Achievement of developmental milestones in children with idiopathic clubfoot treated with Ponseti method in Lagos Nigeria

Clubfoot, also known as congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), is a congenital deformity involving one foot or both. It is a relatively common birth defect occurring in about one in every 1,000 live births. No study has been carried out to determine if there is delay in gross motor milestones in children with idiopathic clubfoot treated with Ponseti method in this part of the world. This study was conducted to investigate this.In this prospective study, 48 children with idiopathic clubfoot who were compliant with the foot abduction brace were enrolled. Parents were interviewed repeatedly to obtain the ages of achievement of 8 motor milestones and the data was stored and analysed using SPSS version 17.Forty-eight children with mean age of 1.2 months as at first casting and a male: female ratio of 3.8:1 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Of the eight milestones studied, the mean age of achievement of one of them was significantly greater (P<0.05) compared with normative data. Pre-ambulatory and crawling milestones showed no significant difference, but independent ambulation was achieved up to 2 months later.Although there were significant delays in upright ambulation in children with idiopathic clubfoot treated with Ponseti method, they all walked.These findings should enable clinicians alleviate the concerns and fears of the parents of children with idiopathic clubfoot and assure them of a positive prognosis regarding developmental milestone achievement in spite of delays.Keywords: Congenital talipes equinovarus, idiopathic clubfoot, Ponseti method, developmental milestone

Effects of Feeding Graded Levels of Brewers Dried Grains with or without Probiotics Supplementation in Replacing Groundnut Cake in The Diet of Weaner Rabbits

A total of Fifty four (54) weaner rabbits (Oryctalogus cunniculus) of similar body weight and age were used in this experiment to determine the effects of replacing Brewers dried grains (BDG) for Groundnut Cake (GNC) with or without probiotics supplementation. A 3x3 factorial experiment was adopted such that there were (3) replacement levels (0, 30 and 60%) of BDG for GNC by three supplement levels (no supplement, probiotics A and probiotics B which lasted for a period of eight (8) weeks.The result showed that increase in the inclusion level of BDG had significant effect (P<0.05) on the feed intake and feed to gain ratio, but had no effect (P>0.05) on the rate of weight gain. The Nitrogen intake and Nitrogen digested showed significant effect (P<0.05) as the level of BDG was increased but had no effect (P>0.05) on the faecal Nitrogen and Nitrogen Digestibility. The Cost of feed per kg, cost of rearing, selling price showed no significant effect (P>0.05) on the level of inclusion of BDG while the gross profitability and feed cost efficiency showed significant effect (P<0.05) on the inclusion of BDG. There was a significant effect (P<0.05) of the supplementation of the feed intake and feed to gain ratio but no significant effect (P>0.05) of the supplementation was observed on the rate of weight gain, Supplementation had significant effect (P<0.05) on Nitrogen intake and Nitrogen digested but had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the faecal Nitrogen and Nitrogen digestibility. Supplementation had significant effect (P<0.05) on the Gross profitablility and cost efficiency but had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the cost of feed, cost of rearing, selling price. Weaner Rabbit fed probiotics B significantly preformed better than weaner Rabbits fed probiotics A. Taking feed intake, feed to gain ratio, nitrogen intake and nitrogen digested as consideration for the performance of the rabbits, it is recommended that 30% inclusion of BDG supplemented with probiotics A is the best replacement level of GNC. Probiotics A had a better feed to gain ratio and nitrogen digestibility than probiotics B. Key words: BDG, probiotics, Rabbit, growth performance, nitrogen digestibility, cost  of feed

Subscribers’ Perception of the Quality of Service (QoS) of the Global System for Mobile Services in Ibadan, Nigeria

Using a research instrument titled “A survey of subscribers’ opinion on GSM services in Ibadan, Nigeria”, subscribersperception of the quality of servoice of GSM operations was evaluated. The questionnaire solicits information on personaldata of respondents as well as information from the GSM subscribers on their opinion of GSM network service provision asa means of communication. Findings from the research shows that the introduction of GSM has increased the workforcemobility for communication worldwide and its fueling demands for more powerful and flexible way of information access.However, the services are still plagued with problems such as call drops, higher cost and problems with short messageservices (SMS). Subscribers therefore clamour for services that are optimized to handle better quality communication andintegrate evolving wireless applications. Recommendations were made based on these findings.Keywords - GSM, QoS, Subscribers, Messages, Wireless, Cell Phones and Operators.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases in enteric Gram-negative bacteria from patients with lower respiratory tract infections in a tertiary hospital, southwest Nigeria

Background: AmpC or class C or group 1 beta lactamases are class C cephalosporinases that hydrolyse a wide variety of beta-lactam antibiotics including alpha methoxy beta-lactams (cefoxitin), narrow and broad spectrum cephalosporins. This study was conducted to characterize plasmid-mediated AmpC producing enteric Gram- negative bacteria from patients with lower respiratory tract infections in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) Ile Ife, Osun State, NigeriaMethodology: A total of 149 patients with clinical features of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) were selected by simple random sampling for the study. All Gram-negative isolates recovered from standard microbiological cultures of respiratory specimens of these patients were tested against cefoxitin, third generation cephalosporins (3GCs), and other antibiotics using the disc diffusion AST method, and also screened for production of AmpC beta-lactamases phenotypically by the CLSI method. Plasmid DNA extraction was carried out on twenty-nine cefoxitin-resistant selected isolates using the Kado and Lin method, while genotypic detection of plasmid-mediated AmpC gene was carried out by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.Results: The results showed that 204 (43.3%) of 471 isolates recovered from the 149 selected patients were resistant to 3GC in the AST assay, among which 121 (59.3%) were resistant to cefoxitin, and 189 of the 471 isolates (40.1%) were AmpC producers. The AmpC producers concurrently showed multiple resistance pattern to other antibiotics tested in this study. Ninety six percent of the 29 selected isolates for plasmid analysis contained plasmids, 45% of which amplified positive on PCR for CMY, 38% for FOX, and 31% for ACC types of AmpC genes.Conclusion: This study showed a high degree of antibiotic resistance among enteric Gram-negative bacteria recovered from patients with LRTIs, as well as high degree of plasmid-encoded AmpC genes responsible for this high antibiotic resistance among the isolates. Proper antibiotic policy and regulation are required to limit the spread of plasmid mediated AmpC β-lactamase producing organisms because they can lead to therapeutic failure in infected patients in the nearest future.   French title: Caractérisation phénotypique et génotypique des bêta-lactamases AmpC à médiation plasmidique dans les bactéries entériques Gram-négatives de patients atteints d'infections des voies respiratoires inférieures dans un hôpital tertiaire, sud-ouest du Nigéria Contexte: Les bêta-lactamases AmpC ou de classe C ou de groupe 1 sont des céphalosporinases de classe C qui hydrolysent une grande variété d'antibiotiques bêta-lactamines, y compris les alpha-méthoxy bêta-lactamines (céfoxitine), les céphalosporines à spectre étroit et large. Cette étude a été menée pour caractériser les bactéries à Gram négatif entériques produisant de l'AmpC à médiation plasmidique chez des patients atteints d'infections des voies respiratoires inférieures du complexe hospitalier universitaire d'Obafemi Awolowo (OAUTHC) Ile Ife, État d'Osun, NigériaMéthodologie: Un total de 149 patients présentant des caractéristiques cliniques d'infections des voies respiratoires inférieures (LRTI) ont été sélectionnés par échantillonnage aléatoire simple pour l'étude. Tous les isolats à Gram négatif récupérés à partir de cultures microbiologique standard d'échantillons respiratoires de ces patients ont été testés contre la céfoxitine, les céphalosporines de troisième génération (3GC) et d'autres antibiotiques en utilisant la méthode AST de diffusion sur disque, et également criblés pour la production de bêtalactamases AmpC phénotypiquement par le Méthode CLSI. L'extraction de l'ADN plasmidique a été réalisée sur 29 isolats sélectionnés résistants à la céfoxitine en utilisant la méthode Kado et Lin, tandis que la détection  génotypique du gène AmpC à médiation plasmidique a été réalisée par le test de réaction en chaîne par polymérase (PCR).Résultats: Les résultats ont montré que 204 (43,3%) des 471 isolats récupérés des 149 patients sélectionnés étaient résistants à la 3GC dans le test AST, parmi lesquels 121 (59,3%) étaient résistants à la céfoxitine et 189 des 471 isolats (40,1%) étaient des producteurs d'AmpC. Les producteurs d'AmpC ont montré simultanément plusieurs profils de résistance à d'autres antibiotiques testés dans cette étude. Quatre-vingt-seize pour cent des 29 isolats sélectionnés pour l'analyse des plasmides contenaient des plasmides, dont 45%  amplifiés positifs par PCR pour CMY, 38% pour FOX et 31% pour les types ACC des gènes AmpC.Conclusion: Cette étude a montré un degré élevé de résistance aux antibiotiques parmi les bactéries entériques Gram-négatives  récupérées chez des patients atteints de LRTI, ainsi qu'un degré élevé de gènes AmpC codés par plasmide responsable de cette résistance élevée aux antibiotiques parmi les isolats. Une politique et une réglementation appropriées en matière d'antibiotiques sont nécessaires pour limiter la propagation des organismes producteurs β-lactamase d'AmpC à médiation plasmidique car ils peuvent conduire à un échec thérapeutique chez les patients infectés dans un avenir proche. &nbsp

Morphological and morphometric studies of the aorta, pulmonary trunk, and heart of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Micro-anatomical changes in the aorta, pulmonary trunk, and left ventricle of Wistar rats were studied after the administration of streptozotocin. Twenty adult Rattus norvegicus were randomly assigned into two groups (control and diabetic) of ten rats each. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced in the diabetic group of rats by daily intra-peritoneal administration of multiple doses of 40 mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer for five consecutive days. The control group was given the equivalent volume of citrate buffer. The animals were monitored for four weeks after streptozotocin administration. Post sacrifice, the left ventricle, aorta, and pulmonary trunk were excised, weighed, and fixed by immersion in 10% formol saline. The tissues were processed for paraffin embedding, and sections of 6 &#956;m thickness were produced and stained with H & E for general histological observations, and Verhoeff-van Gieson elastic fibre stain to demonstrate elastic fibres in these cardiovascular structures. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Histopathological and morphometric examinations of the stained sections showed a significant increase in the thickness of the tunica intima of aorta (t = &#8211;7.49; df = 9; p < 0.05) and pulmonary trunk (t = &#8211;10.81; df = 9; p < 0.05) in diabetic rats (14.59 &#177; 1.189 mm and 11.307 &#177; 0.863 mm, respectively) when compared to that of the control group (3.62 &#177; 0.353 mm and 3.22 &#177; 0.244 mm, respectively). In addition, the distribution of elastic and collagen fibres was sparse in the hearts of the diabetic group when compared to that of the control group. The findings of this study demonstrated that diabetes mellitus might cause some alterations in the microanatomy of cardiovascular structures

Alcohol-diazepam combination: implication on the histoarchitectural profile of the hippocampus in Male Rats

Objective: Damage to hippocampal neurons has not been described as a constant finding in studies addressing the effects of alcohol and diazepam in laboratory based studies, the present study aimed to changes in the histoarchitectural of the hippocampus following administration in male Wistar rats.Methodology: Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (A), 3 mg/kg diazepam (B), 30% v/v ethanol (C), and 30% v/v ethanol plus 3 mg/kg diazepam (D). All administration was done orally for 30 days.Major findings: There were no distortions in the hippocampal profile of the rats in the control group. The histoarchitectural profile of the hippocampus of the rats in group B showed less significant damage. The histoarchitectural profile of the hippocampus of the rats in group C was disrupted with evidence of enlarged cell bodies and distorted membrane. The hippocampal profile of the rats in group D were with marked neuronal necrosis and variable neuronal loss within the hippocampal subfield.Conclusion: It was observed that co-administration of ethanol and diazepam conferred neurodegenerative effects on the neuronal profile of the hippocampus in rats.Keywords: Addiction, abuse, use, dependence, dru

Histomorphological and morphometric studies of the pancreatic islet cells of diabetic rats treated with extracts of Annona muricata

Microanatomical changes in the pancreatic islet cells of streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats were studied after treatment with methanolic extracts of Annona muricata leaves. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups (control, untreated diabetic group, and A. muricata-treated diabetic group) of ten rats each. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced in groups B and C by a single intra-peritoneal injection of 80 mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer. The control rats were intraperitoneally injected with an equivalent volume of citrate buffer. Daily intra peritoneal injections of 100 mg/kg A. muricata were administered to group C rats for two weeks. Post sacrifice the pancreases of the rats were excised and fixed in Bouin&#8217;s fluid. The tissues were processed for paraffin embedding and sections of 5 &#956;m thickness were produced and stained with H & E, Gomori aldehyde fuchsin, and chrome alum haematoxylin-phloxine for demonstration of the &#946;-cells of islets of pancreatic islets. Histomorphological and morphometric examination of the stained pancreatic sections showed a significant increase in the number, diameter, and volume of the &#946;-cells of pancreatic islets of the A. muricata-treated group (5.67 &#177; 0.184 N/1000 &#956;m2, 5.38 &#177; 0.093 &#956;m and 85.12 &#177; 4.24 &#956;m3, respectively) when compared to that of the untreated diabetic group of rats (2.85 &#177; 0.361 N/1000 &#956;m2, 2.85 &#177; 0.362 &#956;m and 69.56 &#177; 5.216 &#956;m3, respectively). The results revealed regeneration of the &#946;-cells of islets of pancreatic islet of rats treated with extract of A. muricata. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 2: 92-100

Short CommunicationAttitude of Infertile Women to Child Adoption in Nigeria

Infertility has serious consequences especially in Africa where a high premium is place on child bearing. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered on 396 consenting women seeking infertility treatment at the gynaecological clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan in an attempt to assess the attitude of infertile women in Nigeria to child adoption and its acceptability as a management option for infertility. Most (64%) believed its culturally unacceptable and only 17% will try it as an option. Sustained advocacy, community mobilization and enactment of supportive laws were some of the suggestions made by respondents to improve its uptake.Keywords; Infertility, Adoption, Assisted ConceptionNig. J. Physiol. Sci. 25(2010) 47 – 4

Burden of cytopaenias among HIV positive pregnant women at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

Introduction: Few studies have examined cytopaenia among HIV positive pregnant women.Objectives: To assess burden of cytopaenia among HIV positive pregnant women.Methodology: This cross-sectional study of women on HAART &lt;6months, defined anemia as hematocrit &lt;33%, leucopenia as total white blood cell count &lt;3,000 cells/mm3 and thrombocytopenia as absolute platelet count &lt;100,000 cells/mm3. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed.Results: Over 8 years, of 1,197 women, the mean age was 29.02(±5.4) years and mean gestational age 25.9(±8.1) weeks. Prevalence of anaemia was 76.8%, leucopaenia 6.9% and thrombocytopenia 4.7%. The mean haematocrit was 28.5%(±4.5); median white blood count 5,500/mm3 ; median platelet count 200,000/mm3 and median CD4 323 cells/mm3.Mean haematocrit was highest (29.7%±5.3) in women in the first trimester but lowest (28.4% ±4.6) in women in second trimester (p=0.04). Compared with earlier trimesters, women in the third trimester had higher median white blood count (5,600 cells/mm3), higher neutrophil (61.0% ±11.2) but lower lymphocytes(28.3%± 9.2) (p=0.18; 0.00, 0.00). Median absolute platelet count was highest (206,000 cells/mm3) in the first trimester but lowest (195,000 cells/mm3) in third trimester (0.04). Women with lower CD4 had higher prevalence of cytopaenias.Conclusion: Cytopaenias are not uncommon in this population especially with lower CD4

Comparison of maggot culture as aquafeed in sustainable aquaculture using different organic wastes

Abattoir waste, poultry dung and maize bran waste were collected, oven dried to constant weight and used for maggot culture. Maggot production was monitored for first occurrence time and collections were made after full production period. The sizes in length (cm) and weight (g) of maggot at full production capacity were measured and quantity produced computed for each substrate. This experiment lasted for four weeks. The results of the experiment showed that the shorter maggot first occurrence time of 48-72hours was recorded in fresh poultry dung waste and the highest time of 72-120 hours was recorded in fresh processed maize bran waste. There was significant difference between the first time of occurrence of maggot in these two wastes. The highest mean weight and length of 0.023 ~c:0.009g and 1.7 ~c0.55cm were recorded in maggot raised in fresh poultry dung waste. There was no significant difference (p>0.01; p>0.05) between the weight and length of maggot at full grown time when raised in fresh abattoir waste and fresh poultry dung. 22.89g of live maggotlkg of waste was raised in poultry dung followed by 14.93glkg waste from fresh abattoir waste and least of 6.79glkg of bran waste. The nutritive value of the maggot meal varied with each dung with maggot from poultry dung been the richest. Based on the result of this experiment effort could be more intensified using both abattoir waste and poultry dung to raise maggot meal for sustainable aquaculture practices