Variations of peak expiratory flow rate with anthropometric determinants in a population of healthy adult Nigerians

PEFR was measured in 300 healthy adult male and female staff and students of the University of Benin, Benin City, and the College of Education, Ekiadolor, near Benin. The variations of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) with respect to height (ht), weight (wt) and chest circumference (cc) were determined in these subjects. PEFR values fell within the middle to the lower limits of the range for the general male and female populations. There was a linear increase in PEFR with respect to the three anthropometric variables (ht, wt and cc) only in the young adult males, whereas in the older adult males and females, PEFR fluctuated considerably with the variables. PEFR correlates more with ht, wt and cc in young adults than in older adults. Respiratory function indices collected from healthy young adults may be more reliable and predictable than those from older adults. Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol. 20(1&2) 2005: 85-8

Current developments in the physiology and management of asthma

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol. 20(1&2) 2005: 19-2

Antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract and fractions of the seeds of Garcinia kola Heckel (Guttiferae)

The crude ethanol extract, aqueous and chloroform fractions of the seeds of Garcinia kola Heckel (Guttiferae) was investigated for antimicrobial activity. Agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitoryconcentration determinations were the methods employed for the study. Clinical bacterial and fungal isolates were used as indicator organisms while standard antimicrobial agents were included in thestudy. The crude ethanol extract showed significant inhibitory activity against clinical isolates of both Gram positive and Gram negative organisms. It was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillussubtilis, Streptococcus viridans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia. It also showed significant inhibitory activity against fungi like Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Both the aqueous and chloroform fractions showed activity against the clinical isolates of S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The MIC values obtained ranged between 2.5 and 7.5mg/ml for bacteria and fungi isolates. The results showed that the crude ethanol extract has broad spectrum of activity, while the fractions exhibited narrow spectrum of activity, since they were activeagainst S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa only. These observations could be the basis for the usefulness of the seeds of G. kola in the treatment remedies for microbial infections

Effect of Garcinia Conrauana Ingestion in Adult Nigerian Asthmatics

In the light of the widespread use of Garcinia Conrauana (popularly known as ‘bitter kola') in the treatment of various respiratory tract diseases, including asthma, in traditional African medicine practice, the effect of its ingestion on airway reactivity was assessed in 162 asthmatic adult males and females, using Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) measurement as the index of change. There were fluctuations in PEFR with respect to age in the subjects. Garcinia Conrauana ingestion resulted in a mild increase in PEFR, and hence a fall in airway resistance, in the asthmatic males, but a mild reduction in PEFR in the asthmatic females at 60 minutes and 90 minutes after its ingestion. Garcinia Conrauana ingestion causes a mild improvement in airflow in asthma adult males, 1hr to 1.5 hrs after its ingestion, but it may not do that in asthmatic adult females. KEY WORDS: Garcinia Conrauana, PEFR, Asthmatic adults. Nig. Jnl Health & Biomed. Sciences Vol.3(1) 2004: 24-2