Haematological Parameters in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients

There is potential for blood related factors to affect aqueous production or optic nerve functions. There have been relationships between inflammatory cell count and glaucoma. Eosinophils have inverse relationship with steroids which is used to induce ocular hypertension. Here we compare hematological parameters for a group of 68 chronic open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients and a non-glaucomatous group of 71. In our hematological analysis we determined the concentration of the various white blood cells (WBC), and packed cell volume (PCV). In the blood cell analysis, we found a significantly lower eosinophil in the glaucoma group (2.54% to 4.03%). There were no significant differences for the PCV, (40.47% to 41.97%), white blood cell total/mm3 (5105.97 to 4802.98) Lymphocyte, (50% to 50.73%), Neutrophil, (44.8% to 42.5%), Monocyte, (1.76% to 1.97%), Basophil (0.35% to0.53%). Of the hematological characteristics considered, in the blood analysis we found only the eosinophil count to have a significant relationship to glaucoma

Impact of Noise on Hearing Amongst Commercial Motor Bike Riders in Benin- City, Nigeria.

The ambient noise level and noise-induced hearing impairment (NIHI) in 200 motorbike riders from six motorbike parks were evaluated. All were males aged between 20- 62 years. Subjects were sampled using a cluster sampling technique. Parameters measured were environmental noise using the noise meter (peters) and hearing function using an audiometer (amplaid). A control group of 150 males was selected from amongst the staff of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and students of University of Benin after informed consent was obtained. The mean ambient noise for motor bike riders was 90 \ub110 dB a level significantly (x=0.000), higher than the International Standard Organization (ISO) standard of 60dB. That for control group was 50 \ub1 10dB. While there was no NIHI in control group, a significant hearing impairment for both air conduction (AC) and Bone conduction (BC) was observed in the study group. Unlike previous observations AC and BC impairment were predominantly in the left ear. Development of both AC and BC impairments increased with period of exposure. Environment noise impacts adversely on hearing and is a risk factor in commercial motorbike riders. Development of NIHI is significantly higher in the left ear than right unlike in other occupations

Relevance of the MicroRNA (Mirna) Processor DICER Expression in the Biological Behaviour and Pathological Response of Nigerian Breast Cancer Tissues

Background: Breast cancer (BC) among Nigerians is characterised by high grade, triple negative, basal-like phenotype tumours with high proliferation indices and poor prognosis. The loss of Dicer expression has been speculated to play a key role in BC with similar features among the women in the Western countries. Objectives: To demonstrate the role of the Dicer expression in relation to pathological response in BC, in order to determine the biological behaviour and its prognostic significance in BC among Nigerian women using immunohistochemistry and Tissue microarray (TMA). Methods: This study investigated the immune profiles of the Dicer in 241 tissue microarray of breast cancer tissue of Nigerian women and correlated the protein expression with the pathological response and the other biomarker expressions to determine the functional significance in Nigerian women. Results: Protein expression of Dicer as compared with other biomarkers expression showed there was significant association between the loss of Dicer expression and the down-regulators of Breast Cancer Associated Gene-1 (BRCA1), metastasis tumour antigen-1(MTA 1) (p = 0.004), Inhibitor differentiation-4 (ID4) (p = 0.002), ubiquitin conjugating enzyme-9 (UBC9) (p = 0.008) and protein inhibitor of activated signal transducer gamma PIASγ (p = 0.002). Other relevant Homologous repair pathway markers included poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP1) (p < 0.001) and RAD51 (p < 0.001), cell cycle regulator protein-27(p27) (p = 0.024), the proliferation kinetic protein ( Ki-67) (p = 0.003) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression (p = 0.013). Survival analysis also showed that there was no significant correlation between tumours negative for Dicer and patient outcome. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the loss of Dicer is associated with intermediate to higher grade tumour, discrepant MI/Ki-67 expression, p27 loss, homologous recombination response dysregulation, high EGFR and Ki-67 expression. Therefore, Dicer expression appears to play a major role in the biology of BC among Nigerian women. A targeted therapy on Dicer expression would enhance the management of BC among Nigerian women

A Study of Possible Sleep Deprivation in Medical Students.

Two hundred medical students were investigated for possible sleep deprivation using questionnaires. The use of drugs in form of stimulants, use of sleeping pills, and the nature of hostel space accommodation for the students were also investigated. A similar sizeable number of non-medical students were also investigated. The results show that the medical students have far less sleep per night, compared to the non-mdeical students while in session. This obviously is indicative of sleep deprivation in the medical students. There was nothing in the results to suggest possible contributions to the observed scarcity of sleep in the medical students from use of stimulants or the nature of hostel space accommodation. Only a very small proportion of the students use sleeping pills. Keywords: Sleep, deprivation, medical students.Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 78-8

Haematological Parameters in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients

There is potential for blood related factors to affect aqueous production or optic nerve functions. There have been relationships between inflammatory cell count and glaucoma. Eosinophils have inverse relationship with steroids which is used to induce ocular hypertension. Here we compare hematological parameters for a group of 68 chronic open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients and a non-glaucomatous group of 71. In our hematological analysis we determined the concentration of the various white blood cells (WBC), and packed cell volume (PCV). In the blood cell analysis, we found a significantly lower eosinophil in the glaucoma group (2.54% to 4.03%). There were no significant differences for the PCV, (40.47% to 41.97%), white blood cell total/mm3 (5105.97 to 4802.98) Lymphocyte, (50% to 50.73%), Neutrophil, (44.8% to 42.5%), Monocyte, (1.76% to 1.97%), Basophil (0.35% to0.53%). Of the hematological characteristics considered, in the blood analysis we found only the eosinophil count to have a significant relationship to glaucoma

Breathing Patterns In The Newborn And Related Cardiovascular Adjustments

The transition from foetal to neonatal life is a dramatic one; it demands considerable and effective physiological alteration in the newborn to ensure survival. Simultaneously cardio-respiratory adjustments are initiated and breathing maintained on a continuous basis. The basic movements in the human foetus being about 8 weeks after conception, and by 12 weeks some of these foetal breathing movements have attained a pattern similar to respiration. At birth also, the regulatory neural network responsible for respiratory control is capable of generating robust rhythm-driven ventilation that can adjust to homeostatic needs. The so far unexplained conversion from episodic to continuous breathing with the onset of birth remains one of the mysteries of perinatal medicine. The initiation and establishment of breathing is of paramount importance to the survival of the newborn. Normal breathing requires pre-Botzinger complex neuro-kinin-1 receptor-expressing neurons. Some respiratory reflexes have been demonstrated in the newborn that control respiration. One of such is the Hering-Breuer Inflation Reflex (HBIR). The conversion from intrauterine to extrauterine life is accompanied by adjustments in virtually every organ system but the focus of this review is on that of the respiratory system and its effects on the cardiovascular system. These changes ensure that the newborn adjusts quietly and uniquely to its new environment at birth. Keywords: Breathing patterns, newborn, cardiovascular adjustments.Journal of Mining and Geology Vol. 5 (1&2) 2006: pp. 23-3

Short communication - PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW RATE (PEFR) IN YOUNG ADULT NIGERIANS FOLLOWING INGESTION OF GARCINIA KOLA (HECKEL) SEEDS.

PEFR was measured in 82 male students following the ingestion of 15gm of Garcinia kola . Overall, PEFR increased with age, height, weight and chest circumference. The lowest control PEFR was 450 L/min and the highest control PEFR was 647 L/min. Following the ingestion of Garcinia Kola, PEFR decreased to 445 L/min and 615 L/min respectively at the end of 90 mins. Mean control PEFR was 576.17 ± 20 and mean PEFR 90min after Garcinia Kola consumption was 542 ± 26 (P < 0.05). Garcinia Kola may clear the airway, but does not improve the airflow in young adults

VARIATIONS OF PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW RATE WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC DETERMINANTS IN A POPULATION OF HEALTHY ADULT NIGERIANS.

PEFR was measured in 300 healthy adult male and female staff and students of the University of Benin, Benin City, and the College of Education, Ekiadolor, near Benin. The variations of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) with respect to height (ht), weight (wt) and chest circumference (cc) were determined in these subjects. PEFR values fell within the middle to the lower limits of the range for the general male and female populations. There was a linear increase in PEFR with respect to the three anthropometric variables (ht, wt and cc) only in the young adult males, whereas in the older adult males and females, PEFR fluctuated considerably with the variables. PEFR correlates more with ht, wt and cc in young adults than in older adults. Respiratory function indices collected from healthy young adults may be more reliable and predictable than those from older adults

HYPERTENSION, AND BLOOD PRESSURE RESPONSE TO GRADED EXERCISE IN YOUNG OBESE AND NON- ATHLETIC NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

Hypertension, and the effect of graded exercise on Blood pressure (BP), in 60 obese non-athletic young medical students (40 females and 20 males) with Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30 were studied. The subjects were in the age range of 18-22 years with mean age of 20.30±1.32 years. Twenty percent of the males and 7 percent of the females were found to be hypertensives (P<0.05) and the severity of the hypertension significantly (P< 0.05) increased linearly with increase in BMI (r =0.6). Our study reveals a positive direct correlation between obesity and socioeconomic status and BP. Marked increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), time of return (RT) were observed in the obese individuals compared to control at all levels of graded exercise with the highest rises seen during severe exercise. Among the obese subjects, the increases in BP were more in the males than females, but time of return was higher in females than males. This study further confirms that obese young individuals are prone to early onset of hypertension and thus other cardiovascular diseases and less tolerant to physical exercises. Our results add to the evidence that hypertension is common among obese young adults