Occurrence of Fluoride and some Heavy Metals in Groundwater from Shallow Aquifers Near Ogbomosho, North-central Nigeria

Groundwater is one of the most important natural resources that when contaminated by either natural or anthropogenic means is difficult and expensive to clean-up. Fluorosis is a disease affecting the bone and teeth of humans due to excessive intake of fluoride either through water or food. Heavy metal pollution is a burning environmental issue due their toxic, persistent and bio-accumulative nature. The present study evaluates the presence of fluoride and some heavy metals in groundwater from shallow aquifers around Ogbomosho, north-central Nigeria and the result of investigation confirmed their enrichment. The fluoride concentration ranged between 1.35mg/l to 2.75mg/l with a mean value of 2.18mg/l as against the recommended value of 1.50mg/l. This is an indication that continuous use of water from this area may result to colouration of the teeth and deformation of the bone among the people especially children since they are the most vulnerable. High fluoride content in groundwater can be attributed to the continuous water-rock interaction during the process of percolation with fluoride-bearing country rocks under arid, low precipitation, and high evapotranspiration conditions. The study has established that the fluoride-rich groundwater as well as heavy metal contamination in the area may have emanated from geochemical processes of dissolution and weathering of the granite aquifers in the area. The heavy metal enrichment is in the order of: Ni > Mn > Cr > Cd > Fe > Cu > Zn. These findings suggest that the enrichment of the groundwater system is geogenic and related to the local geology of the area. It is recommended that people living in the coarse grained porphyritic biotite granite dominated area should discontinue the use of groundwater for domestic and drinking purposes in order not to experience fluorosis in future. Environmentally friendly techniques such as phyto-remediation and bio-remediation should be employed to monitor and control fluoride and heavy metal content in the groundwater system. Keywords: Groundwater Quality, Fluorosis, Heavy metals contamination, Shallow Aquifers Ogbomosho and North-central Nigeri

Outcomes of sexual abuse on self-esteem among adolescents: A systematic review

The burden of sexual abuse remains a global reality and it is known to affect adolescents’ psycho-social well-being. The current study aimed at determining the unanimity findings on the relationship between sexual abuse and self-esteem among adolescents as well as the concomitant determinants of self-esteem among sexually abused adolescents. To achieve this, a systematic search of PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane, African Journals Online (AJOL) and Google Scholar was conducted to identify studies that focused on the outcomes of sexual abuse on the self-esteem of adolescents. Based on this, a simple synthesis of basic findings of the selected studies was conducted. A total of 7,278 studies were identified out of which only eight studies from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America met the selection criteria. With three research questions guiding the study, findings reveal that sexual abuse is prevalent among the study participants. It also revealed an inverse relationship between sexual abuse and self-esteem among he adolescents. Furthermore, three categories of codeterminants of self-esteem among sexually abused adolescents were observed namely socio-demographic determinants; parental and family determinants as well as nature of abuse. The overriding deduction from these studies is that sexual abuse impacts negatively on the self-esteem of adolescents. These findings have implications for Sustainable Development Goals. Since this study has established that sexual abuse impacts negatively on the self-esteem of adolescents, drivers of SGD 3 should, among other things, intensify campaigns against adolescents’ sexual abuse and make psychological intervention by counselling psychologists, available to victims. © 2020 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Common

Effects of Prior Heat Stress on the Growth and Phytochemical Contents Accumulation of Amaranthus hybridus (Linn.)

The present study aimed at investigating the impact of abrupt heat stress on growth and phytochemical contents accumulation in Amaranthus hybridus. The treatments were as follows: control without heat treatment, seedlings subjected to heat at 45 oC for two hours and seedlings subjected to heat at 45 oC for four hours. After the stipulated time for each category, plants were removed from the Gallenkamp oven and were transplanted into other sets of thirty six pots (of 21 cm deep and 24 cm in diameter), as well as the control. The seedlings were kept in a screen house to minimise extraneous factors such as pests and rodents. They were watered daily with 200 mL of tap water in the morning and 200 mL of tap water in the evening until they were fully established. The phytochemical contents were determined at vegetative, flowering and fruiting stage using ethanolic extracts from the dried leaves of plant samples. From the results obtained, it was observed that leaf, shoot and root fresh and dry weights of the stressed plants were lower than the control plants. Exposure of the plants at different durations of heat treatment enhanced and inhibits the quantities of phytochemicals at different growth stages. From the present study it can be concluded that heat stress, on the basis of global warming in the future, will likely have overall negative effects on the growth of Amaranthus hybridus that will become more severe as the time of exposure increases and and might cause variation in the level of phytochemical constituents of Amaranthus hybridus at different growth stages

Characterization and evaluation of acid-modified starch of Dioscorea oppositifolia (Chinese yam) as a binder in chloroquine phosphate tablets

Chinese yam (Dioscorea oppositifolia) starch modified by acid hydrolysis was characterized and compared with native starch as a binder in chloroquine phosphate tablet formulations. The physicochemical and compressional properties (using density measurements and the Heckel and Kawakita equations) of modified Chinese yam starch were determined, and its quantitative effects as a binder on the mechanical and release properties of chloroquine phosphate were analyzed using a 2³ full factorial design. The nature (X1), concentration of starch (X2) and packing fraction (X3) were taken as independent variables and the crushing strength-friability ratio (CSFR), disintegration time (DT) and dissolution time (t80) as dependent variables. Acid-modified Chinese yam starch showed a marked reduction (p<0.05) in amylose content and viscosity but increased swelling and water-binding properties. The modified starch had a faster onset and greater amount of plastic flow. Changing the binder from native to acid-modified form led to significant increases (p<0.05) in CSFR and DT but a decrease in t80. An increase in binder concentration and packing fraction gave similar results for CSFR and DT only. These results suggest that acid-modified Chinese yam starches may be useful as tablet binders when high bond strength and fast dissolution are required

The efficacy of preopoerative instruction in reducing anxiety following gyneoncological surgery: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This is a quasi-experimental case control research focusing on the impact of systematic preoperative instruction on the level of postoperative anxiety in gyneoncologic patients. The population studied consists of the gyneoncologic surgery patients admitted to the Gynecologic Oncology Service at Zekai Tahir Burak Gynecology Training and Research Hospital from May to September 2010.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>Through a random sampling, 60 patients were recruited in each group. The study group was given a systematic preoperative instruction while the control group was given routine nursing care. Patients were interviewed in the postoperative period and anxiety was measured. The data-collecting tool consisted of the Individual Information Form and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS Program to find the frequency, the percentage, the mean and the standard variables, and the hypothesis was tested with Chi-square, variance, and t-independent test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It was found that the incidence rates from the post-operative anxiety score of the study group were lower than those of the control group (p < .05). The results of this research demonstrated that gyneoncologic surgery patients who were given systematic preoperative instruction felt less anxious than the ones who were given merely a routine nursing care.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results of this study suggest that preoperative instruction programs aiming at informing gyneoncologic surgery patients at the preoperative stage should be organized in hospitals and have an essential role.</p

Preparation and use of plant medicines for farmers' health in Southwest Nigeria: socio-cultural, magico-religious and economic aspects

Agrarian rural dwellers in Nigeria produce about 95% of locally grown food commodities. The low accessibility to and affordability of orthodox medicine by rural dwellers and their need to keep healthy to be economically productive, have led to their dependence on traditional medicine. This paper posits an increasing acceptance of traditional medicine country-wide and advanced reasons for this trend. The fact that traditional medicine practitioners' concept of disease is on a wider plane vis-à-vis orthodox medicine practitioners' has culminated in some socio-cultural and magico-religious practices observed in preparation and use of plant medicines for farmers' health management. Possible scientific reasons were advanced for some of these practices to show the nexus between traditional medicine and orthodox medicine. The paper concludes that the psychological aspect of traditional medicine are reflected in its socio-cultural and magico-religious practices and suggests that government should fund research into traditional medicine to identify components of it that can be integrated into the national health system

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children &lt;18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p&lt;0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p&lt;0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p&lt;0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

Timing of antenatal care for adolescent and adult pregnant women in south-eastern Tanzania

Early and frequent antenatal care attendance during pregnancy is important to identify and mitigate risk factors in pregnancy and to encourage women to have a skilled attendant at childbirth. However, many pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa start antenatal care attendance late, particularly adolescent pregnant women. Therefore they do not fully benefit from its preventive and curative services. This study assesses the timing of adult and adolescent pregnant women's first antenatal care visit and identifies factors influencing early and late attendance.\ud The study was conducted in the Ulanga and Kilombero rural Demographic Surveillance area in south-eastern Tanzania in 2008. Qualitative exploratory studies informed the design of a structured questionnaire. A total of 440 women who attended antenatal care participated in exit interviews. Socio-demographic, social, perception- and service related factors were analysed for associations with timing of antenatal care initiation using regression analysis. The majority of pregnant women initiated antenatal care attendance with an average of 5 gestational months. Belonging to the Sukuma ethnic group compared to other ethnic groups such as the Pogoro, Mhehe, Mgindo and others, perceived poor quality of care, late recognition of pregnancy and not being supported by the husband or partner were identified as factors associated with a later antenatal care enrolment (p < 0.05). Primiparity and previous experience of a miscarriage or stillbirth were associated with an earlier antenatal care attendance (p < 0.05). Adolescent pregnant women started antenatal care no later than adult pregnant women despite being more likely to be single. Factors including poor quality of care, lack of awareness about the health benefit of antenatal care, late recognition of pregnancy, and social and economic factors may influence timing of antenatal care. Community-based interventions are needed that involve men, and need to be combined with interventions that target improving the quality, content and outreach of antenatal care services to enhance early antenatal care enrolment among pregnant women