Genotoxicity and histopathological assessment of raw and simulated leachates exposed to mice

Indiscriminate solid waste disposal to the environment without proper treatment poses a serious threat to the public health. This study was carried out to investigate genotoxicity of the raw and simulated leachates samples collected from Amilegbe municipal dump site located in Ilorin metropolis in Nigeria. Some of the physicochemical properties of both raw and simulated leachate samples were determined. Mice were exposed to 1%, 2.5%, 5%, 10% and 25% (raw leachate) and 1%, 5% and 10% concentrations (simulated leachate) respectively for 35 days. Distilled water and colchicine were used for negative and positive control respectively. Two standard genotoxicity tests namely abnormal sperm-head morphology and micronucleus (MN) assays were used to assess possible genotoxicity of the raw and simulated leachates samples. Sperm head morphology assay showed some abnormalities (folded, amorphous, banana shaped, two tails, pin tail among others) and the frequencies of the abnormalities increases was concentrationdependent. Congestion, necrosis, degeneration and appearance of vacuolation were observed in the histopathological analysis of the liver. The histopathological changes were also more pronounced with higher concentrations of raw and simulated leachates. MN and abnormal nuclei frequencies also showed statistically significant differences (p>0.05) such that MN and other nuclear abnormalities reached the maximum at the highest concentration (25% >10% >5% >2.5%>1%). This study shows that the raw and simulated leachates contain potentially genotoxic and cytotoxic substances capable of causing DNA damage.Keywords: leachates; sperm head morphology assay; histopathology; blood; micronucleu

Chemical characterisation of palm kernel (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed oils as ingredients in breeding broiler diets

Lipids are important to both humans and livestock where they play important role as an excellent source of energy and enhances the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. However, oils are used in formulation without any considerations given to the peculiarities of their innate constituents particularly, vitamin, fatty acids and phytochemicals. Thus, the basis of these determinations. Three lipids: palm kernel oil (PKO), shea butter (SB) and sesame seed oil (SSO), were analyzed chemically in triplicate using standard methods. Results showed that SB had the highest (p<0.05) peroxide value (meq/kg) of 7.4 while PKO (0.7) and SSO (0.3) were similar (p>0.05). The iodine values (g/100g) of the lipids were not significantly different (p>0.05). The saponification value (mgKOH) of PKO (249.9) was significantly higher than SBO (190.9) and SSO (15.8) while the acid value (mgKOH/g) of SBO (10.6) was significantly lower (p<0.05). The α-tocopherol of SBO was 119.2 μg/mL which was significantly higher (p<0.05) than 69.6 μg/mL in SSO and 24.4μg/mL in PKO while there were significant variations (p<0.05) in the fatty acid composition of the oils. Analyses revealed the oils possessed variable chemical characteristics; while PKO would be most appropriate for soap production, SBO and SSO would be more susceptible to rancidity. Keywords: palm kernel oil, sesame seed oil, shea butter, pro-vitamin

In-vitro antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of Diospyros monbuttensis

Diospyros species in folklore medicine are used as anti-inflammatory,  antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and antiviral agents. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of the leaves of Diospyros monbuttensis were evaluated against three bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus ) and fungal strain (Aspergillus niger). Extraction was carried out using both polar and non-polar solvents (ethanol and water). The leaves were screened for phytochemical constituents and preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity carried out using the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the agar well dilution method. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, glycosides and alkaloids in the plant. The ethanolic leaf extract of D. monbuttensis had no activity against the test organisms, but antimicrobial activity was observed for the aqueous extract against S. aureus and E. coli at all concentrations tested. The MIC of the aqueous extract of D. monbuttensis on S. aureus and E. coli was 0.78 mg/ml. The results of this study indicate that Diospyros monbuttensis leaves may be used for treatment of infections caused by S. aureus and E. coli.Keywords: Diospyros monbuttensis; Antimicrobial activity; phytochemical screenin

Investigation into the Behaviour of Polymer-Aggregate Concrete under Compressive Loading Condition

The problem of Housing deficit has been a major problem in Nigeria owing to the perennial hike in prices of building materials in which cement, sand and granite form the nucleus of the materials in the built industry; hence the need to research into local available materials that could replace the conventional materials used in concrete production. This paper investigated the behaviour of a polymer concretes using Reprocessed Pure Water Sachet (PWS) as binder, laterite and clay as aggregates in separate mixtures with polymer for possible replacement of conventional cement concrete in some areas of application. The polymer aggregate concretes were prepared by mixing Reprocessed PWS with laterite and clay differently in different polymer-aggregate percentage replacements by volume (50%-50%, 60%-40%, 70%-30%, and 80%-20%) after sieve analysis had been carried out on aggregate samples. Compressive strength test was carried out on all samples after 28 days of air drying. It was discovered that polymer aggregate concrete compresses under a small applied load ranging from an average of 1.13KN to 1.88KN; and the loss in weight/height was alarming as the polymer (Reprocessed PWS) content in the concrete mix increases. It was also discovered that, the more the polymer content the lower the compressive strength in both cases, that is, laterite and clay aggregates but higher values were recorded in laterite but still a far cry from average compressive strength of reinforced concrete. The compressive strength ranged from 3.0N/mm2-1.0N/mm2 (50%-50% to 80%-20%) for laterite aggregate and 1.0N/mm2-0.5N/mm2 for clay aggregate. However, it was observed that polymer aggregate concretes behaved in such a manner that, under compression process, the samples didn’t break as always in the case of conventional cement concrete but a loss in weight and height were recorded owing to solvent oozing out of samples under compression process. Keywords: Polymer Concrete (PC), Pure Water Sachet (PWS), Polymer-Aggregate, Sieve analysis, Compressive Strength

Investigation into Strength Properties of Polymer-Sand Aggregate Concrete

Polymer concrete (PC) is a composite material formed by combining mineral aggregates such as sand or gravel with a monomer. This study investigated the strength properties of a polymer concrete using reprocessed Pure Water Sachet (PWS) as a binder and sharp sand as aggregate for possible replacement for conventional cement concrete in some areas of application. The polymer sand aggregate concrete was prepared by mixing reprocessed PWS with sand in different polymer-aggregate percentage replacements by volume (50%-50%, 60%-40%, 70%-30%, and 80%-20%) after sieve analysis had been carried out on the sand while the control specimen, that is, conventional cement concrete was prepared from a mix ratio of 1:2:4. Compressive strength test was carried out on all samples after 28 days curing in air and water for both polymer aggregate concrete and conventional cement concrete respectively. It was discovered that, the more the polymer (reprocessed PWS) content the lower the compressive strength. The compressive strength ranged from 2.0N/mm2-0.5N/mm2 (50%-50% to 80%-20%) at an average of 1.2N/mm2; but very low compared to conventional cement concrete strength as specified in BS 8110 1-1997. However, modifying cement formulations with polymers provides many important properties that make a variety of applications possible, including concrete patch and repair, decorative cement overlays, ceramic tile adhesives, and many others. Keywords: Polymer Concrete (PC), Pure Water Sachet (PWS), Polymer-Aggregate, Sieve analysis, Compressive Strength

Design and Construction of NBRRI Pozzolana Cement Pilot Plant Access Road

Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), in trying to solve the menace of housing deficit ravaging the country, established a Pozzolana Cement Pilot Plant at its Laboratory Complex, Ota, Ogun State. When the plant is fully in operation, it would bring respite/succour to the low-medium class citizenry as the cost of pozzolana cement will be affordable to build a light weight/bungalow structures. This gave rise to the birth of this access road, as it became imperative to design and construct an access road to the Pozzolana Cement Plant using a ‘’stage construction’’ approach. The ‘’stage construction’’ approach/method was adopted to construct a 300m long by 7m wide roadway, where the subgrade (poorly graded sand and clay) was stabilized by proportioning technique of mechanical stabilization with well graded lateritic sub-base and base layers of 100mm thickness each. With the development of the bitumen sprayer by the Engineering Material Research Department, the pozzolana access road was used to test the effectiveness and efficiency of the innovation. The combined lateritic road surfacing of 200mm thickness was overlaid with 80mm thick stone-dust (8mm; ø) interface which was smeared with a thin layer of bitumen MC1. The bitumen surface was then covered with a 100mm thick granite (10mm; ø) layer. All the layers were well compacted using a 730kg pedestrian roller to an average of 20 passes on each layer.  However, when the plant is fully operational, the road would facilitate the movement of goods/ NBRRI Pozzolana cements in and out of the Institute (NBRRI) as this would contribute greatly to the economy of the nation after being adopted/accepted by the larger masses as an affordable alternative to conventional Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to erect their light weight concrete structures. Keywords: Pozzolana cement, Subgrade, Subbase, Base, Pedestrian roller, Light weight, Stabilization, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Bitumen MC1

Morphological and morphometric studies of the aorta, pulmonary trunk, and heart of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Micro-anatomical changes in the aorta, pulmonary trunk, and left ventricle of Wistar rats were studied after the administration of streptozotocin. Twenty adult Rattus norvegicus were randomly assigned into two groups (control and diabetic) of ten rats each. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced in the diabetic group of rats by daily intra-peritoneal administration of multiple doses of 40 mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer for five consecutive days. The control group was given the equivalent volume of citrate buffer. The animals were monitored for four weeks after streptozotocin administration. Post sacrifice, the left ventricle, aorta, and pulmonary trunk were excised, weighed, and fixed by immersion in 10% formol saline. The tissues were processed for paraffin embedding, and sections of 6 &#956;m thickness were produced and stained with H & E for general histological observations, and Verhoeff-van Gieson elastic fibre stain to demonstrate elastic fibres in these cardiovascular structures. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Histopathological and morphometric examinations of the stained sections showed a significant increase in the thickness of the tunica intima of aorta (t = &#8211;7.49; df = 9; p < 0.05) and pulmonary trunk (t = &#8211;10.81; df = 9; p < 0.05) in diabetic rats (14.59 &#177; 1.189 mm and 11.307 &#177; 0.863 mm, respectively) when compared to that of the control group (3.62 &#177; 0.353 mm and 3.22 &#177; 0.244 mm, respectively). In addition, the distribution of elastic and collagen fibres was sparse in the hearts of the diabetic group when compared to that of the control group. The findings of this study demonstrated that diabetes mellitus might cause some alterations in the microanatomy of cardiovascular structures

Histomorphological and morphometric studies of the pancreatic islet cells of diabetic rats treated with extracts of Annona muricata

Microanatomical changes in the pancreatic islet cells of streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats were studied after treatment with methanolic extracts of Annona muricata leaves. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups (control, untreated diabetic group, and A. muricata-treated diabetic group) of ten rats each. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced in groups B and C by a single intra-peritoneal injection of 80 mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer. The control rats were intraperitoneally injected with an equivalent volume of citrate buffer. Daily intra peritoneal injections of 100 mg/kg A. muricata were administered to group C rats for two weeks. Post sacrifice the pancreases of the rats were excised and fixed in Bouin&#8217;s fluid. The tissues were processed for paraffin embedding and sections of 5 &#956;m thickness were produced and stained with H & E, Gomori aldehyde fuchsin, and chrome alum haematoxylin-phloxine for demonstration of the &#946;-cells of islets of pancreatic islets. Histomorphological and morphometric examination of the stained pancreatic sections showed a significant increase in the number, diameter, and volume of the &#946;-cells of pancreatic islets of the A. muricata-treated group (5.67 &#177; 0.184 N/1000 &#956;m2, 5.38 &#177; 0.093 &#956;m and 85.12 &#177; 4.24 &#956;m3, respectively) when compared to that of the untreated diabetic group of rats (2.85 &#177; 0.361 N/1000 &#956;m2, 2.85 &#177; 0.362 &#956;m and 69.56 &#177; 5.216 &#956;m3, respectively). The results revealed regeneration of the &#946;-cells of islets of pancreatic islet of rats treated with extract of A. muricata. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 2: 92-100

Determinants of severity of hyperbilirubinaemiaamong glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficient neonates in Jos north central Nigeria

Introduction: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an inherited disorder capable of causing severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, kernicterus and death. Identifying such neonates and other factors that could aggravate their clinical states have definite place in managing them for favourable outcomes.Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty (150) icteric neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Units of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State Special Hospital and the Bingham University Teaching Hospital were recruited for this study. It was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted between March 2013 and February 2014. Parental consents were obtained and Clinical information was gathered using a questionnaire, weight were measured in grams while laboratory investigations that included FullBlood Count (FBC), Reticulocyte Count, Serum Bilirubin (SB) Assay and G6PD activity levels were carried out.Results: Mean age of the studied neonates at presentation was 3.28 ± 3.11 days while mean age of detection of jaundice was 2.86 ± 1.67. One hundred and five (70%) were delivered at full-term gestation (&gt;37weeks) while 45 (30%) were delivered preterm (&lt;37 weeks) with twenty-nine (19.3%) having history of jaundice in siblings. Fifty (35.7%) had birth weight of less than 2500g while the birth weight of 10 (6.7%) were unknown. Sixty-one of these neonates (40.7 %) were G6PD deficient with mean total serum bilirubin of 205.01 ±96.57µmol/L.Conclusion: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common enzyme disorder among neonates presenting with hyperbilirubinaemia which can be aggravated by other factors. Key words: Determinants, Hyperbilirubinaemia, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, Neonate

Optimal timing of post-operative haematocrit check in obstetric and gynaecological surgeries

Background: Haemorrhage is a feared albeit common complication of surgery in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Measurement of haematocrit post operatively is believed to be part of good medical practice since it gives an inkling to intraoperative and immediate post-operative blood loss and the need for blood transfusion. The objective of the study is to determine if there was any difference between haematocrit values gotten on day 1 and 2 and also to determine the optimal time for the post-operative haematocrit check.Methods: One thousand patients who had surgery in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LTH) and Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso were recruited. Capillary blood samples were obtained at 24hours and 48 hours post operatively. The haematocrit was determined using a 24 place micro haematocrit centrifuge and the values checked using a haematocrit reader. Frequency tables and charts were made and results were tested for significance with level of significance (x) set at 0.05.Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.88±9.45, with a modal age group of 21-30years. The commonest obstetric surgery done was caesarean section (60.6%) while the commonest gynaecological surgery was myomectomy (13.8%). There is a significant difference between the haematocrit values gotten on day one and two (p= 0.000). There was significant difference between the haematocrit values on both days and the unit the patient was managed; the type of surgery done and the age group of the patient.Conclusion: The haematocrit on postoperative day 2 is more representative of the blood loss.Keywords: postoperative, haematocrit, obstetrics, gynaecolog