Featured Issue: Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol.26 No.2

Today we are featuring vol.2 of Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences. This issue was updated on Bioline in January.

This issue includes "Predictors of asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy" by Balogun et al. This article studies the predictors of asymptomatic malaria and the prevalence of these predictors in pregnant women. Women at the Ante-Natal Clinic and two public hospitals in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria were examined. Blood samples were collected from each of the women and tested for malaria. The women examined in the study all had parasites present in their blood. 48% of the women were asymptomatic of symptoms associated with malaria, but 52% showed signs of weakness, headache, body ache and fever. In these patients, parasite density was significantly higher than asymptomatic patients. The results indicated that pregnant women who lived in hyper- or holo-endemic malaria regions were more likely to show symptoms of malaria due to increased density of parasites.

This article also includes "Effect of honey intake on serum cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein levels in albino rats and potential benefits on risks of coronary heart disease" by Alagwu et al. This article focuses on a study done to assess honey's effectiveness on albino rats with coronary heart disease. One group of rats was fed normal rat feed while the other group was fed both rat feed and 1ml of honey in their daily water intake. The results indicated that honey increased the lipid profile of the rats.

Photo courtesy of Vicky Brock

For more results and the complete articles of this issue, click here.

Featured Issue: Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol.27 No.2

In Toronto, the weather transitions from warm to cold during the Fall. One of the articles in this issue discusses the effect of the Harmattan season, which is another transition period for weather in Nigeria. During the Harmattan season, the winds are dry and pick up dust. One article in this issue, "Effect of road transport stress on Erthrocyte Osmotic Fragility (EOF) of healthy young adult Nigerians during the harmattan season", by Olorunshola et al., examines 23 young Nigerian males during the Harmattan season and after they've been affected by road transportation. The blood was collected from the subjects after overnight fasts and within 10 minutes after the subjects were transported at a speed of 65-75 km/h and a distance of 180 km. The results showed that transportation was stressful to the subjects and that erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) could be used to measure the stress in humans. 

A review article included in this issue, "Rising environmental cadmium levels in developing countries: Threat to genome stability and health", by Anetor, is on the element Cadmium (Cd) and its effect on the environment. Cadmium is increasingly becoming known as an environment pollutant, associated with bone disease and emphysema among others. There is evidence that Cadmium may disrupt genomic processes and inhibits DNA repair mechanisms.

For further information from this article and others from this issue, go to: http://www.bioline.org.br/titles?id=np&year=2012&vol=27&num=02&keys=V27N2

Featured Issue: Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol.26 No.2 & Vol.27 No.1

Professor Gabriel Ezeilo

Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences vol. 27 no. 2 was posted on Bioline in early September. This is the first time we are featuring NJPS on our blog!

Vol.26 no.2 includes "Variations in Haematological Parameters and Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility of Pigs during Hot-Dry and Harmattan Season in Northern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria" by Adenkola et al., which looks at the effect of seasons on the haematological patterns of pigs. The seasons compared were the hot-dry season, and the harmattan season, characterized by dry, dusty winds. The results showed that pigs were more stressed during the harmattan season that the hot-dry season. For other articles from this issue, go to: http://bioline.org.br/titles?id=np&year=2011&vol=26&num=02&keys=V26N2


Vol.27 no.1 includes "In Memoriam: Professor Gabriel Chukwujekwu Ezeilo MBBS (Lond), DTM&H (Liverpool), MSc (Roch. N.Y),MD (Lond), FRCP (Glas), FRCP (Edin) (1934 – 2011)" by A.R.A Alada, which is an editorial in honour of the passing of Professor Ezeilo, who was "among the first generation of Nigerian physiologists. He died on November 22, 2011. 

For the complete editorial, as well as another editorial on Professor Ezeilo, go to: http://bioline.org.br/titles?id=np&year=2012&vol=27&num=01&keys=V27N1