Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its component traits among students in a Nigerian university

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and all-cause mortality. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of MetS and its component traits among students in a Nigerian university in whom there are limited data.Methods: 173 students (109 females and 64 males) students aged 18 – 30 years with no prior diagnosis of any component trait of MetS participated in the study. We obtained anthropometry, blood pressure (BP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and complete lipid profile of the participants. MetS was defined using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program for Adult Treatment III Guidelines (NCEPATPIII), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria.Results: The prevalence rates of MetS according to the NCEP-ATP III, IDF and JIS criteria were 4.0, 3.5 and 5.8% respectively. Elevated BP, FPG, increased waist circumference (NCEP) and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were present in 13.3%, 15.0%, 4.6%, and 46.2% participants respectively. Seventy seven (44.5%) and 19 (11.0%) participants had 1 or 2 MetS traits (NCEPIII criteria). None of the participants had elevated triglyceride. The males had significantly higher mean FPG, and systolic BP while the females had significantly higher prevalence of low HDL-C. There was no statistically significant gender difference in the prevalence of MetS.Conclusions: Nigerian university students have and are at risk of MetS. Screening and identification of MetS in this population will help in targeted intervention to reduce the risk of CVDs.Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, university students, Nigeri

Determination of stature from cephalic indices among Okun and Ebira ethnic groups of Kogi State in Nigeria

Cephalic index is an important feature that characterizes different races. The study aimed at comparing the cephalic indices between the two genders and to determine the stature among Okun and Ebira ethnic groups in Nigeria. The subjects were measured for cephalic length, breadth and subject height and the cephalic indices were calculated by dividing the cephalic breadth by cephalic length, and then multiply by 100. 844 subjects of Okun and Ebira origin of Kogi state were measured, 211 males and 211 females for each tribe were measured. Fischer’s formula was used to determine the sample size because the population size is > 10,000. The cephalic breadth and length was measured using a spreading caliper and the subject height was measured with a stadiometer. The data was analyzed using Pearson’s Chisquare analysis test for association, trends and distribution difference of the pattern (confidence level at 95%). The mean cephalic indices of both Okun and Ebira ethnic group were >75 and >70 which belongs to mesocephalic and doliocephalic group respectively. There were significant differences in cephalic indices between both ethnic groups (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in cephalic indices between males and females of each ethnic group. Stature was better predicted from cephalic indices for Ebira males (r= 0.386) when compared to the Ebira females (r= 0.127), Okun males (r= 0.296) and Okun females (r = 0.268). All predictions were significant except for Ebira females.Keywords: mesocephalic, doliocephalic, cephalic indices, stature, se

CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS OF DIFFERENTLY PROCESSED CASSAVA-SOYA BLENDS

This study was conducted to evaluate the carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets of differently processed cassava-soya blends (CSB). Two differently dried blends of cassava pulp and soya beans (dry and wet heated), mixed at four (4) different ratios were subjected to two types of dehydration methods to obtain 12 types of blends. These blends were subsequently included in the diets of broiler chickens at 15% in a 2×2×3 factorial arrangement to obtain 12 dietary treatments. 360 one-day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks used for this study were assigned to the 12 dietary treatment groups which were replicated three times with ten birds each. Eight weeks of feeding trials (starter and finisher phases) were observed. The blends were chemically analysed to determine their proximate, hydrocyanide (HCN) and trypsin inhibition unit (TIU) compositions. Carcass characteristics of the birds were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Results of the carcass characteristics shows that liver mass (2.03%) was higher (p<0.05) in birds fed diets containing wet heated soya bean, compared to those fed diets containing dry heated soyabean. Dehydration by frying of CSB resulted in a higher (p<0.05) dressing percentage (65.9%) and drumstick weight (10.0%). Birds fed diets containing CSB mixed in ratio 50:50 had higher liveweight (2170 g). It can be concluded that replacing 15% of maize in diets of broiler chickens with CSB of 50:50 mixing ratio resulted in higher live weight when compared to other mixing ratios.   &nbsp

Morphometric study of the jugular foramen and sexual dimorphism using dried skull obtained in two Nigerian States

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the morphometric variation between male and female jugular foramen using dried human skulls obtained in two Nigerian states.'Methods: A total of ninety-three (93) dry human skulls were obtained from the osteology collection of the Department of Anatomy, University of Ilorin, Kwara state and Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomosho, Oyo state, Nigeria for this study. Using a digital Vernier caliper various morphometric features were measured.Results: The mean right lateromedial distance was 14.69 (±2.31) mm and 13.78 (±1.95) mm for male and females respectively, the mean left lateromedial distance was 14.40 (±2.34) mm and 14.52 (±2.40) mm. Complete septa in males and females were 31.7% and 9.1% while incomplete septa in males and females 35.0% and 39.4% respectively.Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the jugular foramen of both male and female skulls. The presence of complete septa is more in males while females has more of incomplete septa. The presence of dome, septa and dome height in both sexes were not sexually different from each other.Keywords: Jugular foramen, morphometric, dome, septa, vernier caliper

The COVID-19 pandemic and health workforce brain drain in Nigeria

Over the years, the Nigerian healthcare workforce, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists have always been known to emigrate to developed countries to practice. However, the recent dramatic increase in this trend is worrisome. There has been a mass emigration of Nigerian healthcare workers to developed countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the push factors have been found to include the inadequate provision of personal protective equipment, low monthly hazard allowance, and inconsistent payment of COVID-19 inducement allowance on top of worsening insecurity, the pull factors are higher salaries as well as a safe and healthy working environment. We also discuss how healthcare workers can be retained in Nigeria through increment in remunerations and prompt payment of allowances, and how the brain drain can be turned into a brain gain via the use of electronic data collection tools for Nigerian health workers abroad, implementation of the Bhagwati’s tax system, and establishment of a global skill partnership with developed countries

The global retinoblastoma outcome study : a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

DATA SHARING : The study data will become available online once all analyses are complete.BACKGROUND : Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. METHODS : We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. FINDINGS : The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23·2 months (IQR 11·0–36·5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0·8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5·4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19·7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42·9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enucleation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98·8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99·5% (95% CI 98·8–100·0) for children from high-income countries, 91·2% (89·5–93·0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80·3% (78·3–82·3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57·3% (52·1-63·0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16·67; 95% CI 4·76–50·00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8·98; 4·44–18·18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1·38 per year; 1·23–1·56). For children aged 3–7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0·0104 for the change in slope). INTERPRETATION : This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes.The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the Wellcome Trust.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/homeam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt

Parasites and blood profile of Nile monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) in Ibadan, Nigeria

Parasitic burden in wildlife species is becoming a major concern in the human-wildlife interface. Faecal and blood samples were collected from 40 captured Nile monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) in Ibadan, and examined for gastrointestinal and blood parasites, as well as haemotological parameters. Parasitic ova were quantified using Mcmaster counting technique, while haemoparasites were identified under the light microscope after staining. About 97% of the monitor lizards were positive for either or both blood and gastrointestinal parasites. Strongyloides spp. was the most prevalent 90% (95% CI: 76.3-97.2) of the GIT parasites, while Haemoproteus spp. had the highest prevalence 42.5% (95% CI: 27.0-59.1) of the haemoparasites. There was significant effect of Microfilaria on the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), platelet, basophils, and MCHC while Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp. had significant effect on creatinine. The presence of heavy parasitic burden in Nile monitor lizard suggests that wildlife species may play a significant role in transmission or persistence of these pathogens in the domestic cycle.Keywords: Varanus niloticus; haemoparasites; GIT parasites; wildlife

Effect of watering regime on the growth potential of Rothmannia longiflora Salisb

The study examined the effect of watering regime on the growth potential of Rothmannialongiflora by varying watering on the growth of R. longiflora seedlings at nursery stage. The experiment was laid down on completely randomized design with four watering regimes (once daily, twice in day, weekly and fortnightly) were applied to the seedlings. The treatments were subjected to varying volumes of water (50 ml, 100 ml, 150 ml, and 200 ml). The growth parameters were assessed weekly for a period of (12) weeks were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance.Result showed that height of seedlings varied between 22.2 cm and 12.45 cm. Watering done fortnightly with 100 ml had highest mean value of 22cm followed by weekly watering with 200 ml (20.22cm) followed by daily watering 200 ml (19.03cm) and twice daily watering/200 ml (18.23cm)), while the least mean girth was observed in seedlings subjected to 50 ml daily watering with 4.5 mm, The number of leaves produced ranged from 16 to 20 leaves. Highest mean number of leaves was recorded in daily watering with 150 ml (20)), twice daily watering 150 ml (20) weekly watering with 100 ml (20), fortnightly 150 ml (20) and fortnightly with 200 ml (20). There is a significant different in height and the leave production.Inconclusion, seedlings of R. longiflora performed best when watered forthnightly fortnightly with 100 ml volume of water as highest value of seedling height and 150 ml volume of water of number of leaves produced and there was significant difference in height and leave number of the parameter in watering regime

Growth and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens fed steam treated cattle rumen epithelia scrapping meal in place of fish meal

feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed varied levels of steam-treated  Cattle Rumen Epithelia Scrapings (CRESM) in replacement for fish meal at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% level. Two hundred and four (240), one-day old Abor Acre strain of broiler chickens used for the study were randomly divided into 5 treatments of four (4) replicates each. There were 12 birds per  replicate to make a total of 48 birds per treatment in a completely randomized design. Data were collected on the feed intake, weight gain, feed to gain ratio, feed cost per kilogram weight gain at the starter and finisher phases while digestibility trial was conducted at the finisher phase. The results indicated that feed intake (44.15, 48.20, 48.87, 47.18 and 49.30g) and weight gain (20.73, 24.13, 24.63, 23.69 and 23.34g) for 0, 25, 50, 75 and  100% CRESM, respectively were higher (P<0.05) and feed: gain ratio lower in birds that received diets containing CRESM at starter phase. Feed cost and feed cost per kg weight gain decreased with increased level of CRESM at this phase. At the finisher phase, feed cost per kilogram weight gain(? 260:01) of treatment five (100% inclusion of CRESM) was the lowest (p<0.05) compared with other inclusion while the control was the highest. It was concluded that 100% fishmeal could be replaced with steam-treated CRESM in broiler diets, thus ultimately reducing the production cost and increasing the profit accruable to farmers. Keywords: Growth performance, Nutrient digestibility, CRESM, fish mea