Vulvo-vaginal candidosis in a cohort of hormonal contraceptive users in Ibadan, Nigeria

Introduction: Most women who acquire HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are in their child bearing years and are current or potential users of contraceptive methods. The study was undertaken to provide information on the association between the hormonal contraceptive methods and vulvo vaginal candidiasis among women attending Family Planning clinics, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods: It was a cross-sectional study in a population of women using hormonal contraceptive methods attending Family Planning clinics. Detailed medical history, endocervical and high vaginal swabs were collected from the women to establish diagnosis after clinical examination and informed consent. Aliquots of sera from venous blood samples of the women were tested for antibodies to HIV-1/2. Data was analysed using SPSS for windows’ version 17.0.Results: There were 116 women using hormonal contraceptive methods who participated in the study with mean age of 28.70 years (SD = 6.72, range = 19 –54). The mean age of sexual debut of the women was 19.2 years (SD = 2.96). The prevalence of vulvo-vaginal candidosis was 23.3%. Other associated sexually transmitted infections were bacterial vaginosis (24.1%), HIV (12.1%), trichomoniasis (10.3%), chlamydia cervicitis (7.8%), syphilis (5.2%), genital warts (6.0%) and gonorrhoea (2.6%).Younger age of sexual debut influenced the decision of selecting various forms of hormonal contraceptives especially the emergence of oral contraceptive forms (P = 0.043). Majority of the women on hormonal contraceptives had multiple sexual partners. Vulvovaginal candidosis is strongly associated with vaginal discharge and pruritus in women utilizing hormonal contraceptive methods (P = 0.001, 4.2 (1.0–13.2).Conclusions: Women seeking contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy are as much in need of education about prevention of STIs. The study found that younger age, numbers sexual partners, and use of hormonal contraceptives could increase the risk of acquiring vulvovaginal candidosis. Candidose vulvo-vaginale dans une cohorte d'utilisateurs contraceptifs hormonaux a Ibadan, NigeriaIntroduction: La plupart des femmes qui contractent le VIH et d'autres infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST) sont en âge de procréer et sont des utilisatrices actuelles ou potentielles de méthodes contraceptives. L'étude a été entreprise pour fournir des informations sur l'association entre les méthodes contraceptives hormonales et la candidose vulvo vagin chez les femmes fréquentant les cliniques de planification familiale, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.Méthodes: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale menée auprès d'une population de femmes utilisant des méthodes contraceptives hormonales dans des cliniques de planification familiale. Des antécédents médicaux détaillés, des prélèvements endocervicaux et des prélèvements vaginaux élevés ont été effectués auprès des femmes pour établir un diagnostic après un examen clinique et un consentement éclairé. Des aliquotes de sérums d'échantillons de sang veineux des femmes ont été testées pour rechercher des anticorps anti-VIH-1/2. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de SPSS pour la version 17.0 des veuves.Résultats: 116 femmes utilisant des méthodes contraceptives hormonales ont participé à l'étude avec un âge moyen de 28,70 ans (ET = 6,72, intervalle = 19-54). L'âge moyen des débuts sexuels des femmes était de 19,2 ans (ET = 2,96). La prévalence de la candidose vulvo-vaginale était de 23,3%. Les autres infections sexuellement transmissibles étaient la vaginose bactérienne (24,1%), le VIH (12,1%), la trichomonase (10,3%), la chlamydia cervicite (7,8%), la syphilis (5,2%), les verrues génitales et la gonorrhée. . L'âge plus jeune des débuts sexuels a influencé la décision de choisir différentes formes de contraceptifs hormonaux, en particulier l'émergence de formes contraceptives orales (p = 0,043). La majorité des femmes sur les contraceptifs hormonaux avaient plusieurs partenaires sexuels. La candidose vulvovaginale est fortement associée aux pertes vaginales et au prurit chez les femmes utilisant des méthodes contraceptives hormonales (p = 0,001, 4,2 (1,0-13,2).Conclusions: Les femmes qui recherchent une contraception pour prévenir les grossesses non désirées ont autant besoin d'éducation sur la prévention des IST. L'étude a révélé que le plus jeune âge, le nombre de partenaires sexuels et l'utilisation de contraceptifs hormonaux pourraient augmenter le risque d'acquisition de la candidose vulvo-vaginale

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF CHICKEN OFFAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR LOCAL FISH MEAL IN GROWING SNAILS

A total of ninety six growing snails of mean weight 91.23±2.4g were used to determine the effects of partial or total replacement of local fish meal, a source of protein but expensive to a less expensive, alternative source, chicken offal in the diet of growing snails. Completely randomized design was used for the study. The feeding trial had four treatments, C1, C2, C3 and C4 in which fish meal fraction of the diets was replaced at 0, 50, 75 and 100% with chicken offal respectively. The parameters taken were weight gain, feed intake. Feed conversion ratio, total feed cost, and cost per weight gain were calculated. The trial lasted for twelve weeks. Significant differences were not observed in the mean weekly feed intake of the snails in all the treatments. The mean weight gain in all the treatments were not significantly influenced by the inclusion of chicken offal in the diet (P>0.005). Total feed cost and cost/weight gain reduced as the level of the chicken offal increased while the lowest cost/weight gain was observed in C4. The inclusion of Chicken offal in all the diets had no detrimental effect on the snails in all the treatments. Based on the present results chicken offal could replace local fish meal in the diet of growing snail up to 100% and hereby reduce feed cos

Breast cancer receptor status assessment and clinicopathological association in Nigerian women: A retrospective analysis

Background: Breast cancer markers are becoming increasingly important in breast cancer research due to their impact on prognosis, treatment and survival. The present retrospective study was carried out to quantify the proportion of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and human epithelial receptor 2 (HER2) expressions and their association with tumour grade, age, and tumour size in breast cancer patients in Nigeria. Materials and methods: The paraffin embedded tissue sections were analysed for breast cancer markers using monoclonal antibody SP1 for ER and SP2 for PR and polyclonal antibody ErbB2 for HER2. Results: A total of 286 breast cancer paraffin wax tissue sections were analysed for ER, PR and HER2 expression. Of all the tissue samples examined, 20 (7%) were ER-positive, 6 (2.1%) were PR-positive, 11 (3.8%) were HER2-positive whereas 248 (87%) were triple-negative breast carcinoma. ER- and PR-positivity was associated with early grade I and II tumours (P 50mm (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: A small proportion of Nigerian women with breast cancer are ER/PR-positive which are associated with less aggressive, better prognosis and benefit from endocrine therapy. An even smaller proportion of patients with aggressive tumors were HER2-posivite but responsive to Herceptin treatment. Unfortunately, a very high proportion of cases were triple-negative which is associated with very aggressive tumours and no targeted treatment, which may explain the high mortality rates from breast cancer in Nigeri

Evaluation of SpinTor™ Dust in the Protection of dried Tilapia niloticus against Dermestes maculatus (De geer) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Introduction: Dermestes maculatus is a major pest of stored fish in Nigeria causing as high as 50% weight loss. Fishermen spray insecticides injudiciously which include Gamallin 20 which constitute danger to human health. SpinTor dust (Spinosad) is a commercially reduced-risk pesticide that is naturally derived from the fermentation from a soil bacterium, Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Objectives: No reference data on its efficacy in suppressing major insect pest of stored fish have been published. This paper therefore evaluated the efficacy and residual effect of SpinTor dust against Dermestes maculatus on dried Tilapia fish, Tilapia nilotica. Methods: Disinfested Tilapia was treated with 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 percent Spintor dust. D. maculatus was introduced into containers holding 50g of untreated and treated fish.  Residual effect of Spintor was evaluated at 30 and 60 days after treatment (DAT). Results: SpinTor dust was more toxic on adults D. maculatus with LD50 of 2.338 than on the larvae with LD50 of 2.693. Adult mortality was highest in the dried Tilapia niloticus treated 0.5% SpinTor dust and least in the control. No larva developed in 0.5% concentration while 629 larvae developed in the control. A significant higher number of F1 adults that emerged from (0.5% concentration) treated adults died when compared with all the other treatments and control. Histopathological test on the liver of mice showed no significant weight gain in mice fed on treated fish and the control after three months. The histopathological test of the liver of the control treated  mice had no alterations in their hepatic lobes. Conclusion: Spintor dust can be used to protect dried fish against D. maculatus Key words Toxicity, Spinosad, Dried fish, Mortality, LD50, Residue, liver and Mice

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF CHICKEN OFFAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR LOCAL FISH MEAL IN GROWING SNAILS

A total of ninety six growing snails of mean weight 91.23±2.4g were used to determine the effects of partial or total replacement of local fish meal, a source of protein but expensive to a less expensive, alternative source, chicken offal in the diet of growing snails. Completely randomized design was used for the study. The feeding trial had four treatments, C1, C2, C3 and C4 in which fish meal fraction of the diets was replaced at 0, 50, 75 and 100% with chicken offal respectively. The parameters taken were weight gain, feed intake. Feed conversion ratio, total feed cost, and cost per weight gain were calculated. The trial lasted for twelve weeks. Significant differences were not observed in the mean weekly feed intake of the snails in all the treatments. The mean weight gain in all the treatments were not significantly influenced by the inclusion of chicken offal in the diet (P>0.005). Total feed cost and cost/weight gain reduced as the level of the chicken offal increased while the lowest cost/weight gain was observed in C4. The inclusion of Chicken offal in all the diets had no detrimental effect on the snails in all the treatments. Based on the present results chicken offal could replace local fish meal in the diet of growing snail up to 100% and hereby reduce feed cos

Colour and Fatty Acids Analysis of Fermented and Canned African Oil Bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) Seeds

The variations in the colour and fatty acid profiles as influenced by the processing steps and changes in canning media during thermal processing of fermented African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) seeds were investigated. The seed cotyledons were prepared as slices and fermented at 30oC for 72 h. The fermented product was then filled into cans containing the selected media and processed using conventional canning procedures. Cooking and canning steps slightly darkened the light brown colour of the cotyledons. However, overall, thermal processing did not significantly (p &gt; 0.05) affect the colour profile of the fermented seed product ‘ugba’ as shown from a*/b* ratios, hue and chroma values. Although fermentation significantly (p &gt; 0.05) affected the composition and concentrations of fatty acids in the seed oil, the effect of canning of the fermented seed product in three different media (tomato sauce, refined groundnut oil and brine solution) on the fatty acid profiles of the seed oil was not significant (p &gt; 0.05). Linoleic acid, which was the major fatty acid in the raw seed oil (67.20 wt.-% of total fatty acids), increased significantly during fermentation, but further thermal processing in lacquered cans did not affect the fatty acids profile. Keywords: Oil bean seed; fermented product; thermal processing; colour; fatty acid

DEVELOPMENT OF A MANUALLY OPERATED DOUGH DICING MACHINE FOR COLD EXTRUSION

The timely production of diced dough for the final preparation of chin-chin (a confectionery made of fried dough) have not witnessed any substantial development among the women folk that engaged in such activities in Nigeria. A manually operated dough-dicing machine was designed and developed for the timely production of diced dough. The dough dicer offers a better method of dicing dough into various desired shapes and lengths, which may not be possible with the existing processing method. Preliminary test of the manually operated dough dicer showed that a minimal pressure of 4473.122 Pa is sufficient to force out the dough through the die outlet. The low cost dough dicer requires the minimum manual power input of 0.16 Watt for the dicing of the dough with a density of 1126.4 Kg/m3. The overall performance of the manually operated dough dicer showed that the machine would be of great benefit to the small scale producers of the confectionery

Antimalarial use and the associated factors in rural nigeria following implementation of affordable medicines facility-malaria (amfm) price subsidy

Purpose: This study was set out to find out the pattern of antimalarial drug use in a Nigerian rural community following the aggressive price subsidy of Artemisinin Combination Therapy(ACT) recently embarked upon by Roll Back Malaria partners through Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm).Methods: Questioners were administered to 310 adult members of the community with the most recent malaria episodes so as to find out about the drugs used and some of the factors associated with the choice of the drug.Result: Although the overall use of ACT (13.55%) in this community was about 4 times higher than what it used to be, Chloroquine 123(39.62%) and sulphadozine/pyrimathamine 120(38.71%) were the mostly used antimalarial agents. Choice of drug used was significantly associated with perception of efficacy and price among other factors. Respondents liked the price of ACT (33.3%) most, CQ was the drug most liked in terms of efficacy (44.2%) while SP was the drug most liked in terms of lack of side effect (38.9%), taste (61.6%) and convenience (35.7%).( P= 0.001)Conclusion: In addition to sustaining the current price control, there is a need to continuously monitor and effectively regulate the quality of the ACTs in circulation so as to gain the confidence of both the prescribers and the end users regarding efficacy and adherence to ACTs. This will help to safeguard the huge investment in ACT subsidy by the Roll Back Malaria partners.Key words: ACT, Subsidy, Affordable Medicines Facility-malari

Impact of International Trade on Economic Growth in Nigeria

Using data from the World Development Indicator (WDI) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin, this article analyzed the impact of exports, imports, the currency rate, and inflation on Nigeria’s economic development between 1981 and 2020. The research employed Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bound testing methodology. The variables utilized in the study were evaluated for stationarity using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller and Philip Perron test, and the bound testing process was applied to the equations. The lag of variables test can be performed to determine the relationship between the variables. The outcome demonstrated that variables are stationary at first difference. Economy growth, exports and imports, exchange rate, and Inflation all exhibit long-term cointegration, as determined by a cointegration test. Export positively impacted on growth while inflation and exchange rate were found to be negatively affecting growth in Nigeria. The article indicates that there is a beneficial association between international commerce and economic growth and supports the policy of encouraging exports and expanding Nigeria’s presence on global markets