Investigaciones e Informes en Ciencias Médicas

Eicosanoids are amphipathic, bioactive signalling molecules involved in a wide range of biological processes from homeostasis of blood pressure and blood flow to inflammation, pain, cell survival, and the progression of numerous disease states. The purpose of this review is to present an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the enzymes of the eicosanoid pathway, their substrates, products, structure, isoforms, and regulation.

Background: In developing country like Nigeria, data on the prevalence of isolated proteinuria (an early predictor of renal insufficiency) is scarce. Renal disease is increasing rapidly worldwide most especially in the developing countries. Scarcity of knowledge will prevent early intervention with consequence of decline to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Objectives: To detect the prevalence of isolated proteinuria as an early predictor of renal insufficiency in asymptomatic proteinuric persons in Maiduguria, Borno state Nigeria

Methods: A total of 104 apparently healthy subjects (students) of University of Maiduguri participated in the study. They were screened for persistent proteinuria using dipstick analysis. Quantitative urinary protein and Urinary Creatinine estimation were also carried out using Sulphur Salicylic acid (3% SSA) and Jaffe methods respectively. Serum renal biochemical analysis was carried out on the subjects with persistent proteinuria for any renal disease.

Results: Proteinuria was found to be high between the age of 18-24 yrs (55.8%) and between the ages of 25-31yrs (37.5%). The prevalence of isolated proteinuria by dipstick was higher in male students (42.3%) than in females (37.5%). But the prevalence using UPCR ratio was found to be 12.5% for male students and 7.7% for females. Mean serum urea and creatinine were found to be 3.6 ± 1.0 mmol/L, 3.0 ± 0.8 mmol/L; and 120.5 ± 19.2 μmol/L, 97.0 ± 14.8 μmol/L for male and female students respectively.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings of this study show that prevalence of isolated proteinuria is high (20.2%), and may be due to risk factors for renal insufficiency which are common in our environment.

Medicinal plants from time immemorial have been used not only for food but also for their inherent natural products exhibiting medicinal properties. Natural products from medicinal plants are endowed with tremendous secondary metabolites (phytochemicals) including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and Saponins. They form the basis for both traditional and modern systems of medicine. These natural products from medicinal plant serve as major pointers in drug development as these bio-resources can be isolated and used as potential lead compounds in the drug discovery process as new medicine or as prototypes for the development of new drugs.