BackgroundMalaria is a debilitating disease with high morbidity and mortality in Africa, commonly caused by different species of the genus Plasmodium in humans. Misdiagnosis is a major challenge in endemic areas because of other disease complications and technical expertise of the medical laboratory staff. Microscopic method using Giemsa-stained blood film has been the mainstay of diagnosis of malaria. However, since 1993 when rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits were introduced, they have proved to be effective in the diagnosis of malaria. This study was aimed at comparing the accuracy of microscopy and RDTs in the diagnosis of malaria using nested PCR as the reference standard. Four hundred and twenty (420) venous blood specimens were collected from patients attending different General Hospitals in Ebonyi State with clinical symptoms of malaria. The samples were tested with Giemsa-stained microscopy and three RDTs. Fifty specimens were randomly selected for molecular analysis.ResultsUsing different diagnostic methods, the prevalence of malaria among the subjects studied was 25.95% as detected by microscopy, prevalence found among the RDTs was 22.90, 15.20 and 54.80% for Carestart, SD Bioline PF and SD Bioline PF/PV, respectively. Molecular assay yielded a prevalence of 32%. The major specie identified was Plasmodium falciparum; there was co-infection of P. falciparum with Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale. The sensitivity and specificity of microscopy was 50.00 and 70.59% while that of the RDTs were (25.00 and 85.29%), (25.00 and 94.12%) and (68.75 and 52.94%) for Carestart, SD Bioline PF and SD Bioline PF/PV, respectively. Cohen’s kappa coefficient was used to measure the level of agreement of the methods with nested PCR. Microscopy showed a moderate measure of agreement (k = 0.491), Carestart showed a good measure of agreement (k = 0.611), SD Bioline PF showed a fair measure of agreement (k = 0.226) while SD Bioline PF/PV showed a poor measure of agreement (k = 0.172).ConclusionsThis study recommends that the policy of malaria diagnosis be changed such that the routine diagnosis of malaria is done by a combination of both microscopy and a RDT kit of high sensitivity and specificity so as to complement the errors associated with either of the methods. The finding of P. ovale in the study area necessitates an expanded molecular epidemiology of malaria within the study area.
Objective: To study degrees of chronic kidney disease (CKD) using creatinine clearance in adult Nigerian patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD). Methods: One hundred SCD patients, made up of 79 HbSS (homozygous haemoglobin S) patients and 21 HbSC (heterozygous haemoglobins S and C) patients, were investigated prospectively, along with 50 normal controls. Their sociodemographic data, weight and drug history were documented. Each participant underwent dipstick urinalysis, and creatinine clearance was calculated following a 24-hour urine collection and serum creatinine measurement. They were categorized into stages of CKD based on the creatinine clearance. Results: Of the 79 HbSS patients, 14 (18%), 28 (35%), 33 (42%) and 4 (5%) had stage 1, 2, 3 and 4 CKD, respectively. In the HbSC group, 3 (14%), 9 (43%) and 9 (43%) patients had stage 1, 2 and 3 CKD, respectively. Proteinuria was noted in 16 (20%) HbSS patients but not in any of the HbSC patients. Of the subjects aged ≤24 years (n = 49), 9 (18%), 18 (37%), 21 (43%) and 1 (2%) had stage 1, 2, 3 and 4 CKD, respectively. Of those aged >24 years (n = 51), 8 (16%), 19 (37%), 21 (41%) and 3 (6%) had stage 1, 2, 3 and 4 CKD, respectively. None of the subjects had stage 5 CKD. Conclusion: In this study, the adult subjects with SCD had various degrees of CKD. Adequate follow-up and active intervention are advocated to delay the onset of end-stage nephropathy.
Background: Lead adversely affects a number of organ systems in the body; routine blood count evaluation is an important component of monitoring for organ related toxicity such as leukemia and aplastic anemia. Objective: To evaluate the influence of blood lead levels (BLL) on heamatological parameters among petrol station attendants (PSAs) and auto mobile mechanics (AMs) in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: One hundred subjects (including 25 PSAs, 25 AMs and 50 normal controls) were prospectively recruited. Five mililiter of blood was collected for full blood count (FBC) and BLL, FBC was done using haematology auto-analyzer (SYSMEX PE 6800), while BLL was determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS model: 240FSAA). Results were expressed as means ±SD, while associations between variable were explored using student t-test and analysis of variance. Regression analysis and correlation were used to establish possible link between lead parameters and hematological indices and personal life style habits. Ethical clearance was obtained from our institutional review board and all participants gave informed consent. Results: Blood lead and white blood cell count (WBC) were significantly higher in AMs compared with PSAs and controls (P values < 0.001), while haemoglobin concentration (Hb), haematocrit, mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and platelet count were significantly higher in controls, compared to PSAs and AMs (P values <0.001). The MCV and MCH were negatively correlated with BLL in PSAs (P=0.02, respectively) while the Hb, haematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were negatively correlated with BLL in AMs (P values all <0.05). Conclusion: Lead exposure adversely affects blood count and red cell indices in occupationally exposed groups in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria.
Background: PIK3CA mutations have been reported to be associated with resistance to therapy in HER2+ breast cancers. This study, therefore, became imperative to determine the expression pattern of this mutant protein together with ER, PR and KI67 in order to serve as a useful predictive tool in the management of HER2 breast cancers.Methods: A total of 53 archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded HER2+ breast cancer tissue blocks from 2015 to 2019 were used for the study in NAUTH Nnewi. The selected blocks were sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin staining techniques. HER2, ER and PR status confirmation as well as PIK3CA and KI67 protein expressions were evaluated using immunohistochemistry (Avidin-biotin complex method). PIK3CA and KI67 expressions in the tissue were scored based on proportion and intensity of immune-labelling using the semi-quantitative method.Result: The mean age of subjects was 47 years and the breast cancers were all invasive ductal carcinoma. Twenty-nine (54.7%) were ER+ while 24 (45.3%) were ER-. Twenty-one (39.6%) were PR+ while 32 (60.4%) were PR-. Twenty-one (39.6%) were PIK3CA negative, 9(35.8%) showed low PIK3CA, while 13(24.5%) showed high PIK3CA. Thirty-four (64.2%) were negative for KI67, 11(20.8%) showed low KI67, while 8(15.5%) showed high KI67. There was weak and moderate positive relationship between ER/PR status and PIK3CA (r=-0.032; p=0.822) and KI67 (r=0.050; p=0.721) respectively. A weak negative correlation between KI67 and PIK3CA (r=-0.118; p=0.401) were observed with 12 (22.4%) of the 13 highly positive PIK3CA cases showing either negative or low for KI67 immunoreactivity while 7(13.2%) of the 8 highly positive KI67 cases showed either negative or low PIK3CA immunoreactivity.Conclusion: This study established a moderate expression of PIK3CA mutant protein. It also pointed out an existing interesting relationship between PIK3CA and KI67, which can be further revealed in future studies.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.