Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Effluents from Garri Processing Industries in Bida, Niger State, Nigeria

Effluent and soil samples were collected from five different garri processing industries in Bida and analysed for conductivity, pH, temperature, alkalinity, total hardness, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total solids, nitrate, sulphate, chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, cyanide ion, chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand using standard methods. Soil samples were obtained five metres away from each discharge point. Results obtained from Efumadami discharge point showed that pH, BOD5, COD, conductivity, total solids, suspended solid had the highest values of 4.0, 618ppm, 400ppm, 61μs/cm, 700ppm and 315ppm respectively while those from Efumayaki has the lowest values of 4.3, 513ppm 120ppm, 50μs/cm, 420ppm and 183ppm respectively. Most of the ions tested for in the soil samples increased as the depth of collection increased. The soil and effluent samples were observed to be grossly polluted with cyanide ion. The effluent samples contained 0.29-0.5ppm cyanide ion while those of soil samples is 0.3-0.62ppm all in contrast to World Health Organization maximum admissible limit of 0.07ppm. A twoway ANOVA showed that as the depth of collection of soil samples increased, cyanide concentration also increased.Keywords: Effluent, Garri, Industries, WHO, ANOV

Developmental Local Government as a Model for Grassroots Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria

In the past five decades of political independence in Nigeria, local government administration has moved from the colonial styled Local administration characterized by peculiar systems to the federating units to the present unified and standardized system that constitutionally recognizes local government as the third tier of government. As the third tier of government, local governments are entitled to a statutory allocation of national revenue and the carrying out of specific functions in response to local needs. The objective of the problem statement of this article is to show that the present system whereby, the Constitution gives the State governments the power to handle issues of organization and responsibility in the local governments places a strong limitation on local autonomy and governance at the local level. The abuse of these provisions in the Constitution by the State governments coupled with other issues such as low level of commitment to the people and lack of monitoring and evaluation are negatively affecting grassroots socio-economic development in the Country. Local economic growth and development is an imperative for overall socio-economic development of the Country (the local population presently faces high incidence of poverty, unemployment, lack of social infrastructure and low economic activities). It is in this context that the article prescribes a developmental local government model which has local economic development (LED) as ‘the mandate’ to address the concerns of poverty, unemployment and inadequate resources in the rural areas. The LED approach enables local governments to stimulate economic activities and improve the socioeconomic conditions of people in the localities by working in partnership with private and other non-governmental sectors

Prevalence of obesity and ethno-geographic variation in body sizes of Nigerians with type 2 diabetes mellitus - a multi-centre study

BACKGROUND: Excess weight gain is common in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) but little is known about its ethno-geographic variation among the Nigerian populace. We aimed to report the prevalence and regional variation of overweight/obesity among subjects with type 2 DM in all the six geo-political regions of Nigeria.METHOD: Basic demographic and anthropometric data were consecutively collected from patients with type 2 DM attending out-patient clinics of seven designated teaching hospitals in the six geographic regions of the country using a pre-agreed method of measurement of anthropometry including waist circumference. The study was hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional in design. Body Mass Index (BMI) was categorised using the WHO criteria. Based on recommendations of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) cut-off values for waist circumference, values >94 cm and > 80 cm were taken as abnormal for men and women respectively.RESULTS: A total of 709 subjects with DM comprising 378 (53.3%) females and 331 (46.7%) males (female: male ratio 1:1.14) with an overall mean age (SD) of 51.9 (13.9) years were evaluated. The prevalence of excess body weight among Nigerian subjects with type 2 DM was: peripheral (417 or 58.8%) and abdominal obesity (449 or 63.3%). Also, there was a significant wide variation in excess weight gain (both peripheral and central) across ethno-geographic regions (p=0.001) and between both sexes (p=0.001). In both peripheral and abdominal obesities, whether intra or inter centres, the female subjects with type 2 DM demonstrated relatively higher proportions of anthropometric measures. Generally, subjects from south-south and south-east Nigeria had higher BMI and abdominal obesity compared to those from south-west who had the lowest. The female subjects with type 2 DM were heavier peripherally and centrally compared to their male counterparts.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of peripheral and central obesity among Nigerians living with type 2 DM (especially the female subjects) is unacceptably high. Additionally, there is a wide variation in the proportion and absolute values of both peripheral and central obesity across different parts of Nigeria.KEY WORDS: Obesity, Prevalence, Ethno-Geographic Variation, Nigerians, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitu

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Preparation and characterization of active carbon using palm kernel shells for industrial effluent purification

Activated carbons were prepared from Palm kernel shells. Carbonization temperature was 6000C, at a residence time of 5 min for each process. Chemical activation was done by heating a mixture of carbonized material and the activating agents at a temperature of 700C to form a paste, followed by subsequent cooling and using the active carbon to purify effluents from a Bottling Company. NaCl, KOH, H2SO4 and H3PO4 were used as the activating agents at 1M and 2M and 710 μm particle size. The activated carbon samples produced were found to posses properties within the limits of commercial activated carbons. Bottlimg company effluent was purified and the results showed that carbonized materials activated with 2M H2SO4 had the best adsorption characteristics. These properties include 1.12% moisture content, 2.50 % ash content, 57.00 % yield of activated carbon, 93.65 % fixed carbon, 2.73 % volatile content, 0.97 g/cm3 bulk density and 0.69 cm3 pore volume.Keywords: Active carbon, Palm kernel shell, Effluent, PurificationNigerian Journal of Technological Researc

Prescription pattern of anxiolytic drugs in burn patients: a case study of national orthopaedic hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

Anxiolytic drugs are essential in the management of cases where anxiety and insomnia are likely to be found. This study was therefore carried out to determine the prescription pattern of these drugs on burn patients and to ascertain their relevance in burn therapy. The study was carried out retrospectively by evaluating anxiolytics prescribed for burn patients at National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, Nigeria, from 2000 to 2004 using WHO Prescription Indicator Manual. It was found that in the two burn clinics for in – and out- patients, diazepam was the highest prescribed anxiolytic (60.93%), followed by bromazepam (33.63%); lorazepam, flunitrazepam and nitrazepam were rarely prescribed. Using Fdistribution statistical tool (in comparison of anxiolytics prescribed with antibiotics, haematinics, and NSAIDs), it was found that anxiolytics were relevant in the management of burn patients. The frequencies of anxiolytics prescribed for burn in-patients within the 5 year period were 9.13% (2000), 11.18% (2001), 8.91% (2002), 10.63% (2003) and 7.18% (2004). About 58.32±11.43% of all anxiolytics prescribed were injectables while 34.98±9.68% were generics. All the anxiolytics prescribed were Essential Drug List compliant.Keywords: anxiolytics, prescription pattern, burns, Orthopaedic hospita

Evaluation of the Suspending Property of Grewia Gum in Metronidazole Suspension

The suspending property of grewia gum in metronidazole suspension was evaluated. The gum was extracted by maceration, filtration, precipitation and drying techniques. It was used at 0.3 to 1% w/v as a suspending agent for metronidazole. Sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and tragacanth were used as basis for comparison. The suspending properties evaluated included the sedimentation rate, sedimentation volume, ease of redispersibility, apparent viscosity and degree of flocculation. The effect of electrolyte, pH, temperature and ageing on the viscosity of the suspension was also investigated. Results obtained after 8 weeks of storage showed that the optimum suspending concentration for grewia gum in the drug was 1% w/v. The sedimentation rate, sedimentation volume and the viscosity of the suspension containing grewia gum were superior to those made with SCMC. No significant (P >0.05) difference in these properties was observed when compared with suspension containing tragacanth. The suspension containing grewia gum was moderately redispersed. The degree of flocculation increased in the order SCMCKeywords: Grewia gum; metronidazole; suspension, evaluationNigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 8 No 1 pp. 247 - 254 (September 2010

Evaluation of the suspening property of Grewia gum in zinc oxide suspension

The suspending property of grewia gum in zinc oxide suspension was evaluated. The gum was  extracted by maceration, filtration, precipitation and drying techniques. It was used at 0.3 to 1% w/v as a suspending agent for zinc oxide. Sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and tragacanth were used as basis for comparison. The suspending properties evaluated included the sedimentation rate, sedimentation volume, ease of redispersibility, apparent viscosity and degree of flocculation. Results  obtained after 8 weeks of storage showed that the optimum suspending concentration for grewia gum  in the drug was 1% w/v. The sedimentation rate, sedimentation volume and the viscosity of the suspension containing grewia gum were superior to those made with tragacanth. No significant (P >0.05) difference in these properties was observed when compared with suspension containing SCMC during the period investigated. The suspension containing grewia gum was moderately redispersed. The degree of flocculation increased in the order SCM

Socio-demographic correlates of sexual behaviours: A cross sectional survey of adolescents in Imo state secondary schools

The study was designed to determine the socio- demographic correlates of sexual behaviours of the adolescents in Imo State secondary schools. Three objectives and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A cross sectional survey design was used and sample size was 3360 (2.2%) adolescents. A structured, validated and reliable questionnaire (r = 0.79) and focus group discussion were used as the instruments for data collection. Data analysis was done using mean and ANOVA statistics. The result generally, showed that the average sexual behaviours of the adolescents were below the decision mean of 2.50 and as such the  adolescents were said to be sexually inactive. In Imo State secondary schools, various family sizes did not significantly influence the sexual behaviours of the adolescents (F- cal. 2.39, F-tab. 3.00 & P>0.05), family structure significantly influenced their sexual behaviours (F- cal. 17.78, F-tab. 3.00 & P<0.05) and different financial strengths influenced the adolescents sexual behaviours significantly (F- cal. 22.88, F-tab. 2.37 & P<0.05. Of great worry is that unrestricted/uncontrolled adolescents sexualbehaviours may expose them to sexually transmitted infections/HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, illegal abortion and dropping out of school. Thus comprehensive sex education was recommended.Keywords: Socio-Demographic, Correlates, Sexual, Behaviours,  Adolescent