time effect of exercise on intraocular pressure in a Nigerian population

Numerous international studies have indicated that several physiological changes can influence the intraocular pressure (IOP) of subjects. In order to assess visual health status through physiological changes, the effects of rest and exercise on IOP were investigated in a Nigerian community. The research involved 24 healthy normotensive subjects who were made to serve as their own control. They were subjected to exercise for 10 minutes after taken their IOP at rest for an hour. Result immediately after the exercise showed that there was a significant decreases in the mean initial IOP (

Equilibrium and kinetics studies of metal ion adsorption on dyed coconut pollens

Batch equilibration studies were conducted to determine the nature of adsorption of Zn (II) and Cu (II) onto dyed coconut pollens. The nature of adsorption of metal ions was explained using the Langmuirequation. The calculated values of equilibrium parameter indicated favourable adsorption by the adsorbents. Also the calculated values of fractional attainment of equilibrium , the intraparticle diffusion rate constant, Ka show that adsorption of metal ions is particle diffusion controlled. The adsorbent produced from coconut fibre can be used to remove heavy metals from aqueous solution with high efficiency

Effect of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies on plasma cholinesterase in Nigerian women

Background: Pre-eclampsia can be devastating and life-threatening for both mother and baby, particularly in developing countries. It is a major cause of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis and management are very important to the reduction of mortality and morbidity. A sensitive diagnostic and prognostic marker will therefore be of great value. There is paucity of data on the effect of pre-eclamptic pregnancy on plasma cholinesterase activity especially in Nigerians. Objective: Our aim was to determine the changes in plasma cholinesterase concentration in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies in Nigerians. Setting: Antenatal Clinic and Prenatal Diagnostic and Therapy Centre in a Tertiary University Teaching Hospital in Lagos. Patients and Methods: Plasma cholinesterase concentration was determined using a colorimetric method in 30 healthy non-pregnant, 30 healthy pregnant, 30 and 27 pregnant women with mild and severe pre-eclampsia, respectively, between 28 and 41 weeks of gestation. Cholinesterase activity was re-assessed 6 weeks postpartum. Results: The mean plasma cholinesterase levels in healthy non-pregnant women, women with normal pregnancy, pregnant women with mild pre-eclampsia and those with severe pre-eclampsia were 3594±1042, 2135±422, 1781±330 and 1630±326 (m/L), respectively. Six weeks postpartum, the mean cholinesterase levels in the normal pregnant, mild eclamptic and severe eclamptic groups were 3212±346, 3157±750 and 2864±700 (/L), respectively. Conclusions: Our study suggests that normal pregnancy, mild and severe pre-eclampsia cause a significant (p< 0.01) reduction in plasma cholinesterase activity compared to non-pregnant state, with the greatest decrease in severe pre-eclamptic pregnancy. This decline does not return to normal non-pregnant state in subjects with severe pre-clampsia within six weeks postpartum. The place of plasma cholinesterase concentration as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnancies should be further explored. Keywords: Cholinesterase, Eclampsia, Pre-eclampsia, Pregnancy, Succinylcholine

Studies on dyed coconut (Cocos nucifera) pollens for removal of Cu (II) and Zn (II) from aqeoues solution

The ability of undyed and dyed coconut pollens to remove Cu(II) and Zn(II) from single ion solutions was been studied. The experiments were carried out using coconut pollens (1.0 g) undyed coconut pollens, UDCP, and dyed coconut pollens, DCPI, DCPII and DCPIII of different particle sizes: 0.40, 0.63 and 0.80 mm, respectively. The amount of Cu(II) adsorbed on UDCP, DCPI, DCPII and DCPIII were 69.20, 97.90, 94.70 and 93.10%, respectively, while that of zinc adsorbed on these adsorbents were 87.15,98.30, 92.55 and 90.05%, respectively. These results show that dyed coconut pollens is effective in removing Cu(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions

Comparative Effects of Three Herbs and Standard Hypoglycaemic Agents on Blood Glucose in Normoglycaemic, Hyperglycaemic and Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Male Rats

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has risen exponentially in the last decade and an increasing number of people are using herbal supplements. Objective: We aimed to assess the relative efficacy of three promising herbs as potentially emerging alternative/adjunct treatment for diabetes. Materials and Methods: One hundred and ninety-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. A third of the animals were randomly rendered diabetic with alloxan (150 mg/kg), another third injected 50% dextrose (5 g/kg); and the last third constituted the controls. The rats were variously administered aqueous leaf extract of Momordica foetida (500 mg/kg), Vernonia amygdalina (500 mg/kg) and Tapinanthus butungii (500 mg/kg), glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) chlorpropamide (250 mg/kg), and human insulin lente (0.1 I.U./kg). Results: Extract of Momordica foetida caused maximal anti-diabetic effect in six hours, Vernonia amygdalina ten hours, while Tapinanthus butungii continued to cause reduction after ten hours. The three extracts caused greater blood glucose reductions than glibenclamide in the diabetic rats, while exhibiting comparable effects with chlorpropamide and insulin. Conclusions: Tapinanthus butungii is more effective in lowering blood glucose than Momordica foetida and Vernonia amygdalina in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Leaf extract of Momordica foetida should be useful in rapidly lowering blood glucose, while that of Tapinanthus butungii in situations that require more subtle reductions and in conditions in which prolonged hypoglycaemic actions are desirable. Keywords: Mormordica foetida, Vernonia amygdalina, Tapinanthus butungii, Leaf, Alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus Parts of this work were read at the 19th World Diabetes Congress, Cape Town, South Africa (December, 2006)

Thirst Perception And Drinking In Euhydrate And Dehydrate Human Subjects

Summary: Studies on how the body senses the need to correct extracellular and intracellular volumes and ionic concentration changes is relatively scanty. The present studies were designed to determine the effect of oral distilled water (DW) and saline loads, gargling with DW and DW preload on thirst perception (TP) and drinking in euhydrate and dehydrated subjects. The subjects were healthy male volunteers between the ages of 17 and 35 years. Group A subjects were given DW or various concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) orally. Subjects in groups B, C and D were dehydrated for 18 hours before the experiment. Group B gargled 500ml of DW in divided volume of 50ml at five minutes interval over a period of 50 minutes. Group C gargled with DW and different concentrations of NaCl. Group D were preloaded with four volumes of DW before ad libitum DW intake. TP was rated using the Visual Analogue Scale. Results showed that in Group A, drinking DW reduced TP, suggesting that baseline TP in normal euhydrate subjects is slightly elevated. Drinking DW reduced TP more than drinking NaCl solutions. Gargling resulted in a gradual fall in TP. The decrease in TP was statistically significant after 30 minutes of gargling. Gargling with different concentrations of NaCl solutions resulted in significant reductions in TP in all the groups. There was a significant decrease in TP in the group preloaded with 1000ml of distilled water at 5 minutes of rehydration. At 20 minutes TP was abolished suggesting that approximately 1000ml of water was needed for the rehydration. These results show that baseline TP in euhydrates is elevated and that TP increases in dehydrated subjects. Gargling reduces TP, but did not abolish thirst. It is suggested that a fall in plasma osmolality due to drinking may be responsible for abolishing thirst

First report of Theileria annulata in Nigeria : findings from cattle ticks in Zamfara and Sokoto States

Background: Ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) represent a significant economic burden to cattle farming in sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. However, in the northern part of this country, where the largest livestock population resides, little is known about the contemporary diversity of ticks and TBPs. This area is particularly vulnerable to climate change, undergoing marked transformation of habitat and associated flora and fauna that is also likely to include ticks. This study aimed to document the occurrence of tick species and Apicomplexan TBPs in cattle from north-western Nigeria. Methods: In 2017, ticks were collected from cattle in Zamfara and Sokoto States and identified morphologically. Additionally, a subset of ticks was screened molecularly for the detection of apicomplexan DNA. Results: A total of 494 adult ticks were collected from 80 cattle in Zamfara and 65 cattle in Sokoto State. Nine tick species were encountered, among which the presence of one, Hyalomma turanicum, had not previously been recorded in Nigeria. Hyalomma rufipes was the most prevalent tick infesting cattle in Zamfara State (76%), while Hyalomma dromedarii was the most prevalent in Sokoto State (44%), confirming the widespread transfer of this species from camels onto livestock and its adaptation to cattle in the region. Of 159 ticks screened, 2 out of 54 (3.7%) from Zamfara State and 29 out of 105 (27.6%) from Sokoto State harboured DNA of Theileria annulata, the agent of tropical theileriosis. Conclusions: This study confirms the presence of a broad diversity of tick species in cattle from north-western Nigeria, providing the first locality records for Zamfara State. The occurrence of H. turanicum indicates a distribution of this tick beyond northern Africa. This study provides the first report for T. annulata in Nigerian ticks. Given its enormous burden on livestock farming in north Africa and across Asia, further investigations are needed to better understand its epidemiology, vector transmission and potential clinical significance in cattle from northern Nigeria and neighbouring Sahelian countries

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Clinical findings, diangnosis and management of primary open angle glaucoma in a 45-year-old, earlier dignosed as false positive using defined screening and diagnosis

No Abstract

Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Allium Sativum on Tissue lead Level in Female Rattus Navigicus

The effects of Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and Allium sativum (garlic) on the lead levels in bone, brain, muscle, liver and kidney tissues of female rats (Rattus navigicus) were investigated. Group I was Control, rats in Groups II – IV were injected intraperitoneally with 100µmol/kg body weight of lead acetate for 7 days. In addition, groups III and IV rats were fed with Allium sativum (200 g/kg diet) and ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg body weight) for 7 days respectively. Results showed the bone to produce a significant (