Activation of Rat Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase by Taurine May be an Alternative Mechanism of Endotoxemic Injury Protection

Investigation of the effect of taurine on the hydrolysis of para-nitrophenylphosphate (p-NPP) by rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase (ALP), L-phenylalanine inhibition of ALP and the mechanism of ALP activation by taurine as well as its role in endotoxemic injury protection was carried out. Rat intestinal ALP was exposed to taurine, and L-phenylalanine at varying concentrations and periods of time. Substrate concentration-dependent kinetic analysis was carried out at 10 mM concentration of taurine and 5.17mM of p-NPP. The concentration dependent kinetic analysis of L-phenylalanine was also investigated at 60 mM. The partially purified rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity was also investigated in the presence of taurine. Their interactive effect on L-phenylalanine inhibition was also analyzed. Investigation of the effect of taurine on rat intestinal ALP hydrolysis of p-NPP revealed that taurine is an activator of intestinal ALP. At 10 mM taurine and 60 mM L-phenylalanine, taurine relieved L-phenylalanine inhibition of rat intestinal ALP. The effect of lipopolysaccharide in the absence and presence of taurine on ALP activity was also carried out in vivo. The kinetic analysis of the data from the in vivo study revealed that rat intestinal ALP activity is higher (12x10-3nmol -1min-1mg protein) in the presence of taurine and LPS when compared with the activity in the presence of LPS (9x10-3nmol-1min-1mg protein) or taurine (8.8x10-3nmol-1min-1mg protein) alone. From this study, it may be concluded that the activation of rat intestinal ALP by taurine may be one of the mechanisms of endotoxemic injury protection.Keywords: Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase, Taurine, Endotoxemic , Lipopolysaccharid

Introducing Misoprostol for the Treatment of Incomplete Abortion in Nigeria

Despite legal restriction, induced abortions and resulting complications are common in Nigeria. Misoprostol administration for incomplete abortion was introduced in 3 Nigerian hospitals. The feasibility of the hospitals, patient and provider acceptability were assessed using questionnaire and interview guides administered to 205 women and 17 providers respectively. Amongst the women, 194 (95%) were satisfied and very satisfied with misoprostol, 176 (86%) would choose misoprostol again if another incomplete abortion occurred and 191 (93%) would recommend it to another woman in a similar situation. Providers were highly satisfied with misoprostol. The ease of use and ability to redirect surgical resources to more complicated issues were positive features cited by them. The providers agreed that integration of misoprostol was straightforward and required few resources. Therefore, misoprostol for incomplete abortion is safe, efficacious and acceptable to providers and patients. In remote areas of Nigeria with limited post-abortion care (PAC), misoprostol administration is an important potential PAC treatment modality. Features of misoprostol-low cost, room temperature stability, and ease of introduction-render it an important treatment option, particularly in low resource and rural settings

Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Soil at E-waste Blazing Sites in Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

The evaluation of open blazing of electronic waste on the chemical composition of three different soil where e-waste were regularly being burnt with control samples at various distances away from each blazing site at computer village, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd and Cu from the three locations were found to be 120.3±0.4, 18.7±1.3, 90.3±0.4, 16.4±0.5 and 60.3±2.0 mg/kg respectively. There was gradual decrease in heavy metals concentrations at various distances away from each blazing site as the distances increase which suggested that there were leaching of these heavy metals from ewaste containing substances. Pearson correlation revealed that some of the heavy metals showed both positive and negative correlations with each other. When compared with standard values, only cadmium exceeded the tolerable limit recommended by European Union and USEPA. Thus, open blazing of e-waste contributed to the concentrations of these heavy metals in the soils

Ruptured false iliac artery aneurysm - a case report from Nigeria

A 23year old male Nigerian presented to the Nephrology unit of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria with features of chronic renal failure secondary to chronic glomerulonephritis. He was referred to the surgical department of the hospital on account of severe torrential uncontrollable bleeding from an infected cannulation site. He was maintained on regular hemodialysis but developed femoral triangle sepsis at the cannulation site and aneurysm of the external iliac artery. The aneurysm later ruptured with severe jet exsanguinations bleeding. Exploration revealed a-4cm rent in the external iliac artery that was sutured with 6/0 prolene, interrupted, using clamp and suture technique. Perfusion was satisfactory in the immediate post-operative period. The patient was transfused with 11 pints of blood within 12 hours and had an uneventful post-operative period. Keywords: Haemodialysis, False iliac artery aneurysm, Femoral triangle Sepsis, Nigeria African Health Sciences Vol. 5 (3) 2005: pp. 265-26

Misconceptions and current use of contraception among women of reproductive age in six major cities in Nigeria

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the determinants of family planning misconceptions and modern contraceptive use, and the influence of misconceptions on the use of modern contraceptive methods. Methods: We reviewed and analysed data collected between October 2010 and March 2011 among a representative household sample of 13,575 women of reproductive age (15?49 years) in six urban cities in Nigeria. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the predictors of misconceptions and current use of contraception and the association between misconceptions and modern contraceptive use. Results: Catholic women were significantly more likely to have misconceptions compared with Muslim women (? = 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58, 1.60; p .05). Women with lower misconception scores were significantly more likely to adopt and use modern contraception compared with those with high misconception scores (adjusted OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.92, 0.94; p <.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that programmatic efforts should be geared towards dispelling misconceptions by providing simple factual information related to the benefits of contraception and family planning.This work was supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the US Agency for International Development or the US Government.Scopu

Ruptured false iliac artery aneurysm - a case report from Nigeria

A 23year old male Nigerian presented to the Nephrology unit of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria with features of chronic renal failure secondary to chronic glomerulonephritis. He was referred to the surgical department of the hospital on account of severe torrential uncontrollable bleeding from an infected cannulation site. He was maintained on regular hemodialysis but developed femoral triangle sepsis at the cannulation site and aneurysm of the external iliac artery. The aneurysm later ruptured with severe jet exsanguinations bleeding. Exploration revealed a-4cm rent in the external iliac artery that was sutured with 6/0 prolene, interrupted, using clamp and suture technique. Perfusion was satisfactory in the immediate post-operative period. The patient was transfused with 11 pints of blood within 12 hours and had an uneventful post-operative period

EFFECTS ON THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MICROENTERPRISES IN AN INFORMAL ECONOMY: FURTHER EVIDENCE FROM THE OTA AREA, NIGERIA

This study examined the effects of business formality on microenterprises in an informal economy, with particular reference to the Ota area in Ogun State, Nigeria. This study area reflects the typical Nigerian business environment with all the characteristics of an informal economy. Data were collected using questionnaires from a sample of 200 microenterprises. The owners of 161 microenterprises responded (81 per cent response rate). The sampling frame for the survey consisted of microenterprises that employ no more than 10 workers. Five lines of businesses were identified for the survey. These included light manufacturing, trading, agro-allied, vocation and professional services. These businesses provided a good representation of the self-employed and small employers in the study area. The questionnaire comprised three sections: a socio-demographic profile in section A, the businesses characteristics of the microbusinesses in Section B, and the underlying factors that influence the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to generate income in section C. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. A probit model was used to estimate the identified variables. The results showed that most (69%) of the microenterprises surveyed were owned by males. The main business in the area was trading. The results also revealed that most (65%) of the enterprises have been in operation for more than five years. It was also discovered that the majority of the business owners had not registered their businesses with government agencies; instead, most of them had registered with local organizations. Few of them (35%) had licensed their businesses. Furthermore, the results showed that gender (coef. = 0.394, p < 0.01) and business focus (coef. = 0.297, p < 0.05) were significant factors determining the income generation potential of microenterprises. However, business type, business registration, licensing, age of business, educational level, and age of owners were not significant in determining the income generation of the firms. The study concluded that business formality (registration and licensing) has no significant effect on the income-generation potential of microenterprises in the Ota area, Nigeria

EFFECTS ON THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MICROENTERPRISES IN AN INFORMAL ECONOMY: FURTHER EVIDENCE FROM THE OTA AREA, NIGERIA

This study examined the effects of business formality on microenterprises in an informal economy, with particular reference to the Ota area in Ogun State, Nigeria. This study area reflects the typical Nigerian business environment with all the characteristics of an informal economy. Data were collected using questionnaires from a sample of 200 microenterprises. The owners of 161 microenterprises responded (81 per cent response rate). The sampling frame for the survey consisted of microenterprises that employ no more than 10 workers. Five lines of businesses were identified for the survey. These included light manufacturing, trading, agro-allied, vocation and professional services. These businesses provided a good representation of the self-employed and small employers in the study area. The questionnaire comprised three sections: a socio-demographic profile in section A, the businesses characteristics of the microbusinesses in Section B, and the underlying factors that influence the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to generate income in section C. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. A probit model was used to estimate the identified variables. The results showed that most (69%) of the microenterprises surveyed were owned by males. The main business in the area was trading. The results also revealed that most (65%) of the enterprises have been in operation for more than five years. It was also discovered that the majority of the business owners had not registered their businesses with government agencies; instead, most of them had registered with local organizations. Few of them (35%) had licensed their businesses. Furthermore, the results showed that gender (coef. = 0.394, p < 0.01) and business focus (coef. = 0.297, p < 0.05) were significant factors determining the income generation potential of microenterprises. However, business type, business registration, licensing, age of business, educational level, and age of owners were not significant in determining the income generation of the firms. The study concluded that business formality (registration and licensing) has no significant effect on the income-generation potential of microenterprises in the Ota area, Nigeri