Methods for specifying the target difference in a randomised controlled trial : the Difference ELicitation in TriAls (DELTA) systematic review

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Effect of different chemical treatments on the germination of fungal-infested soybean seeds

No Abstract. IJOTAFS Vol. 2 (2) 2008: pp. 126-12

Bacteriological Evaluation of Water Bottles Used by Nursery School Pupils in Owerri, Nigeria

Bacteriological evaluation of water bottles used by nursery school pupils in Owerri metropolis was carried out. Eleven bacterial genera were isolated from the water bottle samples. These included Bacillus, E. coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Micrococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Shigella and Streptococcus species. All the eleven genera were isolated in the water bottle samples collected from Amazing Grace Nursery School, Mary Sumner Nursery School, FUTO Nursery School, IMSU Nursery School and St. Paul's International Nursery School. Absent from FSP and Alvan Nursery Schools were two genera namely Salmonella and Shigella. The genus Salmonella was not isolated from Assumpta and Welsely Nursery Schools. Overall percentage positive isolation of Enterobacter, Proteus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and E. coli were highest, ranging from 61 to 87.5%, while Salmonella, Shigella and Klebsiella were the least, ranging from 7.5 to 21%. Total aerobic and coliform counts in all the samples ranged between 1.1X 109 - 1.9X 109cfu/ml and 8.0 x 105-3. 6xl08cfu/ml, while total staphylococcal and enterobacteriaceae counts in all samples ranged between 3.6X 105- 8.0 x 107 cfu/ml and 7.2 x 106- 6.0 x 107 cfu/ml. This study shows that all of the water bottles used by the nursery school pupils exceeded safe bacteria levels. Such magnitude of contamination associated predominantly with free-living microorganisms is of public health concerns. Keywords: Bacteriological quality, water bottles, nursery schools, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(4): 309-314, 200

Assessment of the antimicrobial efficacy of some Nigerian toothpaste

Studies on the bactericidal action of additive, sodium fluoride (NaF) of seven Nigerian toothpastes in inhibiting oral bacteria was determined using ten bacterial isolates obtained from saliva of students. Two each of the ten isolates (20%) were Bacillus spp and Streptococcus spp. While 3(30%) each was Staphylococcus spp and Lactobacillus spp. The Staphylococcus spp and Bacillus spp were examined for their sensitivity to 10% (W/V) of different toothpastes manufactured in Nigeria and included Close Up®, Pepsodent®, Colgate®, Aquafresh®, Macleans®, Minta® and Daily Need® and also their biocidal additive sodium fluoride (NaF). Close Up® recorded the highest rate of bactericidal action while Minta® recorded the lowest rate. Bacillus spp was more susceptible to the toothpaste and sodium fluoride (NaF) than Staphylococcus spp. Bacillus spp was found to be able to utilize toothpaste brands like Macleans® and Aquafresh® as sole sources of carbon and energy in mineral salts medium as indicated by decline in cell number in the first hour and significant rise in the subsequent hours. Results of the survival rates of the two test organisms in the different toothpastes using Nutrient broth showed Close Up® to be the strongest, since there was a sharp decline in cell number within the first two minutes of exposure. The study concluded that Close Up® is the best toothpaste out of the 7 pastes tested, followed by Aquafresh®, Pepsodent®, Daily Need®, Colgate®, Macleans® and Minta® in that order. Keywords: Toothpaste; bacteria; anti-microbial; sodium fluoride; NigeriaInternational Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 272-27

Internalized Stigma, Social Distance, and Disclosure of HIV Seropositivity in Rural Uganda

BACKGROUND: HIV is highly stigmatized, compromising both treatment and prevention in resource-limited settings. PURPOSE: To study the relationship between internalized HIV-related stigma and serostatus disclosure and to determine the extent to which this association varies with the degree of social distance. METHODS: We fit multivariable Poisson regression models, with cluster-correlated robust estimates of variance, to data from 259 persons with HIV enrolled in an ongoing cohort study in rural Uganda. RESULTS: Persons with more internalized stigma were less likely to disclose their seropositivity. The magnitude of association increased with social distance such that the largest association was observed for public disclosures and the smallest association was observed for disclosures to sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: Among persons with HIV in rural Uganda, internalized stigma was negatively associated with serostatus disclosure. The inhibiting effect of stigma was greatest for the most socially distant ties