EKSPERIMENTALNO ISPITIVANJE SINTETIZIRANE ISPLAKE NA BAZI BIODIZELA

Diesel oil has been the preferred base fluid for the formulation of oil-based drilling mud. Diesel oil has negative effects on the environment and there is a growing need for more environmentally sustainable alternatives that can be technically compared to diesel base oil. In recent times, the use of vegetable oils as drilling fluid base oil has been of interest. In this study, 1378 kg/m3 of palm kernel oil-based mud (PKOBM) and palm kernel oil biodiesel based mud (BDBM) were experimentally formulated. BDBM was synthesized by the transesterification of vegetable (palm kernel) oil. The performance of PKOBM and BDBM was then evaluated against conventional diesel oil-based mud (DOBM). The evaluation performed was based on the rheological, filtration and wall building properties, emulsion and thermal stabilities, and acute toxicity of the formulated drilling fluid systems. The results obtained from the study reveal that the mud systems (PKOBM and BDBM) show a typical Herschel-Bulkley (modified power-law) drilling mud rheological pattern at temperatures of 49°C, 66°C and 80°C. BDBM showed comparable rheological properties with better hole cleaning capacity as indicated by a lower flow index. For the filtrate loss test, BDBM exhibited a slightly lower filtrate loss compared to DOBM, whereas PKOBM had a higher fluid loss of 4.4 ml. For the filter cake and thermal stability test, there were no significant changes between DOBM and BDBM, whereas PKOBM had the least desirable performance. BDBM exhibited the most stable emulsion of 1274 volts breaking voltage and PKOBM, the least with 739 volts compared to 1169 volts breaking voltage of DOBM. This study concludes that BDBM could be used as an environmentally sustainable substitute for diesel oil-based mud (DOBM).Kao bazni fluid za pripremu isplake na bazi ulja najčešće se upotrebljava dizelsko ulje. Dizelsko ulje ima negativan utjecaj na okoliš i sve je veća potreba za ekološki održivijim alternativama koje se s tehničkoga aspekta mogu usporediti s dizelskim baznim uljem. U novije se vrijeme istražuje mogućnost upotrebe biljnih ulja kao baznoga ulja u isplakama. U ovome istraživanju eksperimentalno su pripremljene isplaka (gustoće 1378 kg/m3) na bazi palmina ulja (ulje iz palminih koštica) (PKOBM) i isplaka na bazi biodizela dobivenoga iz palmina ulja (BDBM). BDBM je dobiven transesterifikacijom biljnoga (palmina) ulja. Zatim je napravljena usporedba karakteristika PKOBM-a i BDBM-a i konvencionalne isplake na bazi dizelskoga ulja (DOBM). Isplake su uspoređene na temelju reoloških i filtracijskih svojstava, sposobnosti stvaranja isplačnoga obloga, stabilnosti emulzije, toplinske stabilnosti te akutne toksičnosti. Rezultati dobiveni istraživanjem upućuju na to da isplake PKOBM i BDBM pokazuju tipično Herschel-Bulkley (modificirani eksponencijalni (power-law) model) reološko ponašanje pri temperaturama od 49 °C, 66 °C i 80 °C. BDBM je pokazao usporediva reološka svojstva uz bolji kapacitet iznošenja krhotina nego što bi na to upućivao niži indeks protoka. U testu gubitka filtrata isplake BDBM je pokazao nešto manji gubitak filtrata u odnosu na DOBM, dok je PKOBM imao veći gubitak filtrata, koji je iznosio 4,4 ml. Ispitivanja isplačne obloge (filter cake) i termičke stabilnosti nisu pokazala znatnije razlike između DOBM-a i BDBMa, dok je PKOBM imao najmanje poželjne performanse. U usporedbi stabilnosti emulzija BDBM je pokazao najstabilniju emulziju (destabilizacija emulzije pri naponu od 1274 V), a PKOBM najmanje stabilnu emulziju (destabilizacija pri 739 V), dok u slučaju DOBM-a do destabilizacije emulzije dolazi pri naponu od 1169 V. Temeljem provedenih istraživanja zaključeno je da bi se BDBM mogao koristiti kao ekološki održiva zamjena za isplaku na bazi dizelskoga ulja (DOBM)

The Parity Rate of Indoor-Resting Adult Female Anopheles and Culex Mosquitoes and Their Implication in Disease Transmission in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Female Hostels Awka, South Eastern Nigeria

A study on the parity rate of indoor-resting Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes and their implication in disease transmission was carried out in Nnamdi Azikiwe University female hostel between June and July 2016. The mosquitoes were sampled weekly from 24 randomly selected rooms using pyrethrum knock-down collection (P.K.C). A total of 516 mosquitoes comprising of 4 species: Anopheles Gambiae, Anopheles funestus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex annulioris, were collected during the study period. The mosquitoes were examined for their abdominal gradings/gonotrophic stages and dissected for parity determination. Culex quinquefasciatus (61.43%) constituted the most abundant species followed by Anopheles Gambiae (30.04%) and Anopheles funestus (7.56%) and the least being Culex annulioris (0.97%). Results showed that majority of the vector species were fed and parous and variations among the parity rates of the 4 species was significant (

Fibrinogen Concentration and Thrombin Levels in Pregnant Women in Nnewi, Anambra State, South, Eastern Nigeria.

This study was aimed at looking at the influence of pregnancy on fibrinogen concentration and thrombin time (TT) levels. A total of 195 pregnant women between 18 and 35 years were recruited, 59 were in their first trimester (group A), 61 second trimester (group B) and 75 the third trimester (group C). A total of 150 apparently healthy non pregnant women were used as normal control (group D). Blood samples which was collected from each of the participants after obtaining informed consent was tested for the fibrinogen concentration using Clauss method and thrombin time using two stage method. The study was approved by Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Ethical Committee Nnewi. ANOVA and students t-test were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that fibrinogen concentration (mg/dL) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in group A, B and C as compared with the control group. TT (s) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in group A, B and C compared with the control group. This study therefore suggests that the increase in these coagulation factors observed are due to increased thrombin generation, inflammatory state of pregnancy and fibrinogen being an acute-phase protein. It is important to obtain a baseline of these parameters for all pregnant women during antenatal visits, in order to detect any abnormality early. Key words: Fibrinogen concentration, thrombin time and pregnancy

Hydrochemical Characteristics of Water Quality Around Nkalagu Area, Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Hydrochemical characteristics of water quality around Nkalagu area has been studied and characterized using multivariate statistical analysis. Eighty water samples were collected in the area from spatially referenced boreholes, hand dug wells abandoned mines, catch pits and rivers located in and around the Nkalagu area and were analyzed for EC, pH, TDS, TH, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42- and Fe2+ according to EPA and APHA standards. Based on mean values, the order of abundance in ions is Cl- > HCO3- > SO42- > NO3-, for anions and Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2 - > K+, for cations. TDS and Salinity hazard classifications characterized the water in the study area as soft to very hard with low to very high salinity hazard. Principal component analysis (PCA) reduced the hydrochemical data into two principal components which explain 78.553 %, of the total variance that characterize the water quality in relation to the source of its hydrochemistry. Cluster analysis (CA) grouped eighty water samples in the area into eight clusters of similar water quality characteristics related to water-rock interaction, agriculture and anthropogenic sources. Discriminant analysis (DA) showed that the discriminating parameters of water quality in the area are EC, TDS, TH, SO4, Cl, Mg, Ca, Na, and HCO3 and this revealed that water quality in the area is controlled by both geogenic and anthropogenic processes. Keywords: Water Quality, Multivariate analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-11-07 Publication date: November 30th 201

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Prevalence and intensity of malaria in blood donors at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

The risk of transmission of malaria parasites through blood transfusion has been noted. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and intensity of malaria on healthy blood donors who attended Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, from April to May 2002. Blood samples were collected from 200 blood donors, which comprises of 159 males and 41 females grouped according to age in years. Thick and thin films prepared from the samples were examined and malaria parasites were counted according to the World Health Organisation recommendation. The result shows an overall prevalence rate of 46% for malaria parasitaemia among the blood donors. Females showed a higher prevalence rate (48%) than males (45%). Only Plasmodium falciparum (43%) and Plasmodium malariae (3%) were seen. A higher parasite load of 24.8 x 103 parasites/microlitre of blood was observed among the males than the females with 4.9 x 103 parasites/microlitre of blood. The differences observed were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The age-group 20 years and below and the 51– 60 years had the highest prevalence rate of 50% while the 41-50 years age-group had the least (40%), a difference which is statistically significant (

Factors affecting undergraduates' participation in medical research in Lagos

Background:&nbsp;The current situation regarding the scope and contribution of undergraduate medical research to the health space in Nigeria is still largely unreported in formal literature. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and the perceived barriers faced by medical students in Lagos toward research.&nbsp;Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted among all medical students in 200–600 levels of study at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. With the aid of Self-administered questionnaires, we examined their knowledge of research and the analytical tools used in research, their attitudes and the perceived barriers to their participation in research.&nbsp;Results: The data were obtained from 221 medical students, of whom 52.9% had prior involvement in research and 14.0% and 6.3% had presented or published their research, respectively. The overall knowledge of medical research was low (21.3%) and reported barriers included lack of funding for research' (79.6%), “lack of research and biostatistics curriculum” (76.0%), “inadequate training in research methodology” (74.7%), “insufficient time allocation to undergraduate research” (73.3%), “lack of professional supervisors and proper mentoring” (58.8%), and “lack of equipped laboratory facilities to conduct research” (77.8%). Conclusion:&nbsp;Our results highlight the need for more mentored supervision and training to improve their knowledge of the principles and techniques of clinical research to increase involvement

Association of Serum Magnesium with Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertensive Crises: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

The role of magnesium in blood pressure has been studied among hypertensive patients; however, there is a dearth of studies exploring the role of magnesium in hypertensive crises. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum magnesium and blood pressure in patients with hypertensive crises. This was a single-center, retrospective, chart review, cross-sectional study of patients with hypertensive crises. Patients were included if they were eighteen years of age or older, with an international classification disease ninth revision (ICD-9) code of 401.9 (hypertensive crises: emergency or urgency) and a documented magnesium level on their electronic medical record. The primary outcome of the study was the correlation between serum magnesium and blood pressure (systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure) in patients with hypertensive crises. Two hundred and ninety-three patients were included in the study. The primary outcome result showed that serum magnesium was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.143, p = 0.014), but not diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: This study found a significant positive association between magnesium and systolic blood pressure, but not diastolic blood pressure, among patients with hypertensive crises. This positive association of serum magnesium with systolic blood pressure was maintained after adjusting for covariates. This study’s findings suggest a potential role of magnesium in blood pressure among patients with hypertensive crises