Epidemiological studies from different populations have reported significant association between different anthropometric indicators and hypertension in obese adults but few data are available for the non obese adults of this study population. This study assessed the association between adiposity measures and hypertension risk and analyzed various anthropometric indices (body mass index (BMI), waist-height ratio, waist-hip ratio, waist and hip circumferences) as predictors of hypertension among non obese adults of Samaru, a suburb of Zaria in Kaduna state, Nigeria. The study protocol was duly approved by the Ethical committee of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria. This cross sectional study examined a total of 174 non obese adults, 35 to 70 years of age (male, 91; female, 83) who were randomly selected for the study. All subjects were normotensive, non obese and refrained from taking any medications known to influence energy regulation. Normal-weight BMI was defined as a range of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m 2 and overweight BMI ≤ 27 kg/m 2 was considered in the study. Descriptive statistics, partial correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between anthropometric measurements and blood pressure parameters, after controlling for age. Results showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) relationships between the systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic blood pressure (BP) as well as mean arterial blood pressure (BP) and the indices of adiposity in male (waist circumference, BMI and waist-height ratio) than in female (waist-height ratio) group. Waist-height ratio was the most important and consistent index of adiposity that associated with the hypertensive risk in both male and female non obese adult groups, particularly with systolic BP. It then means that a decrease in intra-abdominal fat could reduce blood pressure and should be a target in the management of hypertension.

Oxytocin is a hormone involved with adjustment of pregnancy, the process of delivery, breastfeeding, social recognition and bonding. This study aimed at determining the serum levels of oxytocin in pregnancy, during labour, and in the puerperium for Nigerian females in Zaria. It was a cross-sectional study of one hundred and twenty women aged 18 to 45 years from four hospitals in Zaria. The women were grouped into four groups comprising non-pregnant women (control), pregnant women (first, second, and third trimester), women in labour and in their first week after delivery. Questionnaires were administered to the women and their blood samples collected via venipuncture between 09.00 and 13.00 h. After centrifuging the blood samples, the sera were analyzed with human oxytocin ELISA kits at the

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of caffeine on biliary secretions in indigenous Nigerian dogs. A total of 6 dogs weighing 12 -15 kg divided into 2 groups were used. The control group was fed their normal diet and water ad libitum and the treated group received 16 mg/kg of white crystalline caffeine dissolved in 10 mls of water and administered orally 8 hours prior to each surgery. Under sodium thiopentone and ketamine anaesthesia, common bile duct cannulation was done by the modified method of Rath and Hutchison. Bile was collected immediately post cannulation over a period of 48 to 72 hours. The bile samples from all dogs were analysed for bile volume, pH and electrolyte concentrations. The results showed significant increase in the bile volume in the caffeine treated group: 3.41 ± 0.85 ml compared to the control group: 1.24 ± 0.17 ml (p<0.05). The bile pH in the caffeine treated group: 7.40 ± 0.24 was significantly higher than the control group: 6.68 ± 0.18 (p< 0.05). The potassium concentration of 6.08 ± 0.49mmol/L in control group was significantly higher than the potassium concentration of 4.81 ± 0.21mmol/L in the treated group (p< 0.05). However, there was no significant change in the concentration of bicarbonate, chloride and sodium ions in the caffeine treated animals. We conclude that orally administered caffeine significantly increased bile volume and bile PH and significantly decreased bile potassium concentration in indigenous Nigerian dogs and these findings may have implication for digestion and absorption of fat soluble vitamins and a measure of liver functions.

The interpretation of prolactin results is difficult as race related reference intervals are scarce, especially in Nigerian women. Serum prolactin reference intervals were determined from 120 subjects. Subjects were randomly selected from antenatal clinics and general outpatient clinics in one private hospital and three government hospitals in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. They consisted of six groups made up of women that were A-non pregnant, B-first trimester of pregnancy, C-second trimester of pregnancy, D-third trimester of pregnancy, E-labour, and F-puerperium. Their blood samples were collected via venipuncture between 09.00 and 13.00 h after which they were centrifuged and the sera stored at -8°C for further analysis. The samples were analyzed at the Department of Chemical Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika. Serum prolactin was determined with Prolactin quantitative test kits using the principle of solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentration of prolactin is proportional to the color intensity of the samples as measured spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 450 nm. Informed consent and ethical clearance was obtained before commencement of the study. Results were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and data analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, while post-hoc test was carried out. A level of significance of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant, while the reference range was defined as 95% confidence interval. Serum prolactin results showed a significant increase in pregnant women as compared to the non-pregnant, not lactating subjects (20.24±3.41 ng/ml; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 18.84-21.65 ng/ml). There were also significant trimester related differences in serum prolactin with prolactin levels increasing during the first trimester though not significantly (29.84±5.08 ng/ml). A sharp increase was observed during the second trimester (96.09±18.82 ng/ml; 95% CI: 89.41 to 102.76 ng/ml). There was a further increase at the third trimester (171.11±32.92 ng/ml; 95% CI: 159.03-183.18 ng/ml), a peaking during labour (198.37±15.81 ng/ml; 95% CI: 186.22-210.52 ng/ml) with a significant decline during the first week of the puerperium (197.19±22.11 ng/ml; 95% CI: 183.83-210.55 ng/ml). Apparent changes in serum prolactin levels were similar to that of previous studies; although the ranges for all groups were observed to be narrower as compared to those of other studies.