Introduction: Thyroid disorders (TDs) remain the second-most common endocrine disease after diabetes worldwide. Recently, there has been increased interest in the prevalence and pattern of TD based on the fact that it accelerates cardiovascular complications. However, there are limited data on the prevalence and pattern of TDs in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Southeast Nigeria. Objectives: We studied prevalence and pattern of TDs as seen in patients attending UNTH, Enugu, Nigeria. Methods: This study was conducted in the Outpatient Department of UNTH Enugu from January 2016 to January 2019. Demographic and clinical data collected include age, gender, anthropometrics, clinical features, and associated complications of TDs. The patients were grouped as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) according to symptoms, signs, thyroid function test, liver function test, fasting blood sugar, and cholesterol. Results: A total of 260 patients (210 females and 50 males) with a mean age of 49.22 ± 9.79 years reflected overall prevalence rate of 2.4%. The prevalence of hyperthyroidism 150 (58%), hypothyroidism 100 (39%), and (ESS) 10 (3.9%) was 1.4%, 0.9%, and 0.09%, respectively. Hypertension 34.3%, heart failure 26.7%, and atrial fibrillation 20% seen in Grave's disease were the most common cause of hospitalization and death. Conclusion: Grave's disease is the most common cause of TDs and occurs more in females than males in this study. We observed that hypertension, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation are promoters of complication in TDs. Health system facilities need to be strengthened in this area to improve the detection and management of TDs.

Aim In Nigeria, reports on the prevalence of Hepatitis C risk factors have not been clearly elucidated, we investigate the risk factors that influence the prevalence and how the difference in awareness level of risk factors screening across age groups contributes to the disease. Methods A total of 8790 aged 18‐55 years old, who attended the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Services, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu were screened. Among them, 135 were diagnosed with hepatitis C infection from 1 January 2017 to 1 January 2019. Participants completed a questionnaire related to demographics, risk factors, history of previous medical screening. Age groups, income and education were indicators. Multivariate analyses were used to identify correlates. Results A total of 135 blood donors (95 males and 40 females) with a mean age of 35.9 ± 10.5 and 36.4 ± 10.7 years respectively were positive for hepatitis C infection, giving overall prevalence (1.5%), injecting drug use (39%), unprotected multiple sex (22.2%), sacrification (14.8%), blood transfusion (11.1%). Multivariate analysis revealed that injecting drug use (P < .0001), unprotected multiple sex (P = .004), sacrification (P = .036) were independent risk factors that influence the prevalence among younger age groups. Blood transfusion was not significant (P = .053) but the mostly accessed. Low income and educational background were significantly more prevalent among the studied group. Conclusion Injecting drug use, multiple sex and sacrification are independent predictors of prevalence of Hepatitis C infection. The early onset of the risk factors among the younger adult clearly underlines the need for early screening and interventions.

Background: Human exposure to xenobiotics, especially priority heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury and chromium), is unavoidable because of their involvement in industrial applications, accumulation in the environment over time and non-biodegradability. Unfortunately, they induce unprecedented biochemical and pathological changes on those exposed to them, causing oxidative damages and organ toxicities. Aim: This study investigated the frequencies of priority heavy metals and their impact on some micronutrient elements (copper, iron, zinc) in the blood of inhabitants of a lead-zinc mining community in southeastern Nigeria.

Objective: The second leading cause of human mortality from infectious diseases worldwide is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This chronic infection is accompanied by prolonged cytokine production, which might affect the immuno-reproductive communication and favour the establishment of an adverse state. This was a prospective study designed to evaluate possible impact of some cytokine variations on menstrual cycle in TB infected females. Methods: A total of 90 premenopausal females aged (18-45) years were randomly recruited and grouped into 30 Symptomatic TB, 30 Symptomatic TB females on ATT and 30 Control females. Blood samples were collected at follicular (Fp) and luteal phases (Lp) of menstrual cycle for determination of IL-8, IL-6, TNFα, IL-4, CD4+ T-cells, and Absolute Lymphocytes counts using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Cyflow SL Green Cytometer and Sysmex K21N Hematology Analyzer respectively. Results: There was significantly higher IL-6, IL-8, IL-4 and TNFα with lower CD4 T-cells and Abs Lym counts in TB and TB on ATT compared to Control females at both phases of menstrual cycle (P<0.05). All the cytokines were significantly lowered with higher CD4 T-cells in TB on ATT compared to TB females at both phases (P<0.05). Hypogonadism correlated positively with pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines Conclusion: The study revealed significant cytokine alterations which suggest active inflammatory process while CD4 T-cells and Abs Lym dropped showing some degree of derangement in cellular immunity at both phases of menstrual cycle; which tends to normalize on treatment. This may affect the reproductive potentials in these women.

The blood level of C-reactive protein (CRP) has been postulated to increase in hypertensive patients but has not been implicated as a risk factor for high blood pressure. This prompted this study to investigate the level of CRP of hypertensive patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, and Enugu state. Eighty-nine subjects of which 50 were hypertensive patients (test subjects) and 39 apparently healthy individuals (control subjects) volunteered in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to capture the bio-data and other vital information from the participants of which virtually all the test subjects were on anti-hypertensive drugs. Anthropometric measurements were taken, blood samples were collected and CRP was analyzed using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay method. Data were analyzed using the student's test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). There was no significant statistical difference (P>0.05) in CRP levels (µg/ml) in all the comparisons; that is between all male and female study populations (401-478 and 3.61-4.24), between tests and controls (3.62-3.85 and 4.06-526), between male tests and male controls (3.76-3.55 and 4.24-5.80), between female tests and female control (3.62 ±3.85 and 3.76-3.55) between male tests and female tests (3.50-414 and 381-4.531, and between male controls and female controls (4.24 ±5.80 and 3.81-4.55). It was also observed that there was no relationship between the duration of hypertension with the CRP levels in the test subjects. These results suggest that the C-reactive protein levels may be increased in hypertensive patients but may be decreased by antihypertensive therapies. More studies are needed and these findings warrant further evaluation in randomized trials. A longitudinal study to fully assess the effect of antihypertensive drugs on the level of C-reactive protein in hypertensive patients may also be of great essence.