Airborne microflora in an hospital environment of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria

A study was undertaken to determine typical concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi (microflora) in Teaching Hospital environment in Benin City in the tropical rainforest environment of Nigeria. Aerial sampling wasconducted at various hospital wards each day. The air samples were collected thrice daily, that is, in the morning, between 8am and 10am, in the afternoon, between 12noon and 2pm and in the evening between 4pm and 6pm. Concentrations of airborne microflora exceeded available local guidelines for indoor quality in the accident and emergency ward, female ward, male ward, pediatric ward and the maternity ward, but not in the restricted wards like the theatre, intensive care unit and bacteriological laboratory. Results showed that the occupant density was the keyfactor influencing the levels of airborne microflora, while humidity was also observed as a factor, depending on the particular location with the hospital. The concentration of airborne bacteria and fungi in the nine different hospital units varied from wards to wards. The bacterial population ranges from 3.0cf/m3 to 76.0cf/m3, with the highest bacterial population recorded in the accident and emergency ward. The fungal population ranges from 6.0cf/m3 to 44.7cf/m3, while the highest fungal population was recorded in the accident and emergency ward. The microflora characterized and identified, were representative ofthe normal microflora of the human body (skin, gastrointestinal tracts, respiratory tract) and the opportunistic pathogens. The microbial isolates included six bacterial genera, among which are, Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermis, Escherichia coli, Bacillus sp. and Proteus mirabilis, the fugal isolates included, Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp., Mucor sp., Candida sp and Verticillium sp. The variations in hospital units in concentrations of total airborne microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) in the air of hospital environments were statistically significant (p<0.001).The concentrations of airborne microflora recorded in the hospital environment, specifically in the accident and emergency ward was significantly different from other wards (p<0.001), with the mean value of 40.0 and 72.2 for fungal and bacterial population respectively

Weight changes induced by ingestion of Alomo bitters (A combination of herbal constituents): Experimental study on wistar rats

This study investigates Weight changes induced by ingestion of Alomo bitters (A combination of herbal constituents): Experimental study on  Wistar rats. The sixteen Wistar rats (151.67 ± 2.89 grams) involved in thestudy were divided into four groups; a control (Group A) and three test groups (B, C and D). For 3 weeks, group A (control) received normal feed (growers mash) with distilled water only, while groups B-D (test) received normal feed with water mixed with graded quantities of Alomo Bitters: B (7.5ml/kg), C (15ml/kg) and D (22.5ml/kg). Comparatively, the results showed that body weight gain was highest in the test groups (B-D) in a dosage duration fashion and lowest in the control group (22.40 ± 11.21g). Also, a non-significant variation in organ-weight was observed for the testis. The observed changes on body weight and weights of the liver, kidney and testis were dosage and duration dependent. Thus, alomo bitters may be important in weight and appetite management considering its effect on body weight. However, further investigations are required in this regard.Keywords: Mondia whitei, Herbs, Weight, Obesity, Appetite, Public Health issues

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in the Management of Eating Disorder among Female Undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife

The study established the efficacy of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of eating  disorders. The prevalence level of eating disorder among the population was 17.1%. Thirty (30) participants were randomly selected from a pool of 171 respondents classified as highly at risk for eating disorders. Fifteen (15) of the participants were randomly assigned to the experimental and fifteen (15) to the control groups. The participants were exposed to seven sessions of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. The results indicated that the experimental group (M = 65.20, SD = 5.97) had a statistically significant higher mean scores at post- test than the control group (M= 39.20, SD = 3.38; t = 14.68, p < .05). The  participants in the experimental group self-reported significantly more severe symptoms of  eating disorder at pretest (M= 65.20, SD = 5.97) had the statistically higher eating disorder scores than the experimental group at post-test (M= 8.13, SD = 4.56; t = 2.17, p < .05). The modified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy employed in the study may be helpful in reversing this trend.Keywords: Eating disorders, Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Obesity, Cognitive Behaviour therap