Effect of cooking and soaking on physical characteristics, nutrient composition and sensory evaluation of indigenous and foreign rice varieties in Nigeria

The objective of this study is to ascertain the effect of cooking and soaking on the physical characteristics, nutrient composition and sensory evaluation of indigenous ‘ofada’ rice and foreign‘aroso’ rice varieties in Nigeria. The two rice varieties were freshly purchased in the raw state, soaked in water and cooked. The physical characteristics, such as, length, width, weight, colour, purity,breakage, cooking time, dispersability and swelling capacity of the raw rice varieties were determined. The raw, soaked and cooked rice varieties were oven dried as 60°C for 4 h and milled to attain uniformsurface area. The proximate composition and some minerals of the raw, soaked and cooked rice varieties and the sensory evaluation of the cooked rice were determined. Ofada and aroso rice varietieswere brown and creamy in colour, respectively. There were significant (p0.01) differencesin the levels of minerals; Ca, Fe, Mg and P, in raw, cooked and soaked ofada and aroso rice. Sensory evaluation showed that cooked aroso rice was generally preferred, in terms of colour, aroma, taste, texture and overall acceptability

Perception and utilization of traditional birth attendants by pregnant women attending primary health care clinics in a rural Local Government Area in Ogun State, Nigeria

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Effect of zinc deficiency on memory, oxidative stress and blood chemistry in rats

The effect of zinc deficiency on memory function, oxidative stress and blood chemistry in rats was investigated. Forty-two male (65.0±2.78 g) albino Sprague Dawley rats were equally divided into 3 groups, A, B and C. The 3 groups of rats were fed zinc deficient diet, zinc adequate diet and reference diet, respectively, and water ad libitum daily for 30 days. Body weight, feed and water intake of the rats were computed every day. A shuttle box was used for the short-term and long-term memory tests of these rats fed the respective diets. Two criteria were considered as behavioural test; these include latency in entering dark chamber and timespent in the light chamber before entering the dark chamber at days 2, 9, 16 and 23 after the first day of training using the shuttle box. After the memory testing was conducted, rats were sacrificed by decapitation, blood was taken and brain excised. Total brain protein, plasma creatinine, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, specific activities of acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanineaminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined. The control diet supported significantly (

Prostate Screening Practices Among Male Staff of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the second most common male cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related death in the world. In Nigeria it is the most common male cancer constituting 11-12% of all male cancers.In most developing countries, prostate cancer screening is not widespread and men’s knowledge of the disease and screening methods for early detection is limited.Objective: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of prostate cancer screening among male staff of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study using  self-administered questionnaires was carried out among 250 randomly selected male staff members of the University of Lagos aged 30 to >60 years. Data analysis was done using EPI-INFO version 2007 software statistical package. Categorical variables in groups were compared using the chi-square test. The level of significance was set at p <0.05.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 47.4±6 years. Overall, 164 (66%) were aware of prostate cancer and 145 (58%) were aware of  prostate cancer screening methods. The commonest method known by these respondents was serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing (59.3%). Only 71 (28.4%) respondents had undergone prostate cancer screening and the commonest reason for screening was on the  recommendation of their doctor (47.9%). Of those who did not undergo testing, 32.4% were not aware of the test and in 30.2% of cases their doctor did not recommend it.Conclusion: This study revealed that although the respondents were aware of prostate cancer screening, few had taken the test. Because there is insufficient scientific evidence for the justification of screening in all men, the authors recommend that informed decision making should guide a decision to obtain screening for prostate cancer. This means that men should talk with their doctors to learn the nature and risks of prostate cancer, understand the benefit and risks of screening and decide whether prostate cancer screening is right for them

Effects of administration of sertraline, clozapine, amitriptyline and imipramine on brain serotonin, liver enzymes and blood chemistry of rabbit

The chronic administration of sertraline, clozapine, amitriptyline and imipramine on brain serotonin, liver enzymes and blood chemistry of rabbits were investigated. Sixty rabbits were equally divided into 5groups and each group was intraperitoneally administered 2 ml of 0.5 mg of the respective drug/kg body weight/day) and saline as control for 28 days. After 28 days, the rabbits were sacrificed; blood taken, liver andbrain were excised. The concentration of total protein, serotonin, cholesterol and triglyceride in serum, liver and brain were determined. The activities of serum and liver alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartatetransaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase were also assayed. The serum serotonin and brain serotonin levels in rabbits administered the respective drugs were significantly (

Remediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil by Enhanced Natural Attenuation Technique

The concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, total hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (THUB), total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) and total petroleum hydrocarbon were determined using the remediation by enhanced natural attenuation (RENA) in a crude oil contaminated farmland in Rivers state, Nigeria. A TPH concentration of 1.1004 x104 mg/kg of the sandy soil was achieved after spiking and tilling. There was a reduction in the TPH level from 300mg/kg after 8weeks, to 282mg/kg after 10weeks.No significant reduction in the TPH level was observed after the 10th week. The nitrogen and phosphorus levels of the sandy soil were 24.6 and 22.8mg/kg respectively. This suggests that the nitrogen and phosphorus levels could no longer support biodegradation at the residual TPH levels of 282mg/kg and 22.8mg/kg after spiking and tilling respectively, which further reduced to 0.12mg/kg and 1.7mg/kg respectively after 10 weeks. The total hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (THUB) increased from 3.0 x 104cfu/g to 8.55x104cfu/g and finally reduced to 5.38 x104cfu/g, while the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) reduced from 1.22 x108 cfu/g to 5.98 x 105cfu/g. Data of the study indicate that remediation enhanced natural attenuation technique could be employed to remediate a farm settlement contaminated by crude oil. @JASE

Oral Administration of Sertraline and Clozapine Affects Memory, Liver Enzymes and Function in Rats

Abstract The effects of clozap ine and sertraline on memo ry, b lood chemistry and liver function were studied. Thirty male Sprague -Dawley rats were put into three groups and orally administered daily 0.5 mg/ kg of clozap ine or sertraline and saline, wh ich served as control. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation on the 14, 28 and 35 days. The blood was collected, liver and brain were excised and subjected to blood chemistry, liver function tests, brain acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase ( SOD) activ ities and reduced glutathione( GSH) level were determined. The time spent by rats administered the respective drugs in the light compart ment before entering dark co mpart ment of the shuttle box was measured. The blood chemistry and liver function show significant increase in activ ities of A LP, AST and A LT between clozap ine ad ministered group and control. There was no significant difference in levels of albu min, total protein, creat inine, urea, cholesterol and tri acyl glycerol, in rats ad min istered clozap ine and sertraline when co mpared with control. There was significant difference in the activities of SOD and GSHin rats administered clo zapine, sertraline and control. Data of the study suggest that clozapine resulted in the improvement of short and long -term me mo ry, wh ile sertraline imp roved long -term me mory only in rats. The elevated activities of liver enzy mes, AST and AST indicate impairment of liver function in rats orally ad ministered clozapine and sertraline in rats

Anthropometric, socio-demographic and biochemical risk factors of hypertension in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and allcause death globally and in Africa. The prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria is 28.9%. In Nigeria, analytical studies to determine risk factors and potential biomarkers of hypertension are lacking. This study was conducted to determine lifestyle, anthropometric, sociodemographic, and biochemical risk factors associated with hypertension in Lagos, Nigeria.Method: This case–control study was conducted among 410 participants, aged 18–65 years. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from cases and controls. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken. Blood samples were also collected for biochemical analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors associated with hypertension. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result: In total, 205 hypertensive cases and 205 normotensive controls were recruited. The mean ± SD age of the participants was 39.25 ± 11.49 years. Overall, 180 (44%) of participants were female. Logistic regression analysis indicated that obesity (OR = 3.324, 95% CI = 1.693–6.527, P= 0.000), family history (OR = 2.861, 95% CI = 1.731–4.729, P= 0.000), hypercholesterolemia (OR = 2.940, 95% CI = 1.577–5.480, P= 0.001), insufficient fruits and vegetables intake (OR = 0.152, 95% CI = 0.085–0.273, P= 0.000), frequent intake of dietary salt (OR = 0.400, 95% CI = 0.198–0.810, P= 0.011), and smoking status (OR = 3.709, 95% CI = 1.061–12.964, P= 0.040) were significantly associated with hypertension.Conclusion: Population-based approaches to reduce exposure to hypertension risk factors are required for effective prevention and control of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in Lagos, Nigeria

Pectinolytic activity of wild-type filamentous fungi fermented on agro-wastes

Five filamentous fungi (Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium sp., Penicillum chrysogenum and Trichoderma sp.) isolated from agrowaste samples in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria, depolymerized citrus pectin. Best pectolytic activity, as indicated by the diameter of clear, hydrolyzed zones on the medium plates containing commercial citrus pectin as sole carbon source, was obtained with A. niger, closely followed by P. chrysogenum. The two fungi also produced pectinases with different agrowastes (pineapple peel, orange peels, sawdust, sugarcane pulps and wheat bran) as the sole carbon source. The highest pectinase activity by both fungi was produce with wheat bran as the sole carbon source. Peak pectinase activity of 350.28 ± 2.82 and 478.25 ± 3.04 IU mg-1 protein was respectively obtained by submerged fermentation (SmF) at 48 h for A. niger and P.chrysogenum in media containing wheat bran as the sole carbon source. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) yielded higher levels of pectinase activity than the SmF. The strains of A. niger and P. chrysogenum have good prospect for pectinase production. Wheat bran is a good low-cost fermentation substrate for pectinase production by the investigated fungi

Fractions of Hoslundia opposita Vahl and hoslundin induced apoptosis in human cancer cells via mitochondrial-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation

ancer remains one of the leading causalities of several morbidity and mortality with negative impact on global economy due to low workforce and management/treatment cost. A number of conventional therapies have been explored in the management/treatment of cancer including chemotherapeutic intervention, radiotherapy, and surgery. Among these treatment modalities, chemotherapy remains the most popular first line of intervention in management/treatment of cancer, and natural products have been implicated as the main source of antineoplastic agents with phenomenal efficacy. However, current antineoplastic agents suffer from lack of selectivity and specificity necessitating the need for further research in the search for novel anticancer drug molecules