No abstract

This study was aimed at determining the reference range values for eight liver function parameters that are routinely analyzed in the clinical chemistry laboratory of Meru Level 5 Hospital. The study was cross-sectional, population-based and carried out on the young population of ages one to seventeen years in Meru County, Kenya. A total of 768 samples were collected from the volunteers who participated in the study. Out of these, 740, comprising 360 females and 380 males that were found to be free from HIV, Hepatitis B and syphilis were used to construct the reference ranges. DRI-CHEM NX 500I Clinical Chemistry analyzer (Fujifilm, Europe) was used to analyze eight biochemical parameters. Determination of reference ranges was done in order to estimate the lower 2.5 and upper 97.5 percentiles of the distribution by use of parametric methods. The determined percentiles were considered the lower and upper reference limits respectively. Significant sex differences were observed in children reference values for total protein. Other parameters (alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) did not show significant sex dependent differences. In conclusion, the findings of this study provide sex-specific reference range values for children from Meru County in Kenya. The study recommends the health care practitioners and facilities in the region under study to adopt the new reference values developed and for other regions in Kenya to carry out a similar study to determine their own reference values.

Acacia nilotica is used traditionally to manage several diseases including Diabetes mellitus, however, its efficacy and safety is not well evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine in vivo the hypoglycemic activity and safety of the aqueous stem bark extracts of this plant in male swiss white albino mice. The anti-diabetic activity was screened in alloxan induced diabetic mice using oral and intra-peritoneal routes. The safety of this plant extract was studied in mice that were orally and intraperitoneally administered with 1 g/kg body weight daily for 28 days by recording changes in body and organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters and histology. Mineral composition was estimated using total reflection X-ray fluorescence system and atomic absorption spectrometry. Phytochemical composition was assessed using standard procedures. The extract administered at 50, 100, 200, 300 mg/kg body weight showed hypoglycemic activity. The Intraperitoneal route was more effective compared to the oral route. Intraperitoneal administration of the extract at 1 g/kg body weight significantly reduced body weight gain, percent organ to body weight of testes, while oral administration at the same dose decreased levels of platelets. Oral administration of the aqueous stem bark extracts of A. nilotica at 1 g/kg body weight caused increase in levels of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, Creatine kinase, and Total bilirubin while decreasing levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, α-Amylase, and Alkaline phosphatase. Intraperitoneal administration of the same dose decreased levels of aspartate aminotransferase. The aqueous stem bark extract of A. nilotica contained tannins, total phenols, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids. Sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, arsenic, nickel, lead, and cadmium were present in the aqueous stem bark extracts of A. nilotica at levels below the recommended daily allowance. In conclusion, the observed hypoglycemic activity and slight toxicity could be associated with the phytochemicals present in this plant extract.

Although diabetes is sometimes considered a condition of developed nations, the loss of life from premature death among persons with diabetes is greatest in developing countries. In developing countries it is people in the middle, productive years of their lives that are particularly affected by diabetes. In these countries three-quarters of all people with diabetes are under 65 years old and 25% of all adults with diabetes are younger than 44 years. In developed countries, more than half of all people with diabetes are older than 65 years, and only 8% of adults with diabetes are younger than 44 years [5].

an online international journal allowing free unlimited access to abstract and full-text of published articles. The journal is devoted to the promotion of health sciences and related disciplines (including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, biotechnology, cell and molecular biology, and related engineering fields). It seeks particularly (but not exclusively) to encourage multidisciplinary research and collaboration among scientists, the industry and the healthcare professionals. It will also provide an international forum for the communication and evaluation of data, methods and findings in health sciences and related disciplines. The journal welcomes original research papers, reviews and case reports on current topics of special interest and relevance. All manuscripts will be subject to rapid peer review. Those of high quality (not previously published and not under consideration for publication) will be published without delay. The maximum length of manuscripts should normally be 10,000 words (20 single-spaced typewritten pages) for review, 6,000 words for research articles, 3,000 for technical notes, case reports, commentaries and short communications. Submission of Manuscript:The International Journal of Health Research uses a journal management software to allow authors track the changes to their submission. All manuscripts must be in MS Word and in English and should be submitted online at http://www.ijhr.org. Authors who do not want to submit online or cannot submit online should send their manuscript by e-mail attachment (in single file) to the editorial office below. Submission of a manuscript is an indication that the content has not been published or under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors may submit the names of expert reviewers or those they do not want to review their papers. Purpose: To establish quantitative reference ranges for fasting profiles and oral glucose tolerance test for healthy adults in metropolitan region of Nairobi. Methods: A prospective study carried out on 871 healthy subjects from the metropolitan region of Kenya. Results: The fasting profile parameters investigated were fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC) triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and TC/HDLC ratio. In addition, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also investigated. Eight hundred and seventy one (871) healthy study subjects were involved in the study. Established reference ranges were as follows: FBG (venous whole blood) (2.1 -5.7) mmol/L, TC (2.9 -6.4) mmol/L, TG (0.44-2.44), HDL C (1.1 -2.1) mmol/L, LDLC (1.1 -4.3) mmol/L, TC/HDLC ratio (1.1 -5.4). Established reference ranges for oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were as follows: baseline/fasting blood glucose capillary whole blood (3.2-5.4) mmol/L, half hour (4.7-8.9) mmol/L, one hour (4.4-9.8) mmol/L, one hour and half (4-8.1) mmol/L and two hours (3.4-7.2) mmol/L. Results for gender differences for the studied parameters were as follows: FBG (p=0.124), TC (p=0.20...