Follicle cell processes: a shark thing?

Follicle cell processes (FCP) are identified in two species of carcharhinid shark (Selachii) but are absent in the little skate Leucoraja erinacea (Batoidea). This suggests that FCPs are either a unique structure that evolved in selachians or were lost by the batoids after their divergence, some 280 mya. The presence of FCPs in the selachians would be consistent with the evolution of large oocytes in this group of animals.

Body mass index of healthy Nigerian children.

BACKGROUND: To study the Body Mass Index of healthy Nigerian school children from different socio-economic backgrounds resident in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. METHOD: A cross-sectional prospective study of Body Mass Index was carried out on 3,802 healthy Nigerian school children aged 5 to 13 years resident in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. The subjects consist of 1,871 children from private schools (privileged) and 1,931 children from public schools (less privileged). The schools and pupils were selected by multi-staged clustersampling method. RESULT: Over 75% of the 'privileged' and the 'less privileged' children are from upper and lower socioeconomic classes respectively The mean Body Mass Index of the 'privileged' boys was 15.1 +/- 0.7 compared with 14.7 +/- 1.2 for the 'less privileged' boys. The corresponding mean Body Mass Index values for the 'privileged' and the 'less privileged' girls were 15.1 +/- 0.5 and 15.0 +/- 1.7 respectively. The difference in this index, between the boys as well as between the girls was statistically insignificant (p = 0.05 and 0.12 respectively). CONCLUSION: There was no statistical significant difference between the BMI of the 'privileged' and the 'less privileged' groups of children.

Body Mass Index of Healthy Nigerian Children

Background: To study the Body Mass Index of healthy Nigerian school children from different socio-economic backgrounds resident in Kaduna; northern Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional prospective study of Body Mass Index was carried out on 3;802 healthy Nigerian school children aged 5 to 13 years resident in Kaduna; northern Nigeria. The subjects consist of 1;871 children from private schools (privileged) and 1;931 children from public schools (less privileged). The schools and pupils were selected by multi-staged cluster sampling method

Giant congenital pigmented naevus with unusual presentation and early malignant transformation in a Nigerian infant: case report and review of the literature.

A six month-old female infant with a giant congenital pigmented naevus is reported because of the rarity and unusual presentation and early malignant transformation. It was the first case to be documented in our centre. There was an extensive giant, darkly pigmented naevus of the "bathing trunk" distribution noted at birth, associated with multiple darkly pigmented smaller naevi scattered over the trunk and limbs. Bv the third month of life large pigmented lesion began to demonstrate small papillomatous projections studding the entire surface and at age six months nodular and warty excrescences appeared including a large pedunculated spherical mass attached to the anal verge. The labia majora became anatomically disfigured by these nodular, warty lesions of various sizes associated with the large pigmented hairy naevus. Histological examination of the excised large perianal and vulvar nodules showed the typical picture of an intradermal naevus consistent with giant congenital pigmented (melanocytic) naevus. The deeper portions of the lesion showed features of malignant transformation. The rapidity of evolution of the lesions including histologic features of early malignant transformation and the gross disfiguring of the genitalia and perineum are uncommon presentation of this melanocytic naevus. In view of the early malignant transformation immediate surgical treatment was indicated. Unfortunately the patient was lost to follow-up. The case report is complimented with a review of the literature.

Vaginal leiomyoma co-existing with broad ligament and multiple uterine leiomyomas.

A 48 year old African American woman presented with bladder pressure leading to the diagnosis of broad ligament and multiple uterine leiomyomas. She was also found to have a lateral vaginal wall mass which was confirmed to be a leiomyoma. Unlike uterine leiomyomas, vaginal leiomyomas are uncommon and are most often found in Caucasian women. Cases of such coexisting tumors are rare and their etiologic relationship is uncertain.

The levels of measles antibodies in Nigerian children aged 0-12 months and its relationship with maternal parity.

Six hundred and fifty-seven children aged between 0 and 12 months were randomly chosen and studied for measles antibody titres by the haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test. The results showed significant variations in HAI antibody titres. Children between 0-3 months showed high measles HAI antibody titres which declined to a trough between 4 and 6 months. A rise in HAI antibody titre was observed from 10 to 12 months age. Multiparity and higher age in the mothers were noted as probable factors influencing the titres of measles HAI antibody in children. The results indicated that with increased maternal parity, measles HAI antibody titres in the children declined.

Detergent induced lysis of erythrocytes in kwashiorkor.

The effect of the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P40 on lysis of erythrocytes in children suffering from kwashiorkor was studied. The concentration of the detergent causing 50% haemolysis was significantly reduced in these patients. Detergent haemolysis was more sensitive than osmotic fragility (which was reduced). The abnormality was only slight in marasmic children.

Serum aminotransferases and gamma-glutamyl transferase in protein energy malnutrition.

Forty six children suffering from Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) were classified according to the Wellcome classification. Their aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase were measured. Aspartate aminotransferase was raised in 20 patients (43.5%) and alanine aminotransferase was raised in 12 patients (26%). Y-glutamyl transferase was raised in only one patient suffering from marasmic kwashiorkor, who, in contrast to the rest of the patients had a marked rise in aminotransferases. The aminotransferase elevation correlated positively with a Severity Index calculated from height and weight retardation and serum albumin levels. It is suggested that the moderate rise in aminotransferases found in PEM is not due to damage to the liver. However, marked enzyme elevations can occur in a small minority of patients, suggestive of liver injury, probably caused by hepatotoxins.

Hypertensive effect of yohimbine following selective injection into the nucleus tractus solitarii of normotensive rats.

We administered yohimbine (0.5 nmol in 0.2 microliter) directly into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of urethane-anesthetized normotensive male rats. We noted a prompt rise in blood pressure which lasted 30 min. These data suggest that the NTS is a central site in which the hypertensive effects of yohimbine can originate.

Thyroid status in various degrees of protein-calorie malnutrition in children.

The thyroid functional parameters of 102 children with protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) classified as undernourished, marasmic, kwashiorkor and marasmic-kwashiorkor were studied by measuring the serum T4, T3, T3 percentage uptake (T3%UT), free thyroxine index (FTI), and (in a few subjects) TSH. Total plasma proteins, albumin and globulin were also estimated. T4 was increased markedly in the undernourished children and significantly decreased in kwashiorkor and marasmic-kwashiorkor groups. There was a consistent and significant fall in T3 levels of all PCM children. From normal values, the fall in T3 levels was progressive in the order of undernourished, marasmic, kwashiorkor and the marasmic-kwashiorkor states. The T3%UT was increased above normal in the marasmic, kwashiorkor and marasmic-kwashiorkor conditions. The FTI decreased somewhat in marasmus and kwashiorkor groups and was very low in marasmic-kwashiorkor. Total protein and albumin levels were above normal in the undernourished but became markedly depressed in the marasmic-kwashiorkor children. The changes in the levels of both T4 and T3 in our observations are well correlated with the levels of plasma proteins in the undernourished, marasmic and kwashiorkor states but not in the marasmic-kwashiorkor group.

Endotoxaemia in Vibrio El Tor cholera.

Endotoxaemia and endotoxin-induced changes were sought in Nigerian patients presenting with cholera/diarrhoea. The organism was Vibrio cholerae, bio-type El Tor, serotype Hikojima. The limulus amoebocyte lysate gelation test was used qualitatively by the clot method, whilst a spectrophotometric method was used quantitatively to measure endotoxin levels. 25 acutely ill patients tested had detectable endotoxaemia by the Escherichia coli endotoxin standard. The highest endotoxin level was found in a patient with sub-conjunctival haemorrhage. Changes in platelet counts, the detection of complement breakdown product C3d in plasma, the elevation of fibrin degradation products, the finding of elevated, normal or depressed C3 levels and the absence of circulating immune complexes, suggest a pathogenic role for endotoxin in Vibrio cholerae El Tor diarrhoea.

Histiocytosis X of the nose.

A case of histiocytosis X of the nose in a 5-year-old Nigerian child has been described. This localization of the lesion with secondary involvement of the submandibular cervical nodes is quite unusual and no similar case has been so far reported in the literature. The difficulties encountered in the diagnosis, the aetiological factors and treatment are briefly discussed.