Volume 14, Number 2, Year 2023

Lip prints are a constant anatomical structure and are absolutely unique to an individual and thus are an infallible means of personal identification. 201 males and 201 females participated in the study. The lip prints were obtained using carbon black powder, lip gloss and a microscopic glass slide which was carefully placed on the lip of the individual. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and P? 0.05 was considered significant. The results showed that Type II and Type I lip Print patterns were the predominant patterns for both Males and Females. There was a significant difference in lip prints of both males and females. There was a higher frequency in the number of non-tongue rollers than that of those who could roll their tongue, with no significance to sex. Most significantly, a new kind of lip print pattern was discovered as Type V*. This rare lip print pattern appears to be a straight horizontal line. There seems to be no relationship between tongue rolling and lip print in relation to sex. In conclusion, the unique lip print pattern discovered among Ogori Magongo ethnic group of Nigeria and its sexual difference with their inability to roll their tongue are important forensic anthropometry...

Toxicity from herbal plants has been underestimated due to the perception that drugs from plants are absolutely safe. Breynia nivosa is a herbal plant known for its use in the treatment of tooth infection, toothaches and headaches. However, severe organ injury has been described after ingestion of variety of different herbal preparations. This led to the study on the histopathological changes associated with oral toxicity of ethanolic extract of B. nivosa on the liver. Twenty Wistar rat weighing averagely 200-250 g were divided into four groups of five rats each (n=5). Group A served as the control group while groups (B, C, D) were the experimental groups which received 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg/bw of ethanolic leaf extract of Breynia nivosa respectively through orogastric intubation for 28 days. 24 hours after the last administration, the rats were anesthetized using 40 mg/kg ketamine intraperitoneally. The liver was dissected and processed for paraffin section fsor histological studies. Blood samples were collected prior to harvesting the organs through cillary puncture for determination of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline Phosphatase (ALP). Biochemical results of the liver enzymes showed significant increase in serum ALT, AST and ALP of the treated groups (54.53±1.06), (78.73±3.98) and (192.54±3.60) compared to the control (26.66±1.06), (56.23±1.40) and (64.84±12.96) respectively. Histological result of the treated groups showed hepatic necrosis, congestion of hepatic sinusoids and loss of hepatic cells compared to the control group. These results showed that oral administration of ethanolic extract of B. nivosa can be toxic to the liver...

Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) has been extensively reported by previous studies to have deleterious effects on the male reproductive system. On the other hand, research has proven that caffeic acid possess potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This research aimed to investigate the potential of caffeic acid in mitigating histological damage to the testes caused by RF-EMR exposure. The study assessed testicular histoarchitecture using Haematoxylin and Eosin, as well as Verhoeff-van Gieson stain. The results revealed improved preservation of normal histoarchitecture in the caffeic acid-treated groups compared to the untreated ones, with well-arranged germinal epithelial cells, and improved elastic fibre expression in the peritubular walls of the seminiferous tubules. Pre-treatment with caffeic acid demonstrated its ability to protect the testes of experimental rats from the harmful effects of RF-EMR. The results indicate that treatment with caffeic acid before and after exposure to phone radiation exhibited protective effects on the testes of the rats....

Mercury is a highly toxic substance that poses a serious threat to living organisms. This work evaluated the protective effects of n-butanol fraction of Phoenix dactylifera Linn (BFPD) on mercury-induced kidney toxicity in Wistar rats. 25 rats were divided into 5 groups containing 5 rats each. Group I was administered 2 ml/kg of distilled water; group II was administered 5 mg/kg of mercury chloride (HgCl2); groups III and IV received 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of BFPD followed by 5 mg/kg of HgCl2 respectively. Group V was treated with 100 mg/kg of silymarin followed by 5 mg/kg of HgCl2. All administrations were oral and lasted for 2 weeks after which the rats were euthanized and blood and kidney samples were collected for biochemical, histological, and histochemical studies respectively. HgCl2 induced oxidative stress resulting in nephrotoxicity in the rats noticeable by altered levels of Na2+, Ca2+, K+, Cl- and HCO3 -, and activities of SOD and catalase when compared to the control. However, BFPD treatment ameliorated these alterations. The group treated with HgCl2 showed histological variations in the kidney such as dilated Bowman’s capsule and glomerular shrinkage while histochemical analysis revealed reduced reactivity to glycogen moiety when compared to the control. Treatment with BFPD protected the histoarchitectural properties of the kidney comparable to the control. In conclusion, BFPD protected the kidney against HgCl2-induced nephrotoxicity in rats due to its antioxidant (flavonoid) properties. Therefore, BFPD may be considered a noble candidate for treating and managing HgCl2-related nephrotoxicity...

The study of dermal ridges on the palms and soles is known as dermatoglyphics. Its growth begins in the third month and is completed by the fifth month of intrauterine life. The dermal ridges have been linked to the development of the central nervous system throughout foetal life and are also affected when the central nervous system is defective. It has been reported that genetic factors influence both human intelligence and dermatoglyphics. The purpose of this study is to assess the link between fingerprint pattern, digital triradius a, axial triradius t and digital triradius d (angle atd), palmar crease and academic achievement in chosen secondary school pupils. Palm prints were obtained from 145 students (76 males and 69 females) in their third to final year (JSS3-SSS3) using a digital scanner. Microsoft Photo Viewer and AutoCAD software were used to study the dermatoglyphic patterns. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 25, and a P...

Crimes involving fire are becoming increasingly common, and criminals often use fire to mask the actual cause of death, conceal the identity of the victims, and hide evidence related to the crime scene. This study was designed to compare the decomposition timeline between burnt and strangulated porcine carrions to evaluate differential decomposition timeline involving burnt and strangled victims. This research was done in the Department of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (DAFARF) in CRUETCH, for a period of 30 days. Four pigs (sus scrofa domestica) weighing 30-35 kg each were used as animal models. Two pigs were burnt to death using scale 1 of Crow-Glassman burning scale, and two pigs were sacrificed through strangulation. Immediately death was confirmed, all pigs were enclosed in wire mesh cages and left on the open earth surface drifted 10 metres apart. Physical observations for postmortem changes taken through total body score, collection of insects for entomological analysis, as well as core and ambient temperature readings were recorded. Total body scores were assessed to observe regional decay rates and patterns between the carrions. Soil before and after the experiment were collected for physicochemical analysis and volatile fatty acids. The result showed that the burned carrion decomposed faster with statistically significant (p...

The task of establishing identity of unknown cases becomes quite difficult for investigating officers especially in cases of mass disaster, burns, drowning etc. where the face is severely disfigured. If the ears are left unharmed, in such cases the identity may be established using metric and morphological features of the victim’s ear, as it differs between ethnic groups, sex and geographic location. The present study was aimed at evaluating the morphological variations of the external ear among Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba Ethnic groups in Nigeria. This study comprised a total of 403 subjects that were randomly selected in which 145, 128 and 130 subjects were selected from Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba ethnic groups respectively. The photographs of the subjects were taken using Sony Hanicam DCR-SX53 camera and transferred to computer and three different observers were used to identify the studied parameters. After the comparison it was observed that the frequencies of the studied morphological parameters were not the same across the three ethnicities. Some parameters were more prevalent in one ethnicity than the others. Significant association between these parameters and ethnicity were obtained in morphological shape of ear, type of antitragus and concha shape. From the findings, it can be concluded that there is existence of variations in some of morphological parameters of the external ear across the three ethnicities studied....

Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid commonly used for the control of insect pests. It is neurotoxic at high doses and its exposure has been associated with tremor, salivation, paresthesia, depressed reflexes and nerve damage, in animal studies. Sesame seed oil is derived from the seeds of the flowering sesame plant, known for its beneficial antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the possible ameliorative effects of Sesame seed oil on permethrin-induced neurotoxicity. A total of 16 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: the control group given standard rat feed, permethrin (PER) group treated with 100 mg/kg permethrin, sesame seed oil (SO) group administered with 5 ml/kg SO and SO+PER group co-treated with SO and PER, all for 14 days. The rats were assessed for memory and spatial learning and thereafter anesthetized and sacrificed after 14 days of treatment. The hippocampus was excised from the brain and processed for tissue histology, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry, using haematoxylin & eosin stain, cresyl fast violet stain and antibody against ionised calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (for microglial expression) respectively. Oxidative status was assessed using glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes as biomarkers. Results revealed that permethrin caused memory deficits, varying degrees of disruption of the normal hippocampal microarchitecture, microglial activation and depletion of endogenous antioxidants. On the other hand, these activities were either prevented or minimised in the rats that received sesame seed oil intervention. Our findings revealed that sesame seed oil is both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory and capable of mitigating permethrin-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity....

Newer sources of lead are being discovered on daily bases; likewise, the prevalence of kidney diseases is increasing hence the need to look at the effect of lead as a predisposing factor to kidney diseases. The present study was aimed at determining the effect of lead on the histology of kidney and some renal parameters. A total of 20 adult male Wistar rats were used for the study. The animals were divided into four groups of five animals each. Group I, II, III and IV received 1ml of distilled water, 60mg/kg, 120mg/kg and 180 mg/kg bwt of lead (II) acetate respectively, orally for 28 days. The rats were sacrificed after ketamine injection (50 mg/kg bwt) intraperitonially and blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. Routine histological technique was used for tissue processing and tissue were stain using hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E) and periodic acid schiff stain (PAS). The histological features showed distortion in normal membrane and glomerulus, fibrosis of mesangial cells and macular denser in a dose-dependent manner. Biochemical analysis showed a significant increase in the concentrations of creatinine, urea, iron and potassium in Groups II, III, and IV. However, a decrease in sodium, calcium, carbonate and total protein was observed. In conclusion, sub-acute oral lead administration caused dose-dependent renal histopathological and biochemical changes in the treated groups in adult male Wistar rats....

The global concern about the use of eco-friendly and biodegradable materials in tissue staining has borne laudable interest in the use of natural dyes as suitable alternatives to synthetic dyes. Plants like avocados serve as dyeing agents for fabrics, but little is known about their potential as a histological stain. This study focused on investigating the staining properties of the aqueous avocado seed extract on histological sections of the spleen, testis, skin, and pancreas. A total of five fresh avocado seeds were chopped into bits and simmered in water to extract their deep maroon dye. Tissue sections of the spleen, testis, skin, and pancreas of 4 adult Wistar rats aged 12 weeks and weighing 180–250 g were used. They were grouped into four, labeled A to D, with each group containing 4 specimens (1-Spleen, 2-Testis, 3-Skin, and 4-Pancreas). Group A (control) was stained using the Haematoxylin and Eosin technique; group B was stained using Haematoxylin and Avocado seed extract; group C was stained using Avocado seed extract and Eosin, while group D was stained using Avocado seed extract only. Findings revealed blue-black nuclei and pink cytoplasm (group A); blue-black nuclei and brownish but unclear cytoplasm (group B); pinkish cytoplasm with no nuclei seen (group C); brownish cytoplasm with unclear features (group D); only the testis demonstrated remarkable features. This study demonstrated the properties of avocado seed extract as an acid dye capable of staining the cytoplasm, and may have a better inclination towards staining testicular cytoplasm....

Mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal, poses a risk to humans, animals, and plants. Gingko biloba has been used to treat various disorders including memory-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Ascorbic acid, which is known for its antioxidant properties, protects cells from free radicals. This study aimed to examine the protective effects of Gingko biloba extract and ascorbic acid on the hippocampi of adult Wistar rats exposed to mercury. Forty-two rats weighing between 180 to 200 g were divided into seven groups. Group I served as the control, while Group II received mercury (5 mg/kg), group III received mercury (5 mg/kg) + ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg), group IV received mercury (5 mg/kg) + ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg), group V received mercury (5 mg/kg) + Ginkgo biloba (100 mg/kg), group VI received mercury (5 mg/kg) + Ginkgo biloba (500 mg/kg), group VII received mercury (5 mg/kg) + ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg) + Ginkgo biloba (100 mg/kg). Treatment was orally for 21 consecutive days. Results indicated that Group II rats experienced altered feeding patterns, decreased body weight and decreased antioxidant activity levels of glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase; increased the brain weight and malondialdehyde level. In contrast, Groups III to VII, displayed positive outcomes, indicating protective effects against mercury-induced changes. Mercury had detrimental effects on the hippocampus in adult Wistar rats. However, the administration of Gingko biloba extract and ascorbic acid showed potential in mitigating these effects....

Obesity, which was once considered a first-world disease, has become a global epidemic. It is now becoming more prevalent in undeveloped and developing nations. This present study assessed the prevalence and occupational predictors of obesity among males in rural and urban regions of south-eastern Nigeria. This crosssectional survey involved 240 males aged 18 to 60. Participants were grouped into eight groups depending on their occupation: students, hawkers, artisans, public servants, traders, drivers, security personnel, and sports personnel. Weight and height were measured using a weighing scale and a stadiometer, and relevant biodata were collected using standardized questionnaires. All procedures in this study followed the ethical guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration on the use of human subjects. The prevalence of obesity in this present study was 11.3%. Stratification by occupation showed that security personnel (30%) and drivers (26.67%) had a higher prevalence of obesity compared to other professions. Expectedly, the result showed that the mean body mass index of drivers and security personnel were significantly higher (p...

Aluminium is a widely recognized neurotoxic agent that can affect the central nervous system and other parts of the body. In this study, effects of kolaviron were investigated on the prefrontal cortex of adult female Wistar rats treated with Aluminium chloride. Twenty – five adult female Wistar rats were purchased and acclimatized for 2 weeks. They were assigned into five groups, each containing five (5) rats, and administered the following respectively; Group A: distilled water, Group B: corn oil, Group C: 200 mg/kg body weight of kolaviron, Group D: 100 mg/kg body weight of Aluminium chloride and Group E: 100 mg/kg body weight of Aluminium chloride + 200 mg/kg body weight of kolaviron. Administration was done consecutively for 14 days with the use of oral cannula. Behavioural assessments (Open field test and Morris water maze) were carried out after which the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the brain excised. Immunohistochemical techniques using anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) were also carried out. Findings revealed that the kolaviron-treated group showed improved learning and memory activities and this was supported by observations in the immunohistochemical assessments following responses to oxidative stress and inflammatory stress markers respectively....

Dermatoglyphics study is an important aspect of forensic science in establishing one's identity. This study aims to empirically determine the dermatoglyphic pattern of fingerprints that is prevalent among genders of three ethnic groups (Urhobo, Ika, and Isoko. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted for six months among three ethnic groups in Delta State. The combined sample size for the study is one thousand two hundred (1200) subjects, each selected across the aforementioned ethnic groups. Data collected was subjected to statistical analysis, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. P value ...