REVERSE LOGISTICS AND MANAGEMENT OF WASTE PRODUCTS: THE NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING FIRMS EXPERIENCE

Purpose. The paper explores reverse logistics activities such as product return, reuse of materials, and waste disposal impacts on the management of waste products in the Nigerian manufacturing companies. This is with a view to examining the awareness of reverse logistics to the management of waste products in Nigeria and determines the importance of reverse logistics activities and process to the management of waste products of Nigeria manufacturing firms. Methodology. Using a cross-sectional survey research design, 300 staff of selected manufacturing firms that deal with waste product were selected in Lagos and a well-structured and validated questionnaire was administered. From this, 250 copies were returned, while 246 were valid for the purpose of analysis. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance test of significance and Friedman rank test. Findings and Implication. The findings revealed that the respondents convinced that their reverse logistics activities arising from return of goods may be as very important to developing efficient and effective management of waste products of Nigeria manufacturing firms. The results also indicates that reverse logistics is highly significant in achieving the organizational goals (p < 0.05), company\u27s future success (F = 8.18, p < 0.05), the functioning of a manufacturing company (p < 0.05) and strategically positioning the company. The study therefore recommends the need for a growing focus on various sections of reverse logistics processes in waste products’ management of manufacturing company in order to achieve organisational goal and enhances sustainable business performance

Mean platelet volume and platelet counts in type 2 Diabetes: Mellitus on treatment and non-diabetic mellitus controls in Lagos, Nigeria

Introduction: The Mean platelet volume and platelet counts are indicators of thrombotic potentials, and risk factors for microvascular complications in diabetics. This study aimed to establish variations in platelet counts and mean platelet volume in type 2 diabetic patients on treatment and non-diabetic controls. Methods: This was an unmatched case-control study involving 200 participants consisting of 100 diabetics and 100 non-diabetic controls. Four and half milliliters of blood was collected from diabetics and non diabetic controls into EDTA anticoagulant tubes. Full blood count was performed using the Sysmex KN-21N, (manufactured by Sysmex corporation Kobe, Japan) a three- part auto analyzer able to run 19 parameters per sample including platelet counts and mean platelet volume. Results: The mean fasting blood sugar for the diabetics was 147.85±72.54 mg/dl and the controls 95.20±30.10 mg/dl. The mean platelet count for the diabetics was 235.29±76.81*109/L and controls, 211.32±66.44*109/L. The mean platelet volume, for the diabetics was 8.69±0.67 fl and the controls, 8.91±0.80 fl. There was a statistically significant difference in platelet counts of diabetics and healthy controls p =0.038 while none existed between the mean platelet volume in diabetics and healthy controls p=0.593. Conclusion: This study revealed a higher mean platelet count for diabetics on treatment than for non diabetic controls while mean platelet volume was lower in cases than controls. However, both parameters in diabetics on treatment were within the normal reference range for healthy individuals

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Burden and Association With CKD in Ghana and Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the burden of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with CKD in Africa is not well characterized. We determined the prevalence of selected cardiovascular risk factors, and association with CKD in the Human Heredity for Health in Africa Kidney Disease Research Network study. METHODS: We recruited patients with and without CKD in Ghana and Nigeria. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate of 50 years, and body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m 2 were independently associated with CKD. The association of diabetes and smoking with CKD was modified by other risk factors. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent in middle-aged adult patients with CKD in Ghana and Nigeria, with higher proportions in Ghana than in Nigeria. Hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and underweight were independently associated with CKD

Association of body composition with odds of breast cancer by molecular subtype: analysis of the Mechanisms for Established and Novel Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Nigerian Women (MEND) study

Background: The association between obesity and breast cancer (BC) has been extensively studied among US, European and Asian study populations, with often conflicting evidence. However, despite the increasing prevalence of obesity and associated conditions in Africa, the continent with the highest age-standardized BC mortality rate globally, few studies have evaluated this association, and none has examined in relation to molecular subtypes among African women. The current analysis examines the association between body composition, defined by body mass index (BMI), height, and weight, and BC by molecular subtype among African women. Methods: We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association between measures of body composition and BC and molecular subtypes among 419 histologically confirmed cases of BC and 286 healthy controls from the Mechanisms for Established and Novel Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Women of Nigerian Descent (MEND) case-control study. Results: Higher BMI (aOR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.95) and weight (aOR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.98) were associated with reduced odds of BC in adjusted models, while height was associated with non-statistically significant increased odds of BC (aOR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.28). In pre/peri-menopausal, but not post-menopausal women, both higher BMI and weight were significantly associated with reduced odds of BC. Further, higher BMI was associated with reduced odds of Luminal A, Luminal B, and HER2-enriched BC among pre/peri-menopausal women, and reduced odds of triple-negative BC among post-menopausal women. Conclusions: Higher BMI and weight were associated with reduced odds of BC overall and by molecular subtype among West African women. Larger studies of women of African descent are needed to definitively characterize these associations and inform cancer prevention strategies

Association of lipid profile biomarkers with breast cancer by molecular subtype: analysis of the MEND study

There is conflicting evidence on the role of lipid biomarkers in breast cancer (BC), and no study to our knowledge has examined this association among African women. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association of lipid biomarkers—total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides—with odds of BC overall and by subtype (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched and triple-negative or TNBC) for 296 newly diagnosed BC cases and 116 healthy controls in Nigeria. Each unit standard deviation (SD) increase in triglycerides was associated with 39% increased odds of BC in fully adjusted models (aOR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.86). Among post-menopausal women, higher total cholesterol (aOR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.57), LDL cholesterol (aOR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.41), and triglycerides (aOR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.21, 3.01) were associated with increased odds of BC. Additionally, each unit SD increase in LDL was associated with 64% increased odds of Luminal B BC (aOR 1.64; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.55). Clinically low HDL was associated with 2.7 times increased odds of TNBC (aOR 2.67; 95% CI: 1.10, 6.49). Among post-menopausal women, higher LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly associated with increased odds of Luminal B BC and HER2 BC, respectively. In conclusion, low HDL and high LDL are associated with increased odds of TN and Luminal B BC, respectively, among African women. Future prospective studies can definitively characterize this association and inform clinical approaches targeting HDL as a BC prevention strategy

REVERSE LOGISTICS AND MANAGEMENT OF WASTE PRODUCTS: THE NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING FIRMS EXPERIENCE

Purpose. The paper explores reverse logistics activities such as product return, reuse of materials, and waste disposal impacts on the management of waste products in the Nigerian manufacturing companies. This is with a view to examining the awareness of reverse logistics to the management of waste products in Nigeria and determines the importance of reverse logistics activities and process to the management of waste products of Nigeria manufacturing firms. Methodology. Using a cross-sectional survey research design, 300 staff of selected manufacturing firms that deal with waste product were selected in Lagos and a well-structured and validated questionnaire was administered. From this, 250 copies were returned, while 246 were valid for the purpose of analysis. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance test of significance and Friedman rank test. Findings and Implication. The findings revealed that the respondents convinced that their reverse logistics activities arising from return of goods may be as very important to developing efficient and effective management of waste products of Nigeria manufacturing firms. The results also indicates that reverse logistics is highly significant in achieving the organizational goals (p < 0.05), company's future success (F = 8.18, p < 0.05), the functioning of a manufacturing company (p < 0.05) and strategically positioning the company. The study therefore recommends the need for a growing focus on various sections of reverse logistics processes in waste products’ management of manufacturing company in order to achieve organisational goal and enhances sustainable business performance

CD4 Count Pattern and Demographic Distribution of Treatment-Naïve HIV Patients in Lagos, Nigeria

Background. CD4 count measures the degree of immunosuppression in HIV-positive patients. It is also used in deciding when to commence therapy, in staging the disease, and in determining treatment failure. Using the CD4 count, this study aimed at determining the percentage of HIV-positives who require antiretroviral therapy at enrollment in an HIV treatment and care centre. Methods. The Baseline CD4 count, age and gender of 4,042 HAART-naïve patients, who registered between December 2006 and June 2010, at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, were retrospectively studied. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Inc., Chicago, Ill). Results. Patients consisted of 2507 (62%) female and 1535 (38%) males. The mean age of males was years and that of females years. Overall, the mean CD4 count was of  cells/mm3. The mean CD4 count of males was  cells/mm3 and that of females cells/mm3. A total of 72.3% males, 64.3% females and 67.4% overall registered patients had CD4 count 500 cells/mm3 at registration. Conclusion. Females account for more than half of registered patients in HIV clinic and have a relatively higher CD4 count than males. About three-quarter of HIV positives require antiretroviral therapy at registration