Comparative Evaluation of Creatinine and Cystatin C Derived Glomerular Filtration Rate Methods in Hiv Patients on Therapy and Healthy Controls.

Background: Antiretroviral drugs are associated with adverse effects including chronic kidney disease. The onset of chronic kidney disease manifests with mild reduction in GFR. Early detection of chronic kidney disease is integral component of clinical medicine with major effect on disease labeling, intervention and drug dosing.

Variations in the leukocyte and cytokine profiles between placental and maternal circulation in pregnancy-associated malaria.

Background: Activation of immune cells by malaria infection induces the secretion of cytokines and the synthesis of other inflammatory mediators. This study compared the cytokine levels and leukocyte count between malaria-infected peripheral and placental blood of pregnant women before delivery and postpartum. The cytokines assessed include interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10).

PERIPHERAL PARASITAEMIA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PLASMA CYTOKINES LEVELS IN MALARIA-INFECTED PREGNANT WOMEN IN ABA, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA.

Background: Cytokines in pregnant female may not be a normal phenomenon as malarial infection is often associated with strong CD4+ cell activation and up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We investigated the relationship between peripheral parasitaemia and plasma levels of cytokines among malaria infected pregnant women in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A total of 206 non-HIV positive asymptomatic malaria parasitaemic (n=144) and non-parasitaemic (n=62) pregnant women were recruited for this study alongside 80 non-pregnant women who served as positive (n=40) and negative (n=40) controls.