Effect of Compost Made from Decomposing Cocoa Pod and Animal Dung on the Yield of Maize Crop

Ondo State has the largest production of cocoa in Nigeria, cocoa pod on most cocoa plantation in the state are usually left as an environmental nuisance on the cocoa plantation. Effect of compost made from decomposing cocoa pod and animal dung on the yield of maize crop were investigated for nine weeks. Cocoa pods were decomposed using animal dung (poultry droppings, pig and cow dung) in ratio 3:1 of cocoa pod to each of the animal dung. Cocoa pod and poultry droppings mixture has the highest bacterial, fungal and yeast population of 2.6 x106 – 2.9 x 106 (cfu/ml), 8.4 x105 – 9.2 x 105 (sfu/ml) and 4.0 x104 – 12.0 x 104 (cfu/ml). It also had the highest moisture content (88.81%) and temperature (350C) among the composting materials. Fifteen bacteria and thirteen fungi were isolated during the decomposition; common microorganisms that occur throughout decomposition were Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Escherichia coli, Staphylococus aureus, Serratia Sp, Fusarium sp, Mucor sp, Tricoderma sp, Aspergillus sp, Cladosporum sp and Neurospora sp. The pH of decomposing samples ranged from 6.10 to 7.81 at the initial stage of decomposition and pH of 7.79-9.07 at maturity of the compost. Poultry cocoa compost has the highest NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) content of 1.345, 7.955 and 23.016 (mg/kg) respectively. Experimental setup was carried out in the field and in the screen house which the cocoa pod compost and NPK fertilizer was use to plant yellow and white maize. The compost fertilizer had a better better output than the NPK fertilizer. Height-350cm, grithy-8cm, cob-15 (big and strong) colour of maize plant (deep green leaves) while height-320cm, grith -4cm, cob-10 (small and colour of maize plant (greenish yellow leaves) for the cocoa compost and NPK fertilizer respectively were at the field Cocoa pod and poultry droppings mixture has the highest of the yellow and white maize (136cm and 126cm) respectively while the NPK sample has the lowest height of 55cm and 50 cm respectively of yellow and white maize

Effect of Pottasium supplementation and a potassium sparing agent-spironolactone on blood pressure and vascular responses of salt loaded rats

No Abstract. NQJHM Vol. 8 (4) 1998: pp. 298-30

Detecting child psychiatric disorders during routine clinic work: A pre-interventional study of primary care physicians in Ilorin, Nigeria

Back-ground Primary care physicians (PCP) are accessible health care provider for most patients and are gatekeepers to specialist care. The extent to which they can identify children with mental health problems need to be explored. Objective: To explore the extent to which primary care physicians can identify children with mental health problems. Study setting The study was carried out at the Paediatric Clinic of the department of Family Medicine, University of Ilorin teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Method: A 2 staged study in which 350 children aged 7-14 years were screened with child behaviour questionnaire (Rutter Scale A2). A stratified sub-sample of 157 (all high scorers and about 30% of low scorers) were further interviewed with children version of Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) by the psychiatrists. They were also evaluated by primary care physicians for the presence of mental health problems. Results: Out of the 157 children interviewed in the second stage, primary care doctors identified 12 children as having mental health problems. K-SADS identified 40 as cases, this includes 8 of the 12 identified by primary care doctors; that is, they identified 8 cases. They were poor in discriminating between cases and non- cases (P=0.012). Poor school attendance (P=0.001), frequent hospital visit (P=0.009) and long standing illness (P=0.039) were associated with case-ness. Conclusion: This study suggests that primary care physicians had difficulties in identifying mental health problems in the children. Interventions such as guideline protocols, primary care physician education and educational programmes to increase mental health literacy, may be effective in improving detection by primary care physicians

Risperidone-Induced hyperprolactinemia in a Pre-menopausal Woman: A case report

A common side effect of antipsychotic medications used to treat psychotic patients is hyperprolactinemia. Its occurrence leads to dysfunction of the reproductive, endocrine and metabolic systems. This side effect which may be symptomatic or asymptomatic, is commonly under reported and under treated and may result in poor compliance. We present the case of a 35year old patienttreated for psychotic depression with atypical antipsychotics, Risperidone and Amitrypiline, who presented with galactorrhea and amenorrhea which led her to stop her medications and consequently, a resurgence of the primary illness. Hormonal assay showed elevated Prolactin level which reduced significantly with institution of dopamine agonist Bromocriptine and a switch in medicationto Aripripazole. These are examples of treatment strategies suggested in literatures reviewed. We recommended that clinicians pay more attention to hyperproclactenimia as an important side effect seen in patients taking antipsychotics which may reduce compliance. Key words: Hyperprolactinemia, Antipsychotic, Risperidone&nbsp

Internet-based psychological interventions to improve mental health: Preference for and willingness to use among students in a Nigerian university

Objective: To assess the willingness and preference for Internet-Based Mental Health interventions among university students using a validated self-administered questionnaire, the Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire (MHLq) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).Design: A cross-sectional multi-staged randomized study.Setting: The setting was the University of Ilorin, NigeriaSubjects: A total of 3,300 undergraduate students were assessed.Main Outcome Measures: The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics, and regression analysis to predict factors associated with willingness and preference was done. Level of significance was set at p-value of 0.05 and confidence interval at 95%.Results: Preference for Internet-Based Mental Health intervention compared to Face-to-Face intervention was 27.7% amongst the 3,179 analyzable questionnaires, while 48.6% respondents were willing to use Internet-Based Mental Intervention. Predictors of willingness to use internet-based support were monogamous family setting (aOR= 1.486), help seeking behaviour (aOR= 2.683) and probable mental illness (aOR= 0.333) while predictors of preference for Internet-Based Intervention over Face-to-Face therapy were younger age (aOR= 1.377), female gender (aOR =1.342), satisfactory relationship with mother and father (aOR = 1.607. 1. 466 respectively), self-help strategies (aOR= 0.713) and good knowledge of mental health (aOR =1.610).Conclusion: Internet-Based Interventions is a viable choice for improving university students’ mental health. Further studies may explore acceptability and use of different aspects of internet-based intervention

Understanding university community’s mental health needs and the determinants of wellbeing sequala: a qualitative study

Mental health among university students is on the increase every day, therefore this study investigates mental health needs and determinants of psychological well-being of the university community. This explanatory qualitative research design used a purposive sampling technique to sample 13-participant (with age-ranged between 21 to 57years; age mean=30.7years) at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Data was gathered using a key informant interview. Themes emerged from the data analysis, and excerpts from the participant interviews were used to illustrate the themes. Following data analysis, the research study found that the age of adolescents with emotional dysregulation, poor lecturers/students relationships, study life imbalance, and inaccessibility to counseling services were shown as the determinants of mental health among university students. Results revealed that there is a need for internet-based mental health services with substance abuse screening and audio/visual display facilities. Furthermore, empowerment of counseling staff, students, and the university community with periodic workshops/seminars on mental health awareness and integration of mental health modules into the General Studies (GNS) curriculum was found as the needs of the university community to boost their mental healthiness. We conclude that adolescence age, poor lecturer-student relationships, study life imbalance, and inaccessible counseling services are determinants of psychological distress. Therefore, insightful and rebranded interventions like e-mental health services and awareness programs are required to restore psychological wellbeing on the university campus

Additional file 1 of Pharmacoinformatic study of inhibitory potentials of selected flavonoids against papain-like protease and 3-chymotrypsin-like protease of SARS-CoV-2

Additional file 1