Search

Aim: Assess the levels of heavy metals: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in three different sites of the major rice growing soils and determine its accumulation in the rice grown on the same site in Nnatu St Azuuiyi Udene, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State. Study Design: Soil and rice samples were collected from three different farm locations into properly labeled plastic bags respectively using a 9mm soil Augerin Nnatu St AzuuiyiUdene, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State. Methodology: The collected samples were air-dried, ground, sieved and acid digested. The heavy metals in the samples were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer PG instrument AA500 FPC model. Results: The Mean ± SD (mg/kg) of heavy metals in rice were; As: 0.0013, Cd: 0.001, Pb: 0.002, Zn: 0.3620. Cu: 0.001 in site 1 whereas in Site 2; As: 0.0013, Cd:0.001, Pb:0.002, Zn:0.5040, Cu:0. 001. In site 3, the metals in rice were; As: 0.0013, Cd: 0.001, Pb: 0.002, Zn: 0.1950, and Cu: 0.040 respectively. The levels in the soil samples in site 1 were; As: 0.0013, Cd: 0.001, Pb: 0.002, Zn: 1.932. Cu: 0. 0267. In site 2, As: 0.0013, Cd: 0.001, Pb: 0.002, Zn: 1.597, Cu: 0.1550 and in site 3. As: 0.0013, Cd: 0.001, Pb: 0.002, Zn: 3.383, Cu: 0.0730 respectively. The mean values for arsenic, cadmium and lead in the soil and rice samples, respectively, were not significantly different (P > 0.05) in the three different sites whereas, for copper and zinc, the mean values were significantly different (P < 0.05) from each other at the different spots with an elevated concentration of copper and zinc in the soil samples than in the rice samples. However, these values were far lower than the values indicated by the World Health Organization as hazardous. Conclusion: The rice samples grown in Nnatu St AzuuiyiUdene, Abakiliki is safe for consumption.

The effect of cement dust has been linked to many diseases but very few studies have been able to study the impact of cement on oxidative stress, inflammation and carcinogenesis in Port Harcourt. Therefore, this study was focus on assessing the effect of cement dust on total antioxidant status (TAS), inflammatory markers and cancer markers among cement loaders in Port Harcourt. The study was conducted in Port Harcourt among 100 cement loaders and 100 non-cement exposed individuals who made up the control group. Upon consenting to participate in the study, subjects were randomly selected for recruitment into the study. Five milliliters of blood was collected from each subject and was assayed for total antioxidant status (TAS) using enzymatic colorimetric method, IL-10, IL-1 \(\beta\) , Neuron specific Enolase (NSE), C-Reactive protein (CRP), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) using ELISA technique. Results compared TAS, IL-10, IL-1 \(\beta\) , NSE, CRP and VEGF-A levels between cement exposed group and control group. TAS result revealed that there was a significant decrease between in the exposed group (P-value=0.0011). CRP, result revealed that there was no significant difference between both groups (P-value=0.1103). IL-10, result revealed that there was a significant decrease in the exposed group (P-value=0.0030). IL-1 \(\beta\) , result revealed that there was a significant increase in the exposed group (P-value=0.0012). VEGF-A result revealed that there was no significant difference between both groups (P-value=0.653). NSE, result revealed that there was a significant increase in the exposed groups (P-value

Aim: Haematological and anthropometric profile of pregnant women who had gestational diabetes and non-diabetic pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Tertiary Hospital in Rivers State, Nigeria were evaluated, Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving 70 pregnant women comprising of 40 diabetic and 30 non-diabetics for the purpose of comparing haematological and anthropometrical parameters in diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women. Using standard venipuncture technique,5ml blood sample was aseptically drawn from the subjects and 2.5ml dropped into each of two different anticoagulant sample bottles -Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic Acid(EDTA) and fluoride-oxalate bottles respectively. The methods of choice for estimation of parameters were Enzymatic Colorimetric method for glucose and Automation using Sysmex KX-21N Haematology Analyzer for full blood count. Results were statistically analyzed using Graph Pad prism version 5.0 and statistical significance set at P0.05). The mean± SD of white blood cell (9.73±0.49103/µl versus 7.27±1.66×103/µl) and mean cell volume (79.3±4.16 fl and 85.24±0.39fl) were statistically significantly different (P0.05).Body mass index (BMI) 28.33±3.81 kg/m2, 32.86±5 kg/m2, 37.96±.3.44 kg/m2 showed statistically significant difference (P0.05). Conclusion: Gestational diabetes is capable of causing changes in haematological parameters; but it could improve or disappear after child birth. Factors such as lifestyle activities and diet can predispose pregnant women to gestational diabetes mellitus and this can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby.

Background: In developed countries, heart disease and stroke are the major causes of death. One of the main risk factors of cardiovascular disease is dyslipidemia, and this could be due to increased lipoproteins and/or decreased plasma clearance. Pregnancy is marked with changes in metabolism in preparation for the developing fetus and lactation after delivery. Pregnancy causes long-term metabolic and vascular changes, which may raise the general risk of heart disease. Aim: The goal of this study was to see how cardiovascular indicators changed during pregnancy in hypertensive pregnant women at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Methodology: The study included 150 people who were divided into three groups: Non-pregnant hypertensive women (50), pregnant hypertensive women (50), and pregnant hypertensive women (50). (50 hypertensive pregnant women). After giving their consent, subjects were chosen using a simple random procedure. Total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), low lipoprotein density (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), uric acid (UA), C-Reactive protein (CRP), apoprotein A1 (APoA1), and apoprotein B (APoB1) were all measured in the lab using the venipuncture technique under fasting conditions (APoB). Results: The findings revealed that there was a significant difference in each of the examined parameters (P0.05). Conclusion: This study has shown that hypertensive pregnant women are potential future candidates of cardiovascular disease.

Several studies have been conducted on hepatitis B virus and its manifestations including its effect on organ functions. Hepatitis B virus is a hepatotropic virus which courses inflammations of the liver and other complications such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver failure and death, this study assessed the effect of hepatitis B virus on liver functions in asymptomatic blood donors in some towns within three (3) geo-political zones in Nigeria. Method: A total of 183 subjects consisting of 137 males and 46 females participated in the North Central geopolitical zone: 176 subjects consisting of 129 males and 47 females participated in the North East, while 173 subjects consisting of 123 males and females participated in the South South Zone. The mean age of the subjects were 34.89 _+ 9.19 years for the three zones respectively. Blood sample were collected from the subjects and tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and also Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) to rule out co-infection using ELISA. All samples were analysed for liver function parameter such as Total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, total protein, Albumin, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alannie Aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), using Chemwell 2910 fully Automated chemistry analyser. The results were analysed using statistical analysis system (SAS, STAT 15.1), and p values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean values of total protein, albumin total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin aspirant aminotransferase (AST & ALT) and alkaline phosphate (ALP) did not vary significantly (P 005) between the hepatitis B virus negative and hepatitis B virus positive subjects across the geopolitical zones studied. However, the variation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significant (p > 0.014) between the two treatment groups across the three geopolitical zones, but the margin was not wide enough to draw clinical ....

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Abia State and Laboratory Department, JAROS Inspection Services Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, between April 2018 and June 2018. Methodology: A total of 204 samples comprising of 123 auto-mechanics and 81 non -auto-mechanics were assayed. Detailed information of the bio-data of the subjects including age, gender, medical history, health information and lifestyle were obtained from each participant. Blood samples were collected from for the analysis of inflammation markers, IL-6, TNF-α and CRP were determined using standard methods and techniques. The effect of age and duration of exposure on the inflammation parameters were considered. Statistical Analysis System (SAS), STAT 15.1, developed by SAS Institute, North Carolina State University, USA was used for statistical analysis. Data were presented as Mean ± SEM, comparison of means of groups that are more than two was done using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and the Tukey test of multiple comparison was used to test for variance within and across groups. Results: There was significant increase in the means of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP in the exposed subjects (p 0.05) in the means of IL-6, TNF-α and C-reactive protein (CRP) between the age groups of the exposed and the control subjects. Similarly, there was no significant difference between the groups, based on duration of exposure. This suggests that the toxic effect does not depend on the age or duration of exposure but on other factors for the automechanics in Aba. Conclusion: This study shows that the exposure of automechanics may significantly increase the serum IL-6 TNF-α and Hs-CRP levels. Increase in the serum levels of the inflammation markers is predictive of the danger of future pathology in automechanics compared with non automechanics in Aba metropolis. Age and duration did not influence significant variation in the automechanics.

Paracetamol, a widely available analgesic and antipyretic drug has been reported to cause toxicity when taken in overdose. This study investigated the protective effects of almond seeds and vitamin E on liver and kidney of rats exposed to paracetamol toxicity. Fifty- one (51) male albino rats grouped into nine (9) groups (A-I) were used for this study. Groups A, B and C served as normal control, post-treatment control and pre-treatment control respectively. Groups D, E and F are the post-treatment test groups while groups G, H and I are the pre-treatment test groups. The various test groups in both the post-treatment and the pre-treatment groups were given almond seeds, vitamin E and combined treatment by oral gavage for 14 days. Three kilogram (3g/kg) body weight (b.w) of paracetamol were used to induce hepatorenal toxicity in the paracetamol control and test groups of the post-treatment groups on day 1 before commencement of treatment while paracetamol control and test groups of the pre-treatment groups were induced on day 14 after treatment. The animals were sacrificed on day 15. Renal and liver indices investigated were Laboratory (Urea and Creatinine) and (AST, ALT and ALP). The result showed that oral administration of 3g/kg b.w paracetamol caused a significant increase in renal indices and liver enzymes in rats. Post-treatment result showed that almond group (group D) significantly reduced LDL and increased SOD level. Vitamin E (group E) showed no significant difference in all parameters. The combined treatment (group F) significantly reduced ALT levels. Pre-treatment results revealed that almond (group F) significantly reduced Ureaand ALP. Vitamin E (group H) significantly reduced Urea, Creatinine, AST, ALT and ALP. Combined treatment (group I) significantly reduced Urea, Creatinine, AST, ALT and ALP. Hence from the results, it is concluded that pre-treatment with almond, vitamin E and their combination have potentials in preventing hepaticand nephrotoxic damage induced by paracetamol overdose.

Questionnaire. (PDF 47 kb)