Alphonsus E. Udoh

Rat serum electrolytes, lipid profile and cardiovascular activity onNauclea latifolia leaf extract administration.

Aqueous extract of the leaf and root ofNauclea latifolia Sm. (Rubiaceae) is used in Nigerian folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension. This work is carried out to investigate the effect ofNauclea latifolia leaf extract on lipid profile and cardiovascular activity of rats. Normal and 10% coconut oil fed rats were treated with the water-soluble fraction of the ethanol extract ofNauclea latifolia leaf for 2 weeks. Forty-eight mature male albino rats of the Wistar strain were divided into two experiments of four groups, each group having 6 animals. Experiment I animals were treated with the water-soluble fraction of the ethanol extract whilst experiment II animals were fed 10% coconut oil meal before treatment with the water-soluble fraction of the ethanol extract. A single oral dose ofNauclea latifolia was 170, 340 and 510 mg/kg body wt/day of the extracts respectively for 2 wks. There was no significant change in the lipid profile of the experimental animals as compared with the controls. There was about 40% relaxation on contracted thoracic aorta that was pre-contracted with 2 μM phenylephrine. The viability of the tissue was tested against 10 μM of acetylcholine. There was no significant (P>0.05) change in Na+ concentration in the serum. However, the K+ concentration in the serum of the experimental animals showed a significant increase. The study shows that ethanol extract ofNauclea latifolia has vasodilator action on the aorta and that lipid profiles of experimental rats were not affected. Furthermore, the increase in the K+ may be contributing to the vasodilator effect ofNauclea latifolia.

Evaluation of thyroid function in diabetes mellitus in Calabar, Nigeria

The prevalence of abnormal thyroid hormone levels in diabetes mellitus in Nigeria is not well described. To determine the incidence of abnormal thyroid hormone levels in diabetics in Calabar, Nigeria, fasting blood samples from 161 diabetic subjects and 105 non-diabetic controls were analysed. Free thyroxine (FT), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (T3) and total thyroxine (T4) kits obtained from Biomerica Inc. of USA were used for the analysis. TSH levels (1.80±1.62) in diabetics were significantly lower (p=0.016) than the level in non-diabetic controls (2.34±1.24). Male diabetics had lower (p<0.05) levels of TSH (1.192±0.68 miu/ml) than diabetic females (1.90±1.70 mlu/mt). The level of T3 in diabetic males (125±97ng/ml) was higher than the level in females (98±75ng/dl). TSH (F=2.74, p=0.049), T4(F=56.87, p=0.001), T3(F=56.44, P=0.001) in diabetics and FT4 (F=5.74, p=0.002) in controls showed significant variation with the ages of the subjects. Out of 161 diabetics subjects studies 26.6% had low plasma thyroid hormone levels (FT4>2.01 ng/dl). This study has shown a high incidence (46.5%) of abnormal thyroid hormone levels among the diabetics in Nigeria (hypothyroidism 26.6%, hyperthyroidism, 19.9%). The prevalence of hypothyroidism was higher in women (16.8%) than in men (9.9%), while hyperthyroidism was higher in males (11%) than in females (8%). This study has defined thyroid function status of diabetics in Calabar, Nigeria probably the first of such work in Africa.

Coronary artery disease and the profile of cardiovascular risk factors in South South Nigeria: a clinical and autopsy study.

Introduction. Death from coronary artery disease (CAD) has been until recently considered rare in Nigeria. We present a report of a study of CAD with its predisposing cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors in South South Nigeria. Methods. We examined the autopsy reports of 747 coroner cases and 41 consecutive clinically diagnosed cases of ischemic heart disease seen in South South Nigeria. Results. CAD was diagnosed in 13 (1.6%) of 747 autopsies. They were predominantly males, urban residents, and of high social class with combination of CVD risk factors of hypertension, alcohol use, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, poor physical activities, and obesity. The mean serum cholesterol of the clinical subjects was 4.7 ± 1.57 mmol/L and 5.07 ± 1.94 mmol/L for angina and myocardial infarction, respectively, which was higher than the mean total cholesterol for locality of 3.1 mmol/L. Conclusion. CAD and its risk factors are contributing to mortality and morbidity in South South Nigeria. These risk factors include hypertension, alcohol use, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, poor physical activity, and obesity. Nigerians in this locality with CAD have raised serum lipids.

Thyroid Hormones and Prolactin Levels in Infertile Women in Southern Nigeria

INTRODUCTION Human infertility is a complex global health problem. It has multiple social consequences which are especially profound for thyroid hormones in infertility with the aim of determining the degree of association of thyroid hormones with hyperprolactinemia in our population. MATERIALS AND METHODS The serum levels of prolactin, T3, T4 and TSH were determined in 90 hyperprolactinemic infertile women, 90 normoprolactinemic infertile women and 50 fertile women. The hormones were assayed using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay kits. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Analysis of variance and Pearsons correlation were used to analyze the data, with the significant p-level set at 0.05. RESULTS A significantly higher mean serum prolactin and TSH were observed among the infertile groups compared to the fertile controls (p<0.05). The mean serum T3 and T4 were significantly lower in the hyperprolactinemic infertile women compared to the fertile controls (p<0.05). The mean TSH and T3 of normoprolactinemic infertile women and controls were comparable (p>0.05). However, the mean T4 was significantly lower in normoprolactinemic infertile women compared to the fertile controls (p<0.05). In all the groups, TSH correlated inversely with T3 and T4, while T3 correlated positively with T4. It was only in the control group that prolactin correlated positively and significantly with TSH. CONCLUSION It is therefore concluded that hyperprolactinemia with thyroid dysfunction may be a major contributory hormonal factor in infertility among infertile women and as such, estimation of prolactin, T3, T4 and TSH should be included in the workup for infertile women especially those with hyperprolactinaemia.

Passive Smoking Has the Same Negative Effects on Reproductive Hormones in Adult Males as Active Smoking

Background: Smoking is an extremely lethal act and is associated with many illnesses. Lately, major concerns that passive smokers face the same health risks if not higher as active smokers have been raised. Some studies have shown that active smoking is associated with low levels of vitamins and testosterone. Are these facts also valid in passive smokers? Aim: The aim of this research was to estimate the levels of cotinine, testosterone, follicle stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, vitamin E and catalase and compare these parameters in male active and passive smokers. Methods: Serum levels of cotinine, testosterone, FSH, LH, prolactin and vitamin E and catalase were estimated in 60 cigarette smokers, 60 passive smokers and 60 nonsmokers recruited from Calabar metropolis. The hormones were assayed using ELISA and vitamin E using HPLC. Sociodemographic and anthropometric indices were obtained and data analyzed using PAWstatistic 18. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Resul...

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: How Relevant in African Men With Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen-Deprivation Therapy?

Purpose Cardiovascular disease risk factors have been associated with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in white and Hispanic populations. It is therefore relevant to determine if there exists a relationship between these parameters in the African population. Patients and Methods The design of the study was cross sectional. Prostate-specific antigen concentration, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, glucose level, and insulin level were determined in 153 patients with prostate cancer and 80 controls. The patients with prostate cancer were divided into subgroups of treatment-naïve patients and those receiving ADT. Results Mean total cholesterol (P = .010), LDL cholesterol (P = .021), BMI (P = .001), and waist circumference (P = .029) values were significantly higher in patients treated with ADT when compared with treatment-naïve patients. In patients treated with ADT for up to 1 year, only mean BMI was significantly higher than in treatment-naïve patients, whereas those treated with ADT for more than 1 year had significantly higher mean BMI, waist circumference, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol values when compared with treatment-naïve patients. There were no significant differences in insulin or glucose levels. Those undergoing hormone manipulation after orchiectomy had fewer cardiovascular risk factors compared with those undergoing hormone manipulation alone. Conclusion This study shows that ADT results in elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, BMI, and waist circumference values, all of which are risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Screening for cardiovascular risk factors should be included in treatment plans for patients with prostate cancer.

Reply to M. Dhanushkodi

We thankDhanushkodi sincerely for his questions regarding our study, “Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors:HowRelevant inAfricanMenwithProstate Cancer Receiving Androgen-Deprivation Therapy?” In our facility, the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist used is goserelin. The dose administered is 3.6 mg every 28 days subcutaneously until the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level is 0 ng/mL. Then the patient is given a drug holiday and put under observation. Treatment is restarted if relapse occurs. The treatment-naı̈ve groups were younger than the treatedpatients,whichwouldbeexpected, because the treated patients have had the disease for longer. There was no difference in the ages of those who underwent orchiectomy and those on hormonal manipulation.