Background to the study: Common pigeon (Columba livia) is widely distributed worldwide and feeds mainly on grains or seeds and insects and small invertebrates. Some studies have demonstrated variations in the morphology and function of avian alimentary tract. Methods: Ten apparently healthy adult common pigeons were examined in this study. Following euthanasia, gross and histological techniques were used to investigate the morphology of the distal ileum and ceca of common pigeon. Results: At the ileo-ceco-rectal junction, the tunica muscularis of the distal ileum exhibited a thickened layer of oblique smooth muscle fibers positioned between the middle circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers. The ceca of the common pigeon were paired, small (approximately 0.33 cm), blind-ended sacs situated at acute angles with the distal ileum. Histologically, each cecum exhibited a lamina propria-submucosa that contained aggregates of lymphocytes and few glandular acini throughout the length of the organ. Conclusion: It was suggested that the ceca of the common pigeon may be important in immunological response of the bird to invasion by antigens while playing some roles in the digestion of food materials. Moreover, the thickened oblique layer of smooth muscle fibers in the wall of the distal ileum may serve to regulate the passage of materials through the ileo-ceco-rectal orifice.

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Introduction: The use of innovative ways of teaching anatomy as well as shortage of cadavers for dissection have raised questions as to whether dissection should continue to be used in teaching anatomy. This study aimed to assess the views of medical and dental students on the importance of dissection in learning gross anatomy, and whether they would prefer other ways of learning anatomy instead of cadaveric dissection. Materials and Methods: First- and second-year students enrolled at the University of Nairobi (Kenya) were asked to fill an online questionnaire. Data gathered were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results: Ninety-eight (83 medical and 15 dental) students participated in the study. All students agreed dissection was useful in learning anatomy. Up to 95.2% of medical and 86.7% of dental students favored dissection. Most students strongly agreed or agreed that dissection helped them to develop three-dimensional (3D) awareness of the human body (94.9%), work as a team (89.8%), learn medical terminology (85.7%), and learn how to use basic surgical instruments (80.6%). Dissection was preferred to use of 3D models, prosected specimens, computer-aided learning techniques, or modern imaging techniques by 63.3%, 60.3%, 37.7%, and 34.4% of the students, respectively. Conclusion: Dissection is an important resource for learning anatomy. Other teaching techniques should be used to supplement dissection rather than replace it.

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Background: Gut health is the most important factor for a healthy life. A large number of people are suffering from gut associated diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease is the general medical terminology for chronic inflammatory illness of unknown origin. Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid has been used extensively as a model for intestinal inflammatory disease. Aim of the work: This study aims to assess the effect of jujube fruit extract on the histological integrity of colon, in a rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis. Materials and Methods: Experimental colitis was induced under light ether anesthesia by intrarectal administration of 1 ml of 4% acetic acid (AA) in male albino rats, Control rats received an equal volume of saline intrarectally. Experimental rats were treated orally with jujube fruit extract (1 gm/kg body weight) for one month. Results: Myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 levels in the colonic tissues revealed significant increased level and morphological changes in the colonic mucosa were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin, AB/PAS and Trichrome stains revealed alteration of the colonic mucosa as evident by crypt architecture disarray, mucin depletion from goblet cells, epithelial degeneration and necrosis accompanied by cellular infiltration in the lamina propria and submucosa. In our model, the administration of jujube fruit extract of 1 gm/kg body weight revealed, significant decrease in myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 levels as compared with the control group associated with mild acetic acid-induced lesions in the histological sections. Conclusion: These results indicated that jujube fruit extract acted as a treatment agent against inflammation in rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis.

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Sciatic nerve divides into tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve at the level of superior angle of popliteal fossa and variations in its branching pattern are common. The most common nerve entrapment syndrome in the lower limbs is common peroneal nerve entrapment at fibular head. Invariably it can also be trapped in gluteal region due to split piriformis muscle which compresses sciatic nerve as whole or its division such as common peroneal nerve. In this case report, we describe a case of high division of sciatic nerve along with duplicated piriformis associated with a communicating branch between inferior gluteal nerve and common peroneal nerve. Such an anatomical variation of common peroneal nerve with the communicating nerve is discussed with its embryological basis.

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Background: Medicinal plants such as Codiaeum variegatum are recognized therapeutic agents and sources of the drug. The effect of ethanolic extract of C. variegatum was investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: Sixteen adult Wistar rats of both sexes weighing between 120 and 180 g were used for the study. They were randomly assigned to four groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 of 4 rats (N = 4) per group. The control (group 1) received 0.1 ml of normal saline, while 2, 3, and 4 experimental groups received 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg of the leaf extract respectively for 2 weeks. They were sacrificed on the 15^th day of the experiment; cerebrum was harvested, processed, and stained using the hematoxylin and eosin histological technique. Results: Sections of the cerebrum of the experimental groups showed sparse cellular population, microglia infiltration, focal, and liquefactive necrosis when compared to the control group. Conclusion: Ethanolic leaf extract of C. variegatum elicits an adverse effect on the cerebrum of adult Wistar rats.

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Introduction: Positive foolproof identification of known or unknown, living or deceased individuals are the primary universal roles in forensic criminal or social investigations wherein the definite procedures such as finger printing, karyotyping, dental records play the direct role although expensive and technique sensitive. Herein lies the importance of oral and peri oral tissues in which cheiloscopy is an emerging, cost effective and simple technique. Cheiloscopy (derived from the Greek word cheilos which meaning lips) is the study of characteristic patterns of depressions and elevations, anatomically found on oral mucosa. Previous studies have proved that lip prints were unique permanent records of human being analogous to finger prints, hence its classification for a particular individual can be a source of antemortem record in future for a correct identity. Materials and Methods: The study sample comprised of 150 medical students i.e., 88 boys and 62 girls in age group of 18–21 years of Government Medical College, Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. With prior ethical clearance (vide ethical dispatch number 200 dated December 07, 2015) and informed consent, lip prints were recorded by application of a nonsmudged but thin and even coat of dark colored lip stick over the oral labial mucosa of the upper and lower lips and transferring the obtained replica to a cellophane paper fixed on to a permanent bond paper. The lip prints were analyzed with classification of Suzuki and Tsuchihashi for discrimination of gender in addition to individual personal identification and common lip print patterns in Raigarh. Observation and Results: The results showed that of the total 150 students, 133 (88.67%) were correctly identified. The common lip pattern among males in the study was Type III (28.41%). Among females, Type I (33.87%) was the dominant pattern. Males showed grading of lip print pattern as III > IV > II > I' > I > V and females had a grading pattern was of II > I > I' > III > IV > V. Conclusion: As lip prints do not change during the life of a person hence still further studies needs to be undertaken to substantiate the cheiloscopic technique on the upper crest as a predominant technique for personal and gender identification.

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Background: Fractures of the humeral shaft account for 1–3% of all fractures in adults and for 20% of all humeral fractures in some populations. Objective: This study was aimed at classifying the pattern of humeral shaft fractures among Nigerian using the Müller's AO classification system. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out retrospectively at the Department of Medical Records, National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos State, Nigeria, using plain films from a total number of 206 patients comprising 140 males and 66 females. Humeral shaft fractures were classified according to Müller's classification into three main types with three groups in each type. Results: The result showed that the most frequent type of humeral shaft fractures was simple fractures (76.7% [158/206]) followed by wedge fractures (20.4% [42/206]), whereas the least frequent was the complex fractures (2.9% [6/206]). Among the simple diaphyseal humeral fractures, simple spiral fractures were the most frequent (41.8% [66/168). Among the wedge diaphyseal humeral fractures, spiral wedge fractures were the most frequent (90.5% [38/42]). All the complex diaphyseal humeral fractures were of irregular complex group (12C3; 100% [6/6]). Conclusion: This study showed to a great extent that there is a pattern for diaphyseal humeral fractures among Nigerians. It goes a long way in equipping surgeons, to allow resources to be allocated on the basis of projected frequency of different types of diaphyseal humeral fractures.

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Differences in anthropometry and body composition in populates arising from ecological habitat has been documented in several studies. The study attempted to evaluate the differences between the anthropometric and body composition parameters in young women of Kaduna and Rivers State, Nigeria. The study involved young women, without physical deformities within the age range of 18–30 years (mean age 22.10 ± 2.62 and 22.55 ± 3.78 for Kaduna and Rivers women respectively) that are indigenes of Kaduna and Rivers State. The study was based on a cross-sectional sampling of 788 tertiary institution students (401women from Rivers State females and 387 Kaduna females). The following anthropometric variables were measured: weight to the nearest 0.1 kg and height to the nearest 0.5 cm using a stadiometer, limb circumferences, and body circumferences using a nonstretchable tape. Body composition parameters were measured using bioimpedance analyzer. Data obtained showed that limb circumferences of Kaduna women are signifi cantly higher than Rivers women (P < 0.000 for arm circumference, P < 0.01 for calf circumference, and P < 0.000 for forearm circumference) except for the thigh circumference. However, weight, height, iliac and tricep skinfold of women from Rivers State was signifi cantly higher than Kaduna women (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, and P < 0.05). Muscle mass, percentage body fat, basal metabolic rate, and metabolic age of Rivers women were signifi cantly higher than that of their Kaduna counterparts at a signifi cant level of P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively. Rivers state women presented higher anthropometric variables and body composition parameters, but a lower limb circumference than their counterparts from Kaduna State. The difference in body composition could be tied to genetics and physiological variation that exists between individuals of a different population.

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Introduction: Abnormal birth positions persisting to term have been associated with serious complications such as uterine rupture, umbilical cord prolapse, cervical spine injury, nuchal arms, and fetal head entrapment. Aim: The purpose of this study was to find out the most common abnormal birth position, mode of delivery, and associated complications at birth. Materials and Methods: This study covered the period of 5 years from 2005 to 2009 in three major hospitals in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The hospitals are St. Luke Hospital established in 1937, Mainland Hospital (a private hospital) established in 1975, and University of Uyo Teaching hospital established 1996. Totally, 1100 term singleton fetuses in abnormal birth positions were considered in this study. Results: Six different types of abnormal birth positions were recorded viz.: Breech 70.00% (the most common fetal malposition), transverse lie 14.73%, occiput posterior 8.45%, face presentation 3.27%, shoulder 1.91%, and compound 1.64%. Associated complications observed were umbilical cord prolapse (the most common complication) 6.27%, ruptured uterus 1.64%, and shoulder dislocation 0.54%. The rate of cesarean delivery for these fetuses was high (68.36%) compared to vaginal delivery (31.64%). Conclusion: Pregnant women are hereby encouraged to make childbirth a medically-centered hospital event to avoid unnecessary loss of their lives and/or that of their babies to complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

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Background: Nose shape might be environmentally influenced; however, there are evidences of it being inherited in simple Mendelian dominant-recessive patterns. In such instance, a nose can be broad or narrow with respect to its wideness in comparison to the intercanthal bridge. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the inheritance pattern of nose shape in the bid to ascertain its usability in parentage determination. Methods: Three hundred and thirty-seven subjects from 101 families comprising 202 parents and 135 offspring were recruited for this study. The families were randomly selected from within Port Harcourt by a multistage sampling technique. Their nose shape were observed physically in the father, mother, and at least a child in each family and documented. The offspring traits were tabularized in patterns of parental combinations (when both parents' nose are broad, both parents' nose are narrow, and a combination of broad and narrow). SPSS IBM (r) version 20 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics and test for association between sex and nose shape was carried out by Chi-square analysis and the conformance to Mendelian inheritance pattern was analyzed using Mendelian Chi-square gene distribution model. Results: Broad nose shape was more frequent with 298 (88.4%) when compared to narrow nose shape (11.6%). About 46.9% of males had broad nose against 41.5% for females. However, this distribution was not observed to follow any sexual preference (χ² = 0.141, P > 0.932). The observed and expected outcome were tested for significance on the assumption that offspring outcome conforms to Mendelian simple dominant-recessive monohybrid cross; conformance was observed. Conclusion: The distribution of nose shape was observed to be genetically determined and follows Mendelian single gene dominant-recessive pattern with the allele for narrow nose dominant over the allele for broad nose. This result can be used for preliminary screening in parentage dispute. It can also be useful in forensic and genetic studies.

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