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A Nigerian study compared 141 male and 72 female farmers supervised by male extension agents and 22 male and 93 female farmers supervised by female agents. Women supervised by female agents had more access to extension services, higher knowledge, and greater satisfaction than women working with male agents. (SK)

Low levels of vitamin D in maternal and cord blood have been associated with neonatal sepsis. This study assessed the association of vitamin D metabolites (25(OH)D, 3-epi-25(OH)D 3 , and 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) levels in maternal and cord blood with newborn sepsis evaluation in Nigerian mother-infant dyads. Maternal and cord blood from 534 mothers and 536 newborns were processed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Spearman correlation was used to compare continuous variables, Mann-Whitney for dichotomous variables, and Kruskal-Wallis for two or more groups. High cord percent 3-epi-25(OH)D 3 levels were positively associated with newborn evaluation for sepsis ( p = 0.036), while maternal and cord 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 levels were not. Being employed was positively associated with maternal and newborn 3-epi-25(OH)D 3 concentrations ( p = 0.007 and p = 0.005, respectively). The maternal 3-epi-25(OH)D 3 and percent 3-epi-25(OH)D 3 were positively associated with vaginal delivery ( p = 0.013 and p = 0.012, respectively). Having a weight-for-age Z-score ≤ -2 was positively associated with newborn percent 3-epi-25(OH)D 3 levels ( p = 0.004), while a weight-for-length Z-score ≤ -3 was positively associated with maternal and newborn percent 3-epi-25(OH)D 3 levels ( p = 0.044 and p = 0.022, respectively). Our study highlights the need to further investigate the biological role of 3-epi-25(OH)D 3 and its clinical significance in fetal growth and newborn outcome.

This study was designed to compare United States (Washington, DC) black prostatic carcinoma patients (high-risk group) with Nigerian (Ibadan) black prostatic carcinoma patients (low-risk group). Although the material is meager, preliminary analyses suggest that carcinoma of the prostate is a common disease in both US black men (196 of 1000 autopsies) and in Nigerian black men (67 of 1000 autopsies). The tumor tends to be of a higher histologic grade (less well differentiated) and the carcinomatous foci are more numerous in the Nigerian patients. Fifty-three percent of US patients are in stages I and II when the disease is first discovered. Plasma testosterone, estrone, and estradiol concentrations did not differ significantly between US patients and controls. A statistically significant positive association is indicated between carcinoma of the prostate and the following epidemiologic variables: racial admixture, age of puberty, and age of first coitus. The median age of necropsy cases with carcinoma was 50.0 years in Nigeria and 68.3 years in the US.

Epidemiologic data reveal that the incidence rate of prostate gland carcinoma among the black population in the United States (US) is several times higher than among Nigerians. A collaborative study between the two countries was undertaken, and blood hormone (testosterone [T], dihydrotestosterone [DHT], estrone [E1], estradiol [E2], and prolactin [P1]), total acid phosphatase (TP), and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) profiles in the two population groups were compared. In the US groups (patients and controls) there were significantly higher levels of T (P less than 0.01) and E1 (P less than 0.05) compared with the Nigerians. Also, the US patients had significantly higher levels of T (P less than 0.05) and E1 (P less than 0.01) compared with their matched controls. In the Nigerians T but not E1 levels were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in patients compared with controls. DHT, E2, and P1 were not significantly different in patients and controls between and within the populations. Nigerian patients had higher levels (P less than 0.001) of TP and PAP compared with US patients. It is concluded that differences in blood hormone profiles in the two population groups are based on factors other than the genetic makeup of the populations.

A clinical and pathologic comparison of carcinoma of the prostate in a high-risk US (Washington, DC) black population and in a low-risk Nigerian (Ibadan) black population is presented. Fifty-two percent of American patients were in clinical stages I and II, whereas only 10% of Nigerian patients were in the same stages. Testosterone and estradiol blood levels were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in patients with carcinoma of the prostate from Ibadan compared with American black prostate cancer patients from Washington, DC. Age-standardized incidence rates (world standard) for 1000 autopsies for micro (incidental)-carcinoma were approximately equal in American and African black men. The incidence rate of invasive carcinoma was, however, even after adjustment for age, higher in American black men than in African men.

A comparison of carcinoma of the prostate gland in a low-incidence Nigerian (Ibadan) population and a high-incidence U.S. Afro-American (Washington, D.C.) population was the purpose for this study, initiated in 1973. The frequency of carcinoma (micro- and invasive) was determined in consecutive necropsy cases from hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria, Accra, Ghana and Washington, D.C. The results of these clinical, epidemiologic and morphologic studies are reported. Clinically, the peak incidence of carcinoma of the prostate in Nigerian males in Ibadan and in American males in Washington, D.C. was in the 65-74 age group. The median age of patients was 66.4 years in Ibadan and 69.2 years in Washington, D.C. Seventy-five percent of Nigerian and 49% of American patients were in stages III and IV. Overall, the distribution by grade of neoplasms in surgical material from Ibadan and Washington, D.C. was similar. Plasma testosterone and estrone levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001) in U.S. patients than in U.S. controls and higher (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05) in U.S. patients than in Nigerian patients with prostatic carcinoma. Plasma testosterone levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Nigerian patients than in Nigerian controls. Estrone levels were not significantly different in Nigerian patients than controls. Nigerian patients were more sexually active throughout their lives than American patients; however, they reported a higher incidence of impotence than U.S. patients in the immediate 5 years preceding the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. Nigerian respondents (patients and controls) arrived at puberty later than their American counterparts. Within each of the two population groups, the factor with the highest relative risk ratio was lower urinary tract symtoms occurring 10 years or longer before the onset of the present complaints which led to the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma. Nigerian and U.S. patients were more sexually active than controls. Microcarcinoma (incidental, latent) of the prostate gland occurred with a frequency of 11.8% and at an age-adjusted incidence rate (world standard) of 40.6 per 1000 necropsies in the sampled U.S. black male population. The age-adjusted incidence rate (world standard) for microcarcinoma in the combined West African (Accra and Ibadan) series (36.7/1000) was almost equal to the rate (40.6/1000) in the Washington, D.C. series.