PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND COMPACTION CHARACTERISTICS OF MODIFIED STARCH OF DISCOREA ALATA USING DICLOFENAC SODIUM TABLET

Objective: This work focused on evaluating the micromeritic and compressional properties of pregelatinized African water yam (Discorea alata) starch and its modified forms with comparison to pregelatinized corn starch and microcrystalline cellulose.Methods: Two modifications of the water yam starch were prepared; acetone dehydrated pregelatinized form (DSA) and an admixture of DSA and pregelatinized corn starch (CDSA). A third form of starch is the acetone dehydrated pregelatinized corn starch (CSA). These were used to form batches compacted as tablets using diclofenac sodium as the active moiety. Physicochemical and flow characteristics of the starch powders were elucidated, and the drug starch compatibility studies done using the Fourier transform Infra-red (FTIR) technique. Compaction studies were investigated on tablets formed at different compression pressures and Heckel plots were prepared.Results: The slope of the straight line (K) of 0.8959 was greatest for F1 while yield pressure (Py) value of 10.965 was highest for F3. These values from the Heckel plot suggest that while the tablets of control batch of microcrystalline cellulose (F4) and a batch of pregelatinized corn starch (F2) formed harder compacts, less likely deformed plastically, the Discorea alata batch (F1) and the admixed batch (F3) were likely to deform plastically. Also, the binding efficiency of the compact was significantly high (47.81%Kgscm-1) for F4 at 56.5Kpas compaction pressure, higher than that obtainable for any of the other formulations at the compaction pressures under consideration. All starches formed had similar moisture content (of 10%) despite the different sources but the interaction between the water molecule and pregelatinized water yam starch improved as revealed by viscosity(7.18mPas), hydration capacity(3.27%) and swelling index (250%) of CDSA.Conclusion: It could be concluded that pregelatinized water yam starch could be used as a substitute for corn starch or microcrystalline cellulose as a pharmaceutical excipient (binder/filler) in tablets formulation

Water for Cities in Nigeria:The Governance Dimension

This work assesses the state of water resources in Nigeria in the light of the global state of the affairs of water management. The study takes an in-depth survey of water availability globally on a regional per capita basis. The study further exposes contemporary trends in water management with particular focus on efforts at privatisation. The study goes further to expatiate the concept of water governance with a view to furnishing sound knowledge of the political, economic, social and administrative variables involved before it proceeds to assess the state of the affair in Nigeria, with the Niger Delta in perspective. The study concludes by drawing up the emerging issues in water governance in Nigeria for policy and practice

Solutions of Schr\"odinger Equation with Generalized Inverted Hyperbolic Potential

We present the bound state solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation with generalized inverted hyperbolic potential using the Nikiforov-Uvarov method. We obtain the energy spectrum and the wave function with this potential for arbitrary - state. We show that the results of this potential reduced to the standard known potentials - Rosen-Morse, Poschl - Teller and Scarf potential as special cases. We also discussed the energy equation and the wave function for these special cases.Comment: 20pages, 5figure

Nonplanar Geometry in Multi-Component Dust-Ion-Acoustic Shock Waves for Adiabatic Dusty Plasma

The modified Burgers’ equation of nonlinear propagation of Dust-Ion Acoustic Shock Waves (DIASWs) for multicomponent unmagnetized dusty plasma consisting of adiabatic ion fluid, Boltzmann distributed electrons and positrons and static negatively charged dust fluid has been derived using the standard reductive perturbation method. The solution of modified Burgers’ equation in nonplanar geometry is numerically analyzed and it has been found that, the nonplanar geometry effects have a very significant role in the formation of shock waves. Further more; it is found that the planar geometry shock structure with higher amplitude is the strongest, followed by cylindrical and spherical shock waves amplitudes respectively. It is also observed that; an increase in positron concentration decreases the amplitude of the DIASWs. Keywords: Nonplanar Geometry multicomponent, Dust- ion-Acoustic Shocks Adiabatic Dusty Plasm

N-nitrosation of N-methylaniline and nitrosamine toxicology in the wistar rats

The aim of this study is to investigate the urinary excretion of nitrosamine ions in rats, to investigate the effect of precursors of N-nitrosamine on serum enzymes activities and to evaluate the toxicity on liver on exposure to N- nitrosamine precursors. Forty two male wistar rats were divided into six groups and each group was admininistered with varying doses of sodium nitrite and N-methylaniline. The following methods were used; spectrophotometry, thin layer chromatography, cell fractionation, centrifugation, dialysis, histopathology, enzymatic and colorimetry. The RF values of the test samples were similar to those of the test standard, signifying the presence of N-nitrosamine in the urine of the rat. Liver function test, showed significant elevations (P < 0.05) in the AST, ALT, ALP and GGT activities in all the test groups compared with the control. Histological evaluation showed severe haemorrhage within the sinusoid, the portal triad was infiltrated by inflammatory cells in both NaNO2 induced group and NMA combined with NaNO2 group, thus showing acute damage compared with the control group which showed no lesion. The present study showed the urinary excretion of nitrosamine formed from N-methylaniline and sodium nitrite, the effect of N-methylaniline and sodium nitrite on serum enzymes and their toxicity on the liver of wistar rats

Metabolism of precursors of N-nitrosamine in vitro and nitrosamine toxicology in wistar rat

The aim of this study was to determine the level of nitrite in post mitochondrial fraction of liver and the toxicity in liver and kidney of wistar rat. Forty two male wistar rats were divided into six groups and each group was with varying doses of sodium nitrite and N-methylaniline. The following methods were employed, spectrophotometric, cell fractionation, centrifugation, dialysis, histopathology and ultra violet irradiation. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the level of nitrite in the post mitochondrial fraction of liver in all the experimental groups compared to the control. After exposure to UV-light there was a decrease in the level of nitrite in all the groups, which indicates that the UV-light has degraded the precursors of N-nitrosamine. The histopathology study showed severe haemorrhage within sinusoid, the portal triad was infiltrated by inflammatory cells within the sinusoid of the liver and kidney. The present study showed that the concentration of nitrite in the post mitochondrial fraction of the liver of the rat depends on the dose of the toxins. The study also showed UV degradation of precursors of Nnitrosamine and the effect of the toxins on both liver and kidney

The Effects of Eggshell Ash on Strength Properties of Cement-stabilized Lateritic

Eggshell ash obtained by incinerating Fowls&rsquo; eggshells to ash has been established to be a&nbsp;good accelerator for cement-bound materials and this would be useful for road construction&nbsp;work at the peak of rainy seasons for reducing setting time of stabilized road pavements.&nbsp;However this should be achieved not at the expense of other vital properties of the stabilized&nbsp;matrix. This is part of the effort in adding value to agricultural materials which probably&nbsp;cause disposal problems. Thus this study aimed at determining the effect of eggshell ash on&nbsp;the strength properties of cement-stabilized lateritic soil. The lateritic soil was classified to be&nbsp;A-6(2) in AASHTO rating system and reddish-brown clayey sand (SC) in the Unified&nbsp;Classification System. Constant cement contents of 6% and 8% were added to the lateritic&nbsp;soil with variations in eggshell ash content of 0% to 10% at 2% intervals. All proportions of&nbsp;cement and eggshell ash contents were measured in percentages by weight of the dry soil.&nbsp;The Compaction test, California Bearing Ratio test, Unconfined Compressive Strength test&nbsp;and Durability test were carried out on the soil-cement eggshell ash mixtures. The increase in&nbsp;eggshell ash content increased the Optimum Moisture Content but reduced the Maximum Dry&nbsp;Density of the soil-cement eggshell ash mixtures. Also the increase in eggshell ash content&nbsp;considerably increased the strength properties of the soil-cement eggshell ash mixtures up to&nbsp;35% in the average but fell short of the strength requirements except the durability&nbsp;requirement was satisfied

Sub-Cellular Correlation of Nitrite in Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Leaves and Nitrosamine Toxicology in Wistar Rats

The aim of this study was to determine the nitrite levels in the sub-cellular fractions of cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) leaves containing chloroplast, mitochondria and in the cytosol respectively and to their contribution in the causation of liver toxicity in rats exposed to N-nitrosamine precursors. The design of this experiment consisted of three animal groups. The first group was administered with dimethylamine hydrochloride plus sodium nitrite (DMA.HCL + NaNO2), the second group was administered with sodium nitrite (NaNO2) only and the third group (control) was given distilled water. The methods used included cell fractionation, tissue homogenization and centrifugation, spectrophotometric analysis, enzymatic determination and histopathology. Nitrite levels were estimated at 6.08 ± 0.92, 4.06 ± 1.65 and 1.29 ± 1.66μg/200g of cassava leaf tissue in chloroplasmic, mitochondrial and cytosolic sub-cellular fractions respectively. Both the NaNO2 dose regime and the combined dose of DMA.HCL and NaNO2, at P- value 0.05, caused significant increases in GGT, ALP, AST and ALT levels in serum. The histopathological study of the rat liver for DMA.HCL + NaNO2 administration showed severe portal and central venous congestion while the NaNO2 administration revealed a mild periportal cellular infiltration. This study shows that there is a correlation of nitrite in the chloroplast, mitochondria and cytosol sub-cellular fractions of cassava leaves and administration of nitrite dietary level in cassava leaves and dimethylamine hydrochloride produced acute synergistic toxicity in the liver

EFFECTS OF NUTRITION ON HAEMATOLOGY OF RABBITS: A REVIEW

This review examined the effects of nutrition on haematology of rabbits. The physiology of farm animals is influenced by several factors, one of which is nutrition. The nutritional status of an animal is dependent on dietary intake and effectiveness of metabolic processes. Dietary contents affect blood profile of farm animals. Haematological studies represent a useful process in the investigation of the extent of damage to the blood. Examination of blood provides the opportunity to clinically investigate the physiological, nutritional and pathological status of an animal. And changes in haematological parameters are often used to determine stresses due to nutrition. Reports by different researchers indicated that different diets fed to rabbits had different effects on haematological parameters, some of which were detrimental while others improved their haematological indices as they remained within the normal range of values for rabbits

FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF THEOPHYLLINE HYDROCHLORIDE EFFERVESCENT FLOATING TABLETS: EFFECT OF POLYMER CONCENTRATION ON TABLET BUOYANCY

Objective: This study was undertaken to formulate a floating drug delivery system of theophylline hydrochloride using different concentrations of a chosen polymer and then investigate how polymer concentration affects buoyancy and drug release properties of the tablets. Methods: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) at different concentration levels of 15% (F1), 20% (F2) and 30% (F3) was used to form the three formulation batches of floating tablets. Wet granulation method was used for the granule preparation while Sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were used as the gas generating agent. The physical properties of the granules and the floating tablets were evaluated. Also determined were the physicomechanical properties, buoyancy and swelling characteristics of the tablets. The in vitro drug release study was carried out according to the USP I (basket method) for 8h in 900 ml 0.1N HCl at 50 rpm. Samples withdrawn at the regular predetermined time were analyzed spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 271 nm and data obtained statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The differences between means were considered significant at P&lt;0.05. Results: The result showed that polymer (HPMC) concentration significantly (p&gt;0.05) increased swelling index and improved floating lag time, it had no significant effect on the total floating time. Percentage drug release at the end of 8 h was 100%, 98.2% and 96.13% for formulation F1, F2 and F3, respectively. All three formulations followed the Higuchi drug release kinetics model and the mechanism of drug release was the non Fickian diffusion with exponents of 0.46, 0.51 and 0.56 for the respective batch. Conclusion: Batch F3 gave a better-controlled drug release and floating properties in comparison to batch F1 and F2 thus Polymer concentration influenced the onset of floating and controlled the release of Theophylline