Iron Status of Pregnant Women in Rural and Urban Communities of Cross River State, South-South Nigeria.

Anaemia in pregnancy is a major public health problem in Nigeria. Iron deficiency is one of the major causes of anaemia in pregnancy.  Inadequate iron intake during pregnancy can be dangerous to both baby and mother. Iron status of pregnant women was assessed in two rural and one urban communities in Cross River State Nigeria. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, red cell count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor and soluble transferrin receptor/ferritin ratio were measured in plasma/serum of 170 pregnant women within the age range of 15-45 years. Seventy participants were from antenatal clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar (urban community), 50 from St Joseph Hospital Ikot Ene (rural community) in Akpabuyo Local Government Area and the remaining 50 from University of Calabar Teaching Hospital   extension clinic in Okoyong (rural community), Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River state. The prevalence of   anaemia, iron deficiency, iron depletion and iron deficiency anaemia were found to be significantly higher among pregnant women from the two rural communities when compared to the urban community. it was also observed that  the prevalence of  anaemia, iron deficiency, iron depletion and iron deficiency anaemia   were significantly higher (p<0.05) among pregnant women from Akpabuyo   38(76.00%),   20(40.00%),   23(46.0%)   ,   16(32.00%)   respectively followed   by  Okoyong 24(48.0%),  20(40.0%),  16(32.0%),  6(12.0)     and  then  those  from     Calabar  14(20%), 12(17.90%) , 14(20.0%).  The mean haemoglobin and haematocrit were significantly reduced in pregnant women from the two rural communities. Serum iron, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation showed no significant difference while total iron binding capacity and soluble transferrin receptor significantly increased among pregnant women from Okoyong when compared to those from Calabar. It was also shown that pregnant women in their third trimesters and multigravidae had the highest prevalence of iron depletion and iron deficiency anaemia while prevalence of iron deficiency and anaemia were higher in primigravidae and the pregnant women in their second trimester. In conclusion, this study has shown that the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia are higher among pregnant women in the rural communities when compared to those in the urban areas.

Gastric acid anti-secretory, anti-ulcerogenic and mucogenic effects of aqueous leaves' extract of Ocimum gratissimum in rats.

In this study, albino Wistar rats were placed on normal rats chow + drinking water and/or 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg body weight of the Ocimum gratissimum extract orally, once daily for 28 days and gastric acid, mucus and ulcers determined. All the rats received normal rat chow + drinking water ad libitum for 28 days. Gastric acid, mucus secretion and ulcer scores were determined with standard procedures. Results showed that the mean basal gastric acid output for control, low dose and high dose groups were 11.28 ± 0.70, 8.04 ± 0.57 and 6.14 ± 0.67 µmol/hr respectively. The high dose extract recipients had a significantly reduced gastric acid output compared with control and low dose. Increase in gastric acid output as induced by histamine was highest in high dose (599.02%), followed by low dose 426.28%, then control (221.28%). Administration of ranitidine was observed to attenuate the effect of histamine in all the groups. The high dose group also had a significantly higher mean gastric mucus and lower ulcer levels compared with other groups. In conclusion, the aqueous leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum decrease gastric acid secretion and ulceration, it also produced an increase in the gastric mucus secretion. If these results are applied to man, it could be beneficial in the management of peptic ulcers and other related complications.

Phytochemistry and some haematological changes following oral administration of ethanolic root extract of Gongronema latifolium in rats.

Gongronema latifolium is a climbing perennial plant that belongs to the family of asclepidaceae. The medicinal uses of the leaves and stem bark extract of Gongronema latifolium has been reported in many scientific literatures to include anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-ulcerative etc. There is paucity in scientific reports on the medicinal properties of the root extract. This study was therefore designed to elucidate the phytochemical constituents and effect of ethanolic root extract of Gongronema latifolium on some hematological parameters. Eighteen (18) albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 [control] was fed on normal rat chow, the test groups [group 2 and 3] in addition received extract treatment [p.o] at a dose of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively. The feeding regimens lasted for 14 days and all animals had access to tap water. Results show that the extract contains polyphenols, glycosides, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The mean RBC count for control was 4.44+/-0.15x10(6)cells/mm3, this did not differ significantly from the test groups. The total WBC counts were 3.79+/-0.15x10(3) cells/mm3, 3.37+/-0.19x10(3)cells/mm3 and 5.54+/-0.39x10(3)cells/mm3 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. WBC was significantly [P<0.01] higher in the high dose [group 3] compared with control. Mean PCV [%] were 33.60+/-0.81, 37.20+/-0.80 and 34.80+/-1.35 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The PCV was significantly [P<0.05) higher in low dose extract recipients [group 2] than in control. Hb content, MCV and MCH did not differ significantly among the groups, but MCHC was significantly lower in the test groups compared with control group. Neutrophils were significantly [P<0.001] reduced in the test groups, while the eosinophils and monocytes count were significantly increased in the test groups than in controls. In conclusion, the extract has little or no effect on RBC count, PCV, MCV and MCH. But low doses of the extract significantly increased the Hb count while high doses significantly increased WBC count, probably due to increase in eosinophil and monocyte counts. MCHC was dose-dependently reduced. The extract was also observed to contain polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides and reducing sugars.

Serum protein and enzyme levels in rats following administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides (goat weed).

The The potential hepatotoxic effects following oral administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides (goat weed) was investigated in albino Wistar rats. Twenty eight (28) adult male Wistar rats were uniformly divided into four groups of seven rats each. Group 1 served as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were respectively gavaged with 200 mg/kg body weight, 400 mg/kg body weight and 600 mg/kg body weight of the extract daily for 21 days. At the end of treatments, animals were sacrificed, serum and liver tissues obtained for assay of total protein concentration and levels of ALT, AST and ALP. Results showed that treatment of rats with the respective doses of the extract did not significantly alter the serum and liver levels of total protein, ALT, AST and ALP in all test groups. This result suggests that ingestion of the extract may not be toxic at the doses investigated.

Effect of multiparity on electrolyte composition and blood pressure.

Pregnancy affects the physiology of the pregnant woman particularly the endocrine, cardiovascular and the renal systems. This work was therefore set to ascertain the state of electrolytes in pregnancy and how it affects blood pressure using multiparity as a factor. One hundred and twenty (120) women were used in this study. The non-pregnant groups were the nulliparous (control) and grand multiparous women who have stopped gestation (GMS) for at least five years. The pregnant groups were made up of 30 primigravidae (PG) and 30 grand multiparous (GMP). The pregnant groups (PG and GMP) were further divided into first, second and third trimesters. The subjects were aged matched with controls. Serum electrolytes (Na(+), K(+) and Cl(-)) were measured using standard methods. The results show that there was no significant difference in the electrolyte composition among the groups and between trimesters. There was also no significant difference in blood pressure among the groups and between trimesters in the pregnant groups irrespective of parity. Multiparity therefore may not pose any severe threat to health.

The relative incidence of diabetes mellitus in ABO/Rhesus blood groups in South-Eastern Nigeria.

A total of 224 diabetics and 221 non-diabetics (control) were involved in this study, to determine the relative incidence of diabetes mellitus in ABO/Rhesus blood group. The current criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were applied in differentiating the diabetics from the non-diabetics. Blood group, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and random blood sugar (RBG) were determined using standard methods. Type I, Type II and gestational diabetes mellitus were identified in this study. Biodata information were obtained during history taking and from subject hospital case note. The mean age of diabetics was 50.9 +/- 11.4 (SD) with age range of 24-72 years. Mean age for control was 49.21 +/- 9.25 with age range of 24-70 years. There were no significant differences between the mean ages of the two groups. Blood group O(-) and A(+) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher among the diabetics than non diabetics. Blood group O(+) was significantly (P < 0.01) lower in diabetics than in the control population. Blood group O(-) and A(+) therefore appears to be more susceptible to diabetes mellitus.

Intestinal motility and transit following chronic ingestion of different forms of palm oil diets.

This study was aimed at finding the effect of palm oil diets on the small intestinal motor activity and transit in rats. Adult albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups of ten rats each. The first group was fed on rat chow containing 15% (wt/wt) of fresh palm oil diets for fifteen weeks. The second was fed on rat chow containing 15% (wt/wt) thermally oxidized diet while the third group was the control and so was fed on rat chow only. Water and feed were allowed freely to all the groups. Intestinal motility and transit were measured after the feeding period. Results show that there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in basal tone of the ileum from rats fed on thermally oxidized palm oil diet when compared with fresh palm oil fed and control diets respectively. Contraction to acetylcholine (10(-11) - 10(-5)M) showed a biphasic tone with highest contraction at lower doses of acetylcholine and lowest tone at 10(-7)M in both fresh palm oil-fed and thermally oxidized oil-fed groups when compared with control. There was a significant (P < 0.05) attenuation of inhibition of atropine effect in the oxidized oil fed group when compared with control while there was a significant (P < 0.01) increase in transit of food material in the intestine of oxidized oil-fed group when compared with control and fresh palm oil-fed groups. These results show that chronic ingestion of oxidized palm oil diet causes an increase in basal tone of ileum and enhances intestinal motility and transit in the rat.

Stimulation of gastric acid secretion and intestinal motility by Vernonia amygdalina extract.

Aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina infused intragastrically at a dose of 10 mg/ml to rats induced a significant increase in acid output which was reduced by, ranitidine (5 mg/kg b.w.) or atropine (1.2 microMol/kg b.w.). Moreover the extract evoked a dose-dependent contraction of the guinea pig ileum at a dose range of 0.6 mg/ml to 66 mg/ml which was inhibited by atropine (2.4 x 10(-8)-2.4 x 10(-6) M).

Vitamin C improves basal metabolic rate and lipid profile in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM)is a multi-factorial disease which is characterized by hyperglycaemia, lipoprotein abnormalities and oxidative stress. This study evaluated effect of oral vitamin C administration on basal metabolic rate and lipid profile of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Vitamin C was administered at 200 mg/kg body wt. by gavage for four weeks to diabetic rats after which the resting metabolic rate and plasma lipid profile was determined. The results showed that vitamin C administration significantly (p less than 0.01) reduced the resting metabolic rate in diabetic rats; and also lowered plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These results suggest that the administration of vitamin C in this model of established diabetes mellitus might be beneficial for the restoration of basal metabolic rate and improvement of lipid profile. This may at least in part reduce the risk of cardiovascular events seen in diabetes mellitus.

Lung function status of workers exposed to wood dust in timber markets in Calabar, Nigeria.

The effect of chronic exposure to dust from local woods such as ebony, achi, and iroko on lung function of timber market workers in Calabar - Nigeria, was studied. Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second, (FEV1), Forced Expiratory Volume as a percentage of forced vital capacity (FEV1 %), and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) were measured in 221 workers (aged 20-25 years) exposed to wood dust to assess their lung function and compared with 200 age- and sex- matched control subjects who were not exposed to any known air pollutant. The concentration of respirable dust was significantly higher in the test (P<0.001) than in control site. The mean values of FVC, FEV1, FEV1% and PEFR of the timber workers were significantly lower (P<0.01) than in control subjects. Respiratory symptoms such as cough, chest pain and nasal irritation had higher prevalence in the test group than in the control group. Non-respiratory symptoms (skin and eye irritation) were prevalent in the test group but not found in the control group. Workers exposed to wood dust had restrictive pattern of ventilatory function impairment. The lung function indices of the timber workers decreased with their length of service. Chronic exposure to wood dust impairs lung function.

Preliminary studies on effect of chloroquine phosphate on gastric acid secretion in rats.

It is not certain whether chloroquine-induced pruritus is mainly attributable to the liberation of histamine, a powerful gastric acid secretagogue from mast cells, which may not be beneficial in peptic ulceration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find out whether chloroquine (CQ) can stimulate gastric acid secretion in the rat. Gastric acid output was measured by the continuous perfusion of rats stomachs under anaesthesia with normal saline at the rate of 1ml per minutes. Thirty albino rats were divided into five groups of six rats each. Three groups had intraperitoneal administration of the following; normal saline (1 ml/kg control), CQ (3 microgram/kg; test) and Histamine H2 receptor antagonist, Ranitidine [4 microgram/kg] following CQ administration respectively. The other two groups had subcutaneous administration of histamine (100 microgram/kg) alone and histamine following CQ administration respectively. The basal acid secretion, (4.71+/- +/- 0.05 mMol/10mins) in a group of rats was not significantly increased in comparison with the peak acid output [P < 0.05] following normal saline administration (1 ml; ml/kg; i.p.). Administration of CQ in a second group;significantly increased acid secretion to a peak of 7.2 +/- 1.7 mMol/10mins [P < 0.05]. Ranitidine blocked CQ -induced acid secretion in a third group. Histamine significantly increased acid secretion from control level of 4.85 +/- 0.14 mMol/10mins to 51.67 +/- 5.07 mMol/10mins [P < 0.001] in a fourth group, while CQ administered 2mins after histamine administration significantly increased acid level from 4.72 +/- 0.12 mMol/10mins to peak at 20.63 +/- 3.28 mMol/10mins [P< 0.001] in a fifth group of rats. The peak acid output in the fifth group was significantly lower than that obtained with histamine alone. In conclusion, chloroquine is a weak stimulant of gastric acid secretion rats. It inhibits histamine-stimulated acid secretion probably by occupying histamine H (2) receptors in rats.

The Stimulatory Effect of Intragastric Administration of Crude Aqueous Extract of Ageratum Conyzoides on Gastric Acid Secretion in Rats

The effect of an aqueous leaf of Ageratum conyzoides on gastric acid secretion in rats was investigated in 18 albino rats of Wistar strain. The rats were divided into 2 groups of 9 each. Gastric acid output was determined by continuous perfusion in urethane anaesthetized rats. Control gastric acid output was obtained usign 0.9

Haematoxic Effects Following Ingestion Of Nigerian Crude Oil And Crude Oil Polluted Shellfish By Rats

The haematological effects following ingestion of shellfish exposed to crude oil polluted water or the pollutant perse were investigated in albino Wistar rats. Feeding of four groups of rats for 28 days duration with two reference casein or shellfish protein control diets (Group A and B); and two test diets (Group C and D) supplemented at varying levels with shellfish which had been previously exposed to crude oil polluted water and the oral gavaging with crude oil at the rate of 3; 6 and 9 ml/kg body weight per day to three groups (groups II; III and IV respectively) of rats for 7 days duration resulted in changes in packed cell volume (PCV); red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts; and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) of rats. Group C and D respectively fed 10 and 20 polluted shellfish diets recorded significant (P 0.05) decreases in PCV and RBC counts while Hb concentration and WBC counts increased. Groups II; III and IV gavaged with varying doses of crude oil recorded significant (P 0.05 - 0.01) dose dependent decrease in PCV and RBC counts when compared to controls (group 1). Hb and WBC counts also increased for these groups but the increase was only significant for WBC counts (P 0.05) when compared with controls. The results suggest that the ingestion of shellfish exposed to crude oil polluted water or the polluted perse results in haematotoxicity

Enhanced Na-K ATPase activity in the aorta may explain the unaltered contractile responses to KCl in diabetes mellitus.

Sodium-potassium ATPase activity and transmembrane calcium influx in the aortic smooth muscle from control and diabetic rats were assessed indirectly through the measurement of KCl relaxation and contractile responses to CaCl2 in attempts to explain the contractile responses to KCl following streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. There were no significant changes in the maximum contractile responses of the aortas from 4 and 12 week diabetic rats to KCl even when significant increases in calcium influx were demonstratable. On the other hand, the diabetic aortas were significantly (P < 0.05) more sensitive to KCl-induced relaxations than the controls. This provides an indirect evidence for increased activity of the sodium-postassium ATPase enzyme in the aortas from streptozotocin diabetic rats. This may, atleast in part, explain the inability of KCl to produce greater than normal contractions of the aortas from diabetic rats.