Alleviating Effects of Clove Essential Oil Disolved in Dimethyl Sulfoxide (Dmso) Against Cadmium-Induced Testicular and Epididymal Damages in Male Wistar Rats.

Cloves possess antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, among other roles, they can play. This study investigated the effect of clove oil (CLO) on testicular and epididymal changes induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl). A total of 25 rats were randomly assigned to five groups of five rats. Group A was allowed feed and water ad libitum. Group B was given 20mg/kg of CdCl, group C was given 20mg/kg of CdCl and 10mg/kg of CLO, group D was given 20mg/kg of CdCl and 20mg/kg of CLO, and group E was given 20mg/kg of CdCl and 20mg/kg of Di Methyl Sulphur Oxide. After the experiment, the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after 24 hours of fasting. The testes and epididymis were harvested, while the right epididymis was homogenized for sperm analysis. The results revealed a significant decrease in progressive motility in group B, while a significant increase was observed in CLO-treated groups (P<0.05). In addition, group B showed a significant reduction in percentage progressive, an increase in percentage non-motile, and a decrease in sperm count. The histological studies showed that the control group displayed normal testicular and epididymal histo-architecture, while the Cadmium group (B) showed a progressive degeneration of the cells and tissues, alleviated by the high dose of CLO in both the testes and epididymis. In conclusion, the current research demonstrated that testicular and epididymal damage induced by Cadmium could decrease fertility, and CLO may be used in alleviating the deleterious effects of CdCl.

Age and body stature, handgrip, and strength endurance analyses of elite weightlifters: boosting 1RM bench press

Abstract Aim: This study aims to characterize the body stature and age, handgrip, and endurance strength of elite male weightlifters, and ascertain the anthropometric features that can boost IRM bench press. Methods: Forty-four elite male weightlifters of different weight categories participated in this study. All participants were members of the Ebonyi state team in Nigeria. We assessed their body weight, height, arm span, arm girth, chest girth, hip girth, thigh girth, handgrip strength, 1RM, time for repetitions (TR), and the number of repetitions (NR) of bench press, using National Strength and Conditioning Association's guidelines. Results: 1RM bench press depends on waist and thigh girths, while the speed of bench press was associated with height and arm span of elite weightlifters. 1RM, NR, and TR of bench press depend on age, body weight, and BMI. Consistently, NR of bench press increase with age; range 18, 22 years, and body weight increases with age; range 28, 32 years, while handgrip strength reduces with age; range 38 years and above (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The strength of association of age, and BMI with strength endurance and 1RM bench press was robust and similar, but inconsistent with handgrip strength. It also suggests that enhancing the musculoskeletal structures of the thigh and waist could boost 1RM bench press while handgrip strength could not but reduces as age advances beyond 38 years.

Nutritional Evaluation Using Dfferent Anthropometric Variables in Nigerian School Children

The anthropometric characteristics of 600 apparently healthy children of ages between 5 and 10 years of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja Nigeria; consisting of males (n = 300) with a mean age of 7.10 ? 1.98 and females (n = 300) with a mean age of 7.68 ? 1.86 were selected for the evaluation of their nutritional status using different anthropometric variables. The anthropometric characteristic of their height; age; weight; mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC); chest circumference and body mass index (BMI) was measured and analysed statistically for any significant difference; and correlation between the parameters studied. The results show some significant differences (P = 0.05) between the anthropometric parameters and a significant correlation (=0.001) between the height and BMI; and other parameters in males and females. The study derived a linear regression and a multiple linear regression equations for Gbagyi children from which height; age; weight; MUAC; chest circumference and BMI could be predicted if one factor is known. The results from the present study provided an insight into the nutritional status of Nigerian school children of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja using the BMI and MUAC which showed if a child is malnourished; overweight or obese. The results from the present study show that there is a positive correlation between height and age; and other parameters indicating that height could be predicted using age; weight; BMI; chest circumference and MUAC; while BMI and mid upper arm circumference could be a useful tool in the estimation of nutritional status among Nigerian school children of Gbagyi tribe of Abuja