Background and Objective: There may be possible association among use of HAART, oxidative stress and mitochondrial functions in HIV patients. We evaluated the mitochondrial and oxidative impacts of short and long-term administration of HAART on HIV patients attending the Enugu State University Teaching (ESUT) Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, Nigeria following short and long-term therapy. Methods: 96 patients categorized into four groups of 24 individuals were recruited for the study. Group 1 comprised age-matched, apparently healthy, sero-negative individuals (the No HIV group); group 2 consisted of HIV sero-positive individuals who had not started any form of treatment (the Treatment naïve group). Individuals in group 3 were known HIV patients on HAART for less than one year (Short-term treatment group), while group 4 comprised HIV patients on HAART for more than one year (Long-term treatment group). All patients were aged between 18 to 60 years and attended the HIV clinic at the time of the study. Determination of total antioxidant status (TAS in nmol/l), malondialdehyde (MDA in mmol/l), CD4+ count in cells/μl, and genomic studies were all done using standard operative procedures. Results: We found that the long-term treatment group had significantly raised levels of MDA, as well as significantly diminished TAS compared to the Short-term treatment and No HIV groups (P<0.05). In addition, there was significantly elevated variation in the copy number of mitochondrial genes (mtDNA: D-loop, ATPase 8, TRNALEUuur) in long-term treatment group. Interpretation and Conclusion: Long-term treatment with HAART increases oxidative stress and causes mitochondrial alterations in HIV patients.

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The importance of calcium and inorganic phosphate in pregnancy cannot be overemphasized. Their adequacy or otherwise amongst pregnant and lactating women in Enugu metropolis receiving their routine antenatal supplements was the focus of this study. Two hundred subjects (forty in each trimester; forty lactating and forty controls) were used for this study with informed consent. All subjects were within the age range of 19-40 years. Serum samples were analysed for calcium and inorganic phosphate using titrimetric and colorimetric methods respectively. Our result revealed a steady decrease in calcium from first trimester to lactating period with statistically significant values in second and third trimesters, and lactation (P<0.05) when compared with control (non-pregnant non-lactating women). Statistically significant level of inorganic phosphate (P<0.05) were observed only in the second and third trimesters. The significantly reduced level of calcium and inorganic phosphate during pregnancy and lactation (for calcium) observed in this study is indicative of inadequate calcium intake (dietary) during pregnancy or poor adherence to antenatal prescriptions. Higher provision of these elements and enlightenment on the need for supplementation within the studied metropolis is suggested to avoid the documented consequences of their deficiency to both the mother and the foetus.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of virgin coconut oil, lauric acid and myristic acid on serum and prostatic androgens in testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia.Methods: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was induced in the animals by repeated subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg) at the inguinal region once a day for 28 days. Thereafter, BPH was treated for 56 days by oral administration of virgin coconut oil, lauric acid and myristic acid. Following the treatment period, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis.Results: Virgin coconut oil, lauric acid and myristic acid led to a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in serum prostatic acid phosphatase (PAcP), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, and also in prostatic DHT level.Conclusion: This study provides evidence that virgin coconut oil, lauric acid and myristic acid may be useful in the management of BPH because they exerted some anti-proliferative effects in the development and progression of BPH. Therefore, coconut may be a potential functional food for the management of BPH patients because it is rich in both lauric and myristic acid. However, further investigations, including clinical trials are required to buttress this.