Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Isoniazid Preventive Therapy among Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive adults in Southern Nigeria

Aim/objectives: It was aimed to assess the prevalence of latent TB among HIV+ patients, evaluate the coverage of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), the  continuous risk of latent tuberculosis infection, and factors associated with the presence of latent Tb in HIV+ patients. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study of HIV+ patients attending the HIV clinic or admitted not previously treated for TB and did not have  clinical and laboratory evidence of active TB and matched HIV-negative population attending our GOC. Data collected with a pre-tested investigator  administered questionnaire included the age, sex, height and weight, medical and drug history, and relevant physical examination findings such as body  temperature and respiratory rate. Active TB was excluded by history, sputum AFB Z-N staining, or GeneXpert test and chest radiography. Whole blood  samples were collected from participants for QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus for quantification of Interferon Gamma Release assay (IGRA) in order to  diagnose or exclude latent TB. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 software at a level of significance of p < 0.05. Association between means  and qualitative variables was analyzed with student-t-test and Chi-square test Results: The mean ages of the HIV+ and control groups were 42.69 ± 9.91 and 41.29 ± 9.20 years respectively with no significant statistical difference.  76(95.0%) of HIV+ patients and 74(92.5%) controls had no symptoms of TB and chronic lung disease. 18(22.5%) HIV+ patients and 2(2.5%) controls were  exposed to persons with chronic cough (p=<0.001). The prevalence of latent TB among HIV+ patients was 22.50% and 10.0% among controls (p-  value=0.001). 8(44.4%) out of 18 with latent TB had prior use of IPT compared with 24 (38.7%) out of 62 without latent TB (p-value =0.67). CD4 count was a  significant factor associated with the presence of latent TB among HIV+ persons (p-0.03). Similarly, there was a significant association between viral load  and positive IGRA (p<0.001). Conclusion: Latent TB infection remains significantly higher among HIV+ than HIV-negative patients which may account for the higher incidence of active  disease amongst them. Isoniazid preventive therapy coverage was poor amongst HIV+ patients in this study.&nbsp

Investigation of copper recovery rate from copper oxide ore occurring as coarse grains locked in a porphyritic fine grain alumina and silica

Abstract: An investigation was carried out on a high grade copper oxide ore to determine the optimum recovery rate of copper from the pregnant leached solution obtained from leaching the ore in a sulfuric acid lixiviant. The copper oxide ore occur in coarse grains locked in a porphyritic fine grain alumina and silica. 800 g of copper oxide ore was obtained at the deposit; the samples were chemically and mineralogically analyzed. The analysis shows that the copper oxide ore contain 19.52 % copper extraction. The ore samples were crushed to sizes within 5 cm and 12 cm. The crushed samples were then grinded to a mesh size of -150 µm. This size was used to conduct the leaching process and sulfuric acid was used as the lixiviant. Parameters varied in this study include: the concentration of acid, temperature and time. The pregnant leach solution obtained was analyzed and the results showed an increase in the % recovery of copper as the molar concentration of H2SO4 increases from 0.25M to 1M and the % copper extraction decreases as the acid concentration increases from 1 M to 3 M. Higher copper recovery of 32.13 % was observed at elevated temperature of up to 80oC. These findings suggest the possibility of effectively producing copper from the Pingel-Bauchi Deposit through hydrometallurgical extraction process; optimum recovery can be obtained at an elevated temperature using acid concentration of 1 M

Transcending the oral roots of screenwriting practices in the Nigerian cinema

Nigeria has no developed tradition of screenwriting and films tend to be built on principles and techniques derived from oral heritage. Thus the oral and the performative dominate Nigerian film language. The core research problems and questions of this project revolve around how screenwriting practices can be evolved, given the strong influence of oral traditions. The key aim of my practice led research is to improve the quality of Nigerian films by building on and transcending the oral traditions, through developing a more visual and cinematic approach to screenwriting in Nigeria. The research asks: how can the Nigerian Screenwriter evolve an understanding of the concept of screenwriting that is akin to that of other advanced cinema cultures, while maintaining their cultural heritage? In order to achieve my aim of developing a more cinematic approach to screenwriting in Nigeria, the first stage in my research involved looking at, and contextualising three case studies, namely, Thunderbolt (Nigeria, 2001), written by Adebayo Faleti and Femi Kayode, and directed by Tunde Kelani, Chinatown (U.S.A. 1974), written by Robert Towne and directed by Roman Polanski, and L’argent (France, 1983), written and directed by Robert Bresson. I was able to explore the role of the screenplay in shaping cinematic language and the relationship between screenwriting and directing. I also looked briefly at the context of oral storytelling, conducting interviews with prominent Nigerian Academics. Following the case studies, I identified a number of cinematic ingredients, such as how dialogue, mise en scene and visual images were engaged in conveying the key moments of the films, telling the stories and conveying meaning and values to the viewer. These cinematic ingredients also guided me in designing creative practice experiments, including a detailed process of cinematically interpreting a traditional oral story which involved making a documentary on how such stories are told traditionally, writing short screenplays, adapting the same story and making short films, also exploring ways of telling the same story. As part of my methodology, I employed the reflexive practice approach, by reflecting on each experiment and using the interim findings to shape my next experiments. This process resulted in a number of rewrites and drafts of my short screenplays. The results of the findings from my experiments and series of reflections are explored further and disseminated through my final output, a feature screenplay supported by a critical evaluation

Sero-prevalence and associated risk factors of Hepatitis B among adults attending selected government hospitals in Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major public health problems globally. This study aims to determine the frequency of occurrence of HBV infection and associated risk factors for acquisition of the disease in clinically-ill adult patients attending selected government hospitals in Ondo State, Nigeria. Seven hundred and sixty-seven (767) ill adult individuals attending five medical out-patient Departments of the hospitals who consented to the study were recruited for the investigation. A structured questionnaire which covered sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors were used for primary information. Positivity for HBV was determined using a quality assured commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for the detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Of the 767 patients, 11.0% were positive for HBsAg. The prevalence rate for HBsAg positivity was higher in the males (13.5%) than the females (9.3%) (pv = 0.043). The study also revealed the highest prevalence rate of HBsAg infection among the age group 19 – 39 years with mean percentage of 17.5%. Alcohol consumption, history of HBV in the family, multiple sex partners, history of injections in road side chemist shops, and intake of traditional herbs showed significant association respectively (p < 0.05), however no significant association among individuals with history of HBV vaccination, blood transfusion and tattoo/tribal mark (p > 0.05). Conclusively, this study gives information on the prevalence rate of HBV in the community sampled to be 11.0%. This shows that HBV is endemic in Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria

An Investigation of the Statistical Distribution of Total Station Measured Data

It has been investigated and discovered that the Global Positioning System (GPS) measured quantities are normally distributed [1]. Can we say the same of other digital equipment used for measurement in surveying? In this paper, an attempt is made to investigate whether or not the Total Station, which is digital equipment, measured quantities are normally distributed. The data used are the repeated Total Station measured distances of a line at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. The investigation is carried out using both the graphical approach and numerical testing. The chi-square for goodness-of-fit test was used in the numerical testing. The plotted histogram and normal curve shows that the observed quantities of a total station instrument are normally distributed. The computed statistic (T) (5.4655) is neither more than the table statistic (T) (17.53) at the upper limit) nor less than the table statistic (T) (at lower limit). Therefore, the Null hypothesis which states that total station measured quantities are normally distributed is not rejected at five percent level of significance. It is concluded that total station measured quantities are normally distributed

Classes of Ordinary Differential Equations Obtained for the Probability Functions of inverse Rayleigh Distribution

Differential calculus was used to obtain the ordinary differential equations (ODE) of the probability density function (PDF), Quantile function (QF), survival function (SF), inverse survival function (ISF), hazard function (HF) and reversed hazard function (RHF) of inverse Rayleigh distribution. The parameters and support that define the distribution inevitably determine the nature, existence, uniqueness and solution of the ODEs. The method can be extended to other probability distributions, functions and can serve an alternative to estimation and approximation. Computer codes and programs can be used for the implementation

An Assessment of Environmental Impacts of Building Construction Projects

The environment is threatened severely by so many problems, some of which are caused by the activities of Construction Projects. The global concern to address environmental degradation caused by various developmental actions (construction projects inclusive) is the basis for calls to assess environmental impacts of building construction projects in Nigeria. Data for the study were collated through a questionnaire survey administered to stakeholders of Nigeria’s building construction industry. Data collected were analysed and ranked using Relative Importance Index (RII), result shows impacts listed are above the mid (RII) index of 3.0 suggesting that they significantly impact on the environment thereby causing environmental degradation. The research also reveals major environmental impacts of building construction projects to include environmental pollution, resource depletion and habitat destruction causing Destruction of ecosystem, Desertification, Soil Erosion and increasing Material Wastage. Waste Management, Pollution Control and Ecology Conservation were ranked as the most important environmental protection measures used in controlling building construction environmental impacts. The study therefore suggest that in order to reduce environmental degradation, building construction stakeholders must adopt fully environmental impact assessment document and other regulations relevant for environmental protection. Also, all environmental regulatory agencies and sensitization organizations should continuously sensitize the building construction public on requisite environmental management practice and sanction erring agents. Keywords: Environmental Impacts; Building Construction Projects;

Medication use among pregnant women at a secondary health institution: utilisation patterns and predictors of quantity

Background: Despite the lack of adequate studies on the safety of drugs in pregnancy, surprisingly, available evidence shows that pregnant women still take large number of drugs. Objectives: The study aim was to determine drug utilization pattern and predictors of number of medications used by pregnant women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of 369 pregnant women attending a secondary health facility. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics using the Chi-Square test were carried out with level of significance set at p<0.05. Results: Three hundred and sixty-nine women were interviewed. Their mean age was 27.7 years (SD\ub1 4.78) and the mean number of pregnancies was 2.46 (SD\ub1 1.34). On average, 2.62 medications were taken, with the lowest being 1 and the highest being 12 different medications during the course of pregnancy. Those who were on more than 2 medications were more likely to be older than 30 years, had lower education and with history of associated medical conditions. All participants were on one form of supplements or the other, nearly half had used antimalarials, 12.8%, 5.8% 2.4% were on antibiotics, anti-hypertensive and anti-retroviral medications respectively. All the medications prescribed were from category A, B, C, N, and none from category D and X. Conclusion: Varieties of medications were used during the course of pregnancy among this population, however, most of these drugs were still within safety profile

Microanatomical effects of ethanolic extract of Cola nitida on the stomach mucosa of adult wistar rats

The study investigated the microanatomical effects of the extracts of Cola nitida on the stomach mucosa of adult male Wistar rats. Twenty adult male wistar rats were randomly divided into four equal groups of A, B, C and D (n=5). Animals in experimental groups B, C and D were given 600mg/kg body weight of crude extract of Cola nitida each by oral intubation for five, seven and nine consecutive days respectively, while group A (control) received equivalent volume of distilled water. Twenty four hrs after the last administration, the animals were sacrificed; tissues were harvested and fixed in 10% formol saline for histological analysis. The study revealed necrotized surface epithelium, degenerated gastric mucosa, and loss of glandular elements in the stomachs of experimental groups’ vis-à-vis the control group. These observations were days-dependent; as those groups which received the extract for higher number of days were seen to be adversely affected. In conclusion, Cola nitida at 600mg/kg body weight can cause gastric lesion in animals. This lesion may be pronounced if the administration continued for days. Cola nitida should, therefore, be taken with caution to avoid gastric complications.Keyword: Cola nitida, necrotized, degenerated, stomach mucosa, microanatomy, glandular element

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of hepatitis E virus infection among pregnant women attending Maiduguri teaching hospital, Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is a major public health problem in developing countries and often fatal among pregnant women in the third trimester. Objectives: The study investigated the sero-prevalence and risk factors of HEV infection among pregnant women attendee of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out between 4th January 2016 to 30th May, 2016. One hundred and eighty blood samples from pregnant women who consented and enrolled for the study were analyzed for anti – HEV IgM using a quality assured commercial Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Structured questionnaires were used to collate the sociodemographic characteristics and risk factor of study subjects. Results: Out of the 180 pregnant women sampled, the anti-HEV IgM seroprevalence of 13.3% was recorded.  The seroprevalence was significantly higher in the age range of 31 – 35 years (26.5%) and least in age range ≤ 20 years (4.9%) (p=0.009).  The highest seroprevalence was recorded in the third trimester 14.1% followed by second (p>0.05). After logistic regression, nature of toilet system, and source of water consumption were significant risk factors for active HEV infection (p˂0.05). Conclusion: Based on the 10.8 % pooled national prevalence of HEV infection in Nigeria, this study recorded a significantly high level of anti – HEV IgM seropositivity, an indication of recent and active HEV infection among pregnant women at the study area. Also, these infections are most among the pregnant women in their third trimester. HEV infection was related to personal, water and environmental hygiene