The Petroleum Exploitation and Pollution in Ogoni, Rivers State, Nigeria: The Community Perspective

The aim of this paper was to examine community perspective to petroleum exploitation and pollution in Ogoni, Rivers State. To achieve this aim, the objective was to determine the extent to which the pollution of the environment has affected the people’s views of usefulness of the resources in their communities. The survey design method was employed. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 21 oil bearing communities from the four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ogoniland. The data were collected using interviews, focus group discussions, oral testimonies and questionnaires. Being qualitative; transcriptions, rewriting and coding were employed in data analysis, except for the questionnaires which adopted descriptive statistical methods. Results showed that majority of the people have not benefitted from the petroleum resources in their communities. It was revealed that pollution has changed the people’s views of the usefulness of petroleum resources, as they clearly see the resources in their communities as a curse. However, many communities believed that there was no sincerity on the part of their leaders, as the dividends claimed to be given by the multinational oil companies (MNOCs) for the welfare and benefit of the people were not visible. It is recommended that in order to change the perception of the people toward petroleum exploitation, the MNOCs should massively develop the host communities with basic social amenities and deal directly with the land owners whose portions of land are directly affected and not through the chiefs or the Community Based Organisations (CBOs)

Nigerian Tax System and Administration: Implications of Multiple Taxation on the Economy

The paper examines Nigerian system and administration and the implications of multiple taxation on the economy. It meticulously looked at the concept of tax and taxation, multiple taxation in Nigeria and the approved taxes and levies collected by each tier of government. This paper revealed that some of the implications of multiple taxation in Nigeria include: constitution of illegal and inappropriate taxation and legislation, crippling of some sectors of the economy such as telecommunication industry and Nigeria waterways, it is a hindrance to investment in the country as well as displays lawlessness in the process of tax collection contrary to the procedures laid down in the relevant tax laws for collection. Based on these revelations some recommendations were made. Keywords: Nigerian Tax System, Tax Administration, Multiple Taxation, Economy.

Thrombocytose au cours d’un syndrome d’activation macrophagique compliquant un lupus érythémateux systémique

Le syndrome d'activation macrophagique (SAM) est une complication du lupus érythémateux systémique  (LES), due à l'activation et la prolifération incontrôlée des macrophages dans la moelle osseuse. La  bycytopénie voire la pancytopénie est constante. Nous rapportons un cas atypique de SAM diagnostiqué au même moment qu'un LES chez une patiente noire de 17 ans. Le tableau initial associait une fièvre, un  syndrome inflammatoire, une anémie, un taux normal de leucocytes et plus surprenant, une thrombocytose.Key words: Syndrome d´activation macrophagique, Lupus érythémateux systémique, Cytopénie, Thrombocytose, Afrique Subsaharienn

Refractory relapsing polychondritis: challenges and solutions

Fernando Kemta Lekpa,1,2 Xavier Chevalier3 1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, 2Reheumatology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon; 3Department of Rheumatology, Henri Mondor Hospital, University Paris 12, Créteil, France Abstract: Relapsing polychondritis is a severe systemic immune-mediated disease characterized by an episodic and progressive inflammatory condition with progressive destruction of cartilaginous structures. This disease has for nearly a century kept secrets not yet explained. The real incidence and prevalence of this rare disease are unknown. The multiple clinical presentations and episodic nature of relapsing polychondritis cause a significant diagnosis delay. No guidelines for the management of patients with relapsing polychondritis have been validated to date. The challenges remain, both in the understanding of its pathophysiology and diagnosis, evaluation of its activity and prognosis, and its treatment. Possible solutions involve the sharing of data for relapsing polychondritis from worldwide reference centers. Thus, we would be able to evolve toward a better knowledge of its pathophysiology, the publication of new diagnosis criteria, which will include biological markers and imaging findings, the prediction of life-threatening or organ-threatening situations, and the publication of therapeutic evidence-based guidelines after performing at randomized controlled trials. Keywords: relapsing polychondritis, diagnosis, criteria, disease activity, treatments, biologic

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Expression in the Hippocampal Formation of Mefloqine Induced-Seizured Rats Treated with Aqueous Leaf Extract of Luffa aegyptiaca Mill

This study investigates the expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and effects of aqueous leaf extract of Luffa aegyptiaca Mill on the hippocampus of the brain of Albino Wistar rats with Mefloquine induced seizure. Thirty albino wistar rats (190-250 g) were grouped into 6 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 was control. Group 2 rats were induced with mefloquine only (4.28 mg/kg). Group 3 were given average dose of luffa extract only (800 mg/kg). Group four rats were induced with mefloquine (4.28 mg/kg) and treated with diazepam (5 mg/kg). Group 5 rats were induced with (4.28 kg/kg) with mefloquine and treated with low dose luffa aegyptiaca mill (400 mg/kg). Group 6 were induced with mefloquine (4.28 mg/kg) and treated with high dose luffa aegyptiaca mill (1200 mg/kg). The rats were then perfused transcardially and sacrificed. Brain sections were analyzed for histological (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining using glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), marker for astrocytes. The histological results showed disruption of pyramidal cells layer in CA3 subfield of hippocampus and regional selectivity of pyramidal cell loss in seizured rats indicating induction of seizure with mefloquine. There was some restoration of pyramidal cells with the treated groups but no disruptions in the control group. There was less expression of GFAP positive cells in the control group and treated groups and more expression in the seizure rats. The expression of GFAP positive cells was an indication of different levels of neuroinflammation. The reactive astrocytes being predominant in the seizure group. The present study therefore provides empirical data on GFAP expression in the hippocampus of seizure animal model treated with aqueous leaf extract of luffa