Cofactors Influencing Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Sedentary Fulani Settlements of Dumbi, Igabi LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria

An epidemiological study of sedentary Fulani settlements in Dumbi, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State was undertaken to determine cofactors of Schistosoma haematobium prevalence and intensity of infection. Consenting individuals were recruited after sensitization from six settlements and administered a structured questionnaire to obtain demographic and risk factors data. Urine samples were collected from 657 individuals and analyzed by centrifugation, and the number of ova was determined by microscopy. The population had an overall intensity of 73.93±17.4 with the highest value of 100.9±31.3 recorded in Dumbin Ladan while Angwan Sarki and Angwan Majima had lower intensities of 4.00 ± 0.00 and 15.0 ± 0.00 respectively. Differences in intensity between males (73.44± 17.04) and females (77.82±48.96) were not significant (P>0.05). Although the correlation between age and intensity of infection was negative (r=–0.81), the infection was significantly associated with the age group 11-20 years. There was significant association between risk factors; such as occupation, activities at the ponds, source of domestic water supply and distance of hamlets to ponds and the prevalence of the disease. Cattle rearing (OR=9.01; CI=4.00-20.75; P=0.00) and farming (OR=3.14; CI=1.82-5.43; P=0.00) showed significant association with the prevalence and intensity of the disease. Based on activities at the water bodies, people who fished and washed had the highest prevalence rate of 63.53%, while the highest mean intensity of the infection was observed in individuals that wash, fish, bath and water their cattle in the water bodies (OR=13.41; CI=8.64-20.8; P<0.05). Similarly, other activities such as bathing (OR=3.32; CI=1.76-6.27; P<0.05) and washing (OR=2.17; CI=0.59-7.72; P<0.05) were significantly associated with the intensity of the infection. Pond water as a major source of water supply showed significant association with the intensity of the disease (OR=61.63; CI=29.37-133.7; P<0.05). The study has revealed that urinary schistosomiasis is endemic in the settlements based on the intensity and human activities in the ponds that are the major source of water. The integrated control is recommended for the control of the disease in this area.Key words: Urinary schistosomiasis, prevalence, Dumbin Dutse, centrifugation, epidemiological, sedentar

Natural compounds extracted from Moringa oleifera and their agricultural applications

Natural bio-active compounds synthesized by plants as secondary metabolites are well known and established. Today, their application in various fields such as medicine in the form of drugs and biopesticides in agriculture is well documented. In recent times, the delivery of such compounds is achieved through nanodelivery technology, which is gaining acceptability in both field of drugs and agrochemical industries. The bio-active compounds with chemical diversity are obtained from nature either as homogenous plant crude extracts or as purified compounds. Crude plant extracts exist as a combination of different bio-active compounds with various polarities, and their partition remains a challenge in the process of characterization and identification. Extraction of these compounds from plant species is achieved by different solvents and extraction methods. Analytical methods like HPLC have commonly been utilized with GC-MS and LC-MS/MS chromatography methods to identify the compounds. Crude extracts from different morphological parts of plant species including Moringa oleifera are increasingly becoming important in the context of agricultural pest management and human medicine. M. oleifera is a medicinal plant that synthesizes such metabolites which include phenolic acids, carotenoids, quinones, antraquinones, flavonoids, flavonols, flavones, tannins, alkaloids, coumarins, terpenoids, amines, cyanogenic glycosides, triterpenoids, non-protein amino acids, glucosinolates, polyacetylenes, polyketides, phenylpropanes, steroids and saponins. They exert biological activities and can potentially be used to retard microbial activities. Other uses of M. oleifera are medicinal uses and other purposes such as water purification, fertilizer, biogas and biopesticides. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the uses and profiling of bio-active compounds of M. oleifera, their mode of action and prospects in commercial biopesticides for agricultural applications

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation