8 research outputs found
Sleep pattern of medical students as seen in a Nigerian university
Background: Results from several studies suggest a global trend of sleep insufficiency among the youths. This study determines the sleep pattern of medical students. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we used a modified self-administered questionnaire adapted from Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index to determine the sleep pattern of students in College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Responses were submitted anonymously. Results: A total of 399 students participated in the study and their age ranged from 16 - 35 years.Males constituted 64% of survey sample. The mean sleep duration of students were 6.4±0.84 hours during weekdays and 7.4±0.96 hours at weekends (
Oral and Maxillo-facial soft tissue sarcomas in an Africa population
Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are not common and account for
less than 1% of all malignancies in the maxillofacial region. These
tumours are under reported in Africa South of the Sahara in current
literature.This report is a review of our experience with STS over a 23
year period at a busy Tertiary Oral care centre in Kaduna, Northern
Nigeria. Methods: Patients presenting to the Maxillofacial Unit, of
the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, with oral and
maxillofacial malignancies between the years 1977 and 1999 were
retrospectively studied. Soft tissue sarcomas were studied. Demographic
features, clinical presentation, treatment options , outcome and
histologic variants were studied. Results: There were 38(<1%) soft
tissue sarcomas out of 415 oral and maxillofacial malignancies recorded
within the study period. Male to female ratio was 1.6:1. Age range was
24 days to 60 years ( median 28 years). There were more adults (79%)
than children (21%). There were eleven histologic types but the more
frequent ones were rhabdomyosarcoma (10/38,(), fibrosarcoma (10/38
(26%), liposarcoma ( 5/38 (13%) and malignant fibrous histiocytoma
(5/38(13%) . Site of primary occurrence was mainly the mandible (32%),
palate (21%) and cheek (18%). Surgery was the mainstay of treatment
28/38 (74%) while 10/38(26%) patients had no active treatment.
Conclusion: Most patients present late with difficult deforming
tumours. We can blame patients knowledge, Socio-economi
Biomembrane stabilization and antiulcerogenic properties of aqueous leaf extract of Gossypium barbadense L. (Malvaceae)
Gossypium spp. belong to a class of botanicals with global therapeutic applications against a number of disorders including ulcers. This study evaluated the membrane stabilization and detoxification potential of aqueous leaf extract of Gossypium barbadense L. (Malvaceae) in indomethacin-induced oxidative gastric ulceration in Wistar rats. The ulcerated rats were orally pretreated with the extract and esomeprazole for 4Â weeks. Gastric function and antioxidative parameters were thereafter evaluated. The indomethacin-mediated significant elevations in the ulcer index, gastric volume, pepsin activity and mucosal level of malondialdehyde were dosedependently attenuated in the extract-treated animals. The extract also significantly modulated and improved the pH, mucin content, glutathione (reduced) as well as gastric activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the ulcerated rats. These improvements may be ascribed to the antioxidant and membrane stabilization activities of the extract which are attributable to its active metabolites as revealed by the analytical chromatogram. The observed effects compared favorably with that of esomeprazole and are suggestive of the capability of the extract to prevent mucosal damage and preserve gastric functions as evidently supported by the macroscopical appearance of the stomachs and the % ulcer inhibitory values. Conclusively, the overall data from the present findings suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of G. barbadense could prevent indomethacin-mediated oxidative gastric ulceration via fortification of antioxidant defense mechanisms. Keywords: Esomeprazole, Gossypium barbadense, Indomethacin, Mucosal damage, Oxidative stres
Spontaneous and controlled fermentation to improve nutritional value of Ikpakpa beans, Phaseolus vulgaris
The red kidney beans found in the Esanland of Edo State, Nigeria,
popularly known as Ikpakpa, are a variety of Phaseolus vulgaris. However, a lack of
awareness about this indigenous legume and a lack of easy culinary applications
are factors that lead to its low use. The very long hours of cooking, coupled with
frequent changing of the cooking water, makes it very unattractive to the present
generation. In this work, a novel attempt is made to have a culinary product from
ikpakpa via spontaneous and controlled fermentation of the beans (Ikpakpa) and
investigate their impact on the product’s nutritional value. Endogeneous microorganisms
were used for spontaneous fermentation, while Bacillus subtilis was used
for the control fermentation. Two routes of Ikpakpa preparation were followed: viz;
beans were boiled for 8 hours to be soft, dehulled, and fermented; and the raw
beans soaked overnight and dehulled, boiled for 4 hours fermented. After 5 days of
fermentation, the proximate analysis results showed better results for the spontaneous
fermentation via route 1, increasing protein and carbohydrate content by
18% and 36%, respectively. Both spontaneous and controlled fermentation were
not favoured via route 2 as a decrease in protein and carbohydrate content by
13.5%/77.4% and 54.2%/66,4%, respectively. The duration for fermentation may
have been too long to sustain the protein and carbohydrate content. It is, therefore,
recommended that more research on the optimal fermentation duration be investigated
and shelf-life studies conducted on the products