Influence of Blanching on the Drying Characteristics of Convective Hot Air Dried Aerial Yam

A research on the drying characteristics of aerial yam using convectional hot air was done. The raw unblanched and blanched samples were dried using convectional hot air. Fan speed, temperature and slice thickness were varied to determine the change in moisture content. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were done to determine the functional groups and surface morphology respectively for each sample. FTIR results revealed the presence of some important functional groups such as esters, ethers and nitro-compounds, and shows that drying at this temperatures (40-70oC) does not alter the nutrient components of this variety of yam. The SEM results showed that important cells were not destroyed at the drying temperature. Batch studies on the drying process also showed that increase in temperature and air speed increased the drying process, but decreases with increase in slice thickness. Effect of drying rate on the sample showed that drying rate increase with increase in temperature and air speed but decrease with increase in slice thickness. After 90 minutes of drying, the drying rate of the 2 mm slice thickness was 0.353 g/g.min for drying of aerial yam while for 4 mm and 6 mm slice thickness, the drying rate were 0.261 and 0.169 g/g.min respectively, for effect of drying rate on sample thickness. It showed also that blanched aerial yam sampleshad a higher drying rate than the unblanched aerial yam sample at the same conditions. Therefore, the economic advantages of this yam species can be optimized by blanching

\u3cem\u3eRickettsia felis\u3c/em\u3e in Cat Fleas, \u3cem\u3eCtenocephalides felis\u3c/em\u3e Parasitizing Opossums, San Bernardino County, California

Los Angeles and Orange Counties are known endemic areas for murine typhus in California; however, no recent reports of flea-borne rickettsioses are known from adjacent San Bernardino County. Sixty-five opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were trapped in the suburban residential and industrial zones of the southwestern part of San Bernardino County in 2007. Sixty out of 65 opossums were infested with fleas, primarily cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché, 1835). The flea minimum infection rate with Rickettsia felis was 13.3% in pooled samples and the prevalence was 23.7% in single fleas, with two gltA genotypes detected. In spite of historic records of murine typhus in this area, no evidence for circulation of R. typhi in fleas was found during the present study. Factors contributing to the absence of R. typhi in these cat fleas in contrast to its presence in cat fleas from Orange and Los Angeles Counties are unknown and need to be investigated further in San Bernardino County

HIV Non-Occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Awareness Among Undergraduate Students of a Private University in South-West Nigeria

Objectives: The Human Immunodeficiency virus causes an infection of public health importance with about 71% of the global burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, 3.2 million people are living with HIV, and 838,000 - 1.3 million of the cases are found among youths. Although Non- Occupational Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) is a safe and efficacious method of HIV prevention, it remains an underutilized prevention strategy in Nigeria.  This study aimed to determine the awareness level of nPEP after sexual and other non-occupational exposure to HIV among undergraduate students of a private University. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 395 undergraduates’ students. Data was collected by pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaires. Data obtained from the study were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 20 software program and Frequency distribution tables with percentages and cross-tables were used for data description. Results: About 42.8% were aware of nPEP. Most of the respondents 361 (91.4%) knew that PEP is to be given after HIV exposure risk following sexual intercourse. Although 79.5% of the respondents indicated that they will see their physician after unprotected sexual intercourse and other non-occupational exposure to HIV, the majority neither knows about nPEP initiation time, 247 (62.5%) nor its duration, 286 (72.4%). Conclusions: A low level of awareness was observed among our study participants, therefore, consistent health education and promotion of nPEP will improve its awareness, uptake, and possibly reduce the prevalence of HIV among our youths

Nasal carriage of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus among medical students of a private institution in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Nasal carriage of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major factor for its transmission especially from the health workers and medical students to their patients. There are a number of published data on the prevalence of MRSA among health workers but data on nasal colonization of medical students by MRSA are sparse in Nigeria. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of nasal carriage of MRSA among medical students of the Ben Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria, and identify risk factors associated with this nasal carriage. Methodology: A case control study involving 100 clinical (study group) and 100 pre- clinical (control group) medical students was undertaken between March 2018 and October 2019. Structured questionnaire was administered to obtain socio-demographic information and potential risk factors. Nasal swab was collected from each student and cultured for isolation of S. aureus by standard microbiology techniques. Phenotypic MRSA was detected by the cefoxitin 30μg disk diffusion method according to the guideline of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The mecA gene was detected by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Results: The prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage among the study group was 14% (14/100) while the prevalence among the control group was 6% (6/100) (p=0.097). The prevalence of phenotypic MRSA among the study group was 4% (4/100) and 1% (1/100) among the control group (p=0.3687) while mecA gene was detected in 3 of the 4 (75%) phenotypic MRSA positive study participants and in the only (100%) phenotypic MRSA positive (1%) control group. Antibiotics usage without prescription, antibiotic treatment of common cold, and use of antibiotics in the previous one year, were significantly associated with MRSA carriage among the study group. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA among clinical and pre-clinical medical students was not statistically significant, the risk factors identified with carriage of MRSA among the study group indicates the need for antimicrobial stewardship program to reduce carriage and transmission of MRSA by medical students. Keywords: methicillin resistant, Staphylococcus aureus, mecA gene, nasal carriage, medical student

Sonographic assessment of pregnancy co-existing with uterine leiomyoma in Owerri, Nigeria

Background: Uterine myomas co-existing with pregnancy could cause obstetric complications. Objectives: To assess sonographically the frequency of occurrence and effect of uterine myomas co-existing with pregnancy. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted during a period of 23 months. A convenience sample of 816 consecutive consenting pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria was evaluated during routine prenatal ultrasound scan. The women were referred for prenatal sonography. One hundred of the subjects who had myoma co-existing with pregnancy and another 100 subjects without myoma were selected for follow-up. These groups were followed up till delivery and obstetric complications and outcomes were documented. Any changes in size and growth rate of myoma were documented. Results: Subjects with myoma co-existing with pregnancy were 12.3%. This was commoner with increasing maternal age. An increase was observed in myoma mean size from 60mm to 63mm from the 1st scan sequence to the 2nd scan sequence and a reduction from 63mm to 59mm in the 3rd scan sequence. Myoma growth rate was 0.667mm per week. Myomas in pregnancy especially large ones caused more complications during delivery when compared to pregnancies without myomas. Conclusion: Routine sonography is important in pregnancy management of uterine myomas co-existing with pregnancy

Sonographic biometry of spleen among school age children in Nsukka, Southeast, Nigeria

Background: Normative value of spleen size among school age children is important for objective assessment of the spleen. Objective: This study was aimed at determining sonographically the normal limits of the spleen size according to age, sex,and somatometric parameters among school age children. Methods: A cross sectional study was done on 947 apparently healthy subjects (496 boys and 451 girls) aged 6 - 17 years. The subjects were recruited from some primary and secondary schools within Nsukka metropolis and also from out patients in the study centre. A pilot study was done to determine the intra- and inter rater reliability of sonographic measurements of the spleen. The sonographic examination was performed on Shenzhen DP-1100 machine with 3.5 and 5 MHz convex transducers. Spleen sizes were obtained with the subject in a right lateral decubitus position. Results: Measurement of spleen length was reliable while measurement of spleen width was less reliable within and between sonographers. Dimensions of the spleen were not statistically different in boys and girls (p > 0.05). Height correlated best with spleen dimensions. Conclusion: Normogram of the spleen size with respect to height is important in the determination of some pathology associated with changes in its size