Care of patients with end-stage renal disease in Nigeria: a call for a change in paradigm

The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing in most developing countries such as Nigeria. There are over a million persons with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) around the world. The cost of providing care for patients with ESRD is colossal; and data from most renal centres in Nigeria show that majority of patients are unable to afford the cost of care resulting in a high mortality among ESRD patients. Also, there is no organized funding mechanism for RRT in Nigeria. We highlight some of the challenges limiting access to care for ESRD patients in Nigeria and propose some recommendations on how to change this paradigm

Biodegradation of Naphthalene using Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus subtilis Immobilized on Snail Shell

This study investigated snail shell as a carrier to immobilize Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus subtilis isolated from refinery effluent for the degradation of naphthalene in synthetic wastewater at various process conditions such as initial naphthalene concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage and ambient temperature of 30 oC in batch mode. The results showed that the adsorption and the biodegradation capacity increased with increase in naphthalene concentration, where 73.11%, 74.46% and 65.20% of the optimum concentration (50 mg/L) were removed by immobilized Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, and snail shell respectively after 72 hours incubation. The optimal degradation occurred at the adsorbent dosage of 2 g at pH 9 and pH 7 for the adsorption and biodegradation respectively. The results were well fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich models. Therefore, snail shell can be employed as a low-cost adsorbent and solid support matrix for immobilizing microorganisms in remediating hydrocarbon contaminants.Keywords: Biodegradation; Naphthalene; Immobilization; Snail shell

Geochemical Distribution of Lead and Chromium in River Getsi-Kano

Geochemical forms of lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) from the sediment of River Getsi Kano-Nigeria were determined using Atomic Absorption spectrometer for eighteen months. Apart from determination of the metals in water, geochemical forms of the metals were also evaluated into five fractions. Exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to concentrations of the metals in water alone will not be enough to tell on the toxicity of particular heavy metal, as such the need for the geochemical forms of the metal become necessary in order to quantify the form in which the toxic metals exist. The distribution of the metals at the sediment shows that the metals were distributed in all the fractions. This suggests different pollution sources. Hence the sediment may be said to be a reservoir for the heavy metals.Keywords: Heavy metals, River Getsi, Environment, Pollution, Sediment, Geochemical form

Determinatioon of some heavy metals in dumpsite soil and Abelmoschus esculentus grown near dumpsites in Kafanchan metropolis, Kaduna state, Nigeria

No Abstract

Production of Biolubricants from Balanites aegyptiaca Seed Oil via Epoxidation and Double Transesterification Techniques

In this study, Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil was extracted from the ground seed using the Soxhlet extraction method with n-hexane as the extraction solvent to produce two biolubricants; one via epoxidation to produce Balanites aegyptiaca Lubricant (BAB-E) and the other via transesterification with trimethylolpropane to produce Balanites aegyptiaca Lubricant (BAB-T). Both biolubricants were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry. The physicochemical properties, lubricity and thermal properties of the produced biolubricants were determined. Results showed that the biolubricants had wavelengths of 3008.0 cm-1 associated with C-H stretching, 2922.8 cm-1 to -OH (acid), 1740.7 cm-1 to C=O, 1488.8 cm-1 to C=C stretching, 1364.2 cm-1 to NO2, 1237.6 cm-1 to C-O, 1159.2 cm-1 to C-C and 723.1 cm-1 to C-H bending. BAB-T had viscosities of 58.29 and 10.36 cSt at 40 and 100 OC respectively while those of BAB-E were 54.37 and 9.56 cSt. They had viscosity index of 168 and 161, and pour points of -9 and -8 respectively. These values were observed to be within acceptable range. BAB-T had coefficient of friction of 0.094 ± 0.014 while that of BAB-E was 0.080 ± 0.010 respectively. The biolubricants were observed to have thermal stability and showed properties similar to those of lubricants and show remarkable potentials to be used as alternatives to fossil-based lubricants

Effect of dietary substitution with solvent extracted neem seed cake on growth and nitrogen metabolism of albino rats (wistar strain)

A study was conducted with 24 albino rats (wistar strain) ages 3 weeks to determine the effect of substitution of diets with processed neem seed cake on growth, performance and nitrogen metabolismof rats. Group 1 and those of groups II and III were fed experimental diets containing water, 75% methanol and 75% ethanol processed neem seed cake, respectively. Two groups were given standardand commercial diet (Pfizer Nigeria Limited). The diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. The feeding experiment was conducted for two weeks (7days preliminary and 7days collection). Except formethanol neem seed cake (MNSC diet), there was significant (

Epidemiology of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus infections among HIV counseling and testing clients in Jos, North central Nigeria

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection are common in Nigeria; where they are a major cause of both acute and chronic liver disease, as well as hepatocellular cancer. Persons at risk of acquisition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection are also at risk of acquisition of infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV). We set out to determine the epidemiology of HBV and HCV infection among HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) clients at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Nigeria.This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the HCT unit of the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Nigeria between November, 2012 and April 2013.Subjects were recruited consecutively at the HCT unit of APIN JUTH. Included were subjects 18 years of age and above, antiretroviral (ARV) drug naive, who accepted and signed the consent form.Clients who declined to sign the consent form were excluded. The study involved collecting demographic data, exposure to risk factors and laboratory determination of HBV and HCV sero-prevalence in the subjects using Enzyme Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay methods.Chi-squared test was used to determine significance of association between categorical variables.One hundred and thirty two (56.9%) were females, 100 (43.1%) were males. Thirty six (15.5%) tested positive for HBsAg by ELISA, 31 (13.4%) were confirmed positive by DNA PCR. Nine (3.9%) tested positive by ELISA to HCV antibody, 7 (3.0%) were confirmed positive by RNA PCR. Co-infection rate of HIV / HBV was 5.2%. Infection was more common among those younger than 36 years in the case of HBV and those older than 36 years in the case of HCV.We concluded the prevalence of HBV infection was high. Study was limited by the cross sectional design

Amino acid composition and proximate analysis in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) fish from dams and rivers in Zamfara State, Nigeria

Twelve pieces of Tilapia mossambicus fish samples of 28 cm average length and 52 g average weight, two from each of the six sampling locations were analyzed for Amino Acid composition using Applied Biosystems PTH Amino Acid Analyzer as described by standard methods. A proximate analysis of the fish samples was also carried out. Result showed that Glutamic acid and Aspartic acid are the most concentrated amino acid present in the fish which ranged between 11.96 to 15.14 g/100g protein and 7.69 to 9.42 g/100g protein respectively. The essential amino acid and protein composition of the fish were higher in the dams than in the rivers. The composition of the amino acid analyzed were within standard regulatory agency limits. For the proximate composition, moisture content varied between 71.05% - 77.71% while ash composition was 10.20%. The crude fat composition ranged between 8.59 – 11.67% during the dry season. The values obtained for the proximate composition where within the reported ranges with higher percentage in the case of ash. The concentration of the proximate components in the fish samples are within the reference value of FAO/WHO for Humans. Special attention is needed in monitoring gold mining activities which largely contribute to the reduction and pollution of the nutritional qualities of the fishes from the rivers.Keywords: amino acid, proximate composition, tilapia fish, water bodie

Extraction, Characterization and Determination of Physicochemical Properties of Biodiesel obtained from Desert Date (Balanites aegyptiaca) Seed Oil

Biodiesel is a domestically produced, clean-burning, renewable substitute for petroleum diesel. Using biodiesel as a vehicle fuel increases energy security, improves air quality and the environment, and provides safety benefits. . This study extracted, characterized and determined the physicochemical properties of biodiesel produced from Desert date (B. aegyptiaca) seed oil using Soxhlet extraction method with n-hexane as the extraction solvent. The oil obtained was characterized using FTIR and GC-MS analyses and its physicochemical properties determined. The oil obtained was subsequently transesterified using methanol and KOH catalyst. The obtained biodiesel was characterized and its physicochemical properties determined. The result showed that B. aegyptiaca seed oil had density of 0.9 g/cm3, viscosity of 6 cSt at 40 0C and viscosity of 2.5 cSt at 100 0C. The cloud and pour points of the oil was 21 and 9 0C respectively. The oil comprised of eleven fatty acids; predominantly linoleic acid (21.88 %), vaccenic acid (13.90 %) and palmitic acid (10.96 %). The biodiesel had density of 0.88 g/cm3, kinematic viscosity of 4.2 cSt, cloud and pour points of 16 0C and 7 0C respectively. The biodiesel also had free fatty acid (FFA) of 0.79 %, iodine value of 42 mgI2/100g and saponification value of 176. The biodiesel primarily consisted of 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (45.46 %), Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (20.12 %), Butyl-9,12-Octadecadienoate (12.43 %) and Heptadecanoic acid-16-methyl ester (10.43 %). The properties obtained for the biodiesel were comparable to those of biodiesels reported in literature and thus, shows remarkable potentials to be used as substitute to fossil-based diesel fuel