Prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in young Nigerian adults.
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The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD in young Nigerian adults and to establish a baseline for comparison with other studies. It consisted of a cross-sectional study at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in 1997. The subjects consisted of 308 medical and dental students (207 males and 101 females) randomly selected from a Nigerian University. Their ages ranged from 17 to 32 years with a mean age of 23 +/- 3.0 years. They were assessed according to the criteria of Helkimo (1974). Whilst 26.3 per cent of the subjects reported mild symptoms (Ai I) of TMD, only 2.9 per cent reported severe symptoms (Ai II). Similarly, 46 per cent showed mild dysfunction signs (Di I), whilst 16.5 and 0.3 per cent exhibited moderate (Di II) and severe (Di III) signs of TMD, respectively. No significant relationships were found between sex, anamnestic index, and the clinical dysfunction index scores. However, there were low but significant correlations between ananmestic index scores (Ai) and the recorded signs (Di), as well as the clinical dysfunction scores (CDS). There is some evidence to show that signs and symptoms of TMD occur amongst Nigerians, although restricted lateral and protrusive mandibular movements contributed significantly to clinical dysfunction scores. This report contrasts with what is found in western societies regarding the low prevalence of TMJ pain. Refereed Scientific Paper (+info)
Heritability of angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensinogen: A comparison of US blacks and Nigerians.
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Angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) are heritable traits, but whether the environmental context influences heritability has not been examined. Known genetic factors explain only a portion of variation in AGT and ACE, and levels of both proteins are influenced by the environment. The African diaspora provides an opportunity to compare these traits in genetically related populations in contrasting environments. As part of a study of the genetics of hypertension, we examined families that included 1449 Nigerians and 1147 African Americans. Body mass index (weight [kg]/height [m](2)) was 21 kg/m(2) in Nigeria and 29 kg/m(2) in the United States, which is consistent with a large environmental contrast. AGT was considerably higher among African Americans (1919 versus 1396, P<0.01), whereas ACE was higher in Nigerians (630 versus 517, P<0.01). A household effect was observed among the Nigerian families (spouse correlations 0.30 for AGT, 0.18 for ACE), and correlations among first-degree relatives were large (0.42 to 0. 51 and 0.36 to 0.38 for AGT and ACE, respectively). Among African Americans, the familial aggregations of AGT and ACE were very limited, and the familial correlation for AGT was not different from zero. Heritability was 77% for AGT and 67% for ACE in Nigeria and 18% for AGT and ACE in the United States. The familial patterns of body mass index and blood pressure were similar among both family sets. In conclusion, less familial aggregation was observed for AGT and ACE in the United States than in Nigeria, most likely reflecting a greater random individual environmental effect on these traits. Variation in heritability of traits could influence the power of epidemiological studies to identify genetic effects. (+info)
Thiamin is decomposed due to Anaphe spp. entomophagy in seasonal ataxia patients in Nigeria.
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A fairly high activity of a relatively heat-resistant thiaminase was detected and characterized from the pupae of an African silkworm Anaphe spp. which had been the putative cause of a seasonal ataxia and impaired consciousness in Nigerians. The thiaminase in the buffer extract of Anaphe pupae was type I (thiamin: base 2-methyl-4-aminopyrimidine methyl transferase EC 2.5.1.2), and the optimal temperature and pH were 70 degrees C and 8.0-8.5, respectively. Based on gel filtration chromatography, the molecules were estimated to be 200 kDa. Second substrates which could be utilized by the thiaminase were pyridoxine, amino acids, glutathione, taurine and 4-aminopyridine. Thiamin phosphate esters were inactive as substrates. This is the first report describing an insect thiaminase. Our results indicate the necessity of thorough heat treatment for the detoxification of the African silkworm, making the worm a safe source of high-quality protein. (+info)
Morbidity and mortality of children under five years old in a Nigerian hospital.(52/2763)
Lassa fever in Onitsha, East Central State, Nigeria in 1974.
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Three cases of Lassa fever occurred in Onitsha, East Central State, Nigeria, in January and February 1974. The first case was a 19-year-old Nigerian; the other 2 cases were German missionary physicians at St Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, one of whom cared for the patient who was the first case. Thus, 2 of the 3 cases were hospital acquired. Investigations failed to discover a village outbreak or the source of virus for the first case. A serosurvey of 258 hospital staff members and contacts of the 3 cases showed no other persons with antibody to Lassa virus. The absence of Lassa virus antibody in a high-risk group indicates a low or nonexistent level of past Lassa virus activity in southeastern Nigeria. (+info)
Recent isolations of Lassa virus from Nigerian rodents.
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Rodents were trapped in the Benue-Plateau and North-Eastern States of Nigeria where Lassa fever had been reported in previous years. Eight Lassa virus strains were isolated from tissues and blood of rodents identified in the field as being of 3 different species: Mastomys natalensis, Rattus rattus, and Mus minutoides. All the infected rodents were collected in village habitats. These isolations indicate the presence of Lassa virus in wild rodents in Nigeria during periods when no human infections were evident.Prior studies in Sierra Leone have indicated that a single rodent species, M. natalensis, may be the important reservoir host of Lassa virus. Since the present study indicates that other rodent species may be involved as well, the ecology of Lassa virus may be more complicated than was heretofore supposed. In view of the importance of determining the geographic and species range of rodent hosts of Lassa virus, and because of the problems inherent in rodent identification under austere field conditions, it is urgent that further studies be conducted in the same areas of Nigeria to confirm these findings. (+info)
Relationship of serum copper and zinc to human hypertension in Nigerians.
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Serum copper and zinc levels were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy in 48 hypertensive Nigerians and in 37 normotensive controls. Serum copper and total cholesterol levels were significantly increased in the hypertensive patients, but their serum zinc levels did not differ from those of the controls. (+info)
Persistence of tropical ataxic neuropathy in a Nigerian community.
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OBJECTIVES: The term tropical ataxic neuropathy (TAN) is currently used to describe several neurological syndromes attributed to toxiconutritional causes. However, TAN was initially proposed to describe a specific neurological syndrome seen predominantly among the Ijebu speaking Yorubas in south western Nigeria. In this study, the prevalence of TAN was determined in Ososa, a semiurban community in south western Nigeria described as endemic for TAN in 1969, and its neurological features were compared with Strachan's syndrome, prisoners of war neuropathy, the epidemic neuropathy in Cuba, and konzo. METHODS: A census of Ososa was followed by door to door screening of all subjects aged 10 years and above with a newly designed screening instrument. Subjects who screened positive had a neurological examination, and the diagnosis of TAN was made if any two or more of bilateral optic atrophy, bilateral neurosensory deafness, sensory gait ataxia, or distal symmetric sensory polyneuropathy were present. RESULTS: A total of 4583 inhabitants were registered in the census. Of these, 3428 subjects aged 10 years and above were screened. The diagnosis of TAN was made in 206 of 323 subjects who screened positive for TAN. The prevalence of TAN was 6. 0%, 3.9% in males and 7.7% in females. The highest age specific prevalence was 24% in the 60-69 years age group in women. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of TAN in Ososa continues at a higher prevalence than was reported 30 years ago. Its neurological features and natural history do not resemble those described for Strachan syndrome, epidemic neuropathy in Cuba, or konzo. The increasing consumption of cassava foods linked to its causation makes TAN of public health importance in Nigeria, the most populous African country. (+info)