Effects of poultry manure supplemented by NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production in Port Harcourt (Nigeria)

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a newly introduced exotic crop in Port Harcourt (Nigeria) that is in high demand, but due to inadequate production and distance from areas of mass production, the supply is highly limited. Replicate field plots were employed in the experiments aimed at determining the effects of poultry manure supplemented by NPK 15:15:15 on cucumber for a period of two seasons. Three poultry manure (PM) levels; 0, 5 and 10 t/ha, two levels of NPK 15:15:15 60 and 120 kg/ha and the combination of the different levels of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer were used, respectively. The pertinent growth, yield and soil parameters were then determined. Results of the analysis show that various combined nutrients treated plots significantly influenced vine length and leaf area than the plots that were treated with single nutrients and control. The best result of the fruit yield were obtained from plots treated with 5 t/ha of poultry manure supplemented with 120 kg/ha of NPK and 10 t/ha PM supplemented with 60 kg/ha NPK (18.24 and 19.30 t/ha) for wet and dry seasons, respectively. Soil analysis result show that treatments applied at various levels increased soil fertility. The result of the study showed that the best crop yield was obtained on cucumber during dry season farming.Keywords: Cucumber, vine length, leaf area, fruit yield, NPK 15:15:15, poultry manure, exotic cro

Randomized Controlled Trials of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment in Africa: Results from the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Specialized Register

INTRODUCTION: To effectively address HIV/AIDS in Africa, evidence on preventing new infections and providing effective treatment is needed. Ideally, decisions on which interventions are effective should be based on evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Our previous research described African RCTs of HIV/AIDS reported between 1987 and 2003. This study updates that analysis with RCTs published between 2004 and 2008. OBJECTIVES: To describe RCTs of HIV/AIDS conducted in Africa and reported between 2004 and 2008. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Specialized Register in September 2009. Two researchers independently evaluated studies for inclusion and extracted data using standardized forms. Details included location of trials, interventions, methodological quality, location of principal investigators and funders. RESULTS: Our search identified 834 RCTs, with 68 conducted in Africa. Forty-three assessed prevention-interventions and 25 treatment-interventions. Fifteen of the 43 prevention RCTs focused on preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission. Thirteen of the 25 treatment trials focused on opportunistic infections. Trials were conducted in 16 countries with most in South Africa (20), Zambia (12) and Zimbabwe (9). The median sample size was 628 (range 33-9645). Methods used for the generation of the allocation sequence and allocation concealment were adequate in 38 and 32 trials, respectively, and 58 reports included a CONSORT recommended flow diagram. Twenty-nine principal investigators resided in the United States of America (USA) and 18 were from African countries. Trials were co-funded by different agencies with most of the funding obtained from USA governmental and non-governmental agencies. Nineteen pharmaceutical companies provided partial funding to 15 RCTs and African agencies co-funded 17 RCTs. Ethical approval was reported in 65 trials and informed consent in 61 trials. CONCLUSION: Prevention trials dominate the trial landscape in Africa. Of note, few principal investigators and funders are from Africa. These findings mirror our previous work and continue to indicate a need for strengthening trial research capacity in Africa

High blood pressure in a semi-urban community in south-south Nigeria: a community - based study

Background: Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are taking their toll in most low and middle income countries; incidentally, in the same populations that are struggling to deal with communicable diseases, hence presenting a picture of “double tragedy”. Most of the researches conducted on NCDs are facility-based; often in urban locations. Objective: To determine the prevalence of high BP in a semi-urban community in Nigeria. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study, where all the adult residents of the community were enrolled. Data was collected using a multi-section questionnaire, including anthropometric measurements. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS 17.0 for windows and STATA 10. Results: The results showed that 47.0% of the study population had a raised BP >140/90mmHg. At a univariate level, age, sex, higher income, more people in the household, daily cigarette smoking, daily alcohol intake and BMI, showed increased risk for high BP. However, sleeping for at least 8 hours a day showed protective influence against raised BP among the participants. In the adjusted model, only age, sex and BMI remained statistically significant with Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.04 (95%CI; 1.00, 1.08), 0.45 (95%CI; 0.22, 0.90) and 1.08(95%CI; 1.03, 1.13) respectively. The model had an area under curve of 71.9%, Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a high prevalence of raised BP in this semi-urban community, thus the need for intervention and preventive services to curb the looming epidemic of hypertension in this community in particular, and Nigeria as a whole, cannot be overemphasized.Keywords: High BP, BMI, prevalence

High blood pressure in a semi-urban community in south-south Nigeria: a community - based study

BACKGROUND: Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are taking their toll in most low and middle income countries; incidentally, in the same populations that are struggling to deal with communicable diseases, hence presenting a picture of “double tragedy”. Most of the researches conducted on NCDs are facility-based; often in urban locations. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of high BP in a semi-urban community in Nigeria. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study, where all the adult residents of the community were enrolled. Data was collected using a multi-section questionnaire, including anthropometric measurements. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS 17.0 for windows and STATA 10. RESULTS: The results showed that 47.0% of the study population had a raised BP ≥140/90mmHg. At a univariate level, age, sex, higher income, more people in the household, daily cigarette smoking, daily alcohol intake and BMI, showed increased risk for high BP. However, sleeping for at least 8 hours a day showed protective influence against raised BP among the participants. In the adjusted model, only age, sex and BMI remained statistically significant with Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.04 (95%CI; 1.00, 1.08), 0.45 (95%CI; 0.22, 0.90) and 1.08(95%CI; 1.03, 1.13) respectively. The model had an area under curve of 71.9%, CONCLUSION: It was concluded that there is a high prevalence of raised BP in this semi-urban community, thus the need for intervention and preventive services to curb the looming epidemic of hypertension in this community in particular, and Nigeria as a whole, cannot be overemphasized

Headache for ophthalmologists: current advances in headache understanding and management.

Patients with headache and head pain are often referred to ophthalmologists. These symptoms can either be associated with underlying ophthalmic conditions, or more often are headache disorders unrelated to the eyes. Understanding the phenotype of the headache is critical for advice, safe discharge or onward referral. This review will provide an update on the criteria for common headache disorders that are often seen by ophthalmology and embrace disorders associated with ophthalmic diseases. It will also describe the changing management of migraine and outline recent therapies that are currently available