Evaluation of CD4+ T Cells in HIV Patients Presenting with Malaria at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Nigeria

CD4 count is an important immunological marker of disease progression in HIV seropositive patients. This study was carried out to determine the effect of malaria or fever of unknown origin on the population of CD4+ T lymphocytes of HIV seropositive patients attending the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. 36 subjects were selected for this study. Ongoing history of fever was used as a case definition for malaria and malaria was confirmed from microscopic examination of thick and thin film of blood sample obtained from the patients during presentation with fever. The CD4 count was evaluated during presentation of fever and post-fever using flow cytometry. There was significant decrease in CD4 count of the patients. However, upon classifying the patients into 2 groups - those that returned to the clinic after a week and those that returned after a month - a significant increase in CD4 count was noticed in the group that returned after a week, while a significant decrease was noticed in the group that returned after a month (at p value of 95%). Further classification of the patients based on presence of malaria parasite, and body temperature resulted in varying effects on CD4 count post-fever (in the general group, 27 were positive for malaria parasites. Of these 27, there was an increase in CD4 count in 9 (33.3%). However in the group that returned after a week, all 6 (100%) that were positive for malaria parasites showed increase in CD4 count. Five (26.3%) of the 19 patients that had body temperature within the range of 35.5-37.4^o^C showed an increase in CD4 count, while 7 (41.2%) the 17 patients that had body temperature of 37.5^o^C and above showed an increase in CD4 count. The results led to the conclusion that while some components of the immune response to malaria could strengthen the immune system of HIV seropositive patients by increasing their CD4 count, other components will suppress their immunity by decreasing their CD4 count, accelerating the progression to AIDS

Missed medical appointment among hypertensive and diabetic outpatients in a tertiary healthcare facility in Ibadan, Nigeria

Purpose: To explore the reasons for missed medical appointment, patients’ awareness on its consequences; and to find strategies to reduce it among the study population.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey among 300 hypertensive and 200 diabetic outpatients assessing care at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize data and categorical variables were compared with Chi-square at a level of significance set at p ≤ 0.05.Results: For hypertensive respondents, 16.7 % missed > 30 % of scheduled medical appointments while for diabetic respondents, it was 13.0 %; 59.7 % of the hypertensive respondents and 63.5 % of the diabetic respondents adhered to their medications. The reasons for missed medical appointments include forgetfulness, lack of funds for transport, conflicting commitments, etc. The level of awareness on the possible impact of missed medical appointments is low. Most of the respondents were of the opinion that those who missed appointments should be penalized, although a majority of them disagreed with the option of introducing financial penalties.Conclusion: The findings indicate that the reasons for missed medical appointment is mainly due to delay in attending to un-booked patients until all the scheduled patients are seen in order to reduce appointment non-adherence.Keywords: Missed medical appointments, Hypertensive, Diabetic outpatients, Medication adherence, Patient awarenes

Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact of Indiscriminate Burials on Property Transactions in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Throughout history, almost all societies have employed different practices of disposing off the dead and one such form is cemetery or burial ground. In the western part of Nigeria, tradition demands that chiefs are not buried in public cemeteries but in secret locations preferably at home.  However, this practice have been flawed and currently, not only chief are buried at home but anybody.  Corpses are now buried indiscriminately in homes, front and back gardens without any recourse to the effect this practice have on the environment. . In view of the foregoing, the study delved into the socio-economic and environmental impact of indiscriminate burial within residential neighbourhood on property transaction in Ado- Ekiti, Western Nigeria. Questionnaire were structured and administered on tenants, landlords, government officials and professionals alike. Stratified sampling technique was adopted in that the city of Ado-Ekiti being the state capital was found suitable and was subsequently divided into the twelve political wards.  Two Hundred and Fifty (250) questionnaire were administered. Emphasis was played on buildings with evidence of tomb. Research findings proved that this practice was rampant especially in the core of the city and that no official (Planned) cemetery could be identified. The study identified the following demerits: environmental degradation; difficulty in land acquisition for public use; property devaluation; spiritual and psychological disturbance. Some of the coping measures suggested include: need for official provision of cemetery by government agencies, religious bodies and social organizations; need to enact enabling laws; public enlightenment and appeals and government at various levels to be more involved in the provision of mass housing to aid easy implementation of basic environmental laws among others Keywords: burial-ground, environment, indiscriminate, property value, socio-economic

Determinant of Employee Productivity in Listed Manufacturing Firms in Southwestern Nigeria

The study analyzed the level of employee productivity and identified factors influencing employee productivity in listed manufacturing firms in southwestern Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. A sample of 394 respondents was selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data collected using a structured questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that a majority of the respondents (58.33%) had average productivity levels. Results further revealed that management and organizational factors were identified as having the greatest influence on employees’ productivity, followed by organizational/technical factors, and then production and finance factors. In addition, results indicated that financial (B = -1.322, p = 0.000), management (B = -2.751, p = 0.000), personal (B = -2.721, p = 0.000), and organizational factors (B = -3.140, p = 0.000) all had significant and negative influence on workers’ productivity. The study concluded that financial, management, personal, and organizational factors were potent factors that could define workers’ productivity

Mathematical Modeling of Sun and Solar Drying Kinetics of Fermented Cocoa Beans

In this study, thin layer drying experiments were conducted to compute drying characteristics of fermented cocoa beans in open sun and indirect natural convection solar dryer. The drying experiments were conducted at the same time for comparison. Three different thin layers drying of the fermented beans were examined under field conditions for Akure, Nigeria. The drying process took place only in the falling rate period. The drying curves obtained from the experimental data were fitted to thirteen (13) different thin layer mathematical models. All the models were compared according to three evaluation parameters. These include coefficient of determination (R2), Root mean square error (RMSE) and Chi-square (X2).The results showed that increasing drying air temperature resulted to shorter drying times. The Vermal et al. model was found to be the most suitable for describing the drying curve of the convective indirect solar drying process of cocoa beans with R2 = 0.9562, X2=0.0069 and RMSE=0.0067; while, the Midilli and Kucuk model, best described the drying curve of fermented cocoa beans under open sun with R2 = 0.9866, X2=0.0024 and RMSE=0.0023

Modelling of Moisture Loss and Oil Uptake During Deep-Fat Frying of Plantain (Dodo)

In this study, model was developed to predict moisture loss and oil uptake during deep-fat frying of plantain (dodo). Plantain samples were sliced and fried at different frying temperatures (150, 160, 170, 180 and 190 °C) in a deep fryer for periods varying from 2 to 4 min. Moisture and fat analyses were determined based on the AOAC standard method. Mathematical model was developed from fundamental law of mass diffusion with the aim of predicting moisture loss and oil uptake rate during DFF of dodo. The model was solved numerically using explicit Finite Difference Technique (FDT). Computer codes were written in MATLAB environment for moisture loss and oil uptake in the slices at different frying conditions. The predicted results were compared with experimental data and good agreement was obtained. The correlation coefficients between the predicted and experimental values of moisture and oil transfer models ranged from 0.988 to 0.994 and 0.958 to 0.978, respectively. The results show that the model is consistent and it may be used to predict moisture loss and oil uptake during deep-fat fried of dodo

Optimization of Deep-Fat Frying of Plantain Chips (Ipekere) using Response Surface Methodology

Deep-fat frying of plantain chips (ipekere) was investigated with the aim of predicting optimum operating conditions for plantain chips to minimize oil content in order to produce healthy products. The effect of frying temperature and time on moisture content, oil content, breaking force and colour difference of plantain chips was evaluated. Response surface methodology was used to analyze the results of the central composite design of the frying processes for the responses as a result of variation in the levels of frying temperature (150 – 190oC) and frying time (2 – 4 min). Response surface regression analysis shows that responses were significantly (p<0.05) correlated with frying temperature and time. Regression model was developed for the investigation of the effect of frying temperature and time on the responses. The polynomial regression models were validated with statistical tool whose values of coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.995, 0.982, 0.971 and 0.996 for moisture content, oil content, breaking force and colour difference, respectively. The optimum values of moisture content, oil content, breaking force and colour difference were 3.73%, 1.18%, 17.66 N and 65.53, respectively, at frying temperature of 183oC and frying time of 3 min. Therefore, frying conditions had a significant effect on the quality attributes of chips produced from plantain. Keywords: plantain chips, deep-fat frying, regression models, texture and colou

Production and Storage of Cassava Chips for Reconversion into Gari

Cassava chips (7% moisture level) produced from cassava root (IITA 94/0561) was stored for 6 months in high density polyethylene bag. Stored chips were coarse milled, rehydrated to 62.51% and seeded with fresh cassava mash (FCM) at levels of 5%, 10% and 20%. The resulting mash was fermented for 72 hr, with pH monitored every 24 hr, and processed to gari. Yield and swelling capacity of gari were determined. Sensory evaluation was carried out on water soaked gari and gari paste (‘eba’). While least values for pH was obtained in FCM throughout the fermentation period, there was reduction in values in all samples with increase in fermentation time from 30.01 to 33.40%. Yield of gari from the seeded chips ranged from 64.4-72.3%, while that of FCM was 18.7%. Swelling capacity of gari ranged from 2.0 - 3.0 in FCM and that seeded with 20% FCM, respectively. Sensory evaluation result revealed that gari produced from cassava chips seeded at 10% level is adequate for making ‘eba’ while that seeded at 5% level is adequate for consumption as soaked gari (p<0.05). Use of stored cassava chips with 10% FCM for gari production could be encouraged to reduce postharvest problem of cassava roots and the drudgery of gari processing. Keywords: Cassava chips, cassava mash, gari, ‘eba’, postharvest losses, storag

The Contribution of Dysphagia to Acute Stroke Morbidity and Mortality in Nigeria: A Prospective Study

Background: The assessment of time-trend morbidity and mortality in acute stroke is critical to clinical policy decisions and resource allocation. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dysphagia in acute stroke and the impact of dysphagia on short term stroke outcome (30 days post-stroke). Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study. Bedside screening for dysphagia modified Rankin score (MRS) and Barthel Index (BI) were performed on acute stroke patients on day 1, day 7, day 14 and day 30 after stroke to determine the frequency of dysphagia. Patients with dysphagia were then compared with age- and gender-matched controls (stroke patients without dysphagia) in terms of stroke characteristics and 30-day outcome. Results:Of the recruited 200 patients, 99 (49.5%) had dysphagia. Patients with intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke had a significantly higher prevalence of dysphagia (64% vs 36%; p Conclusion: Severe stroke, subcortical stroke and haemorrhagic stroke types were significantly associated with dysphagia at baseline. Dysphagia adversely influenced 30-days morbidity and case fatality in this cohort of acute stroke patients

A review of ophthalmic registries in Africa – The shortage and importance

BACKGROUND: Clinical registries systematically collect standardized information for pre-defined purposes on patients with a particular condition of interest. The characteristics and quantity of ophthalmic registries in Africa are unclear.This study aimed to quantify ophthalmic clinical registries in African countries from published literature, and to supply an overview of the features and study outcomes of these registries. METHODS: A systematic search of the EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases was conducted to find ophthalmology clinical registries in Africa without time and language limitations. Relevant data elements about registry characteristics, nature, methodology, and outcomes were extracted for each individual registry identified. RESULTS: Six clinical eye registries were found with no substantial growth over time. The most common condition captured is ocular tumors (n=3), of which two were retinoblastoma-specific registries. Five of them were focused on retinal diseases and one on blindness and low vision. None addressed cataracts and glaucoma. A third of the registries originated outside Africa, and one was multinational. Only three African countries produced a registry data set, with South Africa having the majority of the registries (n=3), followed by Egypt (n=2), and Ghana (n=1). Ophthalmic registries in Africa are used to study the epidemiologic features of ocular diseases, treatment outcomes, and genetic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The potential for clinical eye registries has not been adequately harnessed in Africa, as only a few ophthalmic registries exist. Findings from this study may help inform the planning and implementation of future ophthalmic registries and suggest focus areas that have not received due attention