Evaluation of the toxicity of cyanogens in a commonly consumed Nigeria legume pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seed and its biochemical effects in rabbits

The effect of a commonly consumed Nigeria legume pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seeds with high cyanogen concentration on some important biochemical parameters and haemoglobin concentration in newZealand rabbits was investigated over a period of 72 hours. Quantitative analysis of the legume seed revealed that it has in mg/100g dry weight 39.3+1.30 cyanogenic glycosides, 11.57+1.20 phytate, 28.58+1.02 oxalate and 3.80+0.01 Tiu/100g dry weight typsin inhibitor respectively. Analysis of the serum and urine samples from test and control rabbits indicated that there was no significant difference (p£ 0.05) in the concentrations of total protein, bilirubin, inorganic phosphate and creatinine. There was a slight decrease in the activities of alkalinephosphatase. However, the activities of serum transaminases: alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) as well as cyanide concentration increased significantly (P£±0.05). Cyanide concentration in the serum increased from 5 to 27 mg/l and that in the urine from 3.5 to 26mg/l in the rabbits fed with commercial feed when compared to those fed with Cajanus cajan formulated feed. The study revealed that consumption of Cajanus cajan seed made pulses occasionally would not result to cyanide toxicity

Microbiological and physico-chemical quality of Aba river polluted with effluents from a bottling company

The bacteriological and Physico-chemical qualities of Aba River were investigated to assess the extent of pollution of the water due to effluent discharges from a nearby bottling company. Effluent discharge influenced the microbiological and physico-chemical properties of the river. The total microbial population counts ranged from 0.015x105 cfu/ml to 4.7x105 cfu/ml and 0.11x103 cfu/ml to 4.06x103 cfu/ml for bacterial and fungal isolates respectively. Micro-organisms isolated included Mucor sp, Rhizopus sp, Penicillium sp, Aspergillus sp, Klebsiella sp, Arthrobacter sp, Micrococcus sp, Staphylococcus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Bacillus sp and Escherichia coli. Further studies revealed that the values of some physico-chemical parameters of the river were higher than the WHO tolerant levels for typical surface water. Others fell within the WHO acceptable limits. Upstream, discharge point and downstream values stood at pH (5.86; 8.69; 5.72); temperature (22.8; 28.8; 24.00C); TDS (2.59; 18.8; 2.10); TSS (1.87; 8.89; 1.34); BOD5 (6.71; 6.79; 6.68) COD (13.70; 716; 15.68); DO (6.71; 6.70: 6.98;) nitrate (0.69; 4.68: 0.73); total alkalinity (11.3; 24:20; 11.64); conductivity (14;8; 31.68; 4.11) and turbidity (9.41; 121; 4.23) respectively. These results show that effluents from the bottling company pollute the Aba River and may limit its uses for specific purposes. International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 388-39

Cervical spine cord injury in pregnancy. Conservative management of 3 consecutive cases in Ibadan, Nigeria

Study design A prospective study of 3 patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Objectives To determine the effect of spinal cord injury and treatment with Gardner-Wells\' Tong traction on pregnancy, labour and parturition; and ascertain the effectiveness and safety of this conservative form of management in pregnancy. Setting The patients were admitted and managed between September 2002 and May 2004, in the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria - the major referral Centre in neurological diseases for about a quarter to a third of Nigeria\'s population. Methods From the point of admission into our Emergency Unit, data on each patient was documented prospectively until discharge to the out-patient clinic where each of them was followed up at appointed intervals. These data were then analyzed and compared with reports in literature. Results All the patients had good outcome from the conservative management as measured by complete neurological recovery, uneventful pregnancy and normal parturition. They however, seem to be disposed to pre-term labour, without being aware of the labour pains. Conclusion Spinal cord injury in pregnancy could be successfully manage with Gardner-Wells\' Tong traction without deleterious effects on pregnancy and parturition, but appears to induce pre-term labour, associated with regional analgesia for labour pains. Etude prospecitve de 3 patientes présentant un traumatisme du rachis cervical au cours du 3ème trimestre de la grossesse. Déterminer les effets du traumatisme rachi-médullaire au cours d\'un traitement par traction cervicale de Gardner-Well dutant le travail et l\'accouchement. Les patientes ont été admises entre septembre 2002 et mai 2004 au centre hospitalier et universitaire d\'Ibadan, Nigeria, centre réferent neurochirurgical pour environ le tiers voire la moitié de la population du Nigéria. Les données cliniques et paracliniques ont été recueillies de l\'admission jusqu\'à la sortie et au cours des consultations de contrôle puis analysées par rapport aux observations de la littérature. Tous les patients ont eu une évolution favorable avec le traitement conservateur que nous avons adopté, avec une récupération neurologique complète, une absence d\'événement indésirable lors du travail, de l\'accouchent et des suites de couches. Keywords: Cervical spinal cord. Gardner-Wells\' Tongs traction. Third trimester gestationAfrican Journal of Neurological Sciences Vol. 25 (2) 2006: pp. 6-1

Conservative Management Of Third Trimester Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using Gardner-Wells\' Tongs Traction

Spinal cord injury, though an important cause of morbidity appears to be uncommon in pregnant women or perhaps, has not been accurately documented among them. Superimposed on the many impairments resulting from spinal cord injury is the presence of the foetus in the womb, which in itself normally brings about intense physiological alterations in the patient. Despite the complexities, neither the pregnancy nor the spinal cord injury needs jeopardize the optimal care of the other as long as the standard protocols are followed. In the past 10 years, the University college Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria treated approximately 900 spinal cord injury patients, and only 3 of these were pregnant-an incidence of 0.30 per 90 patients per year, or 0.33%. We report here, the conservative management of one of these pregnant patients using the Gardner-Wells\' tongs traction, resulting in normal parturition and full neurological recovery. Key Words: Spinal cord injury, Third trimester pregnancy, Gardner-Wells\' tongs traction Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol 8(1) 2005: 46-5