Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation Of Doxycycline And Tetracycline In The Treatment Of Chlamydial Implicated Non-Gonococcal Urethritis In A Tertiary Healthcare Institution In Nigeria

With depressing nature of economy in many countries such as Nigeria where per capita income is low, there is need for utmost consideration for cost containment measures. Objective: The objective of this study is to conduct pharmacoeconomic evaluation of two antichlamydial indicated non-gonococcal urethritis therapeutic options and to make recommendations for inclusion of economic evaluation of drug therapies in health policy formulations and decision making. Methods: Cost effectiveness analysis was carried out retrospectively for prescribed/dispensed antibacterials to out-patients with chlamydial implicated non-gonococcal urethritis among other infectious diseases, by examining out-patient case notes between 2005 and 2007 in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria Nigeria. Results : The result shows that doxycycline costs N1.33/unit of effectiveness while tetracycline costs N2.77/unit of effectiveness in the treatment of chlamydial implicated non-gonococcal urethritis. Doxycycline is therefore more cost effective than tetracycline capsules. Subjecting the costs and effectiveness to sensitivity analysis did not change this conclusion. There is statistically significant difference in the effectiveness (outcome) of doxycycline (78.8%) and tetracycline (58.7%) ( x2 =9.4;

Comparative Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Of Streptomycin And Ethambutol In The Treatment Of Tuberculosis In A University Teaching Hospital In Nigeria

Healthcare organizations, governments and individuals have been forced by prevailing circumstances of economic crisis to be increasingly oriented towards cost containment due to escalating nature of health expenditure. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the comparative cost effectiveness of various antituberculous therapeutic options and to make recommendation for the adoption of costeffectiveness evaluations in National Health Policy formulation and decision-making. Method Retrospective cost effectiveness analysis was carried out for prescribed/dispended antibiotic to outpatients with tuberculosis among other infectious diseases in outpatients case notes between 2005 and 2007 in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria Nigeria. Results The result shows that ethambutol tablet cost N8.40/unit of effectiveness while streptomycin injection cost N81.50/unit of effectiveness in the treatment of tuberculosis. Ethambutol tablet therefore appears to be more cost effective than streptomycin injection. Subjecting the cost and effectiveness to sensitivity analysis did not change this conclusion. Statistical analysis shows that there is a statistically significant difference in the effectiveness (outcome) of ethambutol (95%) and streptomycin injection (76.73%) (X2 =13.75;

Adsorptive De-Colouration of Textile Wastewater using an Acid-Modified Sawdust

Batch study of the decolourisation of wastewater from a local textile facility by concentrated Sulfuric acidmodified sawdust was conducted. The adsorbent was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Elemental Diffraction X - ray Spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. The effects of adsorbent dose, contact time and temperature were investigated. The characterization analysis indicates that the adsorbent has potential adsorption sites with several pores, and carbon content as high as 66.77%.The percentage color removal from the wastewater increased with adsorbent dose, contact time and temperature. The efficiency of the adsorbent is high, with a dose as low as 1 g removing as much as 88 % of the color from the wastewater.Keywords: Adsorption, Batch studies, Modification, and Wastewate

Personalisation vs. Privacy: Consumer Perceptions of Location-based Advertising

Abstract Purpose: This paper explores consumer attitudes towards location based advertising (LBA) in Leicester, with a focus on individual consumer perception of value and risk of LBA and response. Design/Methodology/Approach: A multi method approach was adopted to data collection, using four mini focus groups and a survey of 98 respondents. Six hypotheses relating to the impact of awareness, risk, value and individual characteristics on LBA adoption were developed and tested using Chi-Square tests of association. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to illustrate interview themes. Findings: Surprising results indicated a lack of awareness of LBA, and some unwillingness to engage with LBA due to privacy concerns. Nonetheless, respondents articulated the perceived value of LBA, identifying that personalised offers did encourage intention to respond, while risks centred on privacy and potential intrusion. Of the six hypotheses, only two were significant; contradicting some previous findings (Almasri, 2013; Varnali et al, 2010); thus suggesting that further research into variance in motives and intentions across customer groups is needed. Originality/Values: The paper adds new insights into the consumer adoption of location-based advertising; and identifies a need for selective, personalised approaches to LBS to incentivise consumers. Keywords: location based advertising; location based services, personalisatio

Heartwood Extractives of a Western Larch Tree (Larix Occidentalis Nutt.)

Heartwood meal of a western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) was successively extracted with solvents of increasing polarity. The total extractable material collected was 15%. Compounds in each solvent fraction were separated by column chromatography followed by preparative-layer chromatography. Some isolates were characterized by comparison with standards, IR, UV, and NMR spectra, and various chromatographic parameters.Compounds previously unreported found in western larch heartwood were: four resin acids (0.2% total yield), sandaracopimaric, isopimaric, abietic and dehydroabietic, together with larixol and larixyl acetate from the petroleum ether extract; pinocembrin (5,7-dihydroxy-flavanone) from the benzene extract (0.003% yield); isolariciresinol from the ethanol extract; and free L-arabinose and secoisolariciresinol from the water extract

Removal of Basic Dye From Aqueous Solution By Adsorption On Melon Husk In Binary And Ternary Systems

The adsorption behaviour of a cationic dye (methylene blue)   in binary and ternary solutions on the husk of melon (Citrullus lanatus) seed was investigated in order to elucidate the effects of competitive adsorption on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the sorption process.  The experimental findings showed that adsorption equilibrium was reached within 120 min either in single, binary or ternary mixtures; and the   adsorption processes in all the systems studied were described by the pseudo-second order kinetics with the initial rate constant increasing as the  concentrations of the competing dyes were increased.  Five different equilibrium isotherm models ( Freundlich, Temkin, Langmuir, Harkin-Jura and Dubinin-Radushkevich) were applied and  Langmuir was the best-fitting one for the adsorption of methylene blue dye in single system (R2 > 0.99), while the binary and ternary systems were best described by Freundlich model (R2 > 0.99). The sorption processes were thermodynamically feasible as ?G values were negative. Adsorption in both single and binary systems was exothermic while that of ternary system was endothermic. Keywords: melon husk, binary dye system, ternary dye system, methylene blue,                       Competitive adsorption, isotherms, thermodynamics, basic dy

Synthesis, Characterization and Toxicology Studies of the Copper (Ii) Complex of Sodium Barbitone

Complexation of sodium barbitone with Cu(II) has been studied. The complex formed was characterized using physical and spectroscopy studies. In the structural characterized complex, Infrared spectra suggest bidentate coordination of the ligand through one carbonyl oxygen, NaO+ oxygen and two carbonyl oxygen of acetate. Electronic spectra revealed octahedral geometry of the complex. Toxicology study was carried out by investigating the effect of the ligand and its complex on cardial muscle, kidney, liver and lung of Sprague dawly rats. Keywords: Sodium barbitone, metal complex, toxicology study, Sprague dawly rats, Cardial muscl

Study of Material Flow of End-of-Life Computer Equipment (e-wastes) in Some Major Cities in Nigeria

The fast growing use of Information and Communication Technology has created a new environmental problem, electronic-waste (e-waste).Addressing this concern requires proper management plans and strategy, which in turn requires reliable estimates of e-waste generation in the present as well as future. In this study, a material flow model for the analysis of e-waste generation from computer equipment in Kaduna and Abuja in Nigeria has been developed and compared with that of Lagos which has been studied earlier. Data used to develop the models are the sales data from major distributors of electronics in the study areas, usage time of computer equipment and transfer coefficients of the electronics from one stage to another. The analysis of individual flows of computer from the material flow model showed that the fate of obsolete computer equipment were storage (27-41%), reuse (35-61%) and direct disposal (12-24%). It was also found that after four years of the last inflow considered, averagely 935,686, 399,769 and 101,142 computer equipment would be in storage in Lagos, Kaduna and Abuja respectively; 998,861, 458,202 and 152, 305 computers respectively would be under reuse and 674,492,247,858 and 76,419 computers respectively would be disposed. A sensitivity analysis for an error of 0.1 in each of the transfer coefficients (TC) used in the model showed a variation of ±10% in e-waste generation. The results also indicated that computer equipment would continue to remain in either storage, re-use or gradually disposed off for 10, 8 and 11 years respectively after its inflow into the consumption phase. This delay or staggering in e-waste disposal would reduce the amount of e-waste disposed yearly and thus afford the country the time to make plans to accommodate and manage the e-wastes generated more efficiently. Keywords: e-waste, material flow model, computer equipment, sensitivity analysis, transfer coefficien

The prevalence of asymptomatic group B streptococcal infection and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern among parturients at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria

Background: Early‑onset Group B Streptococcal (GBS) infection is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Policy of active prevention by antepartum screening and treatment is not a popular practice in resource‑constrained settings.Objectives: This study determined the prevalence of asymptomatic GBS infection and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern. It also determined the outcome of Intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis (IAP).Methodology: It was a prospective and longitudinal study done in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, between June 2014 and April 2015. Two hundred and twenty consenting pregnant women with gestational ages between 35 and 37 completed weeks were participated in the study. Vagina and rectum were swabbed using different rayon swab sticks. Swabs were placed in Amies, nonnutritive transport medium. Bacteriological procedures to culture GBS and confirmation with biochemical tests and serological test were done. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern was determined. Participants who had GBS rectovaginal colonization had intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis with penicillin G. All participants were followed up till to a week after birth.Results: Out of the 220 pregnant participants, 19 (8.6%) had GBS rectovaginal colonization. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern revealed that GBS isolates were all sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, and cefazolin while 4 (21.1%) were resistant to ceftriaxone and 6 (31.6%) were resistant to both erythromycin and clindamycin. None of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin and sensitive to clindamycin or vice versa. Of the 19 participants with GBS rectovaginal colonization, 2 (10.5%) delivered low birth weight baby, but there was no incidence of early‑onset GBS disease.Conclusion: The prevalence of GBS rectovaginal colonization in this study is similar to figures from other parts of the country. The GBS sensitivity pattern to penicillin was similar to those reported elsewhere. Fetal outcome following intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was good.Keywords: Group B streptococcal infection; pregnancy; prevalence; sensitivit

Evaluation of the Water Quality of River Kaduna, Nigeria Using Water Quality Index

Twelve (12) water quality parameters (turbidity, TDS, pH, Cl- , EC, DO, BOD5, COD, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, Fe and Mn) were analyzed in River Kaduna, Nigeria on a monthly basis for a period of one year in 15 sampling locations using standard methods. The data obtained were used to develop Water Quality Index (WQI) across the 15 sampling locations. The WQI revealed that the water quality of 4 sampling locations were poor as their index values ranged between 17.77 to 25.47. On the other hand, the generalized water quality of the remaining 11 sampling locations was marginal as the index values ranged between 44.95 to 60.80. The index values of the various sampling locations were thereafter used as weights in mapping the WQI of the entire sampled portion of the river using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation method. The WQI of the entire river was suggestively ranked marginal as 11 sampling locations out of 15 (73.3%) fell into the marginal category. Hence, regulatory agencies were advised to check the anthropogenic activities along the watershed with more emphasis at the hot spot areas or locations that recorded poor WQI. Key Words: WQI, Canadian, Mapping, Sampling, Locations