Effects of Hibiscus sabdariffaL. consumption during pregnancy on biochemical parameters and litter birth weight in rats

Background: Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (HS; family: Malvaceae) are widely believed in folk medicine to be effective in the treatment of a variety of ailments. In Nigeria, anecdotal reports by women who consume HS during pregnancy suggest that they consume it because of the folkloric belief that it makes them “feel lighter”. This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal consumption of HS during pregnancy on litter birth weight and the functional integrity of the liver of pregnant rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty-six rats aged twelve to fourteen weeks were used. On day 1 of  pregnancy, the rats were randomly assigned to three groups. Group A were given tap water, group B were given 0.6g/100ml while group C were given 1.8g/100ml of the extract. On day 18 of pregnancy, blood samples were taken for determination of Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum  glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine.Results: Gestational length, litter size and birth weights were recorded at delivery. HS consumption did  not affect (P>0.05) SGOT level but increased (P<0.05) the SGPT and decreased (P<0.05) ALP and  creatinine levels. The low dose HS decreased (P<0.05) while the high dose HS increased (P<0.05) the urea level. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in the length of gestation but litter sizes and litter birth weights were significantly (P<0.05) lower and higher respectively when compared with the control.Conclusion: We conclude that consumption of HS during pregnancy increases litter birth weight possibly  through the gluconeogenic activities of the elevated SGPT.Key words: SGOT, SGPT, Urea, Creatinine, Birth weight, Hibiscus sabdariff

Evaluation of some anthropometric indices for the diagnosis of obesity in pregnancy in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background: Obesity in pregnancy is a global health problem which is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. The use of weight and height, measured at about ten weeks of gestation, to produce pre-gestational body mass index is recommended for the diagnoses of the condition but limitations abound in under resourced settings.Objectives: To measure anthropometric indices such as mid upper arm circumference, calf circumference, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio, for identification of obesity in pregnancy.Methods:Anthropometric measurements were carried out on cohorts of pregnant women from 4 hospitals in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria.Results: There were no significant difference in the mean mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) across the trimester groups. The mean values of waist circumferences, hip circumference and waist to hip ratios changed significantly across the trimesters. The 75th percentile of MUAC (33 cm) and CC (39 cm) in all trimesters, had sensitivity and specificity of more than 70% for identifying obesity in pregnancy.Conclusion: MUAC and CC values of 33cm and 39cm respectively might be reliable cut off points for diagnoses of obesity throughout pregnancy in Enugu, NigeriaKeywords: Anthropometric indices, Body mass index, obesity, oregnancy, NigeriaAfrican Health Sciences 2013; 13(4): 1034 - 104

Parity related changes in obesity and some antioxidant vitamins in non-pregnant women of South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: The delivery of many children at short interval is associated with micronutrient depletion and weight gain. However, the relationship between the levels of the micronutrients and the body weight is yet to be ascertained.Objectives: To determine the relationship between parity, body weight and some antioxidant vitamins in non-pregnant Nigerian women.Patients and Methods: Randomly recruited 200 non-pregnant women, comprising 82 primiparous and 118 multiparous women completed the study. Their age, parity, mid-arm circumference (MAC), waist circumference (WC), weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were determined. The serum levels of vitamins A, C and E were assayed using standardmethods.Results: The mean BMI, WC and MAC of the multiparous subjects (parity = 3.0 ± 0.58) were significantly higher than that of the primiparous subjects (parity = 1), (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01 respectively). Furthermore, there were statistically significant decrease in the vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E in multiparous compared with the primiparous women (P < 0.005, P < 0.05 and P < 0.005), respectively.Conclusion: Multiparty enhances weight gain, but depletes antioxidant vitamin micronutrients in non-pregnant Nigerian women

Parity‑related Changes in Body Weight May Influence the Zinc and Copper Status of Urban Pregnant Women: A Report from South Eastern Nigeria

Background: Micronutrient replacement is done indiscriminately, without recourse to peculiar socioeconomic and sociodemographic variables. Particularly, the relationship between parity, body weight, and some micronutrients has received minimal attention in Nigeria.Aim: To determine the relationship between parity, body weight, and some micronutrients during pregnancy.Subjects and Methods: This is a cross‑sectional study involving 130 pregnant women and 30 nonpregnant control. They were recruited from two health care facilities in Nigeria and grouped into nulliparous and multiparous. After a 24‑h dietary recall, the weight (W) and height (H) were measured. The body mass index (BMI) (W in kg/H in m2) was calculated. Serum copper and zinc were estimated using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer.Results: Multiparous nonpregnant subjects parity=3.0 (0.58) had higher weight (P=0.037) and BMI (P=0.035) than their nulliparous counterparts (parity=0). In addition, there were no significant difference in Cu and zinc levels between the two groups (P=0.243 and 0.402, respectively). Expectedly, weight and BMI increased as pregnancy progressed. There was no significant difference in Cu levels between the three trimesters in the nulliparous pregnant and multiparous pregnant subjects. In the pregnant nulliparous subjects, the Zn levels of the 2nd and 3rd trimesters were significantly lower than that of the nonpregnant nulliparous subjects (P<0.001 and 0.039, respectively). However, in multiparous pregnant subjects, only the 3rd trimester Zn level was significantly lower than that of the nonpregnant controls (P=0.017). Conclusion: Pregnancy weight gain is more pronounced in multiparous than nulliparous women. This parity‑related pattern only affects the serum zinc levels, a situation that should be taken into consideration when formulating policies for nutritional replacement.  Keywords: Africa, body mass index, copper, parity, pregnancy, zin

Lactational exposure to an aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Hs) accelerates offspring's early postnatal growth in Sprague-Dawley rats

No Abstract. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy Vol. 5(1) 2006: 6-

Effect of inutero exposure to an aqueous extract of hibicus sabdariffa on offspring's postnatal growth in Sprague-Dawley rats

In folk medicine, extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (HS) are used in the treatment of several complaints including high blood pressure, liver diseases and fever. To the best of our knowledge, no documented evidence exists on the effect of inutero exposure to an aqueous extract of HS on postnatal growth. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to investigate this. Three groups of pregnant rats were used for this study. Group C had tap water while groups A and B had 0.6g and 1.8g HS extract respectively in 100ml tap water to drink throughout pregnancy. All groups had normal rat chow ad libitum. On the day of birth, birth weights were recorded and two pups each from dams in groups A and B were substituted for 4 pups from dams in group C such that dams in group C had two pups each from groups A and B and at least two pups from its own litters to nurse. Thereafter, weights were recorded at 10days, 14days, 20days and 34 days postpartum. Results of the present study show a statistically significant (

The effect of an aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on gestational weight gain, pregnancy outcome and postpartum weight retention in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats

Pregnancy and increased gestational weight gain has been observed to be associated with increased postpartum weight retention. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of an aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (HSE) on gestational weight gain, pregnancy outcome and postpartum weight retention in Sprague-Dawley rats. Fifteen pregnant SD rats were randomly assigned to groups A, B and C. Group C had tap water while groups A and B had 0.6g HSE and 1.8g HSE respectively in 100ml tap water to drink throughout pregnancy and through 34 days postpartum. The rats in all groups were fed normal rat chow ad libitum. The weights of the rats were measured daily throughout pregnancy and at delivery and at 10, 14, 20 and 34 days postpartum. Results show statistically significant (

Histopathological Diagnosis of Fungal Infections: Problems and Prospects

Fungal infections (mycoses) are world wide in distribution and the incidence is expected to rise especially as HIV/AIDS and other chronic debilitating medical conditions and immunosuppressive therapies are prevalent in recent times, therefore prompt and accurate diagnosis of mycosis will reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with fungal infections. Histopathology is a major diagnostic tool in mycology and has the advantage of rapid diagnosis, cost effectiveness, ability to provide initial identification of the infecting fungus and demonstrates tissue reactions and currently the means of diagnosing the infections caused by the fungi: Lodoa loboi and Rhinosporidium seeberi. The problem of diagnosing fungal infections using histopathology include: late request for histopathological diagnosis due to late presentation of the patients, low index of suspicion by the clinicians and delay in getting surgical biopsy; limitations of Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) in morphological identificationof fungal organisms especially when few organisms are present or distorted and masked by tissue reactions; problems of specificity and sensitivity of histochemistry and immuhistochemistry in fungal diagnosis. The prospects of maximizing the benefits and potentials of histopathology in the diagnosis of mycoses lies in the prompt requests in all suspected cases, use of H&E, histochemical stains like Gomori’ methenamine silver stain (GMS), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS), and highly specific and sensitive monoclonal based immunohistochemistry. It is concluded that the problems not with standing the prospects are encouraging with improved technological innovations.Key words: Histopathological Diagnosis Fungal Infection

Evaluation of serum uric acid levels in normal pregnant Nigerian women

No Abstract

Leukocyte profile of adult Nigerian subjects with acute musculoskeletal trauma

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte levels are evidently useful in trauma assessment, prognostication and management.1   Leukocytosis is a known physiologic response to trauma 2    but  suggested to be absent among Africans origin3. The aim of present study is to investigate the existence of leukocytosis among adult Nigerians who sustain acute musculoskeletal trauma, and also assess its prognostic value in management. METHODS: A calculated sample size of 223 subjects participated following informed consent while 50 apparently healthy adult Nigerian volunteers served as control.  Data obtained included age, sex, duration of hospitalization and leukocyte counts using improved Neuabauer  chamber while differential count was done on stained thin film.RESULTS: Analyzed results expressed as mean + SDM show significant male dominance (p < 0.05) among the acutely traumatized subjects with majority (70%)  aged between 20 and 49 years.  The mean total white blood cell count was 8184.96 + 201.087 cells/mm3, significantly higher than mean for the control group (4922.00+1282.264 cells/mm3) at p < 0.05.  The mean values for neutrophil and lymphocytes also show significant neutrophilia and lymphocytopaenia among the test population (p < 0.05).  Pearson's correlation test for duration of hospitalization was positive for higher levels of total White Blood Cell count, with strong positive correlation between the levels of neutrophil and total White Blood Cell count suggesting the source of the observed leukocytosis. CONCLUSION: Thus adult Nigerians exhibit post-traumatic neutrophilic leukocytosis contrary to some widely accepted postulations. The post-traumatic  neutrophilia  exhibit an inverse relationship with observed lymphocytopaenia. This can be expressed as a ratio called Neutrophil Lymphocyte Stress Factor (NLSF) and used in trauma management and prognosis determination.KEYWORDS: Leukocyte profile, Adult Nigerians, Acute musculoskeletal traum