PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM SOME VEGETABLE OILS

Biodiesel is becoming prominent among the alternatives to conventional petro-diesel due to economic,environmental and social factors. The quality of biodiesel is influenced by the nature of feedstock and theproduction processes employed. High amounts of free fatty acids (FFA) in the feedstock are known to bedetrimental to the quality of biodiesel. In addition, oils with compounds containing hydroxyl groups possesshigh viscosity due to hydrogen bonding. American Standards and Testing Materials, (ASTM D 6751)recommends FFA content of not more than 0.5% in biodiesel and a viscosity of less than 6 mm2/s. Thephysico-chemical properties of palm kernel oil and coconut oil were assessed for their potentials in biodiesel.The properties of palm kernel oil and coconut oil were compared with those of palm from literature whilethat of biodiesel were compared with petro-diesel, ASTM and European Standards (EN14214). Resultsshowed that high amounts of FFA in oils produced low quality biodiesel while neutralized oils with lowamounts of FFA produced high quality biodiesel. The quality of biodiesel from palm kernel oil and coconutoils was improved greatly by neutralising the crude oil

Impact of HIV infection and zidovudine therapy on RBC parameters and urine methylmalonic acid levels

Background. Anaemia is a common complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of HIV infection and zidovudine on red blood cells (RBC) parameters and urine methylmalonic acid (UMMA) levels in patients with HIV infection. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study involving 114 subjects, 94 of which are HIV-infected nonanaemic and 20 HIV negative subjects (Cg) as control. Full blood count parameters and urine methylmalonic acid (UMMA) level of each subject were determined. Associations were determined by Chi-square test and logistic regression statistics where appropriate. Results. Subjects on zidovudine-based ART had mean MCV (93 fL) higher than that of control group (82.9 fL) and ART-naïve (85.9 fL) subjects and the highest mean RDW. Mean UMMA level, which reflects vitamin B12 level status, was high in all HIV-infected groups but was significantly higher in ART-naïve subjects than in ART-experienced subjects. Conclusion. Although non-zidovudine therapy may be associated with macrocytosis (MCV > 95 fL), zidovudine therapy and ART naivety may not. Suboptimal level of vitamin B12 as measured by high UMMA though highest in ART-naïve subjects was common in all HIV-infected subjects

Prevalence and type of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance in an apparently healthy Nigerian population: a cross sectional study

Background The prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a premalignant plasma-cell disorder has not been determined in our geographic area Nigeria. Methods A cross sectional survey was carried on apparently healthy Nigerians selected by multistage sampling technique from the cosmopolitan city of Lagos, Nigeria. Subjects enrolled into the study had 2-step screening for the presence, type and concentration of monoclonal band. Agarose-gel electrophoresis was performed on all serum samples, and any serum sample with a discrete band of monoclonal protein or thought to have a localized band was subjected to Immunofixation. Subjects were also evaluated for Bence jones proteinuria, haematological and biochemical parameters. Results Four hundred and ten subjects with a mean age of 45.68 ± 10.3 years, a median of 45.00 years and a range of 20 to 80 years were enrolled into the study. MGUS was identified in only one (0.24 percent) of the 410 study subject. This subject was demonstrated to have a double monoclonal gammopathy; IgGλ at 16.9 g/L and IgAκ at 8.5 g/L. None of them including the sole subject with MGUS had a monoclonal urinary light chain. Conclusion Among residents of Lagos, Nigeria, MGUS was found in only 0.24% percent of apparently normal persons with a median age of 45 years. This suggests that MGUS which represents the earliest stage of monoclonal plasma/lymphoid cell proliferation is not a common finding in the relatively young population of Nigeria. Future epidemiologic studies dealing with plasma cell disorders in older people are required to carefully examine the relationship between environmental factors and prevalence of MGUS and its ultimate progression to MM

Relationship of oral hygiene status and practices with oral lesions in a group of HIV positive patients in Lagos, Nigeria

Objective: The oral health of HIV positive patients may be compromised because of their depressed immunity and may increase their risk of developing some oral lesions. This study was carried out to assess the relationship of the oral hygiene status and practices with oral lesions in HIV positive patients at a dedicated HIV clinic in Nigeria. Method: A cross sectional study of adult HIV positive patients aged 18 years and above at the HIV outpatient clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Data on age, gender, marital status, level of education and oral hygiene practices were collected. Their CD4 counts were recorded. Oral examination was carried out on all patients to assess their oral hygiene status using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index. Oral lesions were recorded when present. Result: A total of 134 HIV positive patients were seen, most (71.6%) of whom had never visited a dentist. The mean oral hygiene index (OHI-S) score of the patients was 1.85 and 55.2% had a fair oral hygiene status. The majority (77.6%) cleaned their teeth once daily. Oral candidiasis and linear gingival erythema (LGE) were the two most prevalent oral lesions being 26.1% and 11.2% respectively. The mean oral hygiene index (OHI-S) score was higher in males [2.10] compared with females [1.71] (p<0.05), in patients who had never visited the dentist [1.99] compared with those who had visited the dentist previously [1.49] (p<0.05) and in patients with linear gingival erythema compared with those without the lesion (p< 0.05).The CD4 + Tlymphocyte count was not associated with the OHI-S (p>0.05). Conclusion: Poorer oral hygiene was significantly associated with male gender, no previous dental visits and linear gingival erythema lesions in the HIV positive patients in this study. Regular oral health education programmes should be incorporated into the treatment protocol of HIV positive patients at the HIV clinic to improve their overall health status

Relationship Between Plasma Homocysteine and Vitamin B12 Levels in Clinically Diagnosed Cases of Cardiovascular Accident in Lagos, Nigeria

Vitamin B12 deficiency interferes with the normal pathway for homocysteine metabolism, even in the presence of adequate serum folate and pyridoxine. Homocysteinaemia, is an elevated level of homocysteine in plasma which has been established as a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disorders. However, there has been conflicting report from various research works on the role of Vitamin B12 in the occurrence of major cardiovascular disorders. The study was set to determine the mean values of homocysteine, and correlate same with mean plasma levels of vitamin B12 in the subjects, and to estimate the prevalence of anaemia in the stroke patients, using Haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) as indices. One hundred (100) participants were recruited, comprising 40 clinically diagnosed stroke patients (hemorrhagic or thrombo-embolic), and 60 normal adults as control group. Plasma homocysteine levels were measured by HPLC and plasma vitamin B12 levels by Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immuno-assay method. Anticoagulated whole blood samples were evaluated for Hb, and MCV using automated Advia-60. Mean value of plasma homocysteine for the stroke patients (17.7±4.4umol/l) was significantly higher than values obtained in the control group at 9.5±2.4umol/l (

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Parvovirus B19 Infection among Blood Donors: A Hospital‑Based Study in South‑West, Nigeria

Background: Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a transfusion transmissible infection that can result in severe consequences in vulnerable population that includes pregnant women, immunocompromised and chronic hemolytic anemia patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with B19V infection amongst blood donors in South–West Nigeria. Materials and Methods: We conducted a comparative cross‑sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of B19V immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody among 183 blood donors at the blood bank of a tertiary hospital. The results were analyzed with SPSS 23 software, prevalence and associated factors were determined using frequencies and logistic regression, respectively. Results: The prevalence of B19V IgM was 7.1% (95% confidence interval: 4–11) with a higher prevalence among male donors compared to females (84.6% vs. 15.4%, P = 0.54). There was a statistically significant difference in the seropositivity of B19V IgM amongst the ethnic groups with the Yoruba ethnic group having a higher proportion of B19V IgM‑positive participants P = 0.04. Ethnicity, gender, and steady employment were also associated with increased odds of infection, while increasing age appeared to be protective; though none of these factors were statistically significant. Conclusion: This study has shown that there is still high exposure to transfusion transmissible B19V infection. Keywords: Blood donor, parvovirus immunoglobulin M antibody, sickle cell anaemi

Plant disease management : leveraging on the plant-microbe-soil interface in the biorational use of organic amendments

Agriculture is faced with many challenges including loss of biodiversity, chemical contamination of soils, and plant pests and diseases, all of which can directly compromise plant productivity and health. In addition, inadequate agricultural practices which characterize conventional farming play a contributory role in the disruption of the plant-microbe and soil-plant interactions. This review discusses the role of organic amendments in the restoration of soil health and plant disease management. While the use of organic amendments in agriculture is not new, there is a lack of knowledge regarding its safe and proper deployment. Hence, a biorational approach of organic amendment use to achieve sustainable agricultural practices entails the deployment of botanicals, microbial pesticides, and organic minerals as organic amendments for attaining plant fitness and disease suppression. Here, the focus is on the rhizosphere microbial communities. The role of organic amendments in stimulating beneficial microbe quorum formation related to the host-plant-pathogen interactions, and its role in facilitating induced systemic resistance and systemic-acquired resistance against diseases was evaluated. Organic amendments serve as soil conditioners, and their mechanism of action needs to be further elaborated to ensure food safety

Dual Hypocretin Receptor Antagonism Is More Effective for Sleep Promotion than Antagonism of Either Receptor Alone

The hypocretin (orexin) system is involved in sleep/wake regulation, and antagonists of both hypocretin receptor type 1 (HCRTR1) and/or HCRTR2 are considered to be potential hypnotic medications. It is currently unclear whether blockade of either or both receptors is more effective for promoting sleep with minimal side effects. Accordingly, we compared the properties of selective HCRTR1 (SB-408124 and SB-334867) and HCRTR2 (EMPA) antagonists with that of the dual HCRTR1/R2 antagonist almorexant in the rat. All 4 antagonists bound to their respective receptors with high affinity and selectivity in vitro. Since in vivo pharmacokinetic experiments revealed poor brain penetration for SB-408124, SB-334867 was selected for subsequent in vivo studies. When injected in the mid-active phase, SB-334867 produced small increases in rapid-eye-movement (REM) and non-REM (NR) sleep. EMPA produced a significant increase in NR only at the highest dose studied. In contrast, almorexant decreased NR latency and increased both NR and REM proportionally throughout the subsequent 6 h without rebound wakefulness. The increased NR was due to a greater number of NR bouts; NR bout duration was unchanged. At the highest dose tested (100 mg/kg), almorexant fragmented sleep architecture by increasing the number of waking and REM bouts. No evidence of cataplexy was observed. HCRTR1 occupancy by almorexant declined 4–6 h post-administration while HCRTR2 occupancy was still elevated after 12 h, revealing a complex relationship between occupancy of HCRT receptors and sleep promotion. We conclude that dual HCRTR1/R2 blockade is more effective in promoting sleep than blockade of either HCRTR alone. In contrast to GABA receptor agonists which induce sleep by generalized inhibition, HCRTR antagonists seem to facilitate sleep by reducing waking “drive”

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700