Microbial Diversity in Water and Biofilm Samples from Well Sources in Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria

The aim of the study was to investigate the microbial populations of water and biofilm samples from seven hand dug wells in Ilorin, Nigeria, which are for private and public use. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand were determined. Biofilm growths were induced from water samples obtained from selected wells. Twenty bacteria isolated were identified using morphological and biochemical characteristics as well as molecular methods and includes Shigella sonnei, Shigella dysenteriae, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus sphaericus, Salmonella enteritidis, Proteus mirabilis strain IK-MB4-518F, Bacillus licheniformis strain RH104, Bacillus subtilis, Erwinia sp., Proteus vulgaris, Yersina sp., Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain GS1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 218B, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Vibrio sp., Escherichia coli and Bacillus pasteurii. Total bacterial count ranged from 1.8×104-1.53×106 cfu/ml. Water samples from these wells are therefore not potable and some of the isolates are potential health hazards to human population

Total Quality Management in a Resource-Starved Nation

Total quality management (TQM) is defined as management approach, which empowers employees to adequately satisfy the customer needs. For efficient TQM, management is required to be fully committed, focused and goal-driven. The needs of employees such as tools and resources required for efficiency, self-improvement and corresponding recognition to reward for hard work are paramount in TQM; to achieve this in a resource starved nation such as Nigeria is a huge challenge. In 2016, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) decided that it was adopting TQM in its research and development activities. The challenge, however, was lack of infrastructure and trained personnel in this highly specialized and sensitive area. Respite came when the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the United States Pharmacopoeia Convention Promotion of Quality Medicines (USP/PQM) agreed to provide support. Two years later (2018), NIPRD laboratory has been accredited by the American National Accreditation Board (ANAB) as the only academic institution and probably the only academic-based research institute in West Africa. We discuss herein TQM in a resource starved nation like Nigeria and propose that developing countries should collaborate in all areas of TQM with a view to upgrading institutions to international standards

Ex-vivo evaluation of crab shell chitosan as absorption enhancer in ciprofloxacin tablet formulation

This study was aimed at evaluating crab shell chitosan as absorption enhancer in ciprofloxacin tablet formulation using the ex-vivo model. Six batches of ciprofloxacin tablets containing varying concentrations of crab shell-derived chitosan ranging from 0 to 5% w/w at 1% w/w intervals were produced. Batch CTS-0 containing no chitosan served as the control. The crushing strength, friability, disintegration time, dissolution profile and permeation profile of all the batches were determined. Friability was not significantly affected but the crushing strength and disintegration time of tablets decreased with increase in concentration of chitosan. There was no significant difference in the cumulative percent drug released in 1 h but the cumulative percent drug permeated in 4 h increased with increase in the concentration of chitosan. It increased from 68% (when no chitosan was added) to 81.8% (when 5% w/w chitosan was incorporated). The polymer caused a faster onset of drug release but the eventual total drug released was not significantly influenced. It also improved the permeation of the released drug. This study correlates with in-vivo bioavailability study because the usual oral bioavailability of ciprofloxacin without absorption enhancer is 70%. Hence, crab shell chitosan at concentration of 5% w/w could increase the absorption of ciprofloxacin from 70 to 82%. The study suggests the use of the chitosan at this concentration to improve the absorption of ciprofloxacin.Key words: Crab shell chitosan, ciprofloxacin, dissolution, permeation, absorption

Prevalence of extended spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing Klebsiella species from patients’ specimens in a tertiary teaching hospital in Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria

Objective: This study determined the prevalence of ESBL genes amongst Klebsiella species isolated from patients’ specimens attending a Tertiary Teaching Hospital, in Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional study of presumptive isolates of Klebsiella (n=180) were collected, after ethical approval in the microbiology laboratory. Isolates were identified to species level by conventional biochemical tests and MicrobactTM 24E Identification Kits. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the Kirby Bauer’s disk diffusion method. ESBL production was detected by the double disc synergy and ESBL genes by the multiplex PCR protocol. Results: The Klebsiella species identified were Klebsiella pneumoniae 95.6%, Klebsiella oxytoca 3.3%, Klebsiella ornithinolytica 0.6% and Klebsiella terrigena 0.6%. The prevalence of ESBL genes among the Klebsiella isolates was 47.2% , and the most common ESBL gene was blaSHV (38.9%), also 75% of the study isolates had MAR index greater than 0.2. Conclusions: The study establishes the prevalence of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing Klebsiella sp in the hospital and identified the most prevalent ESBL genes circulating as blaSHV followed by blaTEM and blaCTX-M in this environment. This underscores the need for regular and continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance trend as a strong component of the antibiotics stewardship and infection prevention and control programs in the hospital. Keywords: Antibiotic Resistance; Klebsiella; ESBL

Attitude of Graduate Youths Towards Agro-allied Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Oyo State

Abstract The paper investigated the Agro-allied skill set of the Skill and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the National Youth Service Corps in Oyo state. Specifically, the study examined the personal characteristics of the corps members, determined the attitude of the corps members to agro-allied activities of the SAED and identified challenges facing corps members in executing the agro-allied activities. Two Local Government Areas namely: South west and Ido Local Government Areas were purposively selected. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from a total of 82 corps members. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that majority (67.1%) of the youths were female. Half (54.9%) of the youths were in the age category of 24-26 with more than 62.7% having Bachelor of Science/Technology degree. Only 17.1% of the youths had a degree in agriculture. Majority of the youths (79.3%) were into livestock production and 20.7% chose agricultural engineering. Financial independency and ability to manage resources (67.6%), ability to innovate and inspire other youths (12.0%) were the major motivations of youth. Majority (64.0%) of the corps members are favourably disposed towards the programme. Challenges to entrepreneurship as major challenges were poor supervision of the programme by NYSC officials (mean=1.89), lack of sufficient facilities for training (mean=1.85), inconsistence government policies (mean=1.84), incompetence of some of the facilitators (mean=1.74) and lack of motivational support by government and other stakeholders (mean=1.73). The inferential statistics analysis shows youth graduates’ sex (χ2 =21.07, p<0.05), educational qualification (χ2 =7.47, p<0.05), and marital status (χ2 =5.72, p<0.05) had significant association with their attitude. Correlation analysis of youth graduates’ attitude and benefits derived from SAED programme was found to be significant (r=0.38, p≤0.00).  For further involvement and positive attitude of youth graduates to agro-allied skill set of SAED, financial assistance, supervision, monitoring and psychological motivation should be improved upon by stakeholders and government during and after the youths’ service year so as to encourage more graduate youths to take up agriculture and agribusiness as a profession and means of livelihood. Also, engaging youth graduates in agriculture and retaining them in the sector is a strategy that could both contribute to increasing agricultural productivity and address youth unemployment.   Keywords: Entrepreneurship Development, Youth Graduates, Attitude and Employmen

Attitude of Graduate Youths Towards Agro-allied Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Oyo State

Abstract The paper investigated the Agro-allied skill set of the Skill and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme of the National Youth Service Corps in Oyo state. Specifically, the study examined the personal characteristics of the corps members, determined the attitude of the corps members to agro-allied activities of the SAED and identified challenges facing corps members in executing the agro-allied activities. Two Local Government Areas namely: South west and Ido Local Government Areas were purposively selected. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from a total of 82 corps members. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that majority (67.1%) of the youths were female. Half (54.9%) of the youths were in the age category of 24-26 with more than 62.7% having Bachelor of Science/Technology degree. Only 17.1% of the youths had a degree in agriculture. Majority of the youths (79.3%) were into livestock production and 20.7% chose agricultural engineering. Financial independency and ability to manage resources (67.6%), ability to innovate and inspire other youths (12.0%) were the major motivations of youth. Majority (64.0%) of the corps members are favourably disposed towards the programme. Challenges to entrepreneurship as major challenges were poor supervision of the programme by NYSC officials (mean=1.89), lack of sufficient facilities for training (mean=1.85), inconsistence government policies (mean=1.84), incompetence of some of the facilitators (mean=1.74) and lack of motivational support by government and other stakeholders (mean=1.73). The inferential statistics analysis shows youth graduates’ sex (χ2 =21.07, p<0.05), educational qualification (χ2 =7.47, p<0.05), and marital status (χ2 =5.72, p<0.05) had significant association with their attitude. Correlation analysis of youth graduates’ attitude and benefits derived from SAED programme was found to be significant (r=0.38, p≤0.00).  For further involvement and positive attitude of youth graduates to agro-allied skill set of SAED, financial assistance, supervision, monitoring and psychological motivation should be improved upon by stakeholders and government during and after the youths’ service year so as to encourage more graduate youths to take up agriculture and agribusiness as a profession and means of livelihood. Also, engaging youth graduates in agriculture and retaining them in the sector is a strategy that could both contribute to increasing agricultural productivity and address youth unemployment.   Keywords: Entrepreneurship Development, Youth Graduates, Attitude and Employmen

Review of immunohistochemical typing of endometrial carcinoma at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Background: Categorization of endometrial carcinomas as type I and II provides useful insights into their different risk factors, pathogenesis and biologic behaviours. Aim: To determine the immunohistochemical classifications of endometrial carcinomas in Nigerian women. Design: A retrospective review of histopathologic slides of cases of endometrial carcinomas seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) over a 5-year period. The slides were reviewed, and the diagnoses made according to the WHO nomenclature. The classification of endometrial carcinomas into Type I and II was made by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to ER, PR, p53 and Ki-67. Results: Eight cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma were reported accounting for 53.3% of all endometrial malignancies. Of these, only 1 case showed the classic type I immunophenotype while type II staining pattern was seen in 4 cases. The remaining 3 cases had equivocal immunophenotypes: one was p53+ but showed ER+, PR+ and high Ki-67 index; the second was p53-, ER+, PR+ but had a high Ki-67 expression; while the last was p53-, but ER-, PR- and had high Ki-67 expression. Conclusion: Endometrial carcinomas in Nigerian women are more likely to be type II carcinomas. A reasonable proportion of the cases were equivocal thus requiring further categorization with molecular studies

Optimization of Phenolic Based De-Emulsifiers

The de-emulsification of a Nigerian crude oil emulsion has been investigated using locally formulated base and acid catalyzed phenol formaldehyde resins with varied formaldehyde to phenol molar ratios. The bottle test method was used for the screening process and the best de-emulsifier was chosen based on the largest volume of water removed from the crude oil emulsion. The screening process was done at temperatures of 50 and 70°C and de-emulsifier concentrations of 20 and 50 part per million (ppm), respectively. A factorial design was done to determine the best combination of de-emulsification conditions for optimal performance. The results were optimized and analyzed using software called Minitab 16 utilizing pareto chart, normal effects, main effects and interactions plots. From the analysis, it was found that the optimum set of conditions for best performance of the resole de-emulsifier were 50 ppm, 70°C and 1.8:1 concentration, screening temperature and formaldehyde to phenol molar ratio, respectively. While for novolak de-emulsifiers, they were 50 ppm, 70°C and 0.1:1. Increasing temperature and concentrations were found to enhance de-emulsification performance with all the resole and novolak de-emulsifiers

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition to usual care. If bleeding continued after 30 min, or stopped and restarted within 24 h of the first dose, a second dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid or placebo could be given. Patients were assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight numbered packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Participants, care givers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. We originally planned to enrol 15 000 women with a composite primary endpoint of death from all-causes or hysterectomy within 42 days of giving birth. However, during the trial it became apparent that the decision to conduct a hysterectomy was often made at the same time as randomisation. Although tranexamic acid could influence the risk of death in these cases, it could not affect the risk of hysterectomy. We therefore increased the sample size from 15 000 to 20 000 women in order to estimate the effect of tranexamic acid on the risk of death from post-partum haemorrhage. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN76912190 (Dec 8, 2008); ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00872469; and PACTR201007000192283. Findings Between March, 2010, and April, 2016, 20 060 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (n=10 051) or placebo (n=10 009), of whom 10 036 and 9985, respectively, were included in the analysis. Death due to bleeding was significantly reduced in women given tranexamic acid (155 [1·5%] of 10 036 patients vs 191 [1·9%] of 9985 in the placebo group, risk ratio [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·65–1·00; p=0·045), especially in women given treatment within 3 h of giving birth (89 [1·2%] in the tranexamic acid group vs 127 [1·7%] in the placebo group, RR 0·69, 95% CI 0·52–0·91; p=0·008). All other causes of death did not differ significantly by group. Hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (358 [3·6%] patients in the tranexamic acid group vs 351 [3·5%] in the placebo group, RR 1·02, 95% CI 0·88–1·07; p=0·84). The composite primary endpoint of death from all causes or hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (534 [5·3%] deaths or hysterectomies in the tranexamic acid group vs 546 [5·5%] in the placebo group, RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·87-1·09; p=0·65). Adverse events (including thromboembolic events) did not differ significantly in the tranexamic acid versus placebo group. Interpretation Tranexamic acid reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage with no adverse effects. When used as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, tranexamic acid should be given as soon as possible after bleeding onset. Funding London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Pfizer, UK Department of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Effects of some channelling agents on the compaction properties of the mixed stem bark extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Prosopis africana

Background & Aim: The hot water extract of a mixture of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Prosopis africana is widely used in the northern part of Nigeria for the treatment and management of asthma. Since investigations of its pharmacological activities already justify its use, and the need for standardization of herbal medicine and develop appropriate dosage forms has continued to grow, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of some common channelling agents (sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate and sodium lauryl sulphate) on the compaction properties of the mixed stem bark extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Prosopis africana. Experimental: Granules of the mixed extracts (AA1) were produced using the wet granulation method of massing and screening. The micromeritics and flow properties of the extracts as well as the effects of the three common additives were studied, while the compaction properties of the extract formulated alone and in the presence of these additives were interrogated using the Heckel equation. Results: Our results showed that, all the formulations containing the channelling agents exhibited poor flow. Granules prepared using sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) exhibited plastic deformation during consolidation, those formulated using calcium carbonate (CaCO3) showed initial fragmentation before consolidation by plastic deformation and those formulated using sodium lauryl sulphate consolidated essentially by plastic deformation. Inclusion of additives modified the compressibility profiles of the formulations. Tensile strength of the formulations containing NaHCO3 and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) were observed to be concentration dependent while those containing CaCO3 showed no appreciable increase in tensile strength with increased pressure. Generally, formulations containing 5% of the additives gave the highest tensile strength, however, those containing CaCO3 were found to be higher than the other two formulations. Recommended applications/industries: Considering that, none of the channelling agents altered significantly the compaction properties of AA1, they might be useful in developing standardized and robust tablets of A. leiocarpus and P. africana admixtures for Asthma therapy