Maternal Geophagy of Calabash Chalk on Foetal Cerebral Cortex Histomorphology.

BACKGROUND: Calabash chalk, a kaolin-base substance is a common geophagic material mostly consumed by pregnant women. This study investigated its effect on the histomorphology of the foetal cerebral cortex. METHODS: Twelve gestating Wistar rats were divided equally into groups 1 and 2. On pregnancy day seven (PD7), group 2 animals were administered 200 mg/kg body weight of calabash chalk suspension, while group 1 animals served as the control and received 1 ml of distilled water, by oral gavages and for 14 days (PD7-PD20). On PD21, the dams were sacrificed, and the foetuses removed, examined for gross malformations, weighed and culled to two foetuses per mother. Their whole brains were excised, weighed and preserved using 10% buffered formalin, and routinely processed by haematoxylin and eosin, and Luxol fast blue methods. RESULTS: The foetuses showed no morphological change, but their mean body weights was higher (p=0.0001). Histomorphological sections of the cerebral cortex showed hypertrophy and hyperplasia of cells in all the cortical layers, with less demonstrated Nissl and higher (p=0.001) cellular population compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Calabash chalk cause body weight increase and histomorphological changes in the cerebral cortex of foetuses.

The pattern of arrangement of the lumbrical muscles in an African population.

The pattern of arrangement of the lumbrical muscles in the hand of an African population was studied. Sixty-four upper limb specimen from 32 male cadavers between the ages 18 and 40 were obtained from the Department of Anatomy, University of Calabar, Nigeria were used. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the University, and each of the limbs of the cadavers was labeled. Observations were grouped as A, B, C, D, and E and their incidence calculated using simple percentages. Group A constituted 50% and represented the standard pattern. In this group, the first and second bellies of lumbrical muscles arose each from the radial sides of the corresponding flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons, while the third and fourth bellies of the lumbrical muscles arose each from the contiguous sides of the FDP tendons of the middle and ring fingers, and the ring and little fingers, respectively. All the bellies were inserted to their corresponding sides in the radial part of the dorsal digital expansion. Groups B and E constituting 12.5 and 6.25%, respectively, presented single origins and insertions in all the four bellies of the lumbrical muscles. Groups C and D constituting 18.75 and 12.5%, respectively, showed double origins in the third belly of the lumbrical muscle, with the first, second, and fourth having single origins. In conclusion, our study showed variations already reported, and peculiar pattern of lumbrical muscle arrangement in a single hand. Therefore, this study is of anatomical, anthropological, and clinical importance.

The pattern of arrangements and distributions of the superior mesenteric artery in a Nigerian population / Patrón de disposición y distribución de la arteria mesentérica superior en la población de Nigeria Anozeng

This study was to ascertain the pattern of arrangements and distributions of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in a Nigerian population. Seventy-five cadavers certified as Nigerians were obtained from the dissecting room of the Department of Anatomy, University of Calabar after ethical approval from the Institution's Ethics Committee. Their abdomens and their contents were excise to expose the vessels. Based on the pattern of arrangements of the SMA, the cadavers were grouped into three (A, B, and C). Group A had 45 cadavers and this constituted 60 percent which were similar to the commonly documented patterns. Groups B and C had 20 and 10 cadavers respectively constituting 26.7 percent and 13.3 percent pattern of arrangement, some of which have not been documented before. In conclusion these peculiar patterns in this population are to be noted in surgical procedure, since damage to these variant vessels may result in severe haemorrhage that may lead to other complications.

Este estudio consistió en determinar el patrón de disposición y distribución de la arteria mesentérica superior (AMS) en una población de Nigeria. Setenta y cinco cadáveres certificados como nigerianos se obtuvieron de la sala de disección del Departamento de Anatomía de la Universidad de Calabar, después de la aprobación ética del Comité Ético de la Institución. Su abdomen y sus contenidos fueron disecados para exponer los vasos. Basado en el modelo de disposición de la AMS, los cadáveres fueron agrupados en tres grupos (A, B y C). Grupo A tuvo 45 cadáveres y estos constituyeron el 60 por ciento los cuales fueron similares a los patrones comúnmente documentados. Los Grupos B y C con 20 y 10 cadáveres respectivamente, constituyeron el 26,7 por ciento y 13,3 por ciento del patrón de disposición, algunos de los cuales no se han documentado antes. En conclusión, estos patrones peculiares en esta población han sido observados en procedimientos quirúrgicos, ya que el daño a estas variantes de vasos pueden resultar en hemorragias graves que pueden conducir a otras complicaciones.

The effect of calabash chalk on some hematological parameters in female adult Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: Calabash chalk is a naturally occurring mineral consumed among the Nigerian community for pleasure and commonly by pregnant women as a remedy for morning sickness. Reports have shown that it contains different toxic substances, with lead being the most abundant. This study was therefore undertaken to ascertain the effect of two commonly available preparations of this chalk on some hematological parameters. METHODS: Twenty-four adult female Wistar rats with average weight of 100 g were assigned into three groups (1, 2, 3). Group 1 served as the control and the animals received distilled water, while Groups 2 and 3 were treated by oral gavage with 40 mg/kg of non-salted (NSCC) and salted calabash chalk (SCC), respectively, for 14 days. RESULTS: The hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and red blood cell (RBC) count were significantly (p<0.05, 0.001 respectively) lower in the NSCC group, while erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the NSCC group compared to the control. There were no significant differences in packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (Pl) counts compared to the control. The SCC group presented no significant difference in all blood count parameters compared to the control. CONCLUSION: This infers that calabash chalk, particularly the non-salted form, alters the normal concentration of Hb, RBC and Pl counts, and ESR, as observed in the female Wistar rats studied.