Effect of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) powder on oxidative stability and sensory characteristics of broiler meat

Antioxidant potency of graded levels of tomato powder in cooked and raw broiler meat under refrigerated storage was evaluated and compared with that of Butylated Hydroxyl Anisole (BHA), a synthetic antioxidant. To a separate 200g of minced broiler meat, 0% (control), 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% of tomato powder were applied. A positive control was prepared with 0.15% of BHA in a separate 200g of minced broiler meat. Each sample was divided into 16 parts of 12.5g each. Eight of these were cooked in a microwave oven for 1/2 minutes while the other eight parts were left raw. The samples were packaged in different nylon bags, with labeling corresponding to the treatment applied and then stored in a refrigerator at 4°C. Oxidative stability of the cooked samples was monitored for 6 days at two-day intervals while that of raw samples was monitored for 9 days at three-day intervals. A forty-member team was constituted to form the taste panel and was instructed on the parameters to adjudge using a five point Hedonic scale. The result showed that all additives and BHA reduced lipid oxidation in broiler meat. This was shown by lower TBARS values in meat samples with additives compared to meat samples without additive. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the TBARS values of cooked and raw meat samples. There was a general increase in lipid oxidation as storage day progress. However, the increment was more pronounced in cooked meat samples than the raw meat samples. The result revealed that 0.5% and 1.5% tomato powder exhibited higher antioxidant potency (P<0.05) than BHA in the cooked and raw samples respectively. The control samples were the most susceptible to lipid oxidation. Sensory scores revealed that all levels of tomato powder improved the color, flavor, juiciness, tenderness and overall acceptability of broiler meat. Tomato powder could therefore, be used as a cheap, readily available and safe source of natural antioxidant to protect broiler meat from lipid oxidation and improve its sensory characteristics. Keywords: tomato, antioxidant, minced, broiler, BHA<African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 12 No.

4kUHD H264 Wireless Live Video Streaming Using CUDA

Ultrahigh definition video streaming has been explored in recent years. Most recently the possibility of 4kUHD video streaming over wireless 802.11n was presented, using preencoded video. Live encoding for streaming using x264 has proven to be very slow. The use of parallel encoding has been explored to speed up the process using CUDA. However there hasnot been a parallel implementation for video streaming. We therefore present for the first time a novel implementation of 4kUHD live encoding for streaming over a wireless network at low bitrate indoors, using CUDA for parallel H264 encoding. Our experimental results are used to verify our claim.</jats:p

Studies on the traditional methods of production of maize tuwo (a Nigerian non-fermented maize dumpling).

This study was carried out in order to identify the critical areas that could have potential influence on the quality characteristics of maize tuwo (a Nigerian nonfermented maize dumpling) and which might also serve as a basis for any technological improvement effort with respect to the product quality. Commercial producers of maize tuwo were interviewed and their production processes evaluated while samples (maize flour and tuwo) collected from them were respectively analyzed. The investigation revealed that white maize grains of different varieties were commonly being used for tuwo preparation and this has a potential of influencing product quality. The quality factors being used for assessing maize tuwo by the consumers were colour, texture (mouldability and swallowability) and taste.Other critical areas with potential influence on product quality were variation in flour production methods which are grit soaking and grit non-soaking methods and variation in particle size distribution of flour being used in tuwo preparation. Grit nonsoaking method was generally being adopted by most maize tuwo producers while the flour from grit soaking method was generally believed to give a better tuwo quality. Variation in the colour indices of maize flour samples was another critical area thatcould influence product quality. The lightness index (L*-value) of the flour ranged between 88.2 and 88.9 while the chroma (C-value) ranged between 13.3 and 15. There was also a variation in the softness index (textural quality) of maize tuwo. The softness index ranged between 17.8mm and 18.7mm immediately after cooling but ranged between 16.2mm and 17.5mm about nine hours after production. Another critical area that could influence tuwo quality was variation in flour/water ratiosinvolved in product preparation. The ratio ranged between 1:3.3 and 1:3.8. The conclusion made from the ingredient standardization effort was that the overall flour/water ratio for maize tuwo preparation should be 1:3.5. The sequential mixing of flour and water during maize tuwo preparation should also be as follows: initial slurry preparation (20 and 25% of the desired total flour quantity and water volume, respectively), water used in initial boiling (60% of total volume), flour added to thepap-like consistency (80% of total) and water added to the gel- like consistency (15% of total volume)

Characteristics of patients presenting with complications of abortion in a tertiary health facility in south-west Nigeria

Objectives: Abortion is associated with significant healthproblem with short- and long-term complications that affect the quality of life of those who are fortunate enough to escape mortality. This study evaluated the population of patients with complications of abortion, identified the abortion providers and the pattern of contraceptive usage in these patients managed in our hospital, and suggests strategies on the required heath intervention.Design: The design was a descriptive study of cases of abortions with complications.Setting and subjects: We reviewed all (225) cases of abortions with complications managed at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria, over a five-year period.Outcome measures: Records of patients managed for abortion-related complications were retrieved, data were extracted and analysis was carried out for socio-demographic factors and other abortion-related characteristics.Results: The study showed a more common occurrence of abortions among middle-aged (64.4%), multiparous (53.3%) women with a low socio-economic background (62.6%), and they were performed mostly by medical doctors in private settings (37.8%). The low usage of contraception (11.1%) was of significance.Conclusion: This study provided considerable insight into the complications of abortion in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Most of the patients were aware of contraception, but usage, which mainly constituted emergency contraception, was low. Despite prophylactic antibiotics, sepsis was the most common observed complication. Healthcare intervention should bere-focused through the encouragement of the adoption of effective methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Healthcare providers should re-appraise their antibiotics regimen.Keywords: unsafe abortion, abortion complications, contraception, Nigeri

Serum Uric Acid Levels in Oral Cancer Patients Seen at Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

Introduction: Toxicity by oxygen radicals has been considered as an important cause of cancer. It is proposed that the antioxidant properties of uric acid may act to prevent formation of oxygen radicals and thereby protect against carcinogenesis. This study aims to assess the role of uricacid in the aetiology of oral cancer.Materials and Methods: Thirty one oral cancer patients and thirty normal patients had serum uric acid measured using spectophotometer. The data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 19.0 (SPSS19). Statistical significance was determined at P &lt; 0.05. Results: The mean serum uric acid level in oral cancer patientswas 5.18 mg/dl (SD&#177;1.96) while the mean was 7.09 mg/dl (SD&#177;1.84) for the control group and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.000, t= -3.914, C.I. = - 2.885 to - 0.933). The risk of oral cancer was 3.98 times more in patients who had low serum uric acid.Conclusion: This study showed that serum uric acid was lower in oral cancer patients compared with healthy volunteers and low serum uric acid was associated with increased risk of oral cancer development. However, further prospective cohort studies are suggested to better understand the role of serum uric acid in aetiology of oral cancer

Periapical lesions of the jaws: A review of 104 cases in Ibadan

Background: Periapical lesions (PLs) occur as a result of pulpal inflammation and may rarely be seen in the absence of pulpal diseases. They are the most common pathological lesions affecting the alveolar bone.Objective: This study aims to describe the clinicopathological features of PLs of the jaws with emphasis on the two most common types.Methods: Histopathology records of PLs diagnosed from January 1990 toDecember 2012 at the Department of Oral Pathology, University CollegeHospital Ibadan, were examined and categorized into periapical cysts (PCs); periapical granuloma (PGs) and others. Clinical data and  histopathological features of these PLs were reviewed and analyzed.Results: One hundred and four lesions met the criteria for this study andconsisted of PGs with 71 (68.3%) cases and PCs with 31 (29.8%) cases and one case each of apical scar and pleomorphic adenoma. Age range of cases was 9 to 80 years (mean=35.6 ± 15.8years) with a peak at age group of 20-29 years. Females were more frequently affected with 51.9% of cases. PLs were most frequently diagnosed in the anterior maxillary region with 58 (56.9%) cases, while the most frequently involved tooth was the left maxillary central incisor with 23 (22.1%) cases.Conclusion: Findings in this study are consistent with those of previous studies. It is important for all periapical pathological specimens to be submitted for histological examination to establish an accurate diagnosis and aid in the identification of sinister lesions that may present in the Periradicular region of teeth.Keywords: Periapical, Cyst, Granuloma, Histopathology, Ja

Prescribing Pattern of Non-Steroidal Ant­‐inflammatory Drugs at the Outpatient Pharmacy Department of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Background: Non-steroidal Anti- inflammatory Drugs (NSAID), are among the most widely used and misused of all drugs. Though they provide symptomatic relief from pain and swelling in chronic joint diseases, they may cause renal impairment, especially in combination with other nephrotoxic agents.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prescription pattern of NSAID in the Out-patient Pharmacy Department of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Nigeria.Design: A total of 3800 prescriptions containing NSAIDs were analyzed for information on drug name, the number of NSAIDs per prescription, the presence of ACE inhibitors and diuretics alongside NSAIDs and NSAIDs prescribed in generic or brand names.Results: The results showed that Aspirin was the most frequently prescribed NSAID (62.2%) and 68.4% of the NSAIDs prescriptions studied were written in generic names. The total number of drugs per prescription was in most cases 3 or greater (84.6%). There were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) associations between the individual NSAID prescribed and whether they were prescribed in generics or brand names; individual NSAID prescribed and the frequency of co-prescription with an ACE inhibitor and a diuretic; types of NSAID prescribed and the cost in Naira.Conclusion: Though most of the prescribers complied with WHO standard in their prescriptions vis a vis generic prescription, avoidance of polypharmacy and avoidance of drug interactions and contraindications, there is obvious need for interventional measures or strategies to improve rational prescribing for some of the prescribers tailored towards rational prescription and use of drugsKeywords: NSAID, Prescription, Outpatient, Adverse reaction, Aspirin

Construction of Mass Balances of Cocaine in Batch Studies for the Sewage Treatment Works

The desired approach at safeguarding the environment both in control and effective monitoring of chemical discharges is the use of mass balances to account for inflow/outflow of pollutants. Whereas the previous studies were based on several assumptions, the batch studies enabled the construction of mass balances for the Sewage Treatment Work (STWs) using the removal rate data. This study, for the first time measures the rates of removal of cocaine in an STW, and the calculated mass balances were obtained from the removal rate data that were generated. The result of cocaine initial influent of 50 mg L-1 after after 2 hour hydraulic retention times (HRT) produced the final effluents of 110 mg L-1. Projected influent concentrations of cocaine (14, 471 ng L-1) were derived from back-calculation from final effluent concentrations. A useful tool that accounts for the mass-flow of trace drugs in the aquatic environment with minimal errors often due to sampling logistics and desludging process has been provided in this model of mass balance calculations in STWs

Performance and carcass characteristics of Yankasa ram fed with variable levels of biscuit waste and Leucaena leucocephala based diets

A study was conducted to find out the performance and carcass characteristics of sheep fed diet in which biscuits waste (BWM) and Leucaena leucocephala leaf hay (L/h) mixture were used to replace maize and wheat offal mixture at zero (control), 25, 50, 70 and 100% replacement levels. In a completely randomize design, the experimental diet where designated B0, B1, B2, B3, B4, respectively. The 20 growing Yankasa rams aged between 9 to 11 months with an initial average life weight of 12.17 ± 0.33 kg were randomly assign to the 5 dietary treatment with four rams per treatment. Data were collected to estimate dry matter intake (g/d /W0.7 kg), daily mean life weight gain (g/d), feed efficiency and carcass indices. Dietary replacement of maize and wheat offal mixture with biscuit waste meal and L. leucocelphala leaf hay mixture significantly (P&lt; 0.05) influenced the entire variable measured. However, animal on diet B1 and B2 in which biscuits waste and L. leucocephala leaf mixture replaced 25 and 50% maize and wheat offal mixture, were better when compared to the control (B0) and other test diet in terms of performance and carcass characteristics. This was evident by higher DMI (77.18 and 76.84 g/d /W0.75 kg), ADWG (134.40 and 129.52 g/d), feed efficiency (0.199 and 0.195), live shrunk weight (21.50 and 20.10 kg), dressing percentage (85.81 and 84.33%), chilled carcass weight (18.33 and 16.83 kg), wholesale cuts leg (9.18 and 8.73%), rack (3.11 and 2.78%), BSF (4.53 and 3.83%), neck added (2.51 and 1.78%) and rib eye area (6.06 and 8.29) which were obtained from the animal on these two diets. Broadly, the result in the present study indicated that 25 and 75% replacement level of maize and wheat offal mixture with biscuits waste and L. leucocephala leaf hay mixture are ideal for ruminant animal production because it improve both the performance and carcass characteristics of rams.Key words: Performance, carcass, biscuit waste, Yankasa ram

Serum antioxidant vitamins and the risk of oral cancer in patients seen at a tertiary institution in Nigeria

Objectives: Tobacco and alcohol are major risk factors of oral cancer, but nutritional deficiency may also contribute to development of oral cancer. This study compared serum antioxidant vitamin levels in oral cancer patients and controls in order to validate the role of vitamin deficiencies in the etiology of oral cancer. Materials and Methods: Serum vitamin A, C, and E levels of 33 oral cancer patients and 30 controls at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, were determined using standard methods. The data obtained were analyzed using the Student t‑test, odds ratio, and logistic regression. Results: Mean vitamin A, C, and E levels were significantly lower in oral cancer patients (P=0.022, P=0.000, and P=0.013 respectively). Risk of oral cancer was 10.89, 11.35, and 5.6 times more in patients with low serum vitamins A, C, and E, respectively. However, on logistic regression analysis, only low serum vitamin E independently predicted occurrence of oral cancer. Conclusions: The lower serum vitamin A, C, and E levels in oral cancer patients could be either a cause or an effect of the oral cancer. Further studies using a larger sample size and cohort studies with long‑term follow‑up of subjects are desirable.Keywords: Antioxidant vitamins, Nigeria, oral cancer riskNigerian Journal of Clinical Practice &bull;Jan-Mar 2012 &bull; Vol 15 &bull; Issue