Pathological Lesions in the Lungs of Neonatal Wistar Rats from Dams Administered Ethanol during Gestation

Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate the effects of ethanol ingestion during pregnancy on the fetal lungs development. Adult Wistar rats were used and grouped into four groups and each group having four females and two males. Group A was the control group received only distilled water, while groups B, C and D received 0.2 mL of 20, 25 and 30% ethanol orally respectively daily for seven days during the 4 th to 10 th day of gestation. After delivery, the fetal lungs were removed and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. The neonates' lungs were prepared through histological techniques and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin and were studied under the light microscope. The result showed alveolar degeneration, bronchiole-capillary thickening, bronchiolar degeneration and extravasations of erythrocyte in the ethanol treated groups while the control was normal. Ethanol ingestion during pregnancy could lead to ethanol-induced lung damage in the fetuses. Hence, alcohol ingestion should be avoided during pregnancy

Comparative analysis of electrophysiological parameters of sural nerve in normal and type-2 diabetic subjects

The study was designed to evaluate sural nerve conduction of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients that were asymptomatic for neuropathy and compare their findings with age and sex matched healthy individuals. Using a standard technique, sural nerve conduction study was conducted on 100 T2DM patients with no clinical features suggestive of neuropathy and 100 healthy volunteers, matched for age and sex, serving as control. Sural nerve latency, Amplitude and Conduction Velocity (CV) were measured using Nihoen Kohden EMG Machine. On comparison of the sural nerve conduction parameters, sural nerve distal latencies were significantly lower in the control group while the sural nerve conduction velocities and amplitudes were significantly higher in the T2DM group. The study showed significant difference between the sural nerve conduction parameters in T2DM patients without clinical features suggestive of peripheral neuropathy when compared with apparently healthy individuals.Keywords: Sural nerve; Diabetic neuropathy; Electrophysiolog

Prediction of facial height, width, and ratio from thumbprints ridge count and its possible applications

The fingerprints and face recognition are two biometric processes that comprise methods for uniquely recognizing humans based on certain number of intrinsic physical or behavioral traits. The objectives of the study were to predict the facial height (FH), facial width, and ratios from thumbprints ridge count and its possible applications. This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 457 participants were recruited. A fingerprint live scanner was used to capture the plain thumbprint. The facial photograph was captured using a digital camera. Pearson's correlation analysis was used for the relationship between thumbprint ridge density and facial linear dimensions. Step-wise linear multiple regression analysis was used to predict facial distances from thumbprint ridge density. The result showed that in males the right ulnar ridge count correlates negatively with lower facial width (LFW), upper facial width/upper FH (UFW/UFH), lower FH/FH (LFH/FH), and positively with UFH and UFW/LFW. The right and left proximal ridge counts correlate with LFW and UFH, respectively. In males, the right ulnar ridge count predicts LFW, UFW/LFW, UFW/UFH, and LFH/FH. Special upper face height I, LFW, height of lower third of the face, UFW/LFW was predicted by right radial ridge counts. LFH, height of lower third of the face, and LFH/FH were predicted from left ulnar ridge count whereas left proximal ridge count predicted LFW. In females only, the special upper face height I was predicted by right ulnar ridge count. In conclusion, thumbprint ridge counts can be used to predict FH, width, ratios among Hausa population. The possible application of fingerprints in facial characterization for used in human biology, paleodemography, and forensic science was demonstrated

Sex determination using facial linear dimensions and angles among Hausa population of Kano State, Nigeria

The aim of the study was to determine sexual dimorphism as well as to predict sex using facial linear dimensions and angles among Hausas of Kano state Nigeria. A total of 283 subjects comprising 147 males and 136 females age range 18–25 years participated. Photographs methods were used to capture the face. Independent sample t-test was used to test for sex differences in the variables. Binary logistic regression was applied to obtain a predicting equation (BLR model) for sex. The predicted probabilities of BLR were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve. The results showed that all the facial linear dimensions showed significance sexual dimorphism except interocular distance, upper facial width, philtrum length, lower vermilion width, left and right orbital width. With regards to sex prediction, upper facial height was the single best predictor of sex with an accuracy of 76.2% and 24–33% contribution to the prediction. However, the percentage accuracy increased to 91% when six variables were pooled together in the equations. For facial angles, only nasion and aperture modified angle did not show significant gender differences. However, in the variables with significant sexual dimorphism only nasomental angle showed a significant level of sex prediction with an accuracy of 70.3%. In conclusion, sex discrimination using facial linear dimensions and angles was well established in this study. The sex of an individual of Hausa ethnic group can be determined using facial linear dimensions. Dispite sexual dimorphsm shown by facial angles, only nasomental angle was good discriminator of sex

Prediction of Nasolabial Distance using Thumbprint Ridge Density among the Hausa Population of Nigeria

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the potentials of thumbprint ridge count in the prediction of nasolabial facial distances among the Hausa population of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which a total of 457 subjects participated. Plain fingerprints were captured using a fingerprint scanner. Three areas, ulnar, radial and proximal were defined for determination of ridge counts. A photographic method was used to capture the facial images. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to measure the linear dependence between thumbprint ridge density and Nasolabial distances. Stepwise linear multiple regression analysis was used to predict nasolabial distances from thumbprint ridge density. SPSS statistical software version 20 was used for the statistical analysis and a p-value of < 0.05 was set as a level of significance. Results: Results showed that in males left proximal ridge count correlates negatively with nasal length, philtrum length, and upper lip length and mouth width. The upper lip length and nasal width correlate negatively with left ulnar ridge count and right radial ridge counts, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between ulnar ridge count with nasal length and lower vermilion width. In females, appositive correlation was observed only between lower vermilion width and left proximal ridge counts. Left proximal ridge counts predict most of the nasolabial distances in males. In females, only the left proximal ridge counts showed potential in the prediction of facial distances. Conclusion: The study concluded that the thumbprint correlates with facial distances of the nasolabial region. The proximal part of the thumbprint may respond to the same instruction in utero with the lower part of the face, hence leading to the prediction of nasolabial facial distances from the proximal ridge counts among the Hausa population of Nigeria

Effect of Oral Placement and Expressive Therapies on Speech Intelligibility of Adolescents with Articulation Disorder

Intelligible speech is vital to every adolescent's life, but this skill can be confounded with the presence of articulation disorder. Meanwhile, studies have been conducted using different therapies to improve speech intelligibility. This study investigated the effect of oral placement and expressive therapies on speech intelligibility among adolescents with articulation disorders. The study adopted a pretest-posttest, control group, quasi-experimental research design with a 3x2x2 factorial matrix. Three special centers were randomly selected, and purposive sampling was used in selecting 60 adolescents having articulation disorders comprising 34 males and 26 females. These adolescents were randomly assigned to Experimental Group 1 (n= 22), Experimental Group 2 (n= 21), and Control (n= 17). Speech Intelligibility Assessment Scale (r=0.92) was the instrument used for the study. Participants in the experimental groups were exposed to the oral placement and expressive therapeutic treatments, while those in the control groups were sensitized to a placebo. Three hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance, while data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), mean scores, and Bonferroni Post Hoc Test. Findings revealed that there was a significant main effect of treatments F(2,56) = 112.52; p &lt;0.05 (oral placement therapy, expressive therapy, and control group with placebo), and also a significant interaction effect of treatments, gender, and age F(2, 47) = 7.37; p &lt;0.05 on speech intelligibility of adolescents with articulation disorders despite the presence of placebo. Oral placement and expressive therapies were effective in managing the speech intelligibility of adolescents with articulation disorders. Therefore, speech therapists should adopt these therapeutic interventions in rehabilitating adolescents with articulation disorders

Review on Atherogenic Index of Plasma Lipids and Dyslipidemia

Dyslipidemia is defined as abnormally levels of lipids in the blood. Different types of lipids and lipoproteins have been identified. Dyslipidemia is a single strong risk factor for the development of cardiovascular events and atherosclerosis is the most common. It has been described as a disease of the economically advanced societies, but recently, it has found its way into the semi-urban societies and among its dwellers, who are at the increasing risk of developing cardiovascular accidents. Hence, early identification and diagnosis of dyslipidemia at its earliest stage among this populace is a worthwhile cardiovascular preventive measure. The study of hyperlipidaemia is of considerable importance, mainly because of the involvement of lipids in cardiovascular diseases. The classification system of hyperlipidaemia is based on which plasma lipoprotein concentrations were increased. Fredrickson classification helped to put lipidology on the clinical map, though it was not a diagnostic classification. It gives little clue as to the aetiology of the disorder. Currently, a more descriptive classification is used for the primary hyperlipidaemia although they can be genetic or secondary factors. This review presents the overview of plasma lipids. This article illustrates the theoretical background and details about dyslipidemias. Keywords: Dyslipidemia, Atherogenic index, Hyperlipidaemia, Atherosclerosis, Lipoprotein