Obesity is characterized by the excessive deposition of fat that may interfere with the normal metabolic process of the body. It is a chronic condition associated with various metabolic syndromes, whose prevalence is grossly increasing, and affects both children and adults. Accumulation of excessive macronutrients on the adipose tissues promotes the secretion and release of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 1β, tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), leptin, and stimulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which subsequently reduce the production of adiponectin thereby initiating a proinflammatory state. During obesity, adipose tissue synthesizes and releases a large number of hormones and cytokines that alter the metabolic processes, with a profound influence on endothelial dysfunction, a situation associated with the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Endothelial cells respond to inflammation and stimulation of MCP-1, which is described as the activation of adhesion molecules leading to proliferation and transmigration of leukocytes, which facilitates their increase in atherogenic and thromboembolic potentials. Endothelial dysfunction forms the cornerstone of this discussion, as it has been considered as the initiator in the progression of cardiovascular diseases in obesity. Overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines with subsequent reduction of anti-inflammatory markers in obesity, is considered to be the link between obesity-induced inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Inhibition of inflammatory mechanisms and management and control of obesity can assist in reducing the risks associated with cardiovascular complications.

Introduction: Anaemia is a global public health problem. It affects more than 56 million people globally, two thirds of them being from developing countries. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and types of anaemia among the children attending the Paediatrics Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH),Sokoto North-Western Nigeria. Method: Four hundred children between the ages of newborn to 15 years were recruited for this study. Haematological parameters tested include red cell indices, white cell total and differential, platelet counts and morphologies were studied with a Mythic^TM 5-part autoanalyzer and manual techniques while morphological features were examined on blood film stained with Leishman’s stain. Other investigations include serum iron, serum ferritin, serum transferrin, total iron binding capacity and haemoglobin electrophoresis using an alkaline pH 8.4. Result: Out of the four hundred children tested, 139 (34.8%) were anaemic, revealing five aetiological types of anaemia among the children: Iron deficiency 62 (44.6%), sickle cell 43 (31.0%), normocytic normochromic 19 (13.7%), anaemia of chronic diseases 10 (7.1%), and megaloblastic 5 (3.6%) and three morphologic classification (i.e., normocytic anaemia 48 (34.5%), macrocytic anaemia 18 (13.0%), and microcytic anaemia 73 (52.5%)). Conclusion: This cross-sectional non-interventional study found approximately one-third of a child cohort with anaemia in a single hospital in a North-Western Nigeria. These findings lead to the potential for the targeted provision of iron and other micro nutrients supplementation for anaemic children.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women attending Specialists Hospital, Sokoto, North-western, Nigeria. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study designed to compare and evaluate asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women that were recruited during their ante-natal clinic visit in specialist hospital Sokoto. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Specialists Hospital sokoto between March to June, 2016. Methodology: A total of 205 apparently healthy, confirmed pregnant women within the age of 15 – 45 years attending Specialists Hospital Sokoto, and had not been on any sort of malaria treatment, history of malaria or fever within the last 4 weeks were recruited for this study. Thick and thin blood films were performed for all the women. PCV estimation was also done using microhaematocrit centrifuge method and comparison was made for women with parasitaemia and those without parasitaemia. Results: Of the two hundred and five pregnant women recruited for this study, 48 (23.4%) had malaria parasitaemia while 157 (76.6%) had no infection. The mean PCV of the women positive to malaria parasitaemia was 30.52 ± 3.71 against 34.30 ± 3.76 for those without parasitaemia (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia in the study group was high compare to those without infections and there was associated anaemia in those with parasitaemia. The use of intermittent preventive treatment is recommended for all pregnant women including those who are asymptomatic to forestall complications like maternal anaemia.

Aim: To examine factors influencing students’ choice for medical laboratory sciences as a Profession: A case at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional qualitative study designed to examine factors influencing students’ choice for medical laboratory sciences as a Profession. Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria, between January and April, 2016. Methods: A structured self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed for this study. Informed consent was obtained from the students before handing them a 12-item questionnaire for self-administration. Five Hundred and Six (506) questionnaires were distributed to the students (from 100 level (first year of study in the university) to 500 level (fifth and final year of study in Medical Laboratory sciences Profession)), but only Four Hundred and Eighty-Three (483) were returned completed (response rate was 95.45%). Results: Of the 483 students who participated in this study; 331(68.5%) were male and 152(31.5%) were female. Out of the 483, 192 (39.8%) considered patients benefits, 106 (21.9%) self-employment, 72 (14.9%) opportunity for advancement, 41 (8.5%) more job opportunity, 38 (7.9%) working conditions while 34 (7.0%) for Job satisfaction, as factors influencing students’ choice for medical laboratory sciences as a profession. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that patients’ benefits, self employment and availability of advancement opportunities are the most influential factors affecting career choices among students, while Job satisfaction was ranked last in consideration. The majority of the respondents perceived laboratory work as rewarding and challenging.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) and other abnormal haemoglobin variants among the children attending the Paediatrics outpatients Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, North-Western of Nigeria. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study designed to investigate the prevalence of Sickle Cell Anaemia and other variants of abnormal haemoglobin among 395 children attending Paediatrics Outpatients Department of UDUTH, Sokoto. Place and Duration of Study:  Paediatrics Outpatients Department of UDUTH, Sokoto, North Western Nigeria, between January and April, 2016. Methodology: A total of three hundred and ninety-five (395) children aged 6 months -15 years were recruited for this study. Their haemoglobin electrophoresis patterns were determined at alkaline pH (8.6) using the method described by the Helena Biosciences procedure. Results: Of the three hundred and ninety-five (395) children recruited for this study, the prevalence of haemoglobin electrophoresis patterns recorded were HbAA, HbAS, HbSS, HbAF, HbSS+F, HbAC and HbSC, that is; 70.0%, 15.2%, 5.0%, 0.3%, 6.0%, 2.0%, and 1.5% respectively. Hence the prevalence of SCA among the study subjects was 11% (5.0% HbSS + 6.0% HbSS+F). Conclusions: While HbAA is the predominant haemoglobin electrophoresis pattern in our environment, there is also a significant number of sickle cell anaemia that is of every 10 children in the study, one has SCA. It is necessary therefore, to keep abreast with developments in the area of its management in order to cope with the challenges.

The pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be identified by modifications in lifestyle, diet and inflammation, all of which have significant implications for the severity of the clinicopathologic outcome of the disease. Prolonged accumulation of hepatic lipid may result in hepatic dysfunction, inflammation and advanced forms of NAFLD. NAFLD describes the presence of hepatic steatosis in the absence of alcohol use and other causes of liver disease. It covers a broad spectrum of hepatic histopathological alterations, from a non-inflammatory intracellular accumulation of fat to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which may progress to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous evidence has shown that NAFLD is associated with a range of metabolic syndromes, including obesity, hyperlipidaemia, insulin resistance and diabetes. Hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis are more common in people with NAFLD, which is partly associated with hyperlipidaemia and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. The ability of HDL to facilitate cholesterol efflux, as determined by cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), has been linked to its hepatoprotective functions in the body. Findings have demonstrated that NAFLD patients have suppressed HDL CEC. This chapter summarizes the molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis involved in NAFLD. The role of HDL as a molecular modulator of NAFLD, clinical implications and the therapeutic targets to prevent NAFLD have also been discussed.