The Novel Antihyperglycaemic Action of Hunteria umbellate Seed Fractions Mediated Via Intestinal Glucose Uptake Inhibition

The present study evaluated the antihyperglycaemic effect and mechanism of action of fractions of the aqueous seed extract of Hunteria umbellata (K. Schum.) Hallier f. (HU) in normal and alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats. HU was partitioned in chloroform, acetyl acetate and butan-1-ol to give chloroform fraction (HUc), ethyl acetate fraction (HUe), butanol fraction (HUb) and the “residue” (HUm), respectively. 200 mg/kg of each of these fraction dissolved in 5% Tween 20 in distilled water was investigated for its acute oral hypoglycaemic effects in normal rats over 6 hours while its repeated dose antihyperglycaemic effect was evaluated in alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats over 5 days. In addition, 50 mg/kg of the crude alkaloid fraction (HUAf) extracted from HU was evaluated for its possible antihyperglycaemic activity in alloxaninduced hyperglycaemic rats using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) over 6 hours. Using the solvent system, distilled water-butanol-ammonium hydroxide (2:15:1, v/v/v), HUb was chromatographed and stained with Dragendorff’s reagent for confirmatory qualitative analysis for alkaloids. Results showed that oral pre-treatment with 200 mg/kg of HUe, HUb and HUm resulted in a significant (p<0.05, p<0.001) time dependent hypoglycaemic effect, with the butan-1-ol fraction HU causing the most significant (p<0.001) hypoglycaemic effect. In the alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats,  repeated oral treatment with 200 mg/kg of same HU fractions for 5 days resulted in significant (p<0.05) decreases in the fasting blood glucose concentrations with the most significant (p<0.01) antihyperglycaemic effect also recorded for HUb. Similarly, oral pretreatment with 50 mg/kg of HUAf significantly (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001) attenuated an increase in the post-absorptive glucose concentration at 1st -6th h in the alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic OGTT model. In addition, alkaloid was present in most of the separated spots on the TLC plate. In conclusion, results of this study showed that HU contains a relative high amount of alkaloids which could have accounted for the antihyperglycaemic action of HU that was mediated via intestinal glucose uptake inhibition.Key words: Hunteria umbellata aqueous seed extract, Alkaloid fraction, Intestinal glucose uptake inhibition, Normal and alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rat

Self-assessed dental health knowledge of Nigerian Doctors

Objectives: To assess medical doctors' knowledge of common dental diseases and the need to include dental education in the Nigerian undergraduate medical curriculum.Design: Cross-sectional multicentre non-random survey using a convenience sample.Setting: Tertiary hospitals across two geo-political zones of Nigeria. Participants were mostly recruited while attending seminars and other departmental events which brought doctors together.Subjects: Medical doctors in tertiary hospitals across two geo-political zones of Nigeria.Main outcome measures: Knowledge of common dental diseases namely, dental caries, gingivitis and periodontitis was evaluated using an open-ended questionnaire. The definition, etiology, treatment and age-related risk were  assessed. Exposure to dental education during undergraduate training was assessed. Opinion on desirability and suggested length of future training were also assessed.Results: A total of 127 doctors (35 interns, 30 residents, 34 senior residents and 28 consultants) participated in the study. Overall, knowledge of definition, etiology, treatment and relative prevalence were recorded. About 69 doctors (54.3%) correctly defined dental caries, 120 (94.5%) correctly defined gingivitis while only only 29 (22.8%) correctly defined chronic periodontitis. The proportions of respondents who correctly identified disease etiology were 26  (20.5%) for caries, 31 (24.4%) for gingivitis and 12 (9.4%) for chronic periodontitis. The proportions of respondents who correctly identified appropriate treatment modalities were 39 (30.7%) for caries, 18 (14.2%) for gingivitis and 6 (4.7%) for periodontitis. Those who correctly identified the relative, age-related prevalence of the three diseases were 81 (63.8%) for caries, 51 (40.2%) for gingivitis and 47 (37%) for periodontitis.Conclusion: Most of the medical doctors who participated in the study demonstrated inadequate knowledge of  common dental diseases and about 97% of respondents supported the idea of including dental education into the current Nigerian undergraduate medical curriculum

Bad-breath: Perceptions and misconceptions of Nigerian adults

Objective: To provide baseline data about bad‑breath perception and misconceptions among Nigerian adults.Methods: Multi‑center cross‑sectional study of individuals aged 18-64 years using examiner‑administered questionnaires. Age comparisons were based on the model of emerging adults versus full adults. Data were recoded for statistical analyses and univariate and secondary log‑linear statistics applied.Results: Participants had lopsided perceptions about bad‑breath. While 730 (90.8%) identified the dentist as the expert on halitosis and 719 (89.4%) knew that bad‑breath is not contagious, only 4.4% and 2.5% associated bad‑breath with tooth decay and gum disease respectively. There were no significant sex differences but the older adults showed better knowledge in a few instances. Most respondents (747, 92.9%) would tell a spouse about their bad‑breath and 683 (85%) would tell a friend.Conclusions: Participants had lop‑sided knowledge and perceptions about bad‑breath. Most Nigerian adults are their “brothers’ keepers” who would tell a spouse or friend about their halitosis so they could seek treatment.Key words: Bad‑breath, emerging adults, misconceptions, Nigeria, perception

Risk factors associated with early childhood caries (ECC) in Nigerian children

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The Perception of Caregivers Attending A Nigerian Teaching Hospital on Teething

Background: in November 2008. There was a national tragedy which recorded about eighty four Nigerian infant deaths due to the consumption of adulterated teething syrup- 'my pikin' administered to children by mothers to prevent 'teething problems''. This could have been prevented if they had been well informed about the teething process.Objective: to determine the knowledge, understanding and beliefs of caregivers attending LASUTH immunization clinic about teethingMethods: An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 260 caregivers of children aged 4- 36 months attending the immunization clinic in LASUTH over a six weeks period. The questionnaire assessed their knowledge, understanding, beliefs about teething and the teething experience in their wards.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 30.4 5.3years. Fifty seven percent had tertiary education. However, none of the caregivers obtained information about teething from the dentist. There was an association between educational level and attitude to teething (p=0.002) as well as their understanding of the teething process (p=0.0009). Gum irritation was the most reported symptom observed in this study. Many of the caregivers had erroneous beliefs regarding the systemic symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea and vomiting which they attributed to teething.Conclusion: Many of the caregivers studied still had erroneous beliefs regarding teething. Thus there is a need to disseminate the right information about teething to care givers in this environment in order to discourage the use of the term '' teething'' for a serious childhood illness that might require prompt medical attention.Key words: Teething, Caregivers and Perception

A Ten Year Retrospective Survey of Childhood Oro-facial Neoplasms In A Nigerian Population

BackgroundReports in the literature on childhood orofacial neoplasms do not seem to agree on a prevalent pathology, with several authors expressing a divide on the prevalence of orofacial malignancies.ObjectiveTo review the relevant clinico-pathologic features of neoplasms of the orofacial region amongst children in a Nigerian population.Materials and methodA 10 year retrospective clinico-histopathologic survey of orofacial neoplasms in children aged 14 years and below seen in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. The cases of histologically-diagnosed orofacial neoplasms seen during the period were retrieved and analysed based on the following: age, sex, site of lesion and histopathological diagnosis. Histologically, these conditions were divided into benign odontogenic, benign non-odontogenic and malignant orofacial tumours. Data were analysed using SPSS for windows version 17.0.ResultsOne hundred and fifty–two cases of histologicallydiagnosed orofacial neoplasms were reported over the ten year period. There was a male gender preponderance of 56.6%; with a male : female ratio of 1.3:1. A total of 57.2% of the cases reported were benign non odontogenic orofacial and 5.9% of all childhood orofacial neoplasms). Fibrous, osseous lesions; comprising ossifying fibroma and fibrous dysplasia were the most common childhood orofacial neoplasms reported.ConclusionClinico-pathological characteristics in this series are similar to previous findings in scientific literature; with this study revealing a low prevalence of childhood orofacial malignancies in Nigerians.Key words: Childhood, orofacial, neoplasm

Contraceptive prevalence and determinants among women of reproductive age group in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

Adewale S Adeyemi,1 Adenike I Olugbenga-Bello,2 Oluwatosin A Adeoye,3 Moshood O Salawu,3 Adesola A Aderinoye,3 Michael A Agbaje1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Osogbo, Osun State, 3Department of Community Medicine, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria Background: The fertility rate in Nigeria is 5.7 children per woman. The contraceptive prevalence rate has been found to be low at 15% in 2013, compared to other countries such as the US and Pakistan. Objective: The study aimed to assess the contraceptive prevalence among women of reproductive age in Ogbomoso town, and determinants of use, with a view to make appropriate recommendations that will enhance the uptake of family planning services. Materials and methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 560 respondents, using a multistage sampling technique. Data were retrieved using a semi-structured, pretested questionnaire. Results: All the respondents were aware of contraception; however, only 49.7% (271) had ever used any method, while 25.4% (69) of the number who had ever used contraception were currently using a method. The methods being used were the traditional type (four [5.9%]), natural type (two [3.0%]), and modern type (63 [91.1%]). The predictors of contraception use included the age group of 40–49 years (odds ratio [OR] 14.1; confidence interval [CI] 3.06–73.24; P=0.0001); the married women were approximately four times more likely to use contraception than the single women (OR 4.5; CI 3.03–6.72; P<0.0001). The women with tertiary level of education were three times more likely to use contraception than those without formal education (OR 3.1; CI 1.13–9.95; P=0.0268), and the odds ratio of respondents with a positive attitude to using contraception more than those with negative attitude was 2 (OR 2; CI 1.41–2.91; P<0.0001). Conclusion: In light of the advantages associated with contraception use, there needs to be a conscious effort, especially among health care workers, to educate women about contraception and encourage its use. Keywords: contraception, women of reproductive age, prevalence, determinant

Family Structure and Oral Habits among Children Age 1 to 12 Years resident in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

bits are repetitive actions that are done automatically. These behaviours are started and stopped spontaneously with or without deleterious effect on the developing occlusion. Aim: To explore the family related factors associated with oral habits in children resident in sub-urban Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional study utilizing a household survey to recruit 992 1year to 12-year-olds. Information collected using a structured questionnaire included gender, family structure (parenting structure, birth rank, number of siblings, socioeconomic status) and types of non-nutritive habits. The association between family structures related variables and presence of non-nutritive oral habits was determined using Chi square. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of presence of oral habits. Results: There was no significant association between the prevalence of oral habits and parenting structure (p=0.52), birth rank (p=0.50) and socioeconomic status (p=0.14). However, the association between oral habits prevalence and number of siblings the child had was significant (p=0.03). The odds of having a non-nutritive oral habit reduced insignificantly for those from middle (AOR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.42-1.08) and low (AOR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.59-1.55) socioeconomic class when compared with those with high socioeconomic status; and for last born and only children (AOR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.56-1.60) and children with 2-4 siblings (AOR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.36-1.09) when compared with those that have more than 4 siblings. The odds were higher for children who were living with single parents or guardians (AOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 0.76-2.59; p=0.27) and for males (AOR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.82-1.78). Conclusion: The study was unable to identify a significant family related predictor of presence of non-nutritive oral habits in the study population though a number of these factors increased the odds of having the habits. There is need to explore if specific family factors are associated with the presence of specific non-nutritive habits in this group of children