Monitoring Gaseous and Particulate Air Pollutants near Major Highways in Abeokuta, Nigeria

High traffic volume and traffic congestion on Nigerian roads have led to increase in the concentration of pollutants in the air t posing health risks for human population. This study investigates air quality due to vehicular emissions in some busy roads in Abeokuta metropolis, Nigeria. Air pollutants such as CO, CO2, NO, NO2, SO2, H2S) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) were determined using an active sampler for both dry and wet seasons. The results shows concentration of CO in the urban air ranging from 1.58 – 8.50 ppm during the dry season and 1.22 – 25.75 ppm for wet season, while CO2 ranges from 11800 – 26900 ppm for dry season and 9200 – 26700 ppm in wet season. NO ranged from 0.04 – 2.60 ppm for dry season and 0.02 – 0.66 ppm for wet season while NO2 ranged from 0.09 – 3.40 ppm in dry season and 0.04 – 1.12 ppm in the wet season. SO2 ranged between 0.06 – 2.18 ppm in dry season compared to 0.05 – 0.82 ppm in wet season. SPM varies between 51.00 – 642.25 ppm in dry season and 29.50 - 170.75 ppm in wet season. High concentrations of CO2, NO, NO2, SO2, H2S and SPM were obtained during the dry season compared to the wet season and can be attributed to vehicular emissions due high traffic volume on the roads. The concentrations of pollutants examined were above the World Health Organization (WHO) limits at all the sites.Keywords: Gaseous Pollutants, Air Quality, Abeokuta Metropolis, Transportation, health

Epidemiology of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus infections among HIV counseling and testing clients in Jos, North central Nigeria

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection are common in Nigeria; where they are a major cause of both acute and chronic liver disease, as well as hepatocellular cancer. Persons at risk of acquisition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection are also at risk of acquisition of infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV). We set out to determine the epidemiology of HBV and HCV infection among HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) clients at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Nigeria.This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the HCT unit of the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Nigeria between November, 2012 and April 2013.Subjects were recruited consecutively at the HCT unit of APIN JUTH. Included were subjects 18 years of age and above, antiretroviral (ARV) drug naive, who accepted and signed the consent form.Clients who declined to sign the consent form were excluded. The study involved collecting demographic data, exposure to risk factors and laboratory determination of HBV and HCV sero-prevalence in the subjects using Enzyme Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay methods.Chi-squared test was used to determine significance of association between categorical variables.One hundred and thirty two (56.9%) were females, 100 (43.1%) were males. Thirty six (15.5%) tested positive for HBsAg by ELISA, 31 (13.4%) were confirmed positive by DNA PCR. Nine (3.9%) tested positive by ELISA to HCV antibody, 7 (3.0%) were confirmed positive by RNA PCR. Co-infection rate of HIV / HBV was 5.2%. Infection was more common among those younger than 36 years in the case of HBV and those older than 36 years in the case of HCV.We concluded the prevalence of HBV infection was high. Study was limited by the cross sectional design

Effect of heat moisture treatment and annealing on physicochemical properties of red sorghum starch

Red sorghum starch was physically modified by annealing and heat moisture treatment. The swelling power and solubility increased with increasing temperature range (60-90°), while annealing and heatmoisturetreatment decreased swelling power and solubility of starch. Solubility and swelling were pH dependent with higher values obtained at pH 12 in both native and modified starches. Water absorption capacities of both annealed and heat-moisture treated starches increased with increasing levels of moisture treatment while highest value was observed in annealed starch. Oil absorption capacity of annealed starch was increased which was contrast to heat-moisture treated starches which decreased from 160 glg in native starch to 140 glg in HMR18 and HMR27. Pasting analysis in the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) revealed that both annealing and heat-moisture treatment increased pastingtemperature, while alkaline water retention improved after physical modification

Proximate and Phytochemical Compositions of Leaf and Root of (Cattle Stick) Carpolobia lutea G. Don

Carpolobia lutea is a medicinal plant commonly utilized in Nigeria to boost libido. The ethnomedicinal importance of any plant lies in some secondary metabolites. Hence, the present study was carried out to investigate the proximate and phytochemical composition of roots and leaves of this plant using standard methods. The proximate composition of leaves and roots showed moisture, ash, fibre, protein, fat and carbohydrate contents with values that ranged between 8.84-9.55, 3.48-3.65, 1.10-1.06, 6.64-8.39, 1.80-1.80 and 76.16-77.47% respectively. The leaves contained higher amount of ash, crude protein and fat than the roots. The results of ethanolic extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, steroids, saponins, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, anthocyanin, carotenoids and flavonoids in both the leaves and roots. These phytochemicals were found to be significantly higher in roots except for anthraquinones, flavonoids and steroids which were significantly higher in the leaves. Among the phytochemicals, alkaloids were found to be highest in concentration followed in decreasing order by saponins, steroids, tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, anthocyanin, terpenoids, phenols and carotenoids. The results indicated that, C. lutea leaf and root have high nutritive and medicinal values and this could be explored for pharmaceutical purposes

Psychological complications of childhood chronic physical illness in Nigerian children and their mothers: the implication for developing pediatric liaison services

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pediatric liaison services attending to the psychological health needs of children with chronic physical illness are limited or virtually non-existent in Nigeria and most sub-Saharan African countries, and psychological problems complicate chronic physical illness in these children and their mothers. There exist needs to bring into focus the public health importance of developing liaison services to meet the psychological health needs of children who suffer from chronic physical illness in this environment. Sickle cell disease (SCD) and juvenile diabetes mellitus (JDM) are among the most common chronic physical health conditions in Nigerian children. This study compared the prevalence and pattern of emotional disorders and suicidal behavior among Nigerian children with SCD, JDM and a group of healthy children. Psychological distress in the mothers of these children that suffer chronic physical illness was also compared with psychological distress in mothers of healthy control children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-five children aged 9 to 17 years were selected for each group of SCD, JDM and controls. The SCD and JDM groups were selected by consecutive clinic attendance and the healthy children who met the inclusion criteria were selected from neighboring schools. The Youth version of the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, version IV (C- DISC- IV) was used to assess for diagnosis of emotional disorders in these children. Twelve-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ – 12) was used to assess for psychological distress in mothers of these children and healthy control children.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Children with JDM were significantly more likely to experience DSM – IV emotional disorders than children with SCD and the healthy group (p = 0.005), while children with JDM and SCD were more likely to have 'intermediate diagnoses' of emotional disorders (p = 0.0024). Children with SCD and JDM had higher rates of suicidal ideation when compared to healthy control children and a higher prevalence of maternal psychological distress was found in their mothers when compared to the mothers of healthy children (p = 0.035).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The higher prevalence of emotional disorders and suicidal ideation among children with SCD and JDM points to a need for development of liaison services in pediatric facilities caring for children with chronic physical illness to ensure holistic approach to their care. The proposed liaison services would also be able to provide family support interventions that would address the psychological distress experienced by the mothers of these children.</p

Clinical effects of Garcinia kola in knee osteoarthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>Over the past years, there has been a growing number of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients who are not willing to comply with long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) treatment and wish to use herbal anti- rheumatic medicine. This study assessed the clinical effects of <it>Garcinia kola </it>(GK) in KOA patients.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>Prospective randomized, placebo controlled, double blind, clinical trial approved by the institutional medical ethics review board and written informed consent obtained from each patient. All KOA patients presenting at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital complex were recruited into the study. The patients were grouped into four (A = Placebo, B = Naproxen, C = <it>Garcinia kola</it>, D = Celebrex). The drugs and placebo were given twice a day per oral route. Each dose consisted of 200 mg of <it>G. kola</it>, Naproxen (500 mg), Celebrex (200 mg) and Ascorbic acid (100 mg). The primary outcome measure over six weeks study period was the change in mean WOMAC pain visual analogue scales (VAS). Secondary outcome measures included the mean change in joint stiffness and physical function (mobility/walking).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>143 patients were recruited, 84 (58.7%, males – 24, females – 60) satisfied the selection criteria and completed the study. The effect of knee osteoarthritis bilateralism among the subjects was not significant on their outcome (p > 0.05). The change in the mean WOMAC pain VAS after six weeks of <it>G. kola </it>was significantly reduced compared to the placebo (p < 0.001). Multiple comparisons of the mean VAS pain change of <it>G. kola </it>group was not lowered significantly against the naproxen and celebrex groups (p > 0.05). The onset of <it>G. kola </it>symptomatic pain relief was faster than the placebo (p < 0.001). However, it was slower than the active comparators (p > 0.05). The duration of therapeutic effect of <it>Garcinia kola </it>was longer than the placebo (p > 0.001). <it>G. kola </it>period of effect was less than naproxen and celebrex (p < 0.001). <it>G. kola </it>subjects had improved mean change mobility/walking after six weeks better than the control group(p < 0.001). The mean change in mobility of the <it>G. kola </it>group when compared to the active comparators was not significantly better (p < 0.05). The mean change of knee joint stiffness (p < 0.001) and the change of mean WOMAC score (p < 0.001) were improved on <it>Garcinia kola </it>as compared to the placebo. The mid term outcome of eleven <it>Garcinia kola </it>subjects after cessation of use had a mean pain relief period of 17.27 +/- 5.15 days (range: 9–26 days). There was no significant cardiovascular, renal or drug induced adverse reaction to <it>Garcinia kola</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Garcinia kola </it>appeared to have clinically significant analgesic/anti-inflammatory effects in knee osteoarthritis patients. <it>Garcinia kola </it>is a potential osteoarthritis disease activity modifier with good mid term outcome. Further studies are required for standardization of dosages and to determine long-term effects.</p

Tourism and reputation in Africa: A panel data analysis

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