The Impact of Stock Market Development on Economic Growth in Nigeria

This study examines the impact of stock market development on economic growth between1970 and 2008. Co-integration Analysis and Error Correlation Mechanism were adopted as the estimating techniques to verify the existence of long-run relationship between stock market development and economic growth. Questionnaires were administered to access the investor’s confidence in the Nigerian stock exchange and to authenticate the impact of stock market development on economic growth in the period under review. The empirical results revealed that there is existence of long-run relationship between stock market development and economic growth in Nigeria. The findings also showed that there is positive relationship between market capitalization and money supply with economic growth while total value traded, turnover ratio and gross capital formation have inverse relationship with the growth. Market capitalization is highly significant and appears to be the major stock market indicator.  Based on these findings government should address the shortage of investment assets through effective policy measures that enhance the performance of stock market in Nigeria and to restore confidence of the investors. Keywords: stock market development, economic growth, Co-integration and Error Correction Framework and the use of descriptive survey typ

The Size, Growth and Profitability of Quoted Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria: Panel Data Analysis

The study examines the relationship among the size, growth and profitability of quoted manufacturing companies in Nigeria, using data from the Fact Books of Nigerian Stock Exchange between 2007 and 2011. For adequate capturing of the objectives, three models are formulated: growth is expressed as a function of size in the first equation, growth is expressed as a function of profitability in the second model, and size is expressed as a function of profitability in the third model. The technique of panel data model is employed to capture the three models and the results of the study reveal that there is independent relationship between growth and size of the firms which is in line with Gibrat’s law. The study also indicates positive relationship between the growth and the profitability of the firms but statistically insignificant because the probability statistic is greater than 0.01 and 0.05 but it is rather 0.875. Moreso, the study reveals negative relationship between firm size and profitability and the coefficient of determination ( ) which is 0.82 indicates that about 82% variations in size of the firms can be explained by the variations in profitability. Based on the findings, the study therefore recommends that government should put in place policy options that can enhance manufacturing profitability in order to boost the performance of the sector and create employment in Nigeria. Key Word: Size, Growth, Profitability and Manufacturing Companies

Changes in antioxidant status associated with haemodialysis in chronic kidney disease

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis, progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and development of cardiovascular complications. Hemodialysis (HD) has also been described to contribute significantly to oxidative stress in CKD patients, though reports are conflicting.Objective: We evaluated the effects of one session of HD on the antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in CKD patients.Method: Thirty-six CKD patients requiring HD were recruited into this study. Participants were naïve to HD and each completed a session of three hours using polysulfone membrane dialyzers. Blood samples were collected before and after dialysis. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) while malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured using thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS). Comparison was made between pre-HD and post-HD values of TAC and MDA respectively, p value of <0.05 was taken as significant.Result: Mean age and estimated glomerular filtration rate of subjects were 45 ±15 years and 6.3± 4.7mls/1.73m2 respectively. There was significant decrease in the mean TAC from 1232.2 ± 495.6 μmol Trolox equiv/ to 832.4 ±325.7 μmol Trolox equiv/L post-dialysis (p< 0.001) while MDA values were similar before and after HD (11.8 ± 1.8 vs 11.8 ± 2.331)μmol/L (p> 0.05). There was no significant association between changes in antioxidant status following HD with blood flow rate, ultrafiltration volume nor dialyzer per size.Conclusion: A session of HD in patients with CKD is associated with significant reduction of the total antioxidants capacity; and no effect on MDA levels.Funding: No external funding receivedKeywords: oxidative stress, antioxidants capacity, hemodialysis, chronic kidney diseas

Solenostemon monostachyus, Ipomoea involucrata and Carica papaya seed oil versus Glutathione, or Vernonia amygdalina: Methanolic extracts of novel plants for the management of sickle cell anemia disease

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disease caused by an individual inheriting an allele for sickle cell hemoglobin from both parents and is associated with unusually large numbers of immature blood cells, containing many long, thin, crescent-shaped erythrocytes. It is a disease prevalent throughout many populations. The use of medicinal plants and nutrition in managing SCD is gaining increasing attention. Methods The antisickling effects of Solenostemon monostachyus (SolMon), Carica papaya seed oil (Cari-oil) and Ipomoea involucrata (Ipocrata) in male (HbSSM) and female (HbSSF) human sickle cell blood was examined in vitro and compared with controls, or cells treated with glutathione or an antisickling plant (Vernonia amygdalina; VerMyg). Results Levels of sickle blood cells were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in all the plant-extract treated SCD patients’ blood compared with that of untreated SCD patients. RBCs in SolMon, Ipocrata, and Cari-oil treated samples were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with VerMyg-treated samples. The Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in all plant extract-treated HbSSM samples compared with controls. Hemoglobin concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.05) by SolMon treatment in HbSSF compared with VerMyg. Sickle cell polymerization inhibition exhibited by SolMon was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with that of VerMyg in HbSSF blood. Sickle cell polymerization inhibition in SolMon and Ipocrata were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with VerMyg in HbSSM blood. All plant extracts significantly reduced (P < 0.05) lactate dehydrogenase activity in both HbSSM and HbSSF-treated blood. Catalase activity was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in HbSSF blood treated with Ipocrata compared with glutathione. Cari-oil treated HbSSM and HbSSF blood had significantly increased (P < 0.05) peroxidase activity compared with controls. Conclusions Methanolic extracts from S. monostachyus, C. papaya seed oil and I. involucrata exhibited particular antisickling properties coupled with the potential to reduce stress in sickle cell patients. Each plant individually or in combination may be useful for the management of sickle cell diseas

Physical activity and breast cancer survival

Physical activity improves quality of life after a breast cancer diagnosis, and a beneficial effect on survival would be particularly welcome. Four observational studies have now reported decreased total mortality among physically active women with breast cancer; the two largest have also reported decreased breast cancer specific mortality. The estrogen pathway and the insulin pathway are two potential mechanisms by which physical activity could affect breast cancer survival. Randomized trials are ongoing but trials of lifestyle factors are notoriously challenging to perform. Women with breast cancer have little to lose and may possibly gain from moderate exercise

Small Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Retrograde Intussusception of the Roux Limb: A Complication Following Laparoscopic Roux–en–Y Gastric Bypass.

Small bowel obstruction secondary to intussusception following a roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for morbid obesity is a rare clinical condition. It has become more frequently diagnosed with the increasing utilization of RYGB for the management of morbid obesity world-wide. We present a 34 year old female who presented at the Emergency Room of our facility with complaints of abdominal pain and a history of retro-colic and ante-gastric laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery at another Hospital a year prior to presentation. On account of unremitting abdominal pain, a lactate level of 5.4mg/dl and abdominal Computed Tomographic scan which showed evidence of small bowel obstruction with intussusception; an emergency exploratory laparotomy was done which revealed intussusception of the biliopancreatic and common limb into the distal aspect of the roux limb. Surgical intervention entailed resection of both the proximal common limb and distal roux and biliopancreatic limbs and surgical reconstruction of the jejunojejunal anastomosis. She is alive and well two years post surgery without any recurrence

Hypoglycaemic activities of the stem bark of Cola Acuminata VAHL and leaf of Ficus Exasperata (P.Beauv) SCHOTT and ENDL

No abstract Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 13(1-2): 58-6

Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn: a preliminary report on the use and biochemical effects

No Abstract.Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 11(1-4) 2001: 8-1

UPPER GASTRO-INTESTINAL BLEEDING IN THE YOUNG - GASTRIC GIST TUMOR OR PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE?

GIST tumors is very unusual in the young and middle aged and a high index of suspicion is needed for the diagnosis in young patients who present with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Appropriate imaging such as a Computed tomographic scan (CT scan) may identify this tumor which may easily be misdiagnosed as a bleeding Peptic Ulcer Disease in the young. We present a case of a healthy 38 year old man with no alcohol use who presented with epigastric pain and melena and subsequent torrential bleeding uncontrolled during endoscopy necessitating an emergency exploratory laparotomy by the general surgery team. The bleeding intraluminal component of the tumor with gross splenic and pancreatic involvement was identified and surgical management consisted of a wedge resection of the greater curvature of the stomach incorporating the tumor and the spleen with successful dissection of the tumor off the tail of the pancreas. Histology was positive for C-KIT and DOG-1 markers. Postoperative course was uneventful and he is presently on Imatinib Mesylate