The cerebellum is vulnerable to damage from a variety of sources such as degenerative diseases, infectious processes and toxins, like, mercury. In traditional medicine, various parts of Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) are used to treat disorders, such as, loss of consciousness, nervous disorders, memory disturbances, etc, in different parts of the world. The neuroprotective effect of aqueous fruit extract of Phoenix dactylifera (AFPD) was assessed against mercury-induced cerebellar damage in Wistar rats. Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into six groups (A• F) of four rats each. Group A (control) was administered distilled water (0.5 ml/kg p.o) while, groups B-F were treatment groups. Cerebellar damage was induced in rats by the administration of mercury (HgCl2). Group B was administered HgCl2 (5mg/kg p.o) only. Group C was administered vitamin C (100mg/kg) as reference drug; groups D-F were administered AFPD (250mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg p. o, respectively) followed, concurrently, by HgCl2 (5mg/kg p.o) for a period of 14 days. Neuroprotective activity was studied by histologic examination of brain sections (cerebellar cortex) applying routine (H&E) and histochemical (cresly fast violet) staining techniques. Histologic examination of cerebellar sections of mercury-intoxicated rats revealed cortical degenerative changes, such as, perineuronal vacuolations and degeneration of Purkinje cells, and alteration in the general histoarchitecture of cerebellar cortex. The administration of AFPD remarkably ameliorated mercury-induced neuronal damage in rats, dose-dependently, comparable to the reference drug, vitamin C. Result suggests that AFPD is a potential candidate for application in the management and treatment of chemically-induced neurodegenerative diseases, and neuroprotective activity is probably due to its constituent antioxidant properties. ...
Plants make an important contribution to health care. This is due to the recognition of the value of traditional medicinal systems. Occimum gratissimum (O. gratissimum) is used in the coastal areas of Nigeria for the treatment of various ailments. This study was done to investigate the morphological effects of the aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum on the stomach and duodenal lining of ethanol induced gastric ulcer in adult Wistar rats as well as its effect on their weight. Twenty four (24) adult Wistar rats of average weight 255 g grouped into four (4) with six (6) rats per group were used for this study. Group A was the normal control, group B was the test control, group C and D were administered with l ml absolute ethanol to induce ulcer. Group C and D were then administered with 2.5mg/kg body weight per day of aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum through oral route for seven (7) and fourteen (14) days respectively. After each treatment period the rats were sacrificed and the stomach and duodenum excised and fixed in 10% formal saline. Thereafter, slides of histological sections were prepared. It was observed that aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum considerably reduced the degree of ulceration on both the stomach and duodenum and the findings were duration dependent. It also improved the weights of the animals....
The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of tongue rolling and tongue folding traits among Niger Deltans. The study adopted a cross sectional type of observational research design. Multistage sampling was employed in this study which involved two thousand three hundred and four subjects aged 18 to 65 years. Standard methods were applied in recording the ability for tongue folding and tongue rolling. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 18. Results were arranged according to gender to ascertain the occurrence of sexual dimorphism. Chi-square test was useful in this regard. The tongue rolling and tongue folding traits were compared between the genders. Values at P 0.05). The result showed that the frequency of folders (1422) was more than non-folders (882). The incidence of tongue folding was more in the female gender (P > 0.05). A reliable baseline data on the distribution of tongue rolling and tongue folding traits among Niger Deltans has been produced. ...
Tooth loss is mainly attributed to dental caries and periodontal diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the factors related to tooth loss among Deltans in Nigeria. The multi-stage sampling technique was employed in this cross sectional study. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire. The study also involved intra - oral examination of 384 Deltans (aged 11 to 70 years) which was done between May to June 2015. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20). The association of tooth loss with gender, socioeconomic status, alcohol, cariogenic foods and bad oral hygiene was investigated using the chi-square test as a P < 0.05 was considered significant. The study revealed that gender, socioeconomic status, alcohol, cariogenic foods and poor oral hygiene are all associated with tooth loss among Deltans (P < 0.05). The study revealed the significant risk factors for tooth loss; namely dental caries, periodontal disease, alcohol, gender, socio-economic status, oral hygiene practices and self-rated oral care....
The greater sciatic notch as a landmark in sexual dimorphism was tested using various parameters of the sciatic notch. Examination of the male and female greater sciatic notches of the hip bone (oscoxae) was done using 200 radiographs of adult hip bones (one hundred and fifteen females and eighty - five males) from Nigeria. The maximal width (AB), maximal depth (OC), posterior width (AO) and total angle ( 95%) with the lowest percentage identified being that of the posterior width in males (95.3%) while index II identified the highest percentage - ( 100%) in both males and females as did the total angle in males ( 100%). Maximal width, maximal depth, total angle and index I showed significant gender differences (p0.05), showing that the posterior segment of the width is not very useful in sex determination while the total angle was observed as the best parameter....
Anthropometric measurements are quick and relatively easy to obtain and require inexpensive equipment. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. Determination of BMI will help in early detection of some related diseases and could also aid forensic investigation when unraveling the identity of an unknown person is essential. 490 adults Yoruba traced to their grandparents, with equal percentage of males and females with age ~ l8years and consented were involved in the study. Toe length (1 T big toe - ST little toe) was measured using digital vernier caliper, foot length was measured using steel meter rule, height was taking using stadiometer and weight using weighing scale and BMI was calculated in. SPSS (IBM®) t-test was to compare gender difference in the measured dimensions; while Automatic & Generalized Linear Modeling were used to determine the predictability of BMI from the toe lengths. The significance level was set at 95% as P ~ 0.05 was considered significant. Results oft-test revealed a significant higher value in all the toe lengths in males compared to females (P...
Acanthus montanus is a herbal remedy for inflammation and Pains. This work studied the structure of the testes and analysed semen parameters in 21 Wistar rats. Eight weeks old rats weighing l 35-l 50g were used. The leaves were dried, ground and extracted using 70% alcohol. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups of 7 rats each. The control group was given distilled water. Test groups were administered with ethanol leaf extract of Acanthus montanus, 200mg/kg body weight of rats and 500mg/kg body weight for low and high doses respectively. The administration was done orally once a day with orogastric tube for 14 days. At the end of administration, the animals, at euthanasia with diethyl ether were sacrificed. The testes were dissected out and preserved in 10% buffered formaldehyde. The cauda epididymis was removed and several semen parameters were assessed. Data obtained was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Pos hoc test (Dunnet's multiple comparison test) for significant differences. Results obtained indicated decreased spermatogenic cells, decreased sperm motility and viability (P...
Costus afer is a medicinal plant used as a therapy for diabetes and hypertension. The study investigated the effect of crude ethanolic extract of Costus afer stem and itsjuice on the expression of CK7 cytokeratin protein, histology and some enzymes in the liver. The study is designed to assess possible toxic effects of Costus afer extracts consumption in the liver using rat model. The study was carried out in the Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar between May and July, 2015. Twenty four (24) albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six animals each. Group one (I) served as control, Group two (II) served as experimental group and was tested with 200mg/kg body weight (low dose) of the crude ethanolic extract. Group three (III) also served as experimental group, tested with 500mg/kg body weight (high dose) of the crude ethanolic extract and Group four (IV) was tested with 500mg/kg body weight of Costus afer stem juice. Treatment was orally using orogastric tube for twenty eight (28) days. Result showed that there was a dose dependent reduction in the expression of cytokeratin protein, (CK7) in the test groups except those treated with the juice. Glycogen distribution was reduced with increasing dose and there was no significant effect in the serum levels of liver enzymes. In conclusion, this study suggests that the stem extract and the juice (in particular) of Costus afer may alter the molecular composition of the liver in a chronic consumption....