Toxicological Effects of Pyrethroids Insecticide on the Spleen and Bone Marrow of Adult Albino Rats

Pyrethroids are synthetic compounds chemically derived from the natural pyrethrins which are the insecticidal components of the pyrethrum extracts of chrysanthemum flower. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicological effects of pyrethroid insecticide “Mortein” (M) on the bone marrow and spleen of adult Wistar rats. Twenty five adult rats (150-200g) were purchased from the animal facility of the College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka and assigned into five groups (n = 5). Groups I, II and III were treated orally with 2250mg/kg of Mortein insecticide suspended in olive oil once daily for 7, 21 and 40 days respectively. Groups IV and V were administered tap water and olive oil respectively, once daily throughout the duration of experiment. At the end of each respective durational treatment, the rats were euthanized. The spleen and bones were harvested and processed for histological analysis using standard techniques. The resultant sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and analyzed with the aid of a light microscope for histological changes. Histological examination of the bone marrow of the treated rats revealed extensive congestion that was time dependent as well as hypo cellularity when compared to the oil and normal control groups. The rats‟ spleens were markedly congested and there were intra-parenchyma hemorrhages of varying degrees compared to the rats of control groups. M insecticide at the dosage considered, was highly toxic to both spleen and bone marrows of rats for the different durations considered and the effects observed were time-dependent.Key words: Toxicology, Mortein, Pyrethroids, Spleen, Bone Marrow, Insecticide, Rat

Natural gaits of the non-pathological flat foot and high-arched foot

There has been a controversy as to whether or not the non-pathological flat foot and high-arched foot have an effect on human walking activities. The 3D foot scanning system was employed to obtain static footprints from subjects adopting a half-weight-bearing stance. Based upon their footprints, the subjects were divided into two groups: the flat-footed and the high-arched. The plantar pressure measurement system was used to measure and record the subjects' successive natural gaits. Two indices were proposed: distribution of vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) of plantar and the rate of the footprint areas. Using these two indices to compare the natural gaits of the two subject groups, we found that (1) in stance phase, there is a significant difference (p<0.01) in the distributions of VGRF of plantar; (2) in a stride cycle, there is also a significant difference (p<0.01) in the rates of the footprint areas. Our analysis suggests that when walking, the VGRF of the plantar brings greater muscle tension to the flat-footed while a smaller rate of the footprint areas brings greater stability to the high-arched.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Alternative methods of assessing growth in children under five years of age

Objective: To establish alternative methods for growth assessment in children under five years of age. Design: A cross sectional study of healthy Malawian children. Setting: Postnatal wards and under-five clinics at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Ndirande and Chilomoni Health Centres in Blantyre city, Malawi. Main outcome measures: Cephalic, thoracic and pelvic measurements and their indices were examined for assessment of growth in these children. Thoracic and pelvic measurements were found to be the most appropriate alternative parameters to weight. Results: All measurements significantly correlated positively with weight but their indices did not. The degree of significance, however, was higher in pelvic and thoracic dimensions (P = 0.000) than in cephalic ones (P< 0.001 for maximal cephalic length (MCL) and

Plantar and digital dermatoglyphic characteristics of Zimbabwean subjects

(East African Medical Journal 2001 78 (10): 536-539

Anthropometrics of normal newborn infants in Uromi, Edo State

No Abstract. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy Vol. 4(2) 2005: 10-1

THE SUB-PUBIC ANGLE IN ADULT INDIGENOUS MALAWIAN SUBJECTS

Background: A number of parameters are used to assess the pelvis for clinical, physical and forensic anthropological reasons. When it is adequately assessed within any population group, the pelvis displays wide variations. Although the sub-pubic angle is one of the three forensically important angles of the pelvic outlet, literature is scanty or lacking on East and Central Africans, and no published report is available on indigenous Malawian subjects.Objectives: To determine the sub-pubic angle in indigenous Malawians and compare them with angles from other population groups previously reported.Design: A cross-sectional study.Setting: Queen Elizabeth Central and Blantyre Adventist hospitals in the city of Blantyre.Subjects: One hundred and nineteen antero-posterior radiographs of pelves of adults indegenous Malawians aged 20-84 years to determine their sub-pubic angle.Results: Women showed significantly wider sub-pubic angles than men (129.07 ± 14.19° SD women and 99.16 ± 15.73° SD men; P &lt; 0.001), confirming similar results previously studied in other population groups. We have demonstrated that the sub-pubic angle alone could accurately assign sex to 67.12% of males and 63.04% of females, and race could be accurately assigned to 21.92% of men and 89.96% of females. Malawiansshowed significantly wider angles than Amerindians, Black and White Americans (P &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: This study documents sexual and racial differences and for the first time (on comparison) the sub-pubic angles indicate geographical variations, underpinning the need to establish normal ranges of these angles in any given population. We recommend the establishment of local references of the sub-pubic angle to other countries in the sub-region

GEOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE ACETABULUM IN ADULT MALAWIANS: RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY

ABSTRACTObjectives: To determine the acetabular depth as well as acetabular and centre edgeangles; to assess the influence of sex, if any, in these geometric measurements; and todetermine the prevalence of hip dysplasia in adult Malawians.Design: A retrospective study.Setting: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) and Blantyre Adventist Hospital(BAH).Main outcome measures: The acetabular and centre edge angles, acetabular depth andthe prevalence of hip dysplasia were determined.Materials and methods: Two hundred and fifty three bilateral radiographs of the hipfrom adults, 133 men and 129 women, were used to measure the acetabular depth, angleand centre edge angle using a calliper and goniometer. The radiographs were takenfrom patients with no underlying bone disease between January 1997 and February2001 at QECH and BAH.Results: The prevalence of hip dysplasia was 11.54% for men and 13.16% for womenwith respect to centre edge angles but this difference by sex was not significant (P&gt;0.1).However, the prevalence of hip dysplasia with respect to centre edge angle showedsignificantly more dysplasia in Malawian men than Nigerian and Chinese men (P&lt;0.001and P&lt;0.05, respectively). Centre edge angles also showed a wider range in Malawianmen (19 - 51° right, and 15 - 52° left) than women (18 - 45° right, 20 - 46° left). Inboth hips, the acetabular angles were more obtuse in men (35.52° right, 34.21° left)than women (29.43° right, 29.29° left), and this difference was significant (P&lt;0.001).The ranges of acetabular angles were wider in women (11 - 38° right, 8 - 40° left)than men (24 - 49° right, 20 - 40° left). Acetabular depth was also greater in men thanin women (P&lt;0.01 right hip, P&lt;0.02 left hip).Conclusion: Sex influences geometrical measurements of the acetabulum. The prevalenceof hip dysplasia with respect to centre edge angle was significantly higher in women thanmen and the prevalence for men with respect to centre edge angle was significantly differentwhen compared with Nigerian and Chinese men. This information will assist cliniciansin the region and Malawi in particular to interpret hip X-rays of African patients