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 (

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 (

Potentials of Biogas Generation from Mixture of Three Substrates, Water Hyacinth, Cassava Peels and Cow Dung- Wh+Cp+Cd

The potentials of biogas generation from mixtures of three substrates, water hyacinth, cassava peels and cow dung was evaluated using standard microbiological techniques. The results revealed that the combination of the three substrates without starter culture recorded zero milliliter biogas production in the first 5 days with optimum yield of 300mls, 600mls and 715mls for 1kg, 2kg and 3kg weight of the mixture respectively within 25 days while the digester with starter culture yielded optimum biogas production of 475mls, 650mls and 820mls respectively in 1kg, 2kg and 3kg weight within 25 days. The total viable bacterial and fungal counts from the substrate slurry of the WH + CP + CD was 7.55 x 108cfug-1 and 2.35 x 104cfug-1 before digestion respectively and 4.10 x 105cfug-1 and 1.20 x102 cfug-1 after digestion respectively without starter culture. The digester with starter culture gave 7.68 x 108cfug-1 and 3.35 x 104cfug-1 for bacteria and fungi respectively before digestion and 5.25 x 105cfug-1 and 2.20 x 102cfug-1 respectively for bacteria and fungi after digestion. Optimum and total biogas produced from the treatments KEY WORDS:  BIOGAS, WATER HYACINTH, CASSAVA PEELS and COW DUN

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

Comparative Effects of Rothmannia Hispida Leaves Extract and Protamine-Zinc Insulin on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder resulting from a defect in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both, manifesting in hyperglycaemia, polyuria, glucosuria etc. Various regimens have been used to alleviate the symptoms of this disorder; notable in orthodox medicine is insulin. Rothmannia Hispida herb extract is also used to manage DM by traditional healers. This study was therefore designed to establish the relative potency of insulin and R. hispida leaves extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. 20 male albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 (control) received normal rat chow + drinking water. Groups 2 - 4 in additional to control diet received alloxan treatment (150mg/kg i.p once). Seven days after, groups 3 (diabetic extract treated, DET) and 4 (diabetic insulin treated, DIT)) were further treated with R. hispida extract (100mg/kg, once daily) and protamine-zinc insulin (1unit) respectively. Their body weight, food intake, urine volume, urine and blood glucose levels were monitored daily. Results showed that after 7 days alloxan treatment, rats in groups 2 – 4 had significantly higher blood glucose, urine output, food intake, urine and blood glucose levels compared with controls. At day 14, the blood glucose level of DET (4.40 ± 0.52mmol/L) and DIT (4.10 ± 0.48mmol/L) were significantly (P<0.001) lower compared with diabetic untreated - DUT (22.00 ± 0.00mmol/L). Terminal urine glucose was absent in control, DET and DIT but was recorded in DUT (42.60 ± 6.14mmol/L). Terminal urine output was also significantly (P<0.001) lower in DET (8.60 ± 1.17ml) and DIT (8.80 ± 0.80ml) compared with diabetic untreated group (44.00 ± 1.48ml). The DUT and DIT were also observed to have negative growth rates (-4.86g/day and -0.29g/day respectively), whereas the controls and DET had positive growth rates (5.70g/day and 0.14g/day respectively). Terminal blood glucose levels and urine output were not significantly different between DET and DIT groups. We therefore conclude that both insulin and Rothmannia hispida leaves extract reverses symptoms (hyperglycaemia, polyuria, glucosuria) in diabetic rats, while the extract was more effective in restoring body weight than insulin. Therefore, 100mg/kg body weight of the Rothmannia hispida leaves extract is equally potent as 1 unit of protamine-zinc insulin as an anti-diabetic agent