Sonographic measurement of ear length among normal fetuses of pregnant Igbo women in port Harcourt, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Fetal ear length measurement has been associated with some clinical values: sonographic marker for chromosomal aneuploidy and for biometric estimation of fetal gestational age. OBJECTIVES: To establish a baseline reference value for fetal ear length and to assess relationship between fetal ear length and gestational age. METHODS: Ear length measurements were obtained prospectively from fetuses in 551 normal singleton pregnancies of 15 to 41 weeks gestation. Normal cases were defined as normal sonographic findings during examination plus normal infant post-delivery. The relationship between gestational age (GA) in weeks and fetal ear length (FEL) in millimeters were analyzed by simple linear regression. Correlation of FEL measurements with GA, biparietal diameter (BPD), Head circumference (HC), Abdominal Circumference (AC), Femur Length (FL) and maternal age (MA) were also obtained. RESULTS: Linear relationships were found between FEL and GA (FEL=0.872GA-2.972). There was a high correlation between FEL and GA (r = 0.837; P = .001). Good linear relationship and strong positive correlation were demonstrated between FEL and BPD, AC, HC, and FL (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The result of this study provides normal baseline reference value for FEL. The study also showed good linear relationship and good correlation between FEL and fetal biometric measurements.

Bone mineral density in an urban and a rural children population-A comparative, population-based study in Enugu State, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is one of the non-communicable diseases linked to urbanisation. The foundation of osteoporotic fractures stems from childhood. Therefore, studies that promote maximising peak bone mass are strongly advocated. Studies have shown that there are differences in the incidence of osteoporotic fractures in rural and urban communities. No study has investigated urban-rural differences in BMD of Nigerian children. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate urban-rural differences in BMD of Nigerian children and the association with physical activity, demographic and anthropometric variables. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, study in Enugu, Nigeria, estimated bone mineral density (eBMD) was measured at the calcaneum using the QUS densitometer, Hologic Sahara, in 457 urban (Enugu metropolis) and 559 rural (Nsukka community) children aged 6-14 years. Height, weight and physical activity were measured. Independent sample t-test was used for comparative analysis while Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression models were used to examine the relationship between the eBMD and the other parameters. RESULTS: The mean (S.D) eBMD of the urban children [0.52(0.09) g/cm2] were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than their age- and gender-matched counterparts in the rural areas [0.51(0.08) g/cm2]. Age and weight predicted (p < 0.05) the eBMD in the urban subjects while only age was the predictor (p < 0.05) in the rural subjects. The physical activity pattern had no relationship with eBMD in both urban and rural children in Enugu, Nigeria. CONCLUSIONS: The eBMD of rural children is lower than that of their age- and gender-matched urban counterparts.

Calcaneal Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation and Speed of Sound Measurements in a Population of Nigerian Children: Reference Data and the Influence of Sociodemographic Variables.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to establish a reference database of calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and the speed of sound (SOS) in a healthy Nigerian population of children aged 6 to 14 years and also to investigate the influence of sociodemographic and anthropometric variables on them. METHODS: The BUA and SOS of 1016 healthy children were measured by quantitative ultrasound densitometry. Height and weight were measured with a stadiometer and weighing balance, respectively, whereas the sociodemographic parameters of the participants were collected on a semistructured questionnaire. A multiple regression model using stepwise selection and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the relationship between the ultrasound parameters and sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters. Comparisons between various age groups were made by analysis of variance. RESULTS: The mean BUA and SOS ± SD of the participants were 60.57 ± 16.21 dB/MHz and 1563.48 ± 21.74 m/s, respectively, for boys and 58.18 ± 15.16 dB/MHz and 1560.03 ± 22.32 m/s for girls. The BUA in both sexes was positively influenced by age and weight (P < .05), whereas only the father's educational status was its predictor (P < .05) in the boys. For the girls, the family size and mother's educational status were predictors of the BUA (P < .05). The SOS was marginally influenced by age and family size in the boys (P < .05), whereas the father's educational status was the predictor in the girls. CONCLUSIONS: The established BUA and SOS values in this study are baseline values, and further study, which would also involve data from a large number of Nigerian children, would be needed to support their effectiveness as reference values.

Sonographic assessment of petroleum-induced hepatotoxicity in Nigerians: does biochemical assessment underestimate liver damage?

BACKGROUND: Exposure to petroleum products has been shown to have significant adverse effects on the liver which can manifest either as morphological or physiological changes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of chronic exposure to some petroleum products on the liver of exposed workers using sonography and to determine whether biochemical assessments underestimated hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Abdominal ultrasound was performed on 415 exposed workers in order to evaluate liver echogenicity and size. Also, biochemical assessment of the liver was done to evaluate its function. RESULTS: Statistically significant increase in the liver parenchymal echogenicity and the liver size was seen in the exposed workers compared with control (p ≤ 0.05). These increased as the exposure duration increased. It was also noted that out of 16.87% (N=70) exposed workers with abnormal liver echopattern, only 2.65% (N=11) had alanine aminotransferase above the reference range. CONCLUSION: The study revealed evidence of ultrasound detectable hepatotoxicity among the exposed subjects. Sonography appeared to detect petroleum products-induced hepatic toxicity more than biochemical assays suggesting that biochemical assessment may have underestimated toxicity.