Physico-chemical conditions and distribution of phytoplankton in the Brass River, Nigeria

The physiology, physico-chemical conditions and distribution of phytoplankton in the Brass River, Nigeria has been assessed. The data on physico-chemical conditions revealed a near constant water surface conditions for all the stations sampled. The relative abundance of phytoplankton population of the Brass River system revealed the presence of the following marine phytoplankton families Bacillariophyceae (Bidulphia auria, M. mobiliencesis, B. sinsensis, Skeletonema costatum), Chlorophyceae (Halosphaera ividis), and Dinophyceae (Ceeratium sectum). Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 10(1) 2006: 43-4

Phenotypic assay of adherent E. coli strains using hep-2 cells on diarrheic children in Rivers State of Nigeria

In this paired case-control study of children with diarrhea in Rivers state, the association between HEp-2–adherent Escherichia coli strains and diarrhea was examined. Escherichia coli isolates from stool specimens of children with diarrhea were matched with controls and tested in HEp-2 cell adherence assay. A total of 266 E. coli strains (2 strains for every test subject) from both 83 children with diarrhea and 50 apparently healthy controls were examined for virulent traits using HEp-2 cells. Statistically significant (P<0.05) adherent strains were obtained from the diarrheic children 18 (21.7%) as against 5(10%) from the control. While EPEC (3.6% vs 0%) and EAEC (10.8% vs 4%) strains were significantly associated with diarrhea (P<0.05), EPEC was isolated only in children <3 years old while EAEC was more distributed on the age ranges studied. There was no significant association of DAEC (7.2% vs 2%) strains isolated from the test subjects and the control group (P>0.05%). High prevalence of parasites were seen on both groups although the diarrheal group had a statistical significant (26.5% vs 16%) prevalence (P<0.05), this showed that intestinal parasites are also important factor in the etiology of diarrhea in this area. The parasites were mostly seen in older children from both groups and this might be attributed to their wandering, playing and eating habits. No mixed infection between parasites, parasite and adherent E. coli or between two adherents E. coli was observed. The adherent isolates showed poor sensitivity to traditional drugs like Ampicillin, Cotrimoxazole and Chloramphenicol, while Cefuroxime and Ceftazidime showed good sensitivity. These data suggest that EAEC may be a pathotype that is increasing in incidence as a cause of diarrhea in children in these areas.Keywords: Adherent E. coli (DEC); Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC); Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC); Diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC); Mixed Infections; Intestinal Parasite

Socio - demographic characteristics of child street vendors in Nnewi, Nigeria

Background: Involvement of children in street trading is inimical, contrary to the Rights of the Child, and threatens holistic child development. Objective: To describe the sociodemographic characteristics of child street vendors in Nnewi. Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of children selling wares on the streets of Nnewi, southeast Nigeria. Results: 147 children (90 boys and 57 girls) aged 8 – 19 years were interviewed: 57 (38.8%) lived with their parents, 63 (42.9%) with relations and friends, while 27 (18.3%) lived alone. Also, 27 (18.4%) were Anambra state indigenes, others hailing from surrounding states. The parents of all the subjects were of low socioeconomic status. Trading was taking place during school hours for financial gains of the family. As many as 42.9% of the subjects had completed primary education: 89 (60.5%) had completely dropped out of school for varying periods. Nine girls (6.1%) had been sexually abused and 46 children (32.7%) had at sometime lost their earnings to robbers. Majority (79.6%) aspired to higher education if given the opportunity. Conclusion: Many parents in the low socioeconomic groups still keep their children out of school to work and help boost the family income. It is recommended that legislation be made against children trading during school hours.Key Words: child labour, street children, child vendors, Nigeria

Effect of antiretroviral drugs on prolactin in HIV infected pregnant women

The world has finally settled living with Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with no cure discovered so far. Yong people with HIV infection under HIV management drugs get married and eventually end up being pregnant and bearing babies. The need therefore to investigate the effect of HIV infection and antiretroviral drugs on body chemistry especially the hormones concerned with pregnancy and lactation cannot be over emphasized as this is important to intervene when necessary for the overall benefit for the mother and child. We investigated the effect of anti-retroviral drugs and human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection on prolactin production and stimulation in HIV-infected pregnant women. A total of 120 subjects participated in the study. Sixty (group 1) of these subjects were HIV seropositive pregnant women who commenced treatment with zidovudine in combination with lamivudine, that is highly anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) at 2nd trimester. The 2nd group made up of 60 HIV seronegative pregnant women who received no drug and as control to the study. The blood samples of both groups were collected at the beginning of the second and at the end of the third trimesters. For group 1 (seropositive pregnant women), the blood collection was done just before commencingthe HAART treatment. The prolactin level of HIV seropositive pregnant women were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the HIV seronegative pregnant women at the 2nd trimester. Also, the prolactin level of HIV seropositive pregnant women at 2nd trimester was not significantly  increased (P> 0.05) compared with third trimester level. The reverse was the case with HIV seronegative pregnant women where prolactin level of 3rdtrimester was significantly increased when compared with 2nd trimester. HIV infection has prolactin suppressive effect on pregnant women and HAART treatment did not significantly raise prolactin level.Keywords: Prolactin, pregnancy, HIV, highly active retroviral therapy (HAART)

Studies on the antimicrobial effects of garlic (Allium sativum Linn), ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and lime (Citrus aurantifolia Linn)

The antimicrobial effect in vitro of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of garlic (Allium sativum Linn.), ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and lime (Citrus aurantifolia Linn.) juice were assayed against Staphylococcus aureus; Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. All the test organisms were susceptible to undiluted lime-juice. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of garlic and ginger singly did not inhibit any of the test organisms. The highest inhibition zone of 19 mm was observed with a combination of extracts on Staphylococcus aureus. Salmonella spp were resistant to almost all the extracts except lime. Key Words: Antimicrobial, ginger, garlic, lime, concoctions. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(10) 2004: 552-55

Delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine to chickens with broken millet grains as the vehicle

The efficacy of treated broken millet grains as a carrier for delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine HRV4 to free-range chickens in three locations was assessed by haemagglutinationinhibition (HI) test and challenge experiment. Out of 256 birds fed with first dose of the vaccine, 130 (50.8%) produced detectable HI antibody but only 16 (6.3%) attained serum antibody level of log2 3.0adjudged protective. From the locations, Igumale (74 birds), Kuru (88 birds) Riyom (94 birds), only 1 (1.4%), 8 (9.1%) and 7 (7.4%) attained log2 titre 3.0, respectively. A booster vaccine dose 2 weeks lateron 236 of the birds led to 126 (53.4%) attaining HI (log2) titre 3.0 [Igumale (63 birds), Kuru (86 birds) Riyom (87 birds) had 33 (53.5%), 46 (53.5%) and 42 (48.3%) respectively attaining log2 titres of 3.0]. Out of a total of 70 buy-back chickens challenged, 49 (70.0%) survived. The break down showed that from Igumale (20 birds), Kuru (25 birds) Riyom (25 birds), the survivors were 13 (65.0%), 19 (76.0%) and 17 (68.0%), respectively. Out of 28 unvaccinated control birds challenged, only 4 survived. The overall results showed that millet, if properly treated, could be a good vaccine carrier and that the method of vaccination was relatively efficacious.

The effect of leave extracts of Carica papaya and Psidium guajava on activities of liver enzymes of Albino Rats

No Abstract

Some physical characteristics of amylase extract from Acha grain (Digitaria exilis stapf)

No Abstract

A study of the effects of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) smoking on the oral health status of students in three tertiary institutions in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria

No Abstract

Phytochemical and proximate analysis of Spermacoce ocymoides Brum F. (Rubiaceae)

No Abstract.Journal of Health and Visual Sciences Vol. 9 (2) 2007: pp. 55-5