by Mahendra Pal, Gemechu Berhanu Kerorsa and Venkataramana Kandi
Review Article
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a globally declared pandemic viral disease caused by a novel virus, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) affecting the respiratory tract. This disease has caused high morbidity as well as mortality in susceptible populations throughout the world. Currently, COVID-19 is spreading to most countries of the world including European, American, Asian, and African countries. In these countries, the death rates of the disease have been different. The possible mechanisms of transmission of the disease include droplet inhalation, direct contact with the person infected by the disease, and indirect contact transmission. Common clinical spectrum of the disease includes high fever, dry or productive cough, shortness, and difficulty of breathing, sore throat, general weakness, myalgia, and chills. The disease can be diagnosed using clinical history, travel history, contact history, clinical signs, and different laboratory tests. The emergence of COVID-19 resulted in health, social, economic, and political problems across the globe. There is no single specific antiviral therapy and a vaccine for COVID-19, and the current treatments are almost supportive. Therefore, proper control and preventive measures that include physical/social distancing, washing hands frequently with soap and water, disinfecting hands and objects with sanitizers and alcohol, avoiding contact of contaminated objects, using proper personal protective equipment, and public education could minimize the transmission.
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. 2020, 8(1), 23-27. DOI: 10.12691/ajcmr-8-1-5
Pub. Date: May 27, 2020
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by Chabi Nicodème, Tinéponanti B.T. Véronique, Sognigbé G. Basile, Adam Alassane, Kohonou N. Arnaud, Sina Haziz and Baba-Moussa Lamine
Original Research
Non-insulin-dependent diabetes (DNID) is a multifactorial disease resulting from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the link between the polymorphism SNP19 of the calpaine 10 gene (CAPN 10) and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes in diabetic patients monitored at the Departmental Hospital Centre (CHD) of Atacora, in Benin. A total of 200 patients with diabetes were included in the study, 121 women and 79 men. The determination of the glycemic parameter after a follow-up period of at least 1 year allowed these patients to be classified into two groups: the normal blood glucose group and those with a blood glucose level greater than 1 g/L. All subjects were analyzed for SNP 19 polymorphism in the CAPN10 gene using the PCR method. Lipid measurements were also performed on each patient by enzymatic method. The results of our study show that there is a difference in genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes and that allele 1 of the CAPN10 gene is a risk factor in the Ditamari population. BMI and education were correlated with glycemic status.
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. 2020, 8(1), 18-22. DOI: 10.12691/ajcmr-8-1-4
Pub. Date: May 05, 2020
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by Pedro C Emem-Chioma and Hope I Bell-Gam
Original Research
Organ transplantation is generally an effective therapy for end-stage organ failure and kidney transplantation is generally accepted as the most efficient and cost-effective treatment for ESRD. One of the major challenges facing organ transplantation practice today is the shortage of organs for transplantation. Lack of adequate knowledge amongst the public and the healthcare professionals concerning organ donation, transplantation and outcomes of successful transplants may impact negatively on organ donation rate. Given the increasing number of transplants in Nigeria, there is therefore the need to determine the level of awareness, knowledge of healthcare workers and medical students about organ donation and transplantation and their disposition towards organ donation and transplantation. A cross-sectional descriptive study of health workers and medical students at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital was conducted using a structured investigator administered pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was employed using SPSS version 20.0. 286 participants responded giving a response rate of 97.9%. The mean age of the study population was 25.37±9.35 years. Males were slightly more 145 (51.8%) and highest educational attainment was tertiary for 269 (97.8%) of respondents. Most (96.1%) and 75.6% of the respondents were aware of organ donation and transplantation, respectively. The common sources of information for respondents were reading/news media (43.4%) and course of study (43.1%). Over 97% of respondents had correct knowledge of the definition of organ donation and transplantation. Most respondents agreed that organs could be obtained from both living (99.6%) and dying (84.4%) persons and 95.7% agreed that organ donors can remain healthy after donation. A good proportion of respondents (79.1%) expressed willingness to donate an organ, mostly for altruistic reasons; only 2.8% would be motivated by financial or material gains and 92.% would encourage organ donation. Less than half (44.5%) of the respondents said their preferred organ recipient would be a brother, followed by spouse (21.5%) and sister (21.1%). The level of awareness and knowledge of organ donation and transplantation in this study population is very high and is matched by a very good attitude and willingness to donate an organ. This is very encouraging considering the important role healthcare workers play in public health education.
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. 2020, 8(1), 13-17. DOI: 10.12691/ajcmr-8-1-3
Pub. Date: April 22, 2020
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by Hany Salah Mahmoud, Rehab A. Eltahlawi, Osama Alhadramy, Tamer M. Soliman, Yasser Mohamed FathyEl-Kot, Nassar Ayoub Abdellatif Omar, Sayed Mostafa El Sayed, Hesham I. Abdallah, Momen El-shazley, Amal Nor Edeen Ahmad Allithy, Noha El-Dabie, Mohamed Abdel-Haleem, Amr El-Dardear, Shaima Mohamed Abdelfattah Hassan, Manal Mohamed Helmy, Hassan El-Alaf, Hussam Baghdadi, Samer El-Sawy and Salah Mohamed El Sayed
Original Research
Zamzam water is the most beloved potable water for Muslims worldwide. It originates from Zamzam well near Al-Haram mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) raised many health concerns regarding the high nitrate and arsenic contents in Zamzam water that warrants further research investigations. In this study, we investigated the presence of bacterial contamination in Zamzam water. We also examined the effects of regular exclusive Zamzam water consumption for three consecutive months on the liver and kidney functions in experimental animals. Ethical committee approval was taken for performing the study. Eighteen white albino mice were divided into three experimental groups (six mice per group): tap water group, distilled water group and Zamzam water group. All mice were sacrificed by the end of the scheduled study duration. Our data confirmed that Zamzam water is pathogen-free. Our data revealed that Zamzam water consumption for three consecutive months was quite safe for the general health, kidney function tests (serum urea and creatinine) and liver function tests (serum ALT, serum AST, serum albumin and serum globulin). All serum parameters were in their normal ranges, which were comparable to mice exclusively drinking tap water and distilled water. Serum albumin was significantly higher (p<0.001) in animals drinking Zamzam water and tap water than those drinking distilled water. Zamzam water consumption for prolonged periods was quite safe with no signs of acute or chronic arsenic toxicity and resulted in normal kidney histological structure. Normal serum AST confirms that Zamzam water is cardioprotective. In other words, BBC concerns regarding high arsenic and nitrate contents may be acceptable in tap water or other types of drinking water apart from Zamzam water. This is because Zamzam water is unique in its antioxidant components that abrogate any oxidative arsenic effects and confers a lot of therapeutic benefits owing to both arsenic and the antioxidants. In conclusion, Zamzam water is cardio-protective, tissue-protective and is promising as future therapeutic water for many ailments. Zamzam water is devoid of any bacteriological contamination. Nitrates in Zamzam water is an original constituent and not due to contamination. Same thing applies to arsenic. Zamzam water is also pathogen-free and is cardioprotective.
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. 2020, 8(1), 5-12. DOI: 10.12691/ajcmr-8-1-2
Pub. Date: February 20, 2020
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by Sabitha Vadakedath and Venkataramana Kandi
Communication
OBJECTIVES: Genetic disorders contribute to severe morbidity and mortality among neonates and children. Most of these conditions could be attributed to the inheritance of defective gene/chromosome from the parents. Consanguinity, or coming from the same ancestral lineage is considered as a predisposing factor for the development of genetic anomalies. Krabbe disease or globoid cell leukodystrophy is an autosomal recessive disorder due to the mutation of the gene coding for galactosyl ceramidase or galactocerebrosidase (GALC gene). We present a brief report of Krabbe disease attributed to a missense mutation at C.1664A>G (p.Y555C) in exon 14, which was previously not reported in the literature as a pathogenic variant. METHODS: A combination of clinical symptoms and laboratory diagnostic methods were used to diagnose the Krabbe disease/globoid cell leukodystrophy. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing for GALC gene and flanking intronic regions and an enzyme analysis was done to confirm Krabbe disease. Mutational analysis of GALC gene and flanking intronic regions was performed (Sequence analysis of 12 exons (exons-2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 18). RESULTS: A homozygous silent mutation at c.1350C>T (p.5450S) in exon 13, a homozygous missense mutation at c.1664C >G (p.Y555C) in exon 14, homozygous silent mutation at c. 1685T>C (p. I562I) in exon 15, homozygous silent mutation at c. 1698A>T (p. V566V) in exon 15, and a homozygous intronic variant IVS15+5C>G was observed. CONCLUSION: A homozygous missense mutation at c.1664C >G (p.Y555C) in exon 14 was observed along with undetectable enzyme activities of β-galactocerebrosidase for the first time in a patient with Krabbe disease.
American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. 2020, 8(1), 1-4. DOI: 10.12691/ajcmr-8-1-1
Pub. Date: December 10, 2019
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