Mass balance calculations of illicit drugs in Stoke Bardolph Sewage treatment works, United Kingdom

Work encompassed in this study directly measures illicit drug removal rates in laboratory studies. Researchers employed removal rate data in calculating mass balances in sewage works which is an improvement over prior studies where assumptions on removal rates at Sewage Treatment Works were made. The batch tests data enabled determination of degradation of the compounds at different temperatures and times, using various sludge types after characterization. Mass balances for the Stoke Bardolph Sewage Treatment Works were constructed using the removal rate data from the batch studies. Final effluent concentrations of 10.0 ng L-1 (morphine), and 80.0 ng L-1 (6-monoacetylmorphine), were recorded after a total of 8 hour hydraulic times (8 HRT) from an initial influent concentration of 50 mg L-1. A projected influent concentration of morphine (1.4 g L-1) at Stoke Bardolph was derived from back-calculating measured final effluent concentrations using the same mass balance approach

Morphometric Study of the Skull of the Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temmnick)

This study was designed to investigate some morphometric characteristics of the skull of the Greater cane rat (GCR) involving 30 morphometric parameters. A total of 10 adult GCR were used for this study comprising of both sexes (5 males and 5 females). Student t-test was used to analyze the values obtained and to determine differences between the sexes. Morphological features were found in the zygomatic bone which occurred as a large and thick bone on both ends. From 30 parameters analyzed, 12 were statistically significant (p≤ 0.05) between both sexes, confirming the presence of sexual dimorphism in the skull of this rodent. This study provided baseline research data on the typology of the skull of the GCR.KEYWORDS: Greater cane rat, morphometry, skull, sexual dimorphism, craniometry

Regional research priorities in brain and nervous system disorders

The characteristics of neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders in low-and middle-income countries are unique and the burden that they have will be different from country to country. Many of the differences are explained by the wide variation in population demographics and size, poverty, conflict, culture, land area and quality, and genetics. Neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders that result from, or are worsened by, a lack of adequate nutrition and infectious disease still afflict much of sub-Saharan Africa, although disorders related to increasing longevity, such as stroke, are on the rise. In the Middle East and North Africa, major depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder are a primary concern because of the conflict-ridden environment. Consanguinity is a serious concern that leads to the high prevalence of recessive disorders in the Middle East and North Africa and possibly other regions. The burden of these disorders in Latin American and Asian countries largely surrounds stroke and vascular disease, dementia and lifestyle factors that are influenced by genetics. Although much knowledge has been gained over the past 10 years, the epidemiology of the conditions in low-and middle-income countries still needs more research. Prevention and treatments could be better informed with more longitudinal studies of risk factors. Challenges and opportunities for ameliorating nervous-system disorders can benefit from both local and regional research collaborations. The lack of resources and infrastructure for health-care and related research, both in terms of personnel and equipment, along with the stigma associated with the physical or behavioural manifestations of some disorders have hampered progress in understanding the disease burden and improving brain health. Individual countries, and regions within countries, have specific needs in terms of research priorities.Fil: Ravindranath, Vijayalakshmi. Indian Institute of Science; IndiaFil: Dang, Hoang Minh. Vietnam National University; VietnamFil: Goya, Rodolfo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata ; ArgentinaFil: Mansour, Hader. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos. Mansoura University; EgiptoFil: Nimgaonkar, Vishwajit L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Russell, Vivienne Ann. University of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Xin, Yu. Peking University; Chin

Anatomical Studies on the Spinal Cord of the Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck) I: Gross Morphometry

No Abstract

Acute Stroke at The University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria: Clinical Profile and Predictors of 30-day Mortality

Stroke is a common public health problem in Nigeria and a leading cause of hospitalization in neurological services. Currently, there is limited information on predictors of early mortality in hospitalized patients in this region. The objectives of this study were to determine the 30-day case fatality rate as well as predictors of early mortality after stroke. This was a prospective study of all stroke patients admitted to the University College Hospital Ibadan Nigeria between July 2002 and September 2003.The diagnosis of stroke was mainly clinical using the WHO clinical criteria. Only 21 patients had Cranial CT scans due to the frequent breakdown of the machine during the study and the high cost of the investigation procedure. Predictors of 30-Day mortality: GCS140mg/dl, Age>70 years, NIHSS score>20, Heamorrhagic stroke, Systolic and Diastolic Hypertension were studied in all the patients. A total of 135 patients were enrolled in the study, comprising 74 males (54.8%) and 61 women (45.2%). Mean age was 62.3±12.Ischaemic CVD accounted for 71% of all cases while ICH was 22% and SAH was 7%. The over-all mortality was 15.5% and was closely related to the NIHSS score, level of consciousness (GCS) and associated complications such as raised intracranial pressure and aspiration pneumonia. NIHSS score > 20 was the only significant independent predictor of thirty days mortality in this study. The case fatality rate in this study was relatively lower than the value obtained in most previous hospital reports from Nigeria and Africa. This may be due to improved stroke care among others in this centre.Key words: Stroke, case fatality rate, predictors of 30- day mortalit