The mechanisms of action of the host factor antagonists and implication of their usage for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in developing economy is the subject of this review. Current understanding of the pathogenesis of HIV infection has shown that a number of host factors such as chemokine receptors, nuclear factor kappa-binding proteins and interleukin-6 play active roles in the viral replicative pathway just as the viral enzymes do. It is hoped that the blockade of these host factors may result in significant viral suppression. The problem of resistance may also be minimised as the host factors genes do not mutate as frequently as the viral genes. The conventional antiretroviral agents act by inhibiting viral genes coded enzymes which normally participate actively in the viral replicative pathways. These agents, when used in triple combination therapy (two Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor and one Protease Inhibitor), result in profound viral suppression, elevation in CD4 cell count, decrease in the rate of hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality. However, there are significant drawbacks which include the problem of resistance to therapy as a result of viral mutation and which involves the taking of many tablets which are often difficult to swallow and this decreases compliance. In addition, there is absolute need for strict drug adherence to reduce risk of viral resistance and finally, the major demerit is that the drugs are cost prohibitive for developing countries where more than 70% of the world's total HIV/AIDS patient reside.

Objective: The female gender is considered a protective factor, regarding atherosclerotic disease. This study investigated plasma lipid profiles of hypertensive post-menopausal female patients as it appears that little data exist yet on this subject matter in Nigeria. Subjects/Materials/Methods : Seventy-five hypertensive patients were enrolled; 25 postmenopausal women matched for age and blood pressure with 25 men plus 25 pre-menopausal women, also matched for blood pressure. Data extracted from hospital records included height, weight, blood pressure, and plasma lipid results. Body mass index, BMI, total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein (TC:HDL) ratio and averages (mean+sem) were calculated. Results: The mean plasma triglyceride (TG) in postmenopausal females was significantly lower than obtained in males (p<0.001). The levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were also, insignificantly, lower in postmenopausal females than in males (p>0.05). However, the mean for high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was slightly higher in the females (1.14+0.06 vs. 1.03+0.05; p>0.05). The TC:HDL ratio, was significantly lower in the elderly females than in the males (5.40+0.06 vs. 4.60+0.05; p<0.001). The postmenopausal females had higher means for LDL-chol (p<0.005) and TC:HDL ratio (4.60+0.05 vs. 3.90+0.06; p<0.001). The means of HDL-chol (p>0.05) and TG (p<0.001) were lower in the postmenopausal females, who returned a significantly higher TC:HDL ratio. Conclusion: This study showed that menopause had altered the plasma lipids of the hypertensive females, but not to the extent of putting them at par with the males on the atheroma-formation scale. However, the changes at menopause suggest that the postmenopausal females are at greater risks of atheromaformation than their pre-menopausal counterparts.

Objective: To determine the relationship between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and packed cell volume (PCV) in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) in steady state. Subjects and Methods: Nineteen children with CCHD and 27 control children were studied. The GFR was determined using endogenous creatinine clearance (Ccr). Results: The mean+SD GFR in cyanotic congenital heart disease patients was 74.7+35.6mls/min/ 1.73m2 while that of controls was77.0+27.2mls/min/1.73m2 (p>0.05). The mean PCV of cyanotic subjects (62.3%) was significantly higher than that of controls (35.2%) (p<0.001). The correlation between PCV and GFR in the cyanotic subjects was r = 0.46, while the figure for control was 0.14. Conclusion: In spite of the significantly higher PCV of cyanotic subjects, GFR is still preserved within normal limits.

Objective: To determine the anti-hypertensive properties of the seeds of Vitex doniana, family Verbenaceae, a medicinal plant used in the middle belt of Nigeria for its therapeutic values. Methodology: Oral and intravenous preparations of vitex doniana were administered to normotensive, hypertensive and spontaneous hypertensive female moster rats. Results: Oral and intravenous administration of the seed extract produced a dose-dependent hypotensive effect in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. The blood pressure was markedly reduced and the level maintained for longer duration when the extract was administered intravenously to hypertensive rats. A significant reduction in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in both normotensive rats (p<0.01) and spontaneous hypertensive rats (p<0.001) was obtained, using orally dosed seed extract of 300mg/kg body weight. Conclusion: The results have shown that Vitex doniana seeds have a blood pressure lowering effect and may therefore prove useful as an antihypertensive agent.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to show the efficacy of progressive resistance exercises for the pelvic floor muscles in the treatment of urinary stress incontinence in women. Methods: Three non-pregnant women with urinary stress incontinence participated in the study. They were aged 35, 32 and 37 years respectively. The study was carried out at the Physiotherapy Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The patients were managed with resisted exercises involving the use of vaginal cones to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. A digital assessment of the musculature of the pelvic floor was carried out at baseline and weekly until the end of the treatment period. Results: The three patients reported full recovery from urine incontinence at the end of four, weeks, three weeks and two weeks of treatment respectively. Also, the strength of the pelvic floor muscles improved significantly in all patients at the end of the treatment period. Conclusion: The small size may be attributed to the social stigma attached to this condition as many sufferers usually shy away from seeking medical attention in public hospitals. However, the results obtained from the study further emphasized the benefits of resisted exercises for the pelvic floor in the treatment of urinary incontinence in women.

Objectives: To determine the effect of dose and exposure of lead acetate on its distribution and retention in blood, brain, liver and kidney of rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four day old Sprague-Dawley virgin albino male rats were divided into three groups. The first group was fed rat chow supplemented with of 100, 300 and 500mg lead acetate per kg rat chow, and water ad libitum for 8 weeks. The second group of rats was fed rat chow, and distilled, de-ionized water supplemented with 0.25 and 0.30mg lead acetate per ml for 8 weeks, while the third group was fed rat chow and water ad libitum for 8 weeks. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation, blood was collected and the brain, liver and kidney were excised. Hematological parameters were analyzed and lead concentrations in blood, brain, liver and kidney were determined using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Results of the study indicate that weanling rats fed rat chow supplemented with 100,300 and 500 mg lead acetate/kg of rat chow ad libitum for 8 weeks was a better mode of administration of lead and exposure than in rat fed chow and 0.25 and 0.30 mg lead acetate/ml of supplemented distilled, deionized drinking water ad libitum for 8 weeks. Body growth of weanling rats exposed to different exposures and doses, were curtailed. Conclusion: Data indicate a dose - dependent relationship which is evident in the kidney and liver, but does not exist in the brain. The liver had the highest percentage of lead acetate dose retained, followed by the kidney, while the brain recorded the lowest lead concentration. Data indicate that the distribution and retention of lead acetate in the brain, kidney and liver of weanling rats could be affected by the mode of exposure and dose.