Background: Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin (NGAL) has generated great interest as a novel biomarker for the timely detection of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). This study, therefore, investigated NGAL as a predictive marker for acute kidney injury among sickle cell subjects. Materials and methods:A total of fifty (50) sickle cell subjects aged 18-60 years and attending the sickle cell clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Owo were randomly recruited along with twenty-five (25) apparently healthy age and sexmatched non-sickle cell subjects attending the family medicine outpatient clinic of the hospital as control for the study. Plasma levels of NGAL were assessed using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit, while urea and creatinine were determined by standard spectrophotometric method. The results were statistically analyzed for significance at p<0.05 using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results: NGAL and urea plasma levels were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the steady and vaso-occlusive (VOC) sickle cell subjects, glomerular filtration rate showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in both steady and VOC groups compared to the normal healthy control. The levels of urea and creatinine were increased significantly (p<0.05) in the VOC sickle cell group compared with the steady sickle cell group, whereas circulating levels of NGAL showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in VOC sickle cell group compared with the steady sickle cell group. NGAL revealed an excellent higher area under the receiver operating curve than urea and creatinine. Conclusion:NGAL was shown to be a sensitive tool, an early biomarker for acute kidney injury in sickle cell subjects and clinically significant for its wide availability, easy accessibility, and sensitivity in aiding early detection with a dynamic wide range for routine assessment in the management of SCD.
BACKGROUND: Insecticide usage has increased in the tropics and subtropics due to the high prevalence of vector-borne infections, even though insecticide use effectively reduces insect-borne diseases. Insecticide exposure can cause oxidative stress and have severe consequences for human health. The study was then designed to evaluate oxidative stress and its effects on immunomodulatory and renal integrity among Wistar rats exposed to pyrethroids. METHODS: Eighty-four Wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into two groups. Fifty-one rats were exposed to 1.2 %w/v pyrethroids, while the remaining thirty-three rats were grouped as non-exposed. The groups were divided into three different groups, each with 7, 21, and 41 days. After days of exposure, the animals in each group were anesthetized, and blood samples were collected from the inferior vena cava. Using standard spectrophotometric techniques, the levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), urea, creatinine and uric acid were determined. Blood activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) were determined. ELISA was used to determine levels of IgG, IgA, IgE, TNF-α, and NGAL. Data obtained were statistically compared. RESULTS: The serum mean levels of SOD, GPx, CAT, GSH, and TAS were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) while mean levels of MDA, H2O2, IgG, IgE, IgA, TNFα, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), urea, uric acid, and creatinine were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) from 7 to 41 days exposure in exposed groups. NGAL had a higher area under the ROC curve than urea and creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: This study observed that pyrethroids can cause oxidative stress, deplete antioxidant levels, nephrotoxicity, and may modulate both humoral and cellular immune functions. It also established NGAL as a sensitive diagnostic tool and early biomarker for acute kidney injury (AKI).
Background and objectives: Rotavirus is a significant cause of nonbacterial diarrhea, especially in infants and young children worldwide. This study evaluated the pattern of rotavirus infection in children under five years presenting with acute diarrhea in Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Nigeria. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study to describe the prevalence of rotavirus infection among children. The study enrolled children 1 to 59 months old with acute diarrhea attending General Paediatric Outpatient clinic and hospitalized in the Emergency Paediatric Unit of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Nigeria. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the stool by qualitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 25.0. Results: The study comprised of 414 diarrhoeal children aged 1–59 months, of which 226 (54.6%) were male and the mean age was 12.1 months. The overall rate of rotavirus infection was 43.0% (178/ 414). The rotavirus infection was slightly higher among females than in males (46.8% vs 39.8%; p=0.153). Children from upper and middle social classes were at 1.95 [CI=1.17–3.26] and 3.08[CI=1.77–5.34] times higher risks of rotavirus induced diarrhea than the children from the lower social class (p<0.005). Children whose mothers had post-secondary education were three times more at risk of rotavirus diarrhea [OR=3.70; CI=1.46–9.36] than those with primary or no formal education (p<0.05). Children who had never been vaccinated against rotavirus were four times more likely to suffer rotavirus infection than those who had been vaccinated [OR=3.96; 95%CI=1.13–13.89, p=0.032]. Conclusion: This study found that rotavirus was an important causative agent of diarrhea in children in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Due to low rotavirus vaccination status in children, rotavirus screening tests are necessary for children with acute diarrheal disease. J Med Sci. 2022; 16(2): 010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.16.020 *Correspondence: Felix Olaniyi Sanni, Department of Public Health, Fescosof Data Solutions, Ogun, Nigeria. Email: fescosofanalysis@gmail.com
Background: Prostate cancer remains the commonest form of cancer among Nigerian males, constituting 13.3% of all male cancers encountered in this region. Trace elements and antioxidant vitamins may be of epidemiological significance in the early prediction and treatment of prostate complications. The study aimed to explore the serum trace elements, antioxidant vitamins concentration and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) among male with prostate disorders in the delta region of Nigeria. Methods: Blood specimens were collected from males with symptoms of prostatitis (n=70), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; n=60) and prostate cancer (PCa; n=70), alongside with apparently healthy male subjects (n=60). The levels of trace elements and antioxidant vitamins were evaluated. Fluorescence immunoassay technique was used to assess the expression of PSA. Results: Compared with the controls, PCa patients had a significantly increased level of vitamin A (p<0.05), however, no significant differences in the serum levels of trace elements and antioxidant vitamins between subjects with prostate disorders and control group (p>0.05). Interestingly, there was a significant positive correlation between prostate specific antigen, trace elements and vitamins in BPH group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Prostate disorders such as prostatitis, BPH and PCa may be associated with elevated levels of PSA, but, does not affect the circulating expression of some serum trace elements and antioxidant vitamins.
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