Correlations Between Stress, Coping Strategies and Academic Performance of Undergraduate Students of Federal University Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria

The paper investigated the relationships among stress, coping strategies and academic performance of undergraduate students of Federal University Birnin-kebbi, Kebbi State. A correlational type of survey design was used for the study. Three faculties were randomly selected from the university. A Random sampling technique was used in selecting 337 students, both male and female for the study. The two research instruments were adopted from Okorie (2016): The Students Stress Questionnaire (SSQ) and Students Coping Strategy Questionnaire (SCSQ), Students Academic Performance Scores (SAPS) was constructed by the researchers. All the questionnaires have 25 items, each scored on a four-point Likert Scale ranging from (Strongly Agreed, Agreed, Disagreed, and Strongly Disagreed). Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was used to test hypothesis 1, and hypothesis 2 was analyzed using the t-test analysis. The finding of the study revealed that negative relationship exists between stress and academic performance of students with (r= -0.850, p=0.000) and significant difference existed between male and female students in their coping strategies with (t=0.5823, p=0.000). It is therefore concluded that stress constitute serious problems that distract the students from maximum academic output and effective social life. It was recommended among others that university environment should be made conducive by improving on hostel accommodation, conducive classrooms for lectures and amenities such as light and water

Relationship between Serum Heat-Stable Alkaline Phosphatase Activity and Blood Pressure in Patients with Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia

Background: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship, if any, between theserum heat-stable alkaline phosphatase (HS-ALP) activity and the blood pressure (BP) of patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Method: The activity of HS-ALP was measured using the 4 - nitrophenyl phosphate (4 - NPP) method after incubation at a high temperature of 65\ub0C for exactly 30 minutes in one hundred normal pregnant women and in another one hundred with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. The normal pregnant women were used as controls. The blood pressure (BP), systolic as well as diastolic was measured in each of the studied patient using desktop mercury sphygmomanometer. Results: In the patients with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, it was found that the higher the systolic and diastolic BP, the higher is the activity of the HS-ALP. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the HS-ALP activity in patients with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia is positively related to the severity of the hypertension and therefore this could help in detecting early complication.Fond : L'objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d'explorer le rapport, s'il y en a, entre l'activit\ue9 thermostable de la phosphatase alkaline de s\ue9rum (TS-PAL) et la tension art\ue9rielle (TA) des malades avec la pr\ue9-\ue9clampsie et l'\ue9clampsie. M\ue9thode : L'activit\ue9 de TS-PAL a \ue9t\ue9 mesur\ue9e en utilisant La m\ue9thode de 4-phosphate nitroph\ue9nylique (4-PPN) apr\ue8s l'incubation \ue0 temp\ue9rature \ue9lev\ue9e de 65 0C pendant exactement 30 minutes dans cent femmes enceintes normales et dans encore cent avec l' pre-\ue9clampsie/\ue9clampsie. Les femmes normalement enceintes ont \ue9t\ue9 employ\ue9es comme commandes. La tension art\ue9rielle (TA), systolique aussi bien que diastolique a \ue9t\ue9 mesur\ue9e dans chaque malade \ue9tudi\ue9 en employant le sphygmomanom\ue8tre mecure de bureau intelligent. R\ue9sultats: Dans les malades avec la pre-\ue9clampsie et \ue9clampsie, on a constat\ue9 que plus la TA systolique et diastolique est haute, plus est haute l'activit\ue9 du TS-PAL . Conclusion: On peut conclure que l'activit\ue9 de TS-PAL dans les patients avec la pre-\ue9clampsie/\ue9clampsie est franchement li\ue9 \ue0 la s\ue9v\ue9rit\ue9 de l'hypertension et donc ceci pourrait aider pour d\ue9tecter la toute promi\ue9re complication

Evaluation of Serum Lipid Profile of Under-Five Nigerian Children

Background: Serum lipid profile assay forms one of the special investigations in most chemical pathology laboratories worldwide. Several studies in children from different countries have shown that serum lipids exhibit age and geographical pattern of variation prior to puberty. This study was conducted to evaluate serum lipid profile in Nigerian children aged 6 to 36 months. Methods: A total of 115 randomly selected apparently healthy children were studied. These consisted of 38, 40 and 37 children in groups I (6 to 12 months), II (13 to 24 months) and III (25 to 36 months) respectively. There were 60 male and 55 female children. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG) were measured by enzymatic colorimetric method using reagent kits supplied by Human, Gesel F\ufcr Biochemica Und Diagnostica mbH (Wiesbaden, Germany). Serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were subsequently estimated using Friedewald formula. Results: The reference ranges and (Mean \ub1 SEM) of serum TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, VLDL-C and TC/HDL-C for the total group of children were 1.55-5.42(2.89\ub10.12),0.50-3.29(1.28 \ub1 0.15), 0.45-2.77(1.12 \ub1 0.14), 0.93-3.43(0.79 \ub1 0.14), 0.17-0.72(0.35 \ub1 0.14) mmol/L and 1.01-4.74(2.19 \ub1 0.13) respectively. There were no sex differences in all these parameters. Serum levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TC/HDL-C in the 3 age groups were also statistically similar (p>0.05). Concentrations of TG and VLDL-C were lower (p<0.001) in group II than in I. These values were also significantly lower (p<0.02) in group III than in I. Serum TG and VLDL-C in groups II and III were statistically comparable (p>0.05). Conclusion:Serum concentrations of TC, TG and VLDL-C decrease with advancing age, with more marked decrease between first and second years of life. We hereby recommend that the reference values established in this study be utilized for the interpretation of serum lipid results in pre-school children in Nigerian hospitals and possibly elsewhere in Africa.Introduction: Essai sur le profil des lipides du s\ue9rum constitue une des enqu\ueates sp\ue9ciales dans la plupart des laboratoires de la pathologie chimique dans le monde entire. Des \ue9tudes diverses sur plusieurs pays ont indiqu\ue9 que les lipides du s\ue9rum montre une tendance d'\ue2ge et g\ue9ographique des variation avant la pubert\ue9. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 effectu\ue9e afin d'\ue9valuer le profil de lipide s\ue9rum chez des enfants nig\ue9rians \ue2ges de 6 \ue0 36 mois. M\ue9thodes: Un total de 15 enfants choisis au hasard apparemment d'une tr\ue8s bonne sant\ue9 ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9tudi\ue9. Ils se composent de 38,40 et 37 enfants du pr\ue9mier groupe (6 au 12 mois), deuzi\ue8m groupe (13 au 24 mois) et troisi\ue8m groupe (25 au 36 mois) respectivement. Il y avait 60 enfants du sexe masculin et 55 enfants du sexe f\ue9minin. Concentration du s\ue9rum du cholest\ue9rol total (TC), la densit\ue9 \ue9lev\ue9e cholest\ue9rol lipoprotein (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG) ont \ue9t\ue9 m\ue9sur\ue9s \ue0 travers la m\ue9thode colorim\ue9trique enzymatique \ue0 travers l'utilisation des \ue9quipements r\ue9actifs fournis par Huam, Gesel Fur Biochemical Und Diagnostica mbH (Wiebaven, Germany). Lipoprotein cholest\ue9rol du s\ue9rum avec une densit\ue9 inf\ue9rieure (LDL-C) et lipoprotein cholest\ue9rol d'une densit\ue9 tr\ue8s inf\ue9rieure (VLDL-C) ont \ue9t\ue9 par la suite calcul\ue9 avec l'utilisation de formule de FriedeWald. R\ue9sultats: La r\ue9f\ue9rence de l'ordre et (moyen +-SEM) du s\ue9rum TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, VLDL-C et TC/HDL-C pour le groupe total des enfants \ue9taient 1,55-5, 42(2,89+-0,12), 050-3,29 (1,28+-0,15), 0,45-2,77 (1,12+-0,14), 0,93-,43 (0,79+-0,14), 0,17-0. 72(0,35+-0,14) mmol/L et 0,01-4,74(2,19+-0,13) respectivement. Il n'y avait aucune diff\ue9rence du sexe dans tous les param\ue8tres. Niveaux du s\ue9rum de TC, LDL-C HDL-C et TC/HDL-C dans les trois groupes d'age \ue9taient \ue9galement statistiquement semblable (p>0,05). Concentrations du TG et VLDL-C \ue9taient moins (p<0 ,001) dans le deuxiem groupe plus que dans le pr\ue9mier groupe. Ces valeurs \ue9taient remarquablement inf\ue9rieur (p<0,02) dans le troisiem plus que dans le pr\ue9mier groupe. S\ue9rum TG et VLDL-C dans le deuxi\ue8m et troisi\ue8m groupe \ue9tait statistiquement comparable (p>0,05) Conclusion: Concentrations du s\ue9rum de TC, TG et VLDL-C diminue avec l'\ue2ge qui s'avance, avec une diminution plus remarquable entre le pr\ue9mier et deuxi\ue8m an de la vie. Donc, nous proposons que des valeurs de r\ue9f\ue9rence soulign\ue9es dans cette \ue9tude peuvent \ueatre utlis\ue9es pour l'intepr\ue9tation des r\ue9sultats du lipide du s\ue9rum chez des enfants pr\ue9scolaires dans des h\uf4pitaux nig\ue9rians et peut \ueatre ailleurs en Afrique

Qualitative And Quantitative Phytochemical Screening Ofcola Nuts (Cola Nitida And Cola Acuminata)

A study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical constituent ofaqueous and methanol nut extracts of Colanitida and Colaacuminata. The phytochemical screening which involves both the qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed the presence of secondary metabolites; alkaloid, tannins, glycoside, steroids and saponins glycoside with higher contain in methanol and aqueous extracts. The saponins content is higher in the aqueous extract  and not detected in the methanol extract of the two species. Flavonoids expressed strong presence in methanol extract of C.nitida and not detected in the aqueous extract as well as the aqueous and methanol extracts of C. acuminata. For cardiac glycoside and volatile oil, they show moderate and trace presence in the methanol and aqueous extracts respectively. Anteraquinones are not detected in all the extracts of the two species. The quantitative result shows that, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in glycoside, tannins, saponins and alkaloid content of C. acuminata compared to C.nitida, withC. acuminata having the highest percentage of alkaloid (1.00%) while C. nitidahad (0.80%) alkaloid content,C. acuminatahad (0.80%) saponins, with C. nitida having (0.40%), more over the tanninscontent of C. acuminatawas higher (0.89%) compared to C. nitidawith (0.77%) while the glycoside content of C. acuminatawas (0.53%) and that of C. nitida was (0.43%). The results as indicated above disclose the scientific basis for the traditional uses of cola nut. Finally, the study  recommend the isolation of these metabolites using highly purify methods in other  to obtain their maximum therapeutic potentials. Keywords:Colanitida, Cola acuminate,Qualitative and Quantitative PhytochemicalScreening

The burden and risks of pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria: A desk‐based review of existing literature and data

Background: Pneumonia is a leading killer of children under‐5 years, with a high burden in Nigeria. We aimed to quantify the regional burden and risks of pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria, and specifically the states of Lagos and Jigawa. / Methods: We conducted a scoping literature search for studies of pneumonia morbidity and mortality in under‐5 children in Nigeria from 10th December 2018 to 26th April 2019, searching: Cochrane, PubMed, and Web of Science. We included grey literature from stakeholders' websites and information shared by organizations working in Nigeria. We conducted multivariable logistic regression using the 2016 to 2017 Multiple Cluster Indicators Survey data set to explore factors associated with pneumonia. Descriptive analyses of datasets from 2010 to 2019 was done to estimate trends in mortality, morbidity, and vaccination coverage. / Results: We identified 25 relevant papers (10 from Jigawa, 8 from Lagos, and 14 national data). None included data on pneumonia or acute respiratory tract infection burden in the health system, inpatient case‐fatality rates, severity, or age‐specific pneumonia mortality rates at state level. Secondary data analysis found that no household or caregiver socioeconomic indicators were consistently associated with self‐reported symptoms of cough and/or difficulty breathing, and seasonality was inconsistently associated, dependant on region. / Conclusion: There is a clear evidence gap around the burden of pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria, and challenges with the interpretation of existing household survey data. Improved survey approaches are needed to understand the risks of pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria, alongside the need for investment in reliable routine data systems to provide data on the clinical pneumonia burden in Nigeria

Health system challenges for improved childhood pneumonia case management in Lagos and Jigawa, Nigeria

Background: Case fatality rates for childhood pneumonia in Nigeria remain high. There is a clear need for improved case management of pneumonia, through the sustainable implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) diagnostic and treatment algorithms. We explored barriers and opportunities for improved case management of childhood pneumonia in Lagos and Jigawa states, Nigeria. / Methods: A mixed‐method analysis was conducted to assess the current health system capacity to deliver quality care. This was done through audits of 16 facilities in Jigawa and 14 facilities in Lagos, questionnaires (n = 164) and 13 focus group discussions with providers. Field observations provided context for data analysis and triangulation. / Results: There were more private providers in Lagos (4/8 secondary facilities) and more government providers in Jigawa (4/8 primary, 3/3 secondary, and 1/1 tertiary facilities). Oxygen and pulse oximeters were available in two of three in Jigawa and six of eight in Lagos of the sampled secondary care facilities. None of the eight primary facilities surveyed in Jigawa had oxygen or pulse oximetry available while in Lagos two of three primary facilities had oxygen and one of three had pulse oximeters. Other IMCI and emergency equipment were also lacking including respiratory rate timers, particularly in Jigawa state. Health care providers scored poorly on knowledge of IMCI, though previous IMCI training was associated with better knowledge. Key enabling factors in delivering pediatric care highlighted by health care providers included accountability procedures and feedback loops, the provision of free medication for children, and philanthropic acts. Common barriers to provide care included the burden of out‐of‐pocket payments, challenges in effective communication with caregivers, delayed presentation, and lack of clear diagnosis, and case management guidelines. / Conclusion: There is an urgent need to improve how the prevention and treatment of pediatric pneumonia is directed in both Lagos and Jigawa. Priority areas for reducing pediatric pneumonia burden are training and mentoring of health care providers, community health education, and introduction of oximeters and oxygen supply

Comparative analysis of co-processed starches prepared by three different methods

Co-processing is currently of interest in the generation of high-functionality excipients for tablet formulation. In the present study, comparative analysis of the powder and tableting properties of three co-processed starches prepared by three different methods was carried out. The co-processed excipients consisting of maize starch (90%), acacia gum (7.5%) and colloidal silicon dioxide (2.5%) were prepared by co-dispersion (SAS-CD), co-fusion (SAS-CF) and co-granulation (SAS-CG). Powder properties of each co-processed excipient were characterized by measuring particle size, flow indices, particle density, dilution potential and lubricant sensitivity ratio. Heckel and Walker models were used to evaluate the compaction behaviour of the three co-processed starches. Tablets were produced with paracetamol as the model drug by direct compression on an eccentric Tablet Press fitted with 12 mm flat-faced punches and compressed at 216 MPa. The tablets were stored at room temperature for 24 h prior to evaluation. The results revealed that co-granulated co-processed excipient (SAS-CG) gave relatively better properties in terms of flow, compressibility, dilution potential, deformation, disintegration, crushing strength and friability. This study has shown that the method of co-processing influences the powder and tableting properties of the co-processed excipient

Comparative analysis of co-processed starches prepared by three different methods

Co-processing is currently of interest in the generation of high-functionality excipients for tablet formulation. In the present study, comparative analysis of the powder and tableting properties of three co-processed starches prepared by three different methods was carried out. The co-processed excipients consisting of maize starch (90%), acacia gum (7.5%) and colloidal silicon dioxide (2.5%) were prepared by co-dispersion (SAS-CD), co-fusion (SAS-CF) and co-granulation (SAS-CG). Powder properties of each co-processed excipient were characterized by measuring particle size, flow indices, particle density, dilution potential and lubricant sensitivity ratio. Heckel and Walker models were used to evaluate the compaction behaviour of the three co-processed starches. Tablets were produced with paracetamol as the model drug by direct compression on an eccentric Tablet Press fitted with 12 mm flat-faced punches and compressed at 216 MPa. The tablets were stored at room temperature for 24 h prior to evaluation. The results revealed that co-granulated co-processed excipient (SAS-CG) gave relatively better properties in terms of flow, compressibility, dilution potential, deformation, disintegration, crushing strength and friability. This study has shown that the method of co-processing influences the powder and tableting properties of the co-processed excipient