Aim: We attempted to determine the frequency and percentage distribution of Lewis blood group antigens among indigenes of Ogoni ethnicity in Rivers State, Nigeria. Study Design: The study consisted of 101 Ogoni people, who were apparently healthy and free from transfusion transmissible infections confirmed by serological screening. Ogoniland is located along the Niger Delta Eastern edge, and to the north-east of the Imo River and Port Harcourt city. All subjects were recruited and their blood samples were collected. The presence of Lewis-a and -b (Lea/Leb) blood group was examined using Anti-Lea and Leb monoclonal antibody, respectively (Lorne Laboratories). Results: Lea and Leb blood group was observed in 17.8% and 11.9%, respectively. Conclusion: Lea and Leb in this population was observed less frequently than those in other population previously reported. The Lewis antigen was reported to be associated with thrombotic disorders and Helicobacter pylori infection. Further studies may be directed to examine the association between Lewis blood group antigens and the risk of these conditions in Ogoni subjects.
Background: In other to enhance immune response and remove completely the danger of disease associated with AIDS, commencement of combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) is advocated. Common among HIV positive subjects are diseases such as cardiovascular conditions among others which happen when there is distortion in the gut mucosa, existence of co-infections, and long-term cART effect which gives room to vicious cycle that impairs on immune activities and inflammation. Inflammatory predictors which reveal the danger of morbidity and mortality are raised in HIV disease. A novel marker for inflammation -Platelet/Lymphocyte ratio (PLR), is a prognostic tool for assessing inflammation, atherosclerosis and platelet activation. Aim: This study was aimed at assessing prospectively, cART effect on the PLR and coagulation indices in HIV positive subjects presenting to commence cART in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Methods: Six milliliters of venous blood was collected from each participants into EDTA bottles at entry into the study, after 3 months and 6 months on cART respectively for Full Blood Count using a 3-part Sysmex XP300 and HIV Viral Load using RT-PCR Cobas TaqMan version 1.5 Results: A total of 40 subjects were recruited, with a mean age of 36.20 years, 14 (35%) of them were males. Mean PCV, Platelet: Lymphocyte ratio and HIV VL at Month 0 were 31.65±7.30%, 7.82±2.90 and 215767.85 ± 360338.04cp/ml respectively. There was a statistically significant increase (p <0.001) in the haematocrit by the 6 th month on cART, the reduction in Platelet: Lymphocyte count and of HIV VL by the 6 th month was also significant (P<0.001). Interestingly, PLR positively correlated with the VL at baseline (0.3676), however, there was a negative correlation at 3 months (-0125) and 6 months (-0.028). Conclusion: From this work it is clear that all the cases in this regard, confirm the fact that cART remarkably drops the viral load and inflammation in HIV positive subjects; nevertheless, it also shows that a low-level inflammation continues which probably leads to chronic inflammatory state, morbidity and mortality in this group of subjects.
Iron Deficiency Anaemia which is reduced red blood cells due to iron deficiency had been reported to be a major challenge among Chronic Kidney Disease patients. The cause of anaemia in these patients is multifactorial, ranging from the inability of the kidneys to excrete hepcidin to even the inability of the kidneys to produce erythropoietin. This study aimed at comparatively assessing IDA between CKD and APHS in Niger Delta. A total of 88 subjects were recruited, 55(62.50%) CKDP and 33(37.50%) Control subjects. Samples were collected and analysed for IDA Indicators such as Serum Hepcidin Levels using commercial DRG Hepcidin-25 kit and other Haematological Indices using Automation (Sysmex KX-21N Automated Haematology Analyzer), Leishman Staining Technique and Supravital Staining Technique; Questionnaire was also used to obtain some data, data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 21.The mean values for Serum Hepcidin, Haemoglobin(HB), Packed Cell Volume(PCV), Red Blood Cell count(RBC), Mean Cell Volume(MCV), Mean Cell Haemoglobin(MCH), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration(MCHC), Reticulocyte count(Retics) and Red Cell Distribution Width(RDW) were 52.00ng/ml, 10.00 g/dL, 31.00%, 3.74×102/L, 78.84fL, 26.58pg, 31.79g/dL, 0.64%, and 14.94% respectively in the CKD patients while that for the APHS were 16.00ng/ml, 14.00g/dL, 42.00%, 4.69×1012/L, 89.37fL, 29.59pg, 33.00g/dL, 1.09% and 13.20% respectively. Statistical T-Test of significance revealed that Serum Hepcidin level was elevated significantly in CKD patients (52.00ng/ml) when compared with APHS(16.00ng/ml) t86= 6.54, p<0.05, Haemoglobin value of 10.00g/dL in CKD patients was significantly lower than 14.00g/dL in APHS (t86 = -8.49, p<0.05), and the values of other haematological indices were lower except RDW that was elevated significantly among CKD patients when compared with the APHS (p<0.05) all at significance level of 0.05. The elevated serum hepcidin and RDW level seen in this study may be as a result of diminished renal clearance and inflammatory state of the kidney. The kidney”s inability to make enough erythropoietin may have lead to the low red blood cell count that consequently caused anaemia in subjects studied..The estimation of Serum Hepcidin level in CKD patients in addition to the other Haematological indices will improve the diagnosis, treatment and management of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in these patients.
Background: Turnaround Time (TAT) is an important Quality Indicator in the medical laboratory. The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory was enrolled in the process of World Health Organisation (WHO) - Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) accreditation by FHi360 in preparation for the ISO 15189 accreditation in 2016. One of the services rendered in the laboratory is Early Infant Diagnosis (EID)/Dried Blood Spots (DBS) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) exposed infants. Clinicians depend on these results to determine the next step for the management of HIV exposed Infants. This study is aimed at assessing the rate of sample rejection (SR), determine the effect of specific intervention on this rate and the effect of SR on TAT. Method: It involves the assessment of samples delivered to the RSUTH PCR Laboratory from January 2019 to March 2020. A baseline rate of sample rejection was established from January to July 2019. Interventional measures were put in place such as introducing the national algorithm for rejection and acceptance of samples, training was also done for EID sample collectors and a final assessment of changes in the rate of sample rejection was determined at the final period of January to March 2020.Results: During the baseline period, sample rejection rate started at 5% in February and went back to 0% in March. In April however, the rate of rejection increased to 9%. There was a decline in rejection rate to 5% and 7% in May and June respectively. A sudden spike in rejection occurred in July at a rate of 19%. The major reasons for sample rejection were DBS cards with insufficient blood spots, DBS cards with clots present in spots, DBS cards that have serum rings and grossly haemolysed DBS. After baseline data was collected and interventions put in place. Sample rejection rate drastically reduced to 1%, 0% and 0% respectively from January to March which is way below the maximum threshold of 2% as advocated by WHO. At baseline EID, TAT was longer than a month, however; with SR, the TAT increased to about seven weeks. The final assessment in March from this study showed a significant reduction in sample rejection to 0%.Conclusion and recommendations: This study has shown that quality improvement is achievable if interventional tools are utilized promptly. This will result in shorter TAT; fewer samples rejected and therefore prompt treatment of exposed infants thus reducing morbidity and mortality due to HIV.
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