In vitro gas production, methane production and fermentation kinetics of concentrate diet containing incremental levels of sodium humate

The redox potentials of humic acids make it a veritable pathway to hydrogen consumption in the rumen that may be a strategy to mitigate methane production. This study assessed the fermentability indices and methane production of incremental levels of sodium humate by in vitro gas production technique. Five experimental diets containing sodium humate at 0, 5, 7.5 10 and 12.5 g/kg diet were formulated. Inoculum prepared was from rumen fluid of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Incubation period was 24 hours at 39°C. Fermentation kinetics, methane and rumen metabolites production were analysed using one-way analysis of variance as outlined in the GLM procedure of SAS. Results revealed a decrease (p < 0.05) in CH4, VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, hydrogen consumed via CH4/VFA pathway (HC), volume of gas from degradable fraction (A) and rate of gas constant (c) with addition of sodium humate in the diet up to 10 g/kg diet. There were increase (p < 0.05) in VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, HC, A and c at 12.5 g/kg diet humate inclusion. Also, hydrogen recovery (HR), metabolizeable energy (ME), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), microbial biomass, organic matter digestibility (OMD) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) increased (p < 0.05) with incremental levels of sodium humate inclusion, but above 10 g/kg diet inclusion, ATP, MB, ME, OMD and SCFA were observed to decrease (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the impact of sodium humate in diet of goats is dose dependent and that supplementing the diet of WAD goats with sodium humate for up to 10 g/kg diet can effectively reduce methane production while also providing energy for rumen microbes and other metabolic activities of the animal

Clients’ Perception of Quality of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment and Care in Resource-Limited Setting: Experience from Nigeria

Background: Quality care is essential to the well-being and survival of people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The aim of this study is to explore how MDR- TB patients, who were voluntarily hospitalized, perceived care and treatment strategy and to assess the influence of psychosocial factors on their perception of care and treatment strategy in Nigeria. Methods: The study enrolled 98 MDR-TB patients on voluntary confinement in four MDR-TB hospitals in Nigeria. Patients’ perceptions of quality of care and treatment strategy were evaluated with 28-item and 6-item instruments, respectively. Bivariate analysis was used to test for an association and multivariate analysis for factors that might contribute to the perceived quality of care. Results: Seventy-eight per cent (78%) of the participating patients perceived the quality of care to be good. Patients with better psychosocial well-being had five times higher odds to report good quality of care. Conclusion: The majority of MDR-TB patients perceived the quality of inpatient care to be good in Nigerian hospitals; however, their psychological health influenced their perception significantly. Health care providers need to improve treatment strategies to encourage acceptance of care as poor perception to health care service delivery may deter treatment completion and also cause relapse among clients on treatment

Factors Associated with Treatment Success among Pulmonary Tuberculosis and HIV Co-infected Patients in Oyo State, South West-Nigeria

Background The co-existence of Tuberculosis (TB) and Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is  known to increase morbidity and mortality in patients. The determinants of treatment success in TBHIV co-infection are not yet well studied. Such information can help optimise treatment and reduce morbidity and mortality.Objective To determine factors associated with antitubercular treatment success among TB I HIV coinfected patients.Methods A cross sectional study was carried out in fifty  three DOT clinics and treatment centres  using tuberculosis patient's records from January 2009 to December 2010 in Oyo state, Nigeria. The study population consisted of 7905 tuberculosis patients. Information on variables of interest were obtained with the use of data extraction forms. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to test the relationship between TB I HIV coinfection and socio-demographic variables, clinical characteristics and treatment success.Results Prevalence ofTB I HIV co-infection was found to be 14.2%. Patients with TB-HIV co-infection  were younger and more likely to be females. There were statistically significant association between treatment success and gender, marital status and patient point of care. After adjusting for other variables, it was found that patients receiving treatment in private facilities were independently less likely to be successfully treated compared with those receiving care in Public facilities. Female patients were also independently more likely to have better treatment outcome than male.Conclusion In addition to patients' point of care, gender of the patients can adversely impact on their treatment success. Efforts from the government to strengthening the private public mix, health education and media awareness on adherence to treatment to improve treatment success should be intensified in the country.Keywords: Tube rc ulosis; Human immunodeficiency virus, Directly observe therapy short-course;  Treatment success, Coinfection

The concentrations, distribution and health risk assessment of suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals (phenols, phthalates and heavy metals) in freshwater systems of Cape Town, South Africa

Thesis (DTech (Environmental Health))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012.Environmental pollution with persistent organic chemicals and inorganic trace metals is an increasingly important issue. Recently, a variety of chemicals are introduced in a very large scale on the surface water network. The main pathway of these pollutants into the environment was identified as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The extended use of chemicals in many product formulations and insufficient WWTPs has lead to an increase in the levels of the detected micro-pollutants wastewater effluents. The majority of these compounds are characterized by a rather poor biodegradability. A large spectrum of pollutants present in waste as traces has been reported to exert adverse effects on human and wildlife. Even though compounds are found in wastewater in a very small amount, they may have the undesirable capability of initiating health effect on various high forms of life. This survey constitutes the first study in the City of Cape Town to report data for a variety of priority substances (phenols and phthalate esters) in WWTP effluents and receiving rivers. These results are of critical importance since the data generated are used to generate potential health risk associated with both the organic and inorganic compounds analyzed

Knowledge of Oral Prophylaxis and Dental Check-up Amongst Primary School Teachers in Lagos State: An Urban-rural Comparative Study: Dental Public Health

ABSTRACT Background: Oral health knowledge of school teachers will influence the success of the strategy of the National Oral Health Policy at the Community level. Aim: This study aimed to assess and compare the oral health knowledge in Urban and Rural areas of Lagos State. Methodology: A cross-sectional study, using a multistage sampling technique to select 200 primary school teachers in both urban and rural areas. A pretested, self-administered questionnaire was used. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive and crude odd ratio were used, and p-value ⩽0.05 is significant. Result: The mean age of the respondent is 39±10.92 and 47±7.56 for rural and urban areas respectively. More teachers were females in rural and urban areas. The ever-married were majority in both rural and urban areas. Majority had National Certificate of Education in rural and urban areas.&nbsp; Urban teachers [55%] had adequate oral health knowledge and 63% in the rural had inadequate oral health knowledge.&nbsp; Crude odd ratio revealed a significant association between geographical location and oral health knowledge [p=0.0102; OR=2.081]; marital status [p=0.0204; OR=0.26] and teaching experience [p=0.0442; ≤10years, OR=1.533; ≤15years, OR=2.130 and ˃16years, OR=3.179].&nbsp; Conclusion: Primary school teachers in urban area showed adequate oral health knowledge than their counterparts in the rural area of Lagos State

Crash characteristics and pattern of motorcycle related facial bone fractures in a sub-urban Nigerian teaching hospital

Context: Recent studies indicated that significant proportion of facial fractures attributed to road traffic mishaps in the middle- and low-income countries are caused by motorcycle (MC) crashes. However, there is limited information on crash characteristics of such injuries. This study was designed to examine the crash characteristics, pattern of fracture, and sociodemographics of patients with facial bone fractures due to MC crashes in our institution. Subjects and Methods: Data on patients' sociodemographics, pattern of presentation, type(s) of fracture, patient status, crash characteristics, level of consciousness, and treatment offered were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 151 patients, aged 7–59 years were reviewed during the study period. A male preponderance was observed (M:F = 4:1) and the patients were predominantly motorcyclists (64.8%, n = 98). The most common mechanism of crash was collision with another MC (51.6%, n = 78). A total of 194 fractures were reviewed and the mandible (58.8%, n = 114) was more commonly affected than the midface (41.2%, n = 80). The predominant site on the mandible was the body (31.6%) while zygoma (32.5%) was the most affected part of the midface. Patient status was found to have a statistically significant relationship with loss of consciousness (P = 0.02). Eighty-two fracture sites (42.3%) were managed with open reduction and internal fixation. Conclusions: Facial bone fractures occur in a significant proportion of MC crashes and riders are predominantly affected. In addition, a larger proportion of commuters rarely wear crash helmet which could have offered protection. Continual advocacy on preventive measures and enforcement of road safety regulations is hereby advised

Crash characteristics and pattern of motorcycle related facial bone fractures in a sub-urban Nigerian teaching hospital

Context: Recent studies indicated that significant proportion of facial fractures attributed to road traffic mishaps in the middle‑ and low‑income countries are caused by motorcycle (MC) crashes. However, there is limited information on crash characteristics of such injuries. This study was designed to examine the crash characteristics, pattern of fracture, and sociodemographics of patients with facialbone fractures due to MC crashes in our institution.Subjects and Methods: Data on patients’ sociodemographics, pattern of presentation, type(s) of fracture, patient status, crash characteristics, level of consciousness, and treatment offered were collected and analyzed.Results: A total of 151 patients, aged 7–59 years were reviewed during the study period. A male preponderance was observed (M:F = 4:1) and the patients were predominantly motorcyclists (64.8%, n = 98). The most common mechanism of crash was collision with another MC (51.6%, n = 78). A total of 194 fractures were reviewed and the mandible (58.8%, n = 114) was more commonly affected than the midface (41.2%, n = 80). The predominant site on the mandible was the body (31.6%) while zygoma (32.5%) was the most affected part of the midface. Patient status was found to have a statistically significant relationship with loss of consciousness (P = 0.02). Eighty‑two fracture sites (42.3%) were managed with open reduction and internal fixation.Conclusions: Facial bone fractures occur in a significant proportion of MC crashes and riders are predominantly affected. In addition, a larger proportion of commuters rarely wear crash helmet which could have offered protection. Continual advocacy on preventive measures and enforcement of road safety regulations is hereby advised.Keywords: Facial bone, fractures, motorcycl

Heavy Metals Speciation and Human Health Risk Assessment at an Illegal Gold Mining Site in Igun, Osun State, Nigeria

Background. There is increasing global concern over the health effects of heavy metals arising from various anthropogenic activities, especially mining. Mining activities in developing countries are often carried out at an artisanal level using a variety of extraction methods with human health and environmental consequences. Objectives. The broad objective of this study is to assess the chemical forms, distribution pattern, and health risks due to mining and processing techniques at a gold mining site in Igun, Osun State, Nigeria. Methods. Samples were collected from 28 active mine pits and sequentially extracted using standard methods. Extracts were analyzed for metals using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP/OES), while health risk was assessed using United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Dutch methods. Chemical speciation of heavy metals and health risk assessment was calculated using mobile phase fraction summation. Results. Metals were exclusively present in the residual fractions, indicating that these metals are strongly bound to the resistant components of the soil matrix. The percentage in the residual fraction ranged from 9.41% (tin) to 99.42% (aluminium). The heavy metals geoaccumulation index for the site ranged from 0 (no contamination) to 6 (extremely contaminated). The cancer risk ranged from 6.17E-13 to 7.77E-05 and 2.73E-12 to 4.64E-04 for adults and children, respectively. Discussion. Cancer risk and non-cancer risk (hazard index) assessment showed that arsenic poses a higher risk in adults and children compared to other metals through the dermal exposure route. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests