Effect of multiparity on electrolyte composition and blood pressure

Pregnancy affects the physiology of the pregnant woman particularly the endocrine, cardiovascular and the renal systems. This work was therefore set to ascertain the state of electrolytes in pregnancy and how it affects blood pressure using multiparity as a factor. One hundred and twenty (120) women were used in this study. The non-pregnant groups were the nulliparous (control) and grand multiparous women who have stopped gestation (GMS) for at least five years. The pregnant groups were made up of 30 primigravidae (PG) and 30 grand multiparous (GMP). The pregnant groups (PG and GMP) were further divided into first, second and third trimesters. The subjects were aged matched with controls. Serum electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl-) were measuredusing standard methods. The results show that there was no significant difference in the electrolyte composition among the groups and between trimesters. There was also no significant difference in blood pressure among the groups and between trimesters in the pregnant groups irrespective of parity. Multiparity therefore may not pose any severe threat to health

The relative incidence of diabetes mellitus in abo/rhesus blood groups in south-eastern Nigeria

A total of 224 diabetics and 221 non-diabetics (control) were involved in this study, to determine the relative incidence of diabetes mellitus in ABO/Rhesus blood group. The current criteria for the diagnosis f diabetes mellitus were applied in differentiating the diabetics from the non-diabetics. Blood group, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and random blood sugar (RBG) were determined using standard methods. Type I, Type II and gestational diabetes mellitus were identified in this study. Biodata information were obtained during history taking and from subject hospital case note. The mean age of diabetics was 50.9 + 11.4 (SD) with age range of 24-72 years. Mean age for control was 49.21 + 9.25 with age range of 24-70 years. There were no significant differences between the mean ages of the two groups. Blood group O- and A+ were significantly (

Iron status of pregnant women in rural and urban communities of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria

Anaemia in pregnancy is a major public health problem in Nigeria. Iron deficiency is one of the major causes of anaemia in pregnancy. Inadequate iron intake during pregnancy can be dangerous to both baby and mother. Iron status of pregnant women was assessed in two rural and one urban communities in Cross River State Nigeria. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, red cell count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor and soluble transferrin receptor/ferritin ratio were measured in plasma/serum of 170 pregnant women within the age range of 15-45 years. Seventy participants were from antenatal clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar (urban community), 50 from St Joseph Hospital Ikot Ene (rural community) in Akpabuyo Local Government Area and the remaining 50 from University of Calabar Teaching Hospital extension clinic in Okoyong (rural community), Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River state. The prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency, iron depletion and iron deficiency anaemia were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) among pregnant women from the two rural communities when compared to the urban community. it was also observed that the prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency, iron depletion and iron deficiency anaemia were significantly higher (p<0.05) among pregnant women from Akpabuyo 38(76.00%), 20(40.00%), 23(46.0%) , 16(32.00%) respectively followed by Okoyong 24(48.0%), 20(40.0%), 16(32.0%), 6(12.0) and then those from Calabar 14(20%),  12(17.90%) , 14(20.0%). The mean haemoglobin and haematocrit were  significantly reduced (p<0.01) in pregnant women from the two rural communities. Serum iron, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation showed no significant difference while total iron binding capacity and soluble transferrin receptor significantly (p<0.01) increased among pregnant women from Okoyong when compared to those from Calabar. It was also shown that pregnant women in their third trimesters and multigravidae had the highest prevalence of iron depletion and iron deficiency anaemia while prevalence of iron deficiency and anaemia were higher in  primigravidae and the pregnant women in their second trimester. In conclusion, this study has shown that the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia are higher among pregnant women in the rural communities when compared to those in the urban areas.Keywords: Anaemia, Iron deficiency, Iron status, Okoyong, Akpabuyo, Calaba

Intestinal motility and transit following chronic ingestion of different forms of palm oil diets

This study was aimed at finding the effect of palm oil diets on the small intestinal motor activity and transit in rats. Adult albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups of ten rats each. The first group wasfed on rat chow containing 15% (wt/wt) of fresh palm oil diets for fifteen weeks. The second was fed on rat chow containing 15% (wt/wt) thermally oxidized diet while the third group was the control and so was fed on rat chow only. Water and feed were allowed freely to all the groups. Intestinal motility and transit were measured after the feeding period. Results show that there was a significant increase (

Serum protein and enzyme levels in rats following administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides (goat weed)

The potential hepatotoxic effects following oral administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides (goat weed) was investigated in albino Wistar rats. Twenty eight (28) adult male Wistar rats were uniformly divided into four groups of seven rats each. Group 1 served as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were respectively gavaged with 200mg/kg body weight, 400mg/kg body weight and 600mg/kg body weight of the extract daily for 21 days. At the end of treatments, animals were sacrificed, serum and liver tissues obtained for assay of total protein concentration and levels of ALT, AST and ALP. Results showed that treatment of rats with the respective doses of the extract did not significantly alter the serum and liver levels of total protein, ALT, AST and ALP in all test groups. This result suggests that ingestion of the extract may not be toxic at the doses investigated.Keywords: Ageratum conyzoides, rats, toxicological effect

Gastric acid anti-secretory, anti-ulcerogenic and mucogenic effects of aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum in rats

In this study, albino Wistar rats were placed on normal rats chow + drinking water and/or 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg body weight of the Ocimum gratissimum extract orally, once daily for 28 days and gastric acid, mucus and ulcers determined. All the rats received normal rat chow + drinking water ad libitum for 28 days. Gastric acid, mucus secretion and ulcer scores were determined with standard procedures. Results showed that the mean basal gastric acid output for control, low dose and high dose groups were 11.28 ± 0.70, 8.04 ± 0.57 and 6.14 ± 0.67 μmol/hr respectively. The high dose extract recipients had a significantly (P<0.05) reduced gastric acid output compared with control and low dose. Increase in gastric acid output as induced by histamine was highest in high dose (599.02%), followed by low dose 426.28%, then control (221.28%). Administration of ranitidine was observed to attenuate the effect of histamine in all the groups. The high dose group also had a significantly (P<0.05) higher mean gastric mucus and lower (P<0.05) ulcer levels compared with other groups. In conclusion, the aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum decrease gastric acid secretion and ulceration, it also produced an increase in the gastric mucus secretion. If these results are applied to man, it could be beneficial in the management of peptic ulcers and other related complications

Effect of exposure to dust generated from crushing of granite rocks on the lung function of South Eastern Nigerian children

We measured and compared ventilatory function indices: forced vital capacity (FVC); forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and peak expiratory flowrate (PEFR) of 442 granite dust-exposed Nigerian children (221 males and 221 females) aged 6-16years to those of 472 (238 males and 234 females) aged, weight and sex-matched Nigerian children not exposed to any known pollutant as control. The respirable dust levels in the dusty (test) and control environments were also measured. The respirable dust level in the dusty environment (0.064 ± 0.003mg/m3) was significantly higher (P<0.00) than in the control environment (0.0133 ± 0.004mg/m3). The mean values of FVC, FEV1, and PEFR of the dust-exposed children were significantly lower (P<0.001) than those of children in control sites. FEV1% was however not significantly different, thus, indicating restrictive lung defect in the dust exposed children. Chronic exposure to granite rock dust may therefore impair lung function in children