Haemoglobin Level and Intestinal Parasites in Pregnant Women in Eziama, Imo State of Nigeria

This prospective study was carried out between January to June, 2008 at Eziama in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State to determine the haemoglobin level and intestinal parasites in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. In total, 281 stool and blood samples were collected from the women. The stool samples were examined using direct wet preparation and formol ether concentration technique while the haemoglobin levels of the women were estimated using cyanmethaeoglobin technique. The overall prevalence of E. histolytical, A. Lumbricoides, Hookworm Spp, T. trichuria and G. lamblia  was 10(3.6), 31(11.0), 29(10.3), 10(3.6) and 3(1.1) respectively. The proportion of pregnant women with helminithic infestation was 83 (29.6%) while their mean Heamoglobin concentration was 9.7+1.8g/dl while the pregnant women without helminthic infestation had Heamoglobin concentration of 10.4 + 1.3g/dl. The poor socioeconomic status of the women coupled with poor environmental sanitation and lack of clean portable water supply may have contributed to the high prevalence

Effects of exercise on growth hormone concentrations of female students in Madonna University

Human growth hormone is secreted in a pulsatile fashion, generally following a circadian rhythm. The growth hormone concentrations of 25 female students of Madonna University, Elele within ages groups 19-27years were determined before (Pre) and after (Post) exercise. Growth hormone levels were assayed using the commercially available Human Growth Hormone quantitative test kit whose principle is based on a solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data generated was calculated statistically using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. The result showed significant difference in 5.45 + 0.97 ng/ml  in pre exercise and 13.89 + 1.77 ng/ml in post exercise (P<0.05). There was no significant increase in growth hormone pre and Post exercise at different age groups 19-21years (13.91± 9.51 ng/ml and 14.78 ± 3.09 ng/ml), 22-24 (6.73 ±1.73 ng/ml and 11.73 ± 1.97ng/ml) and 25-27(4.77 ± 2.10ng/ml and 19.61 ± 7.54ng/ml).The study has shown that exercise can affect concentration of growth hormone in females

Comparative Study of the Protective Effect of Granulated Sugar and Garri Meal on Petroleum-induced Changes of Lipid Profiles in Albino Rats (Rattusnorvegicus)

Crude oil contaminated diet has been reported to induced changes in lipid profile of rats. In this study, 60 albino rats in 6 groups were fed with crude oil contaminated sugar-garri diets at varied concentrations to monitor petroleum-induce lipid profile changes using standard methods. The lipid profiles estimated were total cholesterols, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and Low density lipoproteincholesterol.The data showed that, the levels of total cholesterol (Mmol/l) increased from 2.89+0.08 in sugar fed rats compared with 3.05+0.12 in Gari fed rats. The concentration of triglycerides(Mmol/l) reduced from 1.10+0.51 in sugar fed rats to 1.06 + 0.03 in Gari fed rats while the high density lipoprotein cholesterol(Mmol/l) concentration of 2. 01+0.08 was significantly higher than 1.89 + 0.03 in Gari fed rats (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (Mmol/l) concentrations of 0.68+0.11 in sugar fed rats compared with 0.83 + 0.10 in Gari fed rats. The effect of pre-treatment of the diet with sugar reduced petroleum-induce changes in lipid profile than gari during the exposure of the albino rats to the petroleum diet suggesting that sugarcould possibly ameliorate petroleum-induce changes in lipid profile as shown by the significantlowering of the cholesterol and Low density lipoprotein cholesterol than gari in albino rats. Keywords: lipid, Petroleum, Sugar, Gari, Cassava, Change

Serum Levels of Prostate Specific Antigen and Specific Reproductive Hormones Among Male Subjects with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a medical condition in elderly men in which there is proliferation and enlargement of the prostate gland. This study evaluated the levels of male reproductive hormones among subjects with BPH. The study involved 150 subjects aged 40 years and above, comprising 80 BPH subjects attending the urology clinic and 70 control subjects. Five millilitres (5ml) of venous blood were collected from each subject into plain bottles for the determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), testosterone, prolactin, and estradiol, using the ELISA technique. The mean values of PSA (16.68±10.96 ng/ml), estradiol (71.03±18.56 pg/ml) and for the BPH subjects and prolactin (9.38±4.51 ng/ml) were significantly higher compared to the mean values of PSA (0.48±0.25ng/ml), estradiol (51.33±7.13npg/ml) and prolactin (6.92±1.93ng/ml) of the control subjects. However, the mean testosterone value of the BPH subjects (5.02±1.93 ng/ml) was significantly lower than the mean value for the control (6.57±3.48ng/ml). The BPH who used to consume alcohol had higher PSA (24.26±8.33ng/ml) and testosterone (7.68±3.41ng/ml) compared to the PSA (16.34±3.22ng/ml) and testosterone (4.95±3.62ng/ml) of those who never consumed alcohol. The BPH had significantly altered hormone parameters as well as raised PSA levels. Including hormonal parameters in diagnosing and managing BPH could be an important consideration in our population

Evidence-based assessment of male-only infertility: prevalence and associated risk factors in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Male infertility is the condition in which a male is unable to establish pregnancy in a fertile woman over 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. In this study, the prevalence of male-factor infertility and some associated risk factors in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was carried out. Methods: The study design was a case-controlled randomized one, in which semen specimens were collected from case and control groups randomly amongst males visiting urology/fertility clinics by masturbation after 3 days of abstinence. A total of 276 males indicated interest to participate in study of which 193 male subjects were recruited. Results: The result showed that 20.8% were azoospermic, 27.4% were oligospermic, 23.7% were asthenozoospermic, 27.9% oligoasthenozoospermic, 15.1% teratozoospermic, 19.4% asthenoteratozoospermic, and 12.9% oligoasthenoteratospermic. Furthermore, the microbial quality of the semen assessed indicated the prevalence of scanty, moderate, and heavy growth as 12.5%, 9.3%, and 7.3% respectively. Likewise, organisms isolated and identified were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and mixed growth of staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli with a prevalence of 18.2%, 5.6%, 2.0%, 1.04%, and 2.6% respectively. Civil servants had the highest prevalence of 20.8% followed by artisans with 11.9%. The prevalence of primary and secondary infertility was observed to be 30.1% and 18.1% respectively. Conclusions: Male-only factor infertility is on the increase and occupations that are accompanied by prolonged sitting, sedentary work style, or working in or close to high-temperature sources as seen in civil servants and welders (artisans) were observed to be more prone to male-only factor infertility