Distribution of ABO, Rhesus D and Subgroups of ABO among Blood Donors in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

ABO, Rhesus D and subgroups of ABO are highly immunogenic and are the common cause of antibody production in mismatched blood transfusions, haemolytic transfusion reaction and maternal alloimmunization. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of ABO, Rh D and subgroups of ABO among blood donors attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria. ABO, Rhesus D and subgroups of ABO antigen status of 176 blood donors with mean age of 30.44 � 8.210 years attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto were determined using tile method for ABO and Rh D and conventional tube method for anti- A1, anti- H reagents for ABO subgroups respectively. Among the 176 subjects tested, blood group O+ was the most frequent group with 93 (52.8%), 39 (22.2%) were blood group B+, 37(21.0%) were blood group A+, 5 (2.8%) were blood group AB+, 2 (1.1%) were blood group O-. No data was obtained for A-, B- and AB- blood groups. Out of 37 A blood groups obtained, 31 (83.8%) had A1 antigens and 6 (16.2%) had A2 antigens. Out of the 5 AB blood groups, all had A1B antigens. The study also shows that there was statistically significant difference between blood group A and ethnic groups (Hausa, Fulani and Yoruba) (p<0.05). Blood group O was found to be the most frequent followed by B, A and AB except among Hausa which revealed a pattern of O> A> B> AB. ABO, subgroups shows majority had A1 followed by A2 and A1B respectively.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a 2-month old infant: a case report

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in young infants is easily misdiagnosed as bronchopneumonia yet survival of such patients lies in prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment. The report aimed to increase awareness among Paediatricians and Paediatric Surgeons of the need for high index of suspicion for this condition to allow for early diagnosis and management. A two-month old infant presented with a five-week history of cough of sudden onset and a week history of difficulty in breathing. He had been managed in several hospitals for bronchopneumonia. Examination findings showed features of respiratory distress, widespread coarse crepitations and bowel sounds in the lung fields. Chest radiograph showed `loops of bowel in the mediastinum. He had surgical reduction and repair of the hernia, made excellent recovery post-op and was discharged home. CDH is an uncommon anomaly but a high index of suspicion will allow early diagnosis and treatment with favourable outcome when picked early

Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Platelet, Prothrombin Time and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time of Alcoholics in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria.

Aims: Alcoholism is a global public health problem with significant socioeconomic implications. The aim was to investigate the effect of alcoholism on the haematological and haemostatic parameters of consecutively recruited alcoholics in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State and North Western Nigeria. Study Design and Methodology: This prospective case-control study included one hundred adults alcoholics [≥18 years), aged range (18-60), mean age (38.46 ± 13.26) and made up of 68 males (68%) and 32 females (32%)]. Fifty gender and age matched non-alcoholics were monitored as controls. Ethical approval was obtained from the research and ethics committee in the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. Written informed consent was obtained from all study subjects after counselling. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the service laboratory in the Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science in Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto North Western Nigeria between May 2011 to February, 2012. Result: Participants for this study included 50 heavy alcoholics and 50 moderate alcoholics (subjects) and 50 age and gender –matched non-alcoholics (controls). Platelet count of non-alcoholics, moderate and heavy alcoholics was; 260.7 ± 48.17, 253.3 ± 43.16 and 130.6 ± 6.79 respectively. Platelet count was significantly lower among heavy alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics (p=0.0001). Although marginally higher, there was no statistically significant difference in the platelet count of moderate alcoholics and non-alcoholics (p=0.10). We observed a negative correlation between platelet count and duration of alcoholism (r=-0.62). The mean prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) values of non-alcoholics, moderate alcoholics and heavy alcoholics was; (14.46 ± 0.97 and 34.82 ± 13.71), (15.74 ± 1.26 and 35.78 ± 3.50) and (19.46 ± 0.93 and 43.42 ± 5.13) respectively. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time values were significantly lower among heavy alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics (p=0.0001). PT and APTT were marginally higher among moderate alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics but the difference however was not statistically significant (p= 0.08 and 0.62 respectively). We observed a positive correlation between duration of alcoholism and prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (r = 0.46 and 0.55 respectively). Conclusion: Our study has shown that alcoholism produces a significant adverse effect on some haematological and haemostatic parameters. Evidenced data generated from this study can facilitate the development of a policy on the effective management of haematological and haemostatic complications associated with alcoholism. There is need to enact laws that regulate the production, sales and consumption of various alcoholic beverages to prevent abuse and protect the health of citizens.

Evaluation of three mathematical functions to describe the relationship between body weight, body condition and testicular dimensions in yankasa sheep / Evaluación de tres funciones matemáticas para describir la relación entre peso corporal, condición corporal y dimensión testicular en carneros yankasa

Body size and testicular measurements have been found to be important parameters utilized in breeding soundness evaluation. The present study therefore, aimed at determining the relationship between body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), testicular length (TL), testicular diameter (TD) and scrotal circumference (SC) in 120 extensively reared Yankasa rams (approximately 30 months old) using linear, quadratic and cubic predictive models. Coefficient of determination (R2), Adjusted R2, the estimate of Mallows' Cp, RMSE (Root mean squares error) and the parsimony principle (p=number of parameters) were used to compare the efficiency of the different models. Strong Pearson's correlation coefficients (r = 0.83-0.94; P<0.01) were found between BW, TL, TD and SC. Spearman correlations between BCS and other variables were also highly significant (r = 0.78-0.85; P<0.01). SC was the sole variable of utmost importance in estimating BW, which was best predicted using the cubic model. However, the optimal model for BW prediction comprised TD, SC and BCS with p, R2, Adjusted R2, RMSE and Cp values of 4, 0.948, 0.946, 1.673 and 4.85, respectively. The present findings could be exploited in husbandry and selection of breeding stock for sustainable sheep production especially within the resource-poor farming system under tropical and subtropical conditions.

El tamaño corporal y las mediciones testiculares son importantes parámetros utilizados en la evaluación del buen estado de reproducción. El presente estudio, tuvo como objetivo determinar la relación entre el peso corporal (PC), score de condición corporal (SCC), longitud testicular (LT), diámetro testicular (DT) y la circunferencia escrotal (CE) en 120 carneros Yankasa criados extensivamente (aproximadamente 30 meses de edad), utilizando modelos predictivos lineales, cuadráticos y cúbicos. Se utilizaron el coeficiente de determinación (R2), R2 ajustado, estimación Cp de Mallows, ERCM (errores de raíz cuadrada media) y el principio de parsimonia (p = número de parámetros) para comparar la eficiencia de los diferentes modelos. Un fuerte coeficiente de correlación de Pearson (r= 0,83-0,94, p<0,01 ) se encontró entre PC, LT, DT y CE. Las correlaciones de Spearman entre SCC y otras variables también fueron altamente significativas (r= 0,78-0,85, p<0,01). La CE fue la única variable de suma importancia en la estimación de PC, que fue predicha de mejor manera utilizando el modelo cúbico. Sin embargo, el modelo óptimo para la predicción del PC comprendiendo DT, CE y SCC con valores p, R2, R2 ajustado, ERCM y Cp de Mallows de 4; 0,948; 0,946; 1,673 y 4,85, respectivamente. Los presentes hallazgos podrían ser explotados en la cría y selección del ganado de cría para la producción sostenible de ovejas, en especial dentro de sistemas con escasos recursos agrícolas bajo condiciones tropicales y subtropicales.

Morphometric differentiation of two Nigerian fish species (Oreochromis niloticus and Lates niloticus) using principal components and discriminant analysis / Diferenciación morfométrica de dos especies de peces nigerianos (Oreochromis niloticus y Lates niloticus) utilizando análisis de componentes principales y análsis discriminante

Morphological differences between two close fish populations were investigated in Doma Dam, north central Nigeria using principal component and discriminant analyses. The purpose was to identify the two species correctly and assign them into distinct genetic groups. To achieve this, seven morphometric measurements (body weight, standard length, total length, head length, body depth, dorsal fin length and caudal fin length) were made on each of the studied 252 fish specimens (153 Oreochromis niloticus and 99 Lates niloticus). The analysis of variance showed that significantly (P<0.05) higher values were recorded for Lates niloticus in all the body traits examined, except dorsal fin length. From the principal component analysis, the differences between the species resulted mainly from dorsal fin length, body weight, caudal fin length and head length. The stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that standard length, dorsal fin length and caudal fin length were the three most discriminating variables useful to distinguish clearly the two species at mature age. These three variables with strong discriminating power correctly classified 98.0 percent of individuals from the sample of known-fish populations. The classification accuracy was cross-validated using split-sample method, and indicated a 97.6 percent success rate (98.0 percent of Oreochromis niloticus and 97.0 percent of Lates niloticus were correctly assigned). The results can provide a sound scientific basis for the effective management and sustainable exploitation of the genetic resources of the two species under subtropical conditions.

Las diferencias morfológicas entre dos poblaciones de peces similares se han investigado en Doma Dam, centro-norte de Nigeria utilizando análisis de componentes principales y análisis discriminante. El propósito fue identificar correctamente las dos especies y asignarlas a los distintos grupos genéticos. Para lograr esto, siete medidas morfométricas (peso corporal, longitud estándar, longitud total, longitud de la cabeza, profundidad del cuerpo, longitud de la aleta dorsal y la longitud de la aleta caudal) se realizaron en cada una de las muestras de los 252 peces estudiados (153 Oreochromis niloticus y 99 Lates niloticus) . El análisis de varianza mostró que de forma significativa (p<0,05) los valores más altos se registraron en Lates niloticus, en todos los rasgos del cuerpo examinado con excepción de la longitud de la aleta dorsal. A partir del análisis de componentes principales, las diferencias entre las especies se observó principalmente en la longitud de la aleta dorsal, el peso corporal, la longitud de la aleta caudal y longitud de la cabeza. El análisis discriminante reveló que la longitud estándar, longitud aleta dorsal y caudal son las tres variables más discriminatorias de utilidad para distinguir claramente las dos especies en la edad madura. Estas tres variables con fuerte poder de discriminación clasificaron correctamente el 98,0 por ciento de los individuos de la muestra de las poblaciones conocidas de peces. La exactitud de la clasificación fue sometida a una validación cruzada utilizando el método de la muestra dividida, la que indicó una tasa de éxito del 97,6 por ciento (98,0 por ciento de Oreochromis niloticus y 97,0 por ciento de Lates niloticus asignados correctamente). Los resultados pueden proporcionar una base científica sólida para el manejo eficaz y la explotación sostenible de los recursos genéticos de las dos especies en condiciones subtropicales.

Thyroid Cancers in Nodular Goiters in Kano; Nigeria

Cancer is an occasional incidental finding in nodular goiter; but there has been no formal study on this disease in our locality. To determine the occurrence of histologically diagnosed malignancy in patients who presentwith nodular goiters. This is a 7- year (2000-2006) retrospective study of all histologically diagnosed malignancies within nodular goiters atAminuKanoTeachingHospital;Kano There were 160 multinodular goiters during the study period; out of which 24 (15.0) had histologically diagnosed cancer; and 1 out of the thirteen patients with solitary thyroid nodule (7.6) had carcinoma. The ages of the patients with carcinoma ranged from 16 to 65 years; with amean age of 38.8 years. Eighteen (72) were females; and 7(28) were males. Six out of the 25 cases of carcinoma were detected preoperatively by fine needle aspiration cytology. Well differentiated follicular carcinoma was the predominant histological type in 13(52) cases; followed by papillary in 10(40); medullary carcinoma in 1(4) and anaplastic carcinoma in 1(4) patient. One-seventh of nodular goiters in our center harbouredmalignancy; and follicular carcinomawas the prevalent histological type. This is consistent with the findings elsewhere in endemic goitrous regions. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspirationwould improve preoperative diagnosis and guide appropriate surgical management

Application of principal component factor analysis in quantifying size and morphological indices of domestic rabbits / Aplicación del análisis factorial de componentes principales en la cuantificación de los índices de tamaño y morfología de los conejos domésticos

Body weight and four morphostructural traits namely body length, heart girth, thigh circumference and ear length of 103 New Zealand White x Chinchilla crossbred rabbits were measured. The investigation aimed at describing objectively the interdependence among conformation traits and to predict body weight from their independent factor scores using principal component analysis. Phenotypic correlations between body weight and body dimensions were highly significant (r=0.61 ¡ 0.91; P<0.01). Pairwise correlations of the body shape characters ranged from moderate to high values. From the factor analysis with varimax rotation of the intercorrelated traits, two principal components which accounted for 90.27 percent of the total variance were extracted. The first principal component, PC1 termed general size, had its loadings for body length, heart girth and thigh circumference and explained 74.98 percent of the variance. Ear length primarily determined the second principal component, PC2 which contributed to 15.29 percent of the generalized variance. Orthogonal body shape characters derived from the factor analysis accounted for 81.7 percent of the variation in body weight of rabbits. The PC-based prediction model is preferable to linear measure-based models for selecting animals for optimal balance since it combines both size and shape components into a composite index for prediction.

Los objetivos de la investigación fueron determinar el peso corporal y cuatro rasgos morfoestructurales denominados longitud corporal, circunferencia cardiaca, circunferencia del muslo y longitud de la oreja de 103 mestizos de conejos blancos de Nueva Zelanda x Chinchilla. Además, describir la interdependencia entre los rasgos de conformación y predecir el peso corporal desde los resultados de sus factores independientes mediante el análisis de los componentes principales. Correlaciones fenotípicas entre el peso corporal y las dimensiones corporales fueron altamente significativas (r = 0,61 - 0,91; P <0,01). Correlaciones pareadas de los caracteres de la forma del cuerpo variaron de valores moderados a altos. Fueron extraídos dos componentes principales, desde elanálisis factorial con rotación Varimax de los rasgos intercorrelacionados, que representan el 90,27 por ciento de la varianza total. El primer componente principal, denominado tamaño general PC1, tiene su carga para longitud corporal, circunferencia cardiaca y circunferencia del muslo y explican el 74,98 por ciento de la varianza. La longitud de la oreja determina principalmente el segundo componente principal, PC2 que contribuyó al 15,29 por ciento de la varianza generalizada. Los caracteres ortogonales de la forma del cuerpo derivados del análisis factorial representaron el 81,7 por ciento de la variación en el peso corporal de los conejos. Para la selección de animales para un óptimo balance, el PC basado en modelos de predicción es preferible a los basados en modelos de medición lineal ya que combina el tamaño y componentes de la forma en un índice compuesto para predicción.

Nigerian butchers and hepatitis B virus infection.

Various target groups have been identified in Nigeria for studying the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection; however there is no information on its prevalence among workers in slaughter houses. This study determined the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Nigerian butchers at Ibadan, and comprised 360 healthy Nigerian adult subjects (180 butchers, 180 traders as controls) selected by multistage stratified sampling. A questionnaire was used to collect relevant information and included points about risk behaviour. ELISA was used to detect the hepatitis B surface antigen in the serum; the seroprevalence rate in butchers and controls was 9.4% and 3.3%, respectively (p<0.05). Risk behaviour was seen more commonly in butchers than in controls. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen in the serum was not related to the duration of occupational exposure or the number of partners. In summary, butchers comprise a high-risk occupational group for exposure to hepatitis B virus infection. We conclude that routine screening for parenterally acquired infections in this group is thus necessary in order to identify those who will require treatment and immunisation, especially against hepatitis B virus infection.

Extra-hepatic biliary atresia preoperative and surgical assessment in 25; cases seen in Zaira

Admission in a seven year period of 25 infants with biliary atresia. We note that prelaparatomy percutaneous liver established the diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia; which were confirmed at laparatomy. Fifty percent of the patients had liver cirrhosis before surgery. Therefore; bile drainage was not established in any of the 25 patients following hepatic surgery. Six (24 percent) died of hepatic failure during the period of follow-up. Factors responsible for the poor success rate of surgery included late presentation and grossly non correctible lesions