ABSTRACT
Background: Statue determination has remained a basic requirement in determining human identity and ethnicity. Usually in situations when whole anatomical structures are unavailable, forensic expert would be expected to rely on smaller structures such as the phalanges, patella ribs and other fragmentary bones. Aim: The present study evaluates toe anthropometry and its usability as predictors of the stature of the Hausa ethnic group in Nigeria. Methods: Six hundred and sixty four (664) subjects comprising of equal percentage of adult males and females were included in the study group. Toe lengths of both feet (coded as big toe or first toe [1T] to the fifth toes [5T]) were measured using a digital Vernier calliper with accuracy of 0.01mm while stature was taken using a stadiometer with accuracy of 0.1m. SPSS (IBM®) t-test was to evaluate gender difference in the measured dimensions; while SPSS and XLSTAT (2015) Automatic & Generalized Linear Modelling were used to determine the predictability of stature from the toe lengths. The significance level was set at 95% as P≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: The automatic (multiple) regression analysis showed that the males displayed significantly higher mean values than the females for all measured parameters (P<0.001). The general population regression formulae were derived and only three (3) variables (R2T, R5T and L3T) significant contributors to the models for stature prediction for the general Gp (R2=0.385, F[3, 660]=137.68, P<0.001) and female F (R2=0.137, F[3, 328]=17.367, P<0.001) population, while only the L.1T could predict male M stature (R2=0.139, F[1, 330] = 54.489, P<0.001). Single regression gender-specific formulae were derived for the measurements that provided significant R2 values. Conclusion: This study suggested that estimation of a stature of Hausa ethnic group could be made possible by using specific toe measurements. However, lengths of toe may not be so reliable in the estimation of stature, but could be used for sex discrimination in forensic investigation.
ABSTRACT
Background: Statue determination has remained a basic requirement in determining human identity and ethnicity. Usually in situations when whole anatomical structures are unavailable, forensic expert would be expected to rely on smaller structures such as the phalanges, patella ribs and other fragmentary bones. Aim: The present study evaluates toe anthropometry and its usability as predictors of the stature of the Hausa ethnic group in Nigeria. Methods: Six hundred and sixty four (664) subjects comprising of equal percentage of adult males and females were included in the study group. Toe lengths of both feet (coded as big toe or first toe [1T] to the fifth toes [5T]) were measured using a digital Vernier calliper with accuracy of 0.01mm while stature was taken using a stadiometer with accuracy of 0.1m. SPSS (IBM®) t-test was to evaluate gender difference in the measured dimensions; while SPSS and XLSTAT (2015) Automatic & Generalized Linear Modelling were used to determine the predictability of stature from the toe lengths. The significance level was set at 95% as P ⤠0.05 was considered significant. Results: The automatic (multiple) regression analysis showed that the males displayed significantly higher mean values than the females for all measured parameters (P<0.001). The general population regression formulae were derived and only three (3) variables (R2T, R5T and L3T) significant contributors to the models for stature prediction for the general Gp (R2=0.385, F[3, 660]=137.68, P<0.001) and female F (R2=0.137, F[3, 328]=17.367, P<0.001) population, while only the L.1T could predict male M stature (R2=0.139, F[1, 330] = 54.489, P<0.001). Single regression gender-specific formulae were derived for the measurements that provided significant R2 values. Conclusion: This study suggested that estimation of a stature of Hausa ethnic group could be made possible by using specific toe measurements. However, lengths of toe may not be so reliable in the estimation of stature, but could be used for sex discrimination in forensic investigation
Subject(s)
Nigeria , ToesABSTRACT
We have measured the longitudinal, transverse diameters of optic canal, foramen rotundum, foramen ovale, foramen spinosum, to serve as a handy guideline to surgeons, to enhance the accuracy of sexing the cranium for anthropometric/medico-legal studies and for comparative analyses of values of the Nigerian population with those of the Caucasians. A total of 100 adult dry skulls 81 male, 19 female from departments of Anatomy of some Nigerian Universities were used. Automatic vernier caliper with a precision of 0.1mm was used. Data analysis was performed with Graph Pad Prism 3.0. A comparison was made of the means of the dimension using Student's T-test and analysis of variance. Sizes of foramina were not significantly different from that of Caucasians Our results show significant sexual dimorphism in the following parameters, the right transverse diameter of the FR in males was found to be significantly different from the females at p<0.05, there was a significant difference between the means of the left and right sides of the foramen ovale. The distance between right ovale and spinosum in males and females was found to be significantly different in both sexes. The effect of side on longitudinal diameter of foramen ovale FO of males showed a significant difference between the means of the left and right sides of the foramen ovale. A comparism of the distance between left optical canal and foramen rotundum showed a significant difference between the values obtained for males and the females at p< 0.05.
Hemos medido el diámetro longitudinal y transversal del canal óptico, agujero redondo, el agujero oval, agujero espinoso, para que sirva como una guía útil para los cirujanos, para mejorar la exactitud de la determinación del sexo del cráneo para estudios antropométricos y médico-legales y para realizar análisis comparativos de valores de la población de Nigeria con los de la raza blanca. Fueron utilizados 100 cráneos adultos secos 81 cráneos masculinos, 19 femeninos de los departamentos de Anatomía de algunas Universidades de Nigeri. Se utilizó un calibrador vernier automático con una precisión de 0,1 mm. Los datos fueron analizados con el gráfico Pad Prism 3.0. Se realizó una comparación de los medios de la dimensión utilizando T de Student y el análisis de la varianza. Los tamaños de los agujeros no fueron significativamente diferentes de la de los caucásicos. Nuestros resultados muestran dimorfismo sexual significativo en los siguientes parámetros, el diámetro transversal del derecho de FR en los hombres resultó ser significativamente diferentes de las hembras con una p <0,05, hubo una diferencia significativa entre las medias de los lados izquierdo y derecho del foramen oval. La distancia entre la derecha y oval espinoso en hombres y mujeres resultó ser significativamente diferente en ambos sexos. El efecto de lado en el diámetro longitudinal del foramen oval DE de los hombres mostraron una diferencia significativa entre las medias de los lados izquierdo y derecho del foramen oval. Una comparación de la distancia entre el canal izquierdo y agujero redondo óptica mostró una diferencia significativa entre los valores obtenidos para los machos y las hembras de p <0,05.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Female , Cephalometry , Cranial Fossa, Middle/anatomy & histology , Sex Characteristics , Sex Determination by Skeleton/methods , Forensic Anthropology , Cranial Fossa, Middle/ultrastructure , NigeriaABSTRACT
Background: Published reports of haemorheological values of umbilical cord blood in Nigerian newborns are relatively scanty. The present study therefore aimed to determine the values of some basic haemorheological parameters in the umbilical cord blood of Nigerian neonates and in the venous blood of their respective mothers. The study also aimed to determine if any significant differences or correlations exist in these haemorheological parameters between maternal and umbilical cord blood. Design: Cross sectional prospective study involving 60 subjects consisting of 30 newborn neonates and their respective mothers. Methods: The values of haematocrit; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; haemoglobin concentration; red blood cell count; white blood cell count; whole blood relative viscosity; relative plasma viscosity; fibrinogen concentration; mean corpuscular volume; mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were determined in the umbilical cord blood of Nigeria neonates and in the respective mothers at the time of birth. Results: Significantly higher values of haematocrit; haemoglobin concentration; red blood cell count; whole blood relative viscosity and relative plasma viscosity and significantly lower values of erythrocyte sedimentation rates were found in umbilical cord blood compared to maternal blood (p0.05). Significant positive correlations were found only in the values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); haemoglobin concentration; white blood cell count; whole blood relative viscosity and relative plasma viscosity between maternal and umbilical cord blood (p0.05). Both mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration showed a negative but non-significant correlation between maternal and umbilical cord blood (p0.05). Conclusion: The present study reports values of basic haemorheological parameters in maternal and umbilical cord blood of newborn Nigerian neonates and reports significant differences and correlations in these parameters between the two groups. This we hope would provide information on umbilical cord haemorheology for Nigerian neonatologist since up to the present time similar studies have been scanty
Subject(s)
Hematology , Hemorheology , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Umbilical CordABSTRACT
Background: Published reports of the basic haematological parameters of apparently healthy subjects in Port Harcourt; Nigeria are relatively scanty. This has resulted in an apparent unavailability of laboratory reference values for haematological parameters for the population. Aim: To determine the reference values of some basic haematological parameters in apparently healthy adult subjects in Port Harcourt; Nigeria. Methods: Two hundred and fifty apparently healthy adults consisting of 150 males and 100 females; aged between 15 and 55 years; residing in Port Harcourt were randomly selected via a cross sectional prospective study. The following haematological parameters were determined by the indicated methods: haematocrit (Hct) was determined using Hawksley micro-capillary centrifugation; haemoglobin concentration (Hbc) was determined using the cyanmethaemoglobin method; red blood cell count and white blood cell count were both determined manually using the improved Neubauer counting chamber; mean corpuscular volume (MCV); mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were calculated from the appropriate haematological parameters; erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was determined using the Westergren method. Results: The reference values; modes and ranges of all haematological parameters determined are presented. The mean values of haematocrit; haemoglobin concentration; red blood cell count; white blood cell count; mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) were found to be significantly higher in male subjects; while the mean values of mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and ESR were found to be significantly higher in female subjects (p 0.05). Conclusion: The present study reports reference values of basic haematological parameters for healthy adult residents of Port Harcourt; Nigeria. Significant gender variations possibly exist in the basic haematological parameters of the population under investigation
Subject(s)
Erythrocyte Indices , Hematology , HemoglobinsABSTRACT
Background: Half of persons living with HIV/AIDS are below 25 years and majority of the remaining are believed to have been infected in their youth. The impact of HIV on young people has continued to generate increasing global medical; social; economic; political and academic interests. Aim: This paper reviews the pattern of existing documentation on HIV/AIDS regarding young people in Nigeria in presentations on this subject at international meetings and conferences. Methods: The review relied on a bibliography of 364 presentations from 17 books of abstracts and several solicited submissions; spanning 18 years; collated; indexed and published by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and the National Action Committee on AIDS. A matrix was constructed to categorize and tally the abstracts by several technical themes against the characteristics of the young people; aged 10 to 24 years that they reported on. Results: Eighty-five (23.5) out of the 364 were articles on adolescent/youths; the 18-year period; giving a rate of 4.7 articles per year. Regarding the context; 67 (78.8) concerned adolescents/ youths of both sexes. About half (47 or 55.3) were conducted among schooling adolescents/youths; and 23 (27.1) involved out-of-school youths. Twenty-three (27.1) titles were socio-medical research exploring knowledge; attitude; behaviour and practice; while three (3.5) were studies of biomedical nature; involving serologic investigations. Reports of interventions accounted for over half (47 or 55.3) of the presentations; most of which were on HIV awareness and prevention programmes. Conclusion: A low rate of reports on HIV/AIDS specific to young people at international conferences was observed; which does not reflect the level of importance and impact of the infection on this group of individuals. Amongst them; socio-medical studies; and interventions featuring awareness and prevention among schooling youths predominate. Interventions involving testing; treatment and care; and bio-medical studies especially involving vulnerable non-schooling youths; remain a challenge that must be faced