A study on the normal values of inner canthal, outer canthal, canthal index, interpupillary distance and head circumference of 23 - 42 years Igbos

Inner intercanthal distance is the measurement of the distance between the two medial canthi of the eyes, while outer intercanthal distance is the measurement of the distance between the lateral canthi of the eyes. Interpupillary distance is the distance between the pupils, measured from the center of one eye to the centre of the other eye when the eyes are focused on infinity. A study on the normal values of outer intercanthal, inner intercanthal distance, canthal index, head circumference, near and far interpupillary distance was conducted in 23-42 years old Igbos. A total number of 1000 subjects comprising 500 males and 500 females were recruited for this study. Measurements were obtained by using a vernier caliper on the medial and lateral angles of the eyes, while a non stretchable tape was used to measure the head circumference. Canthal index was derived by dividing the inner intercanthal distance by the outer intercanthal distance and multiplying by 100. Near and far interpupillary distances were derived by the use of a meter rule. Results showed that there was change of means with advancing age for the measured dimensions. The mean for the outer intercanthal distance was102.06±4.43mm and 102.09±4.54mm for males and females respectively. Canthal index was 36.72±3.65 and 36.75±4.90 for males and females respectively. The head circumference, near and far interpupillary distance were 59.25±6.45 cm and 59.44±4.98 cm, 68.28±5.08mm and 68.45±5.12mm, 74.9±4.11mm and 74.5± 4.03mm respectively for males and females. There was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the males and females in the measured parameters and the canthal index.This study has provided a database for this Igbo population and may assist craniofacial surgeons during surgery

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND GC–MS ANALYSIS OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS PRESENT IN HYDROETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF SOLANUM AETHIOPICUM (L)

Solanum aethiopicum is a popular traditional vegetable cultivated widely in tropical Africa. It is a species of garden egg grown mostly for the nutritional and medicinal values of its leaves and fruits. This research was carried out to investigate the phytochemicals and GC-MS analysis of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Solanum aethiopicum. Fresh, healthy, and young leaves of the plant were collected from a farm in Omuokiri in Aluu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. These collected leaves were air-dried and grounded into a powdered form and subjected to selective sequential extraction using water and ethanol to obtain a hydroethanolic extract. The extract was then subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses as well as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), to determine its bioactive constituents. The quantitative determination of the different biologically active compounds from the hydroethanolic leaf extract of the plant using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of fifteen (15) bioactive and chemical entities of known biological activities. These chemical entities found in the leaf of the studied plant were found to vary in their molecular weights and amounts present and were considered to be biologically and pharmacologically important. The study has established the chemical composition of the leaf of Solanum aethiopicum and therefore provides the basis for accounting for its anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, weight reduction, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, and immuno-modulatory activities

A preliminary assessment of some markers of bone turnover amongst pre and post-menopausal females in Aba, south east Nigeria

Background: Previous studies on the values of common biochemical indices of bone turnover amongst pre and post-menopausal female subjects in Nigeria are relatively scanty.Aim: To establish baseline values for these indices amongst pre-menopausal and post-menopausal female subjects and to further determine the relative effects of body mass index (BMI) and years since menopause (YSM) on these biochemical parameters amongst post-menopausal female subjects.Methods: Thirty-three pre-menopausal and 67 post-menopausal female Nigerian subjects resident in Aba, south eastern Nigeria were recruited into the study. The age, body mass index and last menstrual period of each subject were determined and the years since menopause calculated as appropriate. Five milliliters of venous blood was collected from each subject for determination of serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphate, total protein, albumin and globulin by spectophotometry.Results: Post-menopausal subjects were significantly older and had higher BMI  (P<0.05). Post-menopausal subjects had significantly higher mean values of all studied biochemical indices of bone turnover: calcium, inorganic phosphate and alkaline phosphatase  (p<0.05). For the serum proteins, only values of serum globulin were  significantly higher in post-menopausal subjects (p<0.05) as values of total serum protein and albumin did not show any significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05). There was no significant correlation between any of the studied biochemical indices of bone turnover and either years since YSM or BMI among post-menopausal subjects (p>0.05).Conclusion: This study provides baseline normative values for biochemical indices of bone turnover in post-menopausal females in Aba. Keywords: Menopause, Calcium, Body mass index, Alkaline phosphatase, Inorganic phosphat