April 2010

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in blood donors and jaundiced neonates in Osogbo, Nigeria

A study on the prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in blood donors and in jaundiced neonates was carried out. 286 subjects consisting of 200 blood donors and 86 jaundiced neonates were screened for G6PD. Presence of G6PD and bilirubin levels (total and conjugated) were determined in all the subjects. G6PD was determined using two standard methods; methaemoglobin reduction and fluorescent...

Author(s): E. O. Akanni, B. S. A. Oseni, V. O. Agbona, B. A. Tijani, E. Tosan, E. E. Fakunle and V. O. Mabayoje

April 2010

In vitro thalidomide does not interfere with the activation of complement by Mycobacterium leprae

One inflammatory event that may be involved in erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is the activation of complement, and thalidomide could suppress ENL by inhibiting its activation. To determine if thalidomide inhibits the activation of complement, we first incubated normal serum with Mycobacterium leprae or with zymosan in the presence of thalidomide. Residual functional complement was then determined by defining...

Author(s): E. J. Shannon, F. G. Sandoval and M. J. Morales