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Biomedical subjects

Y M Fakunle

Publications and source records attributed to Y M Fakunle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Evidence against the red blood cell origin of mitogenic factors in mouse malarial infection.

The mean [3H]thymidine incorporation in response to stimulation of spleen cells of malaria-immune and non-immune BALB/c mice by normal mouse red blood cell culture supernatants were compared with unstimulated cultures of the same spleen cells. No significant difference was obtained between stimulated and unstimulated cultures for both immune and non-immune spleen cells. These findings do not support the hypothesis that erythrocyte-derived mitogenic factors occur in malarial infection.

Animals↗

A case of blastomycosis from Zaria, Nigeria.

A case of blastomycosis from Zaria, Nigeria is reported. The clinical features were indistinguishable from those of tuberculosis which is very common in this environment. Lack of response to anti-tuberculosis therapy within eight weeks prompted the search for other organisms which resulted in the isolation of Blastomyces dermatitidis. Compatible histological evidence was obtained. Subsequent favourable response to amphotericin B was evident. Infection with this organism should be included in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary and pleural lesions simulating tuberculosis in West Africa.

Adult↗

Failure to induce splenomegaly in BALB/c mice using rodent malaria culture supernatants.

Uninfected male and female BALB/c mice were given a twice weekly intraperitoneal injection, of supernatants obtained from 24-h cultures of Plasmodium berghei-infected and control mouse red blood cells, for 5 weeks. The mice were then weighed along with uninjected controls. All the animals were sacrificed by chloroform anaesthesia and their spleen weights measured. Mice receiving malaria culture supernatants had statistically similar spleen weights to those receiving control culture supernatants. The results fail to show the involvement of a malaria 'mitogen' in the pathogenesis of the splenomegaly associated with this infection.

Animals↗

The role of hepatitis B surface antigen in Nigerian children with nephrotic syndrome.

Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected by radioimmunoassay in the sera of 18 out of 50 (36%) children with nephrotic syndrome and in 28 of 61 (45.9%) controls. Immunofluorescent studies of kidney biopsies showed HBsAg, IgG, IgM and C3 deposits in a granular pattern in the biopsies of 12 children with nephrotic syndrome and in none of the control kidney biopsies, even though there was no significant difference between the frequencies of HBsAg in the sera of these two groups. We conclude that these findings are indicative of an aetiologic role for HBsAg in these patients.

Biopsy↗

The nature of hepatic lymphocytic infiltrates in the tropical splenomegaly syndrome.

The lymphocytes infiltrating the liver of patients with tropical splenomegaly syndrome (TSS) were shown to be mainly T lymphocytes. Migration of leucocytes obtained from patients with TSS was inhibited by TSS liver extract, normal liver extract and liver-specific lipoprotein. These findings suggest that the hepatic infiltrates which occur in TSS are probably caused by a cell-mediated immune response to an antigen present in liver cells.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Hepatitis-B virus infection in patients with leprosy: a serological study in a leprosarium in Northern Nigeria.

The prevalence rates of hepatitis-B surface antigen (HGsAg) and its homologous antibody (anti-HBs) were determined in 62 patients in a leprosarium (42 tuberculoid and 20 lepromatous) and in 40 adults living near the locality. The exposure rate (HBsAg + anti-HBs) was high in both controls and patients, 72.5% and 70.9% respectively, The frequency of HBsAg was significantly higher in patients with lepromatous leprosy (40%) compared with controls (10%) (chi 2 = 5.7 p less than 0.025) but there was no difference in the prevalence rate of HBsAg between patients with lepromatous leprosy (40%) compared with those with tuberculoid leprosy (23.8%) (chi 2 = 1.7 p greater than 0.1). The exposure rate was higher in the lepromatous group (80%) compared with the tuberculoid group (59.5%) but the difference was not significant (chi 2 = 2.87 p greater than 0.05). It is concluded that the high rate of infection in patients with leprosy if not due to a peculiar genetic defect but the result of living in an environment where the virus is highly endemic. The observed significance increase in carriage of HBsAg in lepromatous leprosy is probably due to depressed cellular immune function characteristic of this group of patients. The slightly increased exposure rate to HBV of lepromatous versus the tuberculoid type of leprosy is probably due to increased opportunity for infections from repeated and prolonged stay in hospital.

Adult↗

Hepatitis-B virus infection in children and adults in Northern Nigeria: a preliminary survey.

Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) and its corresponding antibody (anti-HBs) have been detected by radio-immunoassay in children and adults and in adult expatriates in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. The exposure rate to hepatitis-B virus (frequency of HBsAg and anti-Hbs) was found to vary from 59% in children under five years to 72.5% in adults over 30 years of age, while the frequency of HBsAg alone was 40% and 10% respectively. The anti-HBs prevalence rates rose progressively with age and reached a peak at 62.5% in adults. Five of 32 adult expatriates (15.6%) were positive for anti-HBs. The factors contributing to the high exposure rate in the indigenous population in this region require further study to enable judicious use to be made of preventive measures.

Adolescent↗

Tropical splenomegaly. Part 1: Tropical Africa.

The emergence of tropical splenomegaly syndrome as a distinct entity in tropical medical practice has been briefly described, together with its link with malaria. The clinical and haematological aspects of the syndrome have been reviewed with some emphasis on local experience. No attempt has been made to give details of the immunological aspects, but the mechanisms by which the established immunological features of the disease help to understand the pathogenesis of the syndrome have been highlighted.

Adult↗

Yersinia enterocolitica infection from West Africa--a case report.

A case of Yersina enterocolitica infection is described from West Africa. Intestinal function studies demonstrated an associated protein-losing enteropathy whilst the histo-pathological appearance of the rectum suggested an ischaemic colitis. Y. enterocolitica infection has been infrequently reported from the African continent and may be manifested in a variety of clinical presentations leading to difficulty in diagnosis.

Adult↗

Monomeric (7S) IgM in chronic liver disease.

Monomeric (7S) IgM was detected by polyacrylamide/agarose gell immunodiffusion and Sephadex G200 gel filtration in 33% of sera from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and 5% of patients with HBsAg-negative chronic active liver disease (CALD). It was not found in the sera of patients with extrahepatic cholestasis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), HBsAg-positive CALD and normal control subjects. In the PBC group the presence of 7S IgM was associated with significantly higher IgM concentrations and Clq binding activity (P less than 0.001; P less than 0.01 respectively). The antibody specificity of the 7S IgM is unknown. Its presence in patients with high serum IgM concentrations probably reflects failure of complete polymerisation of 7S IgM because of an increased rate of synthesis of the protein. The association of the presence of 7S IgM and high total IgM with immune complexes suggests that the increased rate of synthesis of IgM and formation of immune complexes probably are a result of the same antigenic (or mitogenic) stimulus.

Cholestasis↗

Tropical splenomegaly syndrome or chronic lymphatic leukaemia?

Four patients with the Tropical Splenomegaly Syndrome, showing marked lymphoid hyperplasia were studied, using immunological techniques. It has not been possible to decide on a definite diagnosis; chronic lymphatic leukaemia could not be excluded. Careful follow-up of similar patients may provide important clues to the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Adult↗

T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations in the tropical splenomegaly syndrome (TSS).

Lymphocyte subpopulations in thirty-nine patients with the tropical splenomegaly syndrome (TSS) were studied using the E-rosette, EAC rosette and direct immunofluorescent staining techniques. In the peripheral blood a decrease in the percentage of T-lymphocytes was found which was accompanied by an increase in the percentage and number of B-lymphocytes. These abnormalities reverted towards normal on treatment. Splenic aspirates contained an increased proportion of T-lymphocytes. The relative T-cell lymphoenia in TSS is probably due to specific trapping or non-specific sequestration of lymphocytes in the liver and splen. B-cell lymphocytosis is probably due to persistent antigenic or mitogenic stimulation by malaria.

Adult↗