Influence of Pre-germination Treatments on Germination Potentials and Seedling Vigour of Albizia zygia(D.C. Macbr.)

This study was carried out with the aim of providing basic information on the best pre-treatments in breaking  dormancy experienced by Albizia zygia seeds and seedling growth. 120 seeds of Albizia zigia were subjected to mechanical scarification (at three selected points namely: around the circumference, distal and micropyle   ends). 120 seeds were pre-treated with hot water at three temperature regimes (200C, 400C, 600C) for 5, 10 and 15 minutes and sulphuric acid (H2SO4) at three levels of concentrations (10%, 30%, and 50%)  respectively. Data was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics (both one and two ways analysis of  variance). Highest germination percentages were recorded in seeds scarified around the circumference, hot water at 600C for 5 min and 50% sulphuric acid for 15 min (36.7%, 53.3% and 50%)    respectively.Circumference scarification, degree of water (200C and 600C) duration (5 and 15 min  respectively) had significant (p<0.05) effect on the seedling height (16.03cm, 13.85 cm and 12.87cm)  respectively. Scarification along the circumference had significant (p<0.05) effect on the fresh and turgid  weights (7.65g and 7.67g) respectively while, 200C and 400C for 5 minutes had significantly (p<0.05) higher  turgid weights (4.97g and 5.40g) respectively.Keywords: Pre-germination treatments, germination percentage, seedling vigour, Albizia zygi

Bacteriological analysis of potable water in areas with reported cholera outbreaks in Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States, Nigeria

Background: Cholera outbreaks, reported yearly in Nigeria, are a public health concern and transmission is attributed to drinking of contaminated water and poor sanitation. Objective: To conduct a bacteriological analysis of potable water in areas with reported cholera outbreaks in Ogun, Lagos and Oyo States. Methods: Water samples collected from the study areas were examined physically, cultured in MacConkey broth and Alkaline peptone water to determine the most probable number (MPN) of Coliforms and isolate Vibro species respectively. Bacteria were cultured from the broths and were identified using standard methods. Results: All the other water samples examined were colourless, odourless, tasteless and lack particles except the well water which had yellowish brown colouration (4; 8%) and contained visible particles (5; 30%). The presumptive total coliform count ranged between < 3 and 1,100 MPN /100ml. Enterobacter gergoviae (34; 47.2%), Escherichia coli (16; 22.2%), Klebsiella pneumonia (7; 9.7%), Sarratia liquefaciens (6; 8.3%), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (5; 6.9%), Citrobacter diversus (2; 2.8), Klebsiella oxytoca (1; 1.4%) and Enterobacter aerogenes (1; 1.4%) were isolated from 33.5% of the water samples. The level of contamination of water sources within the different study areas was significant (p<0.001). Vibrio cholerae was not isolated, but Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated from 5 (10%) of the well water samples. Thermo-tolerant Coliforms were also identified from some samples. Conclusion: The well water samples were grossly contaminated with coliform bacteria and Vibrio parahaemolyticus and should be treated before drinking

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

In Vitro Antimicrobial Studies of Plait Aqueous Extracts of Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants have been used by man to treat various kinds of infections without scientfic pror of their efficacy. The Antimicrobial activities of aqueous extracts of four Nigerian medicinal plants namely: Solanum americanum, Euphorbia hirta, Cassia occidentalis and Telfaria occidentalis were investigated against a wide range of isolated strains of bacteria by the disc diffusion method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the extracts were also determined on the susceptible organisms. These plant extracts are used in Nigeria folklore medicine to treat infections of microbial origin. Aqueous extracts of the investigated plants showed antibacterial activities against different pathogenic bacteria. Among the pathogenic organisms  used, Staphylococcus  aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella  pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were susceptible to three of the aqueous extracts used at concentrations of 100μg/ml. The plant  extracts demonstrated broadspectrum antibacterial activity against the microorganisms tested. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Solanum americanum was between 6.3μg/ml to 25μg/ml against these test organisms while MIC of Cassia occidental is ranged between 12.5μg/ml to 25μg/ml, while that of Eurporbia hirta ranged between 25μg/ml and 50μg/ml. The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of Cassia occidentalis and Euphorbia hirta was 25μg/ml for all the bacterial isolates, while that for Solanum americanum was 12.5μg/ml for Pseudomonas aemginosa and Staphlococcus aureus and 25μg/ml for E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Medicinal plants, Minimum Bactericidal Concentration, Minimum Inhibitory Concentratio

Anxiolytic effect of aridanin isolated from Tetrapleura tetraptera in mice

The study was carried out to investigate the anxiolytic properties of aridanin isolated from Tetrapleura tetraptera in mice. Elevated plus-maze was used to investigate the effect. The possible involvement of the GABAA - benzodiazepine receptor complex was also investigated using flumazenil. Aridanin at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p. administered 30 min prior induced anxiolytic effect expressed by increase number of entries in and time spent in the open arms and percentage of open arm entries and decrease number of entries and time spent in the closed arms. The treatment of mice with flumazenil (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) 15 min before the administration of aridanin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked the aridanin induced anxiolytic effect. It was found out that aridanin induced an anxiolytic effect in mice which may be mediated through interaction with GABAAbenzodiazepine receptor comple

Medico-Legal Deaths From Road Traffic Accidents In Sagamu, Nigeria

Background: Road Traffic Accidents (RTA's) are a leading cause of death worldwide. Deaths that occur after the first hour of trauma are regarded as preventable deaths. Objectives: To evaluate the pattern and causes of death in the first 24hrs after RTA's. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria. Participants: Patients that died within 24hours from RTA's, including those brought in dead between January 1st 1998 and December 31st 2002. Main Outcome Measure: Deaths within the first 24hours. Results: A total of 411 cases were identified in the 5-yr period comprising 316 males and 95 females, with a male:female ratio of 3.3:1. The ages ranged from 8months to 97years with mean age of 34.0 + 14.7years. Motor vehicle drivers with their passengers accounted for 346 (84.2%). Three hundred and four patients (74%) were BID from accident scene. The most common causes of death in those patients BID and those who died within an hour of presentation were skull fractures with intracranial haemorrhages followed by hemoperitoneum. Deaths after 1hour after presentation resulted commonly from hemoperitoneum and splenic rupture. Conclusion: Head injury and internal visceral lacerations remain important preventable causes of death in the first 24hours following road traffic accidents. A re-organisation of trauma care may be essential in order to prevent these deaths. Nig. Medical Practitioner Vol. 45(1/2) 2004: 3-

Prescription pattern and prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications among elderly patients in a Nigerian rural tertiary hospital

Joseph O Fadare,1 Segun Matthew Agboola,2 Olumide Augustine Opeke,3 Rachel A Alabi41Department of Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; 2Department of Family Medicine, 3Department of Internal Medicine, 4Pharmacy Department, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, NigeriaIntroduction: Polypharmacy and inappropriate prescriptions are prominent prescribing issues with elderly patients. Beers criteria and other guidelines have been developed to assist in the reduction of potentially inappropriate medications prescribed to elderly patients. The objectives of this study were to assess the prescribing pattern for elderly Nigerian outpatients and estimate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications among them using the Beers criteria.Methodology: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of elderly patients (65 years and above) who were attending the general outpatients clinic of a rural Nigerian hospital. For the drug utilization aspect of the study, drug-use indicators were assessed using established World Health Organization guidelines, while the Beers criteria was used to screen for potentially inappropriate medications.Result: The medical records of 220 patients aged 65 years and above were utilized for the study. A total of 837 drugs were prescribed for the patients, giving an average of 3.8 &amp;plusmn; 1.3 drugs per person. Antihypertensive drugs accounted for 30.6% of the prescriptions, followed by multivitamins/food supplements (11.5%) and analgesics (10.8%). A review of the prescribed medications using the 2012 Updated Beers Criteria by the American Geriatric Society identified 56 patients with at least one potentially inappropriate medication prescribed giving a rate of 25.5%. The drug groups identified were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antihistamines, and amitriptyline.Conclusion: Polypharmacy and prescription of potentially inappropriate medications are major therapeutic issues in Nigeria. There is a need for prescriber training and retraining with emphasis on the geriatric population.Keywords: drug utilization pattern, elderly patients, rational use of medicines, adverse drug reactions, Beers criteri

Pattern of Family Support among HIV Patients in a Tertiary Health Center in Southwest Nigeria

Background: The impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the social and economic development of Nigeria has been substantial. Adequate family support remains a critical factor for the achievement of optimal HIVcare. This study investigated the level and pattern of family support received by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among PLWHAs receiving care within the family practice at the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. Respondents were selected using systematic random sampling technique. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0.Result: A total of one hundred (100) PLWHA were interviewed. Their mean age was 43.0 (SD12.0) years. Sixty-one per cent (61.0%) were females. A greater proportion of the subjects (81%) were married. Monogamous family structure was observed in 72% of all the subjects. Family support was strong amongst 85% and a significant positive association was found between family support and age (p=0.008), family structure (p=0.003) and marital status (p=0.000).Conclusion: Most PLWHA studied had strong family support. Middle age and being married in a monogamous family setup were significant factors for this support. Family involvement and support during initiation and continuation of their antiretroviral therapy is recommended.Keywords: Family Support; ART; HIV/AIDS; PLWHAs; Nigeri

Effect of Storage on the Shelf life of Dehydrated Fermented Locust Beans

Fermented locust bean is used as a flavour intensifier for soups and stews. As beneficent as it is, problems still exist about its preservation using appropriate and affordable technology. Little is known about the shelf life of dehydrated fermented locust beans. This study aimed to investigatethe effect of polythene packaging on storability and quality characteristics of dried fermented locust beans.The seeds were fermented, dried, and packaged in polythene bags for a period of six months. Pattern of changes of chosen quality parameters such as protein, crude fat, free fatty acids, aflatoxin, moisture, weight changes were monitored. Also, sensory evaluation of the freshlyfermented locust beans seeds and stored dehydrated fermented locust beans seeds were compared at the end the storage period. There was no significant difference observed in the moisture, crude protein, crude fat and weight (P&gt;0.05), free fatty acids was significantly different(P&lt;0.05) in stored locust beans compared to the fresh locust bean. The aflatoxin contamination was below 2 ppb throughout the storage periods. There was significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) in the texture, colour, taste while changes in the flavour and overall acceptability were not significant (P&gt; 0.05) when the sensory evaluation of fresh locust beans was compared to the stored locust beans. The results revealed that drying and packaging can promote acceptability and extend the shelf-life of fermented locust beans