Parity and breastfeeding are protective against breast cancer in Nigerian women

As the relation between reproductive factors and breast cancer risk has not been systematically studied in indigenous women of sub-Saharan Africa, we examined this in a case–control study in Nigeria. In-person interviews were conducted using structured questionnaires to collect detailed reproductive history in 819 breast cancer cases and 569 community controls between 1998 and 2006. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Compared with women with menarcheal age <17 years, the adjusted OR for women with menarcheal age ⩾17 years was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.54–0.95, P=0.02). Parity was negatively associated with risk (P-trend=0.02) but age at first live birth was not significant (P=0.16). Importantly, breast cancer risk decreased by 7% for every 12 months of breastfeeding (P-trend=0.005). It is worth noting that the distribution of reproductive risk factors changed significantly from early to late birth cohorts in the direction of increasing breast cancer incidence. Our findings also highlight the heterogeneity of breast cancer aetiology across populations, and indicate the need for further studies among indigenous sub-Saharan women

THERMODYNAMIC EVALUATION OF A LOW-PRESSURE FISH DRYER

Fish products are major sources protein supplements for human nourishment composing of low - fat diet cherished by consumers for health wise consequence. Quite substantial amount of this products during harvest cum handling are lost to spoilage due to lack of short time drying technology systems and untimely removal of moisture content amidst activities of bacteria. The inappropriate and inadequate processing methods must be eliminated by providing advance short time drying outfits to assist the local processors to stall the activities of bacteria orchestrating fish spoilage. To meet this short time drying needs and increase fish storability and shelf life for overall good productivity, an indigenous affordable vacuum dryer was conceived and developed locally. The unit was fabricated using locally sourced materials and was tested on water cans and cat fish samples.&nbsp; A constant vacuum head of 3.6 KPa was attained at pumping rate of 320 l/hr, at observed temperature range of 38 and 42oC, energy and power level of 498.6 KJ and 13.6W with an effective moisture diffusivity 8.41×10-7m2/s and 2.05×10-7m2/s were recorded for the fish samples; gutted and un-gutted respectively dried within 10 hours. Total moisture content removal efficiency of 85% was attained This method of drying was very effective in drying the fish samples but still requires further optimization studies to scale up the unit for commercial purpose

Effect of soil contaminated by diesel oil on the germination of seeds and the growth of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae) Seedlings

The effect of soil polluted by diesel oil on the germination of seeds and the growth of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi seedlings was analyzed at different times after contamination of the soil. The experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions, with four treatments and five repetitions. The four treatments included: soil contaminated 30 (T30), 90 (T90) or 180 (T180) days before planting as well as a non-polluted soil (T0) (control). Soil saturated to 50% of its maximum retention capacity (MRC) was contaminated with diesel oil at a rate of 92.4 mL per kg. The germination rate and germination speed index (GSI) were significantly affected only in T30. The development of the plants was affected significantly in all the treatments, with reductions of biomass and eophyll area. It could be concluded that diesel oil significantly affected the germination, GSI and seedling growth of S. terebinthifolius, but the toxic effect decreased over the time