Evaluation of Entamoeba Histolytica Transmission Rates amongst Primary School Children in Five Selected Communities in Gwagwalada Area Council, Fct, Abuja, Nigeria

Amoebic dysentery is a cosmopolitan infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica and ranks third among parasitic infections that lead to death especially in children. Epidemiological data in most rural communities about this infection is scanty. Three hundred and fifty (350) children aged 0- 14 years were sampled for E. histolytica infection in five communities in Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT-Abuja. The stool samples were examined for cysts of E. histolytica using saline and iodine preparations. The prevalence rate of 18.6 % was recorded. The prevalence by sex showed a higher infection rate in males (20.0 %) than females (17.1%) which was significantly different (x2, p<0.05). This showed an association between sex and the prevalence of E. histolytica. There was also a slight association observed among the different age groups. The highest prevalence of 28.6 % was recorded in children from Passo community, although there was no significant difference among the communities (x2, p>0.05). There is therefore an urgent need for improved sanitation, personal hygiene and a proper deworming scheme amongst school children in the study areas to alleviate the scourge. Keywords: Evaluation, Entamoeba histolytica, Transmission, Children, Communities, Abuja.

Molluscicidal activity of crude water leaf extracts of Alternanthera sesselis on Bulinus (phy) globosus

Evaporated and unevaporated extracts were prepared from both dried and fresh leaves sample and subjected to a 24 h static bioassay. A reference molluscicide niclosamide (Baylusicide) was used asstandard and rainwater as untreated control. Reaction of the snails on coming in contact with the test medium is either shock or distress. The distress reaction started with retraction of tentacles and endedin some cases with death. Shock reaction results when snails are immersed in a more concentrated crude water extract which usually resulted in the death of the snails. Statistical analysis of averagemortality figures by the use of probit gave LC50 of 40.42 (35.15 – 46.47) for the unevaporated crude water while the evaporated crude water extract had LC50 of 48.07 (42.81 – 54.28) for the dried leaf extract. For the fresh leaves the unevaporated crude water extract had LC50 of 32.57 (27.15 – 39.08) and evaporated crude water gave 45.00 (39.09 – 51.79). This results show that the molluscicidal properties of the leaf extract was dose dependent as mortality increases with the relative increase in concentration of theextract. Furthermore, the bioavailability of the active component is more in the fresh leaves sample when compared to the lethal concentration values of the dried leaves extract and the potential of thecrude water extract in integrated schitosomiasis control is discussed

Deforestation, desert encroachment, climate change and agricultural production in the Sudano-Sahelian Region of Nigeria

This work presents a systematic review of relevant literatures centered on the deforestation, desertification climate change hazards and agriculture related problems caused as a result of these natural and human activities with the hope of understanding the situation for better way out. Findings revealed that desertification affects about one sixth of the world’s population, 70% of all dry lands, amounting to 3.6 billion ha, and one quarter of the total land area of the world. The worsening problem of desertification is quite glaring that an estimate of between 50 % and 75 % of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara states in Nigeria are affected by desertification and are particularly vulnerable to wind erosion due to land clearing for agricultural purposes such as grazing, planting of crops, demand for woods, mining, growth of urbanization and development of infrastructures. Desert encroachment as a degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid dry areas caused mainly by climatic changes and human activities; In Nigeria, the dry land parts of the country are more prone to desertification. However, climate change causes uncertainties and variation in the pattern of rainfalls, high temperatures, floods and farmlands destruction, pests and diseases. Leading to irregular and unpredictable rains and increase in sunshine hours, crops and livestock failures as well as food insecurity in general. It was suggested therefore that effective policy and planning measures should be put in place in order to overcome these problems.Keywords: Deforestation, desert encroachment, climate change, agricultur

Effects of climate change on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L. R. Br.]) production in Nigeria

This paper attempts to examine the relationship between climate change and pearl millet production in Nigeria. It discusses the origin, distribution of the species with some of their properties including production constraints in the Sub Saharan Africa and Nigeria in particular. Northern states of Nigeria were found to be the dominant producers of pearl millets with Sokoto state having a total cultivated area of 747,580ha. Pearl millet was also found to be the major crop amongst others, useful for minimizing the adverse effect of climate change, hence facilitating income and food security among farming communities. Major production constraint of the crop in the Sub Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria is yield reduction and/or total crop failure caused by erratic seasonal rainfalls, floods, failing soil fertility and poor crop management practices. Biotic stress due to weeds such as Striga spp as well as insect pests and diseases pestilences is a constraint. Therefore, appropriate climate change mitigation efforts to improve pearl millet production and enhance food security should be adopted in the Sub Saharan Africa and Nigeria.Keywords: Climate change, pearl millet, Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeri

Suitable Models for Describing Sulphate Desorption Kinetics in Selected Bauchi North Soils of Varying Parent Materials in the Nigerian Sudan Savanna

The modelling of sulphate desorption data is critical for a proper S diagnosis and fertilizer formulation to ensure profitable crop production. Five (5) models such as first-order, second-order, Elovich, fractional power, and parabolic diffusion were used to test the best model describing sulphate desorption kinetics in some soils from Bauchi-north, Sudan Savanna, Nigeria. To achieve this, soil samples were collected from three different parent materials namely Basement complex rock and two sedimentary rocks (Kerri-Kerri Formation and Chad Formation). The study showed that the parabolic diffusion and first-order models were found to describe S desorption data satisfactorily, characterized by relatively high R2 values and lowest S.E values by soil parent materials, respectively. While, the second-order, Elovich and Fractional power equations failed to describe the kinetics desorption of sulphate in all the studied soils, as judged by their high SE values. Therefore, the better fit of S desorption data to the first-order equation is an indication of probable ligand exchange of sulphate ion during the desorption process, and to parabolic diffusion equation suggests that diffusion-controlled phenomena are rate-limiting steps. Based on the findings, we concluded that the rate of sulphate desorption kinetics in these soils is mainly controlled by diffusion-controlled phenomena, which is critical for sulphate-based fertilizer formulations and applications

Antimalarial and analgesic activities of root extract of Panicum maximum

Background: Panicum maximum is used as malarial remedy traditionally and the leaf extract has been found to possess antimalarial, analgesic and anticancer properties. Objective: The ethanol root extract of Panicum maximum were evaluated for antiplasmodial and analgesic activities in rodents. Methods: The crude root extract (137 – 547mg/kg) of Panicum maximum were investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in mice. The antiplasmodial activity during early and established infections as well as prophylactic were investigated. Artesunate 5mg/kg and pyrimethamine 1.2mg/kg were used as positive controls. Analgesic activity of the crude extract/fractions was also evaluated against acetic acid, formalin and heat-induced pains. Results: The extract dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (p<0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 13 to 28 days relative to control (p<0.001).  The activity of extract was weak compared to that of the standard drugs used (artesunate and pyrimethamine). On chemically and thermally- induced pains, the extract inhibited acetic acid and formalin-induced inflammation as well as hot plate-induced pain in mice. These inhibitions were statistically significant (p<0.001) and in a dose-dependent fashion. Conclusion: Panicum maximum root extract has antiplasmodial and analgesic activities which may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant. Key words: Panicum maximum, analgesic, antimalaria

Pedogeochemical assessment of wetland soils in Hadejia- Jama’are river basin in the Nigerian Sahel savanna

Understanding the pedo-geochemical assessment of wetland soils in the Hadejia/Jama`are river basin in the Sahel savannah of Nigeria is paramount for efficiently planning the long-term sustainable use of the wetlands and is paramount for reliably estimating soil contamination. Namely, five (5) different wetland sites were selected; Masama 1 and 2, Sinamu 1 and 2, and Tandanu while one from the Drylands of Tandanu. A pit was excavated to a depth of 1.5 m at each site, except where there is an elevated water table or impenetrable stratum, and soil samples were collected from three identifiable horizons (Bt2, Bt1, and Ap, respectively). The results of principal component and cluster analysis showed that total and labile Pb, total Zn, and labile Cr were considered the most influential heavy elements for identifying pedogenic and sedimentological processes in the wetlands of the study area. It also showed that Pb, Zn, and Cr came from the same source in all soils examined. Therefore, we concluded that the soils in all the wetlands studied are at high risk of toxic effects from Pb and Zn contamination. It is strongly recommended that heavy metals be decontaminated at all surveyed sites before further use for agricultural purposes

The ITGB6 gene: its role in experimental and clinical biology.

Integrin αvβ6 is a membrane-spanning heterodimeric glycoprotein involved in wound healing and the pathogenesis of diseases including fibrosis and cancer. Therefore, it is of great clinical interest for us to understand the molecular mechanisms of its biology. As the limiting binding partner in the heterodimer, the β6 subunit controls αvβ6 expression and availability. Here we describe our understanding of the ITGB6 gene encoding the β6 subunit, including its structure, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, the biological effects observed in ITGB6 deficient mice and clinical cases of ITGB6 mutations

Stat3 Mediates Expression of Autotaxin in Breast Cancer

We determined that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is tyrosine phosphorylated in 37% of primary breast tumors and 63% of paired metastatic axillary lymph nodes. Examination of the distribution of tyrosine phosphorylated (pStat3) in primary tumors revealed heterogenous expression within the tumor with the highest levels found in cells on the edge of tumors with relatively lower levels in the central portion of tumors. In order to determine Stat3 target genes that may be involved in migration and metastasis, we identified those genes that were differentially expressed in primary breast cancer samples as a function of pStat3 levels. In addition to known Stat3 transcriptional targets (Twist, Snail, Tenascin-C and IL-8), we identified ENPP2 as a novel Stat3 regulated gene, which encodes autotaxin (ATX), a secreted lysophospholipase which mediates mammary tumorigenesis and cancer cell migration. A positive correlation between nuclear pStat3 and ATX was determined by immunohistochemical analysis of primary breast cancer samples and matched axillary lymph nodes and in several breast cancer derived cell lines. Inhibition of pStat3 or reducing Stat3 expression led to a decrease in ATX levels and cell migration. An association between Stat3 and the ATX promoter, which contains a number of putative Stat3 binding sites, was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation. These observations suggest that activated Stat3 may regulate the migration of breast cancer cells through the regulation of ATX