Effect of Moringa oleifera marinade on microbial stability of smoke-dried African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

The study examined the antimicrobial effect of Moringa oleifera marinade on smoke-dried catfish stored at ambient temperature (37±20C) for two months. The experimental treatments are the control, 1%, 2% and 3% (w/v) Moringa oleifera Marinade (MOM) and 5% Brine (w/v) solutions. Seventy-five fishes of average weight of 260±8g were gutted, washed and randomly assigned to the treatments. Thereafter, the fishes were soaked in the treatments for 2 hours and later hot smoked for 12hours. After smoking, the fishes were stored in netted boxes and placed on laboratory shelves for two months. Microbial counts were conducted at 7-day interval while biochemical tests were conducted on the 8th week. Seven bacterial species namely; Staphylococcus sp, Bacillus sp, Klebsiella sp, Corynebacterium sp, Pseudomonas sp, Escherichia coli and streptococcus sp and six fungal species namely; Penicillium italicum, Cladosporium sp, Neurospora crassa, Candida sp, Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were observed in the study. There was a general increase in microbial load as storage progressed. However, the increment was pronounced in the control and brine treated fish samples. In all levels of MOM and 5% Brine, there was decrease in the bacterial and fungal counts as compared with the control samples. 3% MOM exhibited the highest antibacterial potency while 5% Brine exhibited the highest antifungal potency. Moringa oleifera marinade could be use to protect stored smoke-dried catfish from microbial spoilage thus limiting economic loss and possible heath risk to consumers.Key words: Moringa, marinade, bacteria, fungi, catfish, smoke-drie

Proteinaceous diet inhibits gossypol-induced spermatotoxicity

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of a proteinaceous dietary supplement, fishmeal, on gossypolinduced spermatotoxicity. Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats, averaging 205 g b.w., were randomly sorted into four experimental groups (I-IV) of 5 animals each, and a control group. Crude cottonseed oil was administered orally to each animal in groups I-IV at a rate that provided 14 mg/kg/d free gossypol; in addition, 3 g/d, 7 g/d, and 10 g/d of fishmeal was provided as meal supplement to each animal in groups I, II and III respectively. The control group received rat pellets and water freely. At the end of the 53-day treatment period, all animals were placed under chloroform anaesthesia; the caudal epididymides were removed, minced and placed in Ham’s F10 solution for the evaluation of sperm count and motility. The testes were also processed for histological studies using the eosin and haematoxylin (H & E) method. Our findings revealed a dose-dependent inhibition of gossypol-induced spermatotoxicity by the supplemented fishmeal; this suggests that proteinaceous diets are protective against gossypol-induced male infertility

Willingness of Nigerians to Donate a Kidney

Background: Kidney transplantation is a popular modality of RRT in the developed world.Objective: To assess the willingness of the general population of Nigerians across the country to donate a kidneyMethods: This is a multiregional, cross sectional, questionnaire based study. One thousand Three hundred respondents participated in the study. This study was carried out in four major Towns and cities across Nigeria between January 2009 and December 2010.The locations are Birnin Kebbi in the north, Ilorin in the middle belt, Iddo Ekiti in the south and Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria. The respondents were randomly selected within the four localities. Those below the age of 16 or above the age of 65 years were excluded from the studyResults: There were 727 (55.9%) males. The mean age (S.D) of respondents was 39.5 (10.7) years. The largest population of participants, 494 (38.3%) were non health workers and 692 (53.2%) of them were Muslims. Eight hundred and fifty eight (66%) of the participants were willing to donate a kidney. Twenty five percent (25%) were not willing and 115 (8.9%) were not sure. Majority of those who were unwilling to donate a kidney, 325 (99.4%) will not change their minds even if they were to be given incentivesConclusion: Nigerians are willing to donate a kidney irrespective of geographical location, religion or gender and many are willing to do so altruistically.Keywords: Kidney, donation, Nigeri

Serum ferritin levels in adults with sickle cell disease in Lagos, Nigeria

Akinsegun A Akinbami,1 Adedoyin O Dosunmu,1 Adewumi A Adediran,3 Olajumoke O Oshinaike,2 Vincent O Osunkalu,1 Sarah O Ajibola,3 Olanrewaju M Arogundade11Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, 2Department of Medicine, Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria; 3Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Idiaraba, NigeriaBackground: Serum ferritin is considered to be one of the most important tools in the measurement of iron balance in steady-state sickle cell disease. Increased gastrointestinal absorption of iron has been reported in sickle cell disease because of the associated chronic hemolysis, and it is also thought that repeated red cell transfusion consequent to chronic hemolysis and anemia causes excessive iron levels. The aim of this study was to determine overall and gender-specific mean ferritin levels in patients with steady-state sickle cell disease in order to establish the prevalence of iron deficiency and overload.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in homozygous patients with sickle cell disease attending the sickle cell clinic at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. A 5 mL blood sample was collected in plain bottles from consenting participants during steady-state periods. The serum was separated and analyzed for ferritin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Another 5 mL sample was collected for a full blood count, done on the same day of collection, to determine red blood cell indices, ie, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The Pearson Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. The differences were considered to be statistically significant when P was 300 ng/mL. Ninety-three subjects (90.29%) had serum ferritin within the normal reference range of 15–300 ng/mL.Conclusion: In this study, 90% of subjects with sickle cell disease had normal iron stores; serum ferritin was higher in men than in women, and iron deficiency was more common than overload in the disease.Keywords: serum ferritin levels, sickle cell diseas

Cellulose Acetate/ Sodium-Activated Natural Bentonite Clay Nanofibres Produced by Free Surface Electrospinning

Incorporating activated bentonite clay (BC) into electrospun nanofibres is an established strategy for modulating adsorption behaviour. In the present study, naturally occurring calcium BC was completely activated to sodium BC with a 4 wt.% sodium carbonate (Na2CO3)/BC ratio. Composite nanofibre webs were produced from cellulose acetate (CA)/BC spinning solutions using free surface electrospinning and the effect of BC loadings on viscosity, surface tension and electrical conductivity prior to spinning were studied. Chemical and thermal analyses were conducted on as-spun fibres, and SEM and TEM revealed a nanofibrous morphology consisting of an inter-penetrating network of fibres and semi-spherical features resembling jellyfish with an internal core of BC