Determinants of Land Management Practices among Food Crop Farmers in North Central Nigeria

The study examines the factors influencing the use of Land Management practices among food crop farmers in North central, Nigeria. In so doing, Data were collected using a multistage sampling technique for the selection of states, local governments, communities/ villages and lastly farming household heads. Out of 400 questionnaire administered, only 345 with useful information were used for the analyses.  Factors influencing the use of land management and conservation practices by the farming household head were determined using multinomial logit model. Variables that significantly explain the use across different land management practices at different levels of significance were age of household head, levels of education, household size, value of livestock owned, off farm income, tenancy security, farm size, distance from plot to residence, distance from plot to the nearest market and distance from plot to all weathered road. Findings emanating from this study show that both traditional and modern land management practices coexist with the sampled household head giving multiple responses to their use. Classification under a particular land management practices implies the one that the household head has preference for, the determinants of which are combination of human, physical and financial capitals, others include parcel/ plot level factor as well as institutional factors. Keywords: Determinants, Land management, food crop farmers, North Central Nigeri

Self-Medicated Broad Spectrum Antibiotics in Rural Communities in Kano-Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abuse of antibiotics through self-treatment is of public health concern, especially in rural communities of low income countries. This study evaluates the prevalence of self-medication with five broad spectrum antibiotics (ampiclox, amoxillin, co-trimoxazole, metronidazole and tetracycline) commonly used to treat infections among non-health workers living in rural communities in Kano, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 300 randomly selected adult villagers was conducted with self-administered questionnaire. The prevalence of self-medication with at least one of the antibiotics was 70.3%. The most self-medicated antibiotic is ampiclox followed by tetracycline, amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole and metronidazole. Over 50% of the respondents purchased substandard antibiotics, which cost between $0.1-0.5 per dose from illegal drugs sellers in their communities. While only 29 respondents ever completed the dosage of the self-medicated antibiotics, about 22% took the antibiotics for 2 days and 41% took only 1 dose. A total of 154 (51.3%) self-used tetracycline and metronidazole for treating diarrhea, while 30.6% and 62% used ampiclox and amoxicillin to treat undiagnosed urinary tract infections and typhoid fever respectively. Only 33% have used antibiotics previously prescribed by health care workers, but the majority used them as a result of family and friends’ recommendations. Surprisingly, only 19 out of 300 believed that self-medication is a problem, but the majority (168) has contrary believe and 35 have no idea. Self-medication with five commonly used broad spectrum antibiotics is very high in rural communities and will require the development of a viable antibiotic stewardship programs to arrest the situation

Repellant Effect of Urine Insecticides Spray and NPK (15:15:15) Compound Fertilizer Application on the Growth and Yield of watermelon (Citrullu lonatus Thumb)

A field study conducted to investigate the Repellent effects urine insecticide spray and NPK(15:15:15) compound fertilizer on the growth and yield of watermelon (Citrullus Lonatus Thumb) in forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, (FRIN) experimental plot at Agbede, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State. Four regimes of Urine insecticide spray and four rate of NPK compound fertilizer application were factorially combined and laid out in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replication. Urine insecticide spray and fertilizer application did not affect the period of flowering and poddring significantly (P> 0.05). NPK compound fertilizer application significantly (P< 0.05) increase the number and length of main vines, pod number and yield while Vines insecticide spray significantly (P< 0.05) increase the length of the main virus and yield. In the rate of application, 200kg/ha NPK was optimum and this recommended for watermelon cultivation. Twice spray regimes of urine insecticide was recommended for watermelon cultivation

Evaluation of Antibacterial Potency of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Mentha piperita

The Mentha piperita is an aromatic perennial herb, a member of the family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) that produces creeping stolons, growing in the range of 45 to 80 cm tall. Fungal endophytes reside in the healthy plant tissues to produce several metabolic products such as plants growth hormones, anti-phagocytes to biological feeding, medicinal ingredients, and many products of biological activities. Hence, they are regarded as a reservoir of active metabolites for the development of novel drugs. Although, many endophytic fungi have been reported from different plants, reports on fungal endophytes from M. piperita are very limited. In this study, fungal endophytes from the leaf and stem of M. piperita were successfully evaluated for their potential antibacterial properties. Healthy leaves of the peppermint were prepared and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates for 5 to 7 days at 28 oC until fungal colonies appeared. Fifteen (15) fungal isolates were identified based on cultural and morphological characteristics and had six (6) rapid growing species, namely Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus arrhizus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternate which were selected and evaluated their crude metabolites against c using agar well diffusion method. The susceptibility study showed a remarkable in vitro antibacterial activity of the fungal crude metabolites against all the test bacteria which increased with an increased incubation time of 7, 14 and 21 days incubation. However, the fungi displayed maximal zone of growth inhibition after 21 days of incubation. In conclusion, fungal endophytes were isolated from M. piperita and evaluated in vitro antibacterial activity of their crude metabolites against the test bacterial isolates

Insecticidal Effect of Piper guineense Seed Powder in the Control of Beans Weevil Callosobruschus maculatus (Fabr)

Piper guineense commonly called Usira in Edo, Uziza in Igbo and IgherelIyere in Yoruba belongs to the family piperaceae. The efficiency of its seed powder in the control of callosobruschus maculatus (beans weevil) was investigated in the Science Laboratory Department of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State Nigeria. The seed powder was applied at the rate of O control, 15, 25, 50 and 100 (gkg-1). The result obtained shows that piper guineense seed powder at 25gkg-1 to 100gkg-1 were effective in the control of callosobrusus maculatus at 0.01% level of significance. It  was revealed that a very strong insecticidal action of I. piper guineense on beans weevil. However, the efficiency of this  insecticidal action on callosobruschus maculatus with increasing concentration of the plant material seed powder with  100gkg-1 giving the highest mortality rate, residual action and egg plugs of the weevils. This finding is critical to resource poor farmers in developing countries who will find this trial practicable and affordable. colourkasi hustlers. &nbsp

Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of the root bark extracts of Neocarya macrophylla

Neocarya macrophylla is a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional medicine in Northern Nigeria to treat asthma, skin infections, treatment of wounds, dysentery, pulmonary troubles and a number of inflammations, as ell as treatment of eye and ear infections. In this work, the root back extracts of Neocarya macrophylla were screened for phytochemical constituents as well as the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, an ear infection-causing pathogen. The results revealed that some of the common phytoconstituents are present in most of the extracts. The susceptibility test results gives inhibition range of 13, 13, 13, 14 and 13 mm for the crude extract (NM), methanol extract (NM4), ethyl acetate extract (NM3), chloroform extract (NM2) and n-hexame extract (NM1) respectively against test organism at 50 mg/ml. The test results also showed inhibition range of 12, 11, 11, 12 and 12 mm for NM, NM4, NM3, NM2 and NM1 respectively at 25 mg/ml. Lastly, the results showed inhibition range of 11, 10, 09, 10 and 11 mm for NM, NM4, NM3, NM2 and NM1 respectively at 12.5 mg/ml. This indicates that NM2 is the most active fraction against the organism at 50 mg/ml, and the least active fraction was NM3 at 12.5 mg/ml. The test results also show that the root back extract NM2 has the potentials of providing the active components that could be developed into new antibacterial agents.Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Escherichia coli, Neocarya macrophylla, Phytochemical

Molecular studies on extra-pulmonary tuberculosis among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria

In 2010 World Health Organization reported that, one third of the World population had tuberculosis, and it is among the infectious disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a successful pathogen that has evolved several mechanisms to manipulate the host immune response. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of extra-pulmonary TB in patient that visited DOTs clinic, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano Nigeria for treatment. A prospective cross-sectional laboratory based study that involved the use of questionnaire and consent/assent form prior to sample collection. Extra pulmonary tuberculosis samples were tested by MTB/RIF assay using GeneXpert. Descriptive statistics was used to analyzed the data obtained and results were given in charts and tables. Out of 71 samples analyzed along with positive control (H37RV) and molecular grade water as a negative control, 3 (4.2 %) samples had extra-pulmonary TB, among which 2 (2.8 %) were from urine samples and 1 (1.4 %) from acetic fluid. This study shows the existence of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in the study area; and the tuberculosis was sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is therefore important to make screening of patients with sign and symptoms of extra pulmonary tuberculosis using Xpert MTB/RIF assay as regular method for extra pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis. This will be achieved through enlightenment of the clinicians in our health facilities, our States and local governments should strengthen the laboratory capacity for diagnosis and make the services available and reachable to the patients who need them

Efek Rilmenidin Terhadap Tekanan Darah dan Laju Jantung pada Tikus Sprague-Dawley Terekspansi Volume Salin

This experiment sets out to examine the effect of riloteatidin on blood pressure SBP. Diastole blood pressure SBP reduction and heart rate (HR) on aecute salin volume expansion Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats. The animal were anaesthethised with a mixture of fluothane/O2 and thereafter unantained on chloralose urethame administrated I, v, via femoral vein. Changes in SBP, DBP, and HR were monitored using a grass transducter connected to lab VIEW data acquisition system on a Macintosh computer. Saline (0,9% w/v NaCl) was infused at 3ml/h and the experiment begun 2hr later. Following the collection of baseline data, bolus doses rilmenidine, 0, 100, 300, and 1000µg/kg body weight were administered 15 minutes before saline infusion was expanded, such the animal received 0,25% body weight min over 50 min. The data obtained was compared using 2 way ANOVA and was considered to be significant when P<0,05. The result showed that saline volume expansion on the SD rats reduced the lowering blood pressure and HR of rilmenidine. Keywords: Rilmenidin, Blood pressure, saline volume expansio

Environmental costs assessment for improved environmental-economic account for Indonesia

Industrial Ecolog

Sonografski prikaz dimenzija bubrega u bolesnika s esencijalnom hipertenzijom u sveučilišnoj bolnici Abubakar Tafawa Balewa u gradu Bauchi u Nigeriji

Introduction: Hypertension is one of the commonest non-communicable diseases worldwide; it is the second most common cause of end-stage renal disease. Objective: To evaluate the renal dimensions and volume of essential hypertension patients in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi and to compare the dimensions with that of apparently healthy volunteers. Materials and Methods: A total of two hundred and eleven individuals (comprising 121 females and 90 males) with essential hypertension attending an outpatient clinic in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, and an equal number of healthy volunteers (comprising of 172 females and 49 males) were studied as controls. Both the healthy volunteers and the Hypertensive patients’ renal length, renal width, antero-posterior diameter, and parenchymal thickness were assessed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0) was used for data analysis. Results: Study show the mean renal length for hypertensive patients to be 9.1 ± 0.79 cm and 9.1 ± 0.73 cm, the mean renal width of 3.5 ± 0.48 cm and 3.8 ± 0.68 cm, and mean renal volume of 87.22 ± 19.58 cm3 and 95.08 ± 22.93 cm3 for the right and left kidneys respectively. Results equally show statistically significant difference in anteroposterior diameter (p<0.05), parenchymal thickness (p<0.05) and renal volume (p<0.05) between the hypertensive group and the volunteer group for both right and left kidneys. Conclusion: This study has established baseline renal dimensions for hypertensive in our population (Bauchi Metropolis). The hypertensive subjects showed a decrease in renal anteroposterior diameter, parenchymal thickness and volume compared to control group.Uvod: Hipertenzija je jedna od najčešćih nezaraznih bolesti u svijetu; drugi je najčešći uzrok završnog stadija bubrežne bolesti. Cilj: Procijeniti dimenzije bubrega i bubrežni volumen kod hipertenzivnih bolesnika u Sveučilišnoj bolnici Abubakar Tafawa Balewa u gradu Bauchi i usporediti ih s dimenzijama kod naizgled zdravih ispitanika koji su se dobrovoljno javili za sudjelovanje u istraživanju. Materijali i metode: Uzorak se sastojao od dvjesto jedanaest ispitanika (121 žena i 90 muškaraca) koji boluju od esencijalne hipertenzije i na ambulantnom su liječenju u Sveučilišnoj bolnici Abubakar Tafawa Balewa u gradu Bauchi i jednakog broja zdravih ispitanika (172 žene i 49 muškaraca), koji su bili kontrolna skupina. Proučavana je duljina i širina bubrega, anteroposteriorni promjer i debljina parenhima kod ispitanika s hipertenzijom i kod zdravih ispitanika. Za analizu podataka primijenjen je statistički paket za društvene znanosti (SPSS verzija 20.0). Rezultati: Studija pokazuje da je prosječna dužina bubrega kod hipertenzivnih bolesnika 9,1 ± 0,79 cm i 9,1 ± 0,73 cm, prosječna bubrežna širina 3,5 ± 0,48 cm i 3,8 ± 0,68 cm, a prosječni bubrežni volumen 87,22 ± 19,58 cm3 i 95,08 ± 22,93 cm3 za desni i lijevi bubreg pojedinačno. Rezultati također pokazuju statistički značajnu razliku u anteroposteriornom promjeru (p < 0,05), debljini parenhima (p < 0,05) i bubrežnom volumenu (p < 0,05) između hipertenzivne skupine i kontrolne skupine za desni i lijevi bubreg. Zaključak: Ovom su studijom utvrđene osnovne bubrežne dimenzije kod hipertenzivnih bolesnika u populaciji grada Bauchi, glavnog grada Savezne države Bauchi u Nigeriji. Kod ispitanika koji boluju od hipertenzije ustanovljeno je smanjenje anteroposteriornog promjera bubrega, debljine parenhima i bubrežnog volumena u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom