Clinical Features and Pattern of Presentation of Breast Diseases in Surgical Outpatient Clinic of a Suburban Tertiary Hospital in South-West Nigeria

Objective: To characterize the clinical features and pattern of presentation of breast diseases as observed in our practice. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of 121 consecutive patients with breast complaints presenting in our Surgical Outpatient Clinics. The relevant data were collected by two surgeons using the prescribed forms and was analyzed using Epi Info 2003, Mann–Whitney (test of two groups) Chi-squared and Fishers exact test was used to compare parameters of benign and malignant groups. P value <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: One hundred and nineteen patients were females, two were males. The age range was 14–70 years. Forty two (34.7%) patients were in the 21–30 year age group. The commonest symptoms were breast lump in 111 (91.7%) patients, and breast pain in 28 (23.1%) patients. Breast pain was a significant presenting complaint in patients with breast malignancy (P=.026). On clinical examination 103 (85.1%) patients had palpable lumps, and seven patients were normal. Forty four patients (36.3%) had malignant disease, seventy patients (57.8%) had benign breast diseases and seven were normal. Fifty nine of the 70 benign diseases were fibroadenoma. One hundred and three patients (85%) had appropriate therapy, while 18 patients (14.8%), including eight with malignant disease absconded. Conclusion: In the study, a breast lump was the commonest clinical feature of breast disease. Over 60% of these were benign. Breast pain was a statistically significant presentation in patients with malignant breast disease. One in seven of the patients absconded.Keywords: Breast lumps, breast malignancy, breast pain, fibroadenomaNigerian Journal of Surgery, Jan-Jun 2012 | Volume 18 | Issue

Systematic study of aqueous monoethanolamine-based CO2 capture process: model development and process improvement

In this paper, we present improvements to postcombustion capture (PCC) processes based on aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA). First, a rigorous, rate-based model of the carbon dioxide (CO2) capture process from flue gas by aqueous MEA was developed using Aspen Plus, and validated against results from the PCC pilot plant trials located at the coal-fired Tarong power station in Queensland, Australia. The model satisfactorily predicted the comprehensive experimental results from CO2 absorption and CO2 stripping process. The model was then employed to guide the systematic study of the MEA-based CO2 capture process for the reduction in regeneration energy penalty through parameter optimization and process modification. Important process parameters such as MEA concentration, lean CO2 loading, lean temperature, and stripper pressure were optimized. The process modifications were investigated, which included the absorber intercooling, rich-split, and stripper interheating processes. The minimum regeneration energy obtained from the combined parameter optimization and process modification was 3.1 MJ/kg CO2. This study suggests that the combination of a validated rate-based model and process simulation can be used as an effective tool to guide sophisticated process plant, equipment design and process improvement

Comparative antioxidant activity, total phenol and total flavonoid contents of two Nigerian ocimum species

Antioxidants are compounds which act as a major defense against oxidative stress caused by free radicals. In this study, a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant properties, phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn and Ocimum canum Sims was carried out. Crude extracts of both plants were obtained by maceration of powdered plant materials in methanol (80%) for 24hrs. The phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using standard methods while the antioxidant capacities were evaluated using six different in vitro radical scavenging assays: total antioxidant potential, reductive potential, I, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation inhibition, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging activity. The total phenolic content in O. gratissimum and O. canum were found to be 32.66 ± 6.21 and 17.19 ± 2.54 mg GAE/g dw while total flavonoid content gave 1.94 ± 0.23 and 0.67 ± 0.01 mg QUE/g dw, respectively. Both extracts had effective reductive potential as well as exhibited strong total antioxidant capacity with increasing concentration of extract. Comparatively, O. gratissimum exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) higher capacity to quench the DPPH free radical with IC50 value of 26.01 ± 3.2 µg/ml than O. canum, which has an IC50 value of 60.45 ± 5.22 µg/m. O. gratissimum also significantly inhibited membrane lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical formation with IC50 of 99.37 ± 8.56 µg/ml and 465.33 ± 21.62 µg/ml, respectively while O. canum correspondingly gave IC50 values of 447.5 ± 35.61 µg/ml and 868.16 ± 43.05 µg/ml. In the nitric oxide scavenging activity, however, O. canum showed a stronger inhibitory effect than O. gratissimum as indicated by their IC50 values of 277.22 ± 15.09 µg/ml and 731 ± 56.99 µg/ml, respectively. These activities are however several folds lower than those of butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), ascorbic acid and quercetin used as antioxidant standards. The results demonstrate that O. gratissimum has greater antioxidant capacity than O. canum because of its relatively higher radical scavenging activity in all antiradical tests carried out except the nitric acid scavenging test and higher contents of flavonoid and phenolic compounds. O. gratissimum is therefore more beneficial therapeutically than O. canum since it provides better defense against free radical induced oxidative stress, and this attribute probably explains its relative preference in ethnomedicine for both culinary and medicinal purposes amongst the Ocimum species widely cultivated in South Western Nigeria

Lobster sea cage farming and its influence on phytoplankton diversity in evolving aquatic environments

Assessing the ecological impact of sea cage farming on phytoplankton diversity and water quality is crucial for sustainable cage culture production. Despite previous attempts, conclusive insights into these changes remain elusive. Our study focuses on the ecological impact of spiny lobster (Panulirus polyphagus) sea cage farming on water quality changes, particularly phytoplankton species and diversity. Study was conducted of for I year period (September 2020 to August 2021) at Veraval in Northwest coast of India, where spiny lobster capture-based aquaculture is being practiced. Identification of 47 phytoplankton species from 41 genera showcased dominance by Bacillariophyceae (76.5%) and Dinophyceae (23.5%). Phytoplankton diversity (Shannon) analysis revealed a decline during the cage culture period (H'=3.19) at the experimental site, in contrast to the reference location (H'=3.45). Total Suspended Solids (TSS) were recorded to significantly impacted diversity and abundance (P :5 0.05). Key species positively correlated with TSS included Chaetoceros sp., Cyclotella sp., Rhizosolenia robusta, Skeletonema costatum, Thallassiophyxix palmeriana, Navicula sp., and Thallasiothrix ft'auerifeldii. Conversely, Biddulphia sinensis, Coscinodiscus excentricus, Ditylum brightwelli, Lithodesmium sp., Rhizosolenia alata, and six others exhibited negative correlations. Understanding the impact of phytoplankton abundance on the sea cage culture site is crucial, as it significantly influences the ecosystem in which the mariculture activity been carriedout. The study emphasizes the need for meticulous assessments plankton diversity before intensifying sea cage farming activities for sustainable mariculture development

Does it make economic sense! Capturing the bio-economic dimensions of Lobster farming in Sea cages

Sea cage farming of lobsters in India has undergone a decadal transformation in terms of technological and biological innovations. However, its economic interface has always been underrepresented. As production systems gather momentum across Spatio-temporal boundaries, farmers are confronted with problems over how best to allocate and regulate technical, biological, financial information resources to the system so as to arrive a tangible tradeoff between investments made, managerial decisions and maximum economic returns. In this context, a decision support economic forecast model has been developed to evaluate the economic dynamics of lobster farming in sea cages. By revisiting the farming practice inputs, outcomes and possible risks, we use a 10-year span of temporal model, which simulated the performance of the culture system in response to biological, economic and technical parameters acting in tandem.The propensities of a profitable venture were brighter when two crop cycles were undertaken annually since the IRR increases by 18.5% from single to two crop scenarios. There exists only an 8.9% variation when farming strategy shifts from two to three crop cycles/year. The model further captures that, the payback period of 2.04 years in the two-crop cycle whereas it is only 6.8 months in a three-crop cycle. But at the same time the two-crop cycle is observed to generate an increase of 276% in net profits in stark contrast to only a marginal increase of 44.2% in a three-crop scenario. The developed model and simulation scenarios could aid in effective enterprise decisionsto establish their strategies in support of the expansion of lobster farming in sea cages

Techno-Economic performance of Spiny Lobster Mariculture in Tropical Sea Cages along Gujarat, Northwest Coast, India

The rising demand for spiny lobsters globally has sparked interest in mariculture, especially capture-based mariculture (CBM) practiced by coastal communities. In our empirical analysis, peer-reviewed published data has been synthesized and used to assess the economic interactions of CBM of spiny lobster in open sea cages. Financial, biological, and technical cost structures were assessed for viability of the culture system. The enterprise was estimated to generate USO $3,605.04 in revenue annually. The Net Present Value (NPV) was datamined to be USO$1,226.17, with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of up to 33%. A net profit sensitivity test was undertaken, demonstrating that cage production capacity versus harvest ratio significantly influences profit sensitivity. In contrast, the impact of seed and feed costs on the profitability of lobster culture was comparatively lower. However, sole dependency on natural seeds is setback and making entire farming enterprise more vulnerable. Upon the results, a few cultivation strategies have been developed for CBM to be profitable and present study could help in developing adapting management plans for successful lobster fanning enterprise

GIS based site selection and Marine Spatial Planning: A step towards sustainable seaweed farming

Seaweeds are globally expanding due to increasing demand and the various livelihood opportunities they provide for local communities. Apart from their industrial applications, seaweeds are a vital dietary component in many countries. India, through its seaweed mission, aims to elevate national seaweed production from 30,000 to 11 million tonnes by 2025. However, the growth of seaweed farming in India faces several challenges, particularly on robust site selection and assignment process. This factor significantly impacts the economic returns and viability of the farming system and also for entrepreneurship investments. Spatial planning for seaweed fanning sites, aided by advanced GIS-based technology, proved instrumental in successful planning before the initiation of cultivation process. Conducting a preliminary site selection survey across all maritime states of India, JCAR-CMFRJ identified 23,970 hectares suitable as potential seaweed farming sites. Gujarat and Tamil Nadu possess over 10,000 and 5,000 hectares respectively as potential areas for seaweed farming. Within Gujarat, the best-suited sites for seaweed farming were demarcated along Devbhumi Dwaraka, followed by Gir-Sonmath and Katchch. The ground truth data were digitized on a GIS platfonn to support marine spatial planning for seaweed fanning activities. To further aid the stakeholders, a dedicated GIS-based open-access portal highlighting the most suitable locations for seaweed fanning for the country was developed and made available in the public domain. Introducing a novel spatial planning framework for seaweed mariculture activities in territorial waters is crucial for sustainable sea space management. This preliminary plan can guide towards conflicts resolution, seaweed mariculture policy development and legislation in maritime states, serving as a foundation for India's broader marine spatial planning initiatives. The adaptable concept on MSP on seaweed mariculture is relevant and essential to regions with diverse techno-scientific and sociopolitical scenarios

Finding the critical temperature regime and thermal preference of Silver Pompano, Trachinotus blochii (lacepède, 1801) for evaluating the species mariculture potential

Due to the prevalence of diverse climatic zones and seasons along the Indian subcontinent, it is important to study the temperature influence on the performance of candidate mariculture species namely silver pompano Trachinotus blochii, which is one of the most promising among cultivable marine finfish species having a potential to catalyze both marine and brackish water mariculture sector

The Alvarado score for predicting acute appendicitis: a systematic review

Background: The Alvarado score can be used to stratify patients with symptoms of suspected appendicitis; the validity of the score in certain patient groups and at different cut points is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the discrimination (diagnostic accuracy) and calibration performance of the Alvarado score. Methods: A systematic search of validation studies in Medline, Embase, DARE and The Cochrane library was performed up to April 2011. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the score at the two cut-off points: score of 5 (1 to 4 vs. 5 to 10) and score of 7 (1 to 6 vs. 7 to 10). Calibration was analysed across low (1 to 4), intermediate (5 to 6) and high (7 to 10) risk strata. The analysis focused on three sub-groups: men, women and children. Results: Forty-two studies were included in the review. In terms of diagnostic accuracy, the cut-point of 5 was good at 'ruling out' admission for appendicitis (sensitivity 99% overall, 96% men, 99% woman, 99% children). At the cut-point of 7, recommended for 'ruling in' appendicitis and progression to surgery, the score performed poorly in each subgroup (specificity overall 81%, men 57%, woman 73%, children 76%). The Alvarado score is well calibrated in men across all risk strata (low RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.28; intermediate 1.09, 0.86 to 1.37 and high 1.02, 0.97 to 1.08). The score over-predicts the probability of appendicitis in children in the intermediate and high risk groups and in women across all risk strata. Conclusions: The Alvarado score is a useful diagnostic 'rule out' score at a cut point of 5 for all patient groups. The score is well calibrated in men, inconsistent in children and over-predicts the probability of appendicitis in women across all strata of risk