Prevalence of food sensitization and helminth infection among primary school children in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria

Background: Food allergy is a problem of the western world, however, cases of food allergy have also been found in developing countries. In Nigeria, the prevalence of food allergy is scarce while the association of food sensitization with helminthiasis is unknown. Objective: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of sensitization to food among Nigerian school children and its relation to intestinal helminthiasis. Methods: A total of 128 participants were recruited from CAC Primary School, Sango, Ibadan, Nigeria. Skin Prick Test using freshly prepared food allergens was carried out. Stool samples were collected from them to screen for ova of parasites using concentration method. Results: A total of 26 (20.3%) out of 128 participants were SPT positive for various food allergens, while 16 (12.5%) had helminthic infection. There was however an equal distribution of helminthic infection among students who were food allergen SPT positive and negative. There was also no association between gender and susceptibility to food allergy. Conclusion: Sensitization to food is common in school children, and intestinal helminthiasis seems to have no influence on its prevalence.Keywords: MPO, inflammatory response, neonates, sepsis

Assessment of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Minna, North-Central Nigeria

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RELEVANCE OF SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION ON ORGANIZATION& ITS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: WHAT MANAGER’S SHOULD KNOW

The objective of this article is to determine the relevance of sustainable innovation on the business environment in Nigeria. The research focused on the top management to find out about the benefits of innovation to the relevance of the company over the past century. Feedback from a few of their final customers was taken in order to review sales and customer-product loyalty. Then, we conducted a series of multiple regression models using the data we obtained. Overall, it’s interesting to note that the rate of increase in profit due to sustainability rose by 23% and 37% But perhaps most important: Averagely about 50% of businesses have improved on their corporate models due to sustainability in managing opportunities hence the effect of 20% increase above that of the previous and also majority of the respondents believe that the marketing strategies of P and G are very effective. This study will serve as a practical tool to investors and shareholder of organizations as they work towards increasing their worth in their organization. This article delivers valued input in advancing knowledge in expounding relevance of sustainable innovation on the business environment using Procter and Gamble Nig. PLC as a case study, also recognising the measurable impact positively and otherwise of these dimensions of innovative involvements

Inflammatory Marker Levels in Preeclampsia versus Normal Pregnancies and Prediction of Preeclampsia Occurrence: A Prospective Mixed Methods Study

Introduction: Preeclampsia is an important cause of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. However, this condition remains poorly understood, and since the only cure is delivery, prediction and prevention are crucial to prevent preterm birth or maternal compromise. Aim: To determine the levels of acute phase reactants, namely high-sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hsCRP) and fibrinogen, between preeclamptic and non preeclamptic pregnancies. Additionally, the study aims to determine the predictive value of these acute phase reactants for preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: A prospective mixed methods study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals and two specialist hospitals in the Ijebu/Remo axis of Ogun state, Nigeria. Preeclamptic participants were recruited during pregnancy and postpartum and matched with non preeclamptic controls (case-control arm, n=179, comprised of 87 preeclamptics and 92 controls). Additionally, a cohort of non preeclamptic women (n=71) was recruited and biomarker-assayed before 20 weeks gestation, followed-up for the development of preeclampsia. The biomarker assay was performed using the ELISA technique. The Student's t-test was used to compare the mean levels of markers between the studied groups. Categorical data were compared using the Chi-square test. A p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant Results: The levels of hsCRP were significantly higher in pregnant preeclamptic women (12.71±1.99 mg/L) compared to non preeclamptic women (4.39±3.41 mg/L) (p-value=0.001). Similarly, fibrinogen levels were elevated in preeclamptic women (9.45±1.28 g/L) compared to non preeclamptic women (7.19±1.86 g/L) (p-value =0.001). This trend was also observed among postpartum women, with hsCRP levels of 10.39±2.43 mg/L in preeclamptics compared to 2.53±2.06 mg/L in non preeclamptics (p-value=0.001). The mean fibrinogen level was 8.63±1.91 g/L in preeclamptics compared to 4.09±1.66 g/L in non preeclamptics. Fibrinogen demonstrated a higher specificity (88.9%) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 100% compared to hsCRP (specificity=47.1% and NPV=76.1%). The biomarker levels also correlated significantly with the severity of preeclampsia. For hsCRP, there was a correlation with Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (r-value=0.385, p-value=0.001), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (r-value=0.364, p-value=0.001), and proteinuria (r-value=0.314, p-value=0.001). For fibrinogen, there was a correlation with SBP (r-value=0.252, p-value=0.014), DBP (r-value=0.378, p-value=0.001), and proteinuria (r-value=0.356, p-value=0.001). Conclusion: Although hsCRP and fibrinogen levels were significantly higher and correlated well with the severity of preeclampsia, their use for prediction may be limited. However, fibrinogen appears to have better prospects

A Mathematical Model of an Electoral Process and Predicting of Outcome

We developed and analysed a mathematical model to study the dynamics of an electoral process and predict the outcome in Nigeria with three political parties as major actors. We model the ruling party; major opposition party&nbsp;and minority opposition parties. The model includes party campaigners of the three political parties and a class of eligible voters. The model also incorporates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), electoral observers, judiciary, security personnel and thugs. The influx of voters into the system is determined by the registration rate of voter cards. The model’s interest lies in the measure of positive influence that the party campaigners who eligible voters to join their party. With this, the model mirrors election’s outcome and the movement of voters between the three groups of political parties involved. The model has proven that the pattern of election’s outcome for each political party is affected by the defection of party members and lack of policy consistency. We determine the equilibria analytically and discuss the stability of the system. Numerical simulations are graphed in combination with curve fitting to compare each party’s performances over the years. The result shows that no political party remains in power steadily from 2007 to 2019. Thus, the prediction of elections outcome to the political space of any region in Nigeria depends on political party structures and voters’ decisions

Immunomodulatory Effects of Bio-Clean II Herbal Remedy on C-reactive protein, Corticosterone and Antiphospholipid antibodies in Rats exposed to Purified Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide

Background: Bio-Clean II has been previously shown to fight viral infection, boost immunity, and possesses anti-inflammatory properties by regulating the serum level of inflammatory cytokines, as well as T-Helper 4 and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocytes in rats exposed to purified bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the effects of Bio-Clean II on the C-reactive protein (CRP), corticosterone (CORT) and anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPLs) levels in rats exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using animal model.Materials and Methods: A total of 36 male Wistar rats weighing 150g±50g (mean±SD) were purchased and randomly assigned to six (6) groups of 6 rats each. Group 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 were induced with a single dose of 5mg/Kg of purified LPS® (E.coli 0127:B8, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA), administered through intraperitoneal route using 1ml sterile needle and syringe, except for group 4 which served as the zero control (given water and food only throughout the experiment). Group 1 served as the inflammation control. Group 2 which served as the positive control received 50 mg diclofenac/kg [bid] and 500 mg ciprofloxacin/kg [bid] (positive control) in place of the Bio-Clean. Group 3 which served as the negative control received sterile phosphate buffer saline (PBS). While rats in group 5 and group 6 were treated orally with the herbal remedy “Bio-Clean II” for 7 days and 14 days, respectively. After which, the rats were killed and a cardiac blood specimen was taken from each rat and transferred to plain bottles to clot. Serum was obtained from the clotted blood by centrifugation. The serum levels of C-reactive protein, corticosterone and antiphospholipid antibodies were assayed using ELISA kits, supplied by Elabscience Biotechnology Inc, USA. Data generated were subjected to Statistical Package for Social Scientists-Version 20 (SPSS-20).Results: The outcome of this results show that the serum level of C-reactive protein of the 7 days (1.05±0.06ng/ml) and 14 days (0.93±0.05ng/ml) Bio-Clean II treated rats was found to be significantly lower (p=0.002 and p=0.000, respectively) when compared to the inflammation control group (1.70±0.07ng/ml). Similarly, the serum level of anti-phospholipid antibodies of the 7 days (6.40±0.67 Uml) and 14 days (4.27±0.66 U/ml) Bio-Clean II treated rats was found to be significantly lower (p=0.02 and p=0.008, respectively) when compared to the inflammation control group (16.47±1.53 Uml). Meanwhile, the corticosterone level of the 7 days Bio-clean treated rats (9.40±1.30ng/mL) was found to be non-significantly lower (p=0.812) in comparison to the inflammation control (13.50±2.50ng/mL); while that of the 14 days Bio-clean II treated rats (6.80±1.00ng/mL) was significantly lower (p=0.026).Conclusion: The outcome of this study underscores the anti-inflammatory potential of Bio-Clean II in the treatment of bacterial inflammatory diseases.<br/

The Potentials of Monoclonal Antibodies as a COVID-19 Intervention Tool

COVID-19 has been ravaging the world since late December, 2019 and it is not slowing down as the global cumulative counts of confirmed cases and fatalities continue to rise every day. Currently, there is no established cure. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are the major therapeutic agents for passive immunotherapy in the fight against viral infection. They are increasingly being recognized as a promising class of drugs to combat the novel coronavirus. Besides their therapeutic potentials, infectious disease experts are hopeful that they may also provide short-term protection and could serve as important components of the COVID-19 pandemic response until vaccines become accessible globally. Since the outbreak assumed a global proportion, several biotechnology companies across the globe are developing monoclonal antibodies with the hope it will become an intervention tool in combating the pandemic. Different randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials are currently enrolling healthy individuals at clinical trial sites in the United States of America and elsewhere. In addition to assessing their safety, the trials are seeking to establish whether mAbs can prevent infection in susceptible individuals or ameliorate disease symptoms in those already infected. This review takes a look at the available literatures on the role of monoclonal antibodies as an intervention tool for combating the COVID-19 pandemic