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

HLA-DRB1 leprogenic motifs in nigerian population groups.

Amino acid residues involved in the peptide binding groove of HLA-DRB1 alleles were examined in three Nigerian ethnic groups with leprosy (n = 287) and 170 controls to determine the role of DRB1 alleles in disease outcome with Mycobacterium leprae. Nine positively charged motifs and two others with neutral charge to the binding groove were detected. These motifs occurred more frequently in leprosy (leprogenic) than was expected by chance (P < 0.0001). In contrast, five motifs with net negative or 'modified' neutral charges to the pocket were negatively associated with leprosy. We conclude that clinical outcome of infection with M. leprae is largely determined by a shared epitope in DRB1 alleles marked by several motifs. These motifs occur in otherwise normal DRB1 alleles, characterized by net positive or neutral charges in the binding groove. We hypothesize that these polarities cause poor binding of DRB1 to M. leprae. On presentation, the signal via the T cell receptor results in muted cell-mediated immunity. The resulting response translates to various forms of leprosy depending on degree of charge consonance between M. leprae and host DRB1 allele. Other factors within or without the HLA complex, such as the T cell receptor repertoire, may also influence the resulting disease.