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This study investigated the effect of betel quid chewing on the somatic motor pathway (Achilles tendon reflex time). The subjects, 48 healthy male volunteers, were divided into 4 groups: a control group; first-time chewers; occasional chewers; and habitual chewers. The Achilles reflex time (ART) of the subjects was taken 5 minutes after ingestion of the quid preparation and their pulse rate and respiratory rate were also recorded. The results show that betel quid chewing reduced the ART and increased the pulse rate and respiratory rate. It can be concluded that betel quid chewing causes a transient peripheral stimulation of the somatic motor pathway with a resultant hyperreflexia.

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Serum albumin concentration is a commonly used, but inadequate index of protein status in man. A study of serum lipid changes in malnourished children reported a progressive increase in serum phospholipid concentration with deterioration of protein status in the children. This led us to assess the usefulness of serum albumin/phospholipid index (API) in groups of healthy young adults, malnourished children, and their age-and-sex-matched well-nourished controls. We found that API discriminated between malnourished and well-nourished children. There was no difference between the index for well-nourished children and adults in spite of differences in body sizes. However, since serum albumin showed a similar discrimination between malnourished and well-nourished children, API may possibly not be superior to serum albumin in the assessment of protein status in man.

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The role of thyroid hormones on the contractile responses of the isolated rat urinary bladder strips to acetilcholine and potassium chloride (in depolarising Tyrode solution) was examined. Chronic administration of thyroxine (6-8 micrograms/100 g body wt/day) for 15 days caused stimulation of acetylcholine and potassium chloride-induced contractile responses of the rat urinary bladder strip. Thyroidectomy caused inhibition of acetylcholine and potassium chloride-induced contractile responses of the rat urinary bladder strip. These findings suggest that the thyroid state affects the intrinsic contractile state of bladder muscle.

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Intestinal fluid and glucose transport in malnourished rats was investigated using the everted sac method on the small intestine. Malnourishment significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the serosal fluid transfer, mucosal fluid transfer, gut fluid uptake as well as gut glucose uptake. The results suggest that malnourishment affects the functional status of the small intestine.

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The effects of thyroidectomy and thyroxine on serum calcium concentration were studied in adult albino Wistar strain rats using the technique described by Baginski et al. (1973) as used by Lorentz [10]. Thyroidectomy decreased serum calcium concentration from 2.28 +/- 0.02 mmol/l to 1.61 +/- 0.01 mmol/l. Chronic administration of thyroxine (6-8 micrograms/100 g body wt/day) for 35 days caused an increased serum calcium concentrations from 2.28 +/- 0.02 mmol/l to 2.98 +/- 0.05 mmol/l. These findings suggest that thyroidectomy and the dose of thyroxine used affected calcium metabolism in rats.

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The effect of thyroidectomy and thyroxine on the reactivity of diaphragm muscle to electrical stimulation was studied in adult albino Wistar rats. Thyroidectomy significantly affected the contractility of the diaphragm muscle. The result shows that thyroidectomy predisposes the muscle of the diaphragm to fatigue.

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The role of sex hormones on parietal cell function and number was studied in the rat. Ovariectomy significantly increased parietal cell mass (from 18.26 +/- 0.16 x 10(6) to 24.14 +/- 0.89 x 10(6] as well as basal acid secretion (from 3.49 +/- 0.06 to 3.63 +/- 0.05 mu Eq/10 min). Castration decreased the number of parietal cells in the gastric mucosa of male rats from 25.57 +/- 0.18 x 10(6) to 18.65 +/- 0.12 x 10(6) and basal acid secretion (from 3.99 +/- 0.03 to 3.50 +/- 0.06 mu Eq/10 min). The results suggest that male and female sex hormones regulate basal acid secretion via their effects on the parietal cell.

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The role of thyroid hormones on parietal cell function and number was studied in the rat. Chronic administration of thyroxine (6-8 micrograms/100 g body wt/day) for 35 days significantly increased parietal cell mass (from 21.18 +/- 0.13 x 10(6) to 26.71 +/- 0.14 x 10(6] as well as basal acid secretion (from 3.69 +/- 0.08 to 4.99 +/- 0.16 mueq/10 min) and histamine-stimulated acid secretion (from 2.45 +/- 0.12 to 3.69 +/- 0.21 mueq/10 min). Thyroidectomy decreased the number of parietal cells in the gastric mucosa (to 10.48 +/- 0.09 x 10(6] and basal acid secretion (to 3.09 +/- 0.08 mueq/10 min). Histamine (0.2 mg) injection into the thyroidectomized rats increased acid secretion by only 1.41 +/- 0.06 mueq/10 min as against 2.45 +/- 0.12 mueq/10 min obtained for control rats. The results suggest that thyroid hormones regulate basal and secretagogue-stimulated acid secretion via their effects on parietal cell mass.

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The role of sex on the development and function of parietal cell was investigated in the rat. Basal gastric acid secretion and parietal cell mass were found to be significantly lower in female rats than in male. The results suggest that sex is an important factor influencing the growth and function of the gastric mucosa.

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A fatal case of acute pneumonia and septicemia that occurred in a captive civet kitten (Civettictis civetta) in the Jos Zoo, Nigeria is reported. Diagnosis was based on clinical signs, necropsy findings, and the isolation of Klebsiella pneumoniae from the lung, intestine, liver and heart blood of the animal. This is the first report of clinical K. pneumoniae infection in a wild or captive animal in Nigeria.

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