Background:Hypertension in developing setting is often attributed to westernization of life style and stresses of urbanization, some of these increases have been noted in Nigeria.Aim:This is a study on rural-urban differences on the blood pressure, obesity and anthropometrics among a major ethnic group in Nigeria.Patients and Method:A total of 325 men and 242 women aged 20 to 80 years, of the Igbo ethnicity were selected for this study. The samples were selected from the rural and urban subgroups of the Igbo population. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist- hip ratio, waist-height ratio, waist circumference, triceps, subscapular, calf and sum of the three skin fold thicknesses and other anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard procedures.Result:Blood pressure correlated with age and most of the anthropometric parameters (p< 0.05 ). All adiposity and blood pressure indicators were higher in the urban than in the rural sample. Women showed higher predisposition to both general and abdominal obesities in both samples. High blood pressure occurred more often in the urban sample than the rural. Urban men had the highest mean blood pressure (p< 0.05). High blood pressure appeared much connected with the pressures of city life. Regression formulae were derived for all the adiposity measures of Igbos in both rural and urban locations.Conclusion:High rates of obesity and hypertension are noted among Igbos in both rural and urban areas. This is especially in the urban setting. The finding is indicative of a low level of attention on hypertension and obesity in the Igbos. The data reported here call for intervention programs on the risks, preventions and management of obesity and obesity related conditions.

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Introduction: Ultrasound is the most reliable imaging modality for thyroid evaluation due to the limitations in the clinical examination of this gland. Thyroid gland developmental anomalies are rare. Most of its variations are due to the persistence of the thyroglossal duct and the absence of the isthmus. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of pyramidal lobe and agenesis of the thyroid isthmus in Nnewi population using ultrasound. Materials and method: A total of 321 subjects resident in Nnewi, including 167 males and 154 females, were randomized. A written consent was obtained from all patients. The subjects were aged between 18 and 35 years. This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Thyroid glands were scanned using a 2-dimensional ultrasound machine with a 7.5 MHz transducer; model Siemens Sonoline Prima which was made in Japan for Siemens Medical System Incorporated, ultrasound Group, Issaquah, WA, 98029-7002, USA. Results: The study revealed no incidence of pyramidal lobe and agenesis of the thyroid isthmus in the study population. Conclusion: This study has clearly demonstrated no incidence of pyramidal lobe and agenesis of the thyroid isthmus in subjects resident in Nnewi, Nigeria.

Background:Hip fracture has been associated with various risk factors, including osteoporosis, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, visual impairment, aging, sex, rural/urban inhabitation, race and climatic variations. Mechanisms of hip fractures in many parts of the world have been documented, and include road traffic accident (RTA), gunshot injury, fall from heights and many others. There is paucity of such documentation in Owerri, Nigeria.Aim:This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of hip fractures in Owerri, Nigeria, and to determine its prevailing factors.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted in hospitals located in Owerri, Nigeria. Cases of hip fracture were identified from the medical register while data were sourced from the medical record department for hip fractures that occurred between 1st January 2002 and 31st December 2008 for patients resident in Owerri and aged between 10 years and above.Results:The study uncovered a total of 105 cases of hip fractures over the study period in 65% (n = 68) males and 35% (n = 37) females. Proportion of hip fractures as a result of fragility fracture mechanisms was significantly higher in females than in the males (P < 0.001), while the reverse was the case for RTA mechanisms. In the same vein, proportion of hip fractures as a result of moderate trauma mechanisms was significantly higher in the elderly than in the young patients (P < 0.001), while the reverse was the case for RTA mechanisms.Conclusion:Mechanism of hip fractures in Owerri, Nigeria, can be associated with gender and age. RTA had the largest single contributory mechanism of hip fractures in Owerri. Therefore, public health campaigns and promotions should be created to reduce the influence of RTA on hip fracture among this population. Among the elderly population, hip fracture was mostly sustained from fragility trauma mechanisms, suggesting that osteoporosis is a major contributory factor of hip fracture among this population.

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