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Biomedical subjects

A F Fleming

Publications and source records attributed to A F Fleming.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Anaemia and iron status of symptom-free adult males in northern Nigeria.

The prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency have been evaluated in 276 symptom-free male inhabitants of northern Nigeria. One hundred and eighteen were classified as non-elite and 158 as elite. Twenty-six of the elite had a high consumption of alcohol, and have been considered as a separate sub-group. Measurements included haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) and serum ferritin (SF). The prevalence of anaemia (Hb less than 13.0 g dl-1) was considerably higher in non-elite (35.6%) than in 132 non-alcohol drinking elites (7.0%), while none of the alcohol drinkers was anaemic. The geometric mean SF was 54.6 micrograms l-1 in the non-elites, 100.6 micrograms l-1 in the non-drinking elites and 149.3 micrograms l-1 in the alcohol-drinkers. Iron deficiency [at least two of transferrin saturation (TS) less than or equal to 20%, FEP greater than or equal to 70 micrograms dl-1 and SF less than or equal to 30 micrograms l-1] was diagnosed in 15.3% of the non-elites and in only 1.3% of the elites. Iron deficiency in the non-elites probably resulted from poor availability of iron from the local staples guinea corn (Sorghum spp.) and millet (Pennisetum spp.), with chronic haemorrhage due to helminthic infestations contributing in some. Evidence of iron overload (TS greater than 90%, SF greater than 600 micrograms l-1 was found in two of the drinkers, one of whom had a history of prolonged consumption of burukutu, a beer locally brewed from cereals.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Anaemia and iron status of pregnant and non-pregnant women in the guinea savanna of Nigeria.

Haemoglobin concentration, serum iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin and serum ferritin (SF) were measured in 66 elite non-pregnant and 95 pregnant (27 elite and 68 non-elite) Nigerian women at Zaria, in the guinea savanna. Anaemia (as defined) was observed in 46% non-pregnant, 37% pregnant elite and 52% pregnant non-elite women. Iron deficiency (as defined) was diagnosed in 54, 30 and 25%, respectively. The mean SF in pregnant elite (28.9 micrograms l-1 was lower, but not significantly, than in pregnant non-elite women (33.6 micrograms l-1, either because of less inflammatory disease or because of more iron deficiency. The prevalence of anaemia tended to fall with increasing parity, being 52% in primigravidae and 40% in grande-multigravidae; this was probably due to greater risk of malaria-induced anaemia in primigravidae. In contrast, prevalence of iron deficiency increased with parity, being 18 and 35%, respectively, in primigravidae and grande-multigravidae. Anaemia and iron deficiency were seen most frequently in the third trimester. Pregnant women in the north of Nigeria require iron supplements irrespective of socioeconomic status or maternal parity.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Malaria chemoprophylaxis with chloroquine in young Nigerian children. IV. Its effect on haematological measurements.

Haematological measurements were made in 198 Nigerian children aged three months to two years who received weekly malaria chemoprophylaxis with chloroquine from shortly after birth until the age of one or two years and in 185 age-matched control children. Children protected against malaria had a higher mean haemoglobin level and a higher packed cell volume than control children, and they showed fewer abnormalities of their red cells. Total and differential white blood cell counts, mean plasma folate and mean serum ferritin concentrations were similar in both groups of children. However, the geometric mean red cell folate level of children exposed to malaria was significantly higher than the mean level of control children; and it may be that malaria raises the red cell folate through intracellular synthesis by malaria parasites. Children with malaria parasitaemia had a significantly lower haemoglobin and packed cell volume and a significantly higher geometric mean red cell folate and ferritin level than children without parasitaemia. Serum ferritin is probably an unreliable index of iron status in children with malaria.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1985

High frequency of anti-A and anti-B haemolysins in certain ethnic groups of Nigeria.

Out of 11,480 blood donors, 5,380 (46.9%) belonging to a blood group O were screened for the presence of anti-A and anti-B haemolysins. Strong haemolysins (complete lysis of A and/or B cells) were detected in 1,739 (32.3%) of these blood donors. A striking observation was the high frequency of these haemolysins amongst ethnic groups originating from the southern part of Nigeria. Possible causes and consequences during blood transfusion and pregnancy are discussed.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1985

Some red cell antigens in the Hausa population of northern Nigeria.

The A, B, O, D, Du, C, c, E, e, M, N, S, s, Kell and Duffy antigens were determined on 190 blood samples from Hausas in the north of Nigeria. The highest gene frequencies in the rhesus system were cDe (0.648) and cde (0.176). Su gene frequency was 0.270. The great majority of subjects were Kell negative (98.9%) and Duffy negative (98.8%). As the MNSs group determinants are carried by glycophorins, which are also receptor sites for Plasmodium falciparum, and the Duffy antigen marks the receptor for P. vivax, the present study provides data of interest in the epidemiology and genetics of malaria.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMed1985

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head in sickle-cell disease. A series from the Guinea Savannah of Nigeria.

Of 899 patients with sickle-cell disease, aged between 6 and 28 years, who attended clinics in the Guinea Savannah of Nigeria in 1982 and 1983, 29 had symptoms of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. This group was studied in detail. Twenty-eight patients had haemoglobin-SS electrophoretic patterns and one had haemoglobin-SC. The male to female ratio was 1 to 1.6, and most of the patients were aged between 6 and 15 years at the onset of hip symptoms. These symptoms correlated with the radiographic lesions, but were not related to the age or sex of the patient. The radiographic lesions varied widely and were related to the age at onset of hip symptoms. A new radiological classification is proposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Antibodies to ATLV/HTLV-1 in Africa.

Almost 4000 sera from seven African states were examined for antibodies to ATLV/HTLV-1. Between 1% and 8% of healthy people from sub-Saharan Africa have such antibodies. The highest frequency was observed in Gabon. There were considerable variations between villages. The percentage of seropositives and the mean titre increased with age. Our findings suggest that the African continent is the largest endemic area for ATLV.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Anaemia in young primigravidae in the guinea savanna of Nigeria: sickle-cell trait gives partial protection against malaria.

Haematological indices, malarial parasitaemia, serum and red cell folate (SFA, RCF), serum vitamin B12 and haemoglobin (Hb) electrophoretic patterns were studied in 228 non-elite young Hausa primigravidae at less than 24 weeks of gestation. The study was conducted in the guinea savanna of Nigeria, where malaria is hyperendemic. Ninety-nine (43%) were anaemic (Hb less than 11.0 g dl-1). The commonest cause of anaemia was malaria, in 28% of all and 40% of anaemic subjects. Plasmodium falciparum was predominant; P. malariae was seen in 1.3% and P. ovale was not recorded. Parasitaemia was more frequent and more dense in the wet than the dry season. Iron deficiency was diagnosed in 18% of all and 25% of anaemic women; 14% of all patients were folate-deficient; high MCV and MCH correlated with anaemia, and low SFA was associated weakly with anaemia and malaria. Serum vitamin B12 was normal or high in all 145 in whom it was measured; 3% had congenital elliptocytosis, but this did not contribute to the anaemia. Sickle-cell trait was present in 26% and Hb-AC in less than 1%. Hb-AS was associated with significantly lower frequency and density of P. falciparum; this has not been demonstrated in pregnancy in Africa previously. However, the parasitological advantage was not reflected in any haematological advantage. The roles of malaria, folate-deficiency and iron-deficiency in the causation of anaemia in Hausa primigravidae will be defined further by a double-blind trial of antimalarial prophylactics, iron supplements and folic acid supplements.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Haemoglobin GPhiladelphia and its interaction with haemoglobin S and alpha-thalassaemia in Nigerians.

The diagnosis of Hb SS/GPhiladelphia disease was made in four young Nigerians from separate families. Their Hb electrophoretic patterns on cellulose acetate membrane at alkaline pH were similar to those obtained in sickle-cell haemoglobin C (HbSC) disease, but their clinical features and haematological data were consistent with the diagnosis of homozygous sickle-cell disease. Family studies also revealed that they had inherited an additional alpha-chain mutant haemoglobin. In one of the families, fingerprints of the globin peptides and amino acid analysis confirmed that the mutant haemoglobin was Hb GPhiladelphia (alpha 2 68 Asn----Lys beta 2 A). The results of the whole blood solubility test for sickle-haemoglobin provided firm support for the diagnosis of homozygous sickle-cell disease and distinguished clearly Hb SS/GPhiladelphia disease from Hb SC disease and Hb AS from Hb AGPhiladelphia heterozygotes. Restriction endonuclease mapping of the globin genes of the propositus and some relatives of one of the families revealed also that they were carriers of the alpha-thalassaemia-2 gene (deletion-type). The globin gene-analysis data indicate also that the alpha GPhiladelphia and alpha-thalassaemia genes are linked closely in Nigerians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Distribution of genetic variants of transcobalamin II in Nigerian black populations.

Transcobalamin II ( TC2 ) phenotyping was performed in Nigerian black males from several ethnic groups, using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in combination with autoradiography. The TC2 gene frequencies in the total Nigerian sample amounted to .064 (X), .124 (S), .498 (M), and .313 (F). Compared to white populations, the frequency of TC2 *X is low while the frequencies of TC2 *S and TC2 *F are high, which confirms previous studies on blacks. In some of the rare phenotypes we found, in addition to common TC2 variants, TC2 gene products with an electrophoretic mobility intermediary to X and S, and to M and F, indicative of further microheterogeneity in the genetic system of TC2 . The TC2 gene frequency data indicate interpopulation heterogeneity for this marker. Major differences were found between the Sudan and Guinea Savanna Group ( SGSG ) and the Middle Belt Group, and between the SGSG and the Ibos . The results of our comparative study confirm to some extent similar surveys, which have been based on the distribution of the ABO blood groups.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1983

HTLV: try Africa.

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Adolescent↗