Indiscriminate use of pesticides to boost agricultural produce and in public health to control pests has raised the emphasis on pesticide residue levels in foods.This study analyzed the pesticides residue levels in some common food crops consumed in Nigeria, and ascertained their suitability for human consumption.The samples were analyzed for the presence of 15 organochlorine and 10 carbamate pesticide residues using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).The residual pesticides levels and hazard index in the different food crops were compared with WHO established maximum residual levels (MRL) for the pesticides.The results showed no detectable levels of pesticides in the yam samples.Beans samples, contained hexachlorobenzene and its median level (0.025 mg/kg) was greater than the MRL (0.01 mg/kg).A total of 14 (56%) different pesticides were detected in each of red and green apples, 10 (40%) in pepper and 3 (12%) in rice.The most occurring pesticides in the crops were propachlor, endosulfan-1 and hexachlorobenzene.The median pesticides contents in pepper were greater than their respective MRLs.Organochlorine pesticides are still being used in cultivation of crops, or in storage of food crops and also in some imported plant foods.Crop contents of pesticides found were below the estimated life time exposure (mg/kg/day) of 65 kg man as well as the hazard index of 1.This may pose no immediate risks to human health, but long term effects should be considered.

The change in policy guidelines for treating uncomplicated malaria became necessary because the therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine and SP had deteriorated. Hence compliance is a necessity to enable effective check on malaria. This work was carried out to evaluate antimalaria drug prescription and to update its usage in line with WHO guideline on Artemeter Combination therapy in a university based medical center. We utilized descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study of antimalaria prescriptions purposely carried out among male and female outpatients with mean age of 22.4±2.8 at a University health facility. This comprised all outpatients prescriptions that contained at least one antimalarial drug filed from October 2018 to September 2019. Systematic sampling was used to select the prescriptions. Based on the total number of 1250 prescriptions containing at least one antimalarial drug, a sampling interval of 5 was calculated and simple balloting was used for the first pick. A total number of two hundred and fifty (250) prescriptions containing at least one antimalarial drug were selected for the study. Out of 250 antimalaria prescriptions, usage of ACT class of Artemeter lumefantrine, Artemeter Amodiaquine and Artemeter Piparaqiune were recorded at 45.6%, 10.4% and 9.6% respectively. Triple combination Artemeter lumefantrine and Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine was recorded at 20.4% while Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine was recorded at 4%. Combination of antimalarial drugs with antibiotics was recorded at 31.2%. This study showed compliance with National Antimalarial Treatment Guideline for the treatment of malaria infection as it regards the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy. The frequency usage of artemeter lumefantrine was proceeding among other ACTs. The frequency in co-prescription of antibiotics with anti-malaria should be guarded to comply with WHO recommendation.

Estimation of serum level of circulating immune complexes and its use for monitoring treatments have been carried out extensively in various disease conditions including autoimmune diseases and cancer, but little or no work has considered persistent circulation of immune complexes consequent to physiological anomalies that could mediate epimutation and subsequent epigenetic cell alteration and tumourigenesis. This review looked into the immuno-physiological activities of circulating immune complexes to expose its possible epigenomic consequences and potential role in epimutation. The environmental link between epigenetic cell alteration and formation of circulating immune complexes makes this review a unique one but on the other hand, gives room for concern. Immune complexes have strong capacity to stimulate various immune responses, yet the immunological activities of these circulating immune complexes are over looked or under estimated. Immune complexes is a normal immunological phenomenon but its persistence and subsequent deposition could induce endogenous assaults that would continuously and adversely perturb the epigenomic activities by fuelling chronic inflammation, activating transcription factors (NFkB), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and frequent release of cytokines leading to epigenetic cell alteration especially in developing countries where environmental pollution is a serious factor.

90% of total breast cancer cases [3].The majority of breast cancers are sporadic caused by more complicated reasons such as the activation of mitogenic signaling pathways and loss of tumor suppressor expression epigenetically etc., [4].DNA methylation which is one of the epigenetic mechanisms, which involves the addition of a methyl group to unmodified DNA, is described as an epigenetic change resulting from environmental influence, because it is a chemical modification to DNA not a change brought about by a DNA mutation [5].Normal methylation of DNA would mark the DNA and enable such actions as turning genes on or off.Thus if epigenomic alteration persists in a tumour suppressor

Quantitative measurement of circulating immune complexes in cancer patients is a widely accepted measure linking immune complexes as useful for treatment monitoring. However, the components of these immune complexes are generally understudied. By the analysis of immune complexes, this work elicited some microbial agents that could be associated with breast tumours. Total of 99 female subjects were randomly recruited for this study, of which 24 had benign tumour, 25 had malignant tumour and 50 were tumour free controls subjects. The mean age of the female subjects with benign breast tumour was 37.9±10.1 years; malignant 49.6±10.8 and control subjects 35.9±9.0, and they were confirmed free from chemotherapy, autoimmune diseases and HIV infection. Immune complexes were precipitated and dissociated. Characterization of the antigens/antibodies was done using Enzyme linked immunoassay technique. Microbial antigenic components were detected in 21 benign tumour subjects, 20 malignant tumour subjects and 11 control subjects. Homogeneity and heterogeneity patterns of microbial antigenic distribution were seen in different groups. Heterogeneity pattern was prevalent in subjects with tumours. Detection of HCV was significantly high in subjects with benign and malignant tumours, while presence of Plasmodium falciparum, Helicobacter pylori and Salmonella typhi was also prominent. HBV and treponema pallidum were implicated. Heterogeneity pattern was prevalent in late stages of breast cancer while Plasmodium falciparum , HCV and Salmonella typhi were most prominent. The burden of microbial infection is prevalent in breast tumour subjects. Presence of the microbial antigens would represent the burden of the microbial infection in tumour development and the consequences of the persistent circulation of these microbial proteins were discussed.

Severe Oxidative stress has been reported in Tuberculosis infected individuals as a result of tissue inflammation, poor nutrition and poor immunity and this stress becomes more severe in those co-infected with HIV. Therefore the present study was designed to assess the antioxidant status of HIV infected participants with or without tuberculosis co-infections and in HIV seronegative participants infected with tuberculosis. 193 participants were randomly recruited for the study and grouped into: (i) Symptomatic HIV infected participants with tuberculosis co-infections (n = 67) (ii) symptomatic HIV infected participants without tuberculosis (n = 45) (iii) HIV seronegative participants with Tuberculosis (n = 52) and (IV) HIV seronegative control participants without tuberculosis (n = 29). Blood samples collected from the participants were used for HIV screening, CD4+T cell count, glutathione reductase activity, glutathione peroxidase activity, Total Antioxidant Status and albumin estimations. The results showed that glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and Total Antioxidant Status were significantly lowered in both HIV infected participants with or without tuberculosis and HIV seronegative participants with tuberculosis (P<0.01), compared (in each case) with HIV seronegative participants without tuberculosis. The CD4+T cell count were significantly low in HIV infected participants with tuberculosis co-infections and HIV infected group without tuberculosis when compared with HIV seronegative participants with or without tuberculosis. However the CD4+T cell count in HIV infected participants with tuberculosis was not significantly different when compared with HIV infected participants without tuberculosis. The serum albumin were lowered in HIV infected participants with tuberculosis and tuberculosis infected participants (P<0.01 in each case). Correlation studies amongst groups showed significant correlation between CD4+T cell count and antioxidants in both HIV and tuberculosis co-infected participants and in HIV infected participants without tuberculosis (P<0.01 in each case). Serum albumin correlated positively with the antioxidants in both HIV infected participants and those co-infected with tuberculosis. There was no significant correlation between CD4+T cell count and the antioxidants in HIV seronegative participants with or without tuberculosis. The study observed alterations in the levels of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant status and albumin in tuberculosis infected participants and in HIV infected participants with and without tuberculosis. This could be as a result of greater utilization of antioxidants subsequent to increased oxidative stress. These findings also further support a link between oxidative stress, tuberculosis and HIV infection.

To investigate the anticonvulsant activity of the bulbs of Crinum jagus in experimental animals. The uprooted bulbs were air dried for a week and ground into creamy-paste. 200g of paste was macerated each in 2 litres of water, ethanol and petroleum ether and filtered after 48 h. The obtained filtrates were each evaporated at the appropriate temperature to solid residue. The residues were further fractionated with successive changes of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol into a pooled filtrate which was further evaporated to dry solid brown-paste. Phytochemistry was carried out based on Treas and Evans method of 1987. The acute toxicity study (LD50) was carried based on Lorke's 1983 method. Convulsion was induced using maximum electric shock (MEST), pentylenetetrazole(PTZ), strychnine and Picrotoxin in the appropriate animal models. Seizures onset time and death time were used as successful induction of convulsion while prolongations of these features were taken as anticonvulsant activity. Results where possible, were statistically analyzed using SPSS-16.0 version. The LD50was got at 1118.003mg/kg (IP) in mice using Lorke's 1983 method. Fractionated extract of Crinum jagus exhibited dose dependent antiseizure against MEST induced seizure (P<0.001) and comparable to that of phenytoin, a standard anti generalized tonic-clonic seizure. There were also observable antiseizure activity of the fractionated extracts against PTZ, strychnine and Picrotoxin induced seizure and comparable to their standard corresponding antiseizures. We conclude that the bulbs of Crinum jagus possess proven broad spectrum antiseizure and perhaps antiepileptogenic activity thus justifies its use in traditional medicine. Clinical trial in man is recommended.

The present study was designed to evaluate absolute lymphocyte count or neutrophil ingestion rate of NBT as alternative indices to CD4 + T cell count in the management of HIV/AIDS subjects.158 adult participants (male = 70, female = 88) were recruited for the study and grouped as: (i) Symptomatic HIV subjects with or without malaria (ii) Asymptomatic HIV subjects (iii) HIV seronegative subjects with or without malaria.Blood samples taken from these participants were analyzed using standard procedures for absolute lymphocyte count, neutrophil ingestion rate of NBT and CD4+ T cell count.The result showed that the mean absolute lymphocyte and neutrophil ingestion rate of NBT were significantly reduced in both symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV subjects with or without malaria infection when compared to the control group.The CD4+ T cell count was significantly reduced in the two groups and positively correlated with the absolute lymphocyte count (r = 0.301, P<0.05, r = 0.403, P<0.05) and neutrophil ingestion rate of NBT (r = 0.116, P = 0.01, r = 0.359, P<0.01) with or without malaria infection respectively.This finding suggests that in resource limited settings, absolute lymphocyte count or neutrophil ingestion rate of NBT could be used as alternative to CD4 count to monitor or initiate ART where the later is not easily accessible especially in a malaria endemic area.

Background & objectives: This study was designed to assess the prognostic value of albumin and iron in symptomatic HIV subjects on ART with or without malaria infection. Methods: 150 participants (male, n=65, female, n=85) aged between 17 and 70 years were recruited for the study at the HIV clinic of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria and grouped as Symptomatic HIV subjects (n=68) of which 33 had malaria co-infection; Symptomatic HIV subjects on ART (n=47) of which 28 had malaria infection; and HIV seronegative subjects (n=40) of which 20 had malaria infection. HIV and Plasmodium falciparum antigen screening, CD4+ count, packed cell volume, serum albumin and iron were determined using standard laboratory methods. Results: The results showed that positive associations were observed between CD4+ count and PCV (r=0.347, p<0.05) in symptomatic HIV subjects on ART with or without malaria and between CD4 count and serum iron (r=0.487, p<0.05). Positive associations were also observed between CD4+ count and serum albumin (r=0.301, p<0.01) in the same group of subjects. Conclusion: The implication of these relationships is that as HIV/AIDS progressed, the CD4+ T cells become more depleted and biochemical parameters like serum albumin and iron become reduced due to reduced intake and reduced hepatic synthesis. The prognostic implication of this observation is discussed.

The study was designed to evaluate some cellular immune index of HIV infected participants. 80 HIV infected participants aged between 15 - 65 were recruited for the study. 45 of these participants were classified as Symptomatic HIV (Stage 11), while the remaining 35 were Asymptomatic HIV (Stage 1). Similarly, 40 HIV seronegative participants served as Control. Blood samples collected from the participants were used for HIV screening and confirmation, CD4+ T cell count, absolute lymphocyte count and percent lymphocyte transformation. The CD4+T cell count and percent Lymphocyte Transformation count were significantly lowered in HIV infected participants compared with the HIV seronegative participants (p 0.05).

The study was designed to evaluate CD4 + T-cells count in subjects with HIV-malaria co-infection in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria and to assess the effects any changes in CD4 + counts has on the prevalence and or severity of both illness.Two hundred and eighty-five participants aged between 16 and 72 years were recruited for the study and grouped as symptomatic HIV subjects, asymptomatic HIV subjects, HIV/AIDS subjects on ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) and HIV-seronegative subjects.HIV and malaria parasite screening, CD4 + T-cell count and parasite density were determined using standard laboratory methods.The result showed that the prevalence of malaria infection was 75% in symptomatic HIV, 46.7% in asymptomatic HIV and 59.6% in HIV/AIDS subjects on ART respectively as opposed to 26.9% observed in the control (P<0.001).The CD4 + T-cell count was significantly lower in both symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV-malaria infected subjects when compared with the malaria-infected control subjects (238 ± 176, 312 ± 144, P<0.01) respectively.CD4 + T-cells count was also significantly lower in malaria-infected HIV/AIDS on ART when compared to the malaria-infected control subjects (315 ± 195, P<0.01).The study concludes that malaria prevalence is increased in subjects with HIV/malaria co-infection and is accompanied by a significant reduction in CD4 + T-cell counts, which might worsen the severity and prognosis in these subjects.Other public health implications are discussed.

The principles of Immunological methodologies have always based on the specificity and sensitivity of the antibody to its corresponding antigen. This study was designed to compare the specificity and sensitivity of antigens and antibodies in unprocessed serum and serum treated with Polyethylene glycol for precipitation and dissociation of immune complexes. One hundred (100) human sera samples were randomly collected. The samples were duplicated and one was treated with polyethelene glycol 6000 and buffer to precipitate and dissociate immune complexes. The end product was tagged immune solution. This solution was assayed along side its unprocessed serum concurrently to detect HIV, HCV, HBV, Plasmodium falciparum and Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi antibodies respectively using Immuno-chromatographic assay method. Out of the 100 sera samples analyzed, the serum samples showed positive to 10 HIV test, 21 for Plasmodium falciparum, 2 for HCV, 0 for HBV. Immune solution showed positive for 13 HIV, 26 Plasmodium falciparum, 5 HCV and 2 HBV. Antigens and antibodies present in dissociated form in immune solution was found to be more suitable for immunological assays. With this development, the preference of immune solution to serum for serological tests is established. Before any epidemiological survey is concluded for a particular disease condition in a locality, it is suggested that the serum should be used along side its processed immune solution.

To evaluate the air bacterial load especially in high environmentally polluted areas. The air bacterial load of 5 laboratories and 2 offices in Anambra State were sampled, using settled plate (sedimentation) method. All the laboratories showed average of 44-55 colony forming units (CFU) within 15 minutes. Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated. The predominant bacteria were: Micrococcus, Diptheroids, Staphylococcus species, Bacillus species, Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae), Clostridium species and Propionibacterium amongst other variety of bacteria isolated. Office with air-conditioning system gave a total of 34 CFU out of 74 CFU shown in the two 2 offices, while the office without air-conditioning system gave forty (40) colonies. It was found that the laboratories with more number of people, with frequent movement were more air loaded with bacteria than those with less number of people. All the areas sampled, contain significantly high number of colony forming units (CFU) than 3 CFU found in standard clean room P <0.001. It is an evidence of high risk of persistent infections and subsequent immune complex formation.

Department of Immunology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt. Nigeria. Department of Human Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Department of Histopathology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Department of Community MedicineCollege of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

The present study used dissociated circulating immune complexes (CIC) to identity the burden of exposure to certain infectious agents. The participants were divided into HIV seropositive group (n=100) and HIV seronegative group (n=100). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and phosphate buffer techniques were used for precipitation and dissociation of CIC in sera. The dissociated CIC were tested for Salmonella typhi antibody, Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein (Pf-hrp)-2 antigen and HCV antibody using commercially available kits. Result showed that Salmonella typhi antibody was detected in 76 (76%) of the HIV seropositive participants; Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein-2 (Pf-hrp-2) antigen was detected in 48 (48%) of HIV seropositive participants while Hepatitis C viral antibodies was detected in 20 (20%) of the HIV seropositive participants. Similarly, Salmonella typhi antibody was detected in 24(24%) of the HIV seronegative participants, Pf-hrp-2 antigen was detected in 47(47%) of the participants while Hepatitis C viral antibody was detected in 5(5%) of the HIV seronegative participants. There were significant differences between the number of HIV seropositive and seronegative participants with positive Salmonella typhi (P<0.05) and HCV antibody (P<0.05). The rates of homogeniuty and heterogeniuty of CIC in HIV seropositive participants was; 26 (34%) and 50 (66%) for Salmonella typhi antibody, 3 (6%) and 45 (94%) for Pf-hrp-2 antigen and 0 (0%) and 20 (100%) for HCV antibody, respectively. While the rates of homogeniuty and heterogeniuty of CIC in HIV seronegative participants was 1 (4.2%) and 23 (95.8%) for Salmonella typhi antibody; 25 (53%) and 22 (47%) for Pf-hrp-2 antigen and 3 (60%) and 2 (40%) for HCV antibody respectively in all cases. The finding of the present study suggest that HIV infection may enhance susceptibilty to both salmonella typhi and HCV infection but not Plasmodium falciparum. The study thus revealed that Salmonella and HCV infections may constitute the major secondary infection in HIV infected patients and could be a cause for concern as HIV progressed to AIDS. Key words: Antigen, antibody, complexes, HIV, malaria HCV and participants.

The present study was designed to assess the PCV and serum iron in HIV-malaria co-infected subjects in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria. 207 participants aged between 16-72 (44 ± 28) years were recruited andclassified as follows based on standard screening and WHO criteria: (i) Asymptomatic HIV stage I subjects with or without malaria. (ii) Symptomatic HIV stage II subjects with or without malaria and not on (ART). (iii) HIV/AIDS subjects with or without malaria and on ART. (vi) HIV seronegative control subjects with or without malaria. Blood sample from these participants were analyzed for HIV seroreactivity, Plasmodium falciparum antigen, parasite density, serum iron concentrations and PCV using Standard Laboratory methods. The result showed that serum iron and PCV were significantly reduced amongst all the groups studied when compared with the control (p

The study was designed to evaluate the immunoglobulin A, G and M levels and complement fixation activity in HIV infected participants, who were not administered antiretroviral therapy (ART). Eighty (80) HIV infected participants, aged between 15 – 55 years (38 ±10 years), were recruited for the study. Forty five (45) of the participants were classified as symptomatic HIV (stage ii), while the remaining 35 were classified asasymptomatic HIV (stage i). Similarly, 40 seronegative participants served as control. Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography, HIV confirmation by Western blot, determination of immunoglobulin levels by immunoturbidimetry, and complement activity by complement fixation test. The IgG and IgA were significantly increased in symptomatic HIV infection compared with asymptomatic HIV infection (p0.05). The complement fixation activities decreased in HIV infected patients compared with the values in HIV seronegatives. The increase in IgA concentration with HIV infected participants may suggest existence of mucosal infections, while theincrease in IgG concentration in HIV infected participants may suggest evidence of increased opportunistic infection requiring IgG response. The low level of complement activity in HIV infected participants maypredispose individuals with HIV infection to disease commonly controlled through immunological activity of the complement. Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM), complements.