NATURAL DIETS OF SYNODONTIS MEMBRANACEUS FROM IKERE GORGE IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Natural dietary items in the stomach of Synodontis membranaceus from Ikere Gorge in Oyo State, Nigeria were investigated between the months of October to December 2004 and June to August 2005. Fish species were obtained from fishermen every fortnight using gill net and cast net. Specimens were chilled with iced blocks at the point of collection and transported to the laboratory. 642 fish specimens were examined and their stomach contents analysed. Frequency of occurrence and numerical methods were employed in the study. The result of the analysis showed that the food items found covered a wide spectrum, ranging from various types of planktons to invertebrates and plants. A seasonal variation was also noted in the stomach contents of S. membranaceus over the period of study. The predominant food items found in the stomach were Polycytis spp, Closterium spp, Oedogonium spp., plant tissues, insect parts, paramecium sp., unidentified algae and detritus. This suggests that S. membranaceus is an omnivore

Bacteriological and Physicochemical Studies on Three Major Dams in Ekiti State, Nigeria

The bacteriological and physicochemical properties of public water supply system in Ekiti State, Nigeria were analyzed, using treated and untreated water samples from selected dams. The antibiotic sensitivity of 140 E.coli (as water indicator) isolated was evaluated using microbiological standard methods. The plasmid profile of 20 selected resistant isolates was done using agarose gel electrophoresis method. The coliform and E. coli count were apparently high with average range of 28.6x102 to 39.8x103CFU/ml and 13.0x102 to 8.4x103CFU/ml respectively. Though less than 3% of the isolated E. coli was sensitive to ofloxacin, nalixidic acid and nitrofurantoin, only 24(17.1%) was resistant to amoxicillin. Among the multidrug resistant isolates about 92.9% were resistant to at least four antibiotics while 7.0% were resistant to all the eight antibiotics used. Out of 20 MDR isolates selected, only one (1) showed absence of plasmid as other harbored plasmids ranging from 1 to 4. The size of the plasmids in kilobase pair ranged between 2.03 and 3.13. The physicochemical properties and mineral content of the water samples were all within WHO permissible limits with pH range of (7.40-7.80) and temperature range of (27.5-28.0)0C. The occurrence of plasmid-mediated multidrug resistant E. coli in a public water supply system in rural community heightens public health concern as discussed in this work. Keywords:Ureje, Ero, Egbe, multidrug resistance, plasmid mediated, physicochemica

WATER QUALITY, FISH DIVERSITY AND CATCH ASSESSMENT OF IKERE GORGE OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Study of the physico-chemical parameters of Ikere gorge is one of the recently constructed man-made lake in Oyo state, Nigeria. The need to assess the fish diversity, water quality and catch assessment of this new water body was necessary. Data on fish species were collected on monthly basis using multi-stage gillnet sampling techniques for eighteen months. Four sampling stations were randomly selected from the entire gorge. In each sampling station (fishing villages) were randomly selected for the investigation of the fish composition and abundance. A variety of sampling methods were used at each site in order to reach every fish species. At the river channel and the floodplain sites, traps, cast nets (2.55cm mesh), seine nets (25.5x2m, cm mesh), monofilament nylon gillnets (15.55 cm mesh), and hook and line were employed. Effort were made in order to catch fish species in large abundance. Some sampled fish (dead) were collected and placed in cool boxes and examined within 18h of capture, others were preserved in 15% formalin and stored for later examination. Samples of catches from the commercial fishermen was in addition examined and assessed. A total of 5,736 fish specimens were caught during the study period. These were identified and classified into 34 species belonging to 13 families, and arranged according to Greenwood et al (1966). The percentage species composition of the harvest by numbers and weight for all fish species that contributed more than 1% in all the stations combine were computed. Data fish composition and abundance were collected. From field and Laboratory evaluation, Bagridae (25.1%), Cichlidae (37.1%) and Mormyridae (14.5%) were most abundant families contributing 76.7% by number and 75% by weight of the total catch followed by Characidae (9.6%), Cyprinidae (7%) and Centropomidae (3%) constituting (19.6%) by number and 8.7% by weight. Others; Schilbedae (1.1%) Clarridae (0.8%), Hepsetidae (0.7%0, Mochokidae (0.6%), Channidae (0.5%), Icthyoboridae (0.2%) and Malapteruridae (0.1%) were least represented (4% by number and 16.5% by weight of total catch). Study of the physico-chemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen ranged from 2.2 to 9.1mg/l; temperature, 24.2 to 300C; alkalinity, 94 to 118ppm; conductivity, 81 to 86.7ohms/cm; pH, 6.04-8.62; transparency 50cm to 3.9m; nitrate, 258.15-532.6mg/l; total dissolved solids, 0.142-782mg/l; depth, 25-33.60m; pH and water temperature serve as variables since the fluctuation of one affects the values of others. The water quality parameters were favourable for fish production. The gillnet fisheries indicated that different mesh sizes of experimental gillnets were sensitive to different fish species. 78.4mm, 112mm, 67.2mm mesh sizes were efficient in catching C. nigrodigitatus L. niloticus and the cichlids respectively. Other gears used were cast net, traps, bamboo stems, spears and gura net. The study has shown that station iv was the most suitable habitat for fish in Ikere gorge. Water level and temperature were observed to guarantee high fish yield in the gorge.      &nbsp

Drinking patterns: biochemical and haematological findings in alcohol consumers in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Effect of drinking patterns on biochemical and haematological parameters was conducted on 200 Nigerian men, categorized into non-drinkers (control), occasional, moderate and heavy drinkers, using standard techniques. Their ages ranged between 20 and 57 years. The values obtained for occasionaland moderate drinkers showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) from those of non-drinkers based on their biochemical and haematological parameters. However, there was significant difference (p < 0. 05) in the values obtained for heavy drinkers and those of other categories. This study showed thatoccasional and moderate drinking had no effect on biochemical and haematological parameters while heavy drinking had some effect. Some of the results in conjunction with the clinical history would also be useful in diagnosing and management of alcoholics

The Influence Of The Internet On Health Seeking Behaviour Of Nursing Mothers In Ekiti State, Nigeria

The use of internet services to investigate health-related issues is now on the increase among nursing mothers in Nigeria; however, the quality of health information provided on various online sites is questionable. Unfortunately, very little studies have been conduced to explore the influence the internet has on the health seeking behaviour of nursing mothers in Nigeria. This study investigates the influence of the internet on health seeking behaviours of nursing mothers and examines internet‟s influence on their health seeking behaviour. A standardized 10-question survey on Internet use and health seeking behaviour was given to 150 nursing mothers in Ekiti State. It was found that out of 142 responses received, 109 nursing mothers (76.7%) reported using the Internet to find health information. 105 nursing mothers (96.3%) out of the 109 consult the internet for answers to their babies‟ health problems before consulting a doctor or a care giver. 81.6% of the nursing mothers adhere to the online physician‟s advice thereby leading to self medication. An aggregate of 101 (92.6%) nursing mothers submitted that the internet influences their health seeking decisions. Conclusively, the tests of hypothesis show a significant relationship between the use of internet and health seeking behaviours of nursing mothers and also, between the use of internet and self medication among them

Biochemical alteration in Nigerian children with acute falciparum malaria

This study was undertaken to establish data on the effect of acute falciparum malaria on plasma levels some biochemical parameters in the pathology of malaria in Nigeria children. We estimated the levels ofNa+, K+, HCO3, Ca++ , inorganic PO4 =, bilirubin, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine and glucose in the plasma of 250 parasitaemic and 150 non-parasitaemic Nigerian children. Inorganic PO4 =, urea, creatinine and bilirubin levels were significantly elevated in the acute falciparum malarious children than in the non-parasitaemic controls. Acute falciparum malaria resulted in significant reduction of HCO3 -, total protein, albumin and glucose levels in the malarious children. There was no significant difference in the mean values of the biochemical parameters between malarious children with relative parasite count of 1-10 asexual form of parasite in 100 high power field (hpf) of thick blood film (+) and those with 11-100 asexual form of parasite in 100 hpf of thick blood film(++)

Mechanical Strength and Biocompatibility Properties of Materials for Bone Internal Fixation: A Brief Overview

An ideal bone internal fixation material does more than just fracture union. It ensures the preservation of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and body-bone’s integrity. This has been a major fight in osteosynthesis from the ancient time till date. Animal skeletons that were first used as internal fixations though had some desirable mechanical properties comparable to bones, their usage resulted in mild pus formation, difficulty with resorption of sterile bones and non-union. A shift to metallic bone implants resulted in corrosion and bio-incompatibility, stress shielding, imaging and radiotherapy interference, temperature sensitivity, revision surgery with extreme difficulty, growth restriction, metal-in tissue accumulation, bone-metal elastic modulus mismatch to mention but a few. Advances in osteosynthesis have, however, led to great improvement on metallic bone fixations, yet leaving some fundamental issues unresolved. Exploration of biodegradable polymers and their composites is fast solving most of the problems encountered through the use of skeletal and metallic fixations. Their low Young's moduli and excellent biocompatibility, non-carcinogenicity and bioresorbability have made them viable materials for bone fracture healing. This brief overview covers the biomechanical properties of popular biological materials, metallic fixations and polymeric scaffold

Comparative effects of organic and inorganic bio-fillers on the hydrophobicity of polylactic acid

The use of Polylactic acid (PLA) has been limited in the biomedical field because of its slow degradation profile which is traceable to its degree of hydrophobicity. In this work, 16.67 wt. % of chitosan (Ch), chitin (Ct) and titanium (Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Mo-2Cr-0.25Si) (Ti) powders weremelt blended with PLA and the resulting composites examined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Chitosan was found to reduce the hydrophobic peak due to δs(CH3) in PLA by 13.92%, chitin by 10.65% and titanium by 8.04%. Summarily, the organic biofillers produced more hydrophilic PLA composites than the inorganic filler. The percentage reduction in hydrophobicity renders the developed composites more suitable for orthopaedic applications

Parametric Effects of Fused Deposition Modelling on the Mechanical Properties of Polylactide Composites: A Review

Polymers are generally inferior in mechanical properties to metals which are the current orthopaedic material for osseointegration in many parts of the world today. This assertion also applies to poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a polyester that has been recently found applicable in tissue remodelling. To improve on its mechanical properties, several processing techniques, inclusive of fused deposition modelling (FDM) also branded as fused filament fabrication (FFF), have been used. FDM has been endeared to many researchers because a range of parameters can be combined to bring about widely different mechanical properties. Although the influence of FDM parameters on the mechanical properties of PLA is clear, the tensile, compressive and flexural strengths obtained so far are inferior to human cortical bone. The need to improve on this production technique for improved mechanical properties is apparent in all the works examined in this revie

The Strength characteristics of Chitosan‐ and Titanium‐ Poly (L‐lactic) Acid Based Composites

The problem of bone fracture and the need to avoid revision surgery in osteosynthesis are the critical reasons for the gradual shift from the use of metallic fixations to the polymeric scaffold in the orthopaedic applications. However, the mechanical properties of polymers that have become a substitute for metals need to be improved upon. An attempt was made to improve the mechanical properties of poly(L‐lactic) acid (PLLA), a biopolymer, by loading it with 1.04, 2.08, 4.17, 8.33 and 16.67 wt.% of chitosan (an organic filler) and Ti‐6Al‐2Sn‐2Mo‐2Cr‐0.25Si (an inorganic particle). Melt blend technique was the processing technique. Hardness, compressive modulus and fracture toughness of virgin PLLA improved significantly while the resulting composites were found to be less ductile than unreinforced PLLA. Titanium reinforced PLLA displayed superior mechanical properties over the neat and chitin reinforced PLLA. Compressive modulus values of the developed composites were much lower than the modulus of cortical bone, they were, however, mechanically compatible with the properties of cancellous bone. Optical microscopy images also show the formation of pores which are a catalyst for cell proliferation and cell differentiation