Moringa oleifera Ameliorates Age-Related Memory Decline and Increases Endogenous Antioxidant Response in Drosophila melanogaster Exposed to Stress

Age-related dementia has been estimated to double every 20 years. Despite the nutritional value of Moringa oleifera Lam., its effect on age-related memory decline and its anti-ageing bioactive fractions are yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the crude methanol leaves extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (MEMO) and its different fractions were screened for anti-ageing bioactivity in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster w1118 whiteflies. A day-old virgin flies were reared in food supplemented with different concentrations of the methanol leaves extract of Moringa oleifera at 1, 2, and 5mg/ml respectively. A sequential bioassay-guided fractionation approach was subsequently adopted. Treated flies were subjected to lifespan, reproductive performance, climbing, memory and oxidative stress resistance assays according to established protocols. There was a dose-dependent effect of the leaves extract on lifespan, reproductive performance, climbing activity and oxidative stress resistance as age progressed (P < 0.05). Mean survival times of treated male and female flies increased by 12.3±1.2, 15.5±1.0 and 26.6±0.4%, and 12.0±1.1, 17.5±0.8 and 24.3±0.8% respectively, relative to the control. There was a significant increase in memory scores of the 50-day old aged flies in the 5mg/ml group P < 0.0001. The Moringa Ethyl acetate (EA) fraction F2 gave the highest anti-ageing bioactivity in the flies (P < 0.05). The leaves extract showed an ameliorative effect on age-related memory decline and an increase in oxidative stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster w1118 white flies without the commonly found adverse effect in reproductive performance

An Empirical Analysis of the Contribution of Agricultural Sector to Nigerian Gross Domestic Product: Implications for Economic Development

The main focus of this study was Nigerian economy and agricultural contribution. The approach used for this research was mainly desk study, data collection from secondary origin. Internet resources were also consulted. Data available were analyzed using tools such as descriptive statistics and inferential analysis such unit root test- stationarity test, co integration regression and error correction model (ECM) were performed. Generally, the descriptive statistics shown Nigerian economy had grown over the period of 32 years and this is obvious in the wider gap between the minimum and maximum values of the GDP and agricultural output respectively. The unit root test results shows that the GDP and Agric. Output variables are stationary at level while inflation is stationary at first difference. The coefficient of R2 was about 0.96 and the coefficient of agricultural output was found positive and statistically significant at 1% level. The coefficient of ECM (u-1) was significant at 1% level and this implies that GDP co-integrated with agricultural output and inflation. Keywords:Economic Development, Nigerian Gross Domestic Product and Agricultural Sector

Optimization of pectinase production by Aspergillus niger using central composite design

Pectinases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of pectin. Pectinase producing Aspergillus niger was obtained from a five-day old Eba (Cassava flakes). Response surface methodology was used for optimizing the process of the pectinase produced. Four independent variables which are, temperature, pH, substrate concentration and time of Heating at  70oC were used to optimize the significant correlation between the effects of the variables on pectinase production. A second-order polynomial was fitted to data and validated by ANOVA. The results revealed maximum pectinase production at pH 6.0, 50oC Temperature, 0.02% substrate concentration and the enzyme lost all its activity within 7 min of heating at 70oC. The study revealed that optimization of pectinase through RSM could improve the enzymatic characteristics and yield of the enzyme. The models used were highly significant with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.901Keywords: Pectinase; Aspergillus niger; Response Surface Methodology; Central Composite Desig

Burden of lymphedema in long-term breast cancer survivors by race and age

Background: Risk assessment for breast cancer–related lymphedema has emphasized upper-limb symptoms and treatment-related risk factors. This article examined breast cancer–related lymphedema after surgery, overall and in association with broader demographic and clinical features. Methods: The Carolina Breast Cancer Study phase 3 followed participants for breast cancer–related lymphedema from baseline (on average, 5 months after breast cancer diagnosis) to 7 years after diagnosis. Among 2645 participants, 552 self-reported lymphedema cases were identified. Time-to-lymphedema curves and inverse probability weighted conditional Cox proportional hazards model were used to evaluate whether demographics and clinical features were associated with breast cancer–related lymphedema. Results: Point prevalence of breast cancer–related lymphedema was 6.8% at baseline, and 19.9% and 23.8% at 2 and 7 years after diagnosis, respectively. Most cases had lymphedema in the arm (88%-93%), whereas 14% to 27% presented in the trunk and/or breast. Beginning approximately 10 months after diagnosis, younger Black women had the highest risk of breast cancer–related lymphedema and older non-Black women had the lowest risk. Positive lymph node status, larger tumor size (>5 cm), and estrogen receptor–negative breast cancer, as well as established risk factors such as higher body mass index, removal of more than five lymph nodes, mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, were significantly associated with increased hazard (1.5- to 3.5-fold) of lymphedema. Conclusions: Findings highlight that hazard of breast cancer–related lymphedema differs by demographic characteristics and clinical features. These factors could be used to identify those at greatest need of lymphedema prevention and early intervention. Lay summary: In this study, the aim was to investigate breast cancer–related lymphedema (BCRL) burden. This study found that risk of BCRL differs by race, age, and other characteristics

Anti-proliferative and cytotoxic properties of Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) stem bark

An investigation was conducted into the anti-proliferative effect on guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor) root radicle and cytotoxicity on tadpoles (Raniceps ranninus) of methanol extract and solvent fractions of Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) stem bark reputed in African traditional  medicine for various purposes including treatment of tumours. The methanol extract and solvent fractions at 0.25 – 5.0 mg/ml gave significant  decreases in mean radicle length of guinea corn root radicle (anti-proliferative effect) which was concentration-dependent. Only the chloroform (61.5-83.3%) and ethyl acetate (65.7-71.7%) fractions, showed promising growth inhibitory effects on root radicle at the highest concentration of 5 mg/ml. On tadpole cytotoxicity, chloroform fraction, tested at the highest concentration of 20 mg/ml, resulted in complete tadpole mortality equivalent to that of the positive control, chloramphenicol tested at 0.5 mg/ml. S. mombin (chloroform fraction > aqueous fraction > ethyl acetate fraction, LC50 5.1 – 8.5 mg/ml) showed promising antitumour potential. Data reported herein indicate that S. mombin is a potent cytotoxic and anti-proliferative plant and corroborate the folkloric use of the plant in the treatment of tumour-related diseases. Key words: Spondias mombin, anti-proliferative activity, guinea corn seeds, cytotoxicity, tadpole

EXPERIMENTAL OPTIMIZATION OF BIO-OIL YIELD FROM COCONUT SHELL PYROLYSIS USING BOX BEHNKEN DESIGN.

Pyrolysis of coconut shell for maximum yield of bio- oil in a fixed bed reactor was investigated in this study. Box Behnken design of experiment in the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the effect of temperature (400, 500 and 600oC), reaction time (5, 10 and 25 minutes) and feed particle size (6, 9.5 and 13 mm) on the yield of bio-oil. RSM was used to estimate the optimum conditions for maximum yield of bio-oil. Preliminary pyrolysis experiment showed that bio-oil increased with temperature up to 500oC where it was thermally decomposed into gas and then reduced to minimum. Other pyrolytic products (char and gas) were also significantly influenced by temperature, time and feed particle size. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the model of bio-oil yield in terms of temperature, time and size was 0.9893 at p < 0.05. The maximum bio-oil yield was 47.00% at 486.67 oC, 22.78 minutes and 6.78 mm and these was experimentally verified. The pyrolysis oil obtained at these optimum process conditions was analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and the oil yield obtained agreed with the predicted value with percentage absolute error of 0.85%

Cardiovascular determinants of renal dysfunction among children and adolescents in South West Nigeria

Background: New evidences reveal significant association of cardiovascular risk factors to development of chronic kidney disease among children and adolescents but there is paucity of data from Africa. Objectives: We examined the association of cardiovascular risk factors to renal dysfunction among Nigerian pediatric subjects. Materials and method: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of pediatrics aged 2 to 17 years. Blood pressure, body mass index, serum lipids and creatinine were determined. Their glomerular filtration rate was calculated using the revised Schwartz equation. Data was analyzed with SPSS 20. Test of association was by Chi square at P <0.05. Results: We studied 114 children and adolescents. There were 55 (48.2%) males and 59 (51.8%) females with mean age of 8.99±4.26 years. There were 68 (53.5%) children and 53 adolescents (46.5%). Four (3.5%) subjects had proteinuria ≥1+. Renal dysfunction (eGFR <60ml/ min/1.73m2) was found among 9 (7.9%) participants. Renal dysfunction was higher among children than adolescents (13.1% v 1.9%) (p = 0.027). The presence and clustering of risk factors were higher among subjects with renal dysfunction (p value 0.466, 95% CI 0.19-28.3). Low HDL-c (44.4%), prehypertension(22.2%) and overweight (22.2%) were the most prevalent risk factors among those with renal dysfunction. Only age demonstrated relationship to renal dysfunction in terms of mean difference (p value 0.007, 95% CI, 1.125-6.818). Conclusions: The prevalence and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors is higher among children with renal dysfunction. Age showed association  to renal dysfunction. Dyslipidemia and high body mass have propensity to influence the development of pediatric CKD. Keywords: Cardiovascular risk factors, renal dysfunction, association, pediatrics, Nigeria, Africa

A Cross Sectional Analysis of Farm-Size Productivity Relationship in African Agriculture Evidence from Maize Farming Households in Nigeria

This paper examines the farm size and productivity relationship using data from Nigeria. The household data used has been drawn from a baseline survey conducted in Nigeria and financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations (BMGF).The relationship between farm size and productivity has long been a topic of debate in development economics. Using a cross sectional baseline data, we aimed at examining the relationship between maize yield and farm size across the selected agro-ecological zones. Specifically, it aimed at investigating the farm size–productivity relationship and its underlying determinants for maize producers in Nigeria. Findings from this study indicate that productivity measures are consistently highest among farms small farms, next highest among medium, and lowest among large farms. Gross profit per hectare and net profit per hectare on small farms are over 15% higher and 40% respectively higher than medium and large farms. The study further reveal a strong negative relationship between the value of output per hectare and own cultivated area with a doubling in cultivated area associated with a 35% or 98% decrease in the value of crop output per unit of cultivated land at the holding- or plot-level, respectively. We therefore recommended that farm size– productivity relationship and its determinants in developing countries like Nigeria should continue to be of interest to policy makers seeking to resolve the small-sized farm issue

Contrasting physical activity patterns in children and adolescents living in differing environments in the UK

Aims: There is evidence for lower physical activity (PA) in rural adults; it is important to evaluate how the environment influences the PA of children and adolescents. Methods: We compared the PA of 6485 English 10—15.9 year olds according to two systems for classifying the immediate environment. System one compared urban and rural areas. System two compared urban, town and fringe, and rural areas. Analyses were carried out separately for children (&lt;13 years) and adolescents (&gt;13 years). Results: Rural children were more active than those from urban areas (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.15—1.66) as were adolescents (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.11—1.51). Using trilateral division, children were more active if they lived in town and fringe (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.03—1.67) or rural (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.14—1.84) areas compared with urban areas. Adolescents from town and fringe areas were more active than urban dwellers (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.24—1.81). Rural adolescents’ PA did not differ from urban dwellers’. Conclusions: Rural environments support PA in children but not that of adolescents. Town and fringe areas with mixed elements of rural and urban land use appear to facilitate and sustain PA in both children and adolescents. </jats:p