Quality characteristics of bread produced from composite flours of wheat, plantain and soybeans

The use of soy flour (SF) and plantain flour (PF) substitution in wheat flour (WF), from 0 to 15% each, for the production of bread was investigated. The proximate analysis, sensory evaluation and aerobic plate count (APC) of the bread samples were determined. The crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract and ash contents of the soy supplemented breads (SSBs) increased with progressive increase in the proportion of soy flour, with the 15% SSB having highest values of 8.39, 0.14, 2.46 and 1.17%, respectively, while lowest values were recorded for the whole wheat bread (WWB). The carbohydrate content was observed to decrease with corresponding increase in the percentage of soy flour in SSBs. The sensory evaluation shows that no significant differences were observed between the WWB and the 5% SSB in the sensory attributes of aroma, internal texture, taste and general acceptability (

Sustainable agriculture and agricultural land use intensification in Egbado area of Ogun State

Post studies had indicated that population pressure, soil fertility, spatial location and land tenure are among the dominant factors that influence agricultural land use intensification in a number of regions. The present study carried out in Egbado Division of Ogun State in Nigeria showed that these factors (or their proxies) are inversely related to Land Use Intensity (LUI). However, only population pressure and average yield of maize were found to be significant explanatory variables of LUI in the area of study. The paper concludes that policy makers should integrate the socio-cultural and economic goals of farmers into small scale farmers’ planning for sustainabi1ity. This will alleviate the adverse impact of resource pressures (especially land) on sustainability and the development process

Spectrum of neurosurgical complications following medical tourism: challenges of patients without borders

Background and objectives: The cost of medical care and availability of resources (human and facilities) which differs from nation to nation are amongst others, factors driving medical tourism (MT) despite its potential drawbacks. The aim of the study was to analyse all patients that presented with neurosurgical complications following MT.Methods: A single institution prospective study was carried out. Data which included patients’ demographics, diagnosis, Glasgow coma scale score at admission, type of complication, and outcome were collected over a 3 year period and analysed.Results: A total of 23 neurosurgical cases were seen during the study period with a median age of 42 years (17-70 years). India is the most common country visited by Nigerian patients. Nine patients died from various complications on arrival in Nigeria. There was no significant statistical difference between the outcome and patients clinical status prior to travel (p=0.107), country where the surgery was done (p=0.776), admission GCS in Nigeria (p=0.169), and redo surgery in Nigeria (0.181).Conclusion: Government in different nations should have legislations to ensure that medical tourists' receive appropriate care abroad, proper follow-up care upon their return, and also promulgate laws to regulate quasi and organised MT agencies that are operating in a regulatory vacuum.Keywords: Medical tourism, Morbidity, Mortalit

The Contribution of food plants to the growth, development and fecundity of Zonocerus variegatus (L)

The performance of the variegated grasshopper, Zonocerus variegatus (L) fed on different food plants namely cassava (Manihot esculenta), pawpaw (Carica papaya) and acalypha (Acalypha wilkesiana) and a mixture of these plants (mixed diets) from 5th nymphal instar to adult was investigated. Survivor and longevity of nymphs and as well as the reproductive performance of adult Zonocerus was greater and better for insect fed on cassava and mixed diets, as compared to those fed only on Acalypha and pawpaw. Adults emerged between the 5th to 16th week in cages containing 5th instars fed on cassava and mixed diets, while it took between 7-23 weeks for those fed on acalypha and pawpaw to emerge as adult. There were significant differences in the measurements of the body parameters of insects fed on the four different food plants. Ranking was cassava>mixture>pawpaw>acalyhpa. Sex had no significant effect on the measurement of body parameters regardless of the food plants. Feeding assay showed that there was a significant difference between the amounts of leaves consumed by Zonocerus fed on the different food plants. Of all the diets, cassava was the most preferred and most consumed food plant. This had a corresponding effect on the weight gained by the insects. The results of the proximate analysis showed significant differences in the dry matter, crude protein and fat content of Z. variegatus fed on the different food plants. A positive correlation existed between the body weight, protein and fat content of Z. variegatus fed on the different food plants. Key words: Zonocerus variegatus, food plants, instar, growth, development. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.2(10) 2003: 350-35

Assessment of quality of chloroquine tablets sold by drug vendors in Abeokuta, Nigeria

No Abstract. Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 8(1) 2006: 45-4

Malaria among pregnant women in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Pregnant women were enrolled from two hospitals and a Traditional Birth Home (TBH) in Abeokuta, Nigeria and monitored monthly for malaria parasites from the first antenatal visit until delivery. A total of 466 pregnant women were recruited for the study. The prevalence of malaria was 57.4%, and was higher among women in the TBH. The prevalence of malaria in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy were 37.5%, 47.3% and 47.5% respectively. At the time of the first antenatal visit 35.6% of the women were already parasitaemic, with a high frequency observed among primigravids. The prevalence recorded in the ninth month of pregnancy (35.7%) was not statistically different from that recorded at first antenatal visit (P>0.05). The need to improve the quality of care, malaria prevention and treatment given to pregnant women especially receiving antenatal care outside the hospital is recommended. Keywords: malaria, pregnancy, antenatal care, traditional birth home, Nigeria Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 8(1) 2006: 28-3

Cultivars of Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume (Euphorbiaceae) show variability in phytochemical and cytological characteristics

In the course of their evolution, plant developed chemical defences when attacked. These phytochemicals inadvertently protect humans against pathogens as antimicrobial medicines. Thus, six clone cultivars of Codiaeum variegatum (Spirale, Royal, Broad Spotted Guinea, Punctatum, Sunray and Royal-like) were chemically and cytologically investigated to evaluate their therapeutic potentials, values and variability. The shoots were relatively rich in alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, cardenolides, steroids, and phyllates. Flavonoids, phlobatannins, phenols and anthraquinoneswere sparingly present. Anthraquinones and cardenolides were absent in ‘Spirale’ while ‘Sunray’ lacked tannins, phlobatannins and phenols. Terpenes were found only in ‘Sunray’. Overall, alkaloids were themost abundant with the highest mean value of 1.46% in ‘Royal’ while flavonoids and anthraquinones were trace, 0.002 and 0.003%, in ‘Sunray’ and ‘Royal-like’. Five pigments, carotene (yellow-orange),phaeophytin (grey), chlorophyll a (blue-green) and b (green), and xanthophyll (yellow) were determined. ‘Spirale’, ‘Royal’, ‘Broad Spotted Guinea’ and ‘Punctatum’ had diploid chromosme number of 2n = 60while ‘Sunray’ and ‘Royal-like’ possessed 2n = 30 and 24 respectively. ‘Spirale’ and ‘Sunray’ appeared to have reasonably diverged from the rest. Genetic mutation and chromosomes variability couldaccount for the wide morphological variation and morphotypes in this plant species

Performance, proximate and mineral analyses of African giant land snail (Archachatina marginata) fed different nitrogen sources

The effect of different nitrogen sources in the diets offered to caged African giant land snail, Archachatina marginata, was investigated in a six months experiment. Four experimental diets I, II, III and IV containing soybean, fishmeal, poultry dropping and urea as the only nitrogen source, respectively were formulated. Diet V (Pawpaw leaves) served as the control. Growth parameters (weight gain, feed intake, shell length gain and shell circumference gain), hemolymph and flesh minerals and proximate composition of the snails were determined. Snails fed diet III (poultry droppings) recorded the highest weight gain while the snails fed diet IV recorded the least value. Snail fed diet I had the highest feed conversion ratio (FCR}. The least FCR value was recorded for snails on diet V. The feed intake of snail on diet V was significantly higher (

Colorimetric Assay Of Naproxen Tablets by Derivatization Using 4-Carboxyl-2,6-Dinitrobenzene Diazonium Ion

A colorimetric assay of naproxen tablets based on chemical derivatization with the chromogenic reagent 4-carboxyl-2,6-dinitrobenzene diazonium ion was developed. The optimal reaction time was found to be 5 min at 30 oC after vortex mixing of the drug/reagent mixture for 10 s. The optimal analytical wavelength was found to be 470 nm and linearity of response was obtained between 1-7 μgml-1 of naproxen. The diazo coupling reaction occurred in a 2:1 reagent-drug stoichiometric ratio. The method is sensitive, accurate (mean recovery 101.06±3.06 %), reproducible (imprecision 3.03 % CV) and has a low limit of detection (0.95 μgm-1). It was applied in the assay of naproxen tablets with equivalent accuracy (p>0.05) to the official (BP) UV spectrophotometric method but combined the advantages of speed and more affordable instrumentation. The method can be applied in the in-process quality control of naproxen tablets.Keywords: Naproxen assay, 4-carboxyl-2,6-dintrobenzene diazonium ion (CDNBD), colorimetry, diazo coupling reactionEast and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 12 (2009) 8-1

Comparative Analysis of the Growth Performance and Haemolymph Biochemical Properties of Normal and Albino Giant Land Snail- Archachatina marginata

This study was conducted to compare the growth performance and haemolymph metabolites concentrations of two snail ecotypes-normal skin and albino snail raised in captivity for eight weeks. The growth performance was measured by body weight gain, shell length gain and shell circumference gain  while the measured haemolymph metabolites were glucose, protein, lipids, Na+, K+ ,Ca2+, Cl- and PO42-. Normal snail recorded better growth performance and growth rate (3.432x) than albino snails (2.166x). Similarly significantly higher (P 0.05) was recorded in the concentrations of minerals of the two snails species haemolymph. The domestication of the two snail ecotypes is thus recommended for heliculturist.Keyword: Albino snails, Archachatina marginata, biochemical value,  haemolymph