Estimation of groundwater recharge and assessment of groundwater quality in urban landscapes : a case study of the Wattle Grove area

United Nations Population Fund estimated that half of the world’s population lived in urban areas in 2008 and projected that by the year 2050, the population living in towns and cities would be up by 68%. Furthermore, half of the world’s urban population depends on groundwater as the main source of water supply which puts pressure on groundwater as the urban population grows. The main aim of this research is to estimate the groundwater recharge within urban centres with water table fluctuation (WTF) method and to evaluate physico-chemical quality of groundwater using Wattle Grove area, Sydney, Australia as a case study. The groundwater table depths were continuously monitored on an hourly basis over one year with data loggers installed in the four newly developed boreholes. The groundwater samples were collected on a monthly basis and taken to the university environmental laboratory for physico-chemical analysis. The concept of rainfall-induced groundwater recharge is taken as groundwater recharge caused solely by rainfall while total groundwater recharge is caused by all other factors including rainfall. Both were estimated by considering the wet and dry periods in the year. On average, during the rainy periods, BH1 had the highest recharge per day of 1.67 mm/day while BH4 with 0.28 mm/day was the least. The variation of recharge estimates across the four sites could be attributed to different surface topography, presence of water bodies and underground water movement. In spring and summer season, the groundwater-level response to rainfall shows that BH4 recorded the shortest lag time of 3 days while BH2 recorded the longest time of 14 days. The fastest time is as a result of fissure flow while the longest time is attributed to slow matrix flow. The combined analysis of spring and summer also shows that BH4 has the shortest response time and rainfall has a direct impact on groundwater level fluctuations. For all the four boreholes pH, calcium and potassium concentrations in groundwater were within Australian Drinking Water Guideline (ADWG) and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. Only BH1 has a high sodium concentration of over 4000 mg/L and a magnesium concentration of 500 mg/L and both exceed the aforementioned guidelines value of (50 – 300 mg/L). Too, the TDS value of BH1 exceeds EPA’s guideline value of 1500 – 2600 mg/L and that makes the groundwater unsuitable for irrigation. This indicates that the groundwater may be contaminated by the salt. The source for the salt, at this stage, is unknown. The groundwater from the four boreholes exceeds the turbidity limit of 5 NTU and it cannot be used directly for drinking

A Study of Extracranial Aneurysms at UNTH in Enugu, Nigeria

Previous studies on aneurysms in Nigeria have either been case reports or studies of peripheral aneurysms. No study has comprehensively evaluated all aspects of this disease as an entity among Nigerians. The need therefore arises to re-evaluate this lesion so as to make deductions on incidence, sex ratio, aetiology and management. This is a retrospective descriptive study of arterial aneurysms at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu. Those treated between January 1993 and December 2002 were included for the study. Datawere obtained frommedical records for all patients admittedwith aneurysms over the study period. Atotal of 26 patientswere admitted during the period, but 24 case noteswere analysed. The age rangewas 10-75 yearswithmale: female ratio of 1.4:1. Traumatic pseudo aneurysms accounted for 16 cases (67.0%)while true aneurysms comprised the remaining.Of all the aneurysms, femoral artery with most of the pseudo aneurysms had 8 out of 24 (33.0%).This is followed by the infra-renal abdominal aorta (5/24, 21.0%) and other sites (11/24, 46.0%). Diagnoses were made clinically in most cases and by abdominal ultrasonography in abdominal aortic aneurysms. Twenty-one patients had surgical interventionwith 9.5% operativemortality. The incidence of aneurysm is low in our locality (2.6/year) based on the rate of diagnosis.Abdominal aorta harbours most of the true aneurysms with diameter ranging from 8.0-15.0cm without rupture. Untreated, all will eventually rupture with catastrophic consequences. Treatment involved excision with graft interposition. This is not only expensive but the graft is often not readily available. As a solution, grafts should be stocked with drug revolving fund.Keywords: trauma, true and pseudo aneurys

Histology types of chest wall tumours: Fifteen year single center experience

Background/Objective: Chest wall tumours are not uncommon.They are regarded as malignant until otherwise proven.The objective of this study is to analyze the histological variants in our institution and compare same with relevant data available in the literature.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study of chest wall tumours at our institution(NCTCE, UNTH, Enugu, Nigeria), for a period of 15 years, spanning October, 2001 to September, 2015.The pathologic reports were retrieved from the hospital pathology archives and correlated with patients' copies in the hospital record.The lesions were classified as primary and secondary based on the clinical and radiological data as well as the histological reports.Results:A total of 158 chest wall tumours were identified in 158 patients with a mean age range of (45 +/- 6). The male to female ratio was  1:1.1(male = 74,46.84% and female =84, 53.16%). There were 81  primary chest wall tumours, out of which benign soft chest wall tumour was 50(61.73%) and malignant soft chest wall tumour was 13(16.05%).The benign bone and cartilage chest wall tumour accounted for 1(1.23%) and malignant component was 17(20.99%).The secondary chest wall tumours studied were 77, out of which 30(38.96%) were  invasive and 47(61.04%) were metastatic Conclusion:The commonest primary malignant chest wall tumour was malignant fibrous histocytoma while the most common secondary chest wall tumours seen in this study was mostly metastatic epithelial  neoplasms.Key words: chest wall,tumour,histology,malignant

Preoperative investigations of open heart surgical patients: our current institutional protocol (1)

Background: Open heart surgery is one of the complex procedures physicians undertake in modern medicine. It requires high tech equipment, special infrastructure and highly skilled manpower, especially in the areas of cardiology, cardiac surgery, anaesthesiology and cardiac perfusion. Preoperative diagnosis must be accurate and patients’ safety determined in order that appropriate informed consent is given. In open heart surgery, our institution developed preoperative assessment protocol. They are clinical evaluation and preoperative investigations.The objective of this study is to highlight our institutional preoperative investigative protocol and compare same with what is available in the literature.Materials and Method: In our institution, the first open heart surgery was done in 1974. We performed a retrospective review of the preoperative investigation protocols from 1974 to 2016, spanning a period of 42 years noting the changes and outcome of the changes. The 42 years of cardiac surgery activity occurred in 3 phases: 1. from 1974 – 2000; 2. 2003; 3. 2013 – 2016. Data were obtained from our hospital Record Department. The types of the preoperative investigative protocol and outcome of the changes were analyzed using Microsoft excel and results expressed in arithmetic percentages and presented in tables and bar chart.Results: These investigations are broadly divided into diagnostic and patient’s fitness assessment investigations. The diagnostic investigations aid proper clinical evaluations and are used in evaluating congenital heart defects and acquired heart diseases. In addition, fitness assessment tests have two functions and they are 1. determining the risks of postoperative morbidity and mortality from patients’ co-morbidities and the systemic effects of the cardiac disease(s). 2. Predicting the postoperative support that may be required in order to maximize the chances of uneventful surgery. The diagnostic and fitness investigations guide the quartet (cardiologist, cardiac surgeon, cardiac anaesthetist and cardiac perfusionist) in making appropriate management decisions especially with regard to complex congenital heart defects and complex cardiac cases in the elderly, discussed in the setting of cardiac team meetings.Conclusion: Preoperative investigations form part of an intrinsic preoperative checklist to ensure where possible uneventful surgery. When they are holistically done and accurate diagnosis is made including patients properly worked up via-a-vis the results of the investigations, the outcome is bound to be favourable.Keywords: complex, congenital, diagnostic, preoperative, investigatio

Lysine Production of Microbacterium lacticum by Submerged Fermentation Using Various Hydrocarbon, Sugar and Nitrogen Sources

Abstract Bacterial isolation from oil-contaminated and uncontaminated soil was screened for hydrocarbon utilizer which was also capable of producing lysine. Microbial production of lysine by Microbacterium lacticum was investigated in submerged fermentations using various concentrations of hydrocarbon, sugar sources and nitrogen. Of the nine sugar and five nitrogen sources tested, glucose/ammonium sulphate proved optimum for lysine production. Effect of varying concentration of carbon and nitrogen sources on lysine accumulation showed that glucose (4%) ammonium sulphate (1%) respectively increased lysine production. A gram positive rod bacterium identified as Microbacterium lacticum was identified. Optimizing the cultural conditions of Microbacterium lacticum in submerged medium gave a methionine yield of 2.99 mg/ml lysine in the broth culture after 96 h

Challenges of Lung Cancer Management in a Developing Country

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Pulmonary Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis: Report of A Case and Review of Literature

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is a rare angiocentric lymphoproliferative process predominantly affecting the lung. The diagnosis of this condition is often difficult as the physical signs, history, chest x-ray, and routine laboratory investigations are usually non-specific. Nevertheless, it is important to establish a tissue diagnosis, as this lymphoproliferative disorder can be refractory to treatment and even progress to overt lymphoma. We report a case of pulmonary LYG in a 52-year old Nigerian man of Ibo extraction treated in our centre in 2001 and followed up for a year. The difficulty in making diagnosis is highlighted and treatment modality discussed

The Challenges Facing the Management of Arterial Aneurysm in UNTH, Enugu

BACKGROUND: The management of arterial aneurysm either central or peripheral has undergone evolution over the past decades. We encounter both true and pseudo aneurysm on regular basis with its complications.OBJECTIVE: To assess the challenges of managing arterial aneurysm at UNTH, Enugu in view of the health implications of the condition.METHOD: Medical records of all patients with documented arterial aneurysm over a 5-year period (2007-2011) were reviewed. Data collected and documented included patients' demographics, type of vessels  involved, investigative tools used in confirming the diagnosis, type of treatment, outcome and length of hospital stay.RESULT: A total of 37 patients were managed for arterial aneurysm during the period under review. These consisted of 24 males (64.9%) and 13 females (35.2%). Age range  was 11-78 years with a mean of 2.4 years. Central aneurysms involved ascending, arch and descending aorta as well as abdominal aorta. Peripheral ones affected femoral, axillary, brachial, and popliteal artery. The central aneurysms with the exception of abdominal aortic aneurysms were managed conservatively. Those that failed conservative management were referred to centres with expertise and facilities for on pump surgery. The peripheral ones in addition to abdominal aortic aneurysms were managed operatively with good outcome.  The challenges identified in the management included non-availability of on pump expertise and prosthesis, late presentation of patients, under utilisation of CT and or MRI, poor compliance to antihypertensive drugs and poor follow up.CONCLUSION: Intervention in arterial aneurysms is the gold standard but not yet easily available and affordable at this centre. The challenges that have been identified are real and need to be addressed in order to deliver optimal care to patients within our domain. Efforts are underway in tackling them