Wilson Oliver Hamman

Evaluation of the Relationship between Handgrip Strength with Some Anthropometries among Nigerian Secondary School Students

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between handgrip strength and some anthropometric variables in 400 randomly selected Secondary School Students in Kano, Nigeria. The students were from two secondary schools and were aged 14-18 years with mean age of 16.00±1.35. The anthropometric variables namely, the height, weight, BMI, hand width and length, upper and lower arm length, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and handgrip strength were measured using standard anthropometric measurement techniques. The results from the present study showed that male students had higher mean values in seven variables namely, the height (16.00±1.35kg), weight (46.34±8.30cm), hand length (19.34±0.98cm), hand width (10.45±0.90cm), forearm length (27.93±1.92cm), arm length (31.93±2.46cm), handgrip strength (35.63±17.17), and lower mean values in two variables namely, BMI (17.45±2.30) and MUAC (24.23±2.26cm). In male students, handgrip strength had significant positive correlations (Pd”0.01) with all the variables studied while in the female students, handgrip strength had a significant positive correlation (P<0.01) with some of the variables studied. It may be concluded that handgrip strength had strong positive correlations with all the anthropometric variables studied in Nigerian Secondary School Students of Kano metropolis.

The prevalence of neural tube defects in live born neonates in Kano, North-Western Nigeria

Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are congenital malformations of the cranium, spine, and nervous system. About 350,000 infants are born with NTDs yearly worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and spectrum of NTDs in live-born neonates in the Kano Metropolis of North-western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study of all live-born neonates in three selected hospitals in the Kano metropolis between April 2013 and December 2013. A descriptive study design was employed. Neonates delivered at gestational ages 28 weeks or more were examined within 48 h of birth for external congenital anomalies. Detailed family history and clinical data were recorded for each child. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Of the 1456 neonates recruited into the study, there were 757 (52%) boys and 699 (48%) girls. Of these, 4 neonates (2 boys and 2 girls) had NTDs (male:female ratio = 1:1), giving a birth prevalence of NTDs (2 spina bifida cystic, 1 anencephaly, and 1 encephalocele) of 2.75/1000 live births. The mean gestational age for the neonates with NTDs was 38 weeks (standard deviation [SD] 2.16 weeks) while their mean birth weight was 2.93 kg (SD 0.51 kg). Only 5.03% of the mothers in this study began the use of folic acid-containing multivitamin supplement at least 1-month before or in the 1 st month of the index pregnancy. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of NTDs in this study, public health measures aimed at the prevention of this anomaly should be encouraged.

Relationship between body mass index and timing of maturation

Background: Menarche is the first menstrual period. The increasing incidence of overweight/obesity and decline in the median age at menarche had led investigators to hypothesize potential associations of age at menarche with body mass index (BMI). We assess these associations between reproductive and nonreproductive age females. Aim: The present study assessed the relationship between BMI and the timing of menarche among contemporary Nigerian girls. Methods: The present cross-sectional anthropometric study was performed in 2014 using 600 menstruating and 200 nonmenstruating girls aged 11–18 years in Nigeria. We classified the menarcheal age of our participants into early, ideal, and late. Participants were also categorized based on their nutritional status into underweight, normal, and overweight. Results: Mean age at menarche was 13.54 years. Age at onset of menarche was inversely associated with BMI. Precocious menarche (<12 years) when compared to ideal (12–13 years) or late (≥14 years) menarche was found to be associated with a higher BMI (F = 10.64, P < 0.05). Overweight girls also reach maturation earlier than their contemporaries with moderate to lean body status (F = 15.32, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Girls with high BMI or overweight reach menarche earlier in life than their lean or low BMI counterparts.

Nutritional evaluation using different anthropometric variables in Nigerian school children

The anthropometric characteristics of 600 apparently healthy children of ages between 5 and 10 years of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja Nigeria, consisting of males (n = 300) with a mean age of 7.10 ΁ 1.98 and females (n = 300) with a mean age of 7.68 ΁ 1.86 were selected for the evaluation of their nutritional status using different anthropometric variables. The anthropometric characteristic of their height, age, weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), chest circumference and body mass index (BMI) was measured and analysed statistically for any significant difference, and correlation between the parameters studied. The results show some significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between the anthropometric parameters and a significant correlation (≤0.001) between the height and BMI, and other parameters in males and females. The study derived a linear regression and a multiple linear regression equations for Gbagyi children from which height, age, weight, MUAC, chest circumference and BMI could be predicted if one factor is known. The results from the present study provided an insight into the nutritional status of Nigerian school children of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja using the BMI and MUAC which showed if a child is malnourished, overweight or obese. The results from the present study show that there is a positive correlation between height and age, and other parameters indicating that height could be predicted using age, weight, BMI, chest circumference and MUAC, while BMI and mid upper arm circumference could be a useful tool in the estimation of nutritional status among Nigerian school children of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja.

Effects of vitamin E administration on phostoxin-induced changes in the kidney of adult Wistar rats

Aim: The effect of vitamin E on phostoxin-induced changes in biochemical parameters and the kidney of adult Wistar rats were studied. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly separated into six groups of five rats each. Group 1 was the Control and was given normal saline. Group 2 was exposed to phostoxin for 3 hours per day with vitamin E and Group 3 was exposed to phostoxin for 1΍ hours with vitamin E. Groups 4 and 5 were treated with phostoxin only on exposure time of 1΍ and 3 hours respectively while Group 6 was treated with vitamin E only. The rats were exposed to phostoxin through inhalational method for 7 days and at the end of the exposure period, the rats were sacrificed. The blood and tissues were collected for analysis and were processed for histological studies. Results: The results showed significant changes in body weight of the rats (P < 0.05) while there was a significant increase in weight of the kidneys in Groups 3 and 6 when compared to the Control (P < 0.05). The results of the biochemical parameters Na + , K + , Cl−, urea, creatinine and HCO3 showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the control and the experimental groups. The results of histological examination of the kidney showed changes in animals exposed to phostoxin when compared to the Control animals. Conclusion: The changes in the kidney depend on the duration of the exposure time while vitamin E administration has been shown to have some level of protection on phostoxin-induced toxicity on the kidney tissues and biochemical parameters of the adult Wistar rats.

Therapeutic effects of balanitoside in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of balanitoside in diabetic rats. Methods Twenty-five rats were divided into five groups. Rats in groups 2 to 5 were treated with streptozotocin to induce hyperglycemia. In addition, rats in groups 1 and 2 received 1 mL of distilled water, whereas those in groups 3, 4, and 5 received 10 and 20 mg/kg balanitoside and 6 U/kg insulin, respectively, for 14 days. All rats were sacrificed on day 15, blood samples were collected, and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. The liver was processed for examination under a light microscope. Results The results showed a significant decrease in liver protein concentrations in diabetic control rats, compared to those in the normal control rats and rats treated with 10 mg/kg balanitoside (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in ALP levels among all groups. However, a significant increase in ALT and AST levels was observed in the diabetic control rats, compared to those in the normal control rats (p < 0.05). Photomicrographs of the liver of the diabetic control rats showed fat and glycogen droplets, vacuolated nuclei, and loss of cellular boundaries, whereas those of the rats treated with balanitoside or insulin showed a small amount of microvesicular fat droplets and slight infiltration of lymphocytes. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest the therapeutic effects of balanitoside in the liver of diabetic rats.

Sexual Dimorphism and Estimation of Height from Body Length Anthropometric Parameters among the Hausa Ethnic Group of Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate the sexual dimorphism in length and other anthropometric parameters. To also generate formulae for height estimation using anthropometric measurements of some length parameters among Hausa ethnic group of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted and a total of 500 subjects participated in this study which was mainly secondary school students between the age ranges of 16-27 years, anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard protocols. It was observed that there was significant sexual dimorphism in all the parameters except for body mass index. In all the parameters males tend to have significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean values except biaxillary distances. Height showed positive and strongest correlations with demispan length, followed by knee height, thigh length, sitting height, hand length, foot length, humeral length, forearm length and weight respectively. There were weak and positive correlations between height and neck length as well as biaxillary length. The demi span length showed the strongest correlation coefficient and low standard error of estimate indicating the strong estimation ability than other parameters. The combination of two parameters tends to give better estimations and low standard error of estimates, so also combining the three parameters gives better estimations with a lower standard error of estimates. The better correlation coefficient was also observed with the double and triple parameters respectively. Male Hausa tend to have larger body proportion compared to female. Height showed positive and strongest correlations with demispan length. Body length anthropometric proved to be useful in estimation of stature among Hausa ethnic group of Kaduna state Nigeria.

Relationship between age at menarche and anthropometric profiles, demography, and ethnicity among adolescent girls in Nigeria

Introduction: This study was made to evaluate and compare the age at menarche among Nigerian schoolgirls from Hausa and Igbo ethnic groups, and to examine whether ethnicity, demographics, and selected anthropometric characteristics of the studied population influence age at menarche. This was a retrospective cohort study. Materials and Methods: Data pertaining to menarche, ethnicity, and demographics were collected using questionnaires from 800 secondary schoolgirls of Nigeria, in 2014. Six hundred (600) were postmenarcheal, while 200 were premenarcheal. Among the schoolgirls, 300 postmenarcheal and 100 premenarcheal girls were of Hausa and Igbo descent, respectively. We compared the mean age at menarche of girls based on ethnicity, demographics, and the anthropometric parameters of menstruating and nonmenstruating girls. The relationship between anthropometric indices and age at menarche was determined. Results: Mean age at menarche among girls from Igbo ethnicity is lower than that of girls of Hausa ethnicity. Compared to rural girls, girls from urban centers reach menarche earlier. The mean age at menarche of the entire sample population was 13.54 ± 0.90 years. Mean ages at menarche of Hausa and Igbo girls were 13.65 ± 0.92 years and 13.44 ± 0.87 years, respectively. Mean body mass index (BMI) values in postmenarcheal and premenarcheal age were 20.50 ± 2.13 kg/m2 and 17.64 ± 1.40 kg/m2, respectively. The mean weight and height of menstruating girls were 49.02 ± 3.85 kg and 154.92 ± 0.05 cm, respectively, while those of nonmenstruating girls were 38.83 ± 2.60 kg and 147.56 ± 3.54 cm, respectively. Conclusion: Ethnicity, demographics, and selected anthropometric measurements have influence on age at menarche. Girls of Igbo ethnicity reach maturity earlier than those of Hausa descent, girls in urban centers have lower age at menarche, and the anthropometric measurements of menstruating girls are higher than those of nonmenstruating girls.

Effects of Mercury Chloride on the Cerebral Cortex of Adult Wistar Rats

Mercury is among the heavy metals that have been reported to cause devastating health problem worldwide. The primary site of action of mercury chloride is the central nervous system. This study investigated the effect of mercury chloride on the cerebral cortex of adult wistar rats. Twenty-four (24) adult wistar rats were used for this study. Following four (4) weeks of acclimatization, the rats were randomly divided into five groups of five animals per group. The animals were allowed free access to food and water throughout the period of experment. Group 1 was the control group and was administered distilled water, while groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were administer 6.6mg/kg, 13.2mg/kg, 26.3mg/kg and 52.2mg/kg body weight of mercury chloride solution orally respectively for eight (8) days. After the period of mercury chloride administration, the animals were anaesthetized using chloroform and where sacrificed. The brain was fixed in Bouins fluid and the tissue processed and stained with haematoxylin and eocin stains and were studied under the microscope. The photomicrographs reveal distortion and diffusion of cells and a widespread necrosis of the cortical neurons. Keywords : Mercury chloride, Cerebral cortex, Degenerative changes