Growth Influence of Some Additives on the Mycelial Growth and Fruit Body Development of Pleurotus Ostreatus (Jacq. Et. Fr.) Kummer

Studies were conducted to establish the response of a wood – rotting fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus to different growth substrates (sawdust (SD), dry banana leaves (BL) and a combination of both) and additives [groundnut cake (GC) and palm kernel cake (PKC)]. Spawning (Mycelia running rate) and fruit body development (area of pileus, length of stipe and fresh weight) were assessed. Initiation of mycelial growth took place in both treated and untreated substrate samples within 7 days post inoculation (dpi). Spawn run was delayed in SD substrates treated to PKC beyond 2% and in BL substrates treated with 4% PKC and above. In BL+SD, spawn run was delayed at all levels of PKC treatments. Spawn run in the BL, BL+SD and SD controls were completed in 21, 28 and 35 days respectively, following inoculation. Primordia production occurred in all the samples within 7 days of transfer of bags to the cropping room. Treatment of substrates with additives (GC and PKC) negatively affected the performance of the substrates. Addition of 4% of the additives on BL and BL+SD substrates produced mushrooms with smaller pileus size with the smallest (13.08cm2) observed on 4% PKC-treated BL substrates. Similar trends were observed in length of stipe, fresh weight and biological efficiency of the mushroom. All substrates evaluated supported production of fruit bodies for 70 days making a total of 14 flushes from the inception of cropping. Key words: Additives, Mycelial growth, fruit body production, Pleurotus ostreatus

LUNG FUNCTION, OXYGEN SATURATION AND SYMPTOMS AMONG STREET SWEEPERS IN CALABAR-NIGERIA

Chronic inhalation of dust impairs lung function and may cause respiratory symptoms. However, knowledge about the type of dust that can cause these problems is uncertain. Very little attention has been paid to the health of workers chronically exposed to dust raised by street sweeping without precautionary measures. Therefore, a study of lung function, oxygen saturation and symptoms among female street sweepers and their control groups in Calabar, Nigeria was carried out. Ventilatory function tests were done using 200 female street sweepers whose length of service was less than two years and 200 sex, age, weight, and height - matched external controls who were not exposed to any known air pollutant. The percentage of oxygen saturation( SPO2) of both the subjects and their control population was determined using a pulse oximeter. Respirable dust level in the test sites was 0.194 ± 0.002mg/m3 and it was significantly higher (P<0.001) than in control sites, which was 0.015 ± 0.003mg/m3.There was no significant difference in the mean values of SPO2 between the test and control subjects. However, there was also a higher prevalence of back pain (40.5% vs 2.0%; P<0.001), cough (25.5% vs 12.0%; P<0.001), chest pain (13.0% vs 4.0%; P<0.001); Catarrh and sneezing (6.0% vs 0.5%; P<0.01) among the street sweepers than in their control. Lung function values, namely; FVC, FEV1, FEV1% and PEFR were not significantly different in the two groups. Street sweeping without precautionary measures may predispose to respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms

EFFECT OF ANAESTHESIA ON MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN EMERGENCY CAESAREAN SECTION PATIENTS IN CALABAR, NIGERIA

The outcome of obstetric anaesthesia following emergency Caesarean sections was studied retrospectively. The study which was carried out in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital covered the period between 1st August 1995 - 31st August 2000. The aim was to evaluate the morbidity and mortality from anaesthesia during the period under review. Out of 1533 Caesarean sections performed 920 were emergency giving an emergency Caesearean section rate of 60%. The main indications for the emergency Caesearean sections were obstructed labour 220 (23.9%), foetal distress 193 (19.9%) and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia 142 (15.4%). General anaesthesia was employed in 555 (60.3%) while spinal was used in 365 (39.7%). Morbidity recorded in the spinal anaesthesia group were severe hypotension 110(30%), post dural puncture headache (PDPH) 46(2.6%) and transient neurologic symptoms (TNSs) 1 (0.022%). No mortality was recorded in the spinal anaesthesia group. Morbidity in the general anaesthesia group was mainly sore throat 364(65.6%) Five deaths were recorded in the general anaesthesia group. Four deaths occurred probably due to hypoxia following failed intubation, while the fifth death followed an unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an eclamptic patient, or due to eclampsia. From this study, mortality was recorded in the general anaesthesia group. Spinal anaesthesia, when there is no contra- indication is therefore recommended for safe obstetric anaesthesia. Brisk pre-operative evaluation, optimization of pre-operative clinical status of parturients and competent anaesthetist are of paramount importance

THE ROLE OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN THE POST - OPERATIVE OUTCOME OF SURGICAL PATIENT

A simple anthropometric of body mass index (BMI) and haematological index of haemoglobin concentration were used to assess the nutritional status of 64 patients per-operatively. These patients were scheduled for intermediate surgery, (in term of invasiveness) at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. The patients peri-operative course and outcome were noted. Per-operatively, 19(29.7%) were malnourished having a BMI of < 20kg.m-2. These patients also had the least haemoglobin concentration of 10.13 ± 1.5g.dl-1. Six (30%) of the patients in this group with haemoglobin < 10g.dl-l developed surgical wound infection, with a mean length of hospital stay of 19.9± 6.66 days. At discharge 24 (37.60%) were malnourished having a BMI of < 20kg. m-2. Although no mortality was recoded, it should be note that malnutrition is potentially dangerous in surgical patients. Adequate attention should therefore be given to the nutritional status of surgical of surgical patients in the peri-operative period

PREDICTION FORMULAE FOR LUNG FUNCTION PARAMETERS IN FEMALES OF SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA.

This study was carried out to obtain normal lung function values for women in south eastern Nigeria with a view to establishing prediction equations for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Lung function values were measured in 600 apparently healthy Nigerian women aged between 18 and 57 years. FVC and FEV1 were significantly related to height (P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively) and body weight (P<0.01), PEFR was also related to age (P<0.01) and height (P<0.001). Prediction equations for the various lung function indices were as follows: FVC = 0.145 + (1.390Ht) - (0.0076age) + (0.0089wt); FEV1 = 0.240 + (1.045Ht) - (0.0055age) + (0.0064wt); PEFR = -38.80 + (210.83Ht) + (1.650age) + (0.252wt). Ht is height in meters, wt. is body weight in kilograms and age is age in years. The ventilatory function indices were directly proportional to weight, height and to age. All the observed or measured lung function indices were not significantly different from their predicted values using the above prediction equations. Therefore, we conclude that lung function indices are influenced by the anthropometric parameters viz: age, body weight and height, and the prediction equations stated for FVC, FEV1 and PEFR for Nigerian women between the ages 18 and 57 years are reliable