Siltation in Reservoirs

In most recent times, both nation with sound technological background and those without are beginning to show great concern on issues related to reservoir siltation, especially those nation with limited available water and those whose water sources are mainly from dams created reservoirs. This research work tries to highlight the implications of siltation on reservoir and consequently its eects on human resources. It is also intended to make known to the general public that though siltation cannot be totally eliminated, it can be controlled by employing some practices. This work goes further to make some recommendations towards minimization of reservoir siltation to a very manageable extent. Calls have been made to the government through various media to assist its populace in combating this nagging problem. It was concluded that sediment maximum  accumulation is experienced in reservoir during the periods of maximum  low

Parasites Associated with Sachet Drinking Water (Pure Water) in Awka, South-Eastern, Nigeria

A study to ascertain the parasites associated with sachet drinking water, (popularly called “Pure Water” in Nigeria), in Awka, capital of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria was conducted. This was in order to determine the safety and suitability of such water for human consumption. Sachet water is a major source of drinking water for low and middle class Nigerians. The increase in demand of this water has led to the proliferation of industries in this sector, because of the economic benefits derivable from the sale. Samples of differently packaged sachet drinking water were purchased from producers, distributors, marketers and hawkers. Samples were observed macroscopically and pH tested. Using a sterile syringe, 10mls of water was taken from each sample and centrifuged at 2,500rpm per minute. Sediments observed were placed on a glass slide and observed microscopically using x10 and x40 objective lens for a possible parasite ova or cyst. The surface of each sachet of the packaged drinking water was also washed thoroughly and the resulting water was centrifuged and observed microscopically. All the tested water samples met the W.H.O. recommended standard, of being colorless, tasteless, odourless with average pH of 6.93. No parasites were found in the water in the sachets but some parasites were found on the surfaces of the sachets. The surface of the sachets of the packaged water purchased from hawkers had the highest number of parasites {15 (41.7%)}. Identified parasites include cysts of Ascaris lumbricoides (5.6%), Entamoeba histolytica (4.6%), hookworm (2.8), Trichuris trichuria (2.8%) and Giardia lamblia cysts (1.9%). Hawkers possibly play a very significant role (χ2 = 20.21, df =2,

The prevalence and bacteriology of a symptomatic bacteriuria among antenatal patients in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi; South Eastern Nigeria

Urinary tract infection in pregnancy leads to poor pregnancy outcome. Diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria markedly improves pregnancy outcome as well as reduce the incidence of acutepyelonephritis. To determine the prevalence and bacteriology of asymptomatic bacteriuria among Antenatal patients in our centre, and to know if routine screening will be justifiable. This was a prospective study carried out between April and August 2008. Sample size was statistically determined.Women who consented were interviewed and mid stream urine samples were collected and processed in the microbiology laboratory, using standard microbiological methods. Out of 357 women studied, 65(18.21%) had significant bacteriuria. was the commonest isolate (25.6%), while was the least frequent isolate (3.66%). Women in third trimester had the highest prevalence (25.68%) while those in the first trimester had the least (15.79%).Women that had only primary education had the highest prevalence (27.50%) while those that had tertiary educationhad the least prevalence (21.10%). The prevalence of significant asymptomatic bacteriuria among the women studied was high.Screening of all the pregnant women and treatment will reduce the incidence and complications of overt urinary tract infection in pregnancy among these women

Loneliness and Frailty Among Middle-Aged and Aging Sexual Minority Men Living With or Without HIV: A Longitudinal Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis

Background and Objectives Loneliness is associated with frailty among older adults (60+), and there is evidence suggesting that this association may be bidirectional. However, there is limited evidence of this relationship over time among middle-aged and aging sexual minority men. We explored the bidirectional relationship between loneliness and frailty over 2 years among sexual minority men living with or without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from the Healthy Aging substudy of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Research Design and Methods We used data from 1 118 men (561 living with HIV; 557 living without HIV) aged 40 years or older with measurement of frailty or loneliness at Times 1 (September 2016 to March 2017) and 2 (September 2018 to March 2019). Descriptive statistics were generated. We used autoregressive cross-lagged panel analysis to examine the bidirectional association between frailty and loneliness at both time points while adjusting for time-stable and time-dependent covariates at Time 1. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated. Results The estimated prevalence of loneliness at both time points was 35.5%. The estimated prevalence of frailty at Times 1 and 2 were 7.8% and 12.1%, respectively. Participants reporting loneliness at Time 1 had greater odds of being frail at Time 2 (aOR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.23–3.73). Frailty at Time 1 was not associated with loneliness at Time 2 (aOR = 1.00; 95% CI: .44–2.25). The autoregressive effects of frailty (aOR = 23.43; 95% CI: 11.94–46) and loneliness (aOR = 13.94; 95% CI: 9.42–20.61) were large. Discussion and Implications Men who felt lonely had higher odds of being frail 2 years later while the reciprocal association was not shown. This suggests that loneliness preceded frailty and not the other way around. Early and frequent assessments of loneliness may present opportunities for interventions that minimize the risk of frailty among sexual minority men living with and without HIV.This was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (grant number R01 MD010680; M.R.F. and M.P.) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (grant number K01DA047912). The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) (Principal Investigators): Atlanta Clinical Research Site (CRS) (Ighovwerha Ofotokun, Anandi Sheth, and Gina Wingood), U01-HL146241; Baltimore CRS (Todd Brown and Joseph Margolick), U01-HL146201; Bronx CRS (Kathryn Anastos and Anjali Sharma), U01-HL146204; Brooklyn CRS (Deborah Gustafson and Tracey Wilson), U01-HL146202; Data Analysis and Coordination Center (Gypsyamber D’Souza, Stephen Gange, and Elizabeth Golub), U01-HL146193; Chicago–Cook County CRS (Mardge Cohen and Audrey French), U01-HL146245; Chicago-Northwestern CRS (Steven Wolinsky), U01-HL146240; Connie Wofsy Women’s HIV Study, Northern California CRS (Bradley Aouizerat, Phyllis Tien, and Jennifer Price), U01-HL146242; Los Angeles CRS (Roger Detels), U01-HL146333; Metropolitan Washington CRS (Seble Kassaye and Daniel Merenstein), U01-HL146205; Miami CRS (Maria Alcaide, Margaret Fischl, and Deborah Jones), U01-HL146203; Pittsburgh CRS (Jeremy Martinson and Charles Rinaldo), U01-HL146208; UAB-MS CRS (Mirjam-Colette Kempf, Jodie Dionne-Odom, and Deborah Konkle-Parker), U01-HL146192; and UNC CRS (Adaora Adimora), U01-HL146194. The MWCCS is funded primarily by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, with additional co-funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and in coordination and alignment with the research priorities of the NIH, Office of AIDS Research. MWCCS data collection is also supported by UL1-TR000004 (University of California, San Francisco Clinical and Translational Science Award), P30-AI-050409 (Atlanta Center for AIDS Research [CFAR]), P30-AI-050410 (UNC CFAR), and P30-AI-027767 (University of Alabama CFAR). This work was also supported by national funds through the FCT–Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of projects UIDB/04750/2020 and LA/P/0064/2020. This study was also supported by a Scientific Employment Stimulus contract to A.H. (CEECIND/01793/2017)

Women Participation In Agricutural Decision-Making In Aguata Local Governmmment Area, Anambra State

A study involving 120 women respondents investigated the level of women farmer’s participation in Agricultural decision-making in Aguata Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire and interview schedule. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that majority of the women farmers (80%) had between 10 to 20 years farming experience which helped them in making rational choice and decisions. About 75% of the women were full-time farmers who have contact with extension agents and belonged to Cooperative Societies. Results also showed that there was a low level (100%) of women farmers’ participation in taking major decision in group agricultural projects involving men. However 60% are involved in crucial farm decisions at family level. It is recommended that involving women farmers in decision-making at all stages of group and family agricultural projects should be a policy in the LGA and a road map to achieving sustainable agricultural development. Policy makers and planners therefore, need to acknowledge that farmers and other groups in the agricultural production chain can only work effectively within the framework of the policies that they put in place

Phytochemical constituents and antipyretic activities of methanol leaf extract of Costus afer (Family: Zingiberaceae)

The methanol extract of Costus afer leaf (MECAL) was evaluated for its antipyretic potential on normal body temperature and Brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia in albino rats model. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and acute toxicity test of the extract in mice was done. The result showed that the plant has good antipyretic effect. Yeast suspension (10 ml/kg body weight) elevated rectal temperature after 19 h of subcutaneous injection. Intraperitoneal administration of MECAL at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight showed significant reduction in normal rectal body temperature (35.96 ± 1.40, 35.38 ± 0.13 and 35.40 ± 0.60 respectively). MECAL at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg caused significant reduction of rectal temperature of hyperthermic rats by 37.75 ± 0.21, 38.10 ± 0.15 and 37.10 ± 0.32 respectively, in a dose-dependent manner after 5 h of treatment and the effect was comparable to that of the standard antipyretic drug-paracetamol (150 mg/kg body weight). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and glycosides. The LD50 using the methanol leaf extract of Costus afer was administered through intraperitoneal route in mice and was not toxic since no death was recorded at the dose of 5000 mg/kg. The study revealed that the methanol extract of Costus afer exhibited significant (P< 0.05) antipyretic activity in the tested models and may provide the scientific rationale for its popular use in folk medicines in relief of fever and pain.Keywords: Costus afer, anti-pyretic, Zingiberaceae, rats, phytochemistryJournal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences, Vol. 7 No.3 (2010

Urinary schistosomiasis in Anambra State, Nigeria

The knowledge, altitude and practices (KAP) of people in relation to urinary schistosomiasis in three endemic communities around Agulu Lake of Anambra State were investigated. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for the study. Of the 300 respondents, 67 (22.3%) said they were previously infected while 233 (77.7%) thought otherwise. All the respondents associated the disease with passing of blood in urine. Oya obala (disease with blood), mgbu obala (pain with blood), and mamiri obala (urine with blood) are various names for the disease in these communities. Although urinary schistosomiasis with its symptoms are well known, most did not associate the disease with swimming in infected water but with drinking infected water. Others till associated the disease with eating water snail, while a few linked it to God's wish. The presence of the disease was linked with the Nigeria-Biafra civil War of 1967-1970. The result revealed a general ignorance of the causation and mode of transmission of the disease in the area. The implication of the findings to the efforts of the disease control is discussed. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 25, 2005: 127-13