Association between Height and Blood Pressure in Middle Age and Older Adults in Southeast Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out in Abia State, Southeast Nigeria, to determine the association between height and blood pressure in middle age and elderly adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Abia State, Southeast Nigeria, between August 2011 and March 2012. The participants were residents in the state and were recruited from the three senatorial zones of the state. The total number of participants that took part in the study was 2,487 adults. The World Health Organisation STEPwise approach to surveillance of chronic disease risk factors was used. Information collected included blood pressure and anthropometric measurements. The association between height and blood pressure was determined. RESULTS: A total of 1,363 participants that took part in the study were >40 years old. Six hundred and fifty-five participants (48.1%) were males and 708 participants (51.9%) were females. There was no significant inverse relationship between height and blood pressure components ( Systolic Blood Pressure Diastolic Blood Pressure, and Pulse Pressure ) among the males. Among the females there was a high inverse relationship between height and blood pressure components. However, this relationship was not statistically significant. In addition, among the males there was no relationship between height and hypertension. Among the females, there was some degree of inverse relationship between height and hypertension, although multivariate regression analysis showed that this was not significant. CONCLUSION: There was an inverse but non-significant relationship between height and blood pressure components/ hypertension among males and females in Southeast Nigeria in this study.

CONTEXTE: Cette étude a été menée dans l'État d'Abia, au sud-est du Nigeria, pour déterminer, pour déterminer l'association entre la taille et la pression artérielle chez les adultes d'âge moyen et les personnes âgées. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale réalisée dans l'État d'Abia, au sud-est du Nigeria, entre août 2011 et mars 2012. Les participants étaient des résidents de l'État et ont été recrutés dans les trois zones sénatoriales de l'État. Le nombre total de participants ayant pris part à l'étude était de 2 487 adultes. L'approche STEPwise de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé pour la surveillance des facteurs de risque des maladies chroniques a été utilisée. Les informations recueillies comprenaient la pression artérielle et les mesures anthropométriques. L'association entre la taille et la pression artérielle a été déterminée. RÉSULTATS: Au total, 1 363 participants à l'étude étaient âgés de plus de 40 ans. Six cent cinquante-cinq participants (48,1%) étaient des hommes et 708 participants (51,9 %) étaient des femmes. Il n'y avait pas de relation inverse significative entre la taille et les composantes de la pression artérielle (pression artérielle systolique, pression artérielle diastolique et pression du pouls) chez les hommes. Chez les femmes, on a constaté une forte relation inverse entre la taille et les composantes de la pression artérielle. Cependant, cette relation n'était pas statistiquement significative. En outre, Chez les hommes, il n'y a pas de relation entre la taille et l'hypertension. Chez les femmes, on a constaté un certain degré de relation inverse entre la taille et l'hypertension, bien que l'analyse de régression multivariée a montré qu'elle n'était pas significative. CONCLUSION: Il existe une relation inverse, mais non significative, entre la taille et les composantes de la pression artérielle/ hypertension chez les hommes et les femmes du sud-est du Nigeria. Mots clés: Taille, Hypertension, Pression artérielle, Pression artérielle systolique.

Efficacy of nine-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease in The Gambia: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is estimated to cause 2 million deaths every year in children. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most important cause of severe pneumonia. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a nine-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in children. METHODS: We undertook a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in eastern Gambia. Children age 6-51 weeks were randomly allocated three doses of either pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (n=8718) or placebo (8719), with intervals of at least 25 days between doses. Our primary outcome was first episode of radiological pneumonia. Secondary endpoints were clinical or severe clinical pneumonia, invasive pneumococcal disease, and all-cause admissions. Analyses were per protocol and intention to treat. FINDINGS: 529 children assigned vaccine and 568 allocated placebo were not included in the per-protocol analysis. Results of per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses were similar. By per-protocol analysis, 333 of 8189 children given vaccine had an episode of radiological pneumonia compared with 513 of 8151 who received placebo. Pneumococcal vaccine efficacy was 37% (95% CI 27-45) against first episode of radiological pneumonia. First episodes of clinical pneumonia were reduced overall by 7% (95% CI 1-12). Efficacy of the conjugate vaccine was 77% (51-90) against invasive pneumococcal disease caused by vaccine serotypes, 50% (21-69) against disease caused by all serotypes, and 15% (7-21) against all-cause admissions. We also found an efficacy of 16% (3-28) against mortality. 110 serious adverse events arose in children given the pneumococcal vaccine compared with 131 in those who received placebo. INTERPRETATION: In this rural African setting, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has high efficacy against radiological pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease, and can substantially reduce admissions and improve child survival. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines should be made available to African infants.

Evaluation of the antihepatotoxic activity of the biflavonoids of Garcinia kola seed.

Seeds of Garcinia kola enjoy a folk reputation in Africa as a poison antidote. Their antihepatotoxic properties have been evaluated using four experimental toxins, namely carbon tetrachloride, galactosamine, alpha-amanitin and phalloidin. Kolaviron, a fraction of the defatted ethanol extract, and two biflavones of Garcinia kola seeds (GB1 and GB2) significantly modified the action of all these hepatotoxins. At 100 mg/kg orally, the test substances reduced thiopental-induced sleep in CCl4-poisoned rats. The microsomal enzyme levels in the serum of mice poisoned with phalloidin were significantly protected by treatment with Garcinia extractives. The probable mechanism of the antihepatotoxic action is briefly discussed.