Background: Serum proteins designated as liver function biomarkers are used to evaluate patients for hepatic dysfunction. Hepatic effect of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) needs further studies in HIV mono-infected patients. In this study, clinically defined patient datasets were analysed for protein levels in HIV-1 mono-infected seropositive patients with and without ART. Materials and Methods: Data were collected for the study groups, consisting of the control group and HIV-1 mono-infected seropositive patients with and without ART and were analysed statistically for differences among the groups. All subjects in the patient groups attended University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria for a period of 5 years. Result: The protein levels on initiation of ART were significantly higher than baseline levels (prior to ART). However, continuous use of ART for 5-year period did not induce any further significant change in protein levels. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves shows that both Albumin (ALB) and Total protein (TP) levels discriminated among the study groups. The baseline levels of ALB in seropositive patients are significantly lower to levels on initiation of ART. Conclusion: Continuous ART did not cause any further significant change in levels of liver function proteins than was observed on ART initiation. Hence, liver damage on continuous ART is not implied. Both ALB and TP levels could be important in HIV management of patients. Initiation of ART appears to elevate the low ALB level via a yet unknown mechanism and indicates possible role of ALB in ART mechanism of action.
Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI) is associated with mortality and prolonged antibiotics use among HIV/AIDS patients. Sputum samples were collected from 134 HIV/AIDS patients with LRTI and productive cough, visiting University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, to determine the bacterial aetiologies and antibiotic resistance profile. Adequate for culture sputum samples were observed in only 119 subjects (75 females and 44 males) and cultured using standard procedure. Isolates were identified by biochemical method and 16SrRNA gene amplification, purification, sequencing and database nucleotide blast. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed and interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) procedures. Bacteria associated LRTI was found in 20.2% of the patients and Klebsiella pneumonia (29.7%); Enterobacter cloacae (16.7%); Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. xiangfangensis (12.5%); Pseudomonas parafulva; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas alcaliphila; Klebsiella aerogenes (8.3%); Comamonas testosteroni; Escherichia coli; Acinetobacter junii; Acinetobacter soli and Acinetobacter baumannii were implicated. Isolates show high resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid at 94.1%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole at 75.0% and cefotaxime at 70.0%. The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index of most isolates (62.5%) is within 0.3-0.8 in a range of 0.0 to 0.8. Isolates of the same species were found to have different MAR index in different patients. However, E. cloacae, E. hormaechei subsp. xiangfangensis, A. baumanni and 71.4% of K. pneumonia were Multi-drug Resistant (MDR). Interestingly, Gentamycin, Ciprofloxacin and Imipenem were effective against MDR isolates and showed significant negative correlation with MAR index. We propose that antibiotics with efficacy against MDR isolates could be used to down regulate the selective pressure of other antibiotics, and these MDR pathogens, including those rarely associated with human infection poses potential threat, similar to Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Particularly, among the immunocompromised. Furthermore, HIV/AIDS patients present good metrics for profiling the burden and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in poor countries.
Background: Neonatal mortality refers to the death of a live-born babies within the first 28 days of life remains a global public health challenge. Cord blood being the medium of communication, transmission of nutrients and wastes between mothers and fetus can reflect the health status of baby at birth if properly utilized. Owing to multiple factors involved in neonatal mortality, this study used umbilical cord blood haematological parameters to ascertain the health status of neonates at birth, the aim of this study is to use umbilical cord blood haematological parameters for management of neonates at birth. Methodology: This research is a cross-sectional study carried out at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Medical Laboratory Department, Kogi State University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba, North Central Nigeria between January, and December, 2020. Cord blood from 164 babies delivered in Kogi State University Teaching Hospital, Grimard Catholic Hospital, and Amazing Grace Hospital between January and December, 2020 were analyzed for haematological parameters using Sysmex XP-300 automated haematology analyzer. The data obtained were expressed as mean ±standard deviation using SPSS statistical software, version 23.0. The indicator level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The results showed significant increase (p<0.05) of WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC in unstable babies compared to the stable babies, significant decrease (p<0.05) in the platelets, neutrophil and mixed among unstable babies compared to the stable babies, but no significant difference in PCV, haemoglobin and lymphocyte counts of both stable and unstable babies. The results also demonstrated 25 deaths per 1000 live newborn neonates within 48hour during the period of study. Conclusion: This study shows that cord blood haematological parameters at birth can be used to ascertain the health status of neonates.
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