The aim of the study was to investigate the supposed factors apart from socioeconomic influencing the choice of antenatal care and delivery centres among childbearing women in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State. Data were obtained through the administration of two hundred and thirty-one (231) copies of structured questionnaire to childbearing women in four antenatal centres normally utilized in the area. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The Chi Square result indicated that awareness of ANC significantly influenced place of delivery (p<0.05), while the result of Pearson's correlation indicated a low negative and insignificant association between distance and utilization of ANC and delivery services (r-Value = -0.04, p>0.05). The study revealed that husband's decision or preference of ANC and privacy constituted the prominent factors that influenced the choice of ANC as well as place of delivery. It further revealed that the highest patronage of ANC and delivery centres was achieved with distance of <5km, while the lowest patronage was achieved when the approximate distance was > 10km. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that husbands should be encouraged and educated on the need to give their wives free hand in deciding places of ANC and delivery centres.

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Objective: We investigated the effect of sub-lethal concentrations of orogastrically-administered tobacco on some hematological and hemostatic parameters of Wistar rats. Methods: Twenty young male Wistar rats with weights between 170-220 g were used for the study. The oral LD50 for the tobacco snuff concentration was determined as 10 mg per 200 g rat body weight. The control group A was given 1 ml of distilled water, while the experimental groups (B, C, D) were administered with tobacco snuff concentrations of 4 mg, 6 mg, and 8mg per 200 g body weight, respectively, through an oral route with the aid of orogastric tube for 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected to estimate hematocrit; red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), and platelet counts; bleeding time and blood clotting time. Results: When compared with the control group, our data indicated significantly higher total WBC in groups C and D (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively); lower RBC in group D (P<0.05); lower platelet counts in all the experimental groups (P<0.001); and higher blood clotting time in groups C and D (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). However, no significant effects of snuff consumption were observed on the experimental groups with regard to hematocrit and bleeding time. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that chronic tobacco consumption at higher sub-lethal levels may put the body at some risk of adverse hematological and hemostatic conditions. [J Exp Integr Med 2012; 2(3.000): 225-230

Summary:The effect of occupational exposure to local powdered tobacco (snuff) on pulmonary function was studied. Snuff industry workers in Onitsha and Enugu markets were studied and compared with age-, weight-, and height-matched control not exposed to any known air pollutant. The pulmonary indices studied include; forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) and ratio of FEV 1 /FVC as percentage using a vitalograph spirometer and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), using a mini Wright Peak Expiratory Flow Meter. The respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms frequently associated with these workers were also analyzed and dust sampling in both test and control environments was also done. The mean anthropometric parameters, (age, height and body weight) between the two groups were not statistically different. The results obtained showed statistically significant impairment of lung function of workers chronically exposed to snuff. FVC, FEV 1 and PEFR in the exposed (test) subjects were significantly decreased in comparison with the control subjects (P<0.05). However, the mean value of FEV 1 /FVC (%) of the test subjects was 86.8% which was within the normal range and was not significantly different from control. This signified that the test subjects had restrictive pattern of lung function defect. All respiratory symptoms, such as cough, chest tightness had a higher prevalence in test subjects than their control group. The lung function indices of snuff-producing workers proportionately decreased with their length of exposure in the industry. The respirable dust level in the vicinity (indoor) of the snuff-workers (1.11±0.35mg/m 3 ) was significantly higher than in the control environment, [(0.37±0.086mg/m 3 ) (P<0.001)]. Although it was not possible to determine all the factors that may be responsible for lung function impairment, the dust sampling result showed that chronic exposure to Nigerian snuff (powered tobacco) dust impairs lung function and the effect is progressive with time.

Aims:This work aimed at evaluating the effects of Dacroydes edulis pulp oil extract on serum lipid profile of male-albino Wistar rats at various concentrations. This was done by assessing serum total cholesterol (TCHOL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. This is in order to widen its utilization for the treatment and control of cardiovascular diseases. Study Design: The research was carried out by grouping the rats into four groups of five rats each (groups 1-4). The groupings were according to the doses of the extract given. Methods: The oil extract was done using n-lexane in soxhlet apparatus at room temperature and Original Research Articlethe solvent evaporated using rotary evaporation (model TT22, USA) at 50°C. Twenty male albino Wistar rats of 180-200 g were grouped into 4. Groups 1 were the control while groups 2,3 and 4 were given, 5 mg/kg/d, 10 mg/kg/d and 20 mg/kg/d of the pulp oil extract for 21 days. Blood samples were collected for serum lipid profile via ocular puncture using heparinized capillary tubes. Serum lipid profile Levels were analyzed using VIS-UV spectrophotometer (model 752, China). Results were analyzed using SPSS version 21 statistical software using ANOVA analysis.