K. C. Anugweje

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy in Port Harcourt.

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy, to consider the antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of involved uropathogens, to elucidate the safety profiles of antibacterial agents, and to evaluate the role of urinalysis in screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Methods About 760 apparently healthy pregnant subjects attending the Antenatal Clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were randomly selected for this study. Urinalysis and microscopy, culture, and sensitivity tests were carried out on clean-catch midstream urine samples obtained from subjects. Biochemical reagent strips were used for urinalysis while the standard wire loop and agar diffusion technique were respectively employed for culture and susceptibility testing. Results A total of 111 samples yielded moderate or severe growth on culture after 48 hours comprising 35, 31, 27, and 18 isolates of Staphylococcus spp., Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., and Escherichia spp , respectivehy. Urinalysis results were positive for the presence of nitrate reductase and leucocyte esterase activity in 17 urine samples of these 111 samples. The isolates showed a general sensitivity to the fluorinated quinolones and to Nitrofurantoin. Conclusions The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is 14.6%, with the predominant organism being Staphylococcus spp . Drugs used for treatment should have excellent fetal safety profiles, and a rapid screening test with a high negative predictive value for asymptomatic bacteriuria would be ideal.

Evaluation of the Amino Acid Profile and Haemoglobin Polymerization Inhibition Potential of Some Nigerian Legumes

The amino acid profile and the effects of the seed extracts of Sphenostylis sternocarpa , Monodora myristica and Mucuna sloanei were studied based on their ability to inhibit haemoglobin polymerization and improve the Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratio of sickle cell erythrocytes. The samples were fractionated into crude aqueous extract (CAE), fat-soluble (FAS), butanol-soluble (BUS) and water-soluble (WAS) fractions. The CAEs of the samples ranked highest in amino acid content in the range of S. sternocarpa (7.12 ± 0.00 g/100g)>M. myristica (6.00 ± 0.15 g/100g)>M. sloanei (3.56 ± 0.21 g/100g). The amino acids identified in appreciable quantities in the seed samples included Phe, Leu, Val, Ile, His, Arg, Tyr, Met, among others. The extracts inhibited polymerization to varying degrees with CAE of both S. sternocarpa and M. myristica , as well as the WAS of M. myristica eliciting significantly (p<0.05) high percent inhibition of polymerization when compared with Phe standard. The extracts improved the Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratio of HbSS blood from 1.36% for CAE of M. sloanei to 85.04% for CAE of S. sternocarpa ; and from 11.03% for WAS of S. sternocarpa to 36.08% for WAS of M. sloanei . These legumes could, therefore, have immense nutritional and therapeutic importance in the management of sickle cell disease and other related diseases.

Radiologic Study of Ischiopubic Index of Urhobos and Itsekiris of Nigeria

The study was designed to determine and compare the pubic length, ischial length and ischiopubic indices amongst Urhobos and Itsekiris. The parameters were measured from radiographs obtained from the Radiology department of Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara and Capitol Hill Clinic, Warri both in Delta State, Nigeria. Anteroposterior radiographs of 93 adult pelvis (age range, 18 years and above) were evaluated. 66 of the radiographs were those of Urhobos (36 males and 30 females), while 27 were those of Itsekiris (13 males and 14 females). The morphological measurements were the pubic length, ischial length and ischiopubic index. The mean values for pubic length, ischial length and ischiopubic index for Urhobo males were 78.51±12.4mm, 85.58±11.6mm and 91.66±5.86 respectively while those of their females was 92.39±7.08mm, 81.97±12.00mm and 114.93±18.14 respectively. The mean values for pubic length, ischial length and ischiopubic index for Itsekiri males were 82.20±10.62mm, Original Research Article Oladipo et al.; BJMMR, 5(9): 1114-1120, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.2015.125 1115 83.84±10.82mm and 98.40±9.37 respectively while those of their females was 92.05±6.36mm, 85.03±14.59mm and 111.03±18.37 respectively. There were significant data for male and female pubic length and ischiopubic indices both in Urhobos and Itsekiris. The demarking point of ischiopubic index was more useful in sex determination assigning sex to 78.6% Itsekiri females (p<0, 05). The accurate determination of sex and race are important tools to forensic scientists and physical and clinical anthropologists. Thus, this study is important as it has provided the necessary data for Nigerian population under investigation. The data is recommended to obstetricians, physical and clinical anthropologist and forensic scientists.

Dolicocephalization in Cephalic Indices of Adult Yorubas of Nigeria

Cephalic index is an important parameter useful in establishing racial and sexual dimorphism. This study was carried out to determine the cephalic indices of adult Yorubas of age 18 to 40 years. One thousand and twenty (1020) Yoruba adults consisting of 493 males and 527 females were recruited randomly for the study. These were all residents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State of Nigeria. The mean cephalic index of Yorubas without reference to gender was 74.39 ± 5.41. Dominant and rare types of head shapes are dolicocephalic (68.33%) and hyperbrachycephalic (5.00%), respectively. The mean cephalic indices were 75.02 ± 4.76 (mesocephalic) in males and 73.75 ± 5.13 (dolicocephalic) in females. We conclude that Yoruba males are mesocephalic while Yoruba females are dolicocephalic. Besides, this study also reveals dolicocephalization tending towards mesocephalization amongst Yorubas. These findings will be very useful in forensic science, physical and medical anthropology, and clinical practice, most especially craniofacial surgery as it presents a characteristic feature of the head configuration for this Nigerian race.