Achievement of developmental milestones in children with idiopathic clubfoot treated with Ponseti method in Lagos Nigeria

Clubfoot, also known as congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), is a congenital deformity involving one foot or both. It is a relatively common birth defect occurring in about one in every 1,000 live births. No study has been carried out to determine if there is delay in gross motor milestones in children with idiopathic clubfoot treated with Ponseti method in this part of the world. This study was conducted to investigate this.In this prospective study, 48 children with idiopathic clubfoot who were compliant with the foot abduction brace were enrolled. Parents were interviewed repeatedly to obtain the ages of achievement of 8 motor milestones and the data was stored and analysed using SPSS version 17.Forty-eight children with mean age of 1.2 months as at first casting and a male: female ratio of 3.8:1 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Of the eight milestones studied, the mean age of achievement of one of them was significantly greater (P<0.05) compared with normative data. Pre-ambulatory and crawling milestones showed no significant difference, but independent ambulation was achieved up to 2 months later.Although there were significant delays in upright ambulation in children with idiopathic clubfoot treated with Ponseti method, they all walked.These findings should enable clinicians alleviate the concerns and fears of the parents of children with idiopathic clubfoot and assure them of a positive prognosis regarding developmental milestone achievement in spite of delays.Keywords: Congenital talipes equinovarus, idiopathic clubfoot, Ponseti method, developmental milestone

Assessment of feeds and feeding techniques adoption in Ijebu Ode zone of Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme, Nigeria

The study was conducted to assess the feeds and feeding techniques adopted in fish farming in the six extension blocks of Ijebu-Ode zone of the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme, South Western Nigeria. The areas covered are Ala, Ago-Iwoye, Isonyin, Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu-Ife and Ibi-Ade. Primary data were obtained from ninety fish farmers with well structed interview guides while combination of purposive and convenience sampling procedure was used in selecting the fish farmers. The result obtained showed that majority (34%) of the respondent fell within the economic active age distribution of 40-49 years, male (87%) married (90%:Christian 73.3%), tertiary education (47.7%), farming experience (54.4%), membership of cooperative society (63.3%),household size of above five (55.6%), annual income of above N51,000 (94.4%) and 34.4% of the respondents sourced their finance from personal saving. Most of the fish farmers adopted use of concrete tanks, intensive and semi-intensive culture system, culture Clarias and Heterobranchus species, produced about two tons per culture circle of six months. Majority (61.1%) of the respondents combine use of supplementary feed because of readily available desired feed.Recommendations are availability of credit and subsidies facilities, accessibility feed supplies, farmers’ cooperative, enabling government policies and farmers training and extension service provision

Paediatric otorhinolaryngology, head and neck emergencies at a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Nigeria

Background: Paediatric otorhinolaryngology emergency is a common disorder worldwide which is poorly reported in most developing countries like Nigeria. Methods: This study was aprospective hospital-based study of paediatric patients with otorhinolaryngology, head and neck emergency in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department carried out between June 2016 and May 2018. Data were obtained by using a pretested interviewers assisted questionnaire. All data were analysed using SPSS version 18.0. Results: Paediatric otorhinolaryngological emergencies accounted for 7.6% of all patients seen in the unit. There were more males (69.5%). Common aetiologies were foreign body impaction (43.3%), infection/inflammation(32.6%) and tumour(1.3%). Anatomically the emergencies involved the ear in 42.1%, 30.9% nasal and 23.2% throat respectively. The most common clinical features were foreign body impaction in 35.2%, pain in 31.3%, bleeding in 19.7%, difficulty breathing in 17.6% and nasal blockage in 15.9%. Common sources of referral were paediatricians in  32.6%,casualty officers in 28.8%, a family physician in 22.3% and self -reporting in 15.0%. Complications at presentation include: 27.0%  injury/bleeding, 18.0% otitis externa, 11.2% rhinosinusitis and 10.3% perforated tympanic membrane. Conclusion: Pediatric otorhinolaryngology emergencies are common in our centre and were associated with complications at presentation due to wrong interventions. Keywords: Paediatric, Head, Neck Otorhinolaryngology, Emergency, Nigeri

Morphological and morphometric studies of the aorta, pulmonary trunk, and heart of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Micro-anatomical changes in the aorta, pulmonary trunk, and left ventricle of Wistar rats were studied after the administration of streptozotocin. Twenty adult Rattus norvegicus were randomly assigned into two groups (control and diabetic) of ten rats each. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced in the diabetic group of rats by daily intra-peritoneal administration of multiple doses of 40 mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer for five consecutive days. The control group was given the equivalent volume of citrate buffer. The animals were monitored for four weeks after streptozotocin administration. Post sacrifice, the left ventricle, aorta, and pulmonary trunk were excised, weighed, and fixed by immersion in 10% formol saline. The tissues were processed for paraffin embedding, and sections of 6 &#956;m thickness were produced and stained with H & E for general histological observations, and Verhoeff-van Gieson elastic fibre stain to demonstrate elastic fibres in these cardiovascular structures. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Histopathological and morphometric examinations of the stained sections showed a significant increase in the thickness of the tunica intima of aorta (t = &#8211;7.49; df = 9; p < 0.05) and pulmonary trunk (t = &#8211;10.81; df = 9; p < 0.05) in diabetic rats (14.59 &#177; 1.189 mm and 11.307 &#177; 0.863 mm, respectively) when compared to that of the control group (3.62 &#177; 0.353 mm and 3.22 &#177; 0.244 mm, respectively). In addition, the distribution of elastic and collagen fibres was sparse in the hearts of the diabetic group when compared to that of the control group. The findings of this study demonstrated that diabetes mellitus might cause some alterations in the microanatomy of cardiovascular structures

Histomorphormetric studies on lactational lead intoxication in testes of Sprague Dawley rats

Childhood lead poisoning has been established to cause a lot of health challenges, of which reproductive health perturbation is not least. This research work was designed to investigate the impact of lactational lead exposure on the developing testes in Sprague-Dawley rat pups. 12 female rats were used in the experiment and 23 offspring for the analysis of lactational lead intoxication. The offspring were divided into four groups. Groups B, C and D were administered 10 mg/dL, 30 mg/dL and 70 mg/dL of lead acetate respectively, via drinking water for 21 days while group A was control. The animal was firstly sedated using a chloroform-damped cotton wool in a vacuum (air-tight chamber). The sedated animal was weighed on a weighing balance and figure recorded. The animal was then perfused to clear blood from the organs before the organs were harvested, the testes of the pups exposed via lactation were observed via histological methods. Statistical analysis showed the total body weight and left testicular weight appeared to be significantly (p &lt;0.05) lower in groups B, C and D when compared to the control group. Right testicular weight, tubular diameter, tubular radius and luminal area were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher in groups B, C and D when compared to the control. Testicular distortion was observed during histological findings. Care must be taken by a lactating mother to avoid being exposed to lead during gestation and lactation.Keywords: Histomorphormetry; Lactation; Testes; Lead-intoxicatio

Histomorphological and morphometric studies of the pancreatic islet cells of diabetic rats treated with extracts of Annona muricata

Microanatomical changes in the pancreatic islet cells of streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats were studied after treatment with methanolic extracts of Annona muricata leaves. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups (control, untreated diabetic group, and A. muricata-treated diabetic group) of ten rats each. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced in groups B and C by a single intra-peritoneal injection of 80 mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer. The control rats were intraperitoneally injected with an equivalent volume of citrate buffer. Daily intra peritoneal injections of 100 mg/kg A. muricata were administered to group C rats for two weeks. Post sacrifice the pancreases of the rats were excised and fixed in Bouin&#8217;s fluid. The tissues were processed for paraffin embedding and sections of 5 &#956;m thickness were produced and stained with H & E, Gomori aldehyde fuchsin, and chrome alum haematoxylin-phloxine for demonstration of the &#946;-cells of islets of pancreatic islets. Histomorphological and morphometric examination of the stained pancreatic sections showed a significant increase in the number, diameter, and volume of the &#946;-cells of pancreatic islets of the A. muricata-treated group (5.67 &#177; 0.184 N/1000 &#956;m2, 5.38 &#177; 0.093 &#956;m and 85.12 &#177; 4.24 &#956;m3, respectively) when compared to that of the untreated diabetic group of rats (2.85 &#177; 0.361 N/1000 &#956;m2, 2.85 &#177; 0.362 &#956;m and 69.56 &#177; 5.216 &#956;m3, respectively). The results revealed regeneration of the &#946;-cells of islets of pancreatic islet of rats treated with extract of A. muricata. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 2: 92-100

From cassava to gari: Mapping of quality characteristics and end-user preferences in Cameroon and Nigeria

User's preferences of cassava and cassava products along the value chain are supported by specific root quality characteristics that can be linked to root traits. Therefore, providing an evidence base of user preferred characteristics along the value chain, can help in the functional choice of cassava varieties. In this respect, the present paper presents the results from focus group discussions and individual interviews on user preferred quality characteristics of raw cassava roots and the derived product, gari, ‐ one of the major cassava products in Sub Saharan Africa ‐ in major production and consumption areas of Cameroon and Nigeria. Choice of cassava varieties for farming is mainly determined by the multiple end‐uses of the roots, their agricultural yield and the processing determinants of roots that support their major high‐quality characteristics: size, density, low water content, maturity, colour and safety. Processing of cassava roots into gari goes through different technological variants leading to a gari whose high‐quality characteristics are: dryness, colour, shiny/attractive appearance, uniform granules and taste. Eba, the major consumption form of gari in Cameroon and Nigeria is mainly characterized by its textural properties: smoothness, firmness, stickiness, elasticity, mouldability. Recommendations are made, suggesting that breeding will have to start evaluating cassava clones for brightness/shininess, as well as textural properties such as mouldability and elasticity of cassava food products, for the purpose of supporting decision‐making by breeders and the development of high‐throughput selection methods of cassava varieties. Women are identified as important beneficiaries of such initiatives giving their disadvantaged position and their prominent role in cassava processing and marketing of gari

Fertilizer values of composts as affected by plant materials and composting duration on maize (Zea mays) performance

Chemical properties and nutrient release pattern from compost are influenced by composted plant materials (CPM) and duration of composting (DC). The following plant materials; guinea grass (GGC), tridax weed (TWC), siam weed (SWC) and maize stover (MSC) were composted with cow dung. Pot and field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of these CPM on growth yield performance of maize, and the properties of soil after harvest. The pot trial was a 4 × 5 factorial experiment laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates while the field experiment was a 4 × 3 factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated three times. Data collected on initial and soil properties after harvest, growth, dry matter yield (DMY), nutrient uptake and yield of maize were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. Results showed that MSC compost had the highest N content while GGC had the highest K. Phosphorus (P) content was similar for all the CPMs. Results of pot experiment showed that maize growth was higher (p ≤ 0.05) with GGC, TWC and MSC of 3, 4 and 5 months DC. The DMY and P-uptake increased with increasing DC. On field trial, plants height was similar for all the CPM that received MSC and GGC gave similar highest DMY which were significantly higher than TWC and SWC. MSC gave the highest N-uptake while GGC treated plant had the highest P and K uptake. Grain yield was significantly higher for MSC (1.80 t ha–1) than SWC and Control but similar to GGC (1.37 t ha–1) and TWC (1.18 t ha–1). Compost application at 20 t ha–1 significantly increased cob weight, N and K uptake of maize compared to control. Application of CPM improved final soil available P which increased with DC and rate of application of different CPM. Therefore, CPM and DC have great potentials in influencing compost quality and should be considered in formulating compost fertilizer in organic farming