Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins and acute phase proteins in Nigerian women with preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition that increases maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. It is diagnosed based on a triad of hypertension, significant proteinuria and rapidly increasing edema during gestation. The factors that initiate preeclampsia are unknown and still a subject of intense clinical research. The objective of this study is to provide additional immunological information about preeclampsia. To achieve this, humoral immunochemical parameters such as three classes of immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG and IgM) and three acute phase proteins (alpha 2-macroglobulin, haptoglobin and transferrin) were measured by single radial immunodifussion method in 32 pregnant women with preeclampsia, 36 pregnant women without preeclampsia and 24 non-pregnant women (controls). Total protein in the urine was also determined by spectrophotometric method. In women with preeclampsia, the levels of IgG, IgA, transferrin and alpha 2-macroglobulin were significantly reduced compared with subjects with normal pregnancy, but the level of haptoglobin was significantly raised in preeclampsia compared with women having normal pregnancy. Urinary total protein and IgG were significantly raised in Nigerian women with preeclampsia compared with non-pregnant controls. There were significant negative correlations between serum IgG, IgA and urinary protein. The possible involvement of immunoglobulins and acute phase proteins in preeclampsia is discussed.     

尼日利亚西南部奥孙河沿线黑蝇Simulium damnosum Theobald complex的形态分类研究(双翅目:蚋科)

黑蝇Simulium damnosum sensu lato是由多个姊妹种组成的复合体,这些种在生态学和盘尾丝虫病的传播方面各不相同.本文对奥孙河沿线的尼日利亚西南部森林区域的黑蝇S.damnosum s.l.复合体的组成以及成虫的形态学特征进行了研究.本研究所用的黑蝇S.damnosum s.l.成虫标本来源于奥孙河沿线的3个区,分别是Osun Eleja,Osun Ogbere和Osun Budepo.标本采集通过人体诱捕的方式,采集时间从2008年2月至2009年6月上午7:00到下午6:00,每两周采集1次.通过观察成虫的翅毛簇(wing tufts)和其他形态特征,对其进行分类研究.结果表明:存在同域分布的森林种和稀树草原种.在奥孙河沿线3个区内,森林种为优势种,占总捕获量的99.18%,而稀树草原种仅占0.82%;森林种和稀树草原种在多度上存在显著差异(P<0.05).所捕获的所有稀树草原种的翅毛簇均为灰白色,而捕获的森林种的翅毛簇颜色存在显著差异(P<0.05).为了更清楚地揭示该地区黑蝇S.damnosum s.l.的物种组成,建议进行更深入的研究.     

Pyrene-degradation potentials of Pseudomonas species isolated from polluted tropical soils

Three Pseudomonas species isolated from oil polluted soils in Lagos, Nigeria were studied for their pyrene degradation potentials. These isolates exhibited broad substrate specificities for hydrocarbon substrates including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum fractions and chlorobenzoates. All three isolates tolerated salt concentrations of more than 3%. They resisted ampicillin, cenfuroxime, but susceptible to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Pseudomonas sp. strain LP1 exhibited growth rates and pyrene degradation rates of 0.018 h⁻¹ and 0.111 mg l⁻¹ h⁻¹ respectively, while P. aeruginosa strains LP5 and LP6 had corresponding values of 0.024, 0.082 and 0.017, 0.067 respectively. The overall respective percentage removal of pyrene obtained for strains LP1, LP5 and LP6 after a 30-day incubation period were 67.79, 66.61 and 47.09. Resting cell assay revealed that strain LP1 had the highest uptake rate. Strains LP1, LP5, and LP6 also used the ortho-cleavage pathway. Enzyme study confirmed activity of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase in all with values 0.6823, 0.9199, and 0.8344 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ respectively for LP1, LP3 and LP6. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first report of pyrene-degraders from the sub-Saharan African environment.