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Biomedical subjects

K D Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to K D Thomas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Socio-biological status of Nigerian males with primary and secondary infertility.

Husbands in 100 consecutive couples complaining of lack of pregnancy after one year of normal intercourse were engaged in this study. Information from a structured questionnaire administered to these 100 men showed that 46% had primary infertility (had never impregnated any woman) and 54% secondary infertility (had in the past impregnated at least one woman irrespective of the outcome of the pregnancy). The mean ages (years) and standard error of mean for the primary and secondary infertile groups were 33.46 +/- 1.45 and 39.28 +/- 1.41 respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Semen culture for growth of bacteria was positive in 59.3% of subjects with secondary infertility as opposed to 40.7% for primary infertility. The difference was, again, statistically significant (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that a higher proportion of husbands in infertile couples in a group of this environment had secondary infertility, were older and were more likely to harbour infections in their semen than those with primary infertility. Hence there should be a greater awareness of the significant involvement of bacterial infection of the genital tract of infertile Nigerian subjects than and before this factor should be taken into account in the prevention and treatment strategies for infertility in this and presumably other tropical countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Haematogram and serum iron status of malnourished Nigerian children.

Haematological parameters, total serum iron, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) concentrations were estimated in twenty protein energy malnourished (PEM) children, five kwashiorkor (K), five marasmus (M), five marasmic-kwashiorkor (M-K), and five undernourished (U) aged between one and five years on admission and after 18 days hospitalisation at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex. The Hospital diet for K and M-K consisted of 8% protein and 802 calories per litre while that for M and U consisted of 30% protein and 1350 calories per litre. After the period of 18 days of rehabilitation there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference (Student's t-test) in the weight for age. None of the haematological parameters was significantly different after rehabilitation for all the four types of PEM. Of the four types only Kwashiorkor with mean serum iron values of 15.6 +/- 1.51 micrograms/100 ml and 21.17 +/- 0.33 micrograms/100 ml on admission and after rehabilitation respectively was significantly (P < 0.05) different. More attention by the OAUTHC authorities needs to be paid to the management, feeding and diet given to these children so that there will be a greater and more rapid improvement in their rehabilitation.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1994

The effect of antibacterial agents on plasma vitamin C levels.

Previous report on the estimation of plasma ascorbic acid levels in patients with chronic osteomyelitis indicated that the plasma ascorbic acid level is reduced in patients on antibiotics. The plasma study of the effects of anti-bacterial agents on plasma ascorbic acid in vitro, was carried out to substantiate the hypothesis than these agents lower plasma ascorbic acid levels. Increasing amounts of each of seven anti-bacterial agents: ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, gentamycin, benzyl and procaine penicillin combination (seclopen), co-trimoxazole, and streptomycin significantly (P < 0.01, r = -0.9587) reduced plasma vitamin C levels in vitro. There was moderate but insignificant reduction in plasma vitamin C levels with clindamycin (r = -0.799). The reduction of the plasma vitamin C levels observed in the presence of the eighth anti-bacterial agent, clindamycin, lacked significance (r = -0.799). The cause of this reduction of plasma vitamin C levels by anti-bacterial agents in vitro is not yet understood. A supplement of vitamin C may be required in patients on anti-bacterial agents.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Rabbit knee immobilization: bone remodeling precedes cartilage degradation.

This study analyzed processes underlying osteoporosis and osteoarthrosis after short-term immobilization of the right hind limb of postadolescent (2.8 kg) and mature (4.0 kg) rabbits. After 3 weeks, the lateral posterior aspect of the lateral tibial plateau and the lateral femoral condyle of the immobilized limb exhibited prominent subchondral vascular eruptions. Femoral metaphyseal bone density decreased 27 and 18% in the immobilized limbs of postadolescent and mature rabbits, respectively. Calcein green fluorescence increased 1.9-fold (p less than 0.001) in the metaphyseal trabeculae of immobilized femurs. With immobilization, sulfate incorporation into femoral cartilage glycosaminoglycan increased, although total cartilage glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline levels were unchanged. Thymidine incorporation into DNA increased four- to fivefold in tibial and femoral cartilage of the immobilized limb. In this study, bone loss and remodeling preceded erosive cartilage degradation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Plasma biochemical parameters in Nigerian children with protein energy malnutrition.

Eleven plasma biochemical parameters were estimated in a total of 28 children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM): 7 children each category of marasmus, kwashiorkor, marasmic-kwashiorkor and undernutrition with ages between 8 and 48 months. The estimations were performed on admission and 8 to 24 days after treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Nigeria. Plasma sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate and albumin levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher after treatment than on admission. Calcium however, showed no significant change. Total protein and cholesterol were significantly (p < 0.05) raised after treatment for all the PEM types except undernutrition and kwashiorkor respectively. Globulin, urea and creatinine were significantly (p < 0.05) raised after treatment for kwashiorkor. These biochemical findings support the claims of clinical improvement in PEM children after a minimum of 18 days of treatment at the OAUTHC in Nigeria.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1991

Effects of an aqueous extract of cotton seed (Gossypium barbadense Linn.) on adult male rats.

Twenty adult male rats per group in 4 treatment groups were injected intraperitoneally at 08.00 hours with 0.1 ml of an aqueous cotton seed extract (Gossypium barbadense Linn.) (Malvaceae) in concentrations of (a) 105.25, (b) 21.21, (c) 4.65, (d) 2.325 mg ml-1 (kg body weight)-1, respectively. A fifth group (control) was given 0.1 ml of pyrogen free distilled water per rat. Five rats per treatment group were sacrificed at 2, 8, 24 and 168 hours respectively after treatment. Plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) showed no change. Plasma testosterone was lower (p less than 0.05) than that of control at 2 and 8 hours, with recovery by 168 hours post treatment. Plasma creatinine was raised by 2 hours, with recovery by 8 hours. Plasma urea rose gradually but persistently to a maximum of 168 hours. Plasma aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) transaminases were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than that of controls throughout the study. Testicular histology showed early germ cell disorganization followed by progressive fibrosis (sperm cytoskeleton) by 24 hours. There was evidence of recovery by 168 hours. It is concluded that aqueous extract of cotton seed meal contains substances that can rapidly cause damage to testicular, liver, kidney and muscular tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Studies on the spermiostatic actions of some local mineral water drinks.

Caffeine and the trace metals iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), silver (Ag) and mercury (Hg) were determined in six locally purchased mineral water drinks in Ile-Ife, Nigeria in a bid to determine the constituents in the drinks which may be responsible for their observed in vitro spermiostatic actions. There was no association between the caffeine and the trace metals content of the drinks and their in vitro inhibition of sperm motility. Some other possible factors are also discussed.

Beverages↗
PubMed1990

Steroidal contraceptives and changes in individual plasma phospholipids: possible role in thrombosis.

The changes in the levels of individual phospholipids were studies in women during prolonged use of three types of steroidal contraceptive preparation: high-dose combined pills (Noriday 1 + 50 Fe); low-dose combined pills (Nominest Fe) and progestin-only injectables (Depo-Provera). Women on high-dose combined pills had significantly higher (p less than 0.05) mean lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), sphingomyelin (SPH), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) levels, respectively, than the women on low-dose combined pills, progestin-only injectables and the controls, respectively. Women on low-dose combined pills had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) mean LPC and PS levels, respectively, than the controls, while women on progestin-only injectables had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) mean PS and PE levels, respectively, than the controls. Based on the reported high activities of PS and PE in hemostasis, the PE/total plasma phospholipids, PS/total plasma phospholipids and the sum of PE and PS/total plasma phospholipids ratios were calculated to assess the possible overall effect of the changes in plasma phospholipids in steroidal contraceptive users. The results obtained using these indices agree with some earlier reports of an estrogen dose-dependent risk/incidence of thrombosis in steroidal contraceptive users. It is concluded that the observed dose-dependent estrogen-induced alterations in phospholipids, and, most especially, the PE and PS fractions may bear a relationship with thrombotic conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A study of the menstrual patterns of adolescents in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Questionnaires and interviews with 768 female students in residence at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria revealed that the mean and median ages of menarche were respectively 13.4 +/- 1.4 and 13.5 years and 80.8% had menstrual cycles between 25 and 35 days. The duration of menstrual bleeding was 4.5 +/- 0.8 days; 72.3% had dysmenorrhea and 17.8% complained of nausea and vomiting during menstruation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Cations in body fluids of Trypanosoma brucei in infected rabbits.

Serum copper, magnesium, zinc, calcium and ionized calcium (Ca++) concentrations were compared in 6 rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and 5 uninfected rabbits. There was a significant depletion of Mg and Zn and a significant increase in Cu from about day 10 of infection to the end. There was no change in plasma total calcium or free diffusible calcium. There was a development of kidney damage as shown clinically by proteinuria and urinary loss of magnesium and zinc, and histologically by the observation of hypercellularity in the glomeruli and tubular degeneration. Our findings thus indicate that trypanosomiasis causes kidney damage which may be responsible for the depletion of the cations seen in the study. Some of the clinical manifestations associated with African trypanosomiasis such as convulsions, anaemia, electrocardiographic changes and splenomegaly may therefore be related to these cation changes.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Changes in rat liver weight and specific activity of hepatic tryptophan dioxygenase in different stages of fasting.

The effect of starvation on liver weight and the specific activity of hepatic tryptophan dioxygenase (EC 1.13.1.12) in prepubertal male rats (Vom Ife strain) maintained in several stages of fasting was studied. The specific activity of hepatic tryptophan dioxygenase was significant after 24 h of fasting. It then fell to a nadir at 96 h before a secondary but significant peak after 120 h. During refeeding after a 120 h fast the specific activity was initially lower than controls after 96 h. The liver weight was significantly lower than controls throughout the fasting period although it was higher at 96 h. On refeeding the liver weight attained control values after 96 h. There appears to be some adaptive change with respect to liver weight and the specific activity of tryptophan dioxygenase at 96 h during fasting, and on refeeding after a severe fast.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of radioiodinated-SCH 23982, a potential dopamine D-1 receptor imaging agent.

Radioiodinated-SCH 23982 is a potential agent for the imaging of dopamine D-1 receptors in the human brain. In vivo binding of [125I]SCH 23982 to D-1 receptors in rat brain was determined over 4 hr. The ratio of activity in striatum and frontal cortex to that in cerebellum increased over the first 2 hr to maximum values of 4.4:1 and 2.1:1, respectively. The percent injected dose in whole brain at 0.5 and 2 hr were 0.62 and 0.15, respectively. Administration of the antagonists propranolol (beta-1), prazosin (alpha-1), haloperidol (D-2) and ketanserin (5HT-2) did not significantly alter the striatum/cerebellum ratio; however, SCH 23390, a D-1 antagonist, totally blocked ligand uptake by striatum and frontal cortex. Biologic distribution data in the rat were determined after injection of 3 microCi of [125I]SCH 23982. 76% of the injected dose was excreted in 48 hr via the liver and kidneys. Internal radiation absorbed dose estimates to nine source organs, total body, the GI tract, gonads and red bone marrow were calculated for humans using the physical decay data for 123I. The critical organ was found to be the lower large intestine which received 1.1 rad/mCi of the administered dose. The total-body dose was 63 mrad/mCi. The data indicate that [123I]SCH 23982 should be a suitable agent for imaging the D-1 dopamine receptor in the human brain by single photon emission computed tomography.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Radiation dosimetry of iodine-123 HEAT, an alpha-1 receptor imaging agent.

Biologic distribution data in the rat were obtained for the alpha-1 adrenoceptor imaging agent (+/-) 2-[beta-(iodo-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylaminomethyl]tetralone (HEAT) labeled with [125I]. The major excretory routes were through the liver (67%) and the kidney (33%). Internal radiation absorbed dose estimates to nine source organs, total body, the GI tract, gonads, and red bone marrow were calculated for the human using the physical decay data for [123I]. The critical organ was found to be the lower large intestine, receiving 1.1 rad per mCi of [123I]HEAT administered. The total-body dose was found to be 58 mrad per mCi.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Effect of lidamidine hydrochloride and loperamide on gastric emptying and transit of the small intestine. A double-blind study.

We performed a double-blind randomized study in 24 healthy volunteers, to evaluate the effects of two doses of lidamidine hydrochloride, loperamide, and placebo on transit of the small intestine and gastric emptying. Transit time of the small intestine was determined by measuring the rise in breath hydrogen excretion after ingestion of lactulose. Although there was a trend for prolonged intestinal transit time in both lidamidine groups, this difference was not significant compared with that in the placebo group. Loperamide significantly slowed transit when compared with placebo or lidamidine (p less than 0.001). Gastric emptying was assessed by using a solid-phase radiolabeled meal. Three parameters of gastric emptying were analyzed: half-emptying time, area under the gastric emptying curve, and beta. Although there was a trend for a longer half-emptying time in the group that received 12 mg of lidamidine, this difference approached, but did not reach, statistical significance (p = 0.06) compared with placebo. The area under the gastric emptying curve, a potentially more sensitive parameter for measuring gastric emptying, was significantly increased in the group receiving 12 and 18 mg of lidamidine (p less than 0.05) compared with the group receiving loperamide or placebo. In summary, lidamidine significantly delayed gastric emptying but had no significant effect on small bowel transit. These data suggest that the antidiarrheal properties of lidamidine are the result of enhanced absorption or inhibition of secretion of fluid and electrolytes.

Adolescent↗