A Preliminary Study of Blood Groups among Students in Bayelsa State

Ensuring the availability of safe blood products is an essential public health responsibility. However, myths/fear associated with blood donation in Nigeria has been an uphill task for the health sector in developing reliable and standard blood banks. The aim of the study is to seek for methods to improve recruitment and retention of adequate, voluntary, non-renumerated safe blood donors within the Niger Delta region. This is a prospective study in which the ABO and Rhesus blood group systems were determined for a cross section of students in the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa state. A total of 72 (47.2% males and 52.8% females) students were analyzed. Results showed that 52.8%, 2.8%, 20.8%, 3.8%, 4.2% and 5.6% had blood group O+, O-, A-, B+, B- and AB+ respectively. None had the AB- blood group. 93.1% subjects were Rhesus positive and 6.9% were Rhesus negative. The findings were similar to findings in other parts of Africa, but different from Caucasian values. The predominant O+ blood group showed that the student population could be a good source and that the health system could harness it to ensure a readily available supply of blood for blood banks in the Niger Delta region.Key words: Voluntary Blood donation, predominant Blood group, education, Niger Delta regio

Effects of Dietary Xylopia aethiopica on Hematological Parameters and Plasma Lipids in Male Wistar Rats

The effects of dietary intake of whole fruits of Xylopia aethiopica on blood parameters were studied. The PVC, Hb, MCV, MCHC, RBC, WBC, platelets, ESR, PT, APTT, cholesterol and triglyceride were estimated using standard methods. The fruits demonstrated significant increases (p<0.05) in Hb concentration, PCV, MCV and RBC counts, and significant decreases (p<0.05) in ESR and total cholesterol in the male Wistar rats. It is concluded that the whole fruits of Xylopia aethiopica exhibited positive effects on blood cell indices and properties, probably by virtue of its rich iron content, and that its reduction in serum total cholesterol is a welcome development as an antihyperlipidemia against the cardiovascular risk factors associated with elevated blood cholesterol levels.Key words: Xylopia aethiopica, hematological parameters, Lipid profile, Wistar rat

Effects of Septrin Administration on Blood Cells Parameters in Humans

The hematological changes associated with septrin administration in humans were investigated. One hundred (100) male patients (aged 18-40 years) who were placed on the therapeutic dose of septrin were divided into four groups based on the prescribed duration of their septrin intake. Twenty (20) healthy males served as the control. At the end of the treatment period, blood was obtained from each subject for the estimation of blood parameters following standard procedures. The results showed that the packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophils and platelets were significantly decreased (p<0.05), especially after 7-10 days of septrin administration, compared to the control values. On the other hand, the reticulocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils and prothrombin time (PT) showed significant increases (p<0.05), compared to the value for the control. The observed changes in blood parameters in this study were all duration-dependent. It is concluded that septrin administration can cause alterations in blood parameters, and these duration-dependent changes should be put into consideration when recommending its intake.Key words: Septrin, Hematological parameters, Humans, Therapeutic dos