9%), are significantly higher in the pregnant women than in the non-pregnant women, 58 (26.1%) and 26 (11.7%), respectively. TC/HDL-C ratio, 3.33 ± 1.01 and LDL/HDL-C ratio, 1.91 ± 0.85 are significantly lower in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women counterparts, 3.89 ± 0.97 and 2.35 ± 0.84, respectively. Similarly the frequencies of increased TC/HDL-C ratio, 22 (9.9%) and LDL/HDL-C ratio, 16 (7.2%) are significantly less in the pregnant compared with the non-pregnant women, 54 (24.3%) and 28 (12.6%), respectively.

Is screening for type 2 diabetes worthwhile in adolescents and young adults in developing countries?

Reports of the age of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes are declining, with a paucity of information in Africa. We therefore screened young university undergraduates to determine the current status of fasting plasma glucose among adolescents and young adults in Africans living in Africa. Two hundred and thirty (230), age range 18 to 35 years, participated in the study. Mean (+SD) age was 23+6y, BMI 22.2+3.8 kg/m2, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 4.1+0.6 mmol/L. There was a positive but not a statistically significant correlation between BMI and FPG , but a statistically significant correlation between BMI and FPG in males but not in females. No subjects were found to have type 2 diabetes

Association between serum insulin and uric acid concentrations in type 2 diabetic subjects in Nigeria

Diabetic patients who are hyperuricaemic appear to be at increased risk for developing diabetic complications, renal disease, and cardiovascular disease. The present study was undertaken to determine the association between serum insulin and uric acid concentrations in individuals with type 2 diabetes and control subjects attending the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) in Nigeria. One hundred and sixty (160) subjects with an age range of 30­75 years participated in the study: 100 confirmed type 2 diabetes subjects and 60 non-diabetic controls. A significantly (p<0.05) high mean serum insulin was observed in type 2 diabetes subjects as compared with controls (9.3±2.0 vs 5.1±0.6 µlU/L). No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the mean serum uric acid of diabetic and control subjects (358±89 vs 334±66 µmol/L). There was a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.410; p<0.05) between serum insulin and uric acid levels in type 2 diabetes subjects. This may relate to the insulin resistance that characterises type 2 diabetes