Assessment of the nutritive value of some indigenous wild fruits for domestic consumption and industrial utilization

Fruits of Landophia owerriensis(Utu), Dialum guineensis(Nkwa), Dennettia tripetala(Umimi) and Tetracapidium conophorum(Ukpa), were collected from trees growing at Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria and their nutritive values determined. The fruits of these plants were analyzed for proximate, mineral constituents and phytochemical composition. The fruits were later sorted into proteinacious species depending on the level of protein. The percentage moisture content (M.C.%) values range from 10.99% to 12.68%. The percentage carbohydrate (CHO) range from 49- 69% while the phosphorus (P) values are high and range from 223.92% in Dennettia tripetala to 301.63% in Tetracapidium conophorum. Calcium also recorded a high value on dry weight basis. Hydroxyanic acid (HCN) values are low ranging from 0.53mg/kg in Landophia owerriensis. Phenol is about 0.23%. The values of alkaloid are low ranging from 0.37% in Dialum guineensis to 0.65% in Landophia owerriensis. The study showed that the fruits ofthese species are good sources of a wide variety of nutrients. The regular consumption of these fruits is essential to the healthy living of the population and for small scale industries

Comparative cytoarchitecture of the midbrain colliculi of defined age groups in the African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

Background: The rostral and caudal colliculi of mammalian midbrain are pivotal to vision and audition, respectively. Cytoarchitecture of these midbrain  colliculi in neonate, juvenile and adult African giant pouched rats is dearth. Objective: This study compared the histology of the nuclei, neurons and  laminations of the colliculi in these age groups. Methods: Thirty-six captive African giant pouched rats consisting of twelve neonates, juveniles and adults were used. Thickness of the histologic layers of  the rostral colliculi and lengths of the central nucleus of the caudal colliculi were compared among the groups. Results: the rostral colliculus  composed of an outermost stratum zonale, middle stratum griseum superficiale and innermost stratum griseum  profundus; migratory immature neurons of radial glial cells were observed in the stratum zonale of neonates, which disappeared in juveniles and adults;  the stratum griseum superficiale of neonates was characterized of already formed neurites, similar to those of the juveniles and adults. However, this  layer in adults had more oligodendrocytes than in juveniles. There was significant increase in thickness of the stratum griseum superficiale and stratum  griseum profundus, with increasing age (P < 0.05). The caudal colliculus contained a central nucleus, dorsal and lateral cortices, with significant increase  in the length of the central nucleus with increasing age (P < 0.05); there was transformation of fibre shaft in the lateral cortex of neonates into a mixture  of chain like and marshy matrix in the juveniles which completely disappeared in adults, indicative of mature lateral cortex in the later. Conclusion: The adult African giant pouched rat may have the best auditory and visual senses, followed by juvenile. The neonate has the least acuity of  these senses

Advancements in Flux Switching Machine Optimization : Applications and Future Prospects

This work was supported by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, U. K., under Grant Number: NGCN-180-2021Peer reviewe

Development of a Reciprocating Motion Cassava Slicing Machine

The development of cassava reciprocating slicing machine was achieved using locally sourced materials that is affordable and effective. Although hand slicing is the cheapest form of slicing operation, but it has posed to be labour intensive, time-wasting, and hazardous. This necessitated the design and development of a cassava slicing machine. The machine's capacity for boiled and unboiled cassava root was calculated as 22.8kg/hr, with an average slicing time of 0.005hr for boiled and 0.00455hr for unboiled cassava root. The machine has low labour requirements and power consumption. The cassava reciprocating slicing machine use electric motor of 0.75kw (1hp) rating, with a speed of 99rpm. The machine is made with stainless steel for the slicing section and other components with mild steel and has an overall efficiency of 91.05%. The machine reduces drudgery and also enhances mass production of cassava chips, implying more profit

Prediction of clinically significant cancer using radiomics features of pre-biopsy of multiparametric MRi in men suspected of prostate cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Radiomics is the field of computer-based medical image analysis that incorporates various radiological imaging features, such as texture and shape parameters, from scans to derive algorithms. These mathematical algorithms have the potential to predict the biological characteristics of disease. In this study, we obtained quantitative imaging texture features of pre-biopsy multiparametric MRI of men suspected of prostate cancer and extracted from the T2WI and ADC images focusing on gray-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM). These were correlated with the Gleason score of the histopathology of radical prostatectomy specimen, including the prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer. The knowledge gained through this prospective protocol-based study should facilitate establishing that GLCM texture features alone can be used as a biomarker for predicting the presence of clinically significant PCa. ABSTRACT: Background: Texture features based on the spatial relationship of pixels, known as the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), may play an important role in providing the accurate classification of suspected prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to use quantitative imaging parameters of pre-biopsy multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for the prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer. Methods: This was a prospective study, recruiting 200 men suspected of having prostate cancer. Participants were imaged using a protocol-based 3T MRI in the pre-biopsy setting. Radiomics parameters were extracted from the T2WI and ADC texture features of the gray-level co-occurrence matrix were delineated from the region of interest. Radical prostatectomy histopathology was used as a reference standard. A Kruskal–Wallis test was applied first to identify the significant radiomic features between the three groups of Gleason scores (i.e., G1, G2 and G3). Subsequently, the Holm–Bonferroni method was applied to correct and control the probability of false rejections. We compared the probability of correctly predicting significant prostate cancer between the explanatory GLCM radiomic features, PIRADS and PSAD, using the area under the receiver operation characteristic curves. Results: We identified the significant difference in radiomic features between the three groups of Gleason scores. In total, 12 features out of 22 radiomics features correlated with the Gleason groups. Our model demonstrated excellent discriminative ability (C-statistic = 0.901, 95%CI 0.859–0.943). When comparing the probability of correctly predicting significant prostate cancer between explanatory GLCM radiomic features (Sum Variance T2WI, Sum Entropy T2WI, Difference Variance T2WI, Entropy ADC and Difference Variance ADC), PSAD and PIRADS via area under the ROC curve, radiomic features were 35.0% and 34.4% more successful than PIRADS and PSAD, respectively, in correctly predicting significant prostate cancer in our patients (p < 0.001). The Sum Entropy T2WI score had the greatest impact followed by the Sum Variance T2WI. Conclusion: Quantitative GLCM texture analyses of pre-biopsy MRI has the potential to be used as a non-invasive imaging technique to predict clinically significant cancer in men suspected of having prostate cancer

Assessment of peripheral arterial disease in diabetic adults with foot ulcers in an African population

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a recognized risk factor for diabetic foot ulceration. It was thought that PAD is not common in Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies show otherwise. It becomes necessary to assess the prevalence of PAD among diabetic adults with foot ulcers in Nigeria. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of PAD in diabetic subjects with foot ulcers in Nigeria.Methods: Diagnosis of PAD was made with the ankle-brachial index (ABI). Edinburgh claudication questionnaire was administered to the patients. An ABI of &lt;0.9 is diagnostic of PAD. Risk factors for PAD were assessed. A control group of non-diabetic adults was used.Results: Sixty-seven per cent (67%) of the test group has PAD as compared to 18% of the control group. Smoking, duration of diabetes and systemic hypertension were strongly associated with PAD.Conclusions: Diabetic adults with foot ulcers in Nigeria have a high prevalence of PAD

Radiogenomics map-based molecular and imaging phenotypical characterization in localised prostate cancer using pre-biopsy biparametric MR imaging

Objective: To create a radiogenomics map and evaluate the correlation between molecular and imaging phenotypes in localized prostate cancer (PCa), using radical prostatectomy histopathology as a reference standard.Methods: Radiomic features were extracted from T2-weighted (T2WI) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) images of clinically localized PCa patients (n=15) across different Gleason scorebased risk categories. DNA extraction was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. Gene expression analysis of androgen receptor expression, apoptosis, and hypoxia was conducted using the Chromosome Analysis Suite (ChAS) application and OSCHIP files. The relationship between gene expression alterations and textural features was assessed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was utilized to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the model.Results: A significant correlation was observed between radiomic texture features and copy number variation (CNV) of genes associated with apoptosis, hypoxia, and androgen receptor (p-value= ≤ 0.05). The identified radiomic features, including Sum Entropy ADC, Inverse Difference ADC, Sum Variance T2WI, Entropy T2WI, Difference Variance T2WI, and Angular Secondary Moment T2WI, exhibited potential for predicting cancer grade and biological processes such as apoptosis and hypoxia. Incorporating radiomics and genomics into a prediction model significantly improved the prediction of prostate cancer grade (clinically significant prostate cancer), yielding an AUC of 0.95.Conclusion: Radiomic texture features significantly correlate with genotypes for apoptosis, hypoxia, and androgen receptor expression in localised prostate cancer. Integration of these into prediction model improved prediction accuracy of clinically significant prostate cancer

Common Errors in Proposals and Dissertations and How to Avoid them: A Resident’s Guide

Background: The dissertation is now a necessary part of the fellowship examinations of both the West African college of surgeons and physiciansand the national postgraduate medical college of Nigeria. Many resident doctors are confused about how to get on with their proposals and thedissertations. This confusion often leads to frustrations, and in extreme cases to unnecessary delay in attempting the examinations when due. Aim: This study aims to identify the common errors made by resident doctors in the proposal and dissertations and to recommend the solutionsto such problems. Methods: This survey is based on a direct interview with experienced examiners in both colleges. The examiners were asked to list what they observed as the common problems they identified concerning the proposal and dissertation of residents. The answers were collated and categorized according to the frequencies of problems identified. Based on the response of the examiners, a questionnaire was designed and administered to the senior residents who are at various stages of writing their dissertations. Results: Some of the findings include starting the proposal too late, difficulty in choosing a topic, mediocre and tedious literature search, difficulty in finding appropriate supervisors, poor appreciation of basic research design and necessary statistical tests, improper presentation of results and&nbsp; wrong referencing. Others are editorial mistakes, pagination errors, and the lack of knowledge on proper attitude and skill during the defense.&nbsp; Conclusion: Starting too late is the most common error made by the resident doctor in the dissertation. Residents should choose a topic within 6&nbsp; months of passing the membership examination. Keywords: Dissertations, errors, proposals, resident doctor