Prebiotics may alter bile salt hydrolase activity: Possible implications for cholesterol metabolism

Probiotics secrete bile salt hydrolase (BSH) which catalyses the deconjugation and excretion of bile salts in the GI tract altering cholesterol metabolism in the liver. Many probiotic preparations include prebiotics to promote probiotic growth but little is understood about how prebiotics affect BSH activity. In this study the ability of probiotic Lactobacilli species to deconjugate bile salts in the presence of various prebiotics was determined by measuring cholic acid release. The kinetic properties of BSH was assessed to determine the impact the prebiotics on bile salt deconjugation. When L. acidophilus NCTC 1723 was incubated with inulin (1%) there was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in cholic acid release by 0.16 nmol/min. Lactulose and lactobionic acid at 1% decreased cholic acid release to 0.2 nmol/min and 0.06 nmol/min respectively. In the presence of the pure BSH, inulin and lactulose (0-6%) altered Kₘ and Vₘₐₓ of the enzyme with a Kᵢ of 12% and 10.5% respectively. By contrast, lactobionic acid (2%) increased BSH activity two-fold (p < 0.01). These results confirm that prebiotics are capable of altering BSH activity in vitro. Similar changes in vivo could potentially affect the claimed health benefits of synbiotics particularly where the desired outcome is lowering of serum cholesterol

Hypoxemia predicts death from severe falciparum malaria among children under 5 years of age in Nigeria: The need for pulse oximetry in case management

Background: Oxygen saturation is a good marker for disease severity in emergency care. However, studies have not considered its use in  identifying individuals infected with Plasmodium falciparum at risk of deaths.Objective: To investigate the prevalence and predictive value of  hypoxaemia for deaths in under-5s with severe falciparum malaria infection.Methods: Oxygen saturation was prospectively measured alongside other indicators of disease severity in 369 under-5s admitted to a tertiary  hospital in Nigeria. Participants were children in whom falciparum malaria parasitaemia was confirmed with blood film microscopy in the presence of any of the World Health Organization-defined life-threatening features for malaria.Results: Overall mortality rate was 8.1%. Of the 16 indicators of the disease severity assessed, hypoxaemia (OR=7.54; 95% CI=2.80, 20.29), co-morbidity with pneumonia (OR=19.27; 95% CI=2.87, 29.59), metabolic acidosis (OR=6.21; 95% CI=2.21, 17.47) and hypoglycaemia (OR=19.71; 95% CI=2.61, 25.47) were independent predictors of death. Cerebral malaria, male gender, wasting, hypokalaemia, hyponatriaemia, azotaemia and renal impairment were significantly associated with death in univariate analysis but not logistic regression model.Conclusions: Hypoxaemia predicts deaths in Nigerian children with severe malaria, irrespective of other features. Efforts should always be made to measure oxygen saturation as part of the treatments for severe malaria in children.Keywords: Severe malaria, Under-5 mortality, Oxygen saturation,   Hypoxaemi

Impact of new global trade regimes on retional integration processes in the south

The critical question is how integration and cooperative schemes are they fairing (or are likely to fare) under the "new" global regimes on trade? The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is our case study for testing our key hypotheses on the challenges and opportunities for the regional integrations schemes in the South against the background of new global trade regimes. We examine the paths taken by countries in West Africa to bring about regional cooperation and integration and ask the question what is the impact of globalization, especially in terms of the pressures of global market forces on integration processes in the South

Using Marketing Performance Appraisal to Develop Bank Marketing Strategy

The 'strategic posture' of banks depends partly on the competitive environment, partly on its allocation of marketing resources. Strategic posture is determined in the context of the strengths, limitations, and corporate objectives of the bank. This paper presents different marketing strategies for bankers, suggesting that the selection of appropriate strategy should be based on the internal conditions and external forces facing the firm. The selected strategy should then be implemented by a prudent marketing plan. If a bank's marketing strategy is to be effective, due attention should be given to the marketing organizational structure and its department responsibilities. Finally, the study suggests several alternative criteria for evaluating the performance of the selected marketing strategy. Dynamic conditions and strategic objectives should be continually appraised in order that bankers might retain the market advantag

Organisational Transparency and Teachers’ Job Performance in Ogun State Public Secondary Schools

This study investigated Organisational transparency as determinant of teachers’ job performance in public secondary schools in Ogun State Nigeria. The study also sought to determine how organizational transparency affects the job performance of male and female teachers in the state. A total of 1037 teachers selected through multistage sampling procedure throughout 20 educational zones in Ogun state participated in the study. Data were collected with three instruments which were adapted, pilot tested and found to be reliable and valid. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the data collected. The results showed that Organisational transparency determined teachers’ job performance to a large extent. The variable was significant (P&lt;0.05). Organisational transparency significantly determined teachers’ job performance. The variable also significantly determined male and female teachers’ job performance in Ogun state public secondary schools. The study therefore recommended that the principal should improve his openness, be honest, be beneficial to his/her workforce to gain their acceptance and trust in his/her school. Also principal should engage in activities that can enhance Teachers’ trust in principal. Organisational transparency as demonstrated by principals’ dealings is a vital factor in achievement of organisational goals. Keywords: Organisational transparency, Male teachers, female teachers, teaches’ job performance, secondary school

ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES HINDERING COVID-19 PROTOCOL COMPLIANCE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

It has been observed that students do not adhere to COVID-19 regulations on campus despite various instructions from both government and university authorities for staff and students to maintain adequate COVID-19 protocols in universities. Therefore, this study explores the challenges faced by students that make them disregard COVID-19 protocols, such as wearing nose masks, hand sanitization, and social distancing. The study is located in an interpretive paradigm using a case study as a research design. The convenience sampling technique was used to select ten university students who responded to interview questions on the challenges that hinder them from complying with COVID-19 protocols. The study adopted thematic analysis (TA) as a qualitative tool to interpret and make meanings from the data generated. The study found that limited COVID-19 awareness on campus, health challenges among students, and lack of classroom capacity and personal protective equipment (PPE) are significant challenges. In contrast, the recommended solutions are stricter COVID-19 regulations, provision of PPE and spacious lecture rooms, and creating COVID-19 awareness/education. The study suggests that university management or authorities should provide strategies to make students adhere to the measures, provide PPE to alleviate students financially or socially and ensure adequate awareness of COVID-19 on campus

Epidemiology and clinical profile of vitiligo in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Vitiligo patients are seen routinely in the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria. However, the epidemiologic and clinical profile of these patients is not documented. The aim of this study was to document the clinical (age of onset, location, severity, class of vitiligo) and sociodemographic characteristics of these patients.Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study of patients treated for vitiligo from January 2005 to December 2009 at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan dermatology outpatient clinic. Patient records were retrieved and a study proforma was used to assess patient’s information. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.Results: Over the study period, 130 vitiligo patients seen but only 111 case notes were retrieved. The mean age at onset in children was 7.8±4.0 and 34.6±17.1 in adults, M:F was 1:1. The commonest type of vitiligo was acrofacial, area of onset was the face/scalp in 59.2%, re-pigmentation was reported in 66%, active lesions in 59.7%, severity of vitiligo was <9% in 90%, Vitiligo was in visible (exposed) parts of the body 84.7% and asymptomatic in 92.7%.Conclusions: The clinical profile of vitiligo in Ibadan, Nigeria is similar to that observed in other places with only females having a genital onset and acrofacial vitiligo being the dominant type seen. Also, treatment modality varies between children and adults