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Background: Thyroid disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are interconnected endocrine disorders with a bidirectional relationship. T2DM patients may present with various thyroid abnormalities, such as gland enlargement and nodule formation, warranting noninvasive assessment through ultrasound scanning. Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate thyroid gland volume (TGV) in adult patients with T2DM using ultrasound imaging in Kano. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 participants were randomly selected and underwent sonographic scans of the thyroid gland using a medical ultrasound machine with a 7.5 MHz linear probe. Thyroid volumes were recorded, and demographic information was collected. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 29, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean TGV ± standard deviation was 5.8 ± 3.1 cm3. Females exhibited a statistically higher TGV (6.1 ± 3.4 cm3) compared to males (5.6 ± 2.8 cm3). There was no significant difference in TGV among patients with different diabetes control habits. The mean volume of the right lobe (3.1 ± 1.8 cm3) was significantly greater than that of the left lobe (2.7 ± 1.6 cm3). TGV correlated positively with T2DM duration, age, weight, and body mass index. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the TGV among patients with T2DM in Kano. The findings indicate a positive correlation between TGV and T2DM duration and demonstrate gender and laterality differences. Ultrasound-based assessment of thyroid volume can be a valuable tool in monitoring thyroid health in T2DM patients and may aid in the early detection and management of thyroid abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Self-monitoring of blood glucose is important in the management of patients with diabetes mellitus in the community as well as in the hospital. It has been used for calculation of insulin doses of individuals with dysglycaemia and monitoring of glucose control. Errors in the measurement of the blood glucose can lead poor management of a patient. There is therefore the need to ensure standardization of these meters in order to achieve accuracy and precision. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the precision and accuracy of four glucose meters commonly used for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in a tertiary health care Centre compared to the reference laboratory method. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We analyzed blood glucose samples of 55 diabetic patients who came to diabetes clinic using 4 different glucose meters (Accucheck active, Novo max extra, One touch Ultra 2 and On call plus (accoson)). Capillary and Venous blood samples were taken simultaneously from each patient for analysis using four blood glucose meters and laboratory reference method respectively. The laboratory value was used as a tool for comparison. The accuracy and precision were evaluated by the ISO and ADA criteria. The results obtained were analysed using Bland Altman graphs, correlation coefficients, scatter plots and Clarke's error grid analysis. RESULTS: We observed good correlation between two glucose meters (Accucheck™ and Novomax ™) and laboratory analyzed values. Among the glucose meters Accucheck™ , Novomax™ , One touch Ultra™ and On call plus™ , the correlation coefficient was 0.97, 0.96, 0.88 and 0.69 respectively. The degree of agreement of the laboratory method and the Accucheck™ , Novomax™ , One touch ultra and On call plus glucose meters was 89.09, 80.00, 76.20 and 71.32% respectively. Accucheck™ and Novomax™ were within ±20% accuracy (14.5% and 16.1%). CONCLUSION: There is a need for adequate and appropriate evaluation of all glucose meters in our setting before that we deploy them for use. None of glucose meters met the ISO target. Only one glucose meter (Accucheck™ ) met the ADA guideline for accuracy.

Background: Celosia leptostachya belongs to Amaranthaceae plant family. Its leaves are used traditionally in the treatment of conditions, such as convulsion, eye infection and most notably to cure snakebites. This study investigated the inhibiting effect of the extract of C. leptostachya leaves against cobra snake venom in mice. Methods: We used 36 albino mice of mixed gender, weighing 20-25 g. They were divided into six groups of six rats each. Each rat was pre-treated with 0.4 mg/kg of cobra snake venom, and was subsequently given a graded dose of zero, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 250 mg/kg of the ethanol extract of C. leptostachya leaves. The animals were monitored for the survival rate. Various inhibition assays were performed to estimate the activities of acetyl cholinesterase, protease and adenosine triphosphatase of cobra venom, in the presence of 100-300 µg of the plant extract. Results: The extract inhibited the effects of cobra venom significantly after the intraperitoneal injection of the venom and extract at 20 minutes intervals. The results demonstrated that 100% of the mice survived if they received 100-250 mg/kg of the extract while only 83.3% survived with the extract at 50 mg/kg. The extract inhibited the venom's acetyl cholinesterase, protease and adenosine triphosphatase. The inhibition occurred at higher percentages if the extract was given at 300 mg/kg. Conclusion: The plant extract significantly inhibited the snake venom, and its acetyl cholinesterase, protease and adenosine triphosphatase that mediated the venom's toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Borassus aethiopum is a tropical plant found in the most parts of West Africa. The fruits, sap, and hypocotyl are used for nutritional purposes and in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases and infertility. Despite its widespread use, there is insufficient data on its safety profile. Aim: This study is aimed to evaluate the safety of the plant on the hematological indices, liver, and kidney function. Materials and Methods: Twenty Adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each and were orally administered with different doses of the extract (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) and 1 ml of distilled water, respectively, for 28 days. The median lethal dose (LD50) was determined using Lorke's method. The hematological indices, liver and kidney functions of the animals were assessed using standard procedures with the aid of an autoanalyzer. Result: The oral median lethal dose (LD50) was determined to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. No mortality was recorded in the rats after 28 days of daily treatment. With sub-chronic administration, no adverse toxicological effect was observed. There was also no significant difference observed in the hematological, liver, and kidney function parameters between the control group and extract-treated groups. Conclusion: The present study shows that methanol hypocotyl extract of Borassus aethiopum is pre-clinically safe in Wistar rats at the doses tested and may not likely produce any toxic effect on prolonged administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most serious and disabling complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). It is a major source of morbidity, mortality, and a leading cause of hospitalization. It constitutes a major burden to the patient, family, and health-care system as well as impairs quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to determine the QoL of persons with diabetic foot ulcers attending two major hospitals in a cosmopolitan city in northwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study at the diabetes outpatient clinics and wards of two major hospitals in Kano, Northwestern Nigeria. Sociodemographic characteristics, type of DM, duration of DM, and the presence of risk factors for foot ulcers were assessed. The QoL of patients with and without foot ulcer was determined a well-validated questionnaire for chronic diseases, short form 36 (SF 36) health-related QoL questionnaire. Results: We recruited 394 patients with DM (163 males and 231 females) with mean age and duration of DM of 50.8 ± 12.5 years and 7.72 ± 6.65 years, respectively. Ninety-five percent of the study participants had type 2 DM. Foot ulcers were present in 57 (14.5%) study participants. The QoL was generally poor (P < 0.001) in patients with DFU, compared with those without DFU in all domains of the SF 36, that indicated poor QoL in the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the patients. Conclusion: Diabetic foot ulcers are quite common and impart significantly on the QoL of persons with DM affecting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Early detection and management of foot ulcers will reduce the burden of the disease and improve the QoL of affected individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Doppler sonography of the cervical segment of the carotid arteries is becoming a popular tool for evaluating atherosclerosis of the carotid artery. We present the audit of findings on carotid ultrasound examination among patients with clinical suspicion and risks for cerebrovascular disease and possible correlates in Northern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: We performed carotid ultrasound examination on all patients referred for screening and clinical suspicion of cerebrovascular disease within the year 2017. The patients' characteristics, risk factors, presence of atheroma and characteristic of the atheroma, degree of stenotic disease as well as the presence of incidental ultrasound findings were reviewed and documented. Results: Out of the 62 patients, 55 (88.7%) of them had various degrees and types of atheromatous plaques in different segments of the cervical carotid arteries, whereas 7 (11.3%) were normal. The predominant risk factor was smoking followed by diabetes mellitus, whereas the highest indication for the scan was transient ischemic attack. Incidental thyroid lesions such as nodules and cysts were encountered in 14 (22.6%) of the patients. There is a statistically significant difference between sex and age with the side of lesion, degree of stenosis, segment involved, and type of atheromatous plaque. Conclusion: There is a statistically significant difference between sex and age with the side of lesion, degree of stenosis, segment involved, and type of atheromatous plaque. About one-fifth of our patients had incidental thyroid lesions. Therefore, routine screening of population at risk is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]