HYDROLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS OF SOME RIVERS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA FOR SMALL-SCALE HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT

The aim of this study is to determine the hydro-power potentials of selected rivers in Edo State using hydrological indices. Four Rivers were investigated namely Ovia, Ikpoba  Edion, Orlie Rivers.  Discharge measurement was carried out for 12 calendar months, from January 2013 to December 2013 using the grid point technique, commonly known as velocity-area method while Gross Hydropower Potential GHP was determined using model developed by UNIDO. Highest monthly hydropower yields were recorded in September for Ovia, Ikpoba and Edion Rivers and in August for Orlie River. On annual basis, Ovia River, recorded the highest power yield of 61.619MW (suggesting that Ovia river may be suitable for a Medium hydropower scheme, 10MW-100MW) with the highest monthly power yield of 42.381MW recorded in September, followed by August (7.047MW). Lowest power yield of 0.019MW was recorded in February.In Ikpoba River, annual hydropower yield was recorded as 14.78MW, while the lowest power yield of 0.02MW was recorded in April. Highest yield of 5.76MW was recorded in september.River Orlie recorded an annual hydropower yield of 9.819 MW, with August having the highest power yield of 3.296MW. Other significant hydropower yield values were recorded in September and July.Edion River has an annual power yield of  5.49MW. Lowest yield in this river was recorded in April..The dependability of flow for hydropower operations were evaluated using the Flow Duration Curve (FDC). The results showed that extreme high monthly discharge volumes of 544.8m3in Ovia river, 172m3 in Ikpoba river, 102.1m3 in Orlie and 57.1m3 in Edion have dependability percentages of less than 10%. Notwithstanding the hydrological conditions of these rivers can be categorized as adequate (15%-40%) to average moisture conditions (40%-60%).  http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i3.2

Inter-Decadal Nature of Rainfall Character Over Sudano-Sahel, North-West Nigeria

The study investigated the spatial pattern of decadal variations in annual rainfall amounts in the Sokoto-Rima River Basin, Northwestern Nigeria. Rainfall dataset which is available on high-resolution (0.5 x 0.5 degree) grids resolution from the Climatic Research Unit CRU TS 3.21 of the University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom was used for the period 1943-2012 for Bunza, Dakindari southwest of the study area, Gulma, Augi, northwest of the Sokoto-Rima basin, Goronyo, Galadi, northeast Maje and Dan-Dume stations southeast of the basin. Correlation of CRU TS dataset was performed with measured rainfall data (Yelwa climatic station) from Nigerian Meteorological Agency, using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistic at 0.05 significant levels. In general, the study found that periods of downward fluctuations in annual rainfall below mean values corresponded with period of rise in global temperature occasioned by anthropogenic greenhouse gases emission. The study revealed a significant decrease in the annual rainfall from late 1980 onwards.Key Word: Rainfall, decadal departure, River Basin, Rainfall variation. Climate Research Uni

Nanotechnology advances towards development of targeted-treatment for obesity

Obesity through its association with type 2 diabetes (T2D), cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), poses a serious health threat, as these diseases contribute to high mortality rates. Pharmacotherapy alone or in combination with either lifestyle modifcation or surgery, is reliable in maintaining a healthy body weight, and preventing progression to obesity-induced diseases. However, the anti-obesity drugs are limited by non-specifcity and unsustainable weight loss efects. As such, novel and improved approaches for treatment of obesity are urgently needed. Nanotechnology-based therapies are investigated as an alternative strategy that can treat obesity and be able to overcome the drawbacks associated with conventional therapies. The review presents three nanotechnology-based anti-obesity strategies that target the white adipose tissues (WATs) and its vasculature for the reversal of obesity. These include inhibition of angiogenesis in the WATs, transformation of WATs to brown adipose tissues (BATs), and photothermal lipolysis of WATs. Compared to conventional therapy, the targeted-nanosystems have high tolerability, reduced side efects, and enhanced efcacy. These efects are reproducible using various nanocarriers (liposomes, polymeric and gold nanoparticles), thus providing a proof of concept that targeted nanotherapy can be a feasible strategy that can combat obesity and prevent its comorbiditie

Assessment of prescribed medications and pattern of distribution for potential drug–drug interactions among chronic kidney disease patients attending the Nephrology Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Sub-Saharan West Africa

Olumuyiwa John Fasipe,1 Peter Ehizokhale Akhideno,2 Obiyo Nwaiwu,3 Alex Adedotun Adelosoye4 1Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo State, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irruar, Edo State, 3Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Lagos, Yaba, Lagos State, 4Department of Family Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria Introduction: Life expectancy has increased significantly among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients due to the extensive use of polypharmacy practice for medication prescriptions. This predisposes them to potential drug–drug interactions (DDIs), which can lead to an increase in morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and health care cost. Methods: This was a 30-month retrospective study that reviewed the medical case records of consenting adult CKD patients from January 2014 to June 2016. The Medscape drug reference database was used to evaluate patients’ medications for potential DDIs. Results: This study involved 123 adult CKD patients (63 [51.22%] males and 60 [48.78%] females) with a mean age of 53.81±16.03 years. The most common comorbid conditions were hypertension (112 [91.10%]) and diabetes mellitus (45 [36.60%]). Regarding the form of nephrological interventions being offered, the majority of the respondents - 66 (53.66%) were on maintenance dialysis, followed by 53 (43.09%) respondents on conservative care, while 4 (3.25%) respondents were on renal transplantation. A total of 1264 prescriptions were made, and the mean number of prescribed medications per patient was 10.28±3.85. The most frequently prescribed medications were furosemide (88 [71.6%]), heparin (67 [54.47%]), lisinopril (65 [52.9%]), oral calcium carbonate (CaCO3) (63 [51.2%]), α-calcidol (62 [50.4%]), and erythropoietin (61 [49.6%]). A total number of 1851 potential DDIs were observed among 118 patients. The prevalence of potential DDIs in this study was 78.0%, while the mean DDI per prescription was 1.50. Among the potential DDIs observed, the severity was mild in 639 (34.5%) patients, moderate in 1160 (62.7%) patients, and major in 51 (2.8%) patients and only 1 (0.1%) patient was of contraindicated drug combination. The most frequent DDIs’ pattern observed was between oral CaCO3 and oral ferrous sulfate. There was a statistically significant association between the number of prescribed medications and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; pre-ESRD and ESRD staging) with a P-value of 0.00000119. This implies that the number of prescribed medications increases as the eGFR declines in advance CKD stage patients. Conclusion: Most of these interactions have moderate severity and delayed onset, hence the need to follow-up these patients after prescription in order to reduce associated morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and health care cost. Physicians and clinical pharmacists should utilise available interaction software to avoid harmful DDIs in these patients. Keywords: potential, drug–drug interactions, chronic kidney disease, polypharmacy, prescribed medications, pattern of distribution, Medscape interaction checke