Sunday Samuel Adebisi

EFFECTS OF ALUMINIUM CHLORIDE EXPOSURE ON THE HISTOLOGY OF THE LIVER OF ADULT WISTAR RATS

Aluminium is presents in many manufactured foods, medicines and is also added to drinking water for purification purposes. It presence has so heavily contaminated the environment that exposure to it is virtually inescapable. The liver is the largest gland of the body that processes blood and breaks down nutrients, drugs into forms that are easier to use for the rest of the body. This study was aimed at evaluating the possible effects that aluminium chloride exposure could have on the histology of the liver. Ten wistar rats were used and were divided into five groups; group I was the control, group II received 475mg kg -1 , group III received 950mgkg -1 , group IV received 1,425mg kg -1 and group V received 1,900mg kg -1 via oral intubation for duration of eight weeks. The liver tissues was fixed, processed, stained in H&E and slides viewed under light microscope. Our observations showed that aluminium chloride exposure was detrimental to the liver of wistar rats, as indicated by congested central vein and distorted sinusoids.

Sex prediction using ridge density and thickness among the Hausa ethnic group of Kano state, Nigeria

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine sexual dimorphism and to predict sex using thumbprint ridge density and thickness among the Hausa ethnic group of Nigeria. A total of 283 subjects comprising 147 males and 136 females participated in the study. The density was determined from the count of ridges found diagonally within 25 mm2 using an indirect method of ridge thickness measurement. The results showed that the ulnar ridge density of males (10.01 ± 1.31) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of females (10.91 ± 1.69) in the right thumb. The ridge thickness was observed to have an inverse relation with ridge density. It was also noted that the right ulnar ridge count was the single best variable to predict sex (63.4% accuracy). For the left thumbprints, the proximal ridge thickness predicted the sex (62.8% accuracy). The predicted probabilities of binary logistic regression showed that ulnar ridge count and proximal ridge thickness were the best predictors with a higher area under the curve (>0.5) in the right and left thumbprints respectively. In conclusion, different regions of thumbprints have different potentials in term of sex prediction. Ridge density and thickness hold potential as tools for sex inference among the Hausa population of Nigeria.

Evaluation of Facial Proportions and Their Association with Thumbprint Patterns among Hausa Ethnic Group

Background. Evolutionary forces such as founder effect resulted in reproductive isolation and reduced genetic diversity may have led to ethnic variation in the facial appearance and other features like fingerprints pattern. Aim. To determine the pattern of facial proportion based on neoclassical facial canon. The associations between facial proportions and thumbprint patterns were also investigated. Subject and Methods. A total of 534 subjects of 18–25 years of age participated. Direct sensing and photographs methods were used to determine fingerprint and facial features, respectively. Fisher’s Exact test was used to test for association between variables. Results. It was observed that in both males and females there was no (0%) occurrence of classical canon of facial proportion. There was also no association between sex and facial proportions. A significant association was found in between thumbprint patterns and vertical class III neoclassical facial proportion only when the frequency of both left and right thumbprint patterns was considered a single entity. There is no significant association between the thumbprint patterns of the right and left thumbs with vertical horizontal facial proportions in male and female participants. It was observed that right and left thumbs have more tendency of significance with facial proportion in males and females, respectively. Conclusion. Fingerprint pattern and its associated features may be controlled by a different mechanism such that the two may correlate differently with other features as the case may be with facial features.

Prediction of Nasolabial Distance using Thumbprint Ridge Density among the Hausa Population of Nigeria

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the potentials of thumbprint ridge count in the prediction of nasolabial facial distances among the Hausa population of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which a total of 457 subjects participated. Plain fingerprints were captured using a fingerprint scanner. Three areas, ulnar, radial and proximal were defined for determination of ridge counts. A photographic method was used to capture the facial images. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to measure the linear dependence between thumbprint ridge density and Nasolabial distances. Stepwise linear multiple regression analysis was used to predict nasolabial distances from thumbprint ridge density. SPSS statistical software version 20 was used for the statistical analysis and a p -value of < 0.05 was set as a level of significance. Results: Results showed that in males left proximal ridge count correlates negatively with nasal length, philtrum length, and upper lip length and mouth width. The upper lip length and nasal width correlate negatively with left ulnar ridge count and right radial ridge counts, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between ulnar ridge count with nasal length and lower vermilion width. In females, appositive correlation was observed only between lower vermilion width and left proximal ridge counts. Left proximal ridge counts predict most of the nasolabial distances in males. In females, only the left proximal ridge counts showed potential in the prediction of facial distances. Conclusion: The study concluded that the thumbprint correlates with facial distances of the nasolabial region. The proximal part of the thumbprint may respond to the same instruction in utero with the lower part of the face, hence leading to the prediction of nasolabial facial distances from the proximal ridge counts among the Hausa population of Nigeria.

Median Nerve Conduction in Healthy Nigerians: Normative Data

Background: Because of lack of local normative data, electrodiagnostic laboratories in Nigeria apply standard values generated in the USA and Europe to diagnose different median nerve abnormalities. Aim: To develop normative values for motor and sensory median nerve conduction studies (NCSs) in Nigerian population. Subjects and Methods: In a cross-sectional study design, a total of 200 healthy volunteers were selected after clinical evaluation to exclude systemic or neuromuscular disorders. NCS of the median nerves was conducted on all the healthy volunteers according to a standardized protocol. The data included in the final analysis were amplitude, latency, and nerve conduction velocity. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. Results: The reference range for median nerve (motor) velocity, distal latency, and amplitude were 49.48–66.92, 1.95–4.52, and 4.3–11.3, respectively. The reference range for median nerve F-wave latency was 44.8–70.5. The reference range for median nerve (sensory) velocity, distal latency, and amplitude were 44.8–70.5, 1.98–4.52, and 16.6–58.4, respectively. Conclusion: Reference values for the nerve conduction parameters of the median (motor and sensory) in the study population were similar to those obtained in the literature.

Stature estimation using regression equations from hand dimensions among hausa neonates of kano state, Nigeria

Introduction: Stature (ST) (or height) of an individual is useful information for making forensic identifications. Before estimating ST, one must determine the race, sex, and age of the individual as ST varies with these variables. Most ST estimation has been reported on adults, but there is a paucity of data in the subadult group. Objectives: Firstly, the study aimed at finding the relationship (correlation) between ST and hand dimensions (hand length [HL] and hand breadth [HB]). Secondly, is to form linear regression equations that can be used to estimate ST among the Hausa neonates. Materials and Methods: A total of 549 Hausa neonates (0-28 days) were involved in the study. HL was measured from the mid-point of the distal wrist crease, to the tip of the middle finger, while HB was measured from the head of the fifth to the head of second-metacarpal bone. ST was also measured as the projective distance between the highest point on the head (vertex), and the most posterior projecting point of the heel. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between ST and hand dimensions. Regression equations were formed for each of the measured parameters for both sexes. Conclusions: The result showed that hand dimensions can be used to estimate ST in Hausa neonates of Kano State, Nigeria.