Ethnoichthyological knowledge and perception in traditional medicine in Ondo and Lagos States, southwest Nigeria

Fish are an important source of food and commerce, and of immense benefit for their nutritional qualities and other various applications such as biopharmaceutical drugs, oil, rituals, festivals, ceremonies and leather. Ethnomedical applications of fish are most prevalent among the Yoruba clan of Nigeria in West Africa, and in other parts of the world. We review here knowledge of ethnoichthyology and applications in Lagos and Ondo states. One hundred and twenty participants (rural- and urban-based traditionalists, fish farmers, and herb sellers) were surveyed. Clarias species had the highest usage (48% of uses) followed by Malapterurus electricus (15%). Fish were used for healings, rituals, sacrifices, ceremonies and festivals. They were reported to be used with plants, inanimate objects and various odu ifa (incantations) based on their physical and spiritual endowments. Of 179 recipes, 23% were fish alone, while others used different parts of the fish with other materials.Keywords: odu/ ese ifa (ifa corpus), incantation, recipe

Mitotic index studies on edible cocoyams (Xanthosoma and Colocasia spp.)

Mitotic index studies were carried out on three cultivars of Xanthosoma and four cultivars of Colocasia. Young healthy roots (about 15 mm) were collected at 2 hourly intervals from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. Root tips were fixed in 1:3 ethanol : acetic acid for 24 h and stored in 70% ethanol prior to squashing in FLP orcein. Microscopic counts showed that the dynamics of mitosis varied slightly between the two groups of cultivars. The peak of metaphase remained between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm for most of cultivars butone (NCY 00Sa), which had its metaphase rising to a peak between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. This suggests that the best time to harvest root samples for optimum metaphase is immediately before 12:00 noo

Ultrasound prevalence of gallstone disease in diabetic patients at Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Gallstones (GS) in the gallbladder (GB) can be responsible for a whole spectrum of disease entities which may lead to a surgical emergency with high mortality. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a debilitating disease that affects all systems in the body, and literature documents a higher incidence of gallstone disease (GSD) and its complicationsin diabetics than in the non-diabetic population. Most local studies on the association between GS formation and DM have focused on type 2 diabetics. This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of GS in both type 1 and type 2 DM and elucidate the demographic and social factors associated with formation of GS in diabetic patients.Materials and Methods: Four hundred diabetic patients aged between 15 and 82 years had abdominal ultrasound to diagnose or exclude the presence of GS.Results: GS was found in 70 (17.5%) of the 400 patients. Positive cases had a male to female ratio of 3:4 and 59 (51.92%) were above the age of 40 years with type 2 DM. Body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m2 was seen in 56 (48.3%) patients; smoking and alcohol intake were insignificantly implicated. Jaundice was recorded in 8 (11.4%) while abdominal pain was in 24 (34.3%) patients, and 52 (74.3%) patients of those with GSD had had diabetes for more than 4 years.Conclusion: GSD in DM is influenced significantly by age, BMI, and duration of the disease, while gender, social factors, and parity do not influence as strong associated factors.Key words: Diabetes mellitus, gallstones, ultrasoun

Measuring the Hidden Aspects of Solar Magnetism

2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of astrophysical magnetic fields, when George Ellery Hale recorded the Zeeman splitting of spectral lines in sunspots. With the introduction of Babcock's photoelectric magnetograph it soon became clear that the Sun's magnetic field outside sunspots is extremely structured. The field strengths that were measured were found to get larger when the spatial resolution was improved. It was therefore necessary to come up with methods to go beyond the spatial resolution limit and diagnose the intrinsic magnetic-field properties without dependence on the quality of the telescope used. The line-ratio technique that was developed in the early 1970s revealed a picture where most flux that we see in magnetograms originates in highly bundled, kG fields with a tiny volume filling factor. This led to interpretations in terms of discrete, strong-field magnetic flux tubes embedded in a rather field-free medium, and a whole industry of flux tube models at increasing levels of sophistication. This magnetic-field paradigm has now been shattered with the advent of high-precision imaging polarimeters that allow us to apply the so-called "Second Solar Spectrum" to diagnose aspects of solar magnetism that have been hidden to Zeeman diagnostics. It is found that the bulk of the photospheric volume is seething with intermediately strong, tangled fields. In the new paradigm the field behaves like a fractal with a high degree of self-similarity, spanning about 8 orders of magnitude in scale size, down to scales of order 10 m.Comment: To appear in "Magnetic Coupling between the Interior and the Atmosphere of the Sun", eds. S.S. Hasan and R.J. Rutten, Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin, 200

Impact Of Polyparasitism On The Haemoglobin Values Of Primary School Children In Akpet Central Biasenigeria

The relationship between parasitic infections and development of anemia was investigated among pupils of Presbyterian primary school, and Government primary School Akpet Central in Biase Local Government Area, Cross River State of Nigeria. A total of 420 stool and corresponding blood samples were collected and examined for the presence of parasites and anemia respectively. The stool samples were examined using the direct smear and floatation techniques while haemoglobin was determined using the cynmethaemoglobin method. The result obtained revealed high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparun (65.0%, 273/420) and intestinal parasites (78.1%, 328/420) with the associated anemia. Ascaris lumbricoides was the commonest parasite seen (71.88%, 230/420), followed closely by hook worm (68.90%, 226/420). Infection with intestinal protozoa was few while no tape worm was seen. There was significant differences (

Major upper limb amputation after Snake Bite Gangrene

Major lower limb amputations following snake bite gangrene have been reported from the savannah belt of Nigeria. In bites delivered to the upperlimb, amputations are often of the digits (minor amputations). We report the case of a male farmer who had an above elbow amputation after a snake bite to the hand. Explanation for the amputation is proposed and need for prevention highlighted

Possible Abstraction Sites along Osun River Lower Course in Ogun and Lagos State, Nigeria For Sustainable Supply Of Potable Water

Water scarcity remains a major challenge in all the developing nations of the world; not because of paucity of surface water (rivers and streams) that could be abstracted for treatment, but, finding a suitable and sustainable abstraction site. The main objective of this research is to identify good locations, where water treatment plant could be sited along Osun River in Ogun and Lagos State for sustainable production of potable water. To achieve this, water quality of Osun River upstream Lekki lagoon was investigated at three sampling stations; Ogbere, Igbonla and Lekki. Water parameters such as physical (temperature, solids, turbidity) chemicals (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate, phosphate, chloride and sulphate, alkalinity, potassium, lead, chromium, iron) and bacteriological (feacal coliform) were determined using standard procedures. The results revealed that Ogbere and Igbonla stations are better locations where water could be abstracted from Osun River than Lekki stations due to low measured parameters (indicators of water pollution), which were within World Health Organization (WHO) acceptable limits. The findings also showed that while raw water abstraction from Osun River at Ogbere and Igbonla stations would require a conventional treatment, raw water from the Lekki lagoon (station) would require special treatment especially desalination due to high chloride and EC contents with expected cost implication

Effects of fodder conservation and ration formulation interventions on dairy performance in Kenya

Use of conserved forages and proper ration formulation has great potential to bridge the gap in dairy nutrition and reduce seasonal variations in milk yield. This study determined the effects of various fodder and ration formulation interventions on dairy farm performance in North Rift, Eastern, and Central regions of Kenya. Seventy-two farms were purposively selected as participating farms and assigned into six groups of twelve as follows: two groups on silage production, two groups on ration formulation, and two control groups having similar production systems and in the same geographical locations as the other groups. Data on daily dry matter feed intake and milk yield were recorded while laboratory analysis was done to determine milk butterfat and protein content. The data was analyzed using a multi-linear regression model to assess the relationship between independent and dependent variables. The results showed that farmers using feed rationing with advisory services had the highest average daily milk yield (19.7 kg/cow) compared to maize train silage (16.8 kg/cow) and those with silage support from Service Provider Enterprises (SPE) (13.3 kg/cow) (P<0.05). Daily dry matter feed intake/cow varied significantly across the interventions as well as feed utilization efficiency (P<0.05). Milk butterfat and milk protein content did not differ (P>0.05) across the interventions. In conclusion, use of maize train silage and feed rationing with advisory services increased milk yield and reduced seasonal milk fluctuation. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(2): 76-83, December 202

Anti-oxidative influence of butylated hydroxytoluene on chilled semen of Red Sokoto bucks and consequential conception rates in does

The anti-oxidative influence of Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) in three extenders on chilled semen of red Sokoto bucks and conception rates in does was evaluated. Twenty matured red Sokoto bucks were selected for this study. Two ejaculates were collected from each buck per week for a period of 4 weeks. Semen was collected from bucks using a battery-operated electro-ejaculator for semen analyses. Volume, colour, gross motility, concentration and percentage live spermatozoa were examined. A total of 10 ejaculates were further collected weekly from 10 selected bucks from the previous twenty good semen quality for 8 weeks. Semen was extended in tris egg-yolk (TEY), citrate egg-yolk (CEY) and tris-coconut water (TCW) extenders in test tubes, containing BHT antioxidant to obtain 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mM/mL BHT. Sperm characteristics were determined at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours of storage. Twenty multiparous does divided into 3 groups (A, B and C), of 7, 7 and 6 does respectively. These does received 250 μg cloprostenol intramuscularly, twice, 11 days apart and insemination was conducted 48 hours after. Groups A, B and C were inseminated with semen stored for 72 hours containing 1.0 mM/mL of BHT extended in TEY, 1.0 mM/mL of BHT extended in CEY and 0.5 mM/mL of BHT extended in TCW respectively. Ultrasonography was used for pregnancy diagnoses 47 days after artificial insemination. From the findings of this study, it was concluded that semen of red Sokoto bucks stored in tris egg yolk + 1.0 mM/mL BHT and chilled for 72 hours had better semen quality and conception rates

Effective treatment with rituximab for the maintenance of remission in frequently relapsing minimal change disease

AIM: Treatment of frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent minimal change disease (MCD) in children and adults remains challenging. Glucocorticoids and/or other immunosuppressive agents are the mainstay of treatment, but patients often experience toxicity from prolonged exposure and may either become treatment dependent and/or resistant. Increasing evidence suggests that rituximab (RTX) can be a useful alternative to standard immunosuppression and allow withdrawal of maintenance immunosuppressants; however, data on optimal treatment regimens, long-term efficacy and safety are still limited. METHODS: We undertook a prospective study of RTX to allow immunosuppression minimization in 15 young adults with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, biopsy-proven MCD. All patients were in remission at the start of treatment and on a calcineurin inhibitor. Two doses of RTX (1 gr) were given 6 months apart. A subset of patients also received an additional dose 12 months later, in order to examine the benefit of re-treatment. Biochemical and clinical parameters were monitored over an extended follow-up period of up to 43 months. RESULTS: Median steroid-free survival after RTX was 25 months (range 4-34). Mean relapse frequency decreased from 2.60 ± 0.28 to 0.4 ± 0.19 (P < 0.001) after RTX. Seven relapses occurred, five of which (71%) when CD19 counts were greater than 100 µ. Immunoglobulin levels remained unchanged, and no major side effects were observed throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Rituximab therapy is effective at maintaining prolonged steroid-free remission and reducing relapse frequency in this group of patients. Our study lends further support for the role of RTX in the treatment of patients with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent MCD