Pattern of Waterborne Diseases in Yenagoa, Nigeria

Waterborne diseases have negative implications on the health and socioeconomic activities of man. This paper analyzed the prevalence pattern of diarrhea and typhoid (DT) in Yenagoa. The study used data derived from responses to administered questionnaire on household’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and retrospective hospital data on recorded cases of DT in Yenagoa. Obtained data were analyzed with tables, percentages, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and T-test. The analyses showed that household’s WASH provisions in Yenagoa were unsatisfactory and may have contributed to the incidence of both diseases. Those mostly impacted by both diseases were five years and below; while the dry season recorded higher cases, when safe water supply was more challenging. The ANOVA test showed that the monthly incidence of both DT do not significantly vary, as the calculated F-value for diarrhea was 6.865, p-value, .135; while that for typhoid was, .590, p-value, .842 at 0.05 alpha levels. However, the age and seasonal incidence of both DT varied significantly in Yenagoa. The ANOVA test for age distribution of diarrhea was F= 5.483 and p-value, .024; while that of typhoid was F= 6.038 and p-value was .019 at 0.05 alpha levels. Similarly, the t-test for seasonal incidence of diarrhea was t =4.836 and p-value, .005; while that of typhoid was t = 4.468 and p-value, .007 at 0.05 alpha levels. Therefore, households should have unrestricted access to adequate WASH services, which act as primary barriers to the spread of DT diseases

Purification and properties of a neutral protease produced by Lactobacillus brevis

A proteolytic enzyme was produced by a strain of Lactobacillus brevis isolated from an oriental beverage. The enzyme was extracted and purified 50-fold by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The optimum pH for the enzyme was 7.0, the optimum temperature 35°C and the molecular weight 34,674 Da. Furthermore, the enzyme was stimulated by cations including Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+ and inhibited by Zn2+ and Co2+ ions. Other inhibitors were EDTA, ascorbic acid and citric acid. The enzyme is probably a neutral metalloprotease

Isolation of Cellulolytic Microfungi Involved in Wood-Waste Decomposition: Prospects for Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulosic Wastes

Wood-wastes from dump-sites at Okobaba Saw-mills on the western part of the Lagos lagoon were examined for cellulolytic microorganisms. Cellulolytic microfungi were isolated from the wastes using minimal salt agar medium containing 0.2% (w/v) crystalline cellulose, sugarcane pulp, corn cob or saw-dust as sole carbon/energy source. The colonies of cellulolytic microfungi which appeared on the plates increased in size and number as the incubation period (days) increased. Among the fungal isolates were two pathogenic Aspergilli (A flavus and A fumigatus), three different black Aspergilli (herein designated as A.niger I, A.niger II and A.niger III), Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium species and Penicillium species. Cell-free filtrates of 7 – day cultures of A.flavus, A.niger I, A.niger II, B. cinerea and P.species grown on the minimal salt broth supplemented with crystalline cellulose as sole carbon/energy source showed very significant CM–cellulase activity. P. species gave a very high value that was over 4 times the value for the closest organism, A.niger II. There is a good propect for cellulase production using the virgin strain of P. species isolated from the wood-wastes

Potentials of cellulosic wastes in media formulation

Potential use of cellulosic wastes as carbon and energy sources in selective media formulations was investigated. Two agar media, Czapek-Dox and Sabouraud’s agar, were modified by substituting their carbon sources with cellulose, sawdust and sugarcane pulps. Then, two fungi; Aspergillus niger ANL301 and Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501, newly isolated from wood-wastes, were transferred to the unmodified and modified media and their growth was monitored for 120 h. Growth of the organisms on modified media containing sawdust and sugarcane pulp compared favorably with that obtained for the unmodified equivalents. Modified Czapek-Dox agar containing 2% (w/v) sawdust (Wood agar) and sugarcane pulps (Cane agar) gave 78.9 – 93.3% of the maximum growth obtained on Sabouraud’s agar. The modified Sabouraud’s agar containing sawdust (Wood-Pep agar) and sugarcane pulps (Cane-Pep agar) yielded 84.4 – 100% of the maximum growth on Sabouraud’s agar. Cellulose-containing media gave a lower level of growth (60.0 – 66.7%) of that obtained for the unmodified media

CELLULASE PRODUCTION BY WILD STRAINS OF ASPERGILLUS NIGER, PENICILLIUM CHRYSOGENUM AND TRICHODERMA HARZIANUM GROWN ON WASTE CELLULOSIC MATERIALS.

Waste cellulosic materials (corncob, sawdust and sugarcane pulp) and crystalline cellulose induced cellulase production in wild strains of Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum and Trichoderma harzianum isolated from a wood-waste dump in Lagos, Nigeria. Cellulose-supplemented media gave the maximum cellulase activity of -1 0.54, 0.67 and 0.39 units mg Protein for A. niger, P. chrysogenum and T. harzianum respectively. The maximum enzyme activity for A. niger was obtained at 36 hours of cultivation, while P. chrysogenum and T. harzianum gave their optimal enzyme activities at 12 and 60 hours respectively. Of the three cellulosic wastes, best enzyme -1 activity was obtained with sawdust. Maximum enzyme activity of 0.30, 0.24 and 0.20 units mg Protein respectively was obtained with A. niger, P. chrysogenum and T. harzianum at 144 hours of cultivation using the substrate. A. niger gave the highest enzyme activity with any of the three cellulosic materials followed by P. chrysogenum. It thus appears that the use of sawdust presents the best option for low-cost commercial production of cellulase using A. niger and P. chrysogenum as discussed herewit

Effect of carbon sources on cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) production by Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501

The effects of glucose, crystalline cellulose and sawdust of Mitragyna cilata on the growth and cellulase production, inferred from cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity, of Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501 was determined. Glucose-containing media gave the highest mycelia weight of 1.78 mg mL-1 in 120 h of incubation. This is about 3.5 – 4.5 times the maximum weights of 0.51 and 0.40 mg mL-1 respectively obtained from the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. The cultures containing crystalline cellulose and sawdust produced extracellular protein with cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity whereas glucose-containing cultures yielded very low protein and no significant cellulase activity. Maximum protein content of 0.02, 0.13 and 0.46 mg mL-1 respectively were obtained from the cultures containing glucose, cellulose and sawdust. Peak cellulase activity values of 100.0 and 92.2 Units L-1 respectively were obtained for the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. There is a correlation between the protein released and cellulase activity of the culture filtrates. P. chrysogenum PCL501 produces extracellular proteins with significant cellulase activity in media containing cellulose and sawdust but not in glucose-containing medium. Sawdust is indicated as a good inducer of cellulase activity in the organism. The waste cellulosic material can be used as low-cost carbon source for commercial cellulase production

Hysterosalpingographic findings in infertility – what has changed over the years?

Background: Prior studies on Hysterosalpingography (HSG) have shown that pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) related tubal adhesions accounted for 30 – 50% of female infertility, with as high as 80% reported in some studies. With improved access tocontraceptives, antibiotics and promotion of safe practices, the abnormal findings in HSG may have reduced or altered.Objective: To document the imaging findings in the HSG of participants and to compare current findings with prior studies done nationally and internationally.Method: A retrospective evaluation of 974 HSGs done at the tertiary diagnostic center over a 7-year period was conducted and analyzed using diagnostic accuracy tables.Results: Tubal pathologies were the most common abnormality in this study, (35.1% of the cases), comprising tubal blockage and hydrosalpinges; followed by uterine masses seen in 223 (22.9%) of the clients. Tubal occlusion was higher in clients with multiple abnormal findings; .while normal sized and large uterine cavities had a higher percentage of bilateral tubal patency.Conclusion: Tubal factors remain the most common abnormality seen in the HSGs of infertile women in this study, though with lower prevalence compared with prior older studies. Forty seven (47%) of the cases of female factor infertility had normal HSGs with bilateral tubal patency.Keywords: HSG, infertility, female, Africa, tubal factors, uterine masses

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF A LIGHTWEIGHT ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHASSIS

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the design and structural analysis of lightweight chassis for electric vehicles. A chassis needs to be able to withstand twist, shock, vibration, and other stresses caused by acceleration, braking, road condition, and shock initiated by other parts of a vehicle. It should carry a maximum load under all operating conditions. Two materials, 304L steel, and Ti-6AL-4V alloy were evaluated, with parameters such as total deformation, equivalent stress, and equivalent elastic strain under consideration. The outcome of the Finite Element Analysis revealed that Ti-6AL-4V can withstand higher stresses than 304L Steel. By investigating the static behaviors of the chassis under static loading due to weight and overload conditions, Ti-6AL-4V was chosen as a suitable replacement for a 304L Steel chassis

Breast cancer screening in a resource poor country: Ultrasound versus mammography

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest female cancer in Nigeria. Despite its increased awareness, affordability of available screening tools is a bane. Mammography, the goal standard for screening is costly and not widely available in terms of infrastructure, technical/personnel capabilities. Ultrasound is accessible and affordable.Objectives: This study compared the use of ultrasound and mammography as breast cancer screening tools in women in South West Nigeria by characterizing and comparing the prevalent breast parenchyma, breast cancer features and the independent sensitivity of ultrasound and mammography.Methods: This cross sectional comparative descriptive study used both ultrasound and mammography as screening tools in 300 consenting women aged 30 to 60 years who attended a free breast cancer screening campaign in a tertiary hospital in Lagos. Categorical variables were presented in tables and Chi squares for associations P- value set at ± 0.1.Results: Mean age was 41.01 + 6.5years with majority in the 30 – 39 year age group 139 (55%). Fatty (BIRADS A and B) parenchyma predominated {ultrasound 237 (79%); mammography 233 (77.7%)} in all age groups. 7 (2.3%) were confirmed malignant by histology with (6) in the 30-39 age group and (1) in the 40-49 age group. Ultrasounddetected all the confirmed cases 7(100%), whereas mammography detected 6 (85%). Sensitivity was higher using ultrasound (100%) than mammography (85.7%).Conclusion: Ultrasound can be utilized as a first line of screening especially in remote/rural areas in developing world.Funding: Part funding from Run for Cure governmental organizationKeywords: Breast Cancer, Women, Ultrasound, Mammography, Sensitivit

Potentials of cellulosic wastes in media formulation

Potential use of cellulosic wastes as carbon and energy sources in selective media formulations was investigated. Two agar media, Czapek-Dox and Sabouraud’s agar, were modified by substituting theircarbon sources with cellulose, sawdust and sugarcane pulps. Then, two fungi; Aspergillus niger ANL301 and Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501, newly isolated from wood-wastes, were transferred to the unmodified and modified media and their growth was monitored for 120 h. Growth of the organisms on modified media containing sawdust and sugarcane pulp compared favorably with that obtained for the unmodified equivalents. Modified Czapek-Dox agar containing 2% (w/v) sawdust (Wood agar) and sugarcane pulps (Cane agar) gave 78.9 – 93.3% of the maximum growth obtained on Sabouraud’s agar. The modified Sabouraud’s agar containing sawdust (Wood-Pep agar) and sugarcane pulps (Cane-Pep agar) yielded 84.4 – 100% of the maximum growth on Sabouraud’s agar. Cellulose-containing media gave a lower level of growth (60.0 – 66.7%) of that obtained for the unmodified media