Health-care workers’ occupational exposures to body fluids in 21 countries in Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:To estimate the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of occupational exposure to body fluids among health-care workers in Africa. Methods: Embase®, PubMed® and CINAHL databases were systematically searched for studies published from January 2000 to August 2017 that reported the prevalence of occupational exposure to blood or other body fluids among health-care workers in Africa. The continent-wide prevalence of exposure was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis. Findings: Of the 904 articles identified, 65 studies from 21 African countries were included. The estimated pooled lifetime and 12-month prevalence of occupational exposure to body fluids were 65.7% (95% confidence interval, CI: 59.7–71.6) and 48.0% (95% CI: 40.7–55.3), respectively. Exposure was largely due to percutaneous injury, which had an estimated 12-month prevalence of 36.0% (95% CI: 31.2–40.8). The pooled 12-month prevalence of occupational exposure among medical doctors (excluding surgeons), nurses (including midwives and nursing assistants) and laboratory staff (including laboratory technicians) was 46.6% (95% CI: 33.5–9.7), 44.6% (95% CI: 34.1–55.0) and 34.3% (95% CI: 21.8–46.7), respectively. The risk of exposure was higher among health-care workers with no training on infection prevention and those who worked more than 40 hours per week. Conclusion: The evidence available suggests that almost one half of health-care workers in Africa were occupationally exposed to body fluids annually. However, a lack of data from some countries was a major limitation. National governments and health-care institutions across Africa should prioritize efforts to minimize occupational exposure among health-care workers

Synthesis and characterization of ZA-27 alloy matrix composites reinforced with zinc oxide nanoparticles

An investigation has been carried out on the synthesis and characterization of ZA-27 alloy composites reinforced with zinc oxide nanoparticles. This was aimed at developing high performance ZA-27 matrix nanocomposite with low density. The particle size and morphology of the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were investigated by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and the elemental composition was obtained from Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) attached to TEM and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). ZA-27 nanocomposite samples were developed using 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wt% of ZnO nanoparticles by double steps stir casting technique. Mechanical properties and Microstructural examination were used to characterize the composite samples produced. The results show that hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the composite samples increased progressively with increase in weight percentage of ZnO nanoparticles. Increase in Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 10.2%, 21.1%, 22.3%, 35.5%, 33.4% and increase in hardness value of 8.2%, 14.8%, 21.7%, 27.9%, 27.1% were observed for nanocomposites reinforced with 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, and 5 wt% ZnO nanoparticles respectively in comparison with unreinforced alloy. It was generally observed that composite sample containing 4 wt% of reinforcement has the highest tensile strength and hardness values. However, the fracture toughness and percent elongation of the composites samples slightly decreased with increase in ZnO nanoparticles content. Results obtained from the Microstructural examination using optical microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) show that the nanoparticles were well dispersed in the ZA-27 alloy matrix

Determination of work index of Filin Kokuwa Gold Deposit in Toro Local Government, Bauchi State Nigeria

This report shows the work index of Filin Kokuwa Gold ore sample in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The “reference sample (granites)” were sourced from outcrops of granites around Toro town. The samples were crushed, ground, and pulverized using appropriate laboratory milling machine. 80% passing size for the gold ore and granites samples were obtained at 100μm sieve size for the ball mill feeds and products respectively. The work indexes of reference samples i.e. granites were used to calculate the work index of the Filin Kokuwa gold ore sample. The values of 13.277kWh/ton and 15.192kWh/ton were obtained respectively for the two different reference granites samples used and 14.21kWh/ton as their average which is the value of the work index of the Filin Kokuwa gold ore deposit. The energy required for grinding the ore was found to be 3.581kW

Effects of oxytocin on fertility of red sokoto goats treated with prostaglandin f2á

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of oxytocin (OX)  administration on conception rates in does. Red Sokoto (RS) does (n = 38) were equally allocated into 2 groups; I: does treated with prostaglandin plus normal saline (PGNS) and II: does treated with prostaglandin plus oxytocin (PGOX). Does were observed for standing oestrus behaviour and bred naturally using sexually active bucks. Results showed that oestrus response, conception and kidding rates were higher in the PGOX (73.7 %, 85.7 % and 58.3 %) than PGNS (63.2 %, 75.0 % and 55.6 %). Interval to onset of oestrus, duration of oestrus did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) between groups. We conclude that administration of oxytocin concurrent with prostaglandin F2á enhanced oestrus response, conception and kidding rates of Red Sokoto does.Keywords: Red Sokoto does, oestrus, conception, kidding, oxytocin, prostaglandin F2áL’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer les effets de l’ocytocine (OX) l’administration sur les taux de conception en fait. Red Sokoto (RS) (n = 38) ont été également alloués en 2 groupes; I: ne traite avec prostaglandine ainsi une solution saline normale (PGNS) et II: ne traite avec la prostaglandine ainsi que l’ocytocine (PGOX). Est-ce que ont été observés pour s’être comportement de l’oestrus et élevés naturellement en utilisant mâles sexuellement actifs. Oestrus réponse, conception et kidding les taux étaient plus élevés dans le PGOX (73,7%, 85,7% et 58,3%) que PGNS (63,2%, 75,0% et 55,6%). Intervalle de début de l’oestrus, la durée de l’oestrus ne différait pas significativement (P <0,05) entre les groupes. Nous concluons que l’administration d’ocytocine en même temps que la prostaglandine F2a améliorée réponse, conception et kidding taux oestrus de Red Sokoto fait.Mots-clés: Red Sokoto fait, oestrus, conception, plaisante, l’ocytocine, la  prostaglandine F2

Evaluation of simplified Folltropin-V® (FSH) protocol on follicular turnover in Yankasa ewes

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of simplifying pFSH (Folltropin-V®) protocol on ovarian follicular turnover in Yankasa ewes. Fifteen Ewes were synchronized for estrus with double injections of 10 mg Dinoprost tromethamine (Lutalyse®) on day 0 and day 10 and randomly allocated to 3 groups. {Cn; control (n= 5, No FSH treatment), F1 (n=5 received FSH once daily) and F2 (n=5, received FSH twice daily at 12 hr. interval)}. Folltropin-V® treatments commenced on Day 8 (equivalent to 80 mg, in decreasing doses over 3 days). Blood samples were collected an hour before and after 1st injection of FSH, then every 12 h over the course of treatment, and then every day till end of estrus. Serum was extracted and assayed for estradiol-17β. Ultrasonic scanning of the ovaries was conducted on day 11. Follicles were counted, measured and classified. Onset of estrus was earlier in F2 than F1 being 16.8 ± 5.0 h and 27.6 ± 4.0 h, respectively. Duration of estrus was shortest for F1 (39.2 ± 11.8 h) and F2 (47.6 ±10.6 h). Estradiol-17β concentrations were elevated in the F1 than F2 1 h after 1st FSH administration, but it was not significant (P > 0.05). Estradiol-17β in F2 (2.7 ± 0.52 pg/ml) was higher than F1 (1.64 ± 0.48 pg/ml) and this was not significant (P > 0.05). A significantly higher number (P < 0.05) of small follicles < 2 mm were observed in F2 (3.6 ± 3.4) than F1 (0.6 ± 0.9). Medium sized follicles 3 mm - 4.5 mm was higher (P > 0.05) in F2 (2.4 ± 2.6) than F1 (0.6 ± 0.9). Number of large follicles >4.5 mm were similar (P > 0.05) being 2.4 ± 2.3 and 1.4 ± 1.2 in F2 and F1 respectively. Both single and double daily FSH protocols were equally efficient in inducing multiple follicular developments.Keywords: Estradiol-17β, Simplified FSH protocol, Superovulation, Ultrasonography, Yankasa ewe