Anthropometric dimensions of hand and foot as predictors of stature: A study of two ethnic groups in Nigeria

Background: Anthropometry as a science deals with the study of human measurements with a view towards the understanding of physical variations that exist in human population groups. Estimation of stature is very important in the investigation process of unknown and co-mingled human remains in mass casualties and natural disasters. Stature or height therefore is critically essential in human identification.Aim: This study was aimed at determining stature using the anthropometric measurements of hand and foot dimensions in two ethnic Nigerian populations.Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 384 Nigerian students selected using random sampling technique was used. These subjects were male and female volunteers of two ethnic groups’ aged between18 and 30 years. Cochran method for sample size determination was used. All measurements of hand and foot dimensions were recorded to the nearest centimetre using standardized anthropometric measuring equipment and the mean actual and estimated stature obtained.Results: The study showed significant gender difference in mean right and left hand breadth but not the mean right and left hand length (P < 0.05). Similarly, there was a statistically significant gender difference between the mean right and left foot breadth (P < 0.05), but not between the mean right and left foot breadth and right foot lengths respectively (P > 0.05). The study further showed that in both gender, that breadth parameters showed stronger correlations in hand and foot dimensions. There was also a significant association between the mean left hand length and right and left hand breadth (P < 0.05) but not with the mean right hand length (P = 0.853). There was also significant association in the mean left foot length and the right and left foot breadths (P < 0.05) but not in the right foot lengths (P = 0.294). The mean estimated value of stature using linear and multiple regression equations for all parameters ranged from 164.53 cm to 165.57 cm while the mean actual stature from the study was 165.30 cm for all the subjects, specifically, 165.90 cm for the Igbos and 164.79 cm for the Isokos respectively.Conclusion: Our study showed that stature can be accurately estimated using all hand and foot parameters and this is of medico-legal importance.Keywords: Anthropometric dimensions, Stature prediction, Ethnic groups, Nigerian

Audit of Oral Histopathology Service at a Nigerian Tertiary Institution over a 24-Year Period

No AbstractKEYWORDS: Oral, Biopsy, Histopathology Service, Nigeria

Blood Biochemical Profile and Carcass Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits Fed Varying Inclusion Levels of Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth.) Forage

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of varying inclusion levels of Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) forage on haematological, blood biochemical and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits. A total of 20 male rabbits of mixed breeds with an average initial weight of 450g were randomly assigned into four dietary treatments containing varying inclusion levels of gamba grass forage (0, 5, 10 and 15%). There were four rabbits per treatment, each serving as a replicate in a completely randomized design. Blood samples were collected at the end of eight (8) week feeding period before the carcass analysis.. Results indicated that there were significant (P<0.05) increasing trend in the haematological and blood biochemical parameters measured. There were 51% and 55% increases (P<0.05) in total protein (8.53 vs. 5.65g/dl) and calcium ions (2.65 vs. 1.18mmol/dl) in rabbits fed diet containing 15% inclusion level of gamba grass forage compared to the control. However, there were 10% and 17% decreases (P<0.05) in white blood cells (4.92 vs. 4.43%) and alkaline phosphate (89.33 vs. 76.33IU/dl) in rabbits fed the control diet than those fed diet containing 15% inclusion level of gamba grass. Also, there were 13% and 49% increase (P<0.05) in dressing percentage (54.80 vs. 48.60%) and weight of thigh (16.95 vs. 11.35%) in rabbits fed diet containing 15% inclusion level of gamba grass forage compared to the control. However, length of small intestine and weights of heart, head, stomach and small intestines were similar (P>0.05) across the treatments, respectively. It was concluded that gamba grass forage can be included up to 15% in the diet of weaner rabbits, without adverse effect on haematological, biochemical profile and carcass characteristics of the rabbits in Northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) forage can be included in the diets of weaner rabbits to reduce cost of production.Keywords: Blood, competition, carcass, feed, gamba, Nigeria, rabbi

The prospects of adopting e-learning in the Nigerian education system: a case study of Covenant University

The conventional method of education has shrunken adequate information access and acquisition capability. However, this as further widened the educational knowledge gap. This research study examined the prospect of adopting e-learning in the Nigerian educational system. The Unified Theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT)modelwas utilized in other to properly investigate the adoption of e-learning for an improved educational system in Nigeria. Adescriptive survey design was employed, and a quantitative research method was used for data gathering and analysis. A total of 574 responses was obtainedfrom the research study respondents. The study analysis result showed that the Average variance extracted (AVE) for actual use, behavioural intention, experience, effort expectancy, facilitating condition, performance expectancy and social influence was o.738,0.790,0.670,0.804,0.749,0.861,0.514 respectively, and the discriminant value for actual use, behavioural intention, experience, effort expectancy, facilitating condition, performance expectancy and social influence were 0.859,0.889,0.897,0.819,0.865,0.928 and 0.717 respectively. This analysis result suggests that the research model convergent and discriminate validity were acceptable. Furthermore, approximately 59.7% of the variance of behavioural intention (BI) to adopt eLearning was illustrated by the PE (Performance Expectancy), EE (Effort Expectancy), and SI (Social Influence); Where R2 = 0.597. Furthermore, about 77.5% of the variance of actual adoption (AC) of eLearning was explained by behavioural intention (BI) to adopt eLearning Where R2 = 0.775. The result suggests that Performance expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE) and Social Influence (SI) have a positive effect of the behavioural intention to adopt e-Learning and the behavioral intention would lead to the actual adoption of eLearning. Additionally, Facilitating condition (FC) and Experience (E) have a positive effect on the actual adoption of e-Learning.The result of the research study suggests that the adoption of e-Learningin Nigeria educational system is influenced by the ease of use, performance gain, public sway, adequate support, and proficiency

Autoimmune Pancreatitis Type 2: Case Report

A middle-aged man presents with acute pancreatitis of unknown etiology and is found to have a presentation consistent with the diagnosis of type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). AIP is a group of rare heterogeneous diseases that are challenging to diagnose. There are 2 types of AIP. Type 1 disease is the more common worldwide than type 2 AIP. While type 1 AIP is associated with IgG4-positive antibodies, type 2 AIP is IgG4 antibody negative. Both types of AIP are responsive to corticosteroid treatment. Although type 1 AIP has more extrapancreatic manifestations and more commonly relapses, this is a case of a patient with type 2 AIP with inflammatory bowel disease and relapsing course

A Multisite Electronic Health Record Integrated Remote Monitoring Intervention for Hypertension Improvement: Protocol for a Randomized Pragmatic Comparative Effectiveness Trial

BackgroundHypertension is a major contributor to various adverse health outcomes. Although previous studies have shown the benefits of home blood pressure (BP) monitoring over office-based measurements, there is limited evidence comparing the effectiveness of whether a BP monitor integrated into the electronic health record is superior to a nonintegrated BP monitor. ObjectiveIn this paper, we describe the protocol for a pragmatic multisite implementation of a quality improvement initiative directly comparing integrated to nonintegrated BP monitors for hypertension improvement. MethodsWe will conduct a randomized, comparative effectiveness trial at 3 large academic health centers across California. The 3 sites will enroll a total of 660 participants (approximately n=220 per site), with 330 in the integrated BP monitor arm and 330 in the nonintegrated BP control arm. The primary outcome of this study will be the absolute difference in systolic BP in mm Hg from enrollment to 6 months. Secondary outcome measures include binary measures of hypertension (controlled vs uncontrolled), hypertension-related health complications, hospitalizations, and death. The list of possible participants will be generated from a central data warehouse. Randomization will occur after enrollment in the study. Participants will use their assigned BP monitor and join site-specific hypertension interventions. Cross-site learning will occur at regular all-site meetings facilitated by the University of California, Los Angeles Value-Based Care Research Consortium. A pre- and poststudy questionnaire will be conducted to further evaluate participants’ perspectives regarding their BP monitor. Linear mixed effects models will be used to compare the primary outcome measure between study arms. Mixed effects logistic regression models will be used to compare secondary outcome measures between study arms. ResultsThe study will start enrolling participants in the second quarter of 2023 and will be completed by the first half of 2024. Results will be published by the end of 2024. ConclusionsThis pragmatic trial will contribute to the growing field of chronic care management using remote monitoring by answering whether a hypertension intervention coupled with an electronic health record integrated home BP monitor improves patients’ hypertension better than a hypertension intervention with a nonintegrated BP monitor. The outcomes of this study may help health system decision makers determine whether to invest in integrated BP monitors for vulnerable patient populations. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05390502; clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05390502 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/4591