Improvised venous canula myringostomy in acute otitis media: Analysis of outcome in Nigeris

Background: This case control study was based on the hypothesis that myringostomy done on an a bulging but inflamed tympanic membrane before perforation might improve healing of the middle ear and tympanic membrane, thus reducing the probability of progression to chronic suppurative otitis media.Our objective was to compare outcome of tympanic membrane healing in acute otitis media (AOM) patients who had myringostomy and those presenting with perforation and suppuration. In this study we also examined the suitability of a venous canula as an improvisation in the absence of conventional myringostomy tube.Methods: This prospective study, carried out in the Otolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Center, Lokoja between February 2006 and August 2008, included consecutive AOM patients who presented with excruciating otalgia and bulging, hyperaemic tympanic membrane and another group with ruptured tympanic membrane both within 2 weeks duration. The patients with bulging tympanic membrane had venous canula myringostomy done in the local anaesthesia and the canula was kept in situ until the ear became dry and until the myringostomy site closed up. While the group with tympanic membrane perforation at presentation had ear suction toileting and daily ear dressing, until ear became dry. The 2 groups were followed up daily to determine duration of stay of the improvised myringostomy tube and the closure of the myringostomy site or tympanic membrane perforation and they were compared using Pearson’s correlation test at 0. 05 significance.Results: Subjects comprised of 42 AOM (15 males and 27 females (M: F = 1.7:3) and 26 with tympanic membrane perforation (11 males and 15 females), aged between 3 years to 48 years (mean+ SD = 13+ 6 years). Relief of otalgia was seen all the subjects in the myringostomy group (100%).The mean number of days to achieve dry ear after myringostomy tube was 3 days after myringostomy while it was 3 weeks in the perforation group (P = 0.002). The mean number of days to achieve closure of the myringostomy was 3.7 days after dryness while among the perforation group, it was 3 months (P= 0.000).Conclusion: Venous canula, which is cheap and readily available, could be an improvisation for myringostomy in AOM; and this aided early relief of otalgia, resolution of disease and significant reduction in treatment durations

Asphaltene detection using Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)

Peer reviewedPostprin

Challenges and distribution of radiographic diagnosis in dogs at a tertiary veterinary institution

Radiography is an important clinical diagnostic tool in any Veterinary establishment and especially for a tertiary institution. It is however limited by lack of functional equipment and staff. This study attempts to assess the challenges faced by the Radiology Unit of the Surgery Clinic and enumerate the distribution of cases at a tertiary veterinary centre between August 2016 and June 2017. All the referred cases to the unit within the study period were accessed (n=52). 26 were selected based on the inclusion criteria which were a radiography request from a clinician and an actual return to clinic of a clear radiograph. Age, sex, lesions and clinical history were recorded from case files and radiographs. The age of animals presented ranged from one month to 13 years. Eleven (11) representing 42.3% of the dogs were female while 14(53.8%) were male, and one animal’s sex was omitted. Eighteen (18) were single lesions while four presented with multiple lesions, and four had no observable lesions. Fourteen 14 (53.8%) were fracture cases of long bones either for diagnosis or post-reduction evaluation. Three (11.5%) were to check for suspected thoracic metastasis in cases where lumps were found in other parts of the body. Four (15.3%) were of the pelvis to diagnose hip dysplasia. Seven (26.9%) were to aid diagnosis in cases in which swellings were palpated within the abdomen and one (3.8%) was of the cervical spine while another was of a foot (3.8%). The implication of lack of radiographic equipment and staff problems in a tertiary veterinary centre were elucidated and ideal conditions suggested.Keywords: Diagnosis, Dogs, Radiography, Surgery, Tertiary veterinary centre, Universit

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LAND ACCESSIBILITY AMONG FOUR SUB-ETHNIC GROUPS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

The paper compared accessibility to land among sub-ethnic groups in rural communities of Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from four major sub-ethnic groups from 30 selected communities in the State using multistage sampling procedure. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics such as percentages, means and standard deviation while ANOVA was used for inferential purpose. Results showed that the mean age of respondents from Oyo, Ife, Igbomina and ijesa sub-ethnic groups were 48 years, 47.1 years, 44 years and 48 years respectively. About 72%, 81.2%, 88% and 80.5% had access to credit while majority (84.7%, 73.9% and 72%) and about 60% were married. About 55%, 36%, 30.5% and 26.1% from Igbomina, Oyo, Ijesa, and Ife respectively had easy access to land while majority (82%, 70.7%, 72.5% and 66.1%) had full control over land usage. Further results showed that majority (80% and 72.5%) and many (63.5% and 61.9%) from Igbomina, Ijesa, Ife and Oyo sub-ethnic groups respectively had high level of land accessibility. Significant differences in land accessibility (F=3.517, p≤ 0.05) existed among sub-ethnic groups. The study therefore concluded that accessibilities to land, rights to land and control over land differ among sub-ethnic groups in the study area. It was therefore recommended that local community leaders should formulate indigenous policies that would ensure fair access to land irrespective of the sub-ethnic background

Readership Pattern of Indigenous Language Newspapers Among Selected Nigerian

Indigenous language press which was the harbinger of journalism in Nigeria is suffering serious neglect. The neglect reflects in a number of ways among which is poor readership. Although, the fact of poor readership of indigenous language newspapers is a common knowledge, but it lacks empirical documentation as many researches on readership of newspapers were concentrated on newspapers written in English. This research attempt therefore examined the readership pattern of Indigenous language newspapers among selected university undergraduates and compared the pattern of readership of English and Indigenous language newspapers. The study is a survey of 150 students of Ajayi Crowther University selected through purposive sampling. Data were generated with Indigenous language Newspaper Readership Pattern Instrument (ILNRPI).The results reveal poor readership pattern of Indigenous Language newspaper with the readership pattern of English Language newspapers faring better. On the basis of the findings, useful suggestions were made.  Key words: Indigenous; Language; Readership pattern; Undergraduate

Awareness and adoption levels of improved smoking oven among fish processors in Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

This paper investigated awareness and adoption levels of improved smoking oven among fish processors in four fishing communities along Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 153 respondents who were engaged in fish smoking. Data collected using structured interview guides were subjected to descriptive and inferential analyses. Results revealed that majority of the respondents were young, married women with average fish smoking experience of 22.6 years. Majority (90.8%) of them were solely engaged in fish smoking while 9.2% combined fish smoking with other income-generating activities. All the processors used traditional smoking oven (drum, box and mud ovens). More than 66.0% of the fish processors were not aware of improved fish smoking equipment. Lack of awareness, inadequate access to the technologies, low relative advantage and lack of maintenance services and high cost of procurement were responsible for low adoption levels of improved smoking oven. Irregular visits of extension agents to the study area had negative impact on the adoption of improved traditional smoking ovens. Proper dissemination of innovations developed on improved fish processing equipment to the active fish processors in Lagos State using available communication channels is hereby advocated. &nbsp

The Efficacy of using Gravity Concentration Methods in Value Addition to Ajabanoko Iron Ore for use in Nigerian Smelting Plants towards Metallurgical Purposes

This research work x - rays the use of gravity separation methods – Wifely shaking tabling and Air flotation (Kip Kelly air floating machine) to produce a high iron ore concentrate that could be used in both Blast furnace and Direct Reduced Induction (DRI) operation as a feed towards the production of Nigerian iron and steel. Crude iron ore assaying 40.72%Fe was beneficiated by using dry air floating processing method and wet wilfley shaking tabling process after characterization and the determination of liberation size of the iron ore and grinding of the crude iron ore to this liberation size of -500 + 355µm.The result revealed that the use of Air floating method gave 67.95%Fe, low acid oxide gangue of 7.3%, while Wilfley shaking tabling gave 51.16%Fe, low acid oxide gangue of 18.6%. It does shows that Air float tabling machine met the required standard grade of iron (≥ 65%Fe) content needed as a charge for the furnace operation, while, the assay and recovery obtain of wilfley shaking tabling could not meet the standard requirement for iron and steel production in the country, Nigeria

Does Tribolium brevicornis Cuticular Chemistry Deter Cannibalism and Predation of Pupae?

The cuticular hydrocarbons of insects are species-specific and often function as semiochemicals. The activity of Tribolium brevicornis cuticular hydrocarbons as feeding deterrents that ostensibly function to prevent pupal cannibalism and predation was evaluated. The cuticular hydrocarbons of T. brevicornis pupae were characterized and flour disk bioassays conducted with individual and combined extract components incorporated into artificial diets on which Tribolium adults fed for six days. Feeding by T. brevicornis and T. castaneum on flour disks containing cuticular extracts of T. brevicornis pupae resulted in reduced consumption and weight loss relative to feeding on control flour disks. In both cases, feeding deterrence indices exceeded 80% suggesting that T. brevicornis cuticular hydrocarbons could function to deter cannibalism and predation of pupae by larvae and adult beetles. Sixteen different cuticular hydrocarbons were identified in T. brevicornis pupal extracts. Eight of the commercially available linear alkanes were tested individually in feeding trials with eight Tribolium species. One compound (C28) significantly reduced the amount of food consumed by three species compared to control disks, whereas the compounds C25, C26, and C27 elicited increased feeding in some species. Four other compounds had no effect on consumption for any species. When four hydrocarbon mixtures were tested for synergistic deterrence on T. brevicornis and T. castaneum, none significantly influenced consumption. Our results indicate that the cuticular chemistry of T. brevicornis pupae could serve to deter predation by conspecific and congeneric beetles

Paravertebral block with lignocaine-bupivacaine mixture in goats

Loco-regional anaesthesia and sedation protocols are becoming more popular in ruminant. This research compared some effects of xylazine or acepromazine in combination with lignocaine-bupivacaine mixture for paravertebral nerve block in goats. Twenty adult, apparently healthy West African Dwarf goats were randomly allocated to two groups (five males and five females each). Each group received either xylazine (0.05 mg/kg) + 2 % lignocaine (2mg/kg) – 0.5 % bupivacaine (0.95 mg/kg) mixture (XLB) or acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) + lignocaine-bupivacaine mixture (ALB). Clinical parameters were recorded immediately (0 minutes) and at 10-minute intervals for an hour and 24 hours. Venipuncture was carried out via jugular vein for haematology before administration of drug (B0), 30 minutes (B30), 60 minutes (B60) and 24 hours (B24). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented as mean and standard deviation at a significance level of 0.05. The onset of deep sedation following administration of acepromazine was 31.5 ± 0.97, while it was 2.90 ± 0.57 for xylazine. Acepromazine significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the rectal temperatures (RT) of the goats within the first 20 minutes and significantly reduced the respiratory rates of the goats when compared to xylazine. None of the drugs significantly altered the heart rate of the goats. None of the changes in haematological parameters was statistically significant across the sampling time frame. However, red cell parameters (Packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and haemoglobin concentration) and Lymphocyte count were significantly depressed after XLB administration. All the haematological changes were restored to pre-anaesthetic values after 24hours. This study demonstrates that xylazine can be a beneficial alternative and desirable for emergencies in minor ruminant sedation

Synthesis and Characterization of Graphene-Cu Composite Via Hydrothermal Method

In this paper, graphene-copper composite was synthesized via hydrothermal method using different compositions from 5 to 25%. The grain size and copper composition are observed to decrease proportionally to increase in band gap. The effect of composition fluctuate the peaks shift. The peak increased linearly with increasing temperature for each composition. The band gap reduces with increasing temperature for each composition. Short calcined duration on samples is observed to cause a little lower band gap value than that of longer duration. The thermal treatment of graphene oxide (GO) has been observed to cause changes in its quality, size and shape. &nbsp