Blood glucose and serum lipid profiles during pregnancy

Pregnancy is associated with significant changes in the functions of the normal liver and understanding these changes is essential to a proper clinical evaluation of liver abnormalities during pregnancy. This study aimed at determining blood glucose level, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the three trimesters of pregnancy among women in Benin City, Nigeria. This was a prospective cohort study, in which 50 blood samples were collected at each mid trimester of pregnancy. Controls were age-matched, non-pregnant women. Data were analysed using ANOVA and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results showed that glucose concentration was significantly higher in pregnant women than the control group, and it was highest in the third trimester of pregnancy. Lipid profile results showed that TG was significantly lower in the control group than in pregnant women. TG was highest in first trimester pregnancy and least in the control group. HDL was significantly lower in the first trimester than in the control group, second or third trimester. Delayed TG clearance is a function of increased blood TG levels and when this occurs with high blood pressure in pregnancy, it could lead to the development of pre-eclampsia. This association may be significant in understanding the process of pre-eclampsia and may help in developing strategies for prevention and early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia

Physiological Mechanisms Underlying the Use of Garcinia Kola Heckel in the Treatment of Asthma

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Effect of alligator pepper (Zingiberaceae aframomum melegueta) on first trimester pregnancy in Sprague Dawley rats.

Alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta) is a spice that is widely used in many cultures for entertainment, religious rites, food flavor and as a part of many traditional doctors medications. Pregnant women are among those who ingest Alligator pepper in these activities. This experiment was carried out to determine the health risk or benefit of Alligator pepper to pregnant women if any. Fifteen male rats and fifteen female rats of proven fertility from a pilot study were randomly paired in fifteen cages in a well ventilated room. After three days of mating, the males were withdrawn from the females, which were allowed to stay in their separate maternity cages for 18-25 days. The females in the control group were fed with normal rat chow and clean drinking water ad libitum for the duration of the experiment. Each of the rats in the experimental group was served 20 g of rat chow mixed with 50mg of Alligator pepper for one day only and thereafter fed with normal rat chow and clean drinking water ad libitum for 18-25 days. The rats in the control group had a mean of 7 litters each, while the rats in the experimental group did not litter at all. It was concluded that ingestion of large quantities of Alligator pepper poses a health risk to women in their first trimester of pregnancy.

Effect of aqueous extract of alligator pepper (Zingiberaceae aframomum melegueta) on gestational weight gain.

Increased gestational weight gain is associated with higher rates of complications of pregnancy and delivery. Gestational weight gain of 9-12 Kg has been associated with the best outcome for both mothers and infants. However, weight gain in most pregnant women is not within this range, perhaps due to the difficulty of calculating the exact quantity, timing and duration of dietary restriction in individual patients that would bring their weight gain within the normal range. There is therefore a need to develop a drug or food supplement that would reduce weight gain without causing adverse effects on the fetus. Aframomum melegueta is widely used in Nigeria by most people including pregnant women for various purposes. It is against this background that the present investigation examines the possibility of its beneficial effects on pregnancy, using Sprague Dawley rat as the animal model. Twenty female and ten male Sprague-Dawley rats of proven fertility from a pilot study were randomly mated in groups of two females and one male. Three days later, female rats in the experimental groups were given intra-peritoneal injections of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.5 mg and 2 mg of aqueous extract of alligator pepper respectively while the control had 2 ml of distilled water. All rats were observed for 18-25 days. There was a significant [P<0.05] reduction in gestational weight gain of the experimental rats. The litters were not adversely affected. It is suggested that the active component of aqueous extract of alligator pepper be determined because of its beneficial effect of gestational weight gain reduction.

Influence of smoking on respiratory symptoms and lung function indices in sawmill workers in Benin City, Nigeria.

The study was done to assess the influence of smoking on respiratory symptoms and respiratory function in sawmill workers in Benin City. 150 sawmill workers who were all males and aged between 18 and 50 years, and had been in continuous employment in sawmill factories for a minimum of one year were studied. They were selected by a two-stage random sampling process from sawmills in Benin City. These were compared to 150 age and sex matched controls in order to determine the effect of sawdust exposure on the respiratory system. Questionnaire was used to elicit morbidity patterns and anthropometric measurements were also made. Respiratory rates, Peak Expiratory Flow Rates and Blood Pressures were measured in both groups. Respiratory symptoms were more common among sawmill workers compared to the controls. Smoking by some of these workers further aggravated their respiratory symptoms. Although blood pressure was similar in both groups, Respiratory rates were higher and Peak Flow Rates were lower in the sawmill workers compared to the controls (20.83 +/- 2.02 cycles/minute and 516.72 +/- 38.48 L/minute for the sawmill workers; 15.45 +/- 1.23 cycles/minute and 575.37 +/- 27.34 L/minute for the controls, respectively). Less than 5% of the sawmill workers wore protective devices/clothing, and health and safety standards were neither practiced nor enforced. The findings suggest that respiratory symptoms especially sputum production and chest pain are common in sawmill workers. Respiratory function is compromised in these workers.

Variations of peak expiratory flow rate with anthropometric determinants in a population of healthy adult nigerians.

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured in 300 healthy adult male and female staff and students of the University of Benin, Benin City, and the College of Education, Ekiadolor, near Benin. The variations of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate with respect to height (ht), weight (wt) and chest circumference (cc) were determined in these subjects. PEFR values fell within the middle to the lower limits of the range for the general male and female populations. There was a linear increase in PEFR with respect to the three anthropometric variables (ht, wt and cc) only in the young adult males, whereas in the older adult males and females, PEFR fluctuated considerably with the variables. PEFR correlates more with height, weight and chest circumference in young adults than in older adults. Respiratory function indices collected from healthy young adults may be more reliable and predictable than those from older adults.