RESUMO
Haemorheological parameters were determined using standard techniques in 78 pre-eclamptic women, 86 normal pregnant women and sixty [60] apparently healthy, age-matched, non-pregnant women who were recruited as controls. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], plasma viscosity [PV], whole blood viscosity [WBV] andfibrinogen levels, were significantly higher in the pregnant women, compared to the non-pregnant women [P< 0.05]. However there was no statistically significant difference in the parameters between the pre-eclamptic and normal pregnant women [P>0.05]. The body mass index [BM1], systolic and diastolic blood pressures [BP] were significantly raised in pre-eclamptic women, compared to their normal pregnant and non-pregnant counterparts [P<0.05] Haemorheological parameters may be raised in pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy. The increase parallels increase in systolic and diastolic BP in pre-eclampsia. Our study suggests that the non-significant raise in haemorheological indices in the pre-eclamptic women could be due to the pregnancy and not because of the pre-eclampsia
RESUMO
Fifty albino rats randomly distributed into 5 groups of 10 rats each, were respectively fed growers mash as the control diet, 25% and 50% sun-dried, fried taro [Colocasia esculenta], and 25% and 50% sun-dried, unfried taro supplemented diets for 30 days. Hepatic cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations were measured colorimetrically. There were statistically significant changes in the body weight of the animals over time, with significant lower body weight gain in the animals fed the experimental diets than those on control diet [P < 0.05]. There were also statistical significant increase and decrease in the mean feed intake of the animals fed fried taro and unfried taro diets respectively, in comparison with those on control diet [P < 0.05]. Significant decreases in hepatic total, free and esterified cholesterol concentrations as well as in the hepatic phospholipid levels were observed in the animals fed taro supplemented diets [P < 0.05]. Diet supplementation with fried taro cormels can be recommended for reduction and maintenance of low hepatic lipid concentrations