Adsorption and Treatment of Organic Contaminants using Activated Carbon from Waste Nigerian Bamboo.

The adsorption and treatment of organic contaminants using activated carbon from waste Nigerian bamboo was investigated. Waste Nigerian bamboo was carbonized at 400oC-500oC and activated with acidat 800oC to produce granular activated carbon (GAC). Adsorption of organics from the refinery waste on the activated carbon produced was examined at 28oC. The experimental batch equilibrium data was correlated by Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The adsorption data fitted well into the Freundlich isotherm. Breakthrough timeof about 1.5 hours was observed for the fixed bed adsorption process. The organic concentration expressed as chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced from an initial value of 378 mg/l to 142 mg/l for the first hour, 143 mg/l for the second hour, 152 mg/l for the third and fourth hours, and 156 mg/l for the final hour., which also compare favorably with the refinery effluent specification of 150 mg/l Results from the study shows that waste Nigerian bamboo can be converted into high capacity adsorbent and used for the remediation of polluted industrial waste waters

Skin Cancers Among Albinos at a University Teaching Hospital in Northwestern Tanzania: A Retrospective Review of 64 Cases.

Skin cancers are a major risk associated with albinism and are thought to be a major cause of death in African albinos. The challenges associated with the care of these patients are numerous and need to be addressed. The aim of this study was to outline the pattern and treatment outcome of skin cancers among albinos treated at our centre and to highlight challenges associated with the care of these patients and proffer solutions for improved outcome. This was a retrospective study of all albinos with a histopathological diagnosis of skin cancer seen at Bugando Medical Centre from March 2001 to February 2010. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 64 patients were studied. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The median age of patients was 30 years. The median duration of illness at presentation was 24 months. The commonest reason for late presentation was financial problem. Head and the neck was the most frequent site afflicted in 46(71.8%) patients. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histopathological type in 75% of cases. Surgical operation was the commonest modality of treatment in 60 (93.8%) patients. Radiotherapy was given in 24(37.5%) patients. Twenty-seven (42.2%) of the patients did not complete their treatment due to lack of funds. Local recurrence following surgical treatment was recorded in 6 (30.0%) patients. Only thirty-seven (61.7%) patients were available for follow-up at 6-12 months and the remaining patients were lost to follow-up. Skin cancers are the most common cancers among albinos in our environment. Albinism and exposure to ultraviolet light appears to be the most important risk factor in the development of these cancers. Late presentation and failure to complete treatment due to financial difficulties and lack of radiotherapy services at our centre are major challenges in the care of these patients. Early institution of preventive measures, early presentation and treatment, and follow-up should be encouraged in this population for better outcome

Apium plants: Beyond simple food and phytopharmacological applications

Apium plants belong to the Apiaceae family and are included among plants that have been in use in traditional medicine for thousands of years worldwide, including in the Mediterranean, as well as the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa. Some highlighted medical benefits include prevention of coronary and vascular diseases. Their phytochemical constituents consist of bergapten, flavonoids, glycosides, furanocoumarins, furocoumarin, limonene, psoralen, xanthotoxin, and selinene. Some of their pharmacological properties include anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, nematocidal, anti-rheumatism, antiasthma, anti-bronchitis, hepatoprotective, appetizer, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic, breast milk inducer, anti-jaundice, antihypertensive, anti-dysmenorrhea, prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and spermatogenesis induction. The present review summarizes data on ecology, botany, cultivation, habitat, medicinal use, phytochemical composition, preclinical and clinical pharmacological efficacy of Apium plants and provides future direction on how to take full advantage of Apium plants for the optimal benefit to mankind.N. Martins would like to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT-Portugal) for the strategic project ref. UID/BIM/04293/2013 and “NORTE2020-Northern Regional Operational Program” (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012)

Urinary albumin:creatinine ratio in postburn patients in Ikeja- Lagos, Nigeria; a point-of-care survey

Background: Chemical mediators are released after burns. They are responsible for the pathophysiological responses of microcirculation and fluid shift in patients with burns. The mediators also have direct damaging effects on tissues including the kidneys. Acute kidney disease is common in patients with burns.Patients/methods: A cross-sectional Point-of-Care survey of the urine of post-burn patients was done at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria to check for the prevalence of renal morbidity among them and study the predisposing factors. All consenting postburn cases that were seen at the Out-patient Clinic between May 1st and October 31st 2011 were studied. Urine samples were collected into sterile containers and tested for albumin and creatinine with MicroalbuPHAN(R) (Erba Lacherma Bmo CZ) Diagnostic Strips. The ratio of the urinary concentrations of albumin:creatinine was calculated.Results: Fifty-six cases were seen, 55(98.2 %) had urinary albumin: creatinine ratio within the microalbuminuria range, one proteinuria and were independent of the extent of burn injury.Conclusion: Post-burn renal morbidity is common in the study environment. Renal status of patients should be assessed during the acute, subacute and postburn phases of management to detect persisting renal injury and institute appropriate management.Key words: - Burns, point-of-care-testing, kidney injury, urinary albumin: creatinine ratio, Nigeria

Nutritional and haematological parameters of cleft lip and/or palate patients in Lagos, Nigeria.

Introduction: Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) deformities are the most common congenital abnormalities of the orofacial structures. The deformity is associated with certain peculiar problems including feeding disorders and recurrent infections. These may combine to affect the nutritional status of the patients. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among patients with CLP deformities in Lagos, review the prevalence of anaemia and the burden of bacterial infections.Materials/methods: Serum albumin levels of patients with CLP invited for surgical intervention in Lagos between 2006 and 2008 were assessed to determine the nutritional status, the Packed Cell Volume for the presence of anaemia and total White Cell Count (WBC) to screen for the possibility of bacterial infection.Results: Two hundred and twenty five patients were studied comprising of 112 males and 113 females. Mean age was 5.05 ± 7.73 years. One hundred and one (44.89%) patients had complete cleft of the lip and palate, 27.22% had cleft lip, 13.78% had cleft of the lip and hard palate, while 7.11% had cleft of the soft palate alone. Various types of rare cleft deformities occurred in 8.88% patients out of which macrostomia or lateral cleft constituted 6.67%. Forty-eight (21.3%)patients had malnutrition. The type of CLP deformities was found to have no significant effect on the serum albumin level (p = 0. 089). Sixty-eight (30.2%) patients had anaemia. There was an association between the types of CLP deformities and the PCV levels (P=0.001). Twenty-two (9.8%) patients showed haematologic evidences of on-going bacterial infections with raised total WBC count.Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in patients with CLP is however higher than that of the general population. Patients with CLP require nutrition support and continuous medical monitoring

The Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry: Process, Profile, and Prospects of a Collaborative Project

BACKGROUND: Clinical disease registries are useful for quality improvement in care, benchmarking standards, and facilitating research. Collaborative networks established thence can enhance national and international studies by generating more robust samples and credible data and promote knowledge sharing and capacity building. This report describes the methodology, baseline data, and prospects of the Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry. METHODS: This national registry was established in November 2016. Ethics approval was obtained for all sites. Basic anonymized data for consecutive cases fulfilling the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Brain Bank criteria (except the exclusion criterion of affected family members) are registered by participating neurologists via a secure registry website (www.parkinsonnigeria.com) using a minimal common data capture format. RESULTS: The registry had captured 578 participants from 5 of 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria by July 2019 (72.5% men). Mean age at onset was 60.3 ± 10.7 years; median disease duration (interquartile range) was 36 months (18–60.5 months). Young‐onset disease (<50 years) represented 15.2%. A family history was documented in 4.5% and 7.8% with age at onset <50 and ≥ 50, respectively. The most frequent initial symptom was tremor (45.3%). At inclusion, 93.4% were on treatment (54.5% on levodopa monotherapy). Per‐capita direct cost for the registry was $3.37. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first published national Parkinson's disease registry in sub‐Saharan Africa. The registry will serve as a platform for development of multipronged evidence‐based policies and initiatives to improve quality of care of Parkinson's disease and research engagement in Nigeria