Antithrombin III: Plasma Activity and Reference Range Among Nigerian Blood Donors.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of antithrombin III (ATIII) deficiency as a common cause of thrombophilia is primarily based on the determination of antithrombin levels in plasma using a functional activity assay or an immunological assay, but local reference interval is lacking. AIMS: The aim of the present study was to determine pattern of antithrombin activity and local reference intervals for ATIII among Nigerians. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among healthy blood donors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria between the age range 18 and 65 years. Structured questionnaires were applied to obtain demographic and clinical history. Percentage ATIII activity was determined using immunoassay technique. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20.0. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-five healthy blood donors who participated in this study consisted of 84 males and 71 females. The mean age of participants was 35 ± 6.7 years with a modal age range at 25-49 years. The mean percentage ATIII activity was 91.2 ± 14.2% (confidence interval: 69.2-113.2). Reference interval estimated for all the subjects was 62.8-119.6%. ATIII activity was lower in females compared to males (91.1 vs. 94.2; P = 0.03). However, ATIII activity tended to decrease with increasing age (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Mean percentage ATIII activity for our study population was 91.2% with a reference interval of 62.8-119.6%. Reference interval for ATIII activity in African population is lower than documented Caucasian values.

Ovarian reserve in nigerian women with sickle cell anaemia: a cross- sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Sickle cell disease is the most common monogenetic disorder worldwide. There have been reports of endocrine dysfunction and gonadal failure among affected individuals, especially in males. The findings on ovarian reserve and failure in women with sickle anaemia have been inconsistent. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the ovarian reserve of Nigerian women with and without sickle cell anaemia attending a University Teaching Hospital. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Adult Sickle Cell Clinic and the Community Health Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. METHODOLOGY: A total of 166 participants who met the selection criteria, were recruited for the study. The study population consisted of two groups of women matched for age: 83 women with HbSS and 83 women with HbAA. The haemoglobin phenotype of each participant was determined on alkaline electrophoresis (pH 8.4) before analysis. Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) was determined using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method (Calbiotech Inc. USA, Catalog no AM448T). RESULTS: The mean ± SD of serum AMH level in women with HbSS was 3.64 ± 0.65 ng/mL and was lower than that of women with HbAA 7.35 ±1.19 ng/mL (p < 0.001). Serum AMH negatively correlated with age in both study groups (HbAA and HbSS). Also, a significant negative correlation was found between serum AMH and BMI in women with HbAA. CONCLUSION: The study showed diminished ovarian reserve in women with HbSS when compared to age-matched women with HbAA.

Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation in sickle cell anaemia patients in Lagos, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: The significant causes of mortality among individuals with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) such as acute chest syndrome and cerebrovascular disease are related to vascular occlusion. Polymorphisms of the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in persons with sickle cell anaemia have been suggested as a potential risk for vaso-occlusive events, with the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms being the commonest. This study therefore aimed to establish the pattern of MTHFR C677T and A1298C gene mutations among adults with HbSS phenotype attending the Haematology Clinic in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done among SCA patients attending the Haematology Clinic of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), using age and sex matched HbAA controls. DNA extraction and gene analysis were done. The selective amplification of a particular segment of the DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done and subsequent digestion of the amplified MTHFR gene into its various fragments. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of the C677T mutation among participants was 19.3% (37 of 192), while the prevalence of A1298C was 15% (29 of 192). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MTHFR C677T was higher than A1298C mutations among sickle cell anaemia subjects.

Toxicological evaluation of the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The rapid increase in consumption of herbal remedies worldwide has been stimulated by several factors, including the notion that all herbal products are safe and effective. However, over the past decade, several news-catching episodes in developed communities indicated adverse effects, sometimes life-threatening, allegedly arising as a consequence to taking herbal products or traditional medicines from various ethnic groups. Despite the popular use of Moringa oleifera for treating various disorders, there is limited or no scientific data available regarding safety aspects of this remedy, nor are there any documented toxicological studies that can be used to ascertain the safety index of its herbal preparation. Therefore, this present study aimed to carry out extensive toxicological evaluation of the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an acute toxicity test, male Wistar albino mice were orally administered an aqueous extract up to 6400 mg/kg and intraperitoneally up to 2000 mg/kg. A sub-chronic toxicity test was performed by daily administration with the extract at 250, 500 and 1500 mg/kg orally for 60 days. Control rats received distilled water. Sperm quality was analyzed, haematological and biochemical (liver enzymes, urea and creatinine) parameters were determined and a histopathological examination was carried out. RESULTS: The LD(50) was estimated to be 1585 mg/kg. The extract did not elicit any significant difference (P≥0.05) in sperm quality, haematological and biochemical parameters in the treated rats compared to the control. Moreover, there was no significant difference in weight gain of the control and treated animals although there was a dose-dependent reduction in food consumption of the animals treated with 250 to 1500 mg/kg extract. CONCLUSIONS: Results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera is relatively safe when administered orally.

Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus antibodies amongst normal pregnant women in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a ubiquitous virus belonging to the herpes family, is known to be transmitted frequently to developing fetuses in pregnancy. In an immunocompromised state like pregnancy, primary infection through blood transfusion or reactivation of a latent CMV infection can cause severe illness. The study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to cytomegalovirus amongst pregnant women in correlation with previous exposure to blood transfusion. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out amongst 179 HIV negative pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Nigeria. Five mL of blood was collected and stored in a plain bottle, centrifuged on the same day and the serum stored at -20°C. All samples were screened for anti-CMV IgG antibodies using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Consenting participants were instructed to fill a semi-structured questionnaire to obtain demographic and other related information. Statistical analysis of the results was done using Pearson's chi squared test for analytical assessment. RESULTS: A total of 97.2% of the pregnant women recruited for this study were anti-CMV IgG positive. Out of the 179 recruited for the study 174 responded to the question on previous history of blood transfusion, 14.9% of the respondents (26 of 174) had a previous history of blood transfusion and all tested positive to the anti-CMVIgG antibody. However, past history of blood transfusion and educational level were found to be insignificant to the risk of acquiring CMV infection. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of the CMV antibody amongst pregnant women in this environment is high in relation to findings in other developing countries. There is the need to assess anti-CMV immunoglobulin M antibodies in pregnant women, which is a determinant of active infection.