Thyroid function determinants in cord blood of Nigerian neonates

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders in the newborn; early diagnosis and treatment have resulted in normal growth and development in nearly all cases. Data on congenital hypothyroidism in Nigeria is limited, hence, this study aims at establishing the baseline values and prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism as a prelude to a screening centre in our locality.Methods: Cord blood samples were consecutively obtained from two hundred and eighty nine neonates born in the Delivery ward of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). 152 (52.8%) of the neonates were males and 137 (47.2%) were females. Nineteen were preterm and 270 were full term. Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were analyzed using ELISA kits. Data was analyzed using student “t” test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The difference was considered statistically significant at p 0.05). Triiodothyronine (T3) was undetectable in 75.8% of the neonates and very low in 24.2%. Twelve (4.2%) of the neonates had TSH levels >40µIU/ml with a mean TSH of 61.7±14.7 µIU/ml and a mean T4 of 7.7±3.7µg/dl.Conclusions: About 4.2% of neonates are at risk of congenital hypothyroidism with High TSH and low T4 values, T3 values are undetectable or very low in late prenatal life

Thyroid function in hypertensives in South-South Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease afflicting humans. It has been reported that hypertensive patients may have a tendency for impaired thyroid function but, these results have not always been confirmed. The aim of this study therefore was to determine the serum level of thyroid hormones in hypertensive subjects and any possible relationship between serum thyroid hormone levels and hypertension.Methods: Blood samples were consecutively obtained from One hundred and seventy (170) consenting subjects. One hundred were hypertensive subjects while seventy subjects were normotensive controls. Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were analyzed using ELISA kits. Data was analyzed using student “t” test and analysis of variance. The difference was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.Results: The mean serum TSH value for hypertensive subjects was 3.01±2.42 µIu/ml and was significantly higher (p<0.0001) than that of the normotensive subjects (1.74±0.92 µIu/ml). Female hypertensive subjects had significantly higher (3.34±2.74 µIu/ml) mean TSH than the female normotensives with mean value of 1.79±0.86 µIu/ml (p<0.002). Mean TSH value for male hypertensive subjects was 2.78±2.4 µIu/ml and was significantly higher (p<0.007) than that of male normotensive subjects (1.72±0.96 µIu/ml). There were no significant differences in the mean serum T3 and T4 levels of hypertensives compared to the normotensives.Conclusions: It is concluded that the hypertensive subjects in this study required significantly higher (p<0.05) stimulation input, as measured from the level of thyroid stimulating hormone, to maintain the same level of thyroid hormones as their normotensive counterparts.

Analysis of upland farm households’ vulnerability to climate variability in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Analysis of upland farm households’ vulnerability - Gabriel, Edet, *Valerie, Glory, Godwin, Clement, Nkoyo, E. Bassey and Obot Analysis of upland farm households’ vulnerability to climate variability in the Niger Delta, Nigeria The study analysed the vulnerability of upland farm households to climate variability in the Niger Delta. Three states - Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Rivers were selected from the nine states that make up the Niger Delta region. A total of 120 respondents from upland communities of the Niger delta were used for analysis. Household questionnaire and vulnerability questionnaire using Cost Route method were the instruments used for data collection and analysed using Vulnerability Profile and Vulner-ability / Risk Framework. The results of the analysis show that both male and female headed house-holds in all the upland communities were vulnerable to flooding, windstorm, erosion and drying up of streams. Important factors that made households vulnerable to climate hazards were low agricultural output and income, non-availability of irrigation facilities, insufficient farm labour and lack of storage facilities. Technical capacities of household members were assessed using both science-based knowledge as well as indigenous knowledge of climate change as indicators to adaptation to climate variability. It was assumed that the adaptive capacity of households could be enhanced by the number of persons with either science-based knowledge or indigenous knowledge across the re-gion. Expenditure on carbohydrate was higher across the region during disaster time, followed by expenditure in protein, vitamin/minerals and fat and oil and other classes of food, implying that more carbohydrate food is consumed during disaster period than any other class of food. Certain geo-graphical factors such as distance to coastline and population have direct impact on climate variability in the Niger Delta Region. Recommendations include establishment of emergency evacuation systems, income opportunities and support programmes as well as capacity building on climate change knowledge, enterprise development and management. Key words: Farm households, Nigeria, poverty, rural areas, smallholder farmer

Thyroid function in hypertensives in South-South Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease afflicting humans. It has been reported that hypertensive patients may have a tendency for impaired thyroid function but, these results have not always been confirmed. The aim of this study therefore was to determine the serum level of thyroid hormones in hypertensive subjects and any possible relationship between serum thyroid hormone levels and hypertension.Methods: Blood samples were consecutively obtained from One hundred and seventy (170) consenting subjects. One hundred were hypertensive subjects while seventy subjects were normotensive controls. Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were analyzed using ELISA kits. Data was analyzed using student “t” test and analysis of variance. The difference was considered statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05.Results: The mean serum TSH value for hypertensive subjects was 3.01±2.42 µIu/ml and was significantly higher (p&lt;0.0001) than that of the normotensive subjects (1.74±0.92 µIu/ml). Female hypertensive subjects had significantly higher (3.34±2.74 µIu/ml) mean TSH than the female normotensives with mean value of 1.79±0.86 µIu/ml (p&lt;0.002). Mean TSH value for male hypertensive subjects was 2.78±2.4 µIu/ml and was significantly higher (p&lt;0.007) than that of male normotensive subjects (1.72±0.96 µIu/ml). There were no significant differences in the mean serum T3 and T4 levels of hypertensives compared to the normotensives.Conclusions: It is concluded that the hypertensive subjects in this study required significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) stimulation input, as measured from the level of thyroid stimulating hormone, to maintain the same level of thyroid hormones as their normotensive counterparts.

Thyroid function determinants in cord blood of Nigerian neonates

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders in the newborn; early diagnosis and treatment have resulted in normal growth and development in nearly all cases. Data on congenital hypothyroidism in Nigeria is limited, hence, this study aims at establishing the baseline values and prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism as a prelude to a screening centre in our locality.Methods: Cord blood samples were consecutively obtained from two hundred and eighty nine neonates born in the Delivery ward of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). 152 (52.8%) of the neonates were males and 137 (47.2%) were females. Nineteen were preterm and 270 were full term. Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were analyzed using ELISA kits. Data was analyzed using student “t” test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The difference was considered statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05.Results: The mean T3, T4 and TSH, in preterm compared with full term neonates were similar (p&gt;0.05). Triiodothyronine (T3) was undetectable in 75.8% of the neonates and very low in 24.2%. Twelve (4.2%) of the neonates had TSH levels &gt;40µIU/ml with a mean TSH of 61.7±14.7 µIU/ml and a mean T4 of 7.7±3.7µg/dl.Conclusions: About 4.2% of neonates are at risk of congenital hypothyroidism with High TSH and low T4 values, T3 values are undetectable or very low in late prenatal life