Ludwig’s Angina Following Self Application of an Acidic Chemical

Ludwig’s angina is a potentially life threatening diffuse cellulitis usually resulting from odontogenic infection. We report a case of Ludwig’s angina resulting from self administration of an acidic chemical to treat toothache.Keywords: Toothache, Acid chemical, Ludwig’s angin

A Study of the Organisational Input into the Industrial Design Postgraduate Programme of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

This paper attempted to examine the organisational input into the Industrial Design Postgraduate Programme of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The specific input variables studied include the staff situation, enrolment of candidates, communications policies, plans, facilities and funding of the Postgraduate Programme. The paper attempted to find out if the quality of input into the Postgraduate Programme has helped it to achieve the development of its communications mechanisms and successes in its internal and external operations.  All the staff and students on the programme were included in the study. The data was collected using questionnaires and content analysis. Content analysis and descriptive statistics such as percentages and sums were used for computing the data. The data revealed inadequate staffing, lack of enrolment plans, non participation of staff and other stakeholders in enrolment of candidates, absence of cohesive internal and external communications policies and organisational plans, very poor state of facilities for training and research as well as dearth of funds. These conditions have adversely affected the development of relevant plausible organisational communications channels that could have directly fostered internal consistency, encouraged viability and sustained effective marketing approaches by the PG Programme to its targeted external environments. The study recommends a total overhaul of the input variables and regular auditing of all the formal communications mechanisms in order to increase relevant variety as well as eliminate conflicts emanating from scarcity of resources and the flourishing of the grapevine in the Postgraduate Programme. Keywords: Organisational input, Communication, Organisational viability, Internal environment, External environment, Innovation

Job Motivation as Correlates of Quality Service Delivery by Library Personnel in Agricultural Research Institutes, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

The delivery of quality library services is a fundamental responsibility of any researchinstitute libraries. However, Library personnel that are responsible for delivering libraryservice require some level of motivation that gives room for involvement and responsibility.Some studies have reported low quality service delivery in some agricultural researchlibraries in Nigeria. The study, therefore, investigated job motivation as correlates of qualityservice delivery by library personnel in agricultural research institutes, Ibadan, Oyo State,Nigeria. The study adopted a survey design of the correlational type. The population of thestudy comprised 78 library personnel and 218 library users who are agricultural scientist in6 research institute in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Total enumeration technique was used forinclusion of library personnel and 3% for registered agricultural researchers who use libraryservices. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and data was analysedusing descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Moment Correlation and multiple regression at 0.05level of significance. The level of job motivation of library staff is moderate (????? = 79.21). Mostpeople are intrinsically hardworking but others need to be pushed into completing work(x?=2.99). On tangibility, appearance of the physical facilities are consistent with the type ofservice rendered in the library (x?=2.95), for reliability; promises are delivered withinspecified time (x?=2.97). Responsiveness: situations in the library are treated with care andseriousness (x?=2.97). On assurance, it is safe to use the library and its equipment (x?=2.96),empathy: librarians are knowledgeable and skilful to talk with (x?=2.97). There was asignificant positive relationship between job motivation and quality service delivery (???? =0.719; ???? = 0.00, ; ???? < 0.05). Job motivation is a significant predictor of quality servicedelivery of library personnel. Management of institute of agriculture should put more effortin place to ensure that motivation level of the library staff moves from moderate to high.Perhaps, there should be increase in salary and other incentives of which will serve as anencouragement and improve their level of motivation

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Nigerians with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Several studies have suggested a strong epidemiologic association between Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection in some populations. However, the reasons why chronic HCV infection is prevalent in DM remain unknown. Our aims were to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in a population of Nigerian diabetics compared with the general population as well as assess the influence of sex and age on HCV infection in the same diabetic population. Design and Methods: A total of 115 diabetic patients were compared with 2,301 blood donors matched by recognized risk factors to acquire HCV infection. Serologic testing for anti HCV was done using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Results: Sixty (60) type 2 diabetic patients were males while fifty-five (55) were females. Their mean age was 55.4 ± 9 years and mean blood glucose level was 8.5mmol/l. One subject tested positive for HCV infection. The control group consisted of 2,031 adults recruited from the blood donor\'s clinic. Forty five of them (2.2%) tested positive for HCV. Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest a low sero-prevalence of HCV infection among our patients with type 2 diabetes. Presently, routine screening for HCV infection in persons with diabetes may not be necessary. Keywords: HCV infection, type 2 diabetes mellitus Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (3) 2008: pp. 199-20

Antibiotic resistance profile of staphylococci from clinical sources recovered from infants

Infants, children and the aged are among the groups most vulnerable to microbial infections more so when these microbial agents become resistant to antimicrobials. The antibiotic resistant profile of Staphylococcus aureus and selected coagulase negative staphylococci were determined by standard methods. Of the 178 staphylococcal isolates evaluated, 122 were S. aureus and the rest coagulase negative staphylococci. 68% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to amoxicillin, 69.8% to cloxacillin, 51% to augmentin and 71% to tetracycline. However, only 2.6% of the 116 S aureus isolates tested were resistant to gentamycin making the drug a reliable therapeutic agent in the event of failure of other antimicrobials in treating staphylococcal infections at least in this community. Resistance to the penicillin drugs was mediated by the elaboration of &#946-lactamase by both pathogenic and non-pathogenic staphylococci. The study shows a high rate of cloxacillin resistance and possibly the existence of methicillin resistance among these strains. 80% of the S aureus strains were multi-resistant with 25% of these resistant to three different antibiotics, 21% to 4 and 6.8% to 6 different drugs. Only 1.2% of these S aureus strains were resistant to 7 different antimicrobials underscoring the need to reduce the high incidence of multi-resistance in this community in the event of an epidemic caused by these strains. The study reveals prevalence of multi-resistance among both pathogenic and non-pathogenic staphylococci in the community.Key words: Staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotics, multi-resistance.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 810-82

Effect of mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer on maize root infectivity in three soil series

An experiment was carried out to examine the influence of mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer on maize root infectivity in three soil series at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Nigeria. The treatments included three soil series (Gambari, Itagunmodi and Iwo series), three levels of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 30 and 60 kg P2O5/ha) and three levels of mycorrhizal inoculation (0, 10 and 20 g per 15 kg soil). The experimental design used was a 3×3×3 factorial trial in a completely randomized design with three replications. Root infectivity was evaluated by the grid line intersect method. After harvesting, the phosphorus (P) uptake was determined by multiplying the P concentration in the plant by the total dry weight. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance and the significant means of the treatment were compared using the Duncan's multiple range test at the 5% significance level. The results revealed that P uptake was influenced significantly (p < 0.05) by the soil series. The order of decrease in P uptake across the soil series was as follows: Itagunmodi (0.54 mg/kg) < Iwo (0.90 mg/kg) < Gambari (2.52 mg/kg). Root infectivity significantly enhanced the uptake of P. The highest root infectivity and the highest P uptake were achieved at 20 g inoculation. Mycorrhizal infection levels were reduced by moderate to high rates of soluble phosphorus fertilizer. Thus, increasing levels of phosphate fertilizer stimulate maize root growth but significantly reduce root infection levels

Health-seeking behaviours of older black women living with non-communicable diseases in an urban township in South Africa

BACKGROUND: Various studies have shown that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) especially diabetes and hypertension are prevalent among older women living in South African urban areas, placing a heavy burden on the healthcare system. This study aimed to understand the health-seeking behaviour, healthcare practices and prevalence of traditional herbal medicine (THM) use among older women self-reporting NCDs from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study (PURE). METHOD: A homogenous purposive sampling of PURE participants was used to recruit women who were 50 years or older (n = 250). Descriptive statistics were used to examine the number of NCDs reported by the study sample, health seeking behaviour and practices as well as THM use. Logistic regression was also employed to investigate possible associations between reported conditions and THM use or medical pluralism. RESULTS: Within the study sample, 72 % self-reported an NCD. Of those with self-reported NCDs, 46 % had one, and 54 % had two or more NCDs. Those with NCDs usually visited public clinics (80 %), relied on doctors (90 %) and nurses (85 %) for health information, and mostly used conventional medicine (CM) to manage high blood pressure (81 %). About 30 % of those with NCDs indicated using THM, of whom 29 (53 %) reported practicing medical pluralism. Participants with dental problems (OR: 3.24, 95 % CI: 1.30–8.20), headaches (OR: 2.42, 95 % CI: 1.24–4.94), heart burn (OR: 2.30, 95 % CI: 1.18–4.48) and severe tiredness (OR: 2.05, 95 % CI: 1.08–3.99) were more likely to use THM. Anxiety and allergies increased the likelihood to practise medical pluralism by five and 20 times, respectively. CONCLUSION: Self-reported NCD with co-morbidities was prevalent among the participants in the study. Most of the study participants utilized state-owned clinics and hospitals for the management of their chronic conditions. THM use was not very common. However, among those who used THM, medical pluralism was prevalent. Family history was the most common reason for THM use, with many THM patrons utilizing these for treatment of a health condition. Older black women with anxiety and allergies were more likely to practise medical pluralism

Status report on hypertension in Africa - Consultative review for the 6th Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health on NCD’s

Hypertension has always been regarded as a disease of affluence but this has changed drastically in the last two decades with average blood pressures now higher in Africa than in Europe and USA and the prevalence increasing among poor sections of society. We have conducted a literature search on PubMed on a broad range of topics regarding hypertension in Africa, including data collection from related documents from World Health Organization and other relevant organizations that are available in this field. We have shared the initial results and drafts with international specialists in the context of hypertension in Africa and incorporated their feedback. Hypertension is the number one risk factor for CVD in Africa. Consequently, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has taken over as number one cause of death in Africa and the total numbers will further increase in the next decades reflecting on the growing urbanization and related lifestyle changes. The new epidemic of hypertension and CVD is not only an important public health problem, but it will also have a big economic impact as a significant proportion of the productive population becomes chronically ill or die, leaving their families in poverty. It is essential to develop and share best practices for affordable and effective  community-based programs in screening and treatment of hypertension. In order to prevent and control hypertension in the population, Africa  needs policies developed and implemented through a multi-sectoral  approach involving the Ministries of Health and other sectors including education, agriculture, transport, finance among others

Lectins, Mitogenicity and Seed Germination: A Comparative Study with the Seeds of Telfairia occidentalis (Hook, F.) (Curcurbitaceae), Carica papaya (Linn) (Caricaceae) and Artocarpus communis (J.R. &amp; G. Forst) (Moraceae)

The fate of lectins contained in the seeds of T. occidentalis, C. papaya and A. communis have been followed during the germinative process. Under the same culture conditions, the emergence of both the radicle and the plumule (the 3rd and 5th day; 18th and 20th and 12th and the 15th day respectively for T. occidentalis, C. papaya and A. communis) was preceded, 24 hours earlier, by the appearance of lectin in the developing tissues. The data suggest that the mitogenic lectins: Telfairia occidentalis Agglutinin (TOA) and Artocarpin accelerates the process of germination relative to that observed for seeds (C. papaya) containing the non-mitogenic lectins, Carici

Toxicity of Diflubenzuron on Juveniles of African Brackish Water Shrimp from Lagoon Coastline and Mosquito Larvae from Breeding Places in a Tertiary Institution in Lagos, Nigeria

Diflubenzuron (DFB) prevents chitin formation and cuticle deposition in insects. Its application can inadvertently enter into aquatic ecosystems, with potential adverse impacts on selected aquatic biota. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of diflubenzuron on juveniles of African brackish water shrimp from the Lagoon Coastline and mosquito larvae from breeding places in a tertiary institution in Lagos, Nigeria using appropriate standard techniques. The result of the lethal toxicity showed that LC50 toxicity factor of DFB on Aedes and Culex larvae were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for 24hrs compared to other time intervals. Exposure of the African brackish water shrimp to diflubenzuron had LC5, LC50, and LC95 values of 0.115 mg/L, 8.510 mg/L, and 627.048 mg/L, respectively at 24hrs. Adult emergence inhibition of DFB on Aedes and Culex larvae showed highest adult emergence inhibition (≥ 90%) at 0.0001 mg/l after 12 days, while similar inhibition was achieved after 8 days for 0.005 mg/l. Diflubenzuron residue in water decreased with exposure time while that detected in P. africanus increased to a maximum of 42.13±3.7 ug/g and 301.03±13.7 ug/g for 100 ug/l and 1000 ug/l respectively after 14 days. The findings demonstrated that DFB is relatively stable in water, and its benign toxicity to non-target organisms makes it ideal for mosquito larval control