ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a very serious problem in the world today. In particular, the incidence of type-2 diabetes is rising in developing countries because of life style changes to that of westernized societies. Type-2 diabetes is usually a late onset disease. Thus, early identification of risk group individuals through a non-invasive method like dermatoglyphics will be very helpful. OBJECTIVE: To see whether finger print pattern (dermatoglyphics) is associated with type-2 diabetes. METHODS: Dermatoglyphic data were obtained from nondiabetic and type-2 diabetic subjects attending the Diabetic Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) using a computer-assisted data capture system. The data were then analysed for association between the dermatoglyphic pattern and the subjects' health status with respect to type-2 diabetes. RESULTS: Total finger ridge count (TFRC) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in diabetic subjects than in non-diabetics. Results of cluster analysis suggested that dermatoglyphic pattern is associated with type-2 diabetes. CONCLUSION: In view of the association between finger print pattern and type-2 diabetes, dermatoglyphics may be used for early identification of risk group individuals for surveillance purposes with a view to preventing disease onset.
Subject(s)
Dermatoglyphics , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis , Cluster Analysis , Female , Humans , Male , NigeriaABSTRACT
The effects of isosaline extracts of Tetrapleura tetrapetra and Olax subscorpioides were investigated in albino rats. The treatment of rats with these extracts resulted in an increase in the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase, liver aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase. The extract of Tetrapleura tetrapetra caused a significant increase in blood glucose and liver glycogen levels while the extract of Olax subscorpioides caused a slight reduction but not statistically significant in the levels of blood glucose and liver glycogen. Both extracts exhibited a significant reduction of protein in the livers of treated rats.
