Effects of global warming on respiratory diseases

Background: Global warming is a consequence of air pollution resulting in climate change due to trapping of excess greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere that affects biodiversity and constitutes a serious health hazard, especially to the respiratory system. These greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, ozone and nitrous oxide. They hold heat in the atmosphere thereby creating a greenhouse effect. The sources of these gases include human activities like industrial air pollution, burning of human waste, wood and forests, tobacco, fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal, deforestation and the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Climate change brought about by global warming results in storms, drought, and floods which can be of immediate threat to life, the respiratory system being particularly vulnerable because of the background air pollution. Effects of global warming on the respiratory system include potentially increased incidence (and/or worsening/exacerbations) of the following: bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases, infection (pneumonia and tuberculosis), parasitic lung diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, lung cancer and sudden death.Aim: To create awareness and increase enlightenment about the very important subject of global warming and the lung.Methods: A literature search on global warming and respiratory diseases was carried out through the internet (Google, Medline) and locally. Data synthesis was carried out and synchronized under the following headings: introduction, effects of global warming on respiratory diseases, respiratory diseases, and recommendations.Conclusion: There is urgent need for control measures to be taken to mitigate the effects of global warming on the respiratory system.Keywords: Global warming, respiratory disease

Effect of Pretreatments on the Drying Characteristics and Quality of African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum)

Fruits, due to high moisture content, deteriorate quickly when not adequately preserved. Drying, a common preservation method, will affect quality of final product if not properly controlled. Pretreatments prior to drying have been established as a way of retaining product qualities. This study investigated the effect of pretreatments on the qualities of dried African star apple flesh. African star apple fleshes were sliced (2, 4, 6 and 8 mm) and subjected to pretreatments [blanching (80 ºC for 3 min), lime juice (100%), ascorbic acid and salt solution (1:25 w/v)]. Untreated samples served as control. Samples were dried in cabinet dryer (50, 55 and 60 ºC) at 2 m/s constant air flow-rate, monitored at intervals, until constant weight was obtained. Ascorbic acid and colour measurement of the fresh and dried sample were determined using standard method. The moisture contents of the African star apple flesh were observed to reduce from a mean value of 70.44%, 71.55% and 73.24% to 2.38%, 1.91% and 3.23% at temperatures of 50, 55 and 60 °C, respectively. The total drying time ranged between 7 to 8 h. Colour of the dried African star apple was significantly preserved by the pretreatments used, and low overall color change (ΔE) was obtained at the lowest drying temperature (50oC). The ascorbic acid and lime pretreatments however had better colour overall. Lime pretreatment for 2 mm thick at 50ºC gave the best result in terms of ascorbic acid retention. Hence, lime juice pre-treatment has potentials of retaining quality of dried fruits

Growth performance and blood profile of rabbit bucks in two housing types on aqueous extract of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus Jacq ex fr.)

The growth performance and blood profile of forty-eight (48), six (6) weeks old rabbit bucks of cross (Chinchilla and New Zealand White) were assessed for 10 weeks. The bucks were allotted on weight equalization basis in a 2 x 4 factorial experimental layout composed of 24 rabbits into steel hutches and wooden hutches each and on four (4) varying levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 mL/litre of water, respectively) of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus Jacq ex fr.) extract. Six (6) bucks were assigned to each treatment group and replicated three times with two (2) bucks per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. The phytochemicals of the oyster mushroom extract showed that 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)- methyl ester was the most abundant. Results showed that the feed conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.05) best (6.08) in bucks reared in wooden cage and administered 15 mL oyster mushroom extract. Significantly (P<0.05) highest triglycerides (81.00 mg/dL) was obtained in bucks on steel hutch and on 5 mL oyster mushroom extract and lowest (55.00 mg/dL) in bucks on steel hutch and on 10 mL oyster mushroom extract. The lowest (P<0.05) lymphocytes (59.00%) were recorded in bucks on wooden cage and administered 10 mL oyster mushroom extract. It was concluded that oyster mushroom extract up to 15 mL/litre of water administered in either steel hutch or wooden hutch did not impair the growth performance and blood profile of rabbit bucks. Keywords: Rabbit bucks, housing types, blood profile, oyster mushroom, phytochemical

Effect of dosage of vitamin E on physiological and blood parameters in growing Arbor acre pullets under humid tropical conditions

One hundred and forty-four growing Arbor acre broiler breeder pullets were used to determine the effect of vitamin E (dL-á-tocopheryl acetate; VE)  on physiological and blood responses. The birds aged 21 days were randomly assigned to 4 treatments comprising 0, 50, 100, 150mgVE/kg of diet, with 3 replicates per treatment till day 84. Data obtained for rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), skin temperature under  wing (STW) and on the breast (STB), haematology and plasma biochemistry were subjected to analysis of variance. In female chickens, VE significantly (p<0.05) affected HR, STW, WBC, heterophil, lymphocyte and H/L ratio but did not affect RT, RR, STB, PCV, RBC, Hb concentration, eosinophil, monocyte, basophil, MCV, MCH, MCHC and biochemical parameters. Only pullets on 100mg/kg VE had lower HR than the control group.  For STW, 50mg/kg VE had lower value than the control. VE, irrespective of dosage, increased (p<0.05) WBC and lymphocyte in pullets compared to control group. Except in 100mg/kg feed group, heterophil and H/L ratio in pullets on 50 and 150mg/kg feed recorded lower values than the control. VE administration of at least 50mg/kg in the diet of growing broiler breeder chickens might help in decreasing skin temperature, improving  immunity and reducing stress under hot conditions. Keywords: tocopherol; heat stress; broiler breeder; blood; haematology; plasma biochemistr