Aim:To study the effect of chronic exposure of tartarzine at ADI doses on some biochemical parameters of male albino rats. Study Design: The design involved chronic study. In the study, the experiment was divided into phase 1, 2, and 3 which lasted for 30, 60 and 90 days respectively. In each phase, 40 rats were used and were divided into treatment and control groups. The treated groups were given 7.5 mg/kg of tartrazine orally on daily basis over the stipulated periods while the control groups were not treated with tartrazine. Place and Duration of Study:The study was carried out in the within a period of 12 months (December 2017 -December 2018). Methodology: At the end of the chronic study, 5mls of whole blood specimens was collected by means of cardiac puncture into Lithium Heparin bottles and fluoride oxalate bottles (for glucose AJRB, 5(1): 1-14, 2019; Article no.AJRB.50623 2 only). The collected specimens were spun, plasma collected and analyzed for glucose, Lipase, AST, ALT, ALP, total protein, albumin and globulin. Renal, hepatic, and pancreatic tissues collected were fixed in 10% formol saline and later examined histologically using H&E stain. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism version 5.03 (San Diego, California, USA). Results: In the chronic treatment, glucose indicated significant increases after 30, 60, and 90 days of chronic treatment at ADI doses. Urea, AST, and ALT showed significantly higher values after 60 of treatment while creatinine, ALP, total protein, albumin and globulin indicated significantly higher values after 90 days of treatment. However, lipase did not show any significant difference after 30, 60, and 90 days of treatment. Histologically, hepatic distortions such as fatty degeneration, vacuolation, pcynosis, and compression of central vein were seen in the liver section. In the renal section, hyaline cast in proximal tubules, hypercellularity of messengial cells, and inflammation of the glomerulus were observed in the treated rats while the histology of the pancreas indicated mild vacuolation of the islet region. However, the pancreatic ducts and acinar cells were not distorted. Conclusion: The administration of tartrazine over a period of 30 days at ADI dose did not indicate hepatocellullar and renal derangements as well histological distortions in liver, pancreas and kidneys. However, after 60 and 90 days, mild hepatocellular, pancreatic, and renal derangements were seen. Original Research Article

To assess and compare the levels of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, in common seafoods (mudskippers, periwinkle and Shrimp) consumed in Rivers state obtained from different creeks of Rivers State Nigeria. Study Design: Commonly consumed seafoods in Rivers State: Periopthalmus barbarous (mudskipper), Pandalus borealis (shrimp) and Tympanotonus fucatus (periwinkle) were collected at 5 different occasions from each of the study location (creek): Eagle Island, Iwofe, Bodo and Borokiri creeks in Rivers State. Eagle Island and Iwofe creeks are in Obio/Apkor and Degema LGA respectively, Borokiri Creek is in Port Harcourt LGA while Bodo creek is located in Gokana LGA. Study Area: The study was carried out in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University between the periods of June, 2018 – March, 2019. Samples of seafoods were collected from Bodo, Eagle Island, Borokiri and Iwofe creeks of Rivers State for 5 times at interval of 30 days between the periods of June, 2018 – October, 2018 during the wet season. Methodology: Periopthalmus barbarous, Pandalus borealis, and Tympanotonus fucatus were collected from Eagle Island, Iwofe, Bodo and Borokiri creeks. The samples were correctly labeled, dried in an oven at 80°C, ground to powdered form then sieved to attain homogenous particles. Each sample was weighed, recorded and the concentrations of metals in the samples were determined. Two (2) grams each of the ground samples were weighed and put into a beaker with 6mls of nitric acid (HNO3) which was added as oxidizing acid to break the sample matrix and 2ml of perchloric acid as a reagent with 2 mls of de-ionized water was added to blend it. The sample was place on a heating mantle at 105°C until the sample volume reduced to two third of its original volume, the sample color clear and turns yellowish and its entire component was digested. The concentration of HMs: lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury in the digested seafood samples were analysed using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The concentration of HMs from the sample were determined from the absorbance calibration in parts per million (ppm) or mg/kg dw. Results: The bio-concentration mercury and arsenic in the selected seafoods from the creeks were below the World Health Organization permissible limits while levels of cadmium and lead in the seafoods in the order of periwinkle>mudskipper>shrimp collected from these creeks were above the FAO/WHO permissible limits of 0.5 1.0 mg/kg dw and 2.0 mg/kg dw respectively. Conclusion: Mudskipper, periwinkle and shrimp were observed to bio-accumulate HMs beyond FAO/WHO permissible limits. Toxicities of these HMs in humans could induce several clinical derangements and eventually death if drastic measures are not put in place to stop or limit these anthropogenic activities.

Breast cancer has become the most common cancer diagnosed in women and reason for most death arising from cancer, especially in developing countries. In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, there has been a steady increase in the incidence of breast cancer, surpassing cervical cancer. Hence this study is to find the link between micronutrients and the risk of breast cancer as research studies are looking towards possible ways the human body resistance could be adequately improved or enhanced to help the body overcome the onslaught of most cancer-causing agent humans are exposed to. Serum and urine selenium levels and serum vitamin E levels in 100 breast cancer patients and 50 normal healthy individuals were investigated using the ELISA method. Graphpad prism (version 7) was used for statistical analysis. The respective mean values for serum and urine selenium (μg/l) and serum vitamin E (μg/ml) were reduced in the cancer subjects 0.89 ± 1.0; 0.19 ±0.03 and 11.44 ± 6.1 when compared with control subjects with values of 4.92 ± 3.2; 4.46 ± 3.9

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Aim: The aim of the study was to correlate anthropometric data with atherogenic indices of students in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt as a means of assessing their cardiovascular health. Study Design: A pilot study was carried out in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was conducted within a period of 4 months (June – September, 2018). A total of 82 students were selected from the recruitment process after consenting to participate in the study. Atherogenic indices (after determination of lipid parameters values) and anthropometric measurements were done at the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Methodology: Five millitres (5mls) of fasting blood samples were collected into lithium heparin bottles and spun at 3500 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain plasma. Total cholesterol (TC) and Triglyceride (TG) were assayed based on enzymatic methods. High density lipoprotein (HDL) was assayed using precipitation and enzymatic method while low density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated using Friedewald equation. After determination of lipid parameters, atherogenic indices were computed as ratios of these lipid parameters. Anthropometric measurements were collected using stadiometer, non-stretchable tape and weighing scale. Results: Significant increases were seen in both atherogenic indices and anthropometric data of obese (OBS) and overweight (OVW) students compared to ideal weight (NOM) students. Correlation of anthropometric data with atherogenic indices in obese (OBS) students indicated significant positive correlation between WC with NHDL and CRI-2 as well as between WHR with NHDL, AC, CRI-1 and CRI-2. Conclusion: Obesity is a strong factor among students that induces atherogenic hyperlipoproteinaemia and thus, CVD risks. Also, WHR and WC correlates strongly with atherogenic indices such as NHDL, AC, CRI-1 and CRI-2 and therefore, were seen as better and sensitive anthropometric parameters for predicting cardiovascular risks compared to WHtR and BMI.