Nigerian Companies and the Prohibition on Political Donations: A Paradigmatic Shift as a Panacea for Compliance

Democratic rule is generally acclaimed as a better form of governance, but its operation does not appear to come cheap. This is especially so in Nigeria where new democratic dispensations are heralded by expensive electioneering campaigns. The funds for these campaigns are sourced from willing donors or through subtle coercion. Corporate organizations are easy prey to politicians. This paper is provoked by the frequency and blatancy with which corporate organizations in Nigeria donate to political parties and for political purposes without any sanctions despite the unambiguous prohibition in S.38 (2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). This exposes the inability of the provision to halt or reduce this practice to the barest minimum and also reveals the unpopularity of the provision. The paper argued that it is not possible to completely extricate organizations from the political dynamics in their host committees and proffered some mitigating factors which will make the provision more acceptable to the people and more respected. The paper discovered normative reasons why the prohibition in S.38 (2) of CAMA is largely ignored.It therefore recommended wide ranging amendments to the provisions so as to enhance compliance, improve its enforcement strategies, reflect present day realities and align it with International best practices

A self-directed learning intervention for radiographers rating mammographic breast density

Purpose: Subjective methods of mammographic breast density (MBD) assessment are prone to inter-reader variability. This work aims to assess the impact of a short self-directed experiential learning intervention on radiographers’ reproducibility of MBD assessment. Method: The study used two sets of images (test and learning intervention) containing left craniocaudal and left mediolateral oblique views. The test set had MBD ratings from VolparaTM and radiologists using the fourth edition Breast Imaging and Data Systems (BI-RADS®). Seven radiographers rated the MBD of the test set before and after a self-directed learning intervention using the percentage descriptors in the fourth edition BI-RADS® Atlas. The inter-reader agreement, agreement between radiographers and VolparaTM as well as radiologist, was assessed using a Weighted Kappa (Kw). Results: Overall, radiographers’ inter-reader agreement (Kw) was substantial (0.79; 95%CI: 0.70–0.87) before the intervention and almost perfect (0.84; 95%CI: 0.77–0.90) after the intervention. Before the intervention, radiographers demonstrated fair agreement with radiologists (0.24; 95%CI:-0.46–0.61) and VolparaTM (0.24; 95% CI: -0.41–0.59). A fair but slightly improved agreement was also observed between radiographers and radiologists (0.31; 95% CI: -0.33 - 0.64) as well as VolparaTM (0.28; 95% CI: -0.34- 0.61) after the intervention. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that a short duration self-directed experiential learning intervention reduces inter-reader differences in MBD classification, but has a negligible impact on improving the agreement between inexperienced and expert readers

Evaluation of Public-Health Risk of Heavy Metals Contaminants and Physicochemical Parameters in Adulteration Palm Oil Commonly Consumed in Calabar, Nigeria

Edible palm oil has been the parity of the human diet from generation to generation and has contributed both to nutrition and health. These studies investigated some selected heavy metals and physicochemical parameters in palm oil. Eleven (11) samples of ready-consumed edible palm oil were bought randomly from the selected market in calabar metropolis. The samples were digested with 25ml of concentrated H2SO4, for heavy metals analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The physiochemical parameters in selected markets include the following FFA, IV, PV, and protein content were also analyzed using standard methods. The results showed that FFA value range from 9.26 to 12%, Iodine value range from 45.78 to 21.40 MgKOH/g, Peroxide value range from 3.60 to 0.03 Meq/kg, and protein content ranges from 0.06 to 0.2 mg were significantly (p<0.05) higher in some markets in comparison to the control. The results of heavy metals showed that Zn 8.06±0.06, Cd 1.01±0.05, N 1.00±0.00, C 125.91±0.09, Pb 9.30±0.07 Cobalt, Lead zinc were above the detectable limit of the WHO standard while Cd and Ni were within the permissibility limit. The results obtained from this study indicate that the palm oil sold in calabar metropolis may cause a public health risk if proper monitoring is not maintained by regulatory agencies. Thus, there is a need for improved screening of our local processed palm oil from the time of production to the time of consumption

Effect of Dietary Pumpkin Stem Waste on Haematological Indices, Meat and Serum Lipid Profiles of Rabbits

This study evaluated the effect of different supplementary dietary levels of pumpkin stem waste (PSW) on the haematological indices, meat and serum lipid profile of rabbits. Three experimental feed regime:D1 (control), basal feed+ 0% PSW; D2,basal feed + 5% PSW and D3, basal feed + 10% PSW were randomly assigned to the three treatment groups in a 3x2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design experiment. The PSW percentage were offered on rabbit weight basis. Thirty six (18 males and 18 females) crossbred (California x New Zealand white) weaned rabbits aged 6 and 7 weeks were divided into three treatment groups of 12 rabbits each with 4 rabbits per replicate (2 females and 2 males) and randomly allotted to the three dietary treatments. At the end of 12 weeks feeding trial( prior to slaughtering), blood samples were collected from 6 rabbits (3 males and 3 females) per treatment totalling 18 rabbits and used to determine the serum lipid profile and haematological blood indices. Similarly, breast meat sample was used to determined lipid profile. Results obtained showed that while red blood cell (RBC),haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV),Mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration MCHC increased (P<0.05) with increasing dietary PSW. White blood cell (WBC) and MCHC however showed no significant difference (P>0.05) among the treatments groups. Lipid profile of both serum and meat indicated that HDL increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in PSW while total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) decreased significantly (P<0.05). Diet by sex interaction showed that male rabbits recorded significantly different (P<0.05) values from their female counterparts in all the blood and meat lipid parameters assessed. These results suggest that pumpkin stem waste is hypolipidaemic therefore could lower rabbits’ meat cholesterol and improve blood constituents

Investigating the Effect of Withania somnifera, Selenium and Hydrocortisone on Blood Count and Bronchial Lavage of Experimental Asthmatic BALB/c Mice

The murine asthmatic Balb/c mouse model was used to investigate the effect of W. somnifera L., the  antioxidant selenium, W. somnifera and selenium in combination and hydrocortisone as positive control  on the number of white blood cells in blood smears and bronchial lavage smears as well as the platelet  distribution of asthmatic Balb/c mice. The mice were sensitised, nebulized and treated over a period of  43 days and blood smears were made of each individual animal and bronchial lavage was performed by  injecting 0.3ml of saline into the trachea of the mice, both on the day of termination. Light microscopy  analysis of the bronchial lavage revealed a significant decrease in the number of eosinophils counted in the  asthmatic and the different treatment groups. In the asthmatic group, numerous platelet clumps were found  distributed between white blood cells. Platelets were also found in the other treatment groups but are not  as prevalent as in the asthmatic group. Results from the blood smears showed the same trends, where cell  counts in control and hydrocortisone blood smears were decreased compared to that of the asthma group. It  is concluded that W. somnifera and W. somnifera combined with selenium significantly decreased the white  blood cells in both bronchial lavage as well as blood smears, suggesting that W. somnifera indeed has an  anti-inflammatory potential and it, in combination with an anti-oxidant like selenium, might successfully  be used in the treatment of asthma.

Effects of ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum on haematological parameters of normal and streptozotocin–induced diabetic rats

The effect of the oral administration of both ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts from Bryophyllum pinnatum (BP) on haematological parameters of normal and streptozotocin - induced (STZ) diabetic rat was investigated. Twenty-five male Wister rats were used and divided into five groups of five rats each. They were designated as (Normal Control – NC, Diabetic Control – DC, Diabetic Ethanolic Extract – DEE, Diabetic Aqueous Extract – DAE, and Normal Aqueous Extract – NAE). Groups NC and DC served as ‘control’ animals receiving food and water only. Groups DC, DEE and DAE were injected intraperitoneally with 65mg/kg body weight streptozotocin. Induction of diabetes mellitus was confirmed after 48 hours using glucose test strips. The test rats were all treated with 100mg/kgbwt ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum for 28days. At the end of the 28days, the rats were sacrificed and whole blood collected for Haematological assay. Results obtained showed a significant difference(P<0.05) in White Blood Cell (WBC), Red Blood Cell (RBC), Platelet (PLT), Haemoglobin (HBG), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Mean Cell Volume (MCV), Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Lymphocytes (LYM) in treated rats with BP leaf extracts when compared to the diabetic and normal control groups

PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AMONG INFANTS AND PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN IN SETTLEMENTS AROUND OYAN RESERVOIR IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The need for more information on the risk factors for schistosomiasis among infants and preschool-aged children as become important for the development of health education programme since this age group is currently excluded in preventive chemotherapy programmes.  Therefore, the prevalence and intensity of, and risk factors for, infant and preschool-aged children infection with Schistosoma haematobium were explored in two endemic settlements around Oyan Reservior in Ogun State, Nigeria. Mothers and caregivers’ knowledge of the disease, water contact activities of their preschooler, age at first exposure and control measures were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Of the 86 preschooler screened from the two settlements 46 (53.5%) were infected, with an overall geometric mean intensity of 0.36 eggs/10 ml urine. The prevalence of egg-patent S. haematobium infection was 27.8% in Ibaro and 72.0% in Imala-Odo respectively. There were significant differences in prevalence (P=0.0005) and intensity (P=0.0006) of infection between the two communities, however, these did not increase significantly with age in both communities.  Interviews revealed that preschoolers were exposed to infected reservoir water as early as after birth, while older preschoolers frequently visited water bodies on their own to play, bath and wash cloth. There was significant reduction in prevalence of schistosomiasis among preschool-aged children in Ibaro community compared to Imala-Odo community; this could be attributed to awareness about the disease, and its mode of transmission.  Intensive health education still remains the alternative for reducing transmission in preschoolers in the absence of standardized treatment dosage for them.Â

Augmented Adipofascial Flap for Soft Tissue Cover of Open Tibial Fractures : A Case Report

This is the management of a 30-year-old male student, a passenger on anbsp motor cycle who had an open tibial fracture. He was resuscitated by the Accident and Emergency doctors before the Orthopeadic and Plastic surgery units were invited to take over the management. The fracture was reduced and maintained with external fixators by the Orthopeadic surgeons and an augmented fascial flap and a split thickness skin graft were used to cover the fracture by the plastic surgical team. The wounds healednbsp in three weeks and thenbsp fracture united in four months