Quality of Cookies Produced from Blends of False Yam (Icacina tricachantha) and Wheat Flours

This study evaluated the cookies produced from blends of processed false yam  (Icacina tricachantha) and wheat flours. False yam tubers were peeled, washed, cut into pieces and steeped in clean water for 24 h. The steeped false yam was oven dried and pulverized into flour. The flour was blended with wheat flour at ratios of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50% of wheat and false yam flour, respectively. Each of the flour blend was used in cookies production. Proximate, physical and sensory properties of the cookies were evaluated and data generated were statistically analysed. The result of proximate composition of cookies ranged from 7.8 to 10.22%, 6.15 to 10.66%, 8.63 to 9.21%, 2.41 to 2.74%, 1.57 to 1.67%, 65.95 to 72.86%, 377.94 to 400.59 kcal and 90.79 to 91.37% for crude protein, fat, moisture, ash, crude fibre, carbohydrate, energy value and dry matter, respectively. Moisture and carbohydrate contents increased (p<0.5) with increase in false yam substitution of wheat. The result of physical properties showed that weight (54.20-39.99g), diameter (6.92-7.10 cm), spread ratio (9.61-9.79) and breaking strength (10.28-12.11 g) of the cookies increased (p< 0.05) with increase in false yam substitution up to 30%. Sensory evaluation results revealed that the reference sample (100% wheat) scores were not significantly (p>0.05) different from 10% wheat substituted cookie scores except for taste. In conclusion, the result indicated that good quality cookies could be produced from blends of wheat and false yam flours.Keywords: False yam, processing, blends, cookies and quality

Factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis in two peri-urban communities in south-western Nigeria

In Nigeria, there is only very limited epidemiological information on which the control of human urinary schistosomiasis could be based. In a cross-sectional study, therefore, the prevalences and intensities of, and risk factors for, human infection with Schistosoma haematobium infection were explored in two endemic peri-urban villages in the south-western state of Osun. The villagers' knowledge about the infection and demographic, socio-economic and environmental variables were recorded using a structured questionnaire.\ud \ud Of the 1023 individuals who were investigated, 634 (62.0%) were found infected, with a mean (S.D.) overall intensity of 114.2 (327.7) eggs/10 ml urine. The subjects aged 10-14 years had both the highest prevalence (83.6%) and the highest mean (S.D.) intensity of infection [196.67 (411.7) eggs/10 ml urine]. Most (70.0%) of the subjects appeared to have no knowledge of the transmission of S. haematobium.\ud \ud The results of multivariate regression analysis indicated that infection and moderate-heavy infection (i.e. >50 eggs/10 ml urine) were both associated with: a low family income, of <U.S.$500/month [with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of 3.72 and 3.35, respectively], the number of children aged 10-15 years living in the household (with aOR of 1.60 and 1.99, respectively), not living with biological parents (with aOR of 1.93 and 5.21, respectively), and living close to (i.e. within a 30-min walk of) the local river (with aOR of 1.38 and 1.61, respectively). Literacy of the family head was, however, a protective factor (with corresponding aOR of 0.28 and 0.30, respectively). Human urinary schistosomiasis appears to be highly endemic in peri-urban/rural Nigeria and closely associated with poverty. To reduce the transmission of S. haematobium in endemic communities, health education that is not only of high quality but also culturally sensitive is needed

Ulcerative Keratitis: incidence, seasonal distribution and determinants in a tertiary eyecare facility south east Nigeria

Background: Ulcerative keratitis is a potentially blinding eye disease found in eyes with predisposing risk factors.Objectives: To determine the incidence, distribution, causative organisms and risk factors for ulcerative keratitis in patients presenting at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH)- a tertiary referral eye care facility, Enugu, Nigeria.Study Design: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study of 61 new patients with ulcerative keratitis who presented at the UNTH from October 2011-September 2012. Participants’ socio-demographics and predisposing risk factors were documented. Corneal scrapings were collected for microbial diagnosis.Results: A total of 11,056 new patients presented during the study period giving an incidence rate of 0.6%. Of the 61 participants, 44(72.1%) were males, 17(27.9%) were females with an age range of 6 – 75 years and a median age of 54 years. Of the 40(65.6%) culture positive corneal scrapings, 21(52.5%) were purely bacterial, 17(42.5%) were purely fungal while 2(5%) were mixed infection, caused by both bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal (Aspergillus fumigatus) organisms in both cases. Commonest predisposing risk factor was non- surgical trauma 43(70.5%) followed by use of harmful Traditional Eye Medicine (TEM) 27(44.3%). The seasonal distribution of corneal ulcer was highest in month June 11(18.0%). Complications from the ulcers included central leucoma 19 (31.2%) and panophthalmitis 6 (9.9%).Conclusion: The incidence rate of ulcerative keratitis is 0.6% occurring highest in the month of June with more bacterial than fungal isolates. Many participants were exposed to non- surgical trauma and use of TEM. Eye health education (emphasizing the deleterious effects of TEMs) and protection (especially for artisans) if instituted can reduce the visual morbidity associated with corneal ulcers

Prevalence of maternal hypoglycaemia and Plasmodium falciparum infections among women attending antenatal clinics in three development centres of Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria

A cross-sectional epidemiological survey on hypoglycaemia prevalence among Plasmodium falciparum-infected women attending antenatal clinics in Nsukka LGA, Enugu State, Nigeria was undertaken between January and September 2015. The obstetric, demographic, clinical and management data of the pregnant women were determined using a structured questionnaire. Out of the 375 randomly selected pregnant women assessed for P. falciparum infection and hypoglycaemia using standard kits, 292(77.9%) women had P. falciparum infection and 39(13.4%) of the infected pregnant women were hypoglycaemic. The highest prevalence for both P. falciparum infection (47.9%, 45.5%) and hypoglycaemia (46.5%, 67.4%) were observed among age group 30-34 years old and primigravidae respectively. In relation to trimester, P. falciparum infection (46.6%) and hypoglycaemia (58.2%) were highest in second and first trimester respectively. Generally, hypoglycaemic infected subjects showed significant difference (p&lt;0.05) when compared with their non-infected counterpart. The study showed no significant correlation between hypoglycaemia and malaria infection status; rather hypoglycaemia occurrence was associated with markers of impaired quality of life (anorexia) and disruption in the maintenance of glucose supply. Recognition of hypoglycaemia risk factors, blood glucose monitoring, selection of appropriate regimens, education programs for health care professionals and at risk patients are the major issues for maintaining good glycemic control, minimize the risk of hypoglycaemia, and prevent long-term complications. Also, the study recommends that simple, rapid and reliable laboratory tests at health centres be readily available to help in diagnosis, prevention and management of hypoglycaemia complications.Keywords: Hypoglyceamia; Plasmodium falciparum; maternal; antenatal; Nsukka LG