This study applied a structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the role of substance use (alcohol, smoking, and trado-medicine use) to changes in the liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP) levels in HIV-infected adult patients on a highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) for not <1 year. The study was a cross-sectional, part of a randomized comparative trial (Ref: UPH/CEREMAD/REC/19), involving 129 (46 males and 83 females) HIV-infected adult patients. Liver enzyme levels were determined from analyzed blood samples using the Clinical Chemistry Analyser (VS10) manufactured by Vitro Scient, while the study determined substance use using a reliable (Cronbach alpha = 0.805) rapid-exploratory survey questionnaire. Liver enzyme values were further categorized into: normal or abnormal using normal reference ranges (ALT = 7–55 U/L, AST = 8–48 U/L, and ALP = 40–129 U/L). STATGRAPHICS V16.1.11 (StatPoint Tech., Inc.) and SPSS (IBM® Amos V21.0.0, USA) were used to analyze the data. Among the HIV-HAART patients, 27.9% were alcohol users, 20.9% smokers, and 20.1% trado-medicine users. In addition, ALP (71.3%) abnormality was higher than ALT (34.9%) and AST (28.7%). The result from the SEM provided only a partial support for our hypotheses of direct substance use effects on the liver enzyme levels and abnormalities; with a direct association of alcohol with an elevated AST (b = 0.170, p = 0.05) and smoking with a higher AST (b = 0.484, p < 0.01) and ALT (b = 0.423, p < 0.01) values. Trado-medicine use was not directly associated with enzyme elevation and abnormality. In conclusion, ALP abnormality was the most common, and there is a close association between an elevated ALT and AST, with or without an elevated ALP. The study found that HIV-HAART patients who drink or smoke will have at least one or more abnormal transaminases. The possible explanation to the increased risk among HIV-HAART patients could be associated with the metabolic pressures and supra-additive effects on the livers.

Introduction: In anthropology, certain characteristics may help to distinguish these tribes or races from others. To some extent, it can be used as a method of identification for these people. The earlobes are regarded as a significant anthropological trait on the face. Again, some civilizations use piercing decorations to stretch and enlarge the earlobes in order to create artistic effects and make room for plugs. Materials and Methods: The sample size for the study was 401, recruited via a multistage sampling method. Physical and close examination of the earlobe to determine the type of earlobe attachment present was used to collect data from consenting participants. The research instrument was a self- created; closed-ended questionnaire that was adapted for use based on previous literature on similar studies and was administered by the researcher. The data were grouped into attached or detached categories. Results and Discussions: The result of the study showed that the attached earlobe pattern was most frequent (227, 56.6%), while the detached was 174, 43.4%). The result of the study showed that the males had more attached earlobes (130; 32.4%) and detached earlobes (93; 23.2%), while the females had attached earlobes (95; 23.7%) and detached earlobes (79; 19.7%). The distribution of the earlobe attachment differed significantly (X2 = 13.213, p-value 0.004). The most common marital status was married or cohabiting with an attached earlobe (118, 29.4%) or a detached earlobe (102, 25.4%). Conclusions: The result of the study showed that the attached earlobe pattern was most frequent (227, 56.6%), while the detached was 174, 43.4%). In the general population, for every six detached earlobes seen, there are eight attached earlobes in the same Idoma population. The study has revealed that there are more attached earlobes than detached ones in the Idoma population of Benue State. It further implies that this distribution could be taken as an anthropological feature un

Introduction: There is variation in the distribution of feet pattern and this variation in could be genetic. Genetic variation in humans is caused by many factors such as natural selection, migration, temporal variation, gene flow and genetic drift. In certain populations, there is the predominant feet structure or toe pattern that is common which results from the genetic makeup of the people. The dearth of information on the distribution of Morton’s toe (Greek’s feet) among the Idoma people informed this study, which would provide a baseline data for the population. Materials and Methods: The study was descriptive and cross-sectional in design with a sample size of 384 participants who were recruited using a multistage sampling method. Data for the study was collected using a self-created, closed-ended questionnaire that examined the presence or absence of Morton’s toe. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25. Results: The most frequent socio-demographic characteristics were age category 33-47yrs with 205(53.3%), male gender with 213(55.4%), Tertiary education with 229(59.6%), Married/Co-habiting 210(54.6%), and Christianity 276(71.8%). The proportion of participants with Morton’s toe was 28.3%. In the population few persons have Morton’s toe. The only significant (p=0.038) socio-demographic characteristic among participants was marital status. Conclusion: The proportion of participants with Morton’s toe was 28.3%. In the population few persons have Morton’s toe. The only significant (p=0.038) socio-demographic characteristic among participants was marital status. Less than a third of the sampled population had Morton’s toe; in the general population, 2 in 7 persons had Morton’s toe.

Introduction: There are certain basic facial features such as the hairline shape, which is a prominent feature on the forehead, that are considered to be morphogenetic and useful anthropologically in identifying individuals, family ties, and differentiating tribes or races from each other. The pattern of the curved hairline is also referred to as the "widow's peak." The hairline shape can be broadly classified as being straight or curved (widow's peak) in shape. People with curved hairlines (widow's peaks) have prominent v-shaped hairlines; this structure can be used as a distinguishing characteristic of a people, or tribe, in anthropology. The dearth of information on the pattern of hairline shape informed the study on the Idoma people of Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was community-based, descriptive, and cross-sectional with a sample size of 401. Data was collected using a closed-ended questionnaire that was administered by an interviewer following an examination of the hairline shape. Results and Discussion: The distribution of hairline shape amongst the participants was thus: curved 267 (66.6%), and straight 134 (33.4%). There were no significant socio-demographic characteristics among participants (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The study indicated that 2 in 3 people in the population have a curved hairline. While about a third of the sampled population had a straight hairline. The distribution of hairline shape with respect to gender showed the curved hairline shape was predominant over the straight in both genders. The ratio of curved to straight hairlines (2:1) was seen in both genders. The most plausible explanation for the common occurrence of a curved hairline over a straight one could be genetic input.

Background: A bilateral malformation known as Clinodactyly, or curvature of the little finger in the radio-ulnar plane, causes the finger to be stunted and curved, or inclined, towards the ring finger. It is known to be a morphogenetic trait. Reports say that Clinodactyly seems to be passed on by a single autosomal dominant gene. There is paucity of information on curvature of the little finger in the Idoma tribe of Benue State, Nigeria; hence, this study was aimed at determining the distribution of curvature of the little finger in the study population. Materials and Methods: The study was descriptive and cross-sectional in design with 401 participants recruited randomly following a multi-staged sampling method. Results and Discussion: The most frequent socio-demographic characteristics were age category 33-47yrs with 213(53.1%), male gender with 223(55.6%), Tertiary education with 239(59.6%), Married/Co-habiting 220(54.9%), and Christianity 286(71.3%). The significant socio-demographic characteristic among participants were educational level (X2 =14.090, p=0.003) and marital status (X2 =10.901, p=0.05). The proportion of participants with a curved little finger was 18.9%. In the population a large portion of them had straight little finger. Conclusion(s): The proportion of participants with a curved little finger was 18.9%. In the population a large portion of them had straight little finger. The study showed that less than a third of the sampled population had a curved little finger and the remaining two-third a straight little finger. The ratio of curved to straight little finger was 1:4.