ABSTRACT
The human placenta is considered as a mirror image of the neonate. The placenta provides an indirect linkbetween the maternal circulation and that of the foetus and serves as the organ for exchange of materialsthrough the process of diffusion. In evaluating the relationship between placental indices and neonatal outcome,a total of 236 placentae were obtained from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hospitalin Kumasi for this study. Placental indices measured were the placental weight, diameter and thickness whereasthose of the neonates were Neonatal weight, head circumference and length. Mean placental indices for weight,diameter and thickness were 578.81 g, 17.40 cm and 2.04 cm respectively. The mean neonatal indices were 3.24kg, 34.27 cm and 50.64 cm for weight, head circumference and length respectively. Neonatal weight correlatedsignificantly with placental weight, neonatal length and neonatal head circumference. The strong correlationbetween neonatal weight and placental weight as well as placental volume suggests that the healthy developmentof the foetus depends on a healthy placenta. This study further affirms that the placenta should be criticallyexamined in order to effectively monitor and manage adverse neonatal outcome.
ABSTRACT
Background: Ginger has been shown to have a positive effect on the function of the male reproductive organ.Studies have shown that ginger possess antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticholestereolemic,anticancerous, antiemetic, anti-rhinoviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-insecticidal properties. Dietary patternsin Africa especially Ghana are characterized by a high consumption of ginger. However, there is very littleinformation on the effects of ginger on semen characteristics.Aims: The study was designed to investigate the effects of ginger on the semen parameters of the male rats usingquantitative and qualitative methods.Materials and Methods: Forty-eight male wistar rats were divided into four groups designated as control, A, Band C and administered daily by gavage with 1 ml distilled water, 100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg ofethanolic ginger extract respectively for 30 days.Results and Discussion: The present study showed that there was a numerical increase in sperm count, spermmorphology, sperm viability and sperm motility in the extract-treated rats in a dose dependent manner whichwas statistically significant (p < 0.05).Conclusion: We concluded that ginger extract may be potentially useful in the management of male infertilityespecially those with low sperm count