Overview of fluoride distribution in major aquifer units of northern Nigeria

Symptoms of dental fluorosis such as mottled teeth are common among adults, youth and children in several rural communities in northern Nigeria. This has inspired the Authors to investigate the concentration of fluoride in the natural water systems of the major aquifer units (Basement, Sedimentary, Volcanic and Younger Granites) in some parts of northern Nigeria and to delineate areas of high risk of dental fluorosis, crippling skeletal fluorosis and dental caries. Six hundred and twenty seven analytical values for water were obtained from the literature and from analysis of samples from the major aquifer units of northern Nigeria: Basement-232, Sedimentary-328, Younger Granites-38 and Volcanic-28. Fluoride concentrations range from 0.03 to 10.30 mg/L in the Basement Aquifer;0.00 to 5.00 mg/L in the Sedimentary Aquifer;0.00 to 0.89 mg/L in the Younger Granites Aquifer;and 0.00 to 0.78 mg/L in the Volcanic Aquifer. A background value of 1.0 mg/L for fluoride concentration for northern Nigeria has been determined in this study. Areas identified with high fluoride in their waters above the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended maximum permissible level in drinking water of 1.5 mg/L are: Dzuma, Dilchidima, Ngalbi, Udin, Kaltungo Biliri, Shongwom, Dass in the the northeast basement aquifers;Maiduguri, Mafa, Mobbar, Ngala, Logomani, Gombe in the northeast sedimentary aquifers: Langtang, Dorong, Furzi in the north-central basement aquifers and Pakoro in the northcentral sedimentary aquifers: Shawo and Barkin Lamba in the northwest basement aquifers. No anomalously high values of fluoride were recorded in the northwest sedimentary aquifers. All waters sampled in the Younger Granites and the Volcanic Aquifers have fluoride contents lower than the WHO recommended maximum permissible level in drinking water of 1.5 mg/L;and over ninety percent of the waters have fluoride concentration below the 0.5 mg/L recommended by WHO for the prevention of dental caries. Positive correlation between dental fluorosis and high fluoride water consumption has been established in all the areas with high fluoride in their waters. Positive correlation has also been established between genu valgum (bowing of legs) and consumption of high fluo-ride waters in Langtang Area. These data have been used to delineate areas of the Younger Granites Province and the Volcanic Province where inhabitants are at high risk of having dental caries.

Genital Tract Morphopathology of Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf Does in Makurdi

This study was conducted with the aim to record pathological conditions of the female genital tract of Red Sokoto (RS) and West African Dwarf (WAD) does with the objective of comparing the prevalence of genital tract pathology between the two breeds. Of the 211 (RS) and 221 (WAD) genital tract collected and examined, 104 (49.3%) of RS and 97 (43.3%) of WAD showed different types of pathological conditions. Highest occurrence of pathological conditions found in RS was in the uterus (38.4%), followed by those in the ovary (30.8%), cervix (6.6%), salpinx (6.2%) and vagina (1.4%) while in WAD, pathological conditions were highest in the uterus (28.1%), and followed by ovary (26.8%), salpinx (5.0%), cervix (2.2%) and vagina (0.5%). In RS and WAD does, respectively, endometritis (11.9% and 7.1%) was the most common pathology followed by ovaro-bursal adhesion (10.4% and 5.4%), inactive ovaries (4.3% and 4.9%), cystic Graffian follicles (4.2% and 2.2%), paraovarian cyst (3.3% and 3.1%), uterine haemorrhage (3.8% and 2.7%), and ovarian hypoplasia (2.4% and 4.5%). Other pathological conditions found in RS and WAD does include cervical lesions: cervicitis (2.8% and 1.8%), haemorrhage (3.2% and 0.5%);uterine lesions: hydrometra (1.9% and 1.3%), pyometra (2.8% and 1.8%), mucometra (2.8% and 3.6%), metritis (2.4% and 1.3%), post parturient metritis (2.8% and 1.8%), caruncular atrophy (1.4% and 0.5%), endometrial hyperplasia (1.0% and 1.8%), melanosis (1.9% and 1.8%), post parturient emphysematous metritis (1.4% and 2.2%), perimetritis (1.4% and 2.2%), uterine congestion (1.9% and 2.2%), oedema (1.0% and 0.5%) and Cysticercus tenuicolis cyst (0.5% and 0.5%);esophageal lesions: salpingitis (1.9% and 3.1%), hydrosalpinx (1.0% and 0.5%), tubo-bursal cyst (3.3% and 0.9%), ovarian lesions: cystic corpora lutea (2.8% and 1.8%), oophoritis (0.5% and 1.8%), and Cysticercus tenuicolis cyst (1.0% and 0.9%). Hyperaemia (0.5%) and calcification of cervical caudal rugae (0.5%) occurred in RS only. Genital lesions were not statistically different (P > 0.05) between RS and WAD does. In the two breeds, the 13 - 24 months age group had high prevalence of genital lesions. The current study has shown that endometritis and ovaro-bursal adhesions are the common female genital tract pathological conditions in Red Sokoto and West African Dwarf does. The high prevalence of female genital tract abnormalities may suggest that genital diseases are of serious limitation to goat production in Makurdi.

Misoprostol: An Effective Agent for Cervical Ripening and Labor Induction: A 2-Year Review in a Tertiary Center

Background: Misoprostol a PGE1?analogue has increasingly been used for cervical ripening in preparation for induction of labour with variable outcome for both mother and baby. Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of Misoprostol in cervical ripening and labour outcome in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano. Study Design: A study of all patients who had cervical ripening for induction of labour using Misoprostol at AKTH Kano, Nigeria, between 1st Jan 2012-31st Dec 2013. Socio-demographic data of these patients including number of doses inserted before ripening is achieved, duration, course and outcome of labour were documented. Result: Four hundred and two women were admitted for cervical ripening. 365 women met the inclusion criteria out of the 358 folders retrieved, giving a retrieval rate of 98%. Despite this six folders did not contain enough information for the study and were excluded leaving us with a sample size of 352. They had a successful cervical ripening with an average of 2 insertions. Spontaneous onset of labour without further intervention was observed in 266 women (75.5%). However, 86 women (24.5%) were induced with oxytocin following cervical ripening. The mean duration of labour among those that had spontaneous onset of labour following Misoprostol insertion was 9.8 hours. 96% of the patients had vaginal delivery while 4% had Caesarean section. Conclusion: Misoprostol was associated with favorable outcome following cervical ripening with a low caesarean section rate.