Progeny trial of Prosopis africana in Benue State, Nigeria

Progeny trial of Prosopis africana in Benue State, Nigeria was carried out in a pot culture experiment over a period of three months. The State was stratified into three zones and one Local Government Area was randomly selected from each zone for seed collection. The seeds were assessed for germination in the laboratory, and seedling emergence, bi-monthly height and numbers of leaves were taken on the field for three months. At the end of 90 days after sowing, seedling total dry matter weight was taken. Tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid (H2SO4) seed scarification gave the best germination (100%), followed by hot water (20%), while ordinary water led to no seed germination (0%). Seeds collected from zone A (derived savannah) showed the best performance in seedling height, leaf number and total biomass. Whereas, seeds from Zone B (Southern Guinea Savannah) gave the least. Based on the studies, Katsina-Ala (zone A) can be regarded as the best place for collection of seeds of Prosopis africana for plantation establishment.Keywords: Prosopis africana, progeny, seed germination, seedling emergence, seed

Some health behaviours of inal year students at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL), Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Health behavior can be described as behaviors expressed by individuals to protect, maintain or promote health status. For example, proper diet and appropriate exercise are ac vi es perceived to influence health status. High-risk behaviors can significantly impact the lives of youth and those around them; hence parents, educators and other concerned adults should be aware of the prevalence of these behaviors, the factors that increase their likelihood, and what can be done to abate or prevent those risks [CDC, 2006; Eaton et al., 2006]. The students at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) are youths and also future health providers that will be involved in health promo on hence the need to determine their risk behavior. Purpose: This study was to assess the health behavior of final year students in CMUL

Modélisation des réactions de pyrolyse des coques de coco, des déchets de bois et de la paille : Application à la prévision de la composition molaire des gaz de gazéification

La présente étude propose le couplage de méthodes numériques et expérimentales pour la prévision de la composition molaire du mélange gazeux issu de la gazéification de la biomasse. Elle prend en compte les différentes étapes de la gazéification à savoir le séchage, la pyrolyse, la combustion et les principales réactions de réduction. La présente méthode proposée repose sur plusieurs résultats expérimentaux de la pyrolyse de trois différentes biomasses ayant des caractéristiques physico chimiques représentatives de multiples biomasses et sur la cinétique de réaction des principales réactions de réduction à savoir la réaction de Boudouard et la réaction du gaz à l’eau. Les résultats prévus par cette méthode se rapprochent correctement des résultats expérimentaux obtenus dans la gazéification du bois à l’oxygène.Mots-clés : composition molaire,gazéification de la  biomasse, caractéristiques physico chimiques, bois, réaction de pyrolyse

Étude économique des foyers domestiques par la technique d’ébullition de l’eau : cas du Bénin

Les foyers font partie de la vie courante. Chaque ménage en utilise pour la cuisson de ses repas. Dans les pays en développement, la plupart des populations utilisent surtout des foyers à combustibles ligneux. Les effets négatifs sur l’environnement sont aujourd’hui bien connus : poches de désertification, érosion des sols, changements climatiques, etc. Ces effets peuvent se mesurer à la consommation de ces foyers, laquelle dépend de la taille de la famille, des habitudes de repas et aussi du type de foyer utilisé. La présente étude, en utilisant la technique d’ébullition de l’eau, montre l’influence du type de foyer sur les performances, ainsi que l’économie qu’on peut atteindre avec les différents foyers. Les foyers à combustibles fossiles ont les meilleures performances économiques, mais le coût très bas des combustibles ligneux leur donne un avantage.Mots-clés : foyers, combustibles, performances, économie d’énergie, environnement

COMPARISON OF ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY WITH ACID-FAST STAINING TO DETECT CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OF CATTLE FAECES

Cryptosporidiosis is a major cause of diarrhoea, weight loss and low productivity in various domestic animals. The acid-fast staining method used to detect the parasite in cattle may be responsible for the low prevalence rates recorded in previous studies in Nigeria. A comparison of the efficacy of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and acid-fast staining techniques in detecting Cryptosporidium spp. in bovine faeces was carried out in this work. A total of 200 faecal samples were collected from cattle of different age groups by the use of a simple random sampling technique. The samples were analyzed microscopically using formalin-ethylacetate sedimentation method followed by modified Kinyoun’s acid-fast staining technique. All the samples were later tested for Cryptosporidium coproantigens by the use of a commercially available ELISA test kit. Microscopy detected Cryptosporidium oocysts in 24.0% while ELISA detected the antigens in 37.5% of the samples. The ELISA, with a sensitivity and specificity of 72.9% and 73.7% respectively, had a significantly higher (p<0.05) rate of detection of Cryptosporidium spp. than microscopy with a sensitivity and specificity of 46.7% and 89.6% respectively. The ELISA is therefore a preferable method than microscopy for detection of Cryptosporidium in faecal specimens and will be useful in routine diagnosis and screening of large number of samples in epidemiological survey

COMPARISON OF ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSOR- BENT ASSAY WITH ACID-FAST STAINING TO DETECT CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OF CATTLE FAECES

Cryptosporidiosis is a major cause of diarrhoea, weight loss and low productivity in various domestic animals. The acid-fast staining method used to detect the parasite in cattle may be responsible for the low prevalence rates recorded in previous studies in Nigeria. A comparison of the efficacy of an en-zyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and acid-fast staining techniques in detecting Crypto-sporidium spp. in bovine faeces was carried out in this work. A total of 200 faecal samples were col-lected from cattle of different age groups by the use of a simple random sampling technique. The sam-ples were analyzed microscopically using formalin-ethylacetate sedimentation method followed by modified Kinyoun«¤??s acid-fast staining technique. All the samples were later tested for Cryptosporidium coproantigens by the use of a commercially available ELISA test kit. Microscopy detected Crypto-sporidium oocysts in 24.0% while ELISA detected the antigens in 37.5% of the samples. The ELISA, with a sensitivity and specificity of 72.9% and 73.7% respectively, had a significantly higher (p<0.05) rate of detection of Cryptosporidium spp. than microscopy with a sensitivity and specificity of 46.7% and 89.6% respectively. The ELISA is therefore a preferable method than microscopy for detection of Cryptosporidium in faecal specimens and will be useful in routine diagnosis and screening of large number of samples in epidemiological surveys

Transactivation of EGFR by LPS induces COX-2 expression in enterocytes

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of gastrointestinal morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. NEC is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response to bacterial flora leading to bowel necrosis. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediates inflammation through TLR4 activation and is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of NEC. However, LPS also induces cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which promotes intestinal barrier restitution through stimulation of intestinal cell survival, proliferation, and migration. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation prevents experimental NEC and may play a critical role in LPS-stimulated COX-2 production. We hypothesized that EGFR is required for LPS induction of COX-2 expression. Our data show that inhibiting EGFR kinase activity blocks LPS-induced COX-2 expression in small intestinal epithelial cells. LPS induction of COX-2 requires Src-family kinase signaling while LPS transactivation of EGFR requires matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity. EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors block LPS stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK, suggesting an important role of the MAPK/ERK pathway in EGFR-mediated COX-2 expression. LPS stimulates proliferation of IEC-6 cells, but this stimulation is inhibited with either the EGFR kinase inhibitor AG1478, or the selective COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib. Taken together, these data show that EGFR plays an important role in LPS-induction of COX-2 expression in enterocytes, which may be one mechanism for EGF in inhibition of NEC

‘Holiday Sickness’ – reported exploratory outcome of over 500 United Kingdom holidaymakers with Travellers diarrhoea

Aims: To ascertain any predictors of potential food poisoning pathogens and development of post-infective irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in UK travellers. An analysis was undertaken on prospectively collected data on 527 patients reporting symptoms of suspected food poisoning between June 2012 and June 2015. Main outcome measures: Positive stool sample indicative of food poisoning pathogens and diagnosis of post-infective IBS. Results: Data on 527 patients were examined. The large majority of patients did not provide a stool sample on return from holiday (n = 430, 81.6%) as few visited a Doctor locally or in the UK. Only 18 patients (18.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 11.4–27.7) who provided a stool sample were positive for microbiological food poisoning pathogens. Univariate analysis indicated a significant relationship between a positive stool sample and whether the individual sought any medical assistance at the resort (odds ratio [OR] 0.24, 95% CI 0.08–0.70) and whether they took any treatment (including self-medicated), (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06–0.67). Of the 527 patients only 30 (5.7%, 95% CI 3.9–8.1) experienced post-infective IBS. Univariate regression indicated a significant relationship between experiencing Per Rectal (PR) bleeding and a diagnosis of post-infective IBS (OR 3.64, 95% CI 1.00–10.49). Univariate regression also indicated an increase in the risk of developing post-infective IBS with increasing duration of symptoms (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.05). No significant relationship was found between a positive stool sample and developing post-infective IBS (P = 0.307). Conclusions: Very few patients provide a stool sample after experiencing holiday sickness abroad. Of those that do, only a small proportion have a positive stool sample indicative of a food poisoning microorganism. Around 6% of individuals were diagnosed with post-infective IBS. Those individuals with PR bleeding and symptoms persisting for longer durations were significantly more at risk of developing post-infective IBS, whilst medical aid and treatment abroad was found to reduce the odds of a positive stool sample

Neutrophil dysfunction triggers inflammatory bowel disease in G6PC3 deficiency

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2019-12-09, rev-recd 2020-08-28, accepted 2020-08-29, pub-electronic 2020-09-15, pub-print 2021-06Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedFunder: Medical Research Council Clinical Research Training Fellowship; Grant(s): MR/N001427/1Funder: European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases FellowshipFunder: Wellcome Trust; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010269; Grant(s): 202865/Z/16/ZAbstract: The glucose‐6‐phosphatase catalytic subunit 3 (G6PC3) encodes a ubiquitously expressed enzyme that regulates cytoplasmic glucose availability. Loss‐of‐function biallelic G6PC3 mutations cause severe congenital neutropenia and a diverse spectrum of extra‐hematological manifestations, among which inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been anecdotally reported. Neutrophil function and clinical response to granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were investigated in 4 children with G6PC3 deficiency‐associated IBD. G6PC3 deficiency was associated with early‐onset IBD refractory to treatment with steroids and infliximab. The symptoms of IBD progressed despite G‐CSF treatment. In vitro studies on the patients’ blood showed that neutrophils displayed higher levels of activation markers (CD11b, CD66b, and CD14), excessive IL‐8 and reactive oxygen species, and increased apoptosis and secondary necrosis. Secondary necrosis was exaggerated after stimulation with Escherichia coli and could be partially rescued with supplemental exogenous glucose. HSCT led to normalization of neutrophil function and remission of gastrointestinal symptoms. We conclude that neutrophils in G6PC3 deficiency release pro‐inflammatory mediators when exposed to gut bacteria, associated with intestinal inflammation, despite treatment with G‐CSF. HSCT is an effective therapeutic option in patients with G6PC3 deficiency‐associated IBD refractory to immune suppressants

Dataset on noise level measurement in Ota metropolis, Nigeria

Datasets contained in this article are noise level measurementcarried out at 41 different locations in Ota metropolis, Nigeria. Thenoise readings were measured at a time interval of 30 min for eachsite considered using a precision grade sound level meter. Theanalysis was based on the noise descriptors LAeq,L10,L90,LD, TNIand NEI. Results from the study reflects that the highest and lowestequivalent noise levels (LAeq) were recorded at commercial areas(96 dB (A)) and residential areas (52 dB (A)), respectively, thebackground noise level (L90) has the highest and lowest values atcommercial areas (77 dB (A)) and residential areas (44 dB (A)),respectively and the peak value (L10) has the highest value andlowest value at the commercial areas (96 dB (A)) and residentialareas (56 dB (A)). Based on the WHO recommendations and stan-dards, only 2 out of the 41 locations considered are under normallyacceptable situation while the noise levels of other areas are notacceptable. Noise map developed in this study provides enoughinformation for technical controls and interim legislation againstenvironmental noise pollution in the metropolis. Moreover, con-sidering the noise emission standards, planning and promoting thecitizens awareness about the high noise risk could help to mitigatethe effect of noise in Ota, Metropolis. The noise data in this study are useful as reference and guideline for future regulations onnoise limit to be implemented for urban areas in Nigeria anddeveloping countries at large