Serum sodium and potassium levels in pregnant women from Minjibir local government, Kano – Nigeria

Blood samples collected from one hundred and twenty(120) pregnant women attending ante-natal care services in Minjibir General Hospital, Minjibir local government of Kano State and fourty(40) non-pregnant women as control were analysed for serum Na and K levels. The level of sodium in the blood samples range from 122mmol/L to 151mmol/L. The amount of potassium varied from 2.4mmol/L to 5.2mmol/L. The results show disturbance in the electrolytes in some of the pregnant women as the levels were not within the normal range (Na: 135mmol/L - 145mmol/L and K: 3.5 – 5.0mmol/L). The disturbance may be due to some reasons such as vomitting, low fluid intake, drugs and malnutrition

Determination of serum chloride ion concentration in pregnant women from Minjibir local government area, Kano State Nigeria

Serum chloride ion level in blood samples of pregnant women attending ante-natal care clinic in Minjibir was investigated. The mean and standard deviation of the ion in the samples is 100.51± 4.89mmol/L. The distribution is skewed towards high frequency of low concentrations and could be attributed to electrolyte disturbance in some of these women. This disturbance may be due to vomitting, low fluid intake, drugs and malnutrition.Keywords: Chloride ion, pregnant women, ante-nata

Impact of Plasmodium Falciparum Parasitaemia on packed cell volume among Children (6-59 months) attending bulumkutu comprehensive health center maiduguri, Borno State – Nigeria

 This study was conducted to assess the influence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia on PCV Packed Cell Volume in (children) (6-59), at Bulumkutu Comprehensive Health Center Maiduguri, Borno State, between August to December, 2019. A total of 210 children were enrolled in the study which consisted of 88 (41.9%) patients with positive P. falciparum malaria and 122 (58.10%) negative malaria. Hematological parameters were analyzed using sysmexhaematology auto-analyser (2011), while the Giemsa stained slides thick and thin blood films were prepared from the stock solution, and tested for Plasmodium falciparummalaria and count of malaria parasite density. The result shows that a mean parked cell volume. countswere significantly lower compared to malaria negative individual. A negative and significant orre1a1ion was observed between the parasite densities parked cell volumes index of anaemia of subject. (r2 0.508, p 0.005) and also in male subject.(r2 0.680, p 0.005) while the parked cell volume and count female subjects (r2 0.537, p 0.005) respectively

Genetic variability and heritability of some selected of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) lines

The success of most crop improvement programs largely depends upon the genetic variability and the heritability of desirable traits. The magnitude and type of genetic variability help the breeder to determine the selection criteria and breeding schemes to be used for improvement purposes. Two different but related experiments, one in 2011 rainy season (August to November) and the second in 2012 dry season (February to May) were carried out at ICRISAT-Kano, Nigeria screen house to estimate the genetic variability and heritability of some traits in selected cowpea lines. Results of the study showed that there were considerable variations among the lines for duration of vegetative and reproductive phase and for yield characters (seed/pod, number of pod/plant, weight of pod/plant, and 100 seed weight). Broad sense heritability estimate (h2) was 83% for 100 seed weight, 53% for Number of seed per pod, 48% for days to first flower and 46% for number of root nodules. This information showed that there is sufficient genetic variability to justify selection for improvement in the cowpea. This result will be of immense practical uses for plant breeders to choose parent of interest to meet different breeding objectives

Response of Groundnut to Plant Density and Phosphorous Application in the Sudan Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Despite the recent release of several improved varieties of groundnut in Nigeria the productivities have not increase significantly due to lack of commensurate recommendation in agronomic practices. Two groundnut varieties were evaluated for their response to different plant density and phosphorus application in two locations in the Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria in 2012 and 2013. The groundnut were planted at density of 44444, 66667, and 133333 hills ha-1 with average of two plants per hill. Phosphorus was applied at rate of 0 or 20 kg P ha-1. P fertilizer application increased pod and haulm yields by 26% and 16% respectively in Minjibir. It increased pod and haulm yields by 62% and 27% respectively in Wudil. Pod and haulm yields, harvest index, revenue, profit and cost benefit ratio increased with increasing plant density. Samnut-24 produced pod yields that were significantly higher than Samnut-22 across treatments. Pod yields at density of 133,333 hills ha-1 was 31% higher than at 66667 and 40% than at 44,444 hills ha-1. Application of fertilizer increased profit by 22% and 49% in Minjibir and Wudil respectively. Planting at density of 133,333 hill ha-1 increased profit by 19% and 27% over 66,667 and 444444 hill ha-1 respectively in Minjibir, while it increase profit by 9% in Wudil. Cultivation of Samnut-24 at high density with phosphorus application will make groundnut production a more profitable venture in Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria

Productivity, Water- and Nitrogen-Use Efficiency, and Profitability of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) under Different Nitrogen Applications in Semiarid Region of Nigeria

An experiment was conducted to examine the performance of pearl millet under different nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates in two locations in the semiarid zone of Nigeria. *e objective was to evaluate the effects of different N rates on pearl millet yields, water and nitrogen-use efficiency, and profitability. Grain yield increased by 23, 26, 32, 32, and 27% and by 38, 41, 54, 58, and 56% compared to unfertilized plots when applying 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and Gambawa, respectively. Similarly, stalk yield increased by 4, 3, 9, 9, and 9% and by 16, 24, 36, 40, and 37% compared to unfertilized plot when applying 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and Gambawa, respectively. *e variations in GY that could be explained by TWU and NUE were 28% and 26% in Minjibir and 46% and 41%, respectively, in Gambawa. *ere was a strong and positive correlation (R = 0.81 and R = 0.95) between WUE and GY across N-fertilizer rates and pearl millet varieties in both locations. An increase in N-fertilizer levels increased WUE, confirming the optimal application of 60 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and of 80 kg Nha−1 in Gambawa. Similarly, the highest net economic return (NER) of US$610 ha−1 was obtained at 60 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and the highest NER of US$223 ha−1 was obtained at an application rate of 80 kg Nha−1 in Gambawa. Break-even yield was above 1000 kg ha−1, signifying that average farmer with a mean yield of less than 1000 kg ha−1 produces millet at a loss

A Practical Guide to Rodent Islet Isolation and Assessment

Pancreatic islets of Langerhans secrete hormones that are vital to the regulation of blood glucose and are, therefore, a key focus of diabetes research. Purifying viable and functional islets from the pancreas for study is an intricate process. This review highlights the key elements involved with mouse and rat islet isolation, including choices of collagenase, the collagenase digestion process, purification of islets using a density gradient, and islet culture conditions. In addition, this paper reviews commonly used techniques for assessing islet viability and function, including visual assessment, fluorescent markers of cell death, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and intracellular calcium measurements. A detailed protocol is also included that describes a common method for rodent islet isolation that our laboratory uses to obtain viable and functional mouse islets for in vitro study of islet function, beta-cell physiology, and in vivo rodent islet transplantation. The purpose of this review is to serve as a resource and foundation for successfully procuring and purifying high-quality islets for research purposes

Postnatal Development of Numbers and Mean Sizes of Pancreatic Islets and Beta-Cells in Healthy Mice and GIPRdn Transgenic Diabetic Mice

The aim of this study was to examine postnatal islet and beta-cell expansion in healthy female control mice and its disturbances in diabetic GIPRdn transgenic mice, which exhibit an early reduction of beta-cell mass. Pancreata of female control and GIPRdn transgenic mice, aged 10, 45, 90 and 180 days were examined, using state-of-the-art quantitative-stereological methods. Total islet and beta-cell volumes, as well as their absolute numbers increased significantly until 90 days in control mice, and remained stable thereafter. The mean islet volumes of controls also increased slightly but significantly between 10 and 45 days of age, and then remained stable until 180 days. The total volume of isolated beta-cells, an indicator of islet neogenesis, and the number of proliferating (BrdU-positive) islet cells were highest in 10-day-old controls and declined significantly between 10 and 45 days. In GIPRdn transgenic mice, the numbers of islets and beta-cells were significantly reduced from 10 days of age onwards vs. controls, and no postnatal expansion of total islet and beta-cell volumes occurred due to a reduction in islet neogenesis whereas early islet-cell proliferation and apoptosis were unchanged as compared to control mice. Insulin secretion in response to pharmacological doses of GIP was preserved in GIPRdn transgenic mice, and serum insulin to pancreatic insulin content in response to GLP-1 and arginine was significantly higher in GIPRdn transgenic mice vs. controls. We could show that the increase in islet number is mainly responsible for expansion of islet and beta-cell mass in healthy control mice. GIPRdn transgenic mice show a disturbed expansion of the endocrine pancreas, due to perturbed islet neogenesis

Reversal of Obesity and Insulin Resistance by a Non-Peptidic Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is recognized as an important regulator of glucose homeostasis. Efforts to utilize GLP-1 mimetics in the treatment of diabetes have yielded clinical benefits. A major hurdle for an effective oral therapy has been the difficulty of finding a non-peptidic GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist. While its oral bioavailability still poses significant challenges, Boc5, one of the first such compounds, has demonstrated the attainment of GLP-1R agonism in diabetic mice. The present work was to investigate whether subchronic Boc5 treatment can restore glycemic control and induce sustainable weight loss in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, an animal model of human obesity and insulin resistance. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: DIO mice were treated three times a week with Boc5 (0.3, 1 and 3 mg) for 12 weeks. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), food intake, fasting glucose, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and insulin induced glucose clearance were monitored regularly throughout the treatment. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, β-cell mass, islet size, body composition, serum metabolic profiles, lipogenesis, lipolysis, adipose hypertrophy and lipid deposition in the liver and muscle were also measured after 12 weeks of dosing. Boc5 dose-dependently reduced body weight, BMI and food intake in DIO mice. These changes were associated with significant decreases in fat mass, adipocyte hypertrophy and peripheral tissue lipid accumulation. Boc5 treatment also restored glycemic control through marked improvement of insulin sensitivity and normalization of β-cell mass. Administration of Boc5 (3 mg) reduced basal but enhanced insulin-mediated glucose incorporation and noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis in isolated adipocytes from obese mice. Furthermore, circulating leptin, adiponectin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acid and high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein ratio were normalized to various extents by Boc5 treatment. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Boc5 may produce metabolic benefits via multiple synergistic mechanisms and may represent an attractive tool for therapeutic intervention of obesity and diabetes, by means of non-peptidic GLP-1R agonism

Assessment of metals pollution in some herbs from Kano metropolis

No AbstractKeywords: Herbs, metals, Kano, Nigeri