Casual blood pressure among Tanzanian undergraduate students: need for re-defining population specific operational threshold between normotension and hypertension

Background: Despite of the recommendations to use population specific blood pressure (BP) references which consider time, ethnicity and environmental factors, there is limited information regarding BP profile among Tanzanians. This cross sectional study was done to determine casual BP profile among healthy volunteer students of the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences in Mwanza, Tanzania.Methods: Socio-demographic and lifestyle data were collected using questionnaires. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured using aneroid sphygmomanometer.Results: A total of 299 students (males=204; females=95) were involved in the study. Their mean age was 23.4 ± 0.2 years. SBP ranged from 82-150mmHg (mean= 115.7 ± 0.7mmHg) and DBP ranged from 44–100mmHg (mean= 71.9±0.6mmHg). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 86.5±0.5mmHg. Males had significantly higher BP than females; and BP was noticed to increase with increased age and body weight. Upper limits of the normal SBP and DBP calculated as mean + 2SDs and 95th percentiles were 140.5mmHg and 138mmHg, respectively and for DBP were 91.8 mmHg and 90 mmHg, respectively.Conclusion: The observed upper limits of the distribution of normal BP for the age of the participants are higher than the World Health Organization recommended values. We recommend a larger study to determine BP among healthy Tanzanians to establish the normal values

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of AmpC and ESBLs producing clinical isolates at a tertiary health care center in Kano, north-west Nigeria

The increase in production of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) and Amp C beta lactamase among clinical isolates in our hospitals is of utmost importance. Failure to detect these enzymes in many of our hospitals has greatly led to treatment failure and uncontrolled spread of multi drug resistant pathogens. It was for this purpose that the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence, distribution and susceptibility pattern of Gram negative bacteria producing ESBLs and Amp C beta lactamases in the largest tertiary health care provider in Kano, North-West Nigeria. A total of 75 ESBL and 10 AmpC producing bacteria were involved in the study which were obtained from a study involving 500 Gram negative clinical bacterial isolates from various hospital wards over a period of 9 months from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, Nigeria. Isolates were screened for ESBLs and AmpC using Double Disc Diffusion Method and Amp C Disc test respectively. All confirmed ESBL and Amp C producing isolates were tested for susceptibility to sixteen (16) different antibiotics by the Disc Diffusion Method (DDM). The prevalence of ESBLs was high in Shigella spp. (1/2 or 50%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (10/50 or /20%), and E. coli (47/247 or 19.3%) while Amp C producers were detected more in Klebsiella pneumoniae (4%) and E. coli (2.8%). Of the specimens screened, distribution varies between ESBL and AmpC producers, but more prevalent in urinary tract pathogens in both. Highest prevalence of ESBLs and AmpC producers was recorded in intensive care units and surgical wards. ESBL and AmpC production in the hospital is not sex dependent statistically, thought higher in males (52 and 60%) than in females (48 and 40%) for ESBL and AmpC respectively. ESBL and AmpC producers were both sensitive to Imipenem, Nitrofurantoin and Levofloxacin and resistance to Amoxycillin, Ceftazidime and Tetracycline. The study indicates the occurrence of ESBL and AmpC producers in our tertiary health provider, widely distributed in various clinical samples, wardsand sexes and are multi drug resistant posing serious threat in managing life threatening infections.Key words: prevalence, distribution, ESBL producers, Amp C producers, antibiotic susceptibilit

Teething induced fever in a 9-month old child: a case report

The association between teething and fever has attracted considerable interest because studies have reported controversial results. These discordant results have posed a challenge in the management of fever occurring during teething.  The objective of this paper is to supplement previous studies which showed association between teeth eruption and fever and highlight mismanagement of teething induced fever. A 9-month old baby girl presented with fever during teeth eruption. Despite of no malaria parasites seen on blood slide and lack of features and laboratory investigations suggestive of urinary tract infection or bacteremia, the child was treated with antimalarial drugs and prescribed antibiotics. This case study demonstrates that unrecognized teething induced fever leads to unnecessary use of anti-malarial drugs and antibiotics.  We recommend paediatricians to consider teething as one of the causes of fever among children

Response of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum): Growth and Yield, to Rates of Mineral and Poultry Manure Application in the Guinea Savanna Agro-ecological Zone in Nigeria

The study was designed to evaluate the impact of different levels of poultry manures (PM) on the growth and yield of tomato in comparison to mineral fertilizer (MF) and the combine treatment of PM + MF. The combined analysis revealed that application of poultry manure at 150 kg N/ha gave the tallest plant height, but not significantly different from application of manure at 300 kg N/ha. These were however, significantly different from the inorganic fertilizer treatment; an indication that tomato responded better to poultry manure than mineral fertilizer, in respect of plant height. Application of inorganic fertilizer at the rate of 300 kg N/ha gave significantly taller crop than 150 kg N/ha. The shortest plant heights were observed in the control treatment in both cropping seasons as well as in the combined result. Application of organic and inorganic fertilizers significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced total number of harvested tomato and weight of harvest. Application of 150 kg PM/ha + 150 kg MF/ha gave the best yield, which was significantly different from other rates investigated, followed by 75 kg PM/ha + 75 kg MF/ha. While increasing poultry manure rate from 150 kg N/ha to 300 kg N/ha led to an increase in total number of harvested tomato and tomato yield / ha, increasing mineral fertilizer rate from 150 kg N/ha to 300 kg N/ha actually depressed tomato yield and number of tomato harvested per plot. Finally, application of inorganic nutrient at the rate of 150 kg N/ha yielded 88.15% return over the control, while applying 300 kg N/ha inorganic nutrient yielded only 74.68% return over the control. Application of organic nutrient at the rate of 150 and 300 kg N/ha yielded 81.93 and 85.98 percent returns, respectively over the control treatment. The highest return, however, was obtained with the application of 150 kg PM/ha + 150 kg MF/ha (90.17%) over the control, which was followed by application of 75 kg PM/ha + 75 kg MF/ha (89.42%) over the control. Based on the research outcome, it is recommended that if tomato is to be grown on inorganic fertilizer, application of N at the rate of 150 kg/ha is appropriate, while application of organic fertilizer at the rate of 300 kg N/ha is recommended. However, combine application of 150 kg PM/ha + 150 kg MF/ha is recommended for optimum tomato yield. Keywords: Height, plant gilt, growth, development, yield and economic

Prevalent use of herbs for reduction of labour duration in Mwanza, Tanzania: are obstetricians aware?

Background: The use of herbs during pregnancy and labour is rapidly increasing because the herbs are considered to be natural and therefore free of risks.  Despite of this perception, a number of herbs have been reported to have negative effects to the new-borns and the mothers.  Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the use of herbs during labour among women in Mwanza, Tanzania.Methods: The study involved women who delivered at Bugando Medical Centre and Sekou Toure Hospital in Mwanza, north-western Tanzania. Data were collected using questionnaires.  Comparison of prevalence of herb use by various factors was done. Results: A total of 178 women were involved in the study. The mean age of participants was 26.6 ± 5.4 years. The prevalence of herb use was found to be 23.0%. The use of herbs was significantly associated with marital status (p = 0.011) and the use during previous deliveries (p = 0.000).Conclusion: The study findings signify that, about a quarter of women in Mwanza use herbs during childbirth and the use encourages recurrent use of these herbs in subsequent pregnancies. A large scale survey is recommended to determine the extent of use of traditional herbs during pregnancy and childbirth countrywide. Studies to determine the toxic profile of the herbs which are used are also needed so as to address the matter to the community.

DETERMINANTS OF FOOD SECURITY AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN AKURE NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

The determinants of food securityamong farming households in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria is the main focus of this study.It specifically described the socioeconomiccharacteristics of the farming households, analyzed the food security situation of the respondents and estimated the determinants of food security among the households in the study area. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 109farming householdswho were selected by a three stage random sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Food security index, FGT and Binary Logit regression model. Findings of the study showed a young vibrant farming population, relatively literate and engaged in small scale farming. The outcome of the study also indicated that majority (80percent) of the respondents were food insecure consuming less than the recommended daily calories intake of 2260kcal. Food secure households in the study area exceeded the calorie requirement by 69% while the food insecure households fell short of the recommended calorie intake by 37%.The result of the Logit regression revealed that education, household size, farm size and total household income were the statistically significant variables affecting the food security of the farming households in the study area. These coefficients have values of1.490, - 0.021, 0.264 and 0.000 respectively. It was recommended that Government should provide an integrated approach that promotes formal education among farming households to enhance their farm production activities.There is also a need to promote large scale farming in the area. It was further recommended that enlightenment programmes on nutrition and birth control measure should be directed at the farming households in the study area. This will help to check the consumption of unbalanced diets and uncontrolled child births respectively

Technical Efficiency Measurement among Maize Farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria

The study focused on the technical efficiency among maize farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. The data for the study were collected from 400 maize farmers by a multistage random sampling technique through a questionnaire. The data were analyzed through the use of simple descriptive statistics and Cobb-Douglas stochastic production function. The result of the study showed that majority of maize farmers were males, married with an average household size of nine (9) persons. Their average age was 49 years, having one level of education or the other. They operated on small scale and had more than six (6) years of farming experience. Land, seed, fertilizer and labour were significantly and positively related to maize output while age, education, accessibility to credit facilities, cooperative membership and farming experience were the significant determinant of technical efficiency in the study area. It is suggested that Government, non-governmental organization and community based organization and the farmers themselves should come up with programmes and policies that will facilitate technical efficiency in the study area. Keywords: Maize, Farmers, Efficiency, Kogi, Nigeria

Haematological profile of healthy adult blood donors in Mwanza, Tanzania

Background: While it is customary to apply the same haematological reference ranges, variations exist between populations. This study was conducted to determine hematologic profiles among a local population of north-western Tanzania.Methods:  This was a cross sectional study, which enrolled healthy adult blood donors in Mwanza, Tanzania. Collected blood samples were put in EDTA-coated tubes and haematological indices were determined using Auto Hematology-Analyzer. Results are summarized in medians plus 95% interquartile ranges and compared using either Mann–Whitney U or Kruskal–Wallis tests depending on appropriateness.Results:  A total of 163 (143 males and 20 females) adult healthy blood donors (median age= 31 years) were enrolled.  We found a median haemoglobin level of 15.1 g/dL [10.5-23.8], erythrocytes of 5.3x106/µL [4.1-8.3 x106], haematocrit of 44.0 % [32.4-71.4], total leucocytes of 4300 cells/μL [1700-8500], lymphocytes 1700/μL [800-3000], neutrophils 2100/μL [300-5300]; mid-sized cells (monocytes, eosinophils and basophils) of 400/μL [100-1400] and platelets of 194x103/μL [55.2-379.0 x103].  We observed significantly higher haemoglobin level (P = 0.017) as well as erythrocytes (P = 0.012) and haematocrit (p = 0.006) among males than females.   Conclusion: The percentile range (2.5%-97.5%) which can be used to determine the higher and lower values of haematological profile normal ranges for most indices differ from Western adopted reference values.  Therefore, we recommend a large study to establish local normal hematologic reference values

Synthesis, Characterization, Biological Properties, ADMET and Drug-likeness Analysis of Mn (II) complexes with Schiff Bases Derived from Sulphathiazole and 4-diethylaminosalicyaldehyde/Salicyaldehyde

Mn (II) complexes were synthesized with the Schiff base ligand obtained by the condensation of sulfathiazole with 4-diethylaminosalicyaldehyde/Salicyaldehyde. Their characterization was performed by elemental analysis, molar conductance, melting points, magnetic susceptibility, infrared, and UV–Vis spectral analysis. The results suggest that the Schiff bases and their complex are synthesized in excellent yield, molar conductance studies on the complexes indicated they were non-electrolytic. The IR data indicated that the Schiff base ligand is tridentate coordinated to the metallic ion with two N atoms from the azomethine group and thiazole ring and one O atom from the phenolic group. The electronic spectral study showed octahedral geometry for all the complexes which are further supported by magnetic moment values. The ligand and its complexes were screened against four bacterial and two fungal strains using the disk diffusion method. The antimicrobial evaluation results revealed that the metal (II) complexes exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than the free Schiff base ligand. The ADMET and drug-likeness studies of the synthesized ligands indicated that the Schiff base ligands fulfill Lipinski’s, Ghoose, Veber, Egan, and Mugge rules but the complexes showed some deviations. They also displayed low toxicity levels