PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S A Olowe

Publications and source records attributed to S A Olowe.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Human SP-A: genotype and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis.

We have previously characterized two surfactant protein A (SP-A) cDNAs termed 1A and 6A, as well as a 6A allelic variant termed 6A1. These sequences are quite heterogeneous at the 3' untranslated region (3'UT). Differences between 6A and 6A1 alleles include an 11-bp insertion/deletion 407 bases downstream from the start of the translation termination codon and a base pair polymorphism (C or G) in exon 1 (position 1,193; White, Damm, Miller, Spratt, Schilling, Hawgood, Benson, and Cordell. Nature Lond. 317: 361-363, 1985). The 11-bp (GCCCACTGCCT) segment is present in 6A1 and absent in 6A. The 6A/6A genotype, in a small number of specimens, showed a trend toward a higher frequency in the black Nigerian population compared with Caucasians. In this report, we examine the frequency of the 6A genotype in a larger number of samples from Caucasians and black Nigerians as well as the meiotic stability of the 3'UT heterogeneity. Slot-blot analysis and allele-specific oligonucleotide probes have confirmed that the 6A/6A genotype is more frequent in the Nigerian population. Single-strand conformation polymorphisms in the 3'UT appear to be stably inherited by members of a three-generation family, suggesting that these nucleotide variants represent natural polymorphisms in the population.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Bacteriological quality of raw human milk: effect of storage in a refrigerator.

Eighty-seven breast milk samples were obtained from 63 mothers of infants on the neonatal intensive care unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The samples were cultured for bacteria immediately after collection (0 h) and then stored in a domestic refrigerator from where cultures were repeated at 6-hourly intervals for 24 h. At 0 h, three (3.4%) of the samples were sterile; 56 (64%) grew coagulase negative staphylococci, and one (1.1%) Streptococcus viridans. Thus, 60 (69%) of the samples were either sterile or contained only skin commensals. Twenty-nine (31%) grew potential pathogens--coagulase positive staphylococci in two (2.3%) and mixed growth of staphylococci, coliforms and klebsiella in 25 (28.3%). During the 24 h storage in the refrigerator, bacteria multiplied in 50 and their growth was inhibited in 32 of the samples. But the mean bacterial count at any time during the 24 h was not significantly different from that at the beginning of the storage in the refrigerator. It is proposed that expressed breast milk stored in a domestic refrigerator can be given safely to infants within 24 h of collection if heavy contamination is prevented at the time of collection.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1985

The development of bacterial flora of premature neonates.

The sequential acquisition of bacterial flora by premature neonates was studied during a 10 month period. Mean gestational age of the babies was 29.01 weeks and the mean birth weight was 1.728 kg. Escherichia coli and group B streptococci (GBS) colonized the umbilicus of 7 and 6 babies respectively, out of 23 studied, on the first day of life. E. coli and staphylococci were the predominant flora on the 6th day and they colonized 12 and 13 respectively. The oral flora was predominantly Gram-positive cocci, mainly Streptococcus salivarius which was isolated from 17 out of 22 babies on the 6th day, viridans streptococci were isolated from 14 babies, Staphylococcus albus from 16 babies and group D streptococci from 11 babies. Candida spp. also colonized the oral cavities of 17 out of 22 babies on the 6th day. At the end of the first week of life, the faecal flora was predominantly anaerobic represented by Bifidobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp. and Clostridium spp. The commonest facultative faecal flora were E. coli, which was isolated from all the babies, and Strept. faecalis isolated from 20 babies. Early gut colonization by GBS, Bacteroides spp. and Clostridium spp. was noticed in more babies delivered vaginally than by caesarean section where colonization by these bacteria was relatively delayed. The use of prophylactic penicillin plus gentamicin in the special neonatal unit probably prevented systemic spread of any of the potential opportunistic pathogens during the study.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed1981

Assessment of fetal maturity in Nigeria by amniotic fluid analysis.

Seven different tests of amniotic fluid have been evaluated for assessment of gestational age. Statistical correlation of the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio with gestational age was positive and significant (P less than 0.001). The Nile blue hydrochloride staining test was very reliable in predicting fetal maturity: in all cases where there was at least 15% of orange-staining cells, the age of the fetus was 37 weeks or more. The reliability of this test was greatly improved when combined with the amniotic fluid L/S ratio, and the result of Clements' "shake test", especially when the creatinine value was also greater than 176 mumol/1. Changes in the levels of amniotic fluid urea, uric acid and total protein were not sufficiently consistent to be of value in assessing fetal maturity. Where facilities for ultrasound are not available, these simple tests can be very helpful in the determination of fetal maturity and in the prevention of accidental delivery of immature fetuses.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1981

Exchange transfusion using G-6-PG deficient or Hgb-AS blood in icteric neonates.

The sickle cell trait (Hgb-AS) and G-6-PD deficiency are two genetic defects which increase the hemolytic susceptibility of erythrocytes. As these two traits are common in Nigeria, blood transfusions with such defective cells are frequently given. In this study, the immediate and long-term effects of using either normal blood or blood with either or these defects for exchange transfusions in 115 neonates have been examined. Infants transfused with G-6-PD deficient blood were compared with those transfused with G-6-PD normal blood. Similarly, neonates transfused with Hgb-AS blood were compared with those who received Hgb-AA blood. There was no statistically significant difference in post-exchange serum bilirubin levels (followed for one week), hemoglobin, hematocrit, and reticulocyte counts (followed for three months). It was concluded that under normal circumstances, the use of G-6-PD deficient blood or Hgb-AS blood does not increase the risk of exchange transfusion in infants with hyperbilirubinemia.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed1980

The risk of jaundice in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient babies exposed to menthol.

A major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in Lagos, Nigeria, is severe neonatal jaundice seen in G-6-PD deficient babies. The observation that the jaundice is more severe in outpatient than in inpatient babies suggests that its cause is exogenous. "Mentholated" powder which is commonly used in many clinics and at home to dress umbilical cords was suspected to be the offending agent. A controlled study of the effects of one of these powders was carried out on 60 consecutive G-6-PD deficient babies. In 30 of them the umbilical cords were dressed daily with the powder while the remaining half who were untreated served as controls. The treated babies developed statistically more significant jaundice than the controls. Inability of neonates to conjugate menthol in this power is probably responsible for the jaundice developed by these G-6-PD deficient babies. It is concluded that the use of menthol and/or camphor-containing commerical products on neonates be discontinued, especially in communities where the incidence of G-6-PD deficiency is high as the use of such products may be contributiing to the severity of neonatal jaundice.

Bilirubin↗
PubMed1978

Amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio: comparison between an African and North American community.

One hundred nineteen samples of amniotic fluid obtained from healthy pregnant Nigerian women were analyzed for their lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio. There was a gradual increase in the L/S ratio with increasing maturity from week 23 to week 42 when values of 0.69 and 5.73, respectively, were obtained. Compared with the ratios reported from San Diego, our ratios were significantly higher where numbers were adequate for statistical tests. The higher L/S ratio probably shows that pulmonary maturity occurs earlier in the African babies and might partly explain the low incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in our premature babies.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1975

A case of congenital trypanosomiasis in Lagos.

A 17-day old baby girl presented with signs and symptoms of neonatal meningitis, except that she did not respond to the usual drugs. Intensive investigations showed that she had trypanosomal meningo-encephalitis or sleeping sickness. Her CSF was full of T. gambiense. Her mother's blood, but not her CSF, also contained the parasites. The clinical features and laboratory findings of the disease in this neonate were very different from those usually found in adults. Furthermore, her infection was complicated by the syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion. She died of the disease and its complications probably aggravated by the drug (suramin) with which she was treatedmthis is believed to be the first case of congenital trypanosomiasis described in Nigeria, and it occurred in Lagos where it was least expected;

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Racial differences in allelic distribution at the human pulmonary surfactant protein B gene locus (SP-B).

Variable numbers of composite repetitive motifs are found in different individuals within intron 4 of the surfactant protein B (SP-B) gene (Biochem J. 1995;305:583). This study tests the hypothesis that the distribution of SP-B alleles differs among racial/ethnic groups. A total of 412 SP-B alleles were analyzed: 206 from Caucasian, 68 from African-American, and 138 from Nigerian individuals. Twelve groups of alleles (A-L) carrying 3 to 18 motifs were found. The distribution of the 12 alleles in the Caucasian group differs from that found in the Nigerian (p < .001) and African-American (p < .001) populations. The overall distribution of alleles between the African-American and the Nigerian populations were not statistically different. Specific alleles were also present in different proportions among the groups studied. For example, the most common allele (allele E) in all three populations is present at a significantly higher frequency in Caucasians than in the other two populations, but its frequency does not differ from the Nigerian and African-American groups. A less frequent allele, H, also differs significantly when Caucasians are compared with each of the other two populations, but the frequency of this allele is comparable between the African-American and Nigerian populations. To assess the importance of having comparable racial composition between the control and the case groups, a group of African-Americans with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (n = 40) was compared with the African American and the Caucasian groups studied above. No significant difference was observed between the racially matched groups but a significant difference (p = .006) was observed between the racially mixed groups. The results indicate that the distribution of SP-B alleles differs between the racial groups but not between the ethnic groups studied. Thus, racial composition of the groups under study is important when considering whether particular alleles at this locus predispose to inherited disorders.

Alleles↗