Search

Objective: Males and females have been reported to show significant variation with respect to clinical profile of sickle cell disease (SCD) (e.g. cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and chronic end-organ complications). Clinical features of SCD are also influenced by lifestyle and dietary habits. Thus, the study was conducted to examine whether the distributions of other manifestations (e.g. priapism, pain frequency, leg ulcers rates) and habits (lifestyle, dietary) of SCD patients in Osun state, Nigeria are influenced by gender or genotype. Material and methods: Questionnaires were administered to obtain information on age, gender, concoction/herbal preparations, and fruit/vegetable consumption, as well as zinc contents of 24-hour meal recall, physical exercise, lifestyle parameters and clinical profile of SCD. Descriptive (relative frequency) and inferential (Chi-square (χ2) test of independence) statistics were employed. Statistical significant was set at p<0.05. Results and discussion: HbSS rather than HbSC showed higher distributions of pain frequency and more frequent hospitalization rates at p= .001 and p=.001 respectively. There was no significant relationship between hemoglobin genotype and the following variables: leg ulcers, priapism, fruit intake, herb/concoction consumption, 24-hour dietary zinc content. Moreover, all the variables were not influenced by gender not only among HbSS but also HbSC patients. Conclusion: There are indications from data obtained that clinical profile of SCD such as priapism, leg ulcers, high hospitalization rates and pain episodes are present among HbSS and HbSC SCD patients in Osun state Nigeria. Although only pain episodes and hospitalization rates were significantly higher among HbSS than HbSC, for either variable though there was no gender bias in its distribution. Similarly the distributions of other variables (such as exercise, dietary, etc) for each of SCD (HbSS, HbSC) categories were not influenced by gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is a genetically inherited disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Patients with a severe form of the disease present with more complications and end-organ dysfunction. This study is aimed at determining a relationship between 2 biochemical parameters associated with SCD (i.e. NO and Zn) and disease severity markers such as hematocrit, PF and VOC, with the objective of using NO and/or Zn to better understand the gravity of altered processes of SCD. Materials and methods: Ninety-eight adult participants of both sexes were recruited for the study and grouped accordingly as HbAA (control), HbSC and HbSS. Questionnaires provided information on PF, frequency of hospitalization, and clinic attendance. Hematocrit, serum NO and Zn were determined using standard techniques. Data were summarized and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance higher levels of hematocrit, Zn and NO than HbSS and HbSC. Zinc and hematocrit for HbSS were significantly lower than HbSC but NO was not significantly different. Hematocrit, NO and Zn of patients in steady, VOC and post-VOC states of HbSC and HbSS were significantly different. A significant association was observed between biochemical parameters (NO, Zn) and hematocrit, VOC but not PF. Conclusion: The study suggests that Zn and NO are lower in SCD compared with control and can be affected by the severity of the disease. Therefore, periodic testing of NO and Zn may be beneficial in identifying patients with a higher risk of developing end organ damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis, a communicable disease with significant morbidity and mortality, is the leading cause of death in the world from bacterial infectious disease. Because of its public health importance, there is need for rapid and definitive method of detecting the causative organism. Several approaches have been attempted, but the molecular methods, especially Polymerase Chain Reaction assays are the most promising for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from clinical samples. Aim: This study was aimed at using Polymerase Chain Reaction for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from clinical samples using universal sample processing methodology. Subjects and Methods: Two hundred clinical samples sent to Tuberculosis laboratories in Ibadan and Osogbo, Nigeria, were enrolled in this study. The samples were processed by universal sample processing methodology for PCR; smear microscopy was carried out on sputum samples by Ziehl Nelseen staining technique; and cultured on Middlebrook agar medium containing oleic acid albumin dextrose complex supplement after decontamination of samples. Results: Ninety six (48%) samples were detected positive for M. tuberculosis complex by polymerase chain reaction using the combination of boiling and vortexing and microscopy detected 72 (36%) samples positive for acid fast bacilli. Using culture method as gold standard, it was found that polymerase chain reaction assay was more sensitive (75.5%) and specific (94.8%) than microscopy (sensitivity of 48.5% and specificity of 85.7%) in detecting M. tuberculosis complex from clinical samples. There was significant difference in detecting M. tuberculosis from clinical samples when compared to microscopy (p<0.05).Conclusion: The study recommends that direct molecular detection of M. tuberculosis complex is sensitive and specific and polymerase chain reaction method should be used as an adjunct to other methods of laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]