Cardio-Metabolic Health of Offspring Exposed in Utero to Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus and Anti-Retroviral Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Background: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) use during pregnancy continues to rise as it is known to decrease the likelihood of HIV transmission from mother to child. However, it is still unknown whether foetal exposure to (ART) may affect the foetal environment, predisposing the offspring to cardiometabolic risk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically review the cardio-metabolic effects of in utero exposure to HIV/ART on offspring.

Assessment of the Performance of Obesity Measures in the Screening of Hypertension in a South African Adolescent Population.

Obesity is known to be one of the most significant risk factors for essential hypertension in childhood. However, whether obesity cut-offs may predict hypertension screening in adolescents remains controversial. This study investigated the performance of obesity cut-off values for the screening of hypertension in a South African adolescent population.

Oxidative stress is associated with markers of renal dysfunction in children aged 6-9 years old in a South African population.

Introduction: although studies have shown a relationship between albuminuria and oxidative stress in adults, limited information on the subject is available in children. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between oxidative stress and albuminuria in South African children of African ancestry.

Methods: a cross-sectional study involving 6-9 years old children in randomly selected rural and urban schools of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was conducted.

Association between obesity and lung function in South African adolescents of African Ancestry.

Background: There is a growing body of literature on the increasing prevalence of obesity in adolescents of Sub-Saharan African ancestry. However, limited data is available on the impact of obesity on pulmonary function. This study assessed the relationship between obesity and lung function in South African adolescents of African ancestry.

Gut permeability is associated with hypertension and measures of obesity but not with Endothelial Dysfunction in South African youth.

Background: Though gut permeability has shown to be associated with measures of obesity and hypertension, its relationship with endothelial dysfunction, an early predictor for cardiovascular diseases remains unknown.

Objective: This study assessed the relationship between hypertension, measures of obesity, gut permeability and endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study which enrolled 151 South African youths was conducted.

Neuroprotective effects of Lippia javanica (Burm.F.) Spreng. Herbal tea infusion on Lead-induced oxidative brain damage in Wistar rats.

Background: Though Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng antioxidant activity has been demonstrated, its effect in protecting the brain from lead (Pb)-induced oxidative damage is unknown.

An Overview of Vascular Dysfunction and Determinants: The Case of Children of African Ancestry.

The balance between dilatory and constrictive factors is important as it keeps blood vessels in a homeostatic state. However, altered physiological processes as a result of obesity, hypertension, oxidative stress, and other cardiovascular risk factors may lead to vascular damage, causing an imbalance of vasoactive factors. Over time, the sustained imbalance of these vasoactive factors may lead to vascular dysfunction, which can be assessed by non-invasive methods, such as flow-mediated dilation, pulse wave velocity, flow-mediated slowing, retinal vessel analysis, peripheral vascular reactivity, and carotid intima-media thickness assessment.

Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk Profile of Infants Exposed to Pre-eclampsia : A Prospective Case-Control Study in South African Children of African Ancestry.

It has been reported that maternal gestational environment may be programmed to have a significant impact on foetal and offspring health later in life. Studies have shown that children born to pre-eclamptic mothers are prone to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in their adult life. However, such findings are yet to be established in an African population.

Athrixia phylicoides tea infusion (bushman tea) improves adipokine balance, glucose homeostasis and lipid parameters in a diet-induced metabolic syndrome rat model.

Background: Central obesity and insulin resistance are associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) which is aggravated by diet and sedentary lifestyle. Athrixia phylicoides (AP) is reported by rural communities to have medicinal benefits associated with MetS such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of AP on diet-induced MetS in Wistar rats to validate its ethnopharmacological use.

Assessment of Anthropometric Indices for Optimal Cut-Offs for Obesity Screening in a South African Adolescent Population.

The assessment of obesity in sub-Saharan Africa relies on cut-offs established from western populations. This study assessed anthropometric indices to determine optimal cut-off values for obesity screening in the South African adolescent population. A cross-sectional study involving 1144 (796 females and 348 males) adolescents aged 11-17 years from the Eastern Cape Province of South African was conducted.

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Different Extracts of Some Wild Medicinal Mushrooms from Nigeria.

This study assessed the antioxidant properties and antibacterial effects of hot water, cold water, and ethanol extracts of Agaricomycetes mushrooms Trametes betulina, Pleurotus ostreatus, Agaricus bisporus var. albidus, and A. bisporus var.

Relationship of oxidative stress and antioxidant response with vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell anaemia.

Background: Though sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is known to promote oxidative stress, there is paucity of information on the relationship between oxidative stress and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC).

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of oxidative stress and antioxidant response with VOC in SCA.

Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was carried out at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu Nigeria involving 116 individuals which included 36 SCA subject, 40 sickle cell carriers (AS) and 40 healthy individuals (AA).

Effect of Seasonal Variation on the Relationship of Indoor Air Particulate Matter with Measures of Obesity and Blood Pressure in Children.

Background: Particulate matter (PM) air pollution is an important environmental health risk factor. Although some studies have shown PM to be associated with obesity and hypertension, very few studies have assessed the association of indoor PM specifically with obesity and blood pressure measures in children with respect to seasonal variation.

Objectives: The present study investigated the relationship of PM with obesity and blood pressure variables in children across the winter and summer seasons.

Lippia javanica (Zumbani) herbal tea infusion attenuates allergic airway inflammation via inhibition of Th2 cell activation and suppression of oxidative stress.

Background: Lippia javanica (lemon bush) is commonly used in the treatment of respiratory ailments, including asthma in southern African countries but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-asthmatic effects of L. javanica using a rat model of asthma.

Assessment of the impact of HIV infection and anti-retroviral treatment on the cardiometabolic health of pregnant mothers and their offspring (ARTMOMSBABES).

Background: The risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is becoming more prevalent in pregnant women though not much data is available for pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Foetoplacental vascular endothelial dysfunction is thought to be at the origin of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity later on in life. Because HIV and anti-retroviral treatment (ARTs) are associated with endothelial dysfunction, children exposed in utero to these conditions may be at greater risk of developing CVDs.

Relationship between Endothelial Function, Antiretroviral Treatment and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in HIV Patients of African Descent in South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Limited information on the effect of antiretroviral treatment (ART) on vascular function in South Africans of African descent living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is available. The relationship between ART, vascular function and cardiovascular risk factors in South Africans of African ancestry with HIV was therefore studied. This cross-sectional study recruited 146 HIV-positive individuals on ART (HIVART), 163 HIV-positive individuals not on ART (HIVART) and 171 individuals without HIV (HIV) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Their Relationship with Vascular Dysfunction in South African Children of African Ancestry.

Vascular dysfunction is known to be an initiator of the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, there is paucity of information on the relationship of vascular dysfunction with cardiovascular risk factors in children of African ancestry. This study investigated the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and vascular function in South African children of African ancestry.

Insulin Resistance is Associated with Gut Permeability Without the Direct Influence of Obesity in Young Adults.

Objective: Recent findings have associated insulin resistance and obesity with increased gut permeability. However, it still remains unclear whether obesity may be the underlining factor for the association between gut permeability and insulin resistance. This study investigated the relationship between gut permeability, measures of obesity, and markers of insulin resistance in young adults.

Relationship between High Blood Pressure and Microalbuminuria in Children Aged 6-9 Years in a South African Population.

Though the association between high blood pressure and microalbuminuria is well established in adults, there is a paucity of information on microalbuminuria in children. This study investigated the relationship between high blood pressure and microalbuminuria in 6-9-year-old children. A cross-sectional study, which included 306 primary school children of age 6-9 years old from urban areas (n = 154) and rural areas (n = 152) of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, was conducted.

Free Radicals, Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases and Antioxidant Supplementation.

Though free radicals have beneficial roles in the body to fight against certain pathogenic diseases as well as are implicated in a number of cellular and physiological activities, elevated levels may be overwhelming for the antioxidant defense system to maintain the normal homeostatic state. This may eventually lead to oxidative stress whereby the increased level of free radicals may attack certain biomolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins lipids and carbohydrates) causing damage to cells, tissues and organs in the body. Following these attacks, certain by-products formed which are indicative of the cellular damage have been identified and considered as biomarkers for assessing oxidative stress.

Understanding the Pathogenesis, Therapeutic Targets/Drug Action and Pharmacogenetics of Type 2 Diabetes: Is there a Future for Personalised Medicine?

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic non-communicable disease that is of major health concern with a steadily rising prevalence across the globe. It is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose level either as a result of impaired insulin secretion and/or insulin action usually termed insulin resistance. This disease is influenced by lifestyle/feeding habit changes and genetic factors that cause physiological changes in glucose and lipid metabolism.

Association of Hypertension and Obesity with Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases in Children Aged 6-9 Years Old in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are known to begin early in life, but limited data on the relationship of obesity and hypertension with other known CVD risk factors, such as endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic low-grade inflammation is available on children. In this cross-sectional study involving 6-9 years old school children aged from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa the relationship between obesity/hypertension and other risk factors for CVDs was investigated. General anthropometric parameters were measured, followed by blood pressure (BP) measurements and pulse wave velocity (PWV).

Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Children in Enugu Metropolis.

Background: Though measures are being put in place for the management of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Nigeria, children remain the most vulnerable to develop chronic hepatitis. Routine screening in children is therefore necessary for effective control. However, the performance of the commonly used immunochromatographic test (ICT) strips has been challenging.

Possible association between ABCC8 C49620T polymorphism and type 2 diabetes in a Nigerian population.

Background: The association between ABCC8 gene C49620T polymorphism and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in populations of diverse ethnic backgrounds has been reported. However, such occurrence in an African population is yet to be established. This case-control study involving 73 T2D and 75 non-diabetic (ND) patients investigated the occurrence of this polymorphism among T2D patients in Nigeria and assessed its relationship with body lipids of patients.