Restoring Residential Slums into Habitable Districts: A Study of Odo- Ikoyi -Isolo Quarters of Akure, Nigeria

This study examines the living condition of the people in Odo-Ikoyi and Isolo quarters area of Akure, Nigeria. The study employed the use of questionnaire to gather information on the condition of buildings and socioeconomic variables. This is backed up by site investigation survey to identify the types and nature of the environmental activities in the areas. Simple table, percentages and explanatory paragraph were used for the analysis. A lot of problems bedeviled Odo-Ikoyi and Isolo quarters, ranging from; old age, poor housing condition, missing environmental amenities, poverty and lack of attention from both the residents and the government. These conditions have affected and deteriorated the area into slum and squalid environment. The study notes that there is hope in restoring the slum into a good and habitable environment and therefore recommends that government should wake up to her responsibility by providing decent living environment to her citizenry. It is also recommended that the residents of the area be empowered by  government through its poverty alleviation and skill acquisition programmes. Other  recommendations include educating and enlightenment campaign to re awaken the minds of the residents about the needs to develop their environment. The NGOs and the multinational organization are also recommended to be brought in to the redevelopment, rehabilitation and renovation of the areas.Key words: Slum, Habitable district, Transformation, Akure, Nigeria

Effects of Piliostigma thonningii ethyl acetate leaf extract on aluminium-cum extract treated wistar rats

Recent research findings extol the medicinal significance of the different parts of Piliostigma thonningii. The present study investigated the hepatoprotective effect of its ethyl acetate leaf extract against AlCl3-induced hepatocellular derangement in mature male rats. Thirty male Wistar rats (mean weight, 207 ± 11.01g) were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group treated with 0.5 ml of olive oil (vehicle for the extract) and 1 ml of saline (vehicle for the toxicant), a second group treated with 0.5 mg of AlCl3 (toxicant) per kg of body weight (bwt) and a third group treated with 0.5 mg of Alcl3 and 250 mg of P. thonningii extract per kg of body weight. Doses were administered for a period of 35 days at 24 h interval. Enzyme indices of liver functional and physiological integrity were analyzed using clinical test kits. The data obtained showed that rats treated with AlCl3 expressed significant decrease in mean body weight gain (p<0.05) as well as increased serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) relative to the control group. AlCl3 also caused a significant increase in the absolute weight of the liver of rats. The AlCl3-induced derangements were almost completely reversed in rats co-treated with P. thonningii ethyl acetate leaf extract. Histopathological examination of thin sections of liver of rats in the different groups showed massive hepatocellular damage in rats exposed to AlCl3 alone compared to rats co-treated with the extract. Conclusively, the current study indicates that P. thonningii ethyl acetate leaf extract at the dose administered (250 mg/kg bwt po) protected rats against AlCl3-induced liver damage.Keywords: Piliostigma thonningii, Ethyl acetate, Aluminium chloride, Liver damage, HistopathologyAnimal Research International (2012) 9(2): 1579 – 158

Ocularhaemodynamics parameters of asymptomatic HAART experienced HIV-infected under-five children

Objectives: Study aimed at evaluating the impacts of HAART on retinal blood flow of a symptomatic HAART - experienced HIV-infected underfive children.Method: Ethical approval and patient consents were obtained before commencement of the study in the selected hospitals. Thirty asymptomatic HAARTexperienced HIV-infected children and three seronegative children aged 0-5 year-old fulfilled conditions for ocular ultrasonography among 60 convenience sampled under-fives. Ocular ultrasonography was done on the patients in supine position with eyes closed as instructed by the radiologist. Maximum velocity (Vmax), pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI), optic nerve diameter, lens thickness and axial diameter were measured. Results of HAART-experienced children were not compared with the control children because of unequal size. Data were analysed by using ANOVA and level of significance was considered at p<0.05. Results: Vmax of blood flow in central retinal artery (CRA) of asymptomatic HAART - experienced HIV infected children was 12.2cm/s while that of seronegative children was 13.4 cm/s. The PI and RI of blood flow in CRA of asymptomatic HAARTexperienced HIV-infected children were 0.8 and 0.5 respectively while those of the seronegative children were 0.6 and 0.4 respectively. Reduced Vmax of blood flow of CRA was significantly associated with both increased PI and RI of asymptomatic HAARTexperienced HIV-infected underfive children.Discussion: Vmax of CRA of asymptomatic HAART-experienced HIV-infected children was reduced because of their increased PI and RI suggesting an increased resistance to blood flow in asymptomatic HAART experienced HIVinfected children.Conclusion: Reduced Vmax of blood flow to CRA was significantly associated with increased PI and RI of asymptomatic HAARTexperienced HIV-infected children.Keywords: Ophthalmic artery, Central retina artery, maximum velocity, Seropositive children, HAAR

Development and preliminary testing of a culturally-friendly pain assessment tool for children (crying faces pain scale)

Background and aims: Having a universal tool for assessing pain in children is hamstrung by cultural sensitivity. This study aimed to develop and validate a culturally-friendly pain assessment tool (i.e. Crying Faces Pain Scale (CFPS)) among Nigerian Children. Material and methods: This study employed criterion-standard design. The study was in three phases, namely: (1) development of CFPS, (2) cross-validity and (3) validation of the CFPS. 70 children (39 (55.7%) males and 31 (44.3%) females) within the age range of 4-13 years who had post-surgical pain, orthopaedic pain, stomach pain or headache were involved in the validation phase. Psychometric properties and preferences for the CFPS compared with the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (FACES) were examined. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Alpha level was set at p<0.05. Results: The median score of the CFPS was 4.60 compared to FACES median score of 4.49. There was weak correlation between FACES and CFPS (r=0.325; p=0.006). Preference score as a culturally friendly tool for CFPS and FACES was 6.07±1.23 and 3.67 ±1.09 respectively, based on a modified 0-10 numerical pain scale. Conclusions: The crying faces pain scale has fair psychometric properties for assessing pain in children. However, CFPS was preferred to FACES as a culturally friendly tool for assessing pain among Nigerian children. Implications: The CFPS is more culturally friendly and so might be better suited as a pain scale in Africa. However, due to its fair psychometric properties, further studies may be needed to improve upon this scale

Comparative effects of burst mode alternating current and resisted exercise on physical function, pain intensity and quadriceps strength among patients with primary knee osteoarthritis

Background and objective: The beneficial effect of Resisted Exercise (RE) in Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) rehabilitation is often hamstrung by the presence of other comorbidities affecting exercise implementation, hence the need for comparative alternative therapies. This study compared the effect of Burst Mode Alternating Current (BMAC) and RE in the management of patients with knee OA. Methods: Forty-seven consenting patients with primary knee OA participated in this study. The participants were recruited from the outpatient physiotherapy department of a Nigerian teaching hospital. The participants were randomly assigned into either RE plus BMAC (RBMAC) or RE Only (REO) groups. The effects of intervention were assessed in terms of physical function, pain intensity and quadriceps strength at the 4th and 8th week of intervention. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data at p0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, resisted exercise alone had significant effects on physical function, pain intensity and quadriceps strength in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, burst mode alternating current did not show additional effects

Development and feasibility testing of an animated cartoon-based self-care application for low-back pain – a pilot study

Objectives: The use of animated cartoons for pain management is an emerging area, however, in no study has it been explored as a digital platform for the rehabilitation of low-back pain (LBP). This study was aimed to develop and evaluate the feasibility of an animated cartoon-based self-care (ACBSC) app for LBP, and to examine the correlation between the app rating parameters and patients’ pain. Methods: This 2-phase study comprised development and feasibility testing components. Development of the ACBSC app was based on Mckenzie’s Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) extension protocol plus back hygiene following standard it-eration and prototyping process. Twenty-eight consecutive patients with chronic non-specific LBP with ‘direction Preference’ for extension based on the MDT screening algorithm participated in the feasibility phase. The participants utilised the car-toon-based app thrice weekly for 2 weeks. Outcomes were assessed in terms of usability, satisfaction and user experience ap-plying the system usability and mobile application rating scales. The Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS) was used to assess the participants’ pain intensity. Results: On a unified scale up to 20, functionality (15.4 ± 2.41) and aesthetics 14 ± 2.00 had highest and least objective quality rating on the app parameters. Total objective and subjective quality rating of the app was 16.9 ± 1.97 and 15.6 ± 2.42, respectively. The total impact and usability scores were 24.1 ± 3.39 (out of 30) and 27.8 ± 3.09 (out of 50). Participants re-ported that the cartoon app for back care mostly affected mindfulness/meditation/relaxation (42.9%), increasing happiness/ well-being (46.4%), leading to behavioural changes (60.7%), while targeting physical health (100%). There was no significant correlation between participants’ pain characteristics and app rating parameters (p>0.05). Conclusion: The animated cartoon-based self-care LBP app has moderate to high usability, functionality, aesthetics and quality rating, and may serve as an effective mobile-app for self-management of long-term LBP

Effects of peeling on the physico-chemical properties of wine from carrot juice

The effect of peeling on the physico-chemical properties of wine from carrot juice was investigated. Wines were produced from the juice of peeled and unpeeled carrots respectively by alcoholic fermentation using a culture of wine yeast (Sacchromyces cerevisiae). The physicochemical properties assessed were alcohol, sugar, ascorbic acid, carotene, total acidity, volatile acidity, fixed acidity, titrable acidity, pH, colour intensity, specific gravity, extract, and ash contents. The results show that wine from peeled carrot juice contain 2.6mg/100ml which was twice the value contained in wine from unpeeled carrot juice. Wine from peeled carrot juice was also higher in carotene content when compared with wine from unpeeled carrot juice. Statistical analysis shows that there was a significant difference (

Changes in the ascorbic acid content of juices of some tropical fruits fermented into wine

No Abstract. Nigerian Food Journal Vol. 24(1) 2006: 118-122

A proposed relationship between pH and ascorbic acid content of fresh fruit juices of orange, grape, lemon and lime

A relationship between the ascorbic acid content of fresh squeezed juice of orange, lemon, grape and lime and the pH was presented. The relationship established were statistically compared with those obtained by the 2,6 dichlorophenol indophenol titration method. It was shown that they do not differ significantly (p&ge;0.05). This new method should be of practical application in the rapid estimation of the ascorbic acid content of fresh fruit juices. Keywords: ascorbic acid, pH, oranges, grape, lemon and lime Nigerian Food Journal Vol. 23 2005: 256-26