Effect of Formalin on the Hatching Rate of eggs and Survival of larvae of the African Catish (Clarias gariepinus)

The effect of formalin on the hatching rate of eggs of the African catfish and subsequent survival of the larvae were investigated using range finding and definitive tests to determine the impact of formalin for 15 minutes. In the range finding test, 0mgl-1 (control), 250mgl-1, 500 mgl-1, 750 mgl-1, and 1000 mgl-1 of formalin were used to define the threshold limit of tolerance of eggs to formalin. There were significant differences in the hatching rate and survival of early larvae between the control and all four formalin concentrations (

Chemical evaluation of winged beans (Psophocarpus Tetragonolobus), Pitanga cherries (Eugenia uniflora) and orchid fruit (Orchid fruit myristica)

The proximate, mineral and sugar compositions of winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), Pitanga Cherries (Eugenia uniflora) and Orchid Fruit (Orchid fruit myristica) and physico-chemical properties of their oils were determined using standard methods. All the samples were found to be rich in proteins (winged beans 33.83 %, pitanga cherries 14.71 % and orchid fruit 17.96 %). Each of the samples also had a considerably high amount of carbohydrate (22.30 %, 38.55% and 26.45 % in winged beans, pitanga cherries and orchid fruit, respectively). Orchid fruit had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) fat content of 34.36 % as compared to 17.51 % found in winged beans, and 15.62 % in pitanga cherries. Winged beans had the highest crude fiber (12.23 %) while orchid fruit had 6.03%and pitanga cherries had 9.77%. Winged bean and orchid fruit had similar (P > 0.05) water content, which is significantly different from pitanga cherries. Iron, cadmium, lead and manganese were absent in all the samples. Copper and calcium were absent in pitanga cherries. Pitanga cherries had the highest composition (g/100g) of sugar, winged beans ranked next, while orchid fruit had low sugar content. The peroxide values of the oil of the various samples ranged between 11.41 and 12.91 meq/kg, while the saponification values ranged between 182.58 and 191.05 mgKOH/g. The unsaponifiable matter was very low in pitanga cherries compared with winged beans and orchid fruit. The acid value rangedbetween 0.71 and 2.82 mg/KOH/g while iodine value ranged between 91.15 and 144.57. The refractive index ranged between 1.465 and 1.474 in all the samples. Based on the results of this study, winged beans could be useful in the formulation of infant formula, pitanga cherries in the production of fruit jam and as a flavour in food drinks, because of its sugar contents, while orchid fruit—which has very high oil content—could be used as a spice

Determinants of modality of management of acute kidney injury in children seen at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background: The cost of taking care of children with acute kidney injury (AKI) is enormous and beyond the reach of many caregivers in  sub-Saharan Africa which are largely resource poor. It is therefore imperative to determine those who may benefit from conservative management which is comparatively cheaper to the renal replacement therapy (RRT).Objectives: To determine the clinical characteristics of children who were offered conservative and renal replacement therapy and evolve the most statistically significant eligibility criteria. Methods: A descriptive  crosssectional study of children presenting with AKI admitted into the Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) between January 2008 to December 2012 was carried out. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. A serialblood chemistry and urine analysis were also obtained. A total of 22 cases of acute kidney injury were seen within the period. Fourteen were conservatively managed while eight underwent sessions of dialysis.Results: The age range for those who had conservative managementwas 4-17 years with a mean ±SD of 8.11±3.91 years while the corresponding value in those with renal replacement therapy was 1.5-16years with a mean ±SD of 9.68±5.54years. There was no statisticalsignificant difference in the highest serum potassium, urea andcreatinine. However, the lowest urine output was significantly differentamong the two groups (p< 0.05).Conclusion: Urine output could be used as an eligibility criterion todetermine children with AKI who will require renal replacement therapy or benefit from a trial of conservative management.  Keyword: Acute kidney injury; conservative management; dialysi

Influence of Family Size, Household Food Security Status, and Child Care Practices on the Nutritional Status of Under-five Children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Fertility pattern and reproductive behaviours affect infant death in Nigeria. Household food insecurity and poor care practices also place children at risk of morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study were to assess the influence of family size, household food security status, and child care practices on the nutritional status of under-five children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 423 mothers of under-five children and their children in the households selected through multistagesampling methods. Food-insecure households were five times more likely than secure households to have wasted children (crude OR=5.707, 95 percent CI=1.31-24.85). Children with less educated mothers were significantly more likely to be stunted. The prevalence of food insecurity among households in Ile-Ife was high. Households with food insecurity and less educated mothers were more likely to have malnourished children (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 123-132)

Pattern of Urine Toxicology Screening in a Lagos Psychiatric Hospital

Toxicology screening has clinical and forensic applications in evaluating severe or life-threatening symptoms in patients presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of intoxication or overdose. In both acute psychiatric and medical settings, urine toxicology has been found helpful in detection of substances of abuse. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of substance use as detected by urine toxicology screening amongst patients at a psychiatric facility in Lagos Nigeria. A Total of 1555 subjects made up of males (1480) and females (75) were screened using the one step multi-6 drug test panel immunoassay for qualitative detection of Methadone, Methamphetamine, Benzodiazepine, Cocaine, Morphine and Tetrahydrocannabinol. 927 (59.6%) subjects were positive with one or more drugs passing the concentration cut off. Tetrahydrocannabinol (42.3%) and Benzodiazepine (49%) were found to be predominant in the population studied. This study shows the most common psychoactive substance used in this environment is cannabis and also, the significant agreement between clinical diagnosis and urine toxicology screening.Keywords: Urine screening, Toxicology, Substance use, clinical diagnosi

Assessment of Extension Officers Contribution to Cocoa Production in Nigeria

This study was carried out to evaluate the extension officer contribution to cocoa production in Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used, where two hundred and sixteen questionnaires were distributed in Osun and Ondo state , the information gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistic such as; frequency and percentage, while chi-square analysis was used to analyze the data obtained. From the results, married (77.6%), male (84.0%), secondary school holders (52.0%), between 40-49 (34.4%) years old farmers were seen as the highest cocoa producers. Extension training(64.0%), commercial agents(64.0%), fellowship(52.8%), self observation(76.0%) were the best source of information on extension service of cocoa farming , most respondents (65.0%); get extension training programme at regular basis, identified Constraints facing cocoa production in the study area includes deficient credit facilities, high cost of labour, bad road, poor marketing/storage facilities, lack of technical knowledge / assess to technical tools and so on. in view of afore mentioned result it is therefore recommended that the government should make loan available to the cocoa famers at very low interest rate and urge cocoa farmers to form cooperative society, strengthen their agricultural extension agents so that they will be able to rain cocoa farmers on the basic things they should know about primary processing such as fermentation and drying of cocoa beans in improving the quality in Nigeria to meet international market

Fetal Echocardiography Audit in a Tertiary Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Delayed detection of congenital heart diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) contributes to the poor outcome of infants with cardiac anomalies. Fetal echocardiography (FE) can detect heart defects in-utero as early as the 18th gestational week (GA), giving parents and medical professionals time to prepare for the baby's delivery and appropriate treatment. University College Hospital, Nigeria, is one of the few centres in Nigeria where FE is performed. Objectives: To examine the indications for referral for FE and the diagnoses made in our first four years of performing FE. Methods: FE was performed in the antenatal clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, using the GE Voluson P6 machine with a 2-6-RS probe. Demographic information was obtained from the antenatal clinic records of the women who had FE using a semi-structured questionnaire. FE diagnoses were retrieved from the FE register. Results: A total of 129 women whose records were available were recruited for this study. The mean age of the women was 31.7±5.5 years. Forty-two women (32.6%) were referred because of echogenic foci, making this the most common indication for FE. Twenty-nine (22.5%) fetuses had structural heart defects, the most common being Ventricular Septal Defect. Conclusion: There is a need for Obstetricians and Paediatricians to be aware of the indications for fetal echocardiography and refer women appropriately

Azithromycin-induced Hiccups

Background: Hiccups are not only known symptoms of some diseases but have been found to be induced by some drugs. In this report, we present a very rare case of azithromycin induced hiccups seen in a young male adult.Methods: The case records of a 34 year old male who was admitted and successfully managed for sepsis but placed on azithromycin as the only medication at the time of discharge was reviewed.Results: T he patient presented again at the hospital within twelve (12) hours of discharge with a history of severe hiccups which improved significantly with administered chlorpromazine.H e was sent home the following day while still on azithromycin.T he patient stopped all the medications at home after the second dose of azithromycin due to persistent drowsiness and decided to take the last dose of azithromycin two days later after realizing that the drowsiness was chlorpromazine induced.H e developed another severe episode of hiccups which was successively retreated with oral chlorpromazine.Conclusion: The patient developed hiccups within 12 hours while he was taking only azithromycin on two (2) different occasions. We then concluded that azithromycin was the probable cause of the hiccups.Keywords: hiccups, azithromycin, drug-induced,ad verse drug reactio

Haematological Profile Of Parachanna (Channa) Obscura Gunther 1861, Malapterurus electricus Gmelin 1789 And Malapterurus minriya Sagua 1987

No Abstract. Animal Research International Vol. 2 (2) 2005 pp.297 – 30