Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene influences obesity but studies have shown that environmental/lifestyle variables like physical activity (PA), time spent sitting (TSS), and energy intake might mediate the effect. However, this is poorly understood in Nigeria due to scarce studies. We demystified association and interaction between FTO rs9939609, obesity, PA, TSS, and energy intake in Nigeria. FTO gene variant was genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism and gene sequencing analysis in 103 people with obesity and 98 controls. Anthropometrics and environmental variables were measured using standard procedures. Significant associations were found between FTO rs9939609 with obesity and environmental/lifestyle variables before and after adjusting for age. Carriers of allele A have significantly higher odds of being overweight/obese using BMI [0.191 (0.102–0.361), p < 0.001] but this was attenuated by PA (p[interaction] = 0.029); odds of being overweight reduced from 0.625 (0.181–2.159) to 0.082 (0.009–0.736) for low and high PA, respectively. Mediation analysis of total indirect effect also confirmed this by showing a simultaneous mediating role of total PA, energy intake, and TSS in the relationship between FTO and BMI (unstandardized-coefficient = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.26–2.22). This study shows a relationship between FTO and obesity phenotype and environmental/lifestyle factors might be an important modulator/mediator in the association.

Abstract. Collections of human sera from malaria-endemic areas would be valuable for identifying and characterizing antigens as malaria vaccine candidates if the contributing serum donors' ability to resist infection were fully characterized. We prepared such a serum collection from 26 apparently immune Nigerian adults who failed to develop patent parasitemia for at least 20 weeks following a documented increase in antibodies to the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) from Plasmodium falciparum. Volunteers were evaluated five times per week for malaria symptoms and bimonthly for parasites by examining thick blood smears. The incidence rate over 13 months for the cohort was 42% (47 malaria-confirmed volunteers) and the risk of infection was 1.3 infections/year. Responses to CSP did not correlate with protection. Because antibody responses to antigens other than CSP may be associated with protection, the sera from these immune individuals may be useful for identifying and characterizing other potential malaria vaccine candidates.Malaria, particularly that caused by Plasmodium falciparum, remains one of the most serious diseases in the world, endangering infant and early childhood development in many tropical regions lacking the resources to implement thorough and widespread control programs. With the emergence of insecticide-resistant Anopheles mosquitoes and of drug-resistant P. falciparum, the prospect of human survival in malaria-endemic areas has become increasingly grave. Hope for successful control of malaria seems to lie in a concerted multi-pronged approach that includes environmental and continued vector control methods, combined with an appropriate use of anti-malarial drugs and continued efforts towards the development of malaria vaccines.Antigens from several developmental stages of P. falciparum are being evaluated for inclusion in a malaria vaccine, 1-11 with circumsporozoite protein (CSP) from the sporozoite stage and merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) from the erythrocytic stage 12-17 receiving the most attention. Antibody responses to the central repeat region of the CSP have been studied in several malaria-endemic areas. Some investigators concluded that anti-CSP antibodies were protective, 18-20 while others did not. [21][22][23] Adult sera from malaria-endemic areas have been used in a number of clinical [24][25][26] studies to show that antibody can passively transfer protection against erythrocytic stage infections. Such sera have also found application in defining parasite antigens for inclusion in a malaria vaccine. 27-30 Sera such as these should be most valuable for the purpose of antigen discovery and characterization if the relative immune status of the donors were known.In the absence of detectable erythrocytic stage parasites, one method for assessing if a person living in an area of endemic malaria has been exposed to P. falciparum sporozoites is to measure boosting of the levels of the anti-CSP antibodies. Gordon and others 31 assumed that a two-fold or greater increase in antibody leve...

Background Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant that ethnobotanical studies have shown its inclusion in treatment of many ailments such as diarrhea, diabetes, epilepsy, wound healing and arthritis. It is a plant that was believed to originate from India but could now be found in both the tropics and the sub-topics. Earlier reports have not addressed the association between the location of plant collection and its antioxidant contents. In this study, Moringa oleifera leaves were collected from 21 locations within the south western states of Nigeria. Leaves from each of the locations were dried and evaluated for total phenols, tannin, saponin and flavonoid. DPPH scavenging activity, nitric oxide scavenging activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation were also evaluated. Results All the parameters analysed showed significant within- and between-group differences. Some locations had greater DPPH scavenging ability than the standard (quercetin). Conclusion Environmental parameters like annual precipitation, minimum temperature and maximum temperature, and soil type of the location of the plants showed influence on the level of antioxidant, while further analysis using metaboanalyst showed a notable effect of soil type on the antioxidant activity.

Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are major devastating infectious diseases African countries and other regions of the world. TB is a potentially serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs. While HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system; which if left untreated, can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Thus, this study was carried out to monitor the prevalence of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) situation in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State Southwestern Nigeria. A total of 191 participants were enrolled in this study. Blood and sputum samples were used in screening of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis respectively. 102(53.4%) participants were confirmed HIV positive cases and 89(46.6%) participants were confirmed as M. tuberculosis-positive cases. The rate of tuberculosis was higher among women than among men and prevalence of HIV was slightly higher among men than among female. The study shows that age group 26 – 30 years have the highest rate of tuberculosis and age group 36 – 40 years have the highest rate of HIV cases while the highest number of TB with HIV co-infection 34 (17.8%) were gotten from the age group 36 – 40years. The rate at which the prevalence of tuberculosis, HIV and their co-infection are rising is due to various challenges facing its eradication. Adequate resource mobilization and effective spending is needed to achieve success. In addition, efforts should be made to improve the surveillance system.

Introduction: Malaria, Typhoid fever, urinary schistosomiasis, AIDS and hepatitis B virus disease are major public health problems in the tropical and subtropical countries; they exert a huge burden of morbidity, mortality and economic loss on the populace. Aims: The study investigates the prevalence of co–infection of malaria, typhoid fever, urinary schistosomiasis, hepatitis B virus and HIV virus among 306 students between the ages of 10- 21 years in three local government areas of Ekiti – state Nigeria. Methodology: Blood samples were randomly collected for the examination of malaria parasites, typhoid fever, hepatitis B virus and HIV virus while urine examination was done for urinary schistosomiasis by random sampling and survey for a period one week. Results: The results show that the overall prevalence of malaria, typhoid fever, urinary schistosomiasis and hepatitis B virus were 42.2%, 2.9%, 2.9% and 2.9% respectively. The female students had the highest prevalence of single infection with malaria fever having the highest figure (42.2%). Malaria and Urinary schistosomiasis had the highest prevalence of double infection of 2.3 %, while schistosomiasis and hepatitis B had the lowest prevalence of 0.3%. Also, male students had the highest prevalence of double and triple infections. The co-infection rate of malaria, urinary Schistosomiasis and hepatitis B was 0.3% and this occurred in male between the ages of 19-21 years, none of the students tested positive for HIV virus and therefore no students was found in the quaternaries. Conclusion: Co-infections is prevalent in this study area, therefore there should be integrated control approach directed against these diseases.