Methods of Available Potassium Assessment in Selected Soils of Kwara State, Nigeria

Responses to potassium (K) by potted Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) were determined in soils taken from four Local Government Areas in Kwara State and regressed with K extracted with five laboratory methods. Results showed that without K application, dry-matter yields were relatively high and responses to 15 kg, 30 kg and 60 kg K ha-1 were negative and not significant in the soils derived from basement complex and sandstones. When dry matter yields without K application were less than 9.00 g/pot, there were no significant responses to K application and responses were significant only when they were more than 9%. Potassium extracted with N NH4OAc pH 7.0 gave the best indication of dry matter yields when K was not applied, with the equation, Y = 0.005X + 3.1902, r = 0.1622. Significant responses were obtained in soil testing with less than 15 kg K ha-1 with this method. Furthermore, K extracted with hot N HNO3 was almost equal with a higher value in virtually all soils to exchangeable K extracted with N NH4OAc and could be used in place of this extractant as it also accounts for the replenishable form of K in soil.Keywords: A-value, extractants, K status, % K response, Sorghum, uptak

The influence of various chemical oxygen demands on microbial fuel cells performance using leachate as a substrate.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), hailed as a promising technology, hold the potential to combat various wastewater pollutants while simultaneously converting their chemical energy into electricity through biocatalysts. This study explores the applicability of a dual compartment MFC (DC-MFC) under varying conditions, targeting the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from landfill leachate and electricity generation. In this setup, anaerobic sludge from a wastewater treatment plant serves as the inoculum in the anode compartment of the MFC, with a Nafion117 membrane acting as the separator between MFC units. The cathode compartments are filled with distilled water and continually aerated for 24 h to enhance air supply. The study assesses the MFC's performance across different COD concentrations, focusing on COD removal, power generation, and Coulombic efficiency. The findings reveal that COD removal efficiency is notably enhanced at higher concentrations of organic matter. Specifically, at a COD concentration of 3325.0 mg L-1, the MFC exhibited the highest COD removal efficiency (89%) and maximum power density (339.41 mWm-2), accompanied by a Coulombic efficiency of 25.5%. However, as the initial substrate concentration increased to 3825 mg L-1, the efficiency decreased to 72%, with a Coulombic efficiency of 13.56% and a power density of 262.34 mWm-2. Optical density levels increased due to bacterial growth at ambient temperature and neutral pH, reflecting the dynamic microbial response within the system

Safety and Tolerability Profile of Artemisinin-Based Antimalarial Combination Therapy in Adult Patients in Benin City, Nigeria

The WHO in 2001 advocated artemisinin- based antimalarial combination therapy (ACT), which was adopted by Nigeria in 2005. The objective of this study was to characterize the safety and tolerability profile of the ACTs in adult patients with uncomplicated malaria. A descriptive longitudinal study was conducted in the General Practice Clinic–of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and the Central Hospital, Benin City, South-South Nigeria, between October 2009 and March 2010. Adult patients (e”18years) with a diagnosis of uncomplicated malaria and treated with ACTs were recruited for the study. The safety and tolerability profile of ACTs amongst the treated patients were assessed after 9 days of follow up via telephone calls. Adverse Events were classified using the WHO causalityassessment. Five hundred patients were enrolled for this study – Artemether/Lumefantrine (AL) (179), Artesunate/Mefloquine (AM) (149), Artesunate/Amodiauine (AA) (134) Artesunate/Sulphadoxine/Pyrimethamine (ASP) (22), Dihydroartemisinin/ Piperaquine (DP) (16). The mean age of the respondents was 32.6years (range 18-68yrs). One hundred and eighty-eight (37.6%) of the total number of patients followed up reported at least one Adverse Events: 61% in the AA, 60% in the AM, 58% in the AL, 31% in DP, 4 of 19 (21.1%) in ASP. AA treatment was associated with a significant higher risk of gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness and pruritus than AL and AM (p<0.05). Those treated with AM had a higher incidence of generalized weakness. Ten of the respondents discontinued therapy due to Adverse events experienced: AM (4), AA (4), AL (1), DP (1). Severe AEs were observed in two of these pateints that were given AA and AM respectively. The safety and tolerability of artemetherlumefantrine (AL) and dihydroartemisinin piperaquine (DP) was confirmed in this study. The other recommended ACTs (artesunate-amodiaquine (AA) and artesunate mefloquine (AM) although safe, were less well tolerated and this may affect patients’ adherence with its attendant consequences.Keywords: Artemisinin-based Combination therapy, Adverse Events, Malari

Capacity-Building for Stroke Genomic Research Data Collection: The African Neurobiobank Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications Project Experience

\ua9 2023 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. Background: The fields of stroke genomics, biobanking, and precision medicine are rapidly expanding in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of emerging neurobiobanking and genomic data resources are unclear in an emerging African scientific landscape with unique cultural, linguistic, and belief systems. Objective: This article documents capacity-building experiences of researchers during the development, pretesting, and validation of data collection instruments of the African Neurobiobank for Precision Stroke Medicine - (ELSI) Project. Methods: The African Neurobiobank for Precision Stroke Medicine - ELSI project is a transnational, multicenter project implemented across seven sites in Ghana and Nigeria. Guided by the Community-Based Participatory Research framework, we conducted three workshops with key stakeholders to review the study protocol, ensure uniformity in implementation; pretest, harmonize, and integrate context-specific feedback to ensure validity and adaptability of data collection instruments. Workshop impact was assessed using an open-ended questionnaire, which included questions on experience with participation in any of the workshops, building capacity in Genetic and Genomic Research (GGR), level of preparedness toward GGR, the genomic mini-dictionary developed by the team, and its impact in enhancing understanding in GGR. Data were analyzed qualitatively using a thematic framework approach. Results: Findings revealed the usefulness of the workshop in improving participants\u27 knowledge and capacity toward GGR implementation. It further identified local, context-specific concerns regarding quality data collection, the need to develop culturally acceptable, genomic/biobanking data collection tools, and a mini-dictionary. Participants-reported perceptions were that the mini-dictionary enhanced understanding, participation, and data collection in GGR. Overall, participants reported increased preparedness and interest in participating in GGR. Conclusion: Capacity-building is a necessary step toward ELSI-related genomic research implementation in African countries where scholarship of ELSI of genomics research is emerging. Our findings may be useful to the design and implementation of ELSI-GGR projects in other African countries

Factors associated with hypertension among stroke‐free indigenous Africans: Findings from the SIREN study

Abstract Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for stroke and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) globally. Understanding risk factors for hypertension among individuals with matching characteristics with stroke patients may inform primordial/primary prevention of hypertension and stroke among them. This study identified the risk factors for hypertension among community‐dwelling stroke‐free population in Ghana and Nigeria. Data for 4267 community‐dwelling stroke‐free controls subjects in the Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN) study in Nigeria and Ghana were used. Participants were comprehensively assessed for sociodemographic, lifestyle and metabolic factors using standard methods. Hypertension was defined as a previous diagnosis by a health professional or use of an anti‐hypertensive drug or mean systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of hypertension and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) at p < .05. Overall, 56.7% of the participants were hypertensive with a higher proportion among respondents aged ≥60 years (53.0%). Factors including physical inactivity (aOR: 9.09; 95% CI: 4.03 to 20.53, p < .0001), diabetes (aOR: 2.70; CI: 1.91 to 3.82, p < .0001), being ≥60 years (aOR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.78 to 2.77, p < .0001), and family history of CVD (aOR 2.02; CI: 1.59 to 2.56, p < .0001) were associated with increased aOR of hypertension. Lifestyle factors were associated with hypertension in the current population of community‐dwelling stroke‐free controls in west Africa. Community‐oriented interventions to address sedentary lifestyles may benefit this population and reduce/prevent hypertension and stroke among them

Herbal medicine in diabetes mellitus with cardiovascular diseases

[No abstract available