Nutritional anaemia and malaria in children.

Background: The most common cause of anemia is a deficiency of iron; but it may also be caused by deficiencies of folates, vitamin B12 and protein. Some anemias are not caused by nutritional factors, but by congenital factors and parasitic diseases such as malaria. This study attempted to estimate the prevalence of anemia among pre-school and school- aged children in two rural areas of Odogbolu Local government area, and to determine whether its cause was nutritional or could be attributed to malaria. Methods: A total of 177 children between the ages of 2 and 11 years were included in the study. Children were examined for malaria parasites by microscopy. The World Health Organization (WHO) age-adjusted cut-off for hemoglobin and hematocrit were used to classify anemia. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for serum ferritin was compared with standard methods of determining iron deficiency. Under- nutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) was classified according to the National Centre for Health Statistics standards. Values below  - 2SD were defined as mild-moderate under-nutrition, and those below  -3SD as severe malnutrition. Results: Most of the children were anemic, 87.1%, having PCV values below the 32% cut-off and 95% with hemoglobin levels lower than the 11g/dl, although parasite prevalence and density were low. Malnutrition was patent; 36% of the children were stunted, 18.3% wasted and 44.2% underweight. Serum ferritin was more sensitive than PCV in detecting anemic children. Although anemia was higher in boys and preschoolers compared to girls and school aged children, the difference was significant only in preschoolers (P = .004). Anaemia was also significantly higher in Irawo village school than in Iloti (P = .0001) Conclusion: The anemia detected in this population may be due more to under-nutrition than to malaria. Keywords: Anaemia, nutrition, childrenAnnals of African Medicine Vol. 7 (1) 2008 pp. 11-1

Screening of Ameloblastoma Cases in Ibadan for HPV and EBV Genes.

Context: This study investigated the presence or absence of β-catenin and Patched1 (PTCH1) genes involved in the developmental pathway in ameloblastoma, in order to clarify the genetic etiology of this tumor. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether PTCH1 and β-catenin genes are involved in the development of ameloblastoma. Subjects and Methods: Archived formalin-fixed paraffinembedded specimens of 89 ameloblastoma cases from the year 2000 to 2010 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: A total of 21 (23.6%) of the 89 ameloblastoma cases were positive for β-catenin gene, where 14/21 (66.7%) cases were mandibular ameloblastoma. Plexiform 5/21 (23.8%) and cystic 5/21 (23.8%) ameloblastoma were the most regular histological type positive for β-catenin. However, β-catenin positive was more in the feminine gender (11/19, 57.9%) than the masculine (8/19, 42.1%). Only one case was positive for PTCH1 gene and this was histologically a mandibular site and plexiform-type ameloblastoma. Conclusions: This study suggested that β-catenin and PTCH1 genes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ameloblastoma

IL4, IL13, GSTM1 and T1 variants and susceptibility to Schistosomiasis and associated bladder pathologies in Eggua, Nigeria

Failure of the human host to elicit adequate immune responses to the adult Schistosoma haematobium worm and continuous strong inflammatory responses to the eggs have been the main causes of bladder pathology in chronic Schistosomiasis. Identification of susceptibility biomarkers for schistosomiasis- associated bladder pathology is necessary in order to detect genetic factors responsible for the infection and spread of the disease. The aim of this study was to identify candidate-biomarkers for susceptibility to schistosomiasis and its associated pathologies. A total of 371 adult participants, comprising 130 males and 241 females from Eggua community, Ogun State, Nigeria, were randomly recruited into a cross sectional study from August 2012 to May 2014. They were screened for S. haematobium ova and bladder pathologies by microscopy and ultrasonography, respectively. Human host susceptibility to schistosomiasis and its associated bladder pathologies were determined by PCR genotyping of Interleukin (IL4 and IL13) genes, and glutathione-S-transferase (GSTT1 and GSTM1) genes. The overall prevalence of S. haematobium in the population was 29.3% (108/369). Bladder pathologies were observed in 32.3% (117/362) of the population. Polymorphisms in IL 4-590 and IL 13-1055 were observed in 24.1% and 9.3% schistosomiasis cases, respectively. The IL 13-1055 polymorphism did not indicate susceptibility to schistosomiasis in males (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.3-2.1) but a slight risk was found in females (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.7-1.7). Participants with GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms expressed elevated risks of bladder pathologies (OR = 4.3, 95% CI 2.0 - 9.2 and OR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.5 – 12.0, respectively), with the pathology and schistosomiasis group having more GST polymorphisms than bladder pathologies. Keywords: Polymorphisms, Cytokines, GST, schistosomiasis and pathologie

ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF BRIQUETTES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE OPTION AMONG RICE PROCESSORS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

The study on the assessment of the knowledge and use of briquettes for climate change option among rice processors in Anambra State, Nigeria investigated the level of rice processor’s knowledge and perception on the use of briquettes, perceived advantages of renewable energy, as well as the socio-economic characteristic influence on the processor’s perception and the perceived challenges to the production of briquettes. Data were collected from 974 randomly selected rice processors and analyzed with descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model. The study shows that the majority (62.2%) of the processors are female with mean age, processing experience and a monthly output of 43 years, 15 years and 4.5 tons respectively. Also, the processors were fairly knowledgeable on the use of briquettes but perceived renewable energy as economically viable, and climate-smart among others. The socioeconomic variables influencing their perception were Age, marital-status, enterprise size, experience, monthly income, and rice residues. Finally, the likely challenges that will constrain briquettes production include; high initial cost, high maintenance cost etc. furthermore, policymakers must swing into action to sensitize processors on the need to adopt renewable energy for environmental sustainability

Nutritional Anaemia and Malaria in Pre-School and School Age Children

Background: The most common cause of anemia is a deficiency of iron; but it may also be caused by deficiencies of folates, vitamin B12 and protein. Some anemias are not caused by nutritional factors, but by congenital factors and parasitic diseases such as malaria. This study attempted to estimate the prevalence of anemia among pre-school and school- aged children in two rural areas of Odogbolu Local government area, and to determine whether its cause was nutritional or could be attributed to malaria. Methods: A total of 177 children between the ages of 2 and 11 years were included in the study. Children were examined for malaria parasites by microscopy. The World Health Organization (WHO) age-adjusted cut-off for hemoglobin and hematocrit were used to classify anemia. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for serum ferritin was compared with standard methods of determining iron deficiency. Under- nutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) was classified according to the National Centre for Health Statistics standards. Values below \u3bc - 2SD were defined as mild-moderate under-nutrition, and those below \u3bc -3SD as severe malnutrition. Results: Most of the children were anemic, 87.1%, having PCV values below the 32% cut-off and 95% with hemoglobin levels lower than the 11g/dl, although parasite prevalence and density were low. Malnutrition was patent; 36% of the children were stunted, 18.3% wasted and 44.2% underweight. Serum ferritin was more sensitive than PCV in detecting anemic children. Although anemia was higher in boys and preschoolers compared to girls and school aged children, the difference was significant only in preschoolers (P\u2009=\u2009.004). Anaemia was also significantly higher in Irawo village school than in Iloti (P=.0001) Conclusion: The anemia detected in this population may be due more to under-nutrition than to malaria.Introduction: La cause la plus fr\ue9quente de l\u2019an\ue9mie est une carence en fer, mais elle peut aussi \ueatre caus\ue9e par des carence en folates, vitamine B12 et de prot\ue9ines. Certaines an\ue9mies ne sont pas caus\ue9es par des facteurs nutritionnels, mais par les facteurs cong\ue9nitales et les maladies parasitaires telles que le paludisme. Cette \ue9tude est pour but d\u2019estimer la pr\ue9valence de l\u2019an\ue9mie chez les pr\ue9scolaires et les enfants d\u2019\ue2ge scolaire dans deux zones rurales de l\u2019administration locale d\u2019Odogbolu, et de d\ue9terminer si sa cause est nutritionnel ou pouvaient \ueatre attribu\ue9s \ue0 la malaria. M\ue9thodes: Un total de 117 enfants \ue2g\ue9s entre 2 et 11 ans ont \ue9t\ue9 inclus dans l\u2019\ue9tude. Des enfants ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9tudi\ue9s pour les parasites du paludisme par microscopie. L\u2019Organisation Mondiale de la Sant\ue9 (OMS), l\u2019\ue2ge corrig\ue9 de coupure de l\u2019h\ue9moglobine et l\u2019h\ue9matocrites ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9s pour classer l\u2019an\ue9mie. L\u2019an\ue9mie. Une enzyme ayant rapport avec immunosorben assay pour la ferritinemie a \ue9t\ue9 compar\ue9e avec les m\ue9thodes standard de la d\ue9termination de la carence en fer. La sous-alimentation (retard de croissance, \ue9maciation et l\u2019insuffisance pond\ue9rale) ont \ue9t\ue9 class\ue9es selon le standard du Centre national pour les statistiques de la sant\ue9. Les valeurs au dessous de \ub5 - 2SD ont \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9finis comme \ue9tant doux mod\ue9r\ue9, et sous-alimentation, et celles du moins de \ub5 - 3SD comme \ue9tant la malnutrition grave. R\ue9sultats: La plus part des enfants sont an\ue9miques, 87,1% ayant des valeurs PCV au dessous de 32% niveau de la limite et 95% avec des taux d\u2019h\ue9moglobine inf\ue9rieurs \ue0 la 11g/dl, bien que la pr\ue9valence du parasite et de la densit\ue9 \ue9tait faible. La malnutrition \ue9tait de brevets, 36% des enfants avaient un retard de croissance. 18,3% gaspille et 44,2% d\u2019une insuffisance pond\ue9rale. La ferritine s\ue9rique a \ue9t\ue9 plus sensible que PCV dans la d\ue9tection des enfants an\ue9miques. Bien que l\u2019an\ue9mie est plus \ue9lev\ue9 chez les gar\ue7ons et pr\ue9scolaires par rapport aux filles et aux enfants d\u2019\ue2ge scolaire, la diff\ue9rence \ue9tait significative seulement chez l\u2019\ue2ge pr\ue9scolaire (p = 0,004). An\ue9mie a \ue9galement \ue9t\ue9 sensiblement plus \ue9lev\ue9e dans l\u2019\ue9cole du village que dans Iloti (p = 0,0001). Conclusion: L\u2019an\ue9mie d\ue9tect\ue9e dans cette population est peut-\ueatre du davantage \ue0 la sous alimentation que de la malaria

Recent advances in the application of the antimicrobial peptide nisin in the inactivation of spore-forming bacteria in foods

Conventional thermal and chemical treatments used in food preservation have come under scrutiny by consumers who demand minimally processed foods free from chemical agents but microbiologically safe. As a result, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as bacteriocins and nisin that are ribosomally synthesised by bacteria, more prominently by the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have appeared as a potent alternative due to their multiple biological activities. They represent a powerful strategy to prevent the development of spore-forming microorganisms in foods. Unlike thermal methods, they are natural without an adverse impact on food organoleptic and nutritional attributes. AMPs such as nisin and bacteriocins are generally effective in eliminating the vegetative forms of spore-forming bacteria compared to the more resilient spore forms. However, in combination with other non-thermal treatments, such as high pressure, supercritical carbon dioxide, electric pulses, a synergistic effect with AMPs such as nisin exists and has been proven to be effective in the inactivation of microbial spores through the disruption of the spore structure and prevention of spore outgrowth. The control of microbial spores in foods is essential in maintaining food safety and extension of shelf-life. Thus, exploration of the mechanisms of action of AMPs such as nisin is critical for their design and effective application in the food industry. This review harmonises information on the mechanisms of bacteria inactivation from published literature and the utilisation of AMPs in the control of microbial spores in food. It highlights future perspectives in research and application in food processing

A cross-sectional study on urogenital schistosomiasis in children; haematuria and proteinuria as diagnostic indicators in an endemic rural area of Nigeria

Background: Rapid and accurate diagnosis is necessary for the management of schistosomiasis in endemic areas.Objective: To assess the burden of urogenital schistosomiasis and the diagnostic efficiency of morbidity indicators of the disease in an endemic rural community of Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted. Urine samples of 487 pupils were screened microscopically for S. haematobium and tested for haematuria and proteinuria using chemical reagent strips.Results: The prevalence and intensity of infection were 57.1% and 45.0 eggs/10 mL urine respectively. Prevalence of infection in male (54.1%) and female (60.3%) individuals showed no significant variation (P>0.05). However, prevalence of infection was age dependent with those in age groups 3-5 and 12-14 years having the least and highest prevalence of infection respectively (P<0.05). Microhaematuria and proteinuria varied significantly with ages of the pupils with least (14.0, 40.0%) and highest (60.0, 80.0%) prevalence recorded in age groups 3-5 and 15-19 years respectively (P<0.05). Proteinuria showed higher sensitivity (80.3%) compared to microhaematuria (73.3%).Conclusion: Schistosomiasis is highly endemic in the study area and the use of microhaematuria and proteinuria for mapping the infected  population prior treatment could be adopted.Key words: Schistosomaisis, haematuria, proteinuria, Nigeri

A cold plasma technology for ensuring the microbiological safety and quality of foods

Changing consumers’ taste for chemical and thermally processed food and preference for perceived healthier minimally processed alternatives is a challenge to food industry. At present, several technologies have found usefulness as choice methods for ensuring that processed food remains unaltered while guaranteeing maximum safety and protection of consumers. However, the effectiveness of most green technology is limited due to the formation of resistant spores by certain foodborne microorganisms and the production of toxins. Cold plasma, a recent technology, has shown commendable superiority at both spore inactivation and enzymes and toxin deactivation. However, the exact mechanism behind the efficiency of cold plasma has remained unclear. In order to further optimize and apply cold plasma treatment in food processing, it is crucial to understand these mechanisms and possible factors that might limit or enhance their effectiveness and outcomes. As a novel non-thermal technology, cold plasma has emerged as a means to ensure the microbiological safety of food. Furthermore, this review presents the different design configurations for cold plasma applications, analysis the mechanisms of microbial spore and biofilm inactivation, and examines the impact of cold plasma on food compositional, organoleptic, and nutritional quality