Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare the histological features of the liver of vertebrates and demonstrate the possible histological evolutionary trend within the sub-phylum vertebrata. Materials and Methods: Liver tissues were dissected from the five vertebrate classes; the Fish (Cat-fish - Clarias gariepinus), Amphibian (Rana tigrina), Reptilian (Lizard - Agama aculeata), Avian (Domestic bird-Gallus gallus domesticus), and Mammalian (Wistar rat- Rattus norvegicus) were used for the study. The tissue samples were fixed in 10% formal-saline and processed using standard histological techniques. The liver tissues were studied with a light microscope and photomicrographs were obtained. Results: The results showed structural similarities of the liver across the sub-phylum, with noticeable differences in the hepato-sinusoidal arrangements, composition and association of the bile duct and presence of portal triad. The study observed a gradual transition of hepatocytes distributions in singles and clusters to cord-like as observed in Gallus gallus domesticus and Rattus norvegicus. The study also revealed incomplete portal triad in Clarias gariepinus and Rana tigrina. The observed variations were attributed to adaption, feeding mechanism, mode of nutrition and selective specialization, which are important ecological and biological changes involved in evolution. Conclusion: This study has established that evolutionary trends occurred within the subphylum vertebrata.

Introduction: Growth studies among children are important in health planning and policy making, as it has been observed that the interaction between environmental and genetic constitution is manifested in physical growth. The aim of this work was to investigate the variation in growth patterns of adolescent girls from different socioeconomic status attending schools (a private and public schools) in urban Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was undertaken on 320 adolescent female schoolchildren in Lagos, Nigeria. Six anthropometric measurements, such as weight, stature, sitting height, waist circumference, biacromial breadth, and biceps skinfold were taken into consideration observing ISAK protocol for measurement. Results: The results revealed that the private school girls had consistently higher values than the public school girls. Conclusion: This indicates that a consistent variation pattern in growth exists among the girls studied. Therefore there is need for adequate health monitoring during adolescence.

Background: The ratio of the second-to-fourth finger lengths (2D:4D) demonstrates a reliable sexual dimorphism across human ethnic groups. It may be established in utero and is negatively correlated with sperm counts and testosterone in men and positively correlated with estrogen in men and women. In view of its clinical importance, this study was carried out to document values of the 2 ^nd to 4 ^th digit ratio in the Igbo ethnic group of Nigerian population and to investigate its relationship with testosterone. Materials and Methods: A sample of 412 subjects (209 boys and 203 girls) between ages 12 and 20 years were recruited randomly for this study. Finger lengths were measured twice, using an electronic Vernier calliper (precision 0.01 mm). Blood samples were collected and analyzed for testosterone. Results: Men had lower 2D:4D ratio (0.98 ± 0.01 for the right and left hand) than women (0.99 ± 0.01 for both hands). These differences in 2D:4D between sexes were statistically significant (P < 0.001 for both hands). The other digit ratios were also lower in men than women for both hands. These differences were statistically significant for all digit ratios except for the 3D:5D and 3D:4D ratio of the both hands. Conclusion: Testosterone had an inverse relationship with 2D: 4D of both hands in males, as well as females' left hands. This result confirms that digit ratios are sexually dimorphic and useful markers of disease predisposition.

Context: The face is the most important aspect of human identification. It also functions as the centre of attraction and appearance. Aim: The aim of this study was to characterize the facial profiles of Bini using angular photogrammetric analyses. Materials and Methods: A total number of four hundred Bini volunteers between the age range 18 to 30 years comprising two hundred males and two hundred females were recruited for this study. The photographs were taken with the subject keeping their heads in natural head at a distance of 150 cm from the camera in a well illuminated room in candescent light. All photographs were exported to Adobe Photoshop CS 5 Extended. The angle studied were nasofacial, nasofrontal, nasolabial and nasomental angles. Statistical analysis was done by using program Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 16.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). Comparisons were made of all the facial angles studied between males and females using the students' t-test. Results: There was statistically significant sexual dimorphism in three of the angles measured. The nasofrontal angle was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in females (133.80 ± 0.40) than in males (128.00 ± 0.60). The nasofacial angle was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in males (35.580 ± 0.0) than in females (34.30 ± 0.20). The nasomental angle was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in females (128.10 + 0.30) than in males (126.90 ± 0.40). There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) between the nasolabial angle of the males (76.20 ± 0.80) and that of the females (75.90 ± 0.70). Conclusion: This study has shown as in most other populations that the angular variables in tissue profile are sexually dimorphic among the Bini.

Introduction: This study was carried out to determine the relationship of the index and ring fingers to stature for the purpose of predicting stature in a Nigerian population. Materials and Methods: Measurement of various parameters was done with the aid of a digital stadiometer and a digital Vernier caliper. The stadiometer was used to measure the heights of individuals, while the digital Vernier caliper was used to measure the lengths of the right index (R2D) and right ring (R4D) fingers. Statistical analysis, which included the t-test, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis, was carried out with the aid of SPSS version 19.0. Results: From the results, it can be seen that all parameters investigated were higher in males (P < 0.05) and that the correlations between R2D and stature and between R4D and stature were significant across gender. Our results also showed that it is possible to estimate the stature of an unknown Nigerian from the lengths of the second and fourth digits. Conclusion: Thus, this study has demonstrated a means of identification, especially in case of accident with lacerated remains in Nigeria. This paper is recommended to forensic experts, road safety officers, and the Government of Nigeria for the aforementioned purposes.

Introduction: Limited information is available about the skeletal frame size of urban-dwelling adolescent female West African children. Aim and Objective: This study assessed variations in skeletal frame-size as estimated from the truncal breadths of adolescent female Nigerian children from two different socioeconomic backgrounds in Lagos. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric measurements of biacromial, bi-iliocristal, bitrochanteric, and chest breadths were taken from 320 adolescent female school children aged 10-17 years selected from public and private schools in Lagos using a systematic random method. The socioeconomic status (SES) of the subjects was classified on the basis of attendance at either fee-paying private or non-fee-paying public schools. Results: The range of skeletal breadth measurements were as follows: Biacromial breadth 32.24 ± 2.01 cm to 34.23 ± 1.35 cm; bi-iliocristal breadth 22.46 ± 1.07 cm to 23.75 ± 1.47 cm; bitrochanteric breadth 24.47 ± 2.22 cm to 28.29 ± 2.10 cm; and chest breadth 18.43 ± 2.14 cm to 19.71 ± 0.75 cm. Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean biacromial, bi-iliocristal, bitrochanteric, and chest breadths between age-matched private school girls (PRG) and public school girls (PUG). Conclusion: The observed variations in skeletal frame size among female adolescents may reflect a complex interaction between lifestyle and biological variables existing in this population, suggesting a morphologic uniqueness among the adolescent females of Lagos that calls for further systematic investigation.

Introduction: Cannabis sativa is one of the species of cannabis plant. The objective of this study was to determine the short- and long-term effects of Cannabis sativa on the brains of adult Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty (30) healthy adult Wistar rats of both sexes were used as experimental animals. The Cannabis sativa leaves obtained were extracted at the Laboratory Facility of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. The animals were grouped as follows: Positive control (one: Group I), negative control (one: Group II), and experimental groups (three: Groups III-V); different doses of the drug in volume were calculated (0.10 mL for acute study, 0.23 mL for subacute study, and 0.50 mL for subchronic study) and administered orally with the use of an improvised orogastric cannula. The animals were sacrificed and the organs harvested for manual tissue processing and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The stained slides were interpreted with the aid of a light microscope and analyzed for histomorphological changes across the groups. Results: The results showed that the histomorphologic changes induced by Cannabis sativa in short- and long-term studies caused extensive cerebral gliosis in the brains of adult Wistar rats. Conclusion: It could, therefore, be deduced that there were both dose- and time-dependent toxic effects of Cannabis sativa on the experimental animals. Cannabis sativa was shown to cause marked neuronal changes in the brains of adult Wistar rats.

Morphological variations can occur in human teeth. When such variations occur, they are more interesting to clinicians, anthropologists, and forensic dentists. Normally, the mandibular second premolar exhibits the two cusp pattern, one buccal cusp, and the other lingual cusps. Occurrence of four cusps in this tooth is rarely reported in the literature. The aim of this article is to present the development of four cusps in the second premolar, resulting in a molar appearance of the tooth and hence, diagnosed as molarization of the premolar.