Factors infleuncing neonatal septicaemia in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Neonatal septicaemia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in the tropics. The risk factors vary, and the clinical features of neonatal septicaemia may be vague and nonspecific, therefore a high index of suspicion is vital to early diagnosis and treatment. The aetiological agents and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern have continued to change (in the same centre over time), hence the need to have undertaken this study.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the study was to determine the risk factors influencing the aetiology of neonatal septicaemia at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was prospective and all the newborn that had clinical diagnosis of septicaemia were consecutively enrolled and admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit of the Department of Paediatrics of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). The patients were appropriately investigated including blood cultures, cerebrospinal fluid cultures and urine culture among others.RESULTS: One hundred and ten neonates were studied, of these 46(42.0%) had positive blood culture, while 64 (58.0%) were blood culture negative. Eighteen (39.1%) of the septicaemic neonates were inborn, while 28 (60.9%) were out born. The incidence of neonatal septicaemia among babies delivered at UMTH was 5.9/1000 live births and the male to female ratio among septicaemic neonates was 1.9:1. The common risk factors for NNS were prolonged rupture of membrane (PROM), prematurity and low socioeconomic status of parents among others. Fever was the commonest clinical feature at presentation (87%), others include: poor feeding (64 %), excessive crying (33%), tachypnoea, hepatomegaly were some of the common examination findings. Staphylococcus aureus 16(69.6%) and Streptococcus pyogenes 5(21.8%) were the predominant Gram positive organisms isolated while Escherichia coli 9(39.1%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae 7(30.4%) were the predominant Gram negative organisms isolated.CONCLUSION: Mortality was high in infection associated with Gram negative organisms and in the presence of conditions/complications like urinary tract infections, tetanus and meningit

Relative contributions of crust and mantle to generation of Campanian high-K calc-alkaline I-type granitoids in a subduction setting, with special reference to the Harsit Pluton, Eastern Turkey

We present elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data for the magmatic suite (similar to 79 Ma) of the Harsit pluton, from the Eastern Pontides (NE Turkey), with the aim of determining its magma source and geodynamic evolution. The pluton comprises granite, granodiorite, tonalite and minor diorite (SiO(2) = 59.43-76.95 wt%), with only minor gabbroic diorite mafic microgranular enclaves in composition (SiO(2) = 54.95-56.32 wt%), and exhibits low Mg# (<46). All samples show a high-K calc-alkaline differentiation trend and I-type features. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns are fractionated [(La/Yb)(n) = 2.40-12.44] and display weak Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.30-0.76). The rocks are characterized by enrichment of LILE and depletion of HFSE. The Harsit host rocks have weak concave-upward REE patterns, suggesting that amphibole and garnet played a significant role in their generation during magma segregation. The host rocks and their enclaves are isotopically indistinguishable. Sr-Nd isotopic data for all of the samples display I(Sr) = 0.70676-0.70708, epsilon(Nd)(79 Ma) = -4.4 to -3.3, with T(DM) = 1.09-1.36 Ga. The lead isotopic ratios are ((206)Pb/(204)pb) = 18.79-18.87, ((207)Pb/(204)Pb) = 15.59-15.61 and ((208)Pb/(204)Pb) = 38.71-38.83. These geochemical data rule out pure crustal-derived magma genesis in a post-collision extensional stage and suggest mixed-origin magma generation in a subduction setting. The melting that generated these high-K granitoidic rocks may have resulted from the upper Cretaceous subduction of the Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan oceanic slab beneath the Eurasian block in the region. The back-arc extensional events would have caused melting of the enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle and formed mafic magma. The underplating of the lower crust by mafic magmas would have played a significant role in the generation of high-K magma. Thus, a thermal anomaly induced by underplated basic magma into a hot crust would have caused partial melting in the lower part of the crust. In this scenario, the lithospheric mantle-derived basaltic melt first mixed with granitic magma of crustal origin at depth. Then, the melts, which subsequently underwent a fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation processes, could ascend to shallower crustal levels to generate a variety of rock types ranging from diorite to granite. Sr-Nd isotope modeling shows that the generation of these magmas involved similar to 65-75% of the lower crustal-derived melt and similar to 25-35% of subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Further, geochemical data and the Ar-Ar plateau age on hornblende, combined with regional studies, imply that the Harsit pluton formed in a subduction setting and that the back-arc extensional period started by least similar to 79 Ma in the Eastern Pontides.Geochemistry & GeophysicsMineralogySCI(E)33ARTICLE4467-48716

Plant fibre reinforced polymers: where do we stand in terms of tensile properties?

Plant fibres have a unique set of properties ranging from being stiff and brittle, such as hemp and flax, to more ductile, such as coir, c ombining these properties with their cost and availability makes them attractive alternative reinforcements for the production of greener composites . This article reviews the tensile properties of various plant fibre or plant based natural fibre - reinforced polymer s reported in the literature . We critically discuss the use of plant fibres as reinforcement for the production of bio - based , renewable or green polymer composites , showing t he evolution of the properties of plant fibre composites. The reported tensile properties of plant fibre - reinforced polymer composites are compared against various renewable and n on - renewable engineering/commodity polymers as well as the tensile properties of commercially available randomly oriented glass fibre - reinforced polymers (GFRP). G reen composites containing random short plant fibres do have similar properties to randomly oriented GFRP at a lower overall part weight. U nidirectional plant fibre - reinf orced polymers offer better performance than randomly oriented GFRP and could have the potential to be adapted in applications requiring even higher mechanical performance, especially in areas where the use of costly synthetic fibres might be less attracti ve . Furthermore, plant fibres can also be regarded as effective fillers to replace more expensive polymer s and improve the green credential s of final composite parts. These features may motivate the industry to introduce more plant fibre - based products to the market

Serum IL-8 and IL-12 levels in breast cancer

Interleukins (ILs) are known to play a fundamental role in cancer. We investigated the serum levels of IL-8 and IL-12, in breast cancer patients, and their relationship with the prognostic parameters and therapy. Forty-eight patients with pathologically verified breast carcinoma and 21 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. Serum samples were obtained at baseline and after two cycles of chemotherapy. Serum IL-8 and IL-12 levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was no significant difference in the baseline serum L-8 and IL-12 levels between breast cancer patients and healthy controls (p = 0.365 and p = 0.871, respectively), no significant correlation between the prognostic parameters and the serum IL-8, IL-12 levels. However, in the subgroup consisting of metastatic breast cancer patients, baseline serum IL-8 levels were significantly higher compared with non-metastatic disease (p = 0.047). Anthracycline-based chemotherapy and the addition of taxane did not change the levels of both serum IL-8 and IL-12. Serum IL-8 level may be useful in determining metastatic breast cancer. Larger studies are needed to confirm this finding