SCHOOL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES

This study examined the influence of sex, age, ethnicity, diet, on Body Mass Index (BMI) among residents of Evbobike community, Ekenwan town, Edo State, Nigeria. Two Hundred and Fifty (250) participants were assessed, consisting of twenty-four (130) males and twenty-six (120) females across different ethnic groups including Bini, Esan, Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, Urhobo, and Fulani. Height and weight were measured using standard anthropometric methods, and BMI was calculated as weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m²). The majority of individuals falling within the WHO-defined normal range(55.2%). , The mean BMI of males was significantly higher than of the females (p = 0.03770 < 0.05), this demonstrate a statistical sexual dimorphism in BMI within the Evbobike community in Evbobike both sexes appeared equally exposed to nutritional determinants such as diet and lifestyle. However,males showed greater with cases of both severe underweight . The Hausa , Bini and Esan ethnic groups now have significantly higher BMI values. The p-value = 0.013 (< 0.05) indicates that BMI difference across are statistically significant. The BMI increases steadily across age groups, the p value is <0.05, which indicate statistical significance difference in BMI across age groups. Older participant have higher BMI on average. The distribution 7.6% underweight, 55.2% normal, 25.2% overweight, and 12% obese illustrates a double burden of malnutrition. The coexistence of underweight and obesity within the same community is a hallmark of nutritional transition, where food insecurity exists alongside increased consumption of calorie-dense diets.In conclusion, this study provides clear evidence that age, gender and race are significant factors influncing BMI in the studied population The findings call for integrated interventions addressing nutrition, lifestyle, and economic realities to promote healthier BMI distribution in the community.

Background: The success of physiotherapy is heavily reliant on patient adherence,
yet non-adherence remains a significant challenge, particularly among the growing
geriatric population in Nigeria. While the benefits of physiotherapy for older adults
are well-documented, there is a paucity of research investigating the specific barriers
that impede treatment adherence in older adults in the Nigerian tertiary healthcare
setting.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the level of adherence and identify the
primary barriers to physiotherapy treatment among geriatric patients at the
University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), a tertiary healthcare facility in
South-South Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 50 geriatric patients (24
male and 26 female) receiving physiotherapy at UBTH. Data was collected using the
Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS) to assess adherence and structured
Barriers to Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (BTAQ) to evaluate barriers related
to service access and quality. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data.
Inferential statistics of Chi-square test were used to determine associations.
Significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Results: The study revealed a high rate of non-adherence (74.0%) among the
participants. Barriers related to accessing physiotherapy services were significantly
associated with non-adherence, including having missed a session due to access
difficulties (p=0.015), using public transport (p=0.037), and having a travel time of
over one hour (p=0.010). In contrast, the perceived quality of physiotherapy services
was high and not significantly associated with adherence. A higher frequency of
weekly physiotherapy sessions was the only factor significantly associated with
better adherence (p=0.035).

Conclusion: Adherence to physiotherapy among geriatric patients at UBTH is
critically low, primarily driven by significant socioeconomic and logistical barriers
related to access, transportation, and cost, rather than dissatisfaction with the quality
of care. These findings underscore the urgent need for systemic interventions to
make physiotherapy services more accessible and affordable for the elderly
population in Nigeria.

Sports-related injuries are increasingly common in both recreational and competitive settings, and radiological imaging plays a central role in their diagnosis and management. This study assessed the knowledge and perception of radiographers in Edo State regarding sports imaging. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 48 radiographers across selected hospitals and diagnostic centers in Benin City, using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings showed that most respondents (81.3%) were aware of the applications of radiological imaging in sports, with strong recognition of X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound, but limited awareness of CT and nuclear medicine. Perceptions toward sports imaging were highly positive, with respondents affirming its vital role in injury management, rehabilitation, and the need for specialized training, while rejecting the notion that imaging is overused. Despite this positive outlook, actual practice was limited; only 12.5% had been involved in sports imaging, and many reported rarely or never performing such examinations. Among those involved, less than half followed specific protocols, and challenges such as lack of equipment (67.7%), limited training (61.3%), and poor referral patterns (48.4%) were identified as major barriers. Chi-square analysis revealed no significant association between years of professional experience and knowledge levels (χ² = 4.02, df = 6, p = 0.674), indicating that seniority did not predict expertise in sports imaging. The study concludes that while radiographers in Edo State demonstrate strong baseline knowledge and positive perceptions, their practical engagement remains low. Addressing equipment gaps, standardizing protocols, and implementing targeted continuing professional development programs are recommended to bridge the knowledge–practice divide.

Background/Purpose of the Study: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability and most times, this condition is accompanied by hypertension which challenges the cardiovascular system’s regulation. Hypertensive stroke survivors frequently experience impaired hemodynamic control and as such, upper limb elevation exercises have been suggested to influence the cardiovascular parameters of this stated population but the available evidences on the acute effects on the hemodynamic parameters are limited. This study investigates to bridge the knowledge and empirical gap in order to wholesomely understand the acute effects of these exercises on hypertensive stroke survivors

Aim: This study aims to compare the acute effects of sustained bilateral upper limb elevation exercise protocols on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate in hypertensive stroke survivors.
Methods: A cross-over repeated measure experimental design employing a simple random (ballot) sampling technique was conducted to compare the acute effects of sustained bilateral upper limb elevation exercises at 90° and 180° on SBP, DBP, MAP and HR in hypertensive stroke survivors. 31 participants (mean age = 56.71 ± 12.05years) were recruited. Each participants performed both exercise protocols and cardiovascular parameters were recorded before and immediately after each exercise. Data was analyzed using paired and independent sample T-tests at a significance level of ≤ 0.05.

Results: Significant reductions were observed in SBP (p= 0.001) and MAP (p= 0.011) following the 90° protocol, while the DBP and HR showed no significant change. After the 180° protocol, SBP (p< 0.001), DBP (p= 0.034) and MAP (p= 0.002) significantly decreased, with HR significantly increasing (p= 0.014). No significant differences were found between the two protocols or genders (p> 0.05).

Conclusion: Both exercise protocols produce mild, acute and transient reductions in blood pressure, suggesting potential short-term hemodynamic benefits for hypertensive stroke survivors.

Considered a hazardous environmental contaminant, lead acetate exhibits toxic properties known to impair male reproductive function through oxidative stress and disruption of spermatogenesis. Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) contains antioxidant and bioactive compounds that may protect against heavy-metal–induced testicular injury. The objective was to evaluate whether ethanolic extract of Pleurotus ostreatus ameliorates lead acetate– induced testicular damage in adult male Wistar rats. Thirty (30) adult male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups (A–F, n = 5 per group) and treated for 56 days. Treatments included control, lead acetate (100 mg/kg body weight), 1000mg/kg body weight of extract, 2000mg/kg body weight of extract, 1000mg/kg body weight of extract and 100mg/kg body weight of lead acetate and 2000mg/kg body weight of extract and 100mg/kg body weight of lead acetate. Endpoints were epididymal sperm analysis (count, motility, viability, morphology), testicular weight, and histology (H&E); data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The administration of lead acetate induced substantial testicular damage, which was marked by reduced sperm counts, decreased survival rates, an upsurge in atypical cellular phenotypes, and diffuse seminiferous tubular atrophy with loss of germinal layers. Administration of Pleurotus ostreatus extract alone showed no histological abnormality and improved sperm indices. When given alongside lead acetate, the extract mitigated the toxic changes in a manner proportional to dose — with the 2000 mg/kg treatment delivering the greatest improvement in sperm parameters and largely normalizing seminiferous architecture. In conclusion the ethanolic extract of Pleurotus ostreatus exerted a dose-dependent protective effect, mitigating influence against lead acetate–mediated testicular damage in Wistar rat models. These findings justify further mechanistic studies and controlled translational research to assess the mushroom extract’s potential as a safe nutraceutical strategy for populations at risk of lead exposure.

Acalypha wikesiana, a medicinal plant contains various phytochemicals which enable it perform its beneficial activities. It has gained attraction for its anti inflammatory and apoptotic properties. Colon cancer is a life threatening disease caused by several factors like genetics, environmental exposure and the damaging condition of the digestive tract. And as such 1, 2 dimethylhydrazine, an effective chemical substance was used to induce cancerous tumors in the colon and rectum. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti inflammatory and apoptotic properties of Acalypha wikesiana on a DMH induced colon cancer. The sum of 46 healthy male rats were assembled into nine. The groups are a control group, a 1,2 dimethylhydrazine induced colon cancer group, which served as the standard drug group. The other groups were also induced with 1, 2 dimethylhydrazine but were treated with
different doses of Acalypha wikesiana extracts. The ninth group was the negative control group exposed only to 1,2 dimethylhydrazine. Results indicated significantly reduced tumor size and incidence. Reduced Proinflammatory markers level suggested an anti inflammatory effect of Acalypha wikesiana. In conclusion, it was indicated that Acalypha wikesiana ethanol extracts has an anti inflammatory and apoptotic properties which to a large extent contribute to its protective effects against 1,2 dimethylhydrazine induced colon cancer.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple measure of body fitness and a potential predictor of kidney health. This study explored the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and renal function parameters among 150 apparently healthy undergraduates aged 16–25 years at the University of Benin. Participants were carefully screened to exclude confounding conditions, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Venous blood samples were analyzed for serum creatinine, urea, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Data were processed using SPSS version 20. Results showed that 10.7% of participants were underweight, 81.3% had normal weight, 5.3% were overweight, and 2.7% were obese. Mean renal function values were within normal ranges, sodium: 138.21 ± 2.74 mmol/L, potassium: 3.87 ± 0.22 mmol/L, bicarbonate: 23.32 ± 1.61 mmol/L, Chloride: 98.33 ± 2.36 mmol/L, urea: 28.07 ± 6.08 mg/dL, creatinine: 0.84 ± 0.17 mg/dL, and eGFR: 112.84 ± 21.11 mL/min/1.73 m². There was no significant correlation between BMI and all renal parameters. In this study, BMI did not significantly influence renal function. The presence of overweight and obesity highlights the need for proactive health education, lifestyle counseling, and regular renal screening to prevent future kidney disease. The study concludes that BMI is not significantly correlated with serum creatinine, urea, electrolytes, or eGFR in this population and recommends larger, longitudinal research to assess long-term effects of elevated BMI on renal health.

The pregnancies present special safety concerns owing to the high levels of radiosensitivity of the embryo-fetus. This was an evaluation of radiation protection protocols used with pregnant patients when they undergo X-ray services at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). A cross-sectional (descriptive) survey of radiographers (N = 32) was done, where the survey utilizing a structured, self-administered questionnaire to respondents focused on the shielding practice, dose-reduction methods, and compliance aspects. Simple inferential test and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The majority of the respondents were male (78.1%), the most frequent age group was 26-30 years (35.9%); 53.1% of them were interns, and 87.5% had already worked with pregnant patients. Practice was high in terms of overall shielding (grand mean = 3.88/5) with routine lead shielding (mean = 4.1) and proper etching of the fetal-region shielding (mean = 4.0) being reported most frequently. There was also strong dose-reduction behavior (grand mean = 3.98), with avoiding repeat exposures (mean = 4.4), reducing exposure factors (mean = 4.2) and tight collimation (mean = 4.1) being the leaders. The best compliance was observed with confidence in fetal-risk knowledge (mean = 4.0) and prior-training (mean = 3.9) with high workload (mean = 3.6) and moderate availability/use of pregnancy specific protocols (mean = 3.5) being considered gaps. All in all, the good shielding practice was demonstrated by 78.1 percent of radiographers. A chi-square test revealed no statistically significant difference between the practice categories of shielding (kh2= 0.08, df= 1, p= 0.77). To sum up, radiographers in the teaching hospital of the university of Benin demonstrate good commitments to practices in line with the ALARA to the care of pregnant patients, especially in shielding and collimation as well as reducing repeats. Prolonged CPD, protocols specific to pregnancy, enhanced workflow facilitation, and an unproblematic access to maternity-fit shielding are suggested in order to seal the remaining gaps. Data collection had to be pre-empted with ethical approval and institutional permissions.

The World Health Organization reported that over 186 million couples in developed countries suffered from infertility a condition that is more worrisome in the so-called infertility belt of sub- Saharan Africa and about 40-50 % of the problem is attributed to men. Long Jack XXXL Sperm Enhancer an herbal supplement containing long jack (Eurycoma longifolia) commonly referred to as Tongkat Ali, siberian ginseng, maca extract, fenugreek extract and horny goat weed. It has been revered for its aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Long Jack sperm enhancer supplementation on the sperm quality and quantity in male Wistar rats. The rats were grouped into five and administered varying concentration of Long Jack XXXL excluding the control group for 28 days. Group 1 was given commercial rat feed and water, group 2 received 10 mg/kg Long Jack dissolved in 2 mL distilled water, group 3 received 20 mg/kg Long Jack dissolved in 2 mL distilled water, group 4 received 40 mg/kg Long Jack dissolved in 2 mL distilled water and group 5 received 80 mg/kg Long Jack dissolved in 2 mL distilled water orally by gavage. On day 29 the rats were sacrificed and the caudal epididymis was excised for semen analysis. The Sperm count increased from the control group 1(8.57±2.0), to 9.6±1.9 group 2, to 9.2±2.5 (group 3), to 9.9±2.2 (group 4), to 10.1±1.2 (group 5). The differences in the means were however not statistically significant (p>0.5) when compared with control. There was no difference in the mean progressive motility, non- progressive motility, immotile form, normal morphology and abnormal morphology when compared with control. Long Jack sperm enhancer did not significantly increase sperm quantity and quantity of male Wistar rat.

In this study, we compared manual and automated segmentation algorithms in Computed Tomography (CT) imaging of the liver. Segmentation is the delineation of anatomical structures on a CT/MRI image for treatment and dose planning purposes. Accuracy in the segmentation of organs in CT imaging is a critical step in diagnosis and therapy planning. Normally, manual segmentation performed by trained practitioners is the gold standard for the delineation of these anatomical structures. However, manual segmentation is time-consuming, subject to interobserver differences, and also needs a level of expertise (Lee et al., 2024). Automated segmentation on the other hand, is a potential solution to the problems faced due to manual segmentation, despite this development, there is still an ongoing debate questioning the accuracy and reliability of automated segmentation due to little knowledge about its capabilities (Raudaschl et al., 2017). The main objectives of this study are to compare the accuracy and segmentation time of manual and automated segmentation, also to assess the inter-observer variability between 10 different observers. This study was carried out at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) using an anonymized CT dataset segmented manually using 3D-slicer and automatically using TotalSegmentator. A quantitative analysis of 100 segmentation masks produced by the segmentation of 10 anonymized CT images of patients by 10 observers (radiographers and radiotherapists) was conducted to evaluate the accuracy, time efficiency of automated algorithms and inter-observer variability of manual segmentation. The accuracy of automated segmentation was measured using the mean Dice Similarity Coefficient value, speed of both types of segmentation compared was measured using time and the inter-observer variability was measured using the Inter Class Correlation and Fleiss’ Kappa. The results obtained indicates that automated segmentation is as accurate as manual segmentation with a mean DSC value of 0.85±0.03 and also more time efficient with a 65% decrease in the segmentation time per image. This study also shows that the manual segmentations done by different observers are not far off from each other proving how reproducible it is. The Inter Class Correlation and Fleiss' Kappa was used to determine this with their score being 0.720 and 0.683 respectively. This indicates a moderate to strong agreement between segmentation done by different observers and if there is a strong agreement, the variability will be minimal. The DSC gotten is also greater than 0.7, giving a confirmation of how accurate
automated segmentation is. From the results above, it was concluded that automated segmentation is as accurate and faster than manual segmentation. It was also concluded that there are minimal differences between segmentations done by different observers. A wide clinical adoption, Training of radiographers, educational inclusion and further research is recommended to increase the awareness and integration of automated segmentation in various clinical systems.