The prevalence of polydactyly in the Southern Ijaws of Bayelsa state , Nigeria

Polydactyly, once regarded as a congenital anomaly, is now regarded as a biological variant following Eurocat classification. The prevalence of polydactyly in many human populations is unknown largely because it was regarded as a congenital anomaly and hence interest was only on birth incidence. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of polydactyly among the Southern Ijaw indigenes of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. One thousand subjects comprising 460 females and 540 males were randomly selected for this study. Subjects were physically screened for presence or absence of polydactyly. Results showed that the population prevalence of polydactyly was 7.5% and shows a higher occurrence in males compared to females. However, gender predilection was not evident at p < 0.05 level of significance. It was concluded that polydactyly, a human morphologic variant, has a high general population prevalence of 90/1000 in the Southern Ijaw indigenes of Bayelsa State, Nigeria.Key words: Morphologic, Variation, Limb-anomalies, Occurrenc

Moringa oleifera leaf powder ameriorate neuronal degeneration in the entorhinal cortex of adolescent male alcoholic rats

Moringa oleifera is an important medicinal plant that has shown great promise in CNS conditions. However, the potential protective effect of M. oleifera in the entorhinal cortex (EC) of adolescent rats with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is still unknown. The effect of M. oleifera was therefore assessed in an adolescent model of AUD.Two groups of rats were orogastrically fed thrice daily with 5 g/kg ethanol (25% w/v), and 5 g/kg ethanol (25% w/v) plus M. oleifera (10 mg/kg body weight) respectively in diluted nutritionally complete diet (50%v/v). A control group was fed a nutritionally complete diet (50%v/v) made isocaloric with glucose. Cytoarchitectural study of the entorhinal cortex was examined with H&E. The extent of damage was assessed biochemically by determination of tissue levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. After 4 days of binge alcohol treatment, histologic and biochemical indices of degeneration in EC were significantly reduced by M. oleifera supplementation compared with the non-supplemented rats. In conclusion, M. oleifera attenuates alcohol-induced entorhinal degeneration in the rats by alleviating oxidative stress and reducing the expression of degenerative changes in the EC.Key words: Alcoholism, Medicinal plant, Nutraceuticals, Neuroprotectio

Gene-related prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity in different racio-ethnic groups

The metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) phenotype is partly influenced by race/ethnicity and genetic factors being relatively more prevalent in some groups compared to others. This review examines current evidence on the prevalence of MHO amongst children, adolescents and adults of different racio-ethnic groups; and explores gene variants and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may confer cardioprotection in some racio-ethnic groups compared to others. Literature search of articles published in English was conducted using PubMed, Medline and Google scholar databases, with search terms related to the prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity as well as genetic variants that decrease or increase the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). MHO prevalence differed across racio-ethnic groups and gene variants that confer cardioprotection were higher in some racio-ethnic groups compared to others. Lower prevalence of MHO across all ages was particularly reported in the Middle East, while high prevalence was reported in Africans, Americans and some Asian adult population. Excluding environmental and other risk factors, we observed that Caucasians were carriers of gene variants that confer protection against cardiometabolic diseases, whilst Asians showed high frequency of gene variants that increase susceptibility to MetS. A robust understanding of the role of these gene variants, their frequency distribution and racio-ethnic variations may facilitate conceptualisation of appropriate genome wide association studies (GWAS) to determine significant associations between various genetic factors and observed phenotype or disease. This will guide policy formulation and serve as a useful tool in pharmacogenomics and precision medicine. Keywords: Obesity, metabolically healthy obesity, single nucleotide polymorphism, ethnicity, race, metabolic syndrome, gene variant

Microbial dysbiosis-induced obesity: role of gut microbiota in homoeostasis of energy metabolism

The global obesity epidemic has necessitated the search for better intervention strategies including the exploitation of the health benefits of some gut microbiota and their metabolic products. Therefore, we examined the gut microbial composition and mechanisms of interaction with the host in relation to homoeostatic energy metabolism and pathophysiology of dysbiosis-induced metabolic inflammation and obesity. We also discussed the eubiotic, health-promoting effects of probiotics and prebiotics as well as epigenetic modifications associated with gut microbial dysbiosis and risk of obesity. High-fat/carbohydrate diet programmes the gut microbiota to one predominated by Firmicutes (Clostridium), Prevotella and Methanobrevibacter but deficient in beneficial genera/species such as Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Akkermansia. Altered gut microbiota is associated with decreased expression of SCFA that maintain intestinal epithelial barrier integrity, reduce bacterial translocation and inflammation and increase expression of hunger-suppressing hormones. Reduced amounts of beneficial micro-organisms also inhibit fasting-induced adipocyte factor expression leading to dyslipidaemia. A low-grade chronic inflammation (metabolic endotoxaemia) ensues which culminates in obesity and its co-morbidities. The synergy of high-fat diet and dysbiotic gut microbiota initiates a recipe that epigenetically programmes the host for increased adiposity and poor glycaemic control. Interestingly, these obesogenic mechanistic pathways that are transmittable from one generation to another can be modulated through the administration of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics. Though the influence of gut microbiota on the risk of obesity and several intervention strategies have been extensively demonstrated in animal models, application in humans still requires further robust investigation

Leaching of Potential Hazardous Elements of Coal Cleaning Rejects

The geochemical characteristics of coal cleaning rejects (CCR) in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, were investigated. Around 3.5 million ton/ year of coal waste are dumped in Santa Catarina State. Coal beneficiation by froth flotation results in large amounts of CCR composed of coaly and mineral matter, the latter characterized by the occurrence of sulphide minerals and a broad array of leachable elements. The total and leachable contents of more than 60 elements were analyzed. Atmospheric exposure promotes sulphide oxidation that releases substantial sulphate loads as well as Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, Cl- and Al3+. The metals with the most severe discharges were Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Ni and Cd. Most trace pollutants in the CCR displayed a marked pH-dependent solubility, being immobile in near-neutral samples. The results highlight the complex interactions among mineral matter solubility, pH and the leaching of potentially hazardous elements. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Taxonomy based on science is necessary for global conservation

Peer reviewe

An improved bathymetry compilation for the Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica, to inform ice-sheet and ocean models

The southern Bellingshausen Sea (SBS) is a rapidly-changing part of West Antarctica, where oceanic and atmospheric warming has led to the recent basal melting and break-up of the Wilkins ice shelf, the dynamic thinning of fringing glaciers, and sea-ice reduction. Accurate sea-floor morphology is vital for understanding the continued effects of each process upon changes within Antarctica's ice sheets. Here we present a new bathymetric grid for the SBS compiled from shipborne multibeam echo-sounder, spot-sounding and sub-ice measurements. The 1-km grid is the most detailed compilation for the SBS to-date, revealing large cross-shelf troughs, shallow banks, and deep inner-shelf basins that continue inland of coastal ice shelves. The troughs now serve as pathways which allow warm deep water to access the ice sheet in the SBS. Our dataset highlights areas still lacking bathymetric constraint, as well as regions for further investigation, including the likely routes of palaeo-ice streams. The new compilation is a major improvement upon previous grids and will be a key dataset for incorporating into simulations of ocean circulation, ice-sheet change and history. It will also serve forecasts of ice stability and future sea-level contributions from ice loss in West Antarctica, required for the next IPCC assessment report in 2013

Osmoregulatory adaptations during lactation : thirst, arginine vasopressin and plasma osmolality responses

Pregnancy and lactation are accompanied by an increase in circulating blood volume secondary to a 10 mOsmol/kgH20 decrease in plasma osmolality, decrease in the osmotic threshold for thirst and arginine vasopressin (AVP) release, prolactin-induced AVP, oxytocin and aldosterone release, as well as increased water intake and retention. The increased blood volume as a result of increased thirst; drinking and fluid retention could be beneficial for milk production and secretion during lactation. Furthermore, AVP can directly initiate milk ejection similar to oxytocin by interacting with both vasopressin and oxytocin receptors located in myoepithelial cells of the mammary gland. This review explores how osmotic equilibrium is maintained during lactation through changes in thirst, AVP release and plasma osmolality; and highlights the potential role of AVP in milk secretion