DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA: LESSONS FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS

Data protection and privacy challenges are prevailing issues in Nigeria and other developing countries in Africa. The crux of this paper is to examine the extent of the data and privacy challenges existing in Nigeria. Through a comparative analysis, this paper examined the existing provisions of data protection laws in some European countries and those of Nigeria with the aim of revealing the consequence of insufficient legislation to protect data or data users\u27 privacy, the applicability and responsiveness of existing data protection laws in Nigeria, the dearth of legal precedents, the appalling lack of awareness of data privacy rights, and how it tends to handle or manage human rights violations. The paper adopts the doctrinal research method to identify these issues and propose viable solutions by comparatively examining the protection of data in Europe, with a focus on the legal regimes of data protection in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. The paper concludes that Nigeria requires thorough data protection legislation like that of developed nations to provide effective data protection and a robust enforcement framework

Extracts of Pterocarpus osun as a histological stain for collagen fibres

The staining ability of Pterocarpus osun extract on tissue sections was determined. 2 kg of P. osun stem was dried, milled to obtain a fine powder and a red pigment extracted from the powder with 1 L of 70% ethanol at 78°C for 24 h. The alcoholic and acidic extracts were used to stain tissue sections. Collagen fibres, red blood cells and muscles were stained in shades of reddish brown. Preliminary phytochemical screening of this extract revealed that it contained alkaloids, steroid ring, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugar.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (5), pp. 460-462, 200

Chlamydia trachomatis Infecion Among Apparently Healthy Students of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Chlamydia trachomatisinfection is one of the sexually transmitted diseases (STD) occurring asymptomatically and frequently causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Randomized control screening was conducted using immunochromatographic (ICG) tests for the detection of chlamydial antigen in extracts from urine and endo-cervical swab (ECS) samples from 530 University students. Positive samples were further subjected to Giemsa staining technique and microscopy for elementary bodies. Of the 530 students screened, a total of 80 (15.1%) males and 40 (7.5%) females were found positive by the immunochromatographic (ICG) method, but no inclusion bodies were found in any of the positive samples further examined by the Giemsa's staining method. ICG tests were found to be more sensitive for detecting chlamydial infection in ECS samples than the matching urine samples (P>0.05). Routine screening and appropriate treatment, especially of sexually-active youths is imperative if control measures are to be effective. Immunochromatographic screening method for chlamydial infection can give an on-the-spot diagnosis; hence the prevalence of infection and an estimate of the cost of its management. Keywords: Prevalence, Chlamydia trachomatis, asymptomatic infection Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol. 14 (2) 2005: pp. 62-6

Effects of Triphasic Exercise on Blood Rheology and Pathophysiology

The aim of this work is to study the relevance of physiology and pathophysiology in blood rheology as effects of triphasic exercise. Regular exercise which has been established as life prolonging has led to decrease in both peripheral vascular and coronary morbidity that has been associated with certain improvements in cardiovascular disease (VCD) risk factors. Haemorheology is affected by exercise, which has a possible connection between beneficial haemodynamics and metabolism. This is affected by exercise of any type. A possible link between the beneficial metabolic and haemodynamic effects of exercise could be blood rheology, which is markedly affected by exercise. It was proposed here a description of the haemorheological effects of exercise as a triphasic phenomenon. Short-term effects of exercise are an increase in blood viscosity resulting from both fluid shifts and alterations of erythrocyte rheological properties (rigidity and aggregability). Increased blood lactate, stress and acute phase play a role in this process. Middle-term effects of regular exercise are a reversal of these acute effects with an increase in blood fluidity, explained by plasma volume expansion (autohaemodilution) that lowers both plasma viscosity and haematocrit. Long term effects further improve blood fluidity in parallel with the classical training-induced hormonal and metabolic alterations. While body composition, blood lipid pattern, and fibrinogen improve (thus decreasing plasma viscosity), erythrocyte metabolic and rheologic properties are modified, with a reduction in aggregability and rigidity. On the whole, these improvements reflect on reversal of the so-called “insulin-resistance syndrome” induced by a sedentary life-style. Since impaired blood rheology has been demonstrated to be a risk for vascular diseases, the haemorheologic effects of exercise can be hypothesized to be a mechanism (or at least a marker) of risk reversal. The latter point requires further investigation. The physiological meaning of the triphasic pattern of exercise-fluidity may improve several steps of oxygen transfer to the muscle, as clearly demonstrated in hypoxic conditions. Increasing evidence emerges from the literature, that blood fluidity is a physiological determinant of fitness. Keywords: Triphasic exercise, blood rheology, aggregation, physiology. Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol. 14 (2) 2005: pp. 13-2

Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation and Angiotensin II Sensitivity in Experimental Preeclampsia

<p>Objective: We investigated endothelial dysfunction and the role of angiotensin (Ang)-II type I (AT1-R) and type II (AT2-R) receptor in the changes in the Ang-II sensitivity in experimental preeclampsia in the rat.</p><p>Methods: Aortic rings were isolated from low dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infused pregnant rats (experimental preeclampsia; n=9), saline-infused pregnant rats (n=8), and saline (n=8) and LPS (n=8) infused non-pregnant rats. Endothelium-dependent acetylcholine--mediated relaxation was studied in phenylephrine-preconstricted aortic rings in the presence of vehicle, N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and/or indomethacin. To evaluate the role for AT1-R and AT2-R in Ang-II sensitivity, full concentration response curves were obtained for Ang-II in the presence of losartan or PD123319. mRNA expression of the AT1-R and AT2-R, eNOS and iNOS, COX1 and COX2 in aorta were evaluated using real-time RT-PCR.</p><p>Results: The role of vasodilator prostaglandins in the aorta was increased and the role of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor and response of the AT1-R and AT2-R to Ang-II was decreased in pregnant saline infused rats as compared with non-pregnant rats. These changes were not observed during preeclampsia.</p><p>Conclusion: Pregnancy induced adaptations in endothelial function, which were not observed in the rat model for preeclampsia. This role of lack of pregnancy induced endothelial adaptation in the pathophysiology of experimental preeclampsia needs further investigation.</p>