The illness pattern and the relationship between malaria and other infections were examined in the present work -a base-line information prior to a meaningful healthcare policy formulation. A period of 5years (2007 -2011) illness pattern was retrospectively obtained from the University Medical Centre, while questionnaires addressing the various health-related activities were administered to 500 volunteer subjects -students and staff of the institution. Biochemical parameters in the various disease conditions were determined using standard tests, while the means of frequencies of disease occurrence were compared using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Results of mean comparison showed that the mean of frequencies of malaria infection was significantly increasing (p<0.05). On the other hand, differences in the means of serum elements and other biochemical parameters measured in the various disease states were not statistically significant (p> 0.05). Malaria infection was the most prevalent illness with the highest frequency occurring around the month of April, accounting for 63.83 -67.10% of the illnesses compared. This was followed by upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), peptic ulcer, and candidiasis, in that order. The relationship between the illness types showed that a positive correlation existed between malaria and typhoid, and malaria and URTI, (p<0.05). From the results of questionnaire analysis, 70.89% of the male students' group admitted having a frequency of one to twelve attacks of malaria infection per annum with 43.67% of them who claimed to have suffered previous typhoid infections. As a result, 25.32% were absent from lectures for a period of 1-30 days per annum. These results showed that malaria infection was on the increase and apart from the likelihood of impacting negatively on students' performance, could represent a huge source of financial drain on a developing economy.

Some biochemical parameters-thiocyanate, triiodothyronine (T 3), thyroxine (T 4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), aspartate aminotranferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), iodine, sodium and potassium were determined from subjects (both sexes), in order to trace the aetiology of goiter observed among some persons living in Bayelsa state. Subjects were admitted into the study in accordance with the operating ethical consideration at the local medical centre. The control group constitutes those certified apparently healthy by the medical practitioner. Thiocyanate determination was done according to the modified method of Haque and Bradbury; whereas the hormonal and the enzymic studies were carried out using ELISA method. Sodium and potassium were determined by flame photometric method. The levels of the analytes determined in the test group (those with endemic goiter) were compared to their control counterparts. The mean (±SD) thiocyanate level (µg/L) determined from the test group (females) was 150.5±15.78; whereas those from the controls were 104.7±1.93 (Males) and 84.67±30.80 (females); and were all higher than the literature critical range. Significant differences (p<0.05) were determined between the mean serum levels of T 3 , T 4 , AST, and ALT, in test group and their controls. Interestingly, even the thyroid hormone levels in the control group were at the lower boarder of the reference ranges. These results suggest that the larger population out there could be at risk of developing goiter, if proper intervention measures are not instituted. The high thiocyanate levels determined could be an outcome of chronic accumulation of hydrocyanide arising from high intake of improperly processed cassava (Manihot esculenta cruntz) food products. Cassava is a major staple food in Bayelsa State and known to contain substantive level of the toxicant hydrocyanide which had been implicated in goiter development. Finally the ongoing salt iodination programme in the country, and in some other regions where it is practiced, should be done with caution. It would be worthwhile to first carry out a base-line study to determine the level of deficiency, if any, before embarking on salt fortification with iodine. This is necessary so as to avoid an overload with the element and its attendant consequences.

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The present study compared the fatty acids, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) of four commercially important fresh-water fish species, Clarias gariepinus (CG), Oreochromis niloticus (ON), Synodontis budgetti (SB), and Mormyrops deliciosus MD), using Gas Chromatographic and High Performance Lipid Chromatographic methods. Results showed that the percent polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) determined from CG were, 35.709, 14.310, 45.845 and 32.345, from Amassoma, Swali, Tombia (in Bayelsa State, and Lagos rivers respectively. The prominent omega-3 fatty acid determined were eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); while the major omega-6 fatty acid was eicosatetraenoic acid (AA). Cholesterol content of fishes from the study rivers ranged from 5.080 to 5.570 (mg/100g DW) and was more or less significantly lower than that from Lagos river (in a populous city in the South-west of Nigeria), (p < 0.05). Cholesterol, HDL and LDL content in the four fish species were according to the decreasing order CG > ON >SR .MD. For the HDL content of fish, higher value was obtained from Amassoma than those of Swali and Tombia rivers but (with the exception of that of O. niloticus in Amassoma) were all found to be significantly lower than that of Lagos, (p < 0.05). Fishes from Amassoma and Lagos rivers were prominent in n-3 PUFA particularly DHA and EPA; while those from SR showed the lowest levels. This information should find application not only for institutional feed and culture development in fisheries but for individual / institutional nutrition guide and dietary recommendation.

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