Prevalence of CKD-MBD in pre-dialysis patients using biochemical markers in Enugu, South-East Nigeria

Background: As kidney function declines, there is a progressive deterioration in mineral homeostasis with disruption of normal serum and tissue concentration of phosphorus and calcium, and changes in circulating levels of hormones-parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitriol (1,25(OH)2 D), and Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23).Objective: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of markers of CKD-MBD in pre-dialysis patients.Methods: We evaluated consecutively 168 subjects made up of 85 CKD patients and 83 healthy controls, who were attending the renal clinics and medical outpatient of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,  Enugu. GFR was estimated and serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, PTH, and 25(OH) D levels assayed.Results: The prevalence of various mineral bone disease abnormalities were 70% hyper-phosphatemia, 85% hyper-parathyroidism, and 100% low levels of 25 (OH) D among the patients. Estimated GFR  correlated negatively with both serum phosphorus, and PTH. Age of the patients ranged from18-76 years with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. Chronic Glomerulonephritis (CGN), hypertension and diabetes mellitus caused CKD in 75% of the patients. There was no significant decrease in serum calcium levels of patients compared to controls. The patients did not have pathologically raised alkaline phosphatase, although their mean level was significantly higher than that of the control group.Conclusion: Low 25 (OH) D levels (insufficiency/deficiency), hyperparathyroidism, and hyper-phosphatemia were the obvious markers of CKD-MBD in our pre-dialysis patients. These should be evaluated at presentation in these patients.Key words: CKD-MBD, Predialysis, biochemical markers, Southeast Nigeria

Analysis of Edible Mushroom Marketing in Three Villages in Central Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined the marketing of edible mushroom in three villages (Alesi, Ekukunela and Ohon) in Central Cross River State, Nigeria. The marketing of edible mushroom in the state offers job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled rural population at farm gate and offers market employment opportunities for middlemen (wholesalers and retailers), enable talent utilization and stimulation of increase in edible mushroom production. The socio-economic characteristics of sellers, profit margin and marketing efficiency were the main focus. One hundred and twenty respondents were interviewed at three different markets in three selected villages in Central Cross River State, Nigeria, namely: Alesi, Ekukunela and Ochon. These markets were chosen because of the large number of edible mushroom sellers in them. However, the sellers were randomly selected. This study revealed that the marketing of edible mushroom in Central Cross River State was completely dominated by women and children, with monthly profit margin for Alesi, Ekukunela and Ochon markets as N60,000.00, N56,000.00 and N52,000.00 per annual respectively. This suggests that edible mushroom marketing business was lucrative. The concentration of sellers is low while entry is free. The markets are thus prefect competitive markets. The regression analysis, however, revealed that of all the marketing costs, transportation had the most significant impact on the returns of sellers in all the studied markets. It was therefore recommended that farmers should form Mushroom Grower and Marketing Cooperative to enable them obtain loans from banks. Banks should provide loans with low interest rate to both small and large – scales genuine mushroom farmers and marketers (not politicians, motor park boys or civil servant). Furthermore, extension agents should monitor beneficiaries of such loans to ensure that the farmers or marketers do not divert funds to buy motor-cycles, cars or marry more wives and also they should ensure regular repayment of loans by loan beneficiaries. The study also recommended that government should implement action –research type of programs that integrate institutional-technical and socio-economic aspect of mushroom farming and include post harvest and marketing aspects either through cooperatives or export processing zones. Finally, the study recommended that serious attention should be paid to improve the markets to perfect markets for optimal efficiency.KEY WORDS: Edible Mushroom, Nutrition, Improved Health, Marketing Efficienc

Costs And Returns Analysis Of Palm Wine Marketing In Uyo Area Of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study examined the marketing of palm wine (Ukot) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The socio – economic characteristics of sellers, costs and returns, profitability analysis were the main focus. Sample of 120 palm wine marketers were randomly selected from Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State using random sampling technique. One hundred and twenty respondents were interviewed at different drinking/marketing centers using questionnaires. Data obtained from the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics and cost-return analysis. Socio-economic profiles of the sellers revealed that marketing of palm wine in Akwa Ibom State is mainly dominated by men (75%). It was found that the average profit for the studied marketers N9,840.00 for 6,139 liters at N 30.00 per liter from January to December,2008. The cost and return analysis,  however, revealed that of all the marketing costs, transportation had the highest impact on the returns of sellers in the study area. Identifiable problems cited by sellers as affecting the marketing of palm wine in the study area were high cost of transportation, lack of capital/inadequate finance, inaccessibility of formal credit source because lack of collaterals, high taxation, lack of price information, poor market infrastructures and lack of roads maintenance/bad roads. Based on these findings, it was recommended that government should reduce tax as this will enable the sellers to make better profit. In addition to that, extension agents should advise palms wine marketers to form cooperative group(s) to enable them obtain loans from banks to increase their capital base for higher profit