Dermatoglyphics of the Ogoni of Nigeria and its historiographic implications.

The dermal ridges on the surfaces of the palms and the fingers form dermatoglyphic patterns which are phylogenetically stable traits useful for evaluating interpopulation affinities and distinctiveness. In this study, these traits were investigated according to traditional methods among the Ogoni people of the Niger Delta region of Southern Nigeria, considering the uncertainties surrounding the people's historiography and the paucity of morphologic studies on the tribe. The evidences of finger whorl pattern frequencies, Total Ridge Count and palmar A-B ridge count indicate the close dermatoglyphic resemblance of the Ogoni to tribal populations of southern Ghana. These findings have implications as to the likely provenance of the Ogoni people, providing support to the traditionally view among the people that their ancestors are migrants from some tribe in southern Ghana, West Africa.

Rotation of spinal curvatures of patients with structural scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Scoliosis has obscure aetiopathogenesis and is underreported in our environment. OBJECTIVE: To examine the pattern, magnitude, direction and extent of rotation of 42 structural curves in scoliotic patients. METHODS: Plain radiographs of the spine in patients with scoliotic deformities were randomly selected from the film libraries of four Nigerian tertiary institutions.These were then assessed radiologically for the indices above, including the use of Cobbs method and the pedicle technique of Moe. RESULTS: In all, 14 thoracic and 28 thoracolumbar curves were evaluated. A double curve was identified in only one patient. Average age (range) of affected males was 31 (3-78) years and for females (n=25), it was 19.4 (3-40) years. Mean Cobb angle was 23.6 degrees (10 degrees-70 degrees) in males and 40.1 degrees (10 degrees-89 degrees) in females. In 29 (69%) of curves, angle magnitude was d" 30 degrees. Direction of spinal curvature was right convexity in 33 (78.6%) of evaluated curves while most curves 35 (84.4%) exhibited +1 vertebral rotation. CONCLUSION: Females present earlier than the males with a higher Cobb angles. Progression of curves appears to be a higher challenge in females. There is need for scoliosis surveillance programme for early diagnosis.

Digital and palmar dermatoglyphics of the Ijaw of Southern Nigeria.

Dermatoglyphics are polygenic markers useful in studying population dynamics. The digital and palmar ridge pattern characteristics of 390 subjects of Ijaw ethnicity were evaluated using standard methods. The most prevalent digital ridge pattern type was ulnar loops followed by whorls, arches and the least prevalent was radial loops. Gender dimorphism was not observed with digital ridge pattern types. However, females showed significantly greater atd angle than males (p < 0.05) while males had a greater Pattern Intensity Index. No significant gender disparity was seen in total finger ridge count and a-b ridge count. We compared our findings to those of other populations previously studied,