Effects of hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide on creatinine clearance in some hypertensive Nigerians

Hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide have been reported to alter the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and possibly the creatinine excretion by the kidneys. Also, therapy with these diuretics, especially in theelderly, can be complicated by volume depletion resulting in prerenal azotemia. Creatinine clearance (Clcr) is considered to be the most accurate test of renal function. Unfortunately, although thesediuretics are widely used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure in the young and elderly Nigerians, their effects on renal function have been poorly investigated. We, therefore, evaluated theeffects of treatment with 21-day single daily oral doses of 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide or 40 mg furosemide on Clcr in this prospective randomized study of forty Nigerians with mild to moderateuncomplicated essential hypertension (20 males and 20 females) 32 to 80 years of age and 40 age and sex-matched healthy normotensive controls while on their usual diet. Blood and 24 h urine specimenswere collected at baseline and on days 7, 14 and 21. Specimens were assayed for creatinine and the corresponding Clcr for each day was calculated. Analysis of variance did not show a statisticallysignificant effect of the diuretic regimens on Clcr over the period. This study demonstrates that single daily doses of either of these diuretics do not have a significant effect on Clcr over a short-termmonotherapy

Electrolyte profiles in Nigerian patients with essential hypertension

Information is inadequate on the serum and urine electrolyte profiles in Nigerians with mild to moderate essential hypertension. We, therefore, measured the levels of Na+, K+ and Cl- in 40 adult Nigerians withuntreated uncomplicated mild to moderate hypertension and compared these values with those obtained from age and sex-matched normotensives. Electrolytes were measured using ion-selectiveelectrolyte analyzer. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 127.20 ± 4.20 mmHg in the hypertensives as compared to 92.27 ± 6.25 mmHg in the normotensives. Both groups of subjects had comparable weightand body mass indices. Results show that in the hypertensives serum, levels of Na+ (152.8 ± 2.14 mmol l-1) and Cl- (115.4 ± 2.62 mmol l-1) were significantly higher than in the normotensives (Na+: 136.0 ± 3.23; Cl-: 102.2 ± 2.52 mmol l-1). Serum K+ levels were significantly lower in the hypertensives than in the normotensives (4.01 ± 0.08 vs 4.82 ± 0.03 mmol l-1). The hypertensives excreted more Na+ (300.9 ± 41.30 mmol l-1) and Cl- (278.6 ± 4.39 mmol l-1) than the normotensives (Na+: 147.10 ± 1.10, Cl-: 126.40 ± 1.51mmol l-1). Urinary K+ level in the hypertensives was significantly higher than in the normotensives (73.70± 0.73 vs 55.60 ± 0.63 mmol l-1). We conclude that mild to moderately hypertensive Nigerians showsignificant differences in their levels of serum and urinary Na+, K+ and Cl- from their normotensive counterparts. The relatively higher serum Na+ and Cl- concentrations and the corresponding lowerserum K+ may indicate their roles in the pathogenesis of hypertension in these patients

Global Strategies for Stable Climate: An Assessment Approach

Climate change described by climatologists and environmental economists as a trans-boundary problem is a great challengeconfronting human existence. To this end, achieving a stable climate requires some kind of international environmentalagreement that takes into account each country’s emission (i.e., cooperation). Given such an agreement, is it necessary tosupplement with some kind of policy coordination? The present paper tried to investigate why cooperation could be supportedwith coordination, even though it is possible to achieve the best outcome (i.e., emission target) when countries have aninternational environmental agreement with emission charges focus on each country’s emissions (i.e. cooperation alone). In thiscontext, the paper also outlines possible elements that could facilitate cooperation among countries in order to establish aneffective coalition, considering previous global treaty (e.g. Montreal Protocol; Kyoto Protocol).Keywords: Cooperation, coordination, stable climate, public goods and environmental agreement

The Management of Climate Change Impacts on Groundwater and dependent Ecosystems: A Regional Assessment Approach

Climate change impact on the global hydrological cycle is increasingly becoming profound in human societies. In particular, changes in regional groundwater quantity and quality are now a major concern to human societies and livelihoods in the coastal regions where about 70% of the world population resides, and in the arid and semi-arid regions where freshwater is already a crucial resource for survival (BGR, 2008; Voudouris et al., 2010 and Abd-Elhamid, 2010). Moreover, recent empirical and assessment evidence revealed that changes in groundwater conditions due to climate changes and human activities (e.g., unsustainable extraction of groundwater, irrigation, waste and pollutants disposal, urbanization and land use changes) would undermine the usefulness of groundwater for domestic, industry, and agricultural purposes. Hence, this paper attempts to improve the understanding of groundwater systems and likely changes due to natural and anthropogenic pressures, as well as provide a systemic approach to sustainable and proactive management of regional groundwater resources. This paper proposes a spatially resolved Relative Risk Assessment (RRA) approach to enhancing the understanding of groundwater resources and their dynamics due to regional climate changes. The paper describes RRA functionalities and procedures for systemic analysis of climate change impacts- vulnerability and risks on groundwater and dependent ecosystems according to an ecosystem perspective. This allows to consider relevant socio-economic and hydrogeological vulnerability, impacts and risks indicators with the aim to estimate effectively impacts on groundwater systems. Thus, provides valid support for national and regional water authorities in examining the possible consequences of changes in key environmental parameters, as well as aids relevant management practices, such as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) etc. Keywords: Groundwater Systems, Relative Risk Assessment, Climate Change

On the Application of GIS-based Decision Support Systems to study climate change impacts on coastal systems and associated ecosystems

One of the most remarkable achievements by scientists in the field of global change in recent years is the improvedunderstanding of climate change issues. Its effects on human environments, particularly coastal zones and associated watersystems, are now a huge challenge to environmental resource managers and decision makers. International and regionalregulatory frameworks have been established to guide the implementation of interdisciplinary methodologies, useful toanalyse water-related systems issues and support the definition of management strategies against the effects of climatechange. As a response to these concerns, several decision support systems (DSS) have been developed and applied toaddress climate change through geographical information systems (GIS) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)techniques; linking the DSS objectives with specific functionalities leading to key outcomes, and aspects of the decisionmaking process involving coastal and waters resources. An analysis of existing DSS focusing on climate change impacts oncoastal and related ecosystems was conducted by surveying the open literature. Consequently, twenty DSS were identifiedand are comparatively discussed according to their specific objectives and functionalities, including a set of criteria (generaltechnical, specific technical and applicability) in order to better inform potential users and concerned stakeholders throughthe evaluation of a DSS’ actual application.Key words: Climate change, Decision support, GIS, regulations, Environmen

Chapter Inventory of GIS-Based Decision Support Systems Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Waters and Related Inland Watersheds

Cosmology & the univers

Inventory of GIS-Based Decision Support Systems Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Waters and Related Inland Watersheds

A Decision Support System (DSS) is a computer-based software that can assist decision makers in their decision process, supporting rather than replacing their judgment and, at length, improving effectiveness over efficiency. Environmental DSS are models based tools that cope with environmental issues and support decision makers in the sustainable management of natural resources and in the definition of possible adaptation and mitigation measures [2]. DSS have been developed and used to address complex decision-based problems in varying fields of research. For instance, in environmental resource management, DSS are generally classified into two main categories: Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) and Environmental Decision Supports Systems (EDSS) [3-5]. SDSS provide the necessary platform for decision makers to analyse geographical information in a flexible manner, while EDSS integrate the relevant environmental models, database and assessment tools – coupled within a Graphic User Interface (GUI) – for functionality within a Geographical Information System (GIS) [1,4-6]. In some detail, GIS is a set of computer tools that can capture, manipulate, process and display spatial or geo-referenced data in which the enhancement of spatial data integration, analysis and visualization can be conducted [8-9]. These functionalities make GIS-tools useful for efficient development and effective implementation of DSS within the management process. For this purpose they are used either as data managers (i.e. as a spatial geo-database tool) or as an end in itself (i.e. media to communicate information to decision makers)

Determinants of Flooding and Strategies for Mitigation: Two-Year Case Study of Benin City

Recent flood disasters in Benin City, Nigeria have claimed a number of lives, damaged property, and threatened the overall livelihood of residents. The economic burden of such events has forced a vast reallocation of monetary resources for clean-up and recovery, as well as forcibly altered and suspended internal trade via devastated transportation routes. Secondary trends include inflation and migration concerns. As a result, the aim has been to prioritize mitigation by examining easily read, rapidly accessible flood hazard maps, as well as assess and identify areas within the city prone to flooding. We used a number of data sources and conducted a questionnaire surveying three of the local government areas of Benin City over a two-year period. Findings indicate excessive unsustainable land use and land cover change and a flat and high water table area with close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean make the city susceptible to flood risk. Heavy rainfall and drainage system blockage are leading causes of flooding which have destroyed property and houses—two major side effects. A number of mitigation and disaster risk reduction measures were, hereafter, recommended to reduce flooding occurrence in Benin City or lessen its effects on inhabitants

Vulnerability and risks related to climatic events in urban coastal environments: Overview of actuality and challenges of methodologies and approaches

International-renowned forecasting of urban development in coastal environments indicates an increased exposure to the risks of climatic events by way of natural hazards. This indication indirectly exacerbates the vulnerability of relating coastal communities. Using this viewpoint, a decade long study between 2000-2010 conceptualises a considerable volume of research in the area of vulnerability to urban environmental change due to disasters in relation to climatic events. In particular, several studies have attempted to present a discourse on the vulnerability of social ecological systems to hazards or risk occurrence within urban coastal environments in order to improve understanding and support for the assessment of impacts and risks related to such change and, by definition, its associating adaptive measures. This overview takes into account disparate opinions, approaches and methodologies applied by different scientific viewpoints and research studies, and highlights salient and vantage aspects. The research is organised in three key methodological sections: (1) urban coastal vulnerability and risk assessment; (2) vulnerability assessment of urban coastal ecosystems; and (3) ecosystem-based approaches for urban coastal risk assessment. Vulnerability and risk assessment are anchored via exposure, susceptibility and resilience, and are must-do activities when addressing a system

Vulnerability and risks related to climatic events in urban coastal environments: Overview of actuality and challenges of methodologies and approaches

International-renowned forecasting of urban development in coastal environments indicates an increased exposure to the risks of climatic events by way of natural hazards. This indication indirectly exacerbates the vulnerability of relating coastal communities. Using this viewpoint, a decade long study between 2000-2010 conceptualises a considerable volume of research in the area of vulnerability to urban environmental change due to disasters in relation to climatic events. In particular, several studies have attempted to present a discourse on the vulnerability of social ecological systems to hazards or risk occurrence within urban coastal environments in order to improve understanding and support for the assessment of impacts and risks related to such change and, by definition, its associating adaptive measures. This overview takes into account disparate opinions, approaches and methodologies applied by different scientific viewpoints and research studies, and highlights salient and vantage aspects. The research is organised in three key methodological sections: (1) urban coastal vulnerability and risk assessment; (2) vulnerability assessment of urban coastal ecosystems; and (3) ecosystem-based approaches for urban coastal risk assessment. Vulnerability and risk assessment are anchored via exposure, susceptibility and resilience, and are must-do activities when addressing a system