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This study examined the experiential relationship between the parasite density and haematological parameters in male patients with Plasmodium falciparum infection in Port Harcourt, Nigeria reporting to malaria clinics. A total of one hundred and thirty-six (136) male patients were recruited. QBC haematological analysis, QBC malaria parasite specie identification and quantification and thin blood film for differential leucocytes count was used. The mean values of the haematological parameters in each quartile of parasite densities were determined using Microsoft Excel statistical package. Regression analysis was employed to model the experiential relationship between parasite density and haematological parameters. All regression relationships were tested and the relationship with the highest coefficient of determination (R2) was accepted as the valid relationship. The relationships tested included linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic and power relationships. The X- axis of the regression graphs stand for the parasite density while Y-axis stands for the respective haematological parameters Neutrophil count had a negative exponential relationship with the parasite density and is related to the parasite density by a polynomial equation model: ynm = -7E-07x2 - 0.0003x + 56.685. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.6140. This means that the rate of change of the parasitemia will depend on the initial value of the neutrophil. As the neutrophil increases, the parasitemia will tend to decrease in a double, triple and quadruple manner. The relationship between lymphocyte count, monocyte count and eosinophil count and parasite density was logarithmic and expressed by the following linear equation models: ylm = -2.371ln(x) + 37.296, ymm = 0.6965ln(x) + 5.7692 and yem = 0.9334ln(x) + 4.1718 in the same order. Their respective high coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.8027, 0.8867 and 0.9553. This logarithmic relationship means that each doubling of monocyte count and eosinophil count will cause the same amount of increase in parasitemia whereas each doubling of lymphocyte count will cause the same amount of decrease in parasitemia. The best fitting regression model for total white cell count (WBC), haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume (PCV)(haematocrit) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and parasite density was a linear model and expressed by the following linear equation models: yWBCm = 1.2314x + 8533.8, yHbm = -0.0014x + 13.004, yPCVm = -0.0046x + 41.443 and yMCHCm = -0.0008x + 32.336. Their respective coefficients of determination are 0.7397, 0.6248, 0.9758 and 0.8584. This linear relationship means that as the parasite density is increasing that there is a corresponding decrease in haemoglobin concentration, PCV and MCHC and a corresponding increase in total white cell count. The best fitting regression model between platelet count and parasite density is a power model with a very high coefficient of determination (R2=0.9938) and expressed by: yPltm = 278047x-0.122. These equation...

Background and objective: Patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) are known to be at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The prevalence and incidence of DM patients with heart diseases is unknown in Yenagoa and its environ of Bayelsa State, Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The study investigated the incidence of CVD in chronic DM patients and compared the prevalence in both male and female subjects with respect to the duration of illness. The goals of screening are to improve life expectancy and quality of life by preventing Myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure through the early detection of significant CVD. Study Design and Methods : A total of 355 type 2 DM patients were recruited for the study. They were grouped into 135 DM patients that have suffered the Diabetes for less than 10years, 119 for 10-20years and 101 for 21 and above years. The plasma levels of the Cardiac Markers, Troponin I (CTnI), Troponin T (cTnT), Creatine Kinase (CK-MB), Myoglobin (MYO) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in the subjects. The method of fluorescence immunoassay (FIA) was used in the measurement of CTn1, CTnT and MYO. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the CK-MB and LDH. Results: Analysis of the results has shown that 20.54% of the studied subjects were diagnosed of various CVD and were statistically significant (P<0.05). Of this, 12.92% were females and 7.62% were males. 54.05% of DM subjects diagnosed of CVD were from group 21 and above years while 32.43% were from group 10 t0 20 years and 13.52% from those that had suffered it for <10 years. 32.96% of the total DM patients studied had either one or more of the cardiac markers elevated, showing the potentials of developing heart diseases. This is because the metabolic abnormalities of diabetes cause mitochondrial superoxide over production in endothelial cell of both large and small vessels as well as in the myocardium that leads to complications. The pair wise correlations between measured parameters in the DM patients with CVD showed a positive correlation. Conclusion: The risk of developing cardiovascular disease in DM in Yenagoa Bayelsa State. Niger Delta Region of Nigeria is more in the females with DM and those that have long duration of the illness.

Aim: This study evaluates the anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-dyslipidaemic and hepatoprotective effects of the polyherbal mixture diarth, in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methodology: A total of 35 male Wistar albino rats weighing between 120-140 g were used for this study. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared alloxan-monohydrate (140 mg/kg body weight). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was determined using the glucose oxidase method. Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG) and High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined using enzymatic methods. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using the Friedewald’s equation. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined using Reitman-Frankel method, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined using the colorimetric phenolphthalein method. Phytochemical analysis was done on the herbal mixture, using classical methods. Results: The results revealed the presence of the phytochemicals saponins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and tannins in the polyherbal mixture diarth. The results revealed significantly lower FPG levels in the negative control and treatment groups compared to the diabetic control. FPG level was significantly higher in the glibenclamide treated group, but showed no significant differences in the diarth group and the combination group (glibenclamide + diarth), compared to negative control. TC levels in the diabetic control was significantly higher compared to the negative control and treatment groups. There were no significant differences in TC levels in the negative control and the treatment groups. The diabetic control had significantly higher TG level compared to the negative control. TG level in the glibenclamide treated group was not significantly different from that of the diabetic control. TG level in the diarth treated group was significantly lower than the diabetic control, but also significantly higher than that of the negative control. TG levels in the combination group (diarth + glibenclamide) was significantly lower than the diabetic control, and showed no significant difference compared to the negative control. The negative control and treatment groups had significantly higher HDL-C levels compared to the diabetic control. The treatment groups showed no significant difference in HDL-C levels, compared to the negative control. The negative control and treatment groups had significantly lower LDL-C levels compared to the diabetic control. The treatment groups showed no significant difference in LDL-C levels, compared to the negative control. The results show significantly elevated ALT, AST and ALP in the diabetic rats compared to the negative control and treatment groups. The treatment groups showed no significant differences in ALT and AST levels compared to the negative control. Conclusion: 140 mg/kg body weight of alloxan produced significant diabetes in the Wistar rats with dyslipidaemia and elevated liver enzyme levels. Treatment with the polyherbal mixture diarth showed anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-dyslipidaemic and hepatoprotective effects. The effects were equipotent compared to treatment with glibenclamide, thus could be incorporated in the management of diabetes.

The scourge of diabetes has led to an increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine. The lack of regulation and control leads to the indiscriminate use of these herbals, with potential risk to patients. Aim: This study evaluates the lipidaemic and hepatic status of type 2 diabetic rats treated with the polyherbal capsule glucoblock. Methodology: A total of 35 male Wistar albino rats weighing between 120-220 g were used for this study. The rats were placed on high fat diet and diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared streptozotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg body wt). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was determined using the glucose oxidase method. Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG) and High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined using enzymatic methods. Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using the Friedewald’s equation. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) were determined using Reitman-Frankel method, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined using the colorimetric phenolphthalein method. Liver sections were stained using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining technique, and phytochemical analysis was also done on the herbal capsule. Results: The results show no significant differences in TC levels in all groups compared to the negative control. TG level was significantly higher in the diabetic control group when compared to the negative control. TG level in the singular treatment groups were significantly lower, but the combination group (glibenclamide + glucoblock) showed no significant difference compared to the diabetic control. The negative control had significantly higher HDL-C compared to the diabetic control and treatment groups. There were no significant differences in HDL-C levels in all the treatment groups, when compared to the diabetic control. The negative control had significantly lower LDL-C compared to the diabetic control and treatment groups. There were no significant differences in LDL-C levels in all the treatment groups, when compared to the diabetic control. ALT, AST and ALP levels were significantly higher in the diabetic control, but was significantly reduced to normal levels by the treatments. Liver sections of the negative control showed normal histoarchitecture. The diabetic control showed inflammation and fatty deposition. The treatment groups showed a nearly normal histoarchitecture, with fatty deposits. Conclusion: High fat diet in combination with a sub-diabetic dose of streptozotocin produced significant diabetes in the Wistar rats with dyslipidaemia and elevated liver enzyme levels. The anti-diabetic treatments, glibenclamide and glucoblock did not correct the dyslipidaema caused by diabetes. However, the treatments had equipotent hepatoprotective effect and restored liver enzyme levels to normal as well as improving liver histology.