Radiation protection: an initial assessment of level of knowledge and compliance amongst radiation workers in ahmadu bello university teaching hospital Zaria, Nigeria

Medical use of ionizing radiation can result to deleterious effects such as undesirable somatic and genetic modifications, although less radiation dose is involved in diagnostic radiology. This necessitates the need for radiation safety practices, to bring to the barest minimum possibility of these risks. This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge and radiation safety practices amongst radiation workers in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital(ABUTH) Zaria, Nigeria. Method: The study was conducted amongst radiologist, radiology resident doctors, radiographers, nurses, and technicians, with the use of questionnaire for assessment of knowledge, attitude and covert monitoring of personnel for assessment of implementation. Data was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows® version 20. Results: Assessment of knowledge was quite impressive with average score 91% and 78% for the radiologists/residents and the radiographers respectively, while the group of “Others” (i.e. nurses and technician) was abysmal with a score 42%. Radiation protection gadgets were either lacking or obsolete. Application of shielding devices such as gonad shield for protection and thermoluminiscent devices (TLDs) were neglected by about 56% of the personnel. The x-ray imaging machines were quite old with no quality assurance tests performed for quite some time. Conclusion: Excellent knowledge of radiation protection was exhibited by the majority of radiation workers in ABUTH, though from self-efforts. However, compliance with the standard radiation protection guidelines is appalling. The need for improved and sustained efforts by both the management and the personnel in radiation protection can never be over emphasized in order to avoid deleterious effects of radiation on both the personnel and patients

Quantum modelling analysis of some potent indole derivatives on NS5B polymerase inhibitors

Viral hepatitis C infection is one of the main causes of the hepatitis after blood transfusion, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health threat. The Non-structural viral protein (NS5B) is one of the best-studied polymerase which emerged as an attractive target for the development of novel therapeutics against hepatitis C virus. Quantitative structure-activity relationship studies (QSAR) was carried out on a series of indole derivatives as anti-hepatitis C inhibitors. Density Functional Theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculation method was used to find the optimized geometry of the indole inhibitors. Five types of molecular descriptors were used to derive a quantitative relation between indole activity and structural properties. The relevant molecular descriptors were selected by Genetic Function Algorithm (GFA). The best model (model 1) was validated and found to be statistically significant with squared correlation coefficient of R2 of 0.969, R2adj value 0.917, and Q2 LOO 0.612 and the external validation was found to be R2 pred. = 0.815. The proposed model has good stability, robustness, and predictability on verifying with internal and external validation. The physicochemical parameters are to be considered when improving the inhibitory activities of the indole derivatives against an enzyme that causes HCV (NS5B polymerase)

Factors infleuncing neonatal septicaemia in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Neonatal septicaemia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in the tropics. The risk factors vary, and the clinical features of neonatal septicaemia may be vague and nonspecific, therefore a high index of suspicion is vital to early diagnosis and treatment. The aetiological agents and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern have continued to change (in the same centre over time), hence the need to have undertaken this study.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the study was to determine the risk factors influencing the aetiology of neonatal septicaemia at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was prospective and all the newborn that had clinical diagnosis of septicaemia were consecutively enrolled and admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit of the Department of Paediatrics of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). The patients were appropriately investigated including blood cultures, cerebrospinal fluid cultures and urine culture among others.RESULTS: One hundred and ten neonates were studied, of these 46(42.0%) had positive blood culture, while 64 (58.0%) were blood culture negative. Eighteen (39.1%) of the septicaemic neonates were inborn, while 28 (60.9%) were out born. The incidence of neonatal septicaemia among babies delivered at UMTH was 5.9/1000 live births and the male to female ratio among septicaemic neonates was 1.9:1. The common risk factors for NNS were prolonged rupture of membrane (PROM), prematurity and low socioeconomic status of parents among others. Fever was the commonest clinical feature at presentation (87%), others include: poor feeding (64 %), excessive crying (33%), tachypnoea, hepatomegaly were some of the common examination findings. Staphylococcus aureus 16(69.6%) and Streptococcus pyogenes 5(21.8%) were the predominant Gram positive organisms isolated while Escherichia coli 9(39.1%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae 7(30.4%) were the predominant Gram negative organisms isolated.CONCLUSION: Mortality was high in infection associated with Gram negative organisms and in the presence of conditions/complications like urinary tract infections, tetanus and meningit

Effect of earthworm inoculation on the bioremediation of used engine oil contaminated soil

The effect of earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) on the bioremediation of used engine oil contaminated soil, amended with poultry manure, was investigated. Investigation into the effect of initial concentration of used engine oil, in soil, for earthworm inoculated samples showed that the biodegradation rate of used engine oil contaminant increased with increasing initial concentration of used engine oil. For initial used engine oil concentration of 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg soil, the drop in total petroleum hydrocarbon was found to be -16.91, 20.82, 34.68 and 36.28% respectively after 42 days of treatment. Investigation into the effect of earthworm concentration showed that the use of earthworms did not result in catalysis of the bioremediation process as the extent of biodegradation for the sample without earthworm was found to be higher than those of all concentrations of earthworm considered (5 - 20 worms/kg soil). However, the rate of bioremediation was found to increase with increase in earthworm concentration (as earthworm concentration was increased from 5 to 20 worms per kg of used engine oil contaminated soil). Similarly when the rate of bioremediation in the without-earthworm but manually tilled and the without-earthworm and untilled samples where compared with samples inoculated with earthworm for bioremediation, both samples without worms recorded higher bioremediation rates.Keywords: Concentration, Time, Total petroleum hydrocarbon, vermicomposting, Eudrilus eugenia

Detection of mycobacteria in raw cow milk sold in Bwari Area Council, Abuja FCT

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important zoonotic disease worldwide and hence it is of great public health significance. It is present in most developing countries where surveillance and control activities are often inadequate or unavailable. This study was designed to detect mycobacteria in raw milk of cows using ZN-stain, PCR, and cultural techniques to determine the prevalence of bTB in Bwari area council of FCT Abuja. Out of the 145 raw milk sampled, 6.89% tested positive by ZN-stain and culture while 1.3% were positive by PCR. The herd prevalence per satellite town based on ZN-stain technique was 8.89%, 10.0%, 3.33% and 5.00% for Bwari, Dei-Dei, Kubuwa and Ushafa respectively. While by cultural method, the prevalence was 2.22%, 10.00%, and 5.00% for Bwari, Dei-Dei, Kubuwa and Ushafa respectively. PCR revealed the prevalence of Mycobacterium species for Bwari and Dei-Dei as 2.22% and 3.33% respectively. Detection of Mycobacteria in raw (unpasteurized) pose a serious public health risk to raw milk consumers in Bwari area council.Keywords: Raw milk, bTB, ZN stain, PCR, Cultur

Klippel-Feil syndrome presenting as recurrent abdominal pain in a teenager: importance of computed tomography scan in diagnostic workup

Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) is a segmentation and cleavage malformation of the cervical spine in the early weeks of foetal development. This is considered as a sporadic genetic abnormality, and is accompanied by multisystem disorders such as a short neck, cardiac disease, renal ectopia and other associated genitourinary syndromes. In this case report, we present the clinical and radiological findings of a 14-year old school boy who was referred to us from a private hospital for abdominopelvic ultrasound to ascertain his cause of recurrent abdominal pains since childhood. We also present the role of computed tomography in detecting multisystemabnormalities during a single hospital visit.Keywords: Recurrent abdominal pains, renal ectopia, multiple cervicothoracic vertebral fusions, Sprengel's scapula

Comparative analysis on the effect of heavy metals: a case study of selected states in Nigeria

In the toxicological aspect, uncontrolled amount of heavy metals is deadly, to the environment and its inhabitants. To complicate issues, reviewed work has revealed that technological advancement is one of the key sources of heavy metals. This can lead to outbreak of diseases, decrease of life span, cancer, and other related effects. Providing sustainable environment, the concentration of these metals need to be periodically regulated. This research studies the effect of some selected heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn) in Kano State Nigeria, using Atomic Absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results were compared with other related work conducted in some states across Nigeria (Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Kaduna, and Bauchi States) and standard international values (WHO, FAO, SEPA and US EPA). The parameters analysed were; Concentration, Bioaccumulation (Plant concentration factor –PCF), Transfer factor (TF), Daily Intake of Metals (DIM), and Health Risk Index (HRI). Statistical package (SPSS) was used, to establish the relationship between these metals in all the sites. The result showed that there were substantial absorption of these metals by the plants and the consumers. Children were more exposed than adults in terms of DIM and the HRI. The comparison showed sequential order in the parameters investigated. All the biological samples exhibited Phytoremediation quality with the TF>1, this will aid in having sustainable environment to the resident and citizen of the state in particular and the nation in general, as well as serving as an impetus for the initiation of safe comprehensive remedy of the subject matter. The PCF for all the samples varied across states and plants.Keywords: AAS, Adults, ANOVA. Children, Concentration, DIM, HRI, PCF, Phytoremediatio

Blood Biochemical Profile and Carcass Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits Fed Varying Inclusion Levels of Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth.) Forage

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of varying inclusion levels of Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) forage on haematological, blood biochemical and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits. A total of 20 male rabbits of mixed breeds with an average initial weight of 450g were randomly assigned into four dietary treatments containing varying inclusion levels of gamba grass forage (0, 5, 10 and 15%). There were four rabbits per treatment, each serving as a replicate in a completely randomized design. Blood samples were collected at the end of eight (8) week feeding period before the carcass analysis.. Results indicated that there were significant (P<0.05) increasing trend in the haematological and blood biochemical parameters measured. There were 51% and 55% increases (P<0.05) in total protein (8.53 vs. 5.65g/dl) and calcium ions (2.65 vs. 1.18mmol/dl) in rabbits fed diet containing 15% inclusion level of gamba grass forage compared to the control. However, there were 10% and 17% decreases (P<0.05) in white blood cells (4.92 vs. 4.43%) and alkaline phosphate (89.33 vs. 76.33IU/dl) in rabbits fed the control diet than those fed diet containing 15% inclusion level of gamba grass. Also, there were 13% and 49% increase (P<0.05) in dressing percentage (54.80 vs. 48.60%) and weight of thigh (16.95 vs. 11.35%) in rabbits fed diet containing 15% inclusion level of gamba grass forage compared to the control. However, length of small intestine and weights of heart, head, stomach and small intestines were similar (P>0.05) across the treatments, respectively. It was concluded that gamba grass forage can be included up to 15% in the diet of weaner rabbits, without adverse effect on haematological, biochemical profile and carcass characteristics of the rabbits in Northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) forage can be included in the diets of weaner rabbits to reduce cost of production.Keywords: Blood, competition, carcass, feed, gamba, Nigeria, rabbi

Physicians and AIDS Care: Does Knowledge Influence Their Attitude and Comfort in Rendering Care?

Adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and feeling of comfort are important factors in providing compassionate care to patients. The purpose of this study was to assess physicians\u2019 knowledge, attitude and global comfort in caring for patients with AIDS (PWA), to determine the sociodemographic variables that could influence physicians\u2019 attitude and global comfort, and to identify any relationship between their knowledge, attitude and comfort. Consultants and residents (N=211) in two Nigerian teaching hospitals were surveyed using a two-part questionnaire. Part I elicited sociodemographic and previous AIDS encounter information, and Part II assessed knowledge, attitude and global comfort with AIDS patients care. Nigerian physicians showed satisfactory knowledge, but they harbored negative attitude and low level of comfort in caring for PWA. Previous AIDS care experience, age and being a consultant or a senior resident influenced attitude, while male gender and knowing someone with AIDS influenced global comfort. Knowledge is weakly but positively associated with attitude, while attitude is modestly associated with comfort. The study reinforced the need for an ongoing education focused on experiential learning, and professional socialization in order to influence physicians\u2019 attitude and enhance their feeling of comfort when caring for PWA

Kinetics and Thermodynamic Studies of Disperse Dyes Derived from 4-Amino-3-Nitrobenzaldehyde on Polyester fabrics.

Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic studies of disperse dyes derived from 4-Amino-3-Nitrobenzaldehyde on polyester fabrics was carried out at various temperatures, pH, liquor ratios, time and carrier concentrations. The results showed the equilibrium adsorption isotherms of disperse dyes on polyester fabrics. The values of the thermodynamic parameters recorded and the adsorption isotherms deduced from the experiment suggests that the adsorption kinetics of the disperse dyes on polyester fabric is in agreement with a pseudo second-order kinetic model [11]. Van der Wa’als forces are thought to have played significant role in dye – fibre attraction and the adsorption of disperse dyes on polyester was an exothermic process. It was found that on application, the dyes had very good fastness to both wash and light and moderate fastness to perspiration