Waist Circumference is a Better Predictor of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss When Compared to Body Mass Index among Nigerian Women

Recurrent Pregnancy loss is a common obstetrics condition with severe physical and psychological consequences to the patients and attending physicians as well. It affects 1-5% of women and up to 50% has no identifiable etiology. Obesity is one of the independent risk factor of this condition; however, the evidence of this association is conflicting. This study aims to further determine that obese women with higher visceral fat are at increased risk of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. The study was a cross-sectional case-control at a public referral hospital in Kano state Nigeria where 116 women with recurrent pregnancy loss were compared to a comparison control group consisting of 116 normal women. In addition to their socio-demographics, weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, and Hip circumference were collected. It was discovered that Obese BMI range and High-risk value for WC were significantly higher odds of recurrent pregnancy loss (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.37-2.46; OR, 4.61 95% CI, 3.458- 5.696 respectively) Logistic regression analysis showed that the most important factor predicting the occurrence of Recurrent pregnancy loss was waist circumference. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve showed that WC has a considerably higher area under the curve (AUC) and BMI had the least AUC value. This study concludes that waist circumference may be superior to BMI as a risk factor of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Keywords: Recurrent Pregancy Loss, BMI, Waist Circumferenc

Dermatoglyphic and Cheiloscopic Patterns among

Abstract Dermatoglyphics has proved to be a very useful tool used for identification of many gene-linked abnormalities and diseases. Lip prints which as dermatoglyphics are unique to individuals have also been shown to be a useful genetic marker in some congenital and clinical diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the association between finger and lip prints patterns and diabetes mellitus using subjects in Zaria, Nigeria. 277 were examined: 101 diabetics and 126 normal subjects. The digital dermatoglyphic patterns were studied using method of Cummins while the lip prints were identified and classified according to method of Suzuki and Tsuchihashi. The results show that there is an association between finger print patterns of males with diabetes mellitus. The lip prints pattern of male and female diabetics also shows association with diabetes mellitus. From the study we could conclude that male with arch pattern of finger print in their right hand are at risk of developing diabetes also males with reticular pattern of lip prints have a higher risk of developing diabetes whereas those with intersected pattern have lesser chance of coming down with the disease. The result also shows that females with undifferentiated type of lip prints are at higher risk of developing diabetes

Relationship between body mass index and timing of maturation

Background: Menarche is the first menstrual period. The increasing incidence of overweight/obesity and decline in the median age at menarche had led investigators to hypothesize potential associations of age at menarche with body mass index (BMI). We assess these associations between reproductive and nonreproductive age females.Aim: The present study assessed the relationship between BMI and the timing of menarche among contemporary Nigerian girls.Methods: The present cross‑sectional anthropometric study was performed in 2014 using 600 menstruating and 200 nonmenstruating girls aged 11–18 years in Nigeria. We classified the menarcheal age of our participants into early, ideal, and late. Participants were also categorized based on their nutritional status into underweight, normal, and overweight.Results: Mean age at menarche was 13.54 years. Age at onset of menarche was inversely associated with BMI. Precocious menarche (<12 years) when compared to ideal (12–13 years) or late (≥14 years) menarche was found to be associated with a higher BMI (F = 10.64, P < 0.05). Overweight girls also reach maturation earlier than their contemporaries with moderate to lean body status (F = 15.32, P < 0.05).Conclusion: Girls with high BMI or overweight reach menarche earlier in life than their lean or low BMI counterparts.Keywords: Anthropometric, body mass index, menarche, overweigh

Von Economo neurons: A review of the anatomy and functions

Von Economo neurons (VENs) are large bipolar neurons found in the anterior cingulate, fronto‑insular, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices of great apes and the humans. VENs are defined by their thin, elongated cell body, and long dendrites projecting from the apical and basal ends. These neurons are mostly present in particularly high densities in cetaceans, elephants, and hominoid primates mainly, humans and apes. VENs have been shown to contribute in the specializations of neural circuits in species that share both large brain size and complex social cognition due to their location. This could possibly be due to the adaptation to rapidly relay of socially‑relevant information over long distances across the brain. The VENs have been shown to be recently evolved cell type that may be involved in the fast intuitive assessment of complex social situations. As such, they could be the part of the circuitry supporting human social networks. The VENs emerge mainly after birth and increase in number until 4 years of age. The presence of VENs in the fronto‑insular cortex has been linked to a possible role in the integration of bodily feelings, emotional regulation, and goal‑directed behaviors. Some studies have shown decreased number of VENs in neuropsychiatric diseases, in which social cognition is markedly affected. Some researchers have shown that selective destruction of VENs in the early stages of frontotemporal dementia implies that they are involved in empathy, social awareness, and self‑control which are consistent with evidence from functional imaging.Keywords: Apes, fronto‑insular cortex, frontotemporal dementia, humans, prefrontal cortex, Von Economo neuron

Acute Toxicity Study of Methanol Extract of Baobab (Adansonia digitata Linn) Fruit Shell Extract in Mice

Background: The natural origin of medicinal plants does not guarantee their safety, as there are no sufficient studies on the safety, efficacy, and toxicity to support their benefit claims.  Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the oral acute toxicity of Adansonia digitata L. (A. digitata) fruit shell extract in mice. Methods: The maceration method was employed for the extraction of the A. digitata fruit shell using methanol. The extract was then screened for its phytochemical constituents both qualitatively and quantitatively. Lorke’s method was followed for the toxicity study, and the mice were observed for clinical signs of toxicity and mortality. Further, serum was analyzed for liver and kidney function biomarkers besides the histology of the liver, kidney, and cerebellum.  Results: No single death was recorded and no sign of toxicity persisted for more than 2 hours post-administration to the extracts up to 5000 mg/kg. Therefore, the - of A. digitata fruit shell is above 5000 mg/kg. Additionally, no changes were observed in the weights as well as the relative organ weight of the mice. Further, no statistically significant changes were seen in their liver and kidney function biomarkers, besides the relatively intact histological appearance of their liver, kidney, and cerebellum.  Conclusion: The oral acute toxicity of methanol extract of A. digitata fruit shell is above 5000 mg/kg; hence, it is relatively safe to use it for medicinal purposes. However, a longer study duration is recommended to evaluate its toxic effects on fertility, teratogenicity, and carcinogenic potentials

Effect of ethanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum on sodium nitrite‑induced cerebellar cortex toxicity in adult Wistar rats

Introduction: Intoxication of nitrites mainly from food and water constitute a potential hazard with a resultant hypoxia. Aim: The aim was to study the effects of ethanolic leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum on sodium nitrite (NaNO2)‑induced cerebellar toxicity in adult Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty‑four adult Wistar rats weighing 150–250g were divided into six groups of four rats each. Group I was the control and received distilled water, Group II received 54 mg/kg body weight (bwt) of NaNO2, Group III received 750 mg/kg bwt of the extract and 54 mg/kg bwt of NaNO2, Group IV received 375 mg/kg bwt of the extract and 54 g/kg bwt of NaNO2, Group V received 54 mg/kg bwt of NaNO2 and 2 ml/kg bwt of olive oil, and Group VI received 2 ml/kg bwt of olive oil. The administration was by oral route and lasted for 21 days, after which the animals were sacrificed and blood collected for analyses, and the tissues were processed for histological studies.Results: The result showed a decrease in the mean bwt of the animals in Groups III and IV, a significant increase in serum levels of malondialdehyde and a decrease in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in Group II. The result of the hematological analysis showed a significant increase in red blood cells, white blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (P < 0.05). The result of histological studies showed degenerative changes in Group II with less degeneration in Group IV.Conclusion: The result showed that O. gratissimum in a controlled manner may be useful in the management of neurodegenerative conditions that involve free radical generation and reduction in brain energy production.Keywords: Cerebellum free radical, enzymes, hypoxia, oxidative stress, Ocimum gratissimu