Usefulness of acute phase proteins for monitoring development of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus carriers.

Background: Serum levels of acute phase proteins (APP) have been used to diagnose and follow up treatment of liver diseases. This study was carried out to determine the usefulness of APP to predict development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers.

Study Design: In a prospective study, serum haptoglobin, transferrin and alpha 2 macroglobulin levels of 55 subjects consisting of 20 HBV carriers, 18 HBV-positive HCC patients and 17 controls were determined using single radial immunodiffusion.

Pregnancy impairs resistance of C57BL/6 mice to Leishmania major infection.

To determine if gestational factors affect the severity of L. major infection, this study assessed the levels of IL-4 mRNA and IFN-gamma mRNA in popliteal lymph node cells of pregnant C57BL/6 mice mated at 5 hours, 16 hours and 15 days post L. major infection using PCR.

Leucocyte phagocytosis and circulating immune complexes in mothers after child birth.

Leucocyte phagocytosis and level of circulating immune complexes (CICs) were measured in pregnant women at the three trimesters of pregnancy and in mothers 24-48 hours after child birth to evaluate the influence of pregnancy on leucocyte functions. The mothers were divided into gestation groups depending on the ages of their pregnancies as 1st trimester, 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester. The result shows that total white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocytes (B- and T-lymphocytes) and circulating immune complexes were high in pregnant women (independent of gestational ages) and mothers 24-48 hrs after child birth compared with non-pregnant controls.

Circulating immune complexes, immunoglobulin classes (IgG, IgA and IgM) and complement components (C3c, C4 and Factor B) in diabetic Nigerians.

Objective: To evaluate serum levels of circulating immune complexes (CICs), immunoglobulin classes (IgG, IgA and IgM) and Complement Components (C3c, C4 and Factor B) in Nigerians with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Design: Case control study.

Setting: University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in pregnant C57BL/6 mice infected with L. major at different gestational periods.

Background And Objective: To assess if gestational factors affect the resistance of C57BL/6 mice to L major infection, this study determined the levels of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in popliteal lymph node cells of pregnant C57BL/6 mice infected with L. major at 16 hours, 5 days-, 10 days- and 15 days- post plug by PCR, ELISA and BIOASSAY.

Design/setting: Experimental.

Malaria specific-IgG, inter-pregnancy intervals, birth weights and body mass index in cases of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia.

Background & Objectives: Considerations of both inter-pregnancy intervals and malaria parasitaemia may help in understanding some aspects of susceptibility and pregnancy outcomes in malaria endemic areas.

Methods: Pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia were recruited and divided into groups based on their inter-pregnancy intervals and malaria specific-IgG, body mass index, and birth weights were studied in the groups.

Results: The results showed that the P.

Complement levels and leucocyte phagocytosis in newborn babies.

Newborn babies face higher risk of infection than adults, but the immunological basis of this observation is yet to be fully explained particularly in babies of different gestations and birth weights. Sixty-two (62) adults, 55 full-term babies, 18 low birth weight babies and 44 normal birth weight babies were considered for the study. B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes were enumerated by EAC-rosette and E-rosette respectively.

The effects of ageing on the immune response to Schistosoma haematobium and hookworm by measuring circulating immune complexes, C3, IgG, IgA and IgM levels in residents of Omi dam area of Kogi State, Nigeria.

In this study, the effects of infestation (with Schistosoma haematobium or hookworm) during host ageing on the serum levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC), C3, IgG, IgA and IgM were examined in residents of Omi dam area of Kogi state, Nigeria. S. haematobium-infested and hookworm-infested individuals showed no significant alteration in the levels of CIC, C3, IgG, IgA and IgM in comparison with controls.

Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia amongst pregnant women.

Two hundred and forty-six apparently healthy pregnant women aged 19-40 years, without symptoms were recruited (147 recruited during the dry season and 99 recruited during the rainy season) for the present study. Blood examinations for malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum specific-IgG concentration and serological reactivity with P. falciparum-histidine rich protein-2 (HRP-2) antigens were conducted on all the pregnant women during the dry and rainy seasons of the year.

Serum immunoglobulins, total protein and albumin levels during UniplantR use by Nigerian women.

The effects of UniplantR (a new, long-acting, 19-nor-progesterone derivative contraceptive) on serum immunoglobulins, albumin and total proteins were determined in Nigerian women during one year of use. Blood samples were collected prior to implant insertion and then at the third, sixth and twelfth months of use. All volunteers were in the reproductive age, healthy and had no contraindications to hormonal contraception.

Concurrent infections and neutrophil phagocytic function in Nigerians with urinary schistosomiasis.

Bacteria infections, parasitic infections and neutrophil phagocytic function were assessed in 60 urinary schistosomiasis (USS) subjects and 36 healthy controls. Only Salmonella was isolated from the blood samples of few USS subjects (3%) and controls (1%). The species of bacteria detected in the urine of USS and control subjects are Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis and Klebsiella.

Leucocyte migration inhibition factor (L-MIF) in malnourished Nigerian children.

Leucocyte Migration Inhibition Factor (L-MIF) was measured in 41 children with marasmus, 19 with kwashiorkor, 5 with marasmic-kwashiorkor and 35 well-fed healthy children serving as controls. For L-MIF assay, two different antigens (live attenuated measles virus vaccine and diptheria pertussis tetanus (DPT) vaccine were used. Percentage migration indices obtained with the two antigens were significantly higher in the malnourished than in the well-fed healthy sex and age-matched controls (P < 0.

Levels of complement components, immunoglobulins and acute phase proteins in plasma during aging in Nigeria.

Plasma samples from Nigerians aged 6-95 years were examined for their content of complement components (C3, C4, factor B-Bf), immuloglobins (IgG, IgA, IgM IgD) and acute phase proteins (transferrin, albumin, C-reactive protein--CRP, alpha-2-macroglobulin). Albumin, was estimated colorimetrically and the other components by the single radial immunodiffusion techniques. No significant age-related changes in mean values of the four immunobulins and the four acute phase proteins could be demonstrated.

Humoral immunity in Nigerians with Schistosoma haematobium infection.

Circulating soluble immune complexes (CIC), immunoglobulin classes (IgG, IgA, and IgM), acute phase proteins (alpha-l-fetoprotein and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein) and complement factors (C4 and C3c) levels were determined in 52 Nigerian patients with urinary schistosomiasis (USS) and 39 healthy subjects by polyethylene glycol precipitation and single radial immunodiffusion methods respectively. A considerably higher proportion of USS patients than the controls had elevated levels of soluble immune complexes. IgM, IgA and C3c levels were significantly higher in USS patients than the controls.

Leucocyte migration inhibitory factor assay in Nigerians with urinary schistosomiasis.

Schistosome antigens (soluble egg antigen and adult worm antigen) and non-schistosome antigens (Bacille Calmette Guerin vaccine antigen and measles virus vaccine antigen) were used to assay for leucocyte migration inhibitory factors (LMIF) in Nigerian children with and without Schistosoma haematobium infection. The severity of S. haematobium infection was graded into light infection (1-49 eggs/ 10 ml urine) or heavy infection (more than or equal to 50 eggs/10 ml urine).

Auto--antibodies to DNA in the sera of Nigerians attending a rheumatic diseases clinic.

The presence of auto-antibodies to DNA in the sera of 199 Nigerians: 46 with osteoarthritis, 16 with rheumatoid arthritis, 5 with SLE, 18 with chronic hepatitis, 24 peptic ulcer disease and 90 blood donors were assayed using a haemagglutination method. The positivity rates of auto-antibodies to DNA in these subjects were comparable [X2 = 1.56, P > 0.

Malaria parasitaemia and immunoglobulin levels in paired maternal-cord sera from south western Nigeria.

Blood samples were collected from one hundred and sixteen parturient women and one hundred and seventeen umbilical cords at delivery for the detection of malaria parasitaemia and determination of total serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA). Immunoglobulin levels were measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for cord blood IgM. Malaria parasites were found in 2.

Complement haemolytic activity, circulating immune complexes and the morbidity of sickle cell anaemia.

The aim of this study was to find out if the number of crises and complications of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) relate to complement function, or the levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC), complement factor B (Bf), C3 and C4. In 73 steady-state HbSS patients and 50 HbAA control subjects, we determined the haemolytic activity of the alternative pathway of complement (AP50), of the classical pathway (CH50); and the serum concentrations of Bf, C3, C4 and CIC. By clinical examination of each patient and review of the medical records, we determined the number of complications of SCA which had occurred and the mean number of crises per year over a minimum period of 3 years.

Serum immunoglobins in Nigerians with urinary schistosomiasis.

Serum levels of immuno-globulin G, A, M, D and E were determined using single radial immuno-diffusion technique in 52 Nigerian primary school children with urinary schistosomiasis and 39 age and sex matched controls. The mean values of IgA, IgM and IgE in the school children with S. haematobium infection were significantly higher than in controls.

Lack of association between levels of transplacentally acquired Plasmodium falciparum-specific antibodies and age of onset of clinical malaria in infants in a malaria endemic area of Nigeria.

A cohort of 117 newborns was followed longitudinally for 12 months to determine the age of onset of clinical malaria and the subsequent episodes of malaria, and to investigate the possible existence of a correlation between level of transplacentally acquired Plasmodium falciparum-specific antibodies and age of onset of malaria in the infant. The mean age of onset of malaria in 49 infants was 4.48 +/- 1.

Studies on Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia and development of anemia in Nigerian infants during their first year of life.

Bimonthly surveys were carried out for 12 months to investigate the dynamics of the acquisition of malaria parasitemia in relation to hemoglobin genotype, development of anemia, and body weight in infants during their first year of life. Thick blood smears for malaria, a capillary blood sample for measurement of packed cell volume (PCV) levels, and body weights were obtained at each survey. Generally, parasite rates (P < 0.