Relationship between depression and quality of life in Nigerian outpatients with heart failure

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between depression and health-related quality of life (QoL) in Nigerian outpatients with heart failure (HF). METHODS: We used a cross-sectional study in which outpatients with HF (n=100) completed the WHO Quality of Life Scale-Brief Version to assess their subjective QoL. The patients were also assessed for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fourth Edition. RESULTS: The factors independently associated with poor QoL include disability due to illness, presence of MDD, younger age, and longer duration of illness. Patients with MDD had worse QoL than patients without MDD on dimensions of physical health, psychological health, and environment. CONCLUSION: Depression adversely affects the QoL of patients with HF. Programs designed to improve the QoL of patients with HF need to incorporate the early identification and treatment of depression. Future studies are warranted to investigate the impact of improved depression management on QoL in patients with HF.     

Lead exposure increases oxidative stress in the gastric mucosa of HCI/ethanol-exposed rats

AIM: To investigate the role of reactive oxygen species in the ulcer-aggravating effect of lead in albino rats.METHODS: Albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups and treated orally with 100 mg/L (low dose) or 5000 mg/L (high dose) of lead acetate for 15 wk. A third group received saline and served as control.At the end of wk 15, colorimetric assays were applied to determine the concentrations of total protein and nitrite, the activities of the oxidative enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidation in homogenized gastric mucosal samples.RESULTS: Exposure of rats to lead significantly increased the gastric mucosal damage caused by acidified ethanol. Although the basal gastric acid secretory rate was not significantly altered, the maximal response of the stomach to histamine was significantly higher in the lead-exposed animals than in the unexposed control group. Exposure to low and high levels of lead significantly increased gastric lipid peroxidation to 183.2% ± 12.7% and 226.1% ± 6.8% of control values respectively (P ＜ 0.0). On the other hand, lead exposure significantly decreased catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and the amount of nitrite in gastric mucosal samples.CONCLUSION: Lead increases the formation of gastric ulcers by interfering with the oxidative metabolism in the stomach.     

The problems of indeterminate HIV results in blood transfusion services in Nigeria

Five hundred sera samples were collected from individuals whose age range was 16-40 years, analysed using Murex 1 and 2 and Capillus HIV kit (Cambridge Biotechnology, Cambridge, UK), and confirmed with Western Blot technique (Biorad). Of these, 186 (37.2%) were repeatedly reactive, 90 (48.4%) were confirmed positive, 55 (29.6%) indeterminate (20 [10.7%] from blood donors) and 44 (22.0%) were negative. The data reveal a significant correlation between indeterminate results and confirmed positive sera (P < 0.05). This demonstrates the high incidence of indeterminate HIV results encountered in blood transfusion services.     

The complexity of circulating HIV type 1 strains in Oyo state, Nigeria

Multiple HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) are known to circulate in West Africa. We undertook a survey of HIVs in Oyo state, in southwestern Nigeria. We analyzed 71 samples from Ibadan, the capital city, and 33 samples from Saki, 100 miles west of Ibadan. We sequenced part of the gag gene and the envelope C2V3 region from 102 and 89 samples, respectively. In the 87 samples for which both genes were sequenced, subtype G and CRF02_AG were found in equal proportions (32.2% each). Other samples included CRF06_cpx (8.0%), subtype A (2.3%), C (1.1%), unclassified (1.1%), or discordant sequences suggesting the presence of a large number of recombinants involving CRF02_AG and/or subtype G (20.7%) or other subtypes (2.3%). The subtype/CRF designation was concordant in two gene fragments in the majority of samples evaluated. However, we observed differences in subtype distribution between the two locations with a predominance of subtype G in Ibadan and CRF02 in Saki. This is the first in-depth analysis of HIV variability at a state level in Nigeria. Our analysis revealed a significant level of viral heterogeneity and a geographical difference in subtype distribution, and demonstrated that CRF02_AG does not account for the majority of circulating strains.     

Symptom profiles differ in patients with neuropathic versus non-neuropathic pain.

The distinction between neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain reflects partially distinct mechanisms and patterns of treatment response. It was therefore hypothesized that patients with neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain have different profiles of symptoms and signs. To test this hypothesis, pain intensity, unpleasantness, quality, and spatial characteristics were examined in 618 patients with 1 of 3 peripheral neuropathic pain conditions (painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, painful idiopathic sensory polyneuropathy, or postherpetic neuralgia), osteoarthritis pain, or low back pain. These assessments were conducted before treatment had begun in clinical trials of lidocaine patch 5% administered alone or with stable dosages of other analgesics. Patients with osteoarthritis pain and low back pain did not differ in their profile of pain quality and spatial characteristics and were combined to form a group of patients with non-neuropathic pain. In univariate analyses, patients with peripheral neuropathic pain reported significantly more intense hot, cold, sensitive, itchy, and surface pain and significantly less intense dull and deep pain than patients with non-neuropathic pain. In a multivariate analysis, the overall pattern of pain quality and spatial characteristics differed significantly between patients with neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain. In addition, specific pain quality and spatial characteristics improved the discrimination of patients with neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain in a logistic regression model that adjusted for demographic covariates and overall pain intensity and unpleasantness. PERSPECTIVE: The results indicate that the distinction between neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain is reflected in different profiles of pain quality and spatial characteristics and suggest that the assessment of patterns of pain symptoms might contribute to the identification of distinct pathophysiologic mechanisms and the development of mechanism-based treatment approaches.     

Toxicological Assessment and Ameliorative Effects of Parinari curatellifolia Alkaloids on Triton-Induced Hyperlipidemia and Atherogenicity in Rats

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - In the present study, toxicity of the alkaloid extract and crude methanol extract of Parinari curatellifolia...     

Oro-facial lesions and CD4 counts associated with HIV/AIDS in an adult population in Oyo State, Nigeria

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to define the oro-facial lesions associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in an adult population in Oyo state, Nigeria and to relate these with the level of immune suppression as measured by the CD4 counts. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study population consisted of 679 consecutive subjects who were seen at the state-owned blood bank. Information on demography, medical and medication histories were obtained. Oro-facial examinations were carried out according to Greenspan et al [Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol (1992)73:142-144]. HIV sero-prevalence status was determined for all patients. CD4+ T-lymphocyte count was carried out for those sero-positive for HIV and 31 randomly selected HIV-negative subjects. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Student's t-test and odds ratio where appropriate. RESULTS: Eighty-one (11.9%) of the entire study sample were confirmed HIV positive. The prevalence of specific oral lesions by HIV sero-status revealed that pseudomembranous oral candidiasis and angular cheilitis occurred significantly and more frequently in HIV-positive subjects (33.3 and 21% respectively) than those who were HIV negative (4.3 and 1.8% respectively, P < 0.05). The mean CD4 count of the HIV-positive subjects was 452 cells mm(-3), s.d. 137, while it was 602 cells mm(-3), s.d. 251, for the HIV negatives. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.000). Forty-four (66.7%) subjects with CD4 counts <500 cells mm(-3) had oro-facial lesions whereas among those with CD4 counts >500 cells mm(-3) only 22 (33.3%) had oro-facial lesions (OR = 4.57). CONCLUSION: The type of oro-facial lesions most commonly associated with HIV/AIDS in Oyo state, Nigeria, has been shown to be pseudomembranous oral candidiasis. This was followed by angular cheilitis. These lesions, although found in HIV-negative subjects, were in a lower proportion as compared with HIV-positive subjects. Mean CD4 counts were lower in HIV-positive subjects and this was associated with greater prevalence of oro-facial candidiasis and angular cheilitis.     

Monosodium glutamate-associated alterations in open field,anxiety-related and conditioned place preference behaviours in mice

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology - The present study investigated changes in behaviour associated with oral monosodium glutamate (a flavouring agent), using the open field,...