Fruits and vegetables moderate lipid cardiovascular risk factor in hypertensive patients

Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor in etiology of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have shown association between vegetarian diet and low total serum cholesterol as well as LDL-cholesterol which is a pointer to low risk of cardiovascular disease. Dietary fiber, antioxidants and other classes of nutrients have been reported to ameliorate cardiovascular risk factors. Fruits and vegetables being rich sources of fiber and antioxidants have been the focus in intervention studies. The current work reports the effect local fruits and vegetables on cardiovascular risk factors in African hypertensive subjects in an 8 week study. Though there was no significant difference in the Body Mass Index and HDL-cholesterol at the end of the eighth week, there were significant reductions (P < 0.05) in serum triglycerides (125.87 ± 6.0 to108.27 ± 5.49 mgdL^-1); total serum cholesterol (226.60 ± 6.15 to 179.20 ± 5.78) and LDL-cholesterol (135.69 ± 5.56 to 93.07 ± 7.18 mgdL^-1). We concluded that consumption of combination of local fruits and vegetables may reduce the incidence of cardiovascular risk factors in Africans.     

Anxiolytic activity of adenosine receptor activation in mice.

1. Purine analogues have been examined for anxiolytic- and anxiogenic-like activity in mice, by use of the elevated plus-maze. 2. The selective A1 receptor agonist, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) had marked anxiolytic-like activity at 10 and 50 microg kg(-1), with no effect on locomotor performance at these doses. 3. The A1 selective adenosine receptor antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (CPX) had no significant effect on anxiety-related measures or locomotor behaviour, but blocked the anxiolytic-like activity of CPA. The hydrophilic xanthine, 8-(p-sulphophenyl) theophylline did not prevent anxiolysis by CPA. 4. Caffeine had anxiogenic-like activity at 30 mg kg(-1) which was prevented by CPA at 50 micro kg(-1). 5. The A2 receptor agonist, N6-[2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2(2-methylphenyl)-ethyl]adenosine (DPMA) had no effect on anxiety behaviour but depressed locomotor activity at the highest dose tested of 1 mg kg(-1). The A2 receptor antagonist, 1,3-dimethyl-l-propargylxanthine (DMPX) had no effect on anxiety-related measures or locomotion and did not modify the anxiolytic-like activity of CPA. 6. Administration of DPMA in combination with anxiolytic doses of CPA prevented the anxiolytic-like activity of the latter. 7. The results suggest that the selective activation of central A1 adenosine receptors induces anxiolytic-like behaviour, while the activation of A2 sites causes locomotor depression and reduces the effects of A1 receptor activation. The absence of any effect of CPX alone suggests that the receptors involved in modulating behaviour in the elevated plus-maze in mice are not activated tonically by endogenous adenosine.     

Ameloblastoma: analysis of 207 cases in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to review all the cases of ameloblastoma seen at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, between 1980 and 2003. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this retrospective study, case files and biopsy reports of new cases of ameloblastoma covering a 24-year period were retrieved and analyzed for sex, age on presentation, histologic type, and site distribution. RESULTS: A total of 207 cases of ameloblastoma were seen in the given period. One hundred and ninety-eight (95.7%) were benign, and 9 (4.3%) were malignant. A male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1 was found. The average ages on presentation for ameloblastoma and ameloblastic carcinoma were 31.67 and 46.44 years, respectively. The lesion was found to be more common in the premolar-molar region of the mandible. The most common histologic type was follicular ameloblastoma (25.1%). Nine (4.3%) cases of ameloblastic carcinoma were also reported. CONCLUSIONS: Ameloblastoma with a predilection for the posterior mandibular region is relatively common in our environment. Sex and site distributions are similar to previous reports in the literature.     

Angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) plasma concentration is influenced by multiple ACE-linked quantitative trait nucleotides

Circulating angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) is a highly heritable trait, and a major component of the genetic variance maps to the region of the ACE gene. The strong effect of the locus, and the interest in ACE as a candidate gene for cardiovascular disorders, has led to extensive investigation of its relationship to the ACE phenotype, providing one of the most complete examples of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis in humans. Resequencing of ACE followed by haplotype analysis in families of British and French origin has shown that the genetic variants that are primarily associated with the ACE trait map to an 18 kb interval flanked by two intragenic, ancestral recombination breakpoints. This critical interval contains dozens of ACE-associated variants in Caucasians, but identification of which of these directly influence ACE concentration is ambiguous because of the almost complete linkage disequilibrium in European populations. In a complementary sequencing and genotyping study of individuals from West African families, we show that this population has much greater haplotype diversity across the gene. Through analysis of the contrasting relationships of the trait phenotype with haplotypes that carry different allelic combinations from those observed in Caucasians, we demonstrate that (at least) two major intragenic sites within the critical interval and (at least) one minor promoter site are associated with the ACE quantitative trait through additive effects. These results point to the importance of analysing diverse populations with different gene genealogies in gene-association studies.     

Haplotypes produced from rare variants in the promoter and coding regions of angiotensinogen contribute to variation in angiotensinogen levels

The most efficient study design to map genes underlying complex traits will be determined by assumptions about whether the genetic effects are likely to be due to relatively few common variants or multiple rare variants. To examine the possibility that rare variants may influence blood pressure, we sequenced a 6.8 kb region of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene in 29 male Nigerians with high plasma AGT levels and 28 with low levels. The frequency of haplotypes produced from rare variants in the promoter and coding regions was significantly different between the two groups, and it is unlikely that this difference was due to the manner in which the rare variants were selected. Further analysis suggested that most of the haplotypes produced by these rare variants are found on a haplotype background created by three common SNPs. Our study confirms in an additional trait that rare variants can influence the distribution of complex traits; whether these variants can be captured by common SNPs or haplotypes requires further investigation.     

Using scorecards to achieve facility improvements for maternal and newborn health

The Government of Sierra Leone launched the Free Health Care Initiative in 2010, which contributed to increased use of facility based maternity services. However, emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) facilities were few and were inadequately equipped to meet the increased demand. To ensure provision of EmONC in some priority facilities, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation undertook regular facility assessments. With the use of assessment tools and scorecards it is possible to make improvements to the services provided in the period after assessment. The exercise shows that evidence that is shared with providers in visually engaging formats can help decision-making for facility based improvements.     

A case study of community-based distribution and use of Misoprostol and Chlorhexidine in Sokoto State,Nigeria

The United States Agency for International Development/Targeted States High Impact Project supported Sokoto State, Nigeria government in the development of a community-based intervention aimed at preventing post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) and cord infection among women and children, respectively. This paper describes the innovative intervention within the Nigeria health delivery system. It then explains the case study approach to assessing this intervention and summarises findings. Ultimately, the intervention was received well in communities and both drugs were added to the procurement list of all health facilities providing maternity services in the State. Key factors leading to such success include early advocacy efforts at the state-level, broad stakeholder engagement in designing the distribution system, early community engagement about the value of the drugs and concerted efforts to monitor and ensure availability of the drugs. Implementation challenges occurred in some areas, including shortage of community-based health volunteers (CBHVs) and drug keepers, and socio-cultural barriers. To maximise and sustain the effectiveness of such interventions, state government needs to ensure constant drug supply and adequate human resources at the community level, enhance counselling and mobilisation efforts, establish effective quality improvement strategies and implement a strong M&E system.