Short-Term Feeding of Fibre-Enriched Biscuits: Protective Effect against Hepatotoxicity in Diabetic Rats

The effects of fibre-enriched biscuit on biomarkers associated with hepatotoxicity in diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate. Treatment lasted for 14 days after which the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Blood serum was analyzed to determine hepatic function enzymes. The liver was also analyzed to determine hepatic lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes. Induction of diabetes led to elevated levels of ALP, AST, and ALT. These were, however, significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the fibre-enriched biscuit fed (treated) group. There was no significant difference in the serum bilirubin and total protein levels of the studied groups. Reduced albumin level was observed in the diabetic group; this was further lowered on feeding with fibre-enriched biscuits. Induction of diabetes led to increased hepatic level of cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and lipid peroxidation and decreased activities of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and HDL level. These were significantly (p<0.05) reversed on feeding with fibre-enriched biscuit. This study portrays the protective effect of fibre-enriched biscuit on increased oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia in hepatic tissues of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Empowerment of women in Nigeria’s small-scale fisheries: a tool to sustainability

In Nigeria, women play major roles of at least 75% in the fisheries and aquaculture value- chains from production, processing, storage, marketing and trade. Unlike the men, women have not received commensurate levels of attention and empowerment largely because their roles are perceived as ‘invisible’, poorly evaluated and undocumented without substantial sex-disaggregated data as proof. For these reasons above and in furtherance of identifying key areas in which empowerment needs to be strengthened thus closing the gender gap, this study was undertaken to contribute to information on the nature and empowerment of women and the factors influencing their participation in the small-scale fisheries. The study also aimed at determining relationship between the extent of the women’s empowerment and some selected determinants using a cumulative empowerment index (CEI). A mix of transdisciplinary, quantitative and qualitative methods was used for this study in Ikosi in Agbowa and Igboolomi fishing communities of Epe and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Areas of Lagos State respectively. Ten indicators of empowerment : contribution to household income, decision making ability, spending ability, ownership of assets, access to resources, membership in economic or social groups, time allocated to household, productive tasks and leisure activities, coping capacity to household shocks and political awareness were chosen for this purpose. Results obtained in this study showed that women are still very low in the CEI and it is hoped that this will pave way for a strategic framework for including gender –responsiveness in policies and developmental planning

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

Background Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC). Findings In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683–0·717]). Interpretation In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required. Funding British Journal of Surgery Society

Finishing and aesthetic capabilities of Nigerian metal fabrication companies:case study of Ibadan, southwest, Nigeria

Poor finishing and aesthetic capabilities of metal fabrication companies in Nigeria have been identified as a major cause of the poor acceptance of locally fabricated products. This study was aimed at assessing some finishing and aesthetic capabilities of Nigerian companies.Five companies were selected for analysis. Their equivalent imported substitutes were identified for comparison.Ten basic operations(painting, electroplating, metal spraying, lapping, super finishing, abrasive belt grinding, buffing, parkerizing, polishing and chemical conversion coating) for accomplishing the three finishing processes (surface cleaning, surface smoothing and surface coating) on a given metal product were identified. Standard equipment types required for the operations were identified from the literature. The fabrication methods, practices and equipment types used by the companies to carry out the operations were compared with industry standards. The physical structures and aesthetics of the product were compared to the imported substitutes. The manpower level of each company based on the age, educational status, years of experience, familarity with finishing operation of workers was also evaluated. On the average the companies make only 40% of the standard finishing operation identified from the literature, 50% of the workers have post secondary school qualification and 50% have over 5 years experience on the job. Investment in equipment and technology is generally poor. It is concluded that comparatively, local metal fabricators lack the required finishing and aesthetics capabilities in area of equipment and manpower skills

The Effect of Climate Change on the Health of Aged People in Ibadan, Nigeria

Susceptibility to ill health among aged people had been linked with climate change impacts in rapidly urbanising cities. Therefore, this study evaluates to the vulnerability of aged people to the health impacts of climate change in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data on clinically diagnosed climate related diseases (CRDs) (2000 – 2014) among aged people (&gt;50 years) and temperature and rainfall parameters (1970 – 2007) in Ibadan were obtained and projected to year 2050. Also, the relationship between the climatic parameters and incidence of the five most prevalent CRDs were analysed using multiple regression. The increasing trend of mean maximum temperature (r = 0.47) and rainfall (r = 0.15) is associated with incidences of hypertension (34.4%), respiratory diseases (21.2%) and diarrhoea (14.3%) among aged people (&gt; 60 years), mostly male folk (67.2%). The linear composite of disease communalities extracted 84.0% variance of the data set with the following component scores: skin disease (0.98), hypertension (0.96), respiratory disease (0.92), diarrhoea (0.89) and malaria (0.45). Further, CRDs (R2 = 27%, p = 0.012) in Ibadan among aged people could be significantly attributed to influences of climatic parameters. The study suggests building aged peoples’ resilience to emanating impacts through health and nutritional improvement programs, and re-introduction of neighbourhood parks and gardens.</jats:p

Spatio-temporal variations in urban crime in Ogbomos, Nigeria

Against the background of the increasing frequency, scope and sophistication of crime as well as the insurmountable problems associated with its seemingly uncontrollable tendencies in cities of the world generally and Nigerian urban centers in particular, this paper examines the rates, forms and spatio-temporal variations in urban crime in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. The paper utilizes a nine-year (1995-2003) police crime record obtained from the Divisional Police Headquarters of the two local governments whose areas of jurisdiction cover the metropolis. A total of 4767 reviewed crime cases were reclassified into ten categories and examined by location within the existing urban spatial structure of high, medium and low density residential densities. All the ten categories of crime identified were encountered. However, the most prevalent were crime of acquisition (48.8%) and aggression (28.3%), with the high density area having the greatest concentration of cases. The temporal analysis shows that crime trend decreased in Ogbomoso within the period of study, a feat attributed to more gainful employment for the urban youths, particularly the increase in the use of motor cycle popularly known as “Okada” as a mode of intra-city transportation. The causal factors of crime are examined within structuralism and individualism paradigms. On planning implications, it is suggested that principles guiding landuse zoning (or allocation), infrastructural planning, and building design be reviewed so as to prevent the creation of danger zone within the urban landscape. Global Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 21-2