BackgroundThe diagnosis of Marked First Degree Atrioventricular Block is made with electrocardiogram when PR interval ≥0.30 s. A PR interval of up to 0.48 s had been reported in literature. Data is sparse on an extremely prolonged PR interval associated with Atrioventricular Dissociation and Pseudo-Pacemaker Syndrome. Electrocardiogram with this type of uncommon features poses diagnostic and management challenges in clinical practice.Case presentationWe report a case of a 22 year old Nigerian male from Igbo ethnic group who presented himself for medical screening with a history of exercise intolerance, occasional palpitation and fainting spells. He has no history of cough, orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea nor body swelling. A physical examination revealed that the patient has a pulse rate of 64 beats per minute, blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg and soft heart sounds. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram showed an uncommon Marked First Degree Atrioventricular Block with an extremely prolonged PR interval of 0.56 s. Long rhythm strips of the electrocardiogram showed extremely prolonged PR interval associated with Atrioventricular Dissociation and variable degrees of Atrioventricular Block (Mobitz type I and II).ConclusionsAn extremely prolonged PR interval may occur in First Degree Atrioventricular Block and it may be associated with Atrioventricular Dissociation and Pseudo-Pacemaker Syndrome which may pose diagnostic and management challenges. This suggests that not all cases of First Degree Atrioventricular Block are benign and so should be sub-classified based on degree of PR interval prolongation and associated electrical abnormalities.

Background: Lead (Pb) remains an apparently indispensable material in several industrial processes. It is a potent environmental toxin with associated deleterious biological effects. The study investigated the effects of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) on renal clearance and proteinuria in Wistar rats with Pb-induced kidney injury.Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups of five rats each such that exposure to Pb (35 mg/kg i.p) for 10 consecutive days was either followed by 30 days recovery period (without treatment) or 30 days post-treatment with oral graded doses of AGE at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg while comparisons where made against a control (2 ml/kg NORMAL SALINE) at p < 0.05. The phytochemical constituents of the extract were determined using conventional standard protocols before administration to the rats.Results: Pb toxicity induced deleterious alterations of renal function biomarkers (creatinine, urea and total protein) in the plasma and urine, indicators of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation (GSH, SOD, CAT and TBARS) in the kidney tissues as well as significantly lowered plasma and kidney NO level (p < 0.05) of the rats. It also significantly lowered creatinine clearance and fractional excretion of urea while urine total protein-creatinine ratio was significantly increased in the rats. Kidney histology showed evidence of Pb-induced glomerular atrophy with tubular and interstitial vacuolation. However, AGE administration was associated with significant normalization of the aforementioned biochemical parameters (p < 0.05) as well as kidney histoarchitectural improvement. The pharmacological effects of AGE were attributed to its determined phytochemical constituents. Conclusion: AGE normalized renal clearance through vasodilatory and antioxidant mechanisms with associated mitigation of proteinuria through stabilization of glomerular filtration barrier.

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Introduction: The ABO blood group system is unique in immunology and haematology because it is the only system in which antibodies are consistently and predictably present in the serum of normal individuals whose red cells lack the antigens. Several epidemiological studies have reported that the distribution of different ABO blood groups vary markedly among the populations of different geographical areas reflecting racial differences. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the association between ABO blood group and anthropometric indices among apparently healthy young adults of Yoruba ethnicity. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Department of Physiological Sciences and University Health Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between May 2016 to June 2017. Methodology: Eighty apparently healthy young adults who were purposely selected participated in the study after screening for the ABO blood groups following the standard protocol. They were divided into four equal groups; 20 in each of blood groups A, B, AB and O who were age- and sex - matched. The weight (kg) and height (cm) of the participants were measured following standard protocol. Body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) were estimated from weight and height using Quetelex and Mosteller formulae respectively. Chi-square was used to compare grouped data while the comparison of means of parameters among the four blood groups was done using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). A p-value of < 0.05 was taken statistically significant. Results: Out of the total 80 participants, 15% were males. The mean ± SD of height(m) of participants with blood groups A, B, O and AB were 1.65 ± 0.06, 1.63 ± 0.08, 1.62 ± 0.08 and 1.63 ± 0.08 (F= 0.349, p= 0.790) respectively. The mean ± SD of weight(kg) of the participants with blood group A,B, O and AB were 56.15 ± 8.71, 56.00 ± 11.21, 57.10 ± 12.73 and 58.05 ± 10.35 (F= 0.154, p= 0.927) respectively. The mean ± SD of BMI in kg/m2 for blood groups A, B, O and AB were 20.74 ± 3.22, 20.86 ± 2.91, 21.79 ± 5.10 and 21.91 ± 4.21 (F= 0.472, p= 0.703) respectively while the mean ± SD of BSA (m2) for blood group A, B, O and AB were 1.60 ± 0.12, 1.59 ± 0.19, 1.60 ± 0.18 and 1.62 ± 0.15 (F= 0.098, p= 0.961) respectively. Conclusion: AB Blood group may be predisposed to metabolic syndrome due to the higher mean of weight, BSA and BMI found in this group.