Kinetics and thermodynamic study of corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1.5m HCl medium using cocoa leaf extract as inhibitor

This study examined the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1.5M HCl solution using cocoa leaf extract as an inhibitor. The effect of inhibitor concentrations, kinetics, and time of immersion were undertaken at 30oC while the thermodynamic parameters were determined with temperature range of 35oC – 55oC. FTIR result indicated that the actual adsorption of the inhibitor is as a result of donation of single pair of electrons on oxygen to the vacant d – orbitals of the metal (mild steel) that leads to the formation of complexes on the mild steel surface. The corrosion rate decreased from 1.64 g/cm2hr to 0.09gm/cm2hr in the presence of inhibitor used. However, increased in temperature showed a decreased in inhibition efficiency this resulted to an increase in rate of corrosion. Half – life of the corrosion kinetics ranges from 49.71 – 53. 15hr which is directly proportional to the inhibitor concentrations. Activation energy Ea, enthalpy (ΔHo), and entropy (ΔSo) calculated showed good interactions. The enthalpy of activation ranges from 63.28kJ/mol to 97.55kJ/mol. Rise in activation energy with inhibitor concentration confirmed the physical (physisorption) adsorption mechanism for the corrosion of mild steel surface. Endothermic nature of the corrosion process is ascertained with the positive value of ΔHo obtained.Keywords: Gravimetric, thermodynamic, adsorption, activation energ

Effect of Terminalia catappa Leaves Extract on Corrosion of Mild Steel using Response Surface Methodology

Effect of Terminalia catappa leaves (TCL) extract in inhibiting corrosion of mild steel was investigated. In order to obtain the maximum inhibition efficiency, optimization of the process variables affecting corrosion of mild steel was carried out using the Box – Behnken Design plan and desirability function of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The three parameters - varied include; TCL concentration (inhibitor), immersion time, and temperature and there effects in corrosion inhibition were established. The optimum conditions predicted from the quadratic model were inhibitor’s concentratrion (0.39 g/l), exposure time (8.68 hours), and temperature (36.06 oC) with the inhibition efficiency of 91.95 %. The data fitted well to the quadratic model which was validated. Adsorption of the extract’s component on the mild steel was responsible for the inhibitory effect of the TCL extract.The results showed that 97.92% of the total variation in the inhibition efficiency of TCL can be connected to the variables studied. Keywords: Mild steel, acid, Terminalia catappa, Corrosion, Response surface methodology (RSM)

Comparative Study of Oral Health and Microbial Flora in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria

Many factors have been documented in literature to affect the oral health of pregnant women. The most prevalent of which is gingivitis; an inflammatory lesion of the gum which commonly occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy. Good oral hygiene has however been shown to reduce its prevalence especially during pregnancy. In this cross-sectional comparative study, among 26 pregnant women and 32 non-pregnant age- matched controls, the oral microbial flora was determined and compared in both the cases and the controls. It was found that Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans and Coagulase negative Stphylococcus were the most common organisms in both groups. Neisseria catarrhalis was more commonly found in the pregnant women (30.8%) than in the non-pregnant women (9.4%) while Escherichia coli was more commonly found in non-pregnant women (28.1%) than pregnant women. There were more cases of severe gingivitis in pregnant women who clean their teeth more than once daily (33.3%) as opposed to none in non-pregnant women who clean their teeth more than once a day. It is therefore expected that if pregnant women are educated about oral hygiene practices to attain optimal oral health, inflammatory lesions and other dental diseases attributable to pregnancy could be prevented

Reasons for late presentation of cleft deformity in northeastern Nigeria

Cleft lip and palate is the commonest congenital deformity of the orofacial region. It is generally accepted that the surgical operations of cleft lip and palate should be done early in life. Indeveloping countries, a significant number of these patients present for treatment in late childhood and in some instances as adults. The precise reasons for this will most certainly vary from culture to culture, but the common reasons may be quite similar in many countries Method: Fifty-two patients with facial clefts who presented late at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital within a 2-year period were assessed by interviewing either the parents, relations or even the patients themselves. Result: The reasons for late presentation were financial constraint (46%), lack of knowledge of availability of cleft services (40%), far distance from cleft centre (8%), cultural beliefs (4%) and fear of surgery(2%). Conclusion: The result of this study revealed financial constraint and lack of knowledge of availability of cleft services as prominent reasons why majority of patients with cleft deformity presents late. Adequate funding of cleft care from both government and non-governmental organisations, providing primary health care workers with information regarding the availability of cleft services and improved public enlightenment programme would reduce the rate of late presentation in Nigeria and other developing countries

Repair of spontaneous perineal laceration at delivery, a cultural taboo: a case report

Although genital trauma is a recognized maternal complication of vaginal birth, the presence of skilled birth attendants at delivery and judicious use of episiotomy has been shown to reduce this risk to the barest minimum. Prompt repair of these traumas averts the resultant complicationsthat may arise. A case of a booked 18-year-old nulliparous Guinea-Conakry woman with a  second-degree perineal tear who declined repairdue to a cultural reason is presented. The need for supervised delivery as well as immediate and long-term health implications of her decision isdiscussed.Keywords: Perineal laceration, Genital trauma,Skilled/unskilled birth attendant, vaginaldelivery/childbirth, custom, belief, haemorrhag

Congenital granular cell tumour of the newborn: A case report of the rare lesion

Congenital granular cell tumour [CGCT], a benign soft tissue tumour was a surprise discovery to the parents as well as the obstretical staffs at birth. It developed in the maxillary left canine region causing oral disfigurement and feeding problems. Diagnosis was essentially clinical and confirmed by histology. Surgical excision was done. We describe a case of CGCT in a 3-week old female neonate in the paediatric dentistry unit of LASUT

Serum total IgG and tetanus specific IgG in Nigerian human immunodeficiency virus infected primigravidae and the cord blood of their babies at birth

Background: HIV infection affects millions of women and children, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Tetanus also causes significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Since the main effect of HIV is immunosuppression, there is potential for a negative influence the host immune response to tetanus in women with HIV.Objective: This case-control study evaluated the effect of HIV infection on maternal tetanus antibody production and neonatal tetanus antibody levels.Methods: Thirty registered primigravidae were recruited from the clinic;15 were HIV positive and 15 were HIV negative. Serum samples of maternal and cord blood were obtained from both groups at delivery. Maternal total IgG and cord blood tetanus-specific antibody were estimated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay.Results: There was no significant difference in the total IgG level of HIV positive mothers compared with HIV negative mothers. No significant difference in the tetanus-specific IgG level in the cord blood of babies of HIV positive mothers compared with cord blood of babies of the HIV negative mothers.Conclusion: HIV infection did not significantly reduce total IgG production in Nigerian primigravidae. Tetanus-specific IgG levels were above protective levels in neonates of HIV positive mothers suggesting adequate protection.Keywords: Tetanus, Antibody, Pregnancy, Immunisation, HI

Nodular hidradenoma of the breast: A case report

Nodular hidradenoma is a rare benign skin adnexial lesion of the breast. It is often located in the nipple areolar region and presents as a slow growing painless lesion.We report a case in a 62 yr old male who had a slowly growing left breast lesion of 10 yrs duration. Physical examination revealed an 8 cm superficial, spherical, mobile non tender lump in the nipple areolar region. Excision biopsy with clear margins was performed and histologic examination was nodular hidradenoma after wide consultations.Nodular hidradenoma of the breast is a differential diagnosis of sub areolar masses that must be considered by both pathologist and surgeons to avoid misdiagnosis and overtreatment.Keywords: Nodular hidradenoma, Male breast, Nipple areolar regio

A revisit of oral and maxillofacial mortality from orofacial infections in a resource limited setting: Is there a need for a change in management protocol?

Background: Orofacial infections are communicable infections usually of odontogenic origin, they often present as rapidly spreading infection involving the fascial spaces of the head and neck. When they are not promptly and adequately intercepted, they may result in fatal outcomes. The common pathway to mortality in these patients is often airway compromise. The advent of antibiotics and improvement in quality of health care has been said to improve the success rate in the management of orofacial infections, however the findings from our setting showed that the mortality from orofacial infections have remained high.Objective: To report mortalities from patients managed for orofacial infections in our center, review our treatment protocol and ascertain the necessity for a change in management protocolDesign: A retrospective study Setting: Maxillofacial surgery department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano, Kano state Nigeria.Subjects: All patients who died in our facility over a one hundred and thirty eight-month period (January 2005 – June 2016) following management of orofacial infectionsResults: A total of 115 (76 males, 39 females) maxillofacial admissions were recorded on account of orofacial infection during the period under review; of these 26 mortalities were recorded (22.6%). Male subjects constituted 19 cases while female subjects were 7 in number. The demised patients’ ages ranged from 19 years to 73 years with a mean age of 34.0 ± 12.0 years.Conclusion: Orofacial infections are potentially lethal; they constitute one of the commonest causes of mortality in maxillofacial surgery facilities. A standard care of early intervention, aggressive medical and surgical therapy has consistently provided the best results