Caesarean section at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital: a cross sectional study

Introduction: Caesarean section remains the most common major operation performed on women worldwide and the rate is increasing.The World Health Organization (WHO) consider caesarean section rate of 5-15% to be optimum.Objective: To determine the rate of caesarean section, major indications, pregnancy out-come and the complications.Subjects and Methods:This is a prospective study of all the cases of caesarean sections performed between 1st of January,2012 and 31th of December,2013 at UDUTH,Sokoto-Nigeria.The data were collated and analyzed using statistical soft package ware for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.Results: A total of 4,115 deliveries were recorded during the study period and 435 of them (10.6%) were through caesarean section (CS). Emergency CS accounted for 65.1% of caesarean deliveries.The mean age was 28±6 years. Previous CS was the commonest indication for caesarean section (25.7%). Elective CS had better fetal outcome (t = 7.440,df =388.523,p < 0.001),while spinal anaesthesia was associated with less blood loss (t = 4.569, df=63.223 and p < 0.001) and better fetal outcome (t = 4.237, df = 57.224, p < 0.001).Anaemia (19.8%) was the commonest complications encountered in the post operative period.Conclusion: The CS rate from this study is within the WHO recommended rate. Previous CS was the commonest indication,the outcome was better among women that had elective CS under regional anaesthesia.Keywords: Caesarean section, CS rate, indication and outcom

Preparation, scratch adhesion and anti-corrosion performance of TiO2-MgO-BHA coating on Ti6Al4V implant by plasma electrolytic oxidation technique

Bovine hydroxyapatite (BHA) (from cortical bone), was selected as the main electrolyte for plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on Ti6Al4V implant. The prepared PEO coatings were examined by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The surface roughness, adhesion strength, wettability, surface energy and corrosion behaviour of the film were also investigated. The results show that the oxide layer (26 μm) formation on the Ti6Al4V was rough and porous. The micro-pores were filled with anatase TiO2, cubic MgO and hexagonal BHA particles. The porous structures and the compound particles were mainly composed of Mg, O, Ca, P, Ti, Na and Al. Unlike previous coatings produced from calcium and phosphorus inorganic solutions, the coating formation from a newly developed bovine bone-derived HA electrolyte revealed an additional MgO phase in the coating layer. Moreover, higher amount of single phase hexagonal crystalline BHA phase with a Ca/P ratio of 1.1 was achieved with a single PEO process. A film-to-substrate adhesion strength of 1862.24 mN and scratch hardness of about 4.1 GPa was achieved from this method. The TiO2/MgO/BHA film exhibited better wettability, higher surface energy and superior corrosion resistance compared to the bare Ti6Al4V substrate

Electrochemical study on the corrosion protection behavior of conducting polymer nanocomposites / Magaji Ladan

Corrosion is a persistent issue faced by human-made structures made from metals and metal alloys. Steel is used in many structural applications; however, it undergoes severe corrosion when exposed to corrosive media. Coatings are among the best methods to prevent metals and its alloys from the corrosion. However, traditional coating systems such as barrier coatings, metal-rich coatings, and coatings incorporating inhibitors have their setbacks. Conductive polymers such as polypyrrole and polyaniline were used for the corrosion protection of metals. Redox activity and the corrosion-inhibiting ion release ability of conducting polymers make them a good choice in place of hexavalent chromium compounds. However, conducting polymers are porous, stiff, inherent insoluble and low mechanical properties which make them inferior corrosion resistance materials. To tackle the problems associated with the conducting polymers and to harness maximum functionality out of them, conducting polymer nanocomposites (CPNs) were developed. CPNs combine conducting polymers and inorganic pigments in unique methods which exhibit excellent corrosion resistance properties. In this research, nanocomposites of polypyrrole and polyaniline were synthesized by an eco-friendly chemical oxidative polymerization. Core and shell of polyaniline and polypyrrole with titanium dioxide and graphene oxide were prepared and applied for safeguarding steel substrate from corrosion. These nanocomposites were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersion X-ray (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The TEM results confirmed that the Co-doped TiO2/PPy NTCs, Co-doped TiO2/GO/PANI, and PANI/GO/Zn-doped TiO2 nanocomposites were smaller than TiO2/PPy NTCs, Co-doped TiO2/PANI, and PANI/Zn-doped TiO2, thereby increasing the interaction between the PPy and PANI and the steel surfaces. The corrosion protection ability of the coatings was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization measurements in 3.5% NaCl solution. The EIS results show that the log |Z| of steel coated with Co-doped TiO2/PPy NTCs, Co-doped TiO2/GO/PANI and PANI/GO/Zn-doped TiO2 NCs reached about 8.2, 9.2 and 9.01, respectively, after 30 days of immersion in 3.5 % NaCl solution. Whereas the log |Z| values of TiO2/PPy, Co-doped TiO2/PANI, and PANI/Zn-doped TiO2 NCs was around 6.0, 7.4 and 7.15, respectively, for the same immersion period. This is likely due to the increased surface areas of the PPy and PANI synthesized in the presence of Co-doped TiO2 NPs, Zn-doped TiO2 and GO respectively. The EIS results are confirmed by the potentiodynamic polarization and open circuit potential values of the Co-doped TiO2/PPy, Co-doped TiO2/PANI, and PANI/Zn-doped TiO2 NCs, which indicated little changes between 1 to 30 days of immersion confirming the protection ability of these coatings. It is evident that the presence of Co-doped TiO2 NPs, Zn-doped TiO2 NPs and GO can enhance the resistance against corrosion at the steel/electrolyte interface

Fabrication of platinum nitrogen-doped graphene nanocomposite modified electrode for the electrochemical detection of acetaminophen

An electrochemical sensor for the determination of acetaminophen (AC) was fabricated on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with platinum nitrogen-doped graphene (Pt/NGr) nanocomposite. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV) were performed to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of AC. From the electrochemical results, the synergy between platinum nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped graphene improved the interfacial electron transfer process, thus exhibited a higher catalytic performance towards the electrochemical oxidation of AC. A linear range between 0.05–90 μmol L−1 for the determination of AC was achieved with a limit of detection of 0.008 μmol L−1. The prepared sensor demonstrated acceptable reproducibility, stability and good selectivity in the presence of interferences such as ascorbic acid, p-aminophenol and dopamine. In addition, this method showed satisfactory results in commercial tablets

Enhanced amperometric detection of paracetamol by immobilized cobalt ion on functionalized MWCNTs - Chitosan thin film

In the present study, a nanocomposite of f-MWCNTs-chitosan-Co was prepared by the immobilization of Co(II) on f-MWCNTs-chitosan by a self-assembly method and used for the quantitative determination of paracetamol (PR). The composite was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX). The electroactivity of cobalt immobilized on f-MWCNTs-chitosan was assessed during the electro-oxidation of paracetamol. The prepared GCE modified f-MWCNTs/CTS-Co showed strong electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of PR. The electrochemical performances were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under favorable experimental conditions, differential pulse voltammetry showed a linear dynamic range between 0.1 and 400 μmol L−1 with a detection limit of 0.01 μmol L−1 for the PR solution. The fabricated sensor exhibited significant selectivity towards PR detection. The fabricated sensor was successfully applied for the determination of PR in commercial tablets and human serum sample

The effect of washing with water and detergent on increasing the shelf life of pepper (Capsicum annum) on sale at Rimi and Tarauni markets of Kano State, Nigeria

Sample of pepper was collected from two selected vegetable markets and used to determine the most effective method of increasing shelf life of pepper. In the research two treatment methods used by marketers of vegetables washing with water and detergent were compared. The results showed that five fungal colonies were isolated from pepper samples obtained from the study aeas. The five fungal colonies isolated from the two markets have the following frequency of occurrence A. niger 17 ( 28.3 %) A. fumigatus 12 (23.3%), R. stolonifer 12 (20.0%), A. flavus 09(15.05%) and Mucor spp 08 (13.3%). Out of the total 60 fungal colonies isolated in the two markets, more colonies were counted from water wash pepper 37 ( 61.0%), while lower colony counts were recorded from detergent washed pepper in the two locations 23 ( 38.3%). It is clear therefore that, this investigation has established fewer fungal colonies counted from detergent washed samples in the two markets is that washing of pepper with detergent is more effective in increasing the shelf life of pepper by removing the surface contaminant micro-organisms