Background: Vermiform appendix is a narrow, worm-shaped tube on the posteromedial side of the cecum near ileocecal junction. It has immunological function and shows a variation in position and length in individual from different countries. Knowledge of these variations is important during surgical interventions. Objectives: To assess the positions of appendix and its associations with age and sex of the patients. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from 2013 to 2014 on 154 patients who underwent appendectomy in the University of Gondar; College of Medicine and Health Sciences Referral Hospital and Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital; Bahir Dar. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result: Retrocecal appendix was found to be the most common (72.73%), followed by pelvic (11.69%), preileal (10.39%), and subcecal (5.19%). Postileal position was not observed in this study. The association between age of the patients and the occurrence of appendicitis was statistically significant (P < 0.05) while the association between sex and position of appendix was not. Conclusion: This study noted the retrocecal position of the appendix to be the most common position. While statistically significant association was noted between age of the patients and the occurrence of appendicitis none was established between sex and position of appendix.

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Background: Genetically modified (GM) organisms have been an issue of intense public concern. Among the different GM organisms, GM plants have attracted a large amount of media attention. Corn used for food has been GM to resist glyphosate herbicide, insect resistance (Bt-corn), and vitamin-enriched corn with increase in β carotene, Vitamin C, and folate. As GM foods are starting to be present in our diet, concerns have been expressed regarding GM food safety. Aim of the Work: The aim was to assess the possible effects arising from GM corn on pancreatic acinar cells and β-cells. Materials and Methods: Twenty rats were divided equally into two groups. Group I (Control Group) received non-GM corn, Group II (The Experimental Group) fed with GM corn for 3 months. After 3 months, blood samples from all rats were collected for blood glucose estimation, and fresh specimens were taken from the pancreas and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic examination. Results: There was a significant increase of blood glucose level in rats fed with GM corn (Group II). Moreover, evident structural changes in the pancreatic acinar cell as evident by interstitial edema, irregular nuclei with dilated perinuclear space, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, vacuolation and lysosome-like lamellated structure, decreased electron-dense secretory granules, and formation of apoptotic bodies. Examination of β-cells revealed evident destruction and decreased secretory granules. Conclusion: A diet containing significant amounts of GM corn seems to influence zymogen synthesis in pancreatic acinar cells as well as β-cells function

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Background: Previous reports showed that infrared radiation (IR) involved in photoaging, photocarcinogenesis, free radicals' production, and depletion of bone marrow cells. Beneficial effects of moderate exposure to infrared lamp have been itemized to include enhancement of blood circulation, relief from muscular pain, and wound healing acceleration with scarce information on biological effects when it is overexposed. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the possibility of its overexposure on biological system, especially blood parameters. Aim: This study was aimed to determine the biological effects of overexposure to radiation from infrared lamp on blood parameters. Materials and Methods: Infrared lamp of 100 W acts as a source of the IR. Twenty male healthy Wistar rats of the age range between 10 and 12 weeks and weigh between 100 and 250 g were studied. All the animals studied also acts as a control group with their blood samples taken and recorded as initial counting values. The animals were later divided into three groups: A, B, and C according to their hours of exposure according to their weight. Animals in Groups A, B, and C were exposed to IR for 1, 3, and 5 h, respectively. Blood samples of each animal in the group were taken 24, 48, and 96 h after exposure. The total number of erythrocytes, leukocytes, lymphocyte, and neutrophils were counted and compared with the initial samples. Results: The results revealed that packed cell volume, white blood cell, and lymphocytes of all the exposed animals averagely decreased by 17.4%, 17.5%, and 11.3%, respectively, whereas neutrophil increased by 19.0% after exposure to infrared. Conclusion: This study established that overexposure to radiation from infrared lamp affects hematological parameters.

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Background: Pinna is a part of external ear. Its lateral surface shows various depressions and elevations, which makes it irregularly concave. Variations in ear proportions during growth, aging, and according to sex were reported. These differences were noticed in diverse ethnic groups such as Italian, European, Caucasian, Turkish, Dutch German, North American, and other countries. However, literature regarding the morphometry of pinna in Indians is lacking. Materials and Methods: Four hundred subjects (200 males and 200 females) between 10 and 50 years of age were selected for the study. According to age, the subjects were divided into four groups (A–D). For the purpose of study, unique digital signal processing technology, the megapixel camera was used to enable high-resolution system. Various anthropometric parameters of the external ear including total length of ear, total width of ear (TWE), total lobule length (TLL), and total lobule width (TLW) were measured by indirect method, and variations according to age and sex were studied. Results: All parameters of the cohort for both left and right ears showed an increase in values with increasing age, but this growth was statistically insignificant. Differences in three parameters of the pinna (TWE, TLL, and TLW) were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in both the sexes. Two important indices (auricular and lobule) were calculated in both the sexes. In males, the right lobule index was found to be statistically higher (P = 0.01) as compared to left one. However, it was not so in females. Conclusion: These parameters become a mainstay for plastic reconstructive surgeries. Besides this, the designing of hearing instruments also requires the information regarding anthropometry of ear in different ethnic groups. Ear dimensions exhibit significant effect of gender also.

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Background: Deformities of foot arches have been implicated in various lower extremity injuries. Normal values of foot arch parameters have been studied in various populations. However, studies in Nigerian population are very limited and therefore require attention. Objective: The objectives of this study were to establish the normal values of foot arch parameters in adult Hausa population of Nigeria, to find the effect of gender on these parameters and to make comparison with previous studies in other populations. Materials and Methods: A total of 59 consented subjects (44 males, 15 females) that have no history of lower extremity deformity were recruited. Lateral radiograph of the right foot of each participant was taken in a bilateral standing position. For the medial longitudinal arch, navicular height (NH), first cuneiform height (FCH), calcaneal inclination angle (CIA), and calcaneal- first metatarsal angle (C1MA) were measured. Cuboid height (CH) and calcaneal-fifth metatarsal angle (C5MA) were measured for the lateral longitudinal arch. Measurements for angles and heights were performed using a universal plastic goniometer and a plastic ruler, respectively. Results: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) value of the NH was found to be 2.89 (0.54) cm, FCH 2.08 (0.44) cm, CIA 16.57° (3.30°), and C1MA 140.05° (5.63°). The mean (SD) of CH and C5MA was found to be 1.19 (0.31) cm and 160.96° (4.69°), respectively. There was no significant mean difference in those parameters between males and females. Conclusion: The mean values of foot arch parameters in adult Hausa population of Nigeria is comparable to previous studies on other populations, but generally lower than those of Caucasians. Similarly, our findings showed that gender has no significant effect on foot arch parameters.

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Background: Mothers have always had cause to worry about the sex of their unborn child, but prenatal sex determination has continued to attract mixed feelings and reactions worldwide. This study was aimed at determining factors that influence pregnant women's requests for ultrasound sex identification of fetuses in Enugu, South-East Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, was done. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on the factors influencing their willingness to know the sex of their unborn children. Results: A total of 416 responses were obtained. Nearly 40.4% of the respondents were interested in knowing the sex of their children. Almost 56.3% preferred to have a male child, 8.7% preferred to have a female child while 25.5% of the respondents were indifferent. Those who had preference for a particular sex were more interested in requesting for prenatal sex determination than those who did not (54.2% vs. 24.0%). Those who had family pressure for a particular sex were more interested than those who were not pressured (65.9% vs. 33.1%). Other factors that influenced their desire to request for the prenatal sex of their children were preference for a male child, desire for more children dependent on the sex of the index fetus, and desire for more children (irrespective of the sex). Conclusions: Preference for a particular sex, desire to have more children, and family pressure for a particular sex were found to be the major factors that influence the desire for prenatal sex determination by pregnant women in this study.

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Background: Epidemiological studies on high blood pressure revealed that it has become a global public health concern. Efforts are being made to uncover other indicators of hypertension than the traditional and crude one popularly used, i.e. BMI. Obesity and overweight are common causes of most cardiovascular diseases. Aim: The study examined which anthropometric variable better predicts hypertension among adults in Enugu State of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Sample of the present cross-sectional study included 540 (288 females and 258 males) adults aged 28-74 years old. Five anthropometric variables (weight, height, chest, waist, and hip circumferences) and blood pressure were measured. Data were collected by means of questionnaires from patients attending Korean Enugu State University Teaching Hospital. Subject is classified as being hypertensive if systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >90 mmHg. Results: The overall prevalence rate of hypertension was found to be 26.30% while 24.4% and 28% were recorded for males and females respectively. The prevalence was not significantly associated with gender (χ² = 0.899, P = 0.343). Hypertension was found to be related to age, weight, chest, waist, and hip circumferences, and waist-hip ratio (P < 0.05) but not height (P > 0.05). Waist circumference with the largest area under the ROC curve was the best predictor of hypertension for all sample population, males and females respectively 0.67, 0.68 and 0.66. Logistic regression model revealed that CC, WC, HC and WHR are predictors of hypertension. Conclusion: Waist circumference appears to be a better predictor of hypertension than other anthropometrics in this sample population.

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Introduction: Ethanol consumption during pregnancy has been shown to jeopardize the health of the mother and the embryo. Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the histological and biochemical changes associated with the administration of Tamarindus indica pulp extract (TIPE) on the cerebral cortex in prenatal ethanol exposed Wistar rats. Methodology: Twenty four (24) pregnant rats were divided into 7 groups. Group 1 received 1ml of distilled water, Group 2 received 200mg/kg of body weight (bw) of TIPE only, Group 3 received 300mg/kg bw of Vitamin E only, Group 4 received 0.1ml of olive oil only, Group 5 received 2ml (30%v/v) of ethanol only, Group 6 received 2ml (30% v/v) of ethanol and 200mg/kg bw of TIPE while Group 7 received 2ml (30% v/v) of ethanol and 300mg/kg bw of Vitamin E. All administrations were via gastric intubation and lasted from prenatal day (PD) 7 to 14. The dams were allowed to litter and the brain tissues of the pups were collected for biochemical and histological studies. Results: The result of oxidative stress studies showed significant decrease in the mean levels of catalase and glutathione concentration in Groups 5, 6 and 7 respectively when compared with the Control (P < 0.05), while the mean concentration of malondialdehyde showed significant increase in Group 5 when compared to the Control (P < 0.05) and there was no significant difference in the mean level of superoxide dismutase in all the Groups. The result of sialic acid assay showed significant decrease in the mean level of free, bound and total sialic acid contents in Group 5 when compared to the Control (P < 0.001). The histological studies of the cerebral cortex showed normal architecture in Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, while Group 5 showed degenerative changes with light staining of Nissl substances when compared to the Control and Groups 6 and 7 showed mild degenerative changes when compared to the Control. Conclusion: Treatment with TIPE has been shown to have potential protective effect on the Cerebral cortex of Wistar rats during prenatal ethanol exposure.

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