Backpack-related musculoskeletal symptoms among Nigerian secondary school students.

Musculoskeletal discomfort in schoolchildren is significantly related to the weight and mode of carrying backpack to school. Prevalence and patterns of musculoskeletal discomfort among Nigerian secondary school students carrying backpack was investigated. Systematic sampling technique was used in the selection of the participating junior secondary schools for this study. Participants comprised 1,785 students aged 10-15 years. Standardised Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to collect information on musculoskeletal pain. Backpack weight and participants' body weight were measured using a weighing scale. The visual analogue scale was used to assess pain intensity. Gender differences in backpack weight, backpack percentage and musculoskeletal discomfort were studied using Mann-Whitney U test; Kruskal-Wallis test was used to study the influence of backpack carrying style on musculoskeletal discomfort; and Spearman rho correlation to determine the relationships between backpack weight, backpack to body weight ratio, age and pain intensity. There were 882 boys and 903 girls recruited into the study. Shoulder pain was the most prevalent discomfort (63.5 %), and pain was significantly higher in girls (p = 0.013). There were weak relationships between pain intensity, body weight and backpack to body weight ratio (r range 0.433-0.442; p < 0.001), and a weak negative relationship between pain intensity and age [r = -0.135; p < 0.001; 95 % confidence interval (CI) -0.168, -0.075]. There was a strong relationship between backpack weight and age (r = 0.892; p < 0.001; 95 % CI -0.129, -0.013); however, there was a weak relationship between backpack weight and body weight (r = 0.136; p < 0.001). Prevalence of shoulder pain was high, particularly among the girls, in this sample. We suggest that factors other than the weight of backpack may predispose to musculoskeletal pain. Parents, teachers and clinicians can influence the mode of carrying backpack by secondary school students.

Pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB), progesterone and some biochemical attributes concentrations in the fetal fluids and serum and its relationship with fetal and placental characteristics of Iraqi riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

This study was carried out to demonstrate the pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB), progesterone and some biochemical parameters concentrations in amniotic fluid, allantoic fluid and fetal serum collected from slaughtered Iraqi riverine pregnant buffaloes at three different months of gestation (6th, 7th and 8th). Ten out of 22 adult buffaloes of 4.6 ± 0.97 years old were used in this study. The buffaloes were mated naturally by monitoring the estrus cycles via appearance of vaginal fluids and mounting by bulls. Pregnancy was checked for these buffaloes by non-returning to estrus for three estrus cycles and assured by rectal palpation on day 61 post-mating (PM). Buffaloes were slaughtered at three different periods of gestation (three at 6th month, four at 7th month and three at 8th month of gestation) to verify the progesterone and PSPB as well as some blood attributes levels (glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulins and albumin: globulins ratio) in amniotic fluid (AF), allantoic fluid (LF) and fetal serum (FS). Progesterone was higher (P<0.01) in LF at the 8th month of gestation and lower in FS during the 7th and 8th months of pregnancy. PSPB concentrations were greater in FS (6th and 8th months in particular) than in both AF and LF. The overall mean of cholesterol concentration was higher in FS (P<0.05) followed by AF and LF that had the lowest concentration. The FS exhibited higher total protein during the three gestation periods. Most of fetal and placental measurements increased as the pregnancy advanced. In conclusion, these results described, for the first time, the PSPB and progesterone concentrations and blood characteristics in fetal fluids and serum in water riverine buffaloes during different stages of pregnancy. Progesterone concentrations were greater in allantoic fluid than in other fluids. In contrast, PSPB and other blood attributes were higher in fetal serum than other fluids of Iraqi riverine buffaloes. These findings reflect the changes in hormones, proteins and other metabolites during different gestation periods.

Early pregnancy detection of Iraqi riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using the BioPRYN enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for PSPB and the progesterone assay.

This study was undertaken to detect pregnancy in Iraqi riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using three different methods (rectal palpation, plasma progesterone concentration and detection of the presence of pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) with the BioPRYN(®) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The aim of the study was to identify the most sensitive, early and accurate method for detecting pregnancy. Twenty-two female riverine buffalo that were 6.0 ± 0.93 years old were used. Four blood samples per buffalo were taken via jugular venipuncture at days 22-24, 32-34, 42-44 and 58-61 post-mating (PM) to measure the progesterone concentration (ng/ml) and to detect the presence of plasma PSPB. The rectal palpation method was employed to evaluate all buffalo on days 42-44 and 58-61 PM. The BioPRYN(®) test differed (p<0.01) from the other tests with earlier accuracy for detecting pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo. Eighty-eight percent of pregnant and 76.9% of non-pregnant buffalo were distinguished early (days 22-24 PM) using BioPRYN(®) and plasma PSPB-ELISA level (2.09 ± 0.12 ng/ml) in relation to 66.7% and 53.9% detected using the progesterone assay at similar days (4.30 ± 0.40 ng/ml). In conclusion, these results described, for the first time, the early and accurate pregnancy detection of water riverine buffalo using BioPRYN(®) technology and provided the plasma levels of PSPB using an ELISA test. These findings will improve the reproductive and productive efficiency of Iraqi riverine buffalo by adapting the recent management and reproductive strategies in Iraq and in the world.