Determination of gross alpha and beta radioactivity concentration along Jakara waste water canal, Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

This research undertook an assessment of the radioactivity level along the Jakara waste water canal. Six soil samples and five water samples were taken for gross alpha and beta activity concentration using the gas–flow–proportional counter (IN20). Results for gross alpha activity concentration for the soil samples range from 4.597E-03 Bq/g to 1.425E-02 Bq/g, while that of gross beta activity for soil has the range from 3.341E+01 Bq/g to 8.092E+01 Bq/g. In the same vein, results for gross alpha activity concentration for the water samples have the range from 6.035E-03 Bq/L to 1.433E+00 Bq/L while the value for the gross beta activity concentration ranges from 5.038E+00 Bq/L to 2.853E+01 Bq/L for the same water samples. These results show that the alpha and beta activity concentration in the analysed samples are higher than the minimum permissible concentration by World Health Organisation (WHO, 2003). This may pose health risk because the waste water is used by people to irrigate vegetables along the waste water canal. Keywords: Background Radiation, Activity Concentration, Gross Alpha, Gross Bet

Effectiveness and compliance to the use of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine as a prophylaxis for malaria among pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Malaria during pregnancy escalates the damaging consequence to the mother and neonate. The usage of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is recommended for averting the deleterious consequences of malaria in pregnancy. This study evaluated the effectiveness of, and compliance with the use of SP for malaria among pregnant women in Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria. Method: A total of 300 samples of maternal peripheral blood (MPB), 84 neonatal cord blood (NCB) and 84 placental blood (PLB) were collected from consenting mothers. Malaria parasitaemia were analysed using standard parasitological methods, and bio-data of consenting mothers were collected through questionnaires and from ANC records. Results: Out of the samples examined for MPB, 59(19.7%) tested positive to malaria. Those with only primary education (57.1%) and women of age ≤ 20yrs (25%) had higher prevalence. Women who took SP had significantly lower prevalence (17.6%) than those that took other drugs (36.4%) (p < 0.05). Malaria prevalence was highest among women who had 3 months interval between each dose (39.1%), followed by those of 2months (23.7%) and those of 1 month (7.0%) (p < 0.05). The primigravidaes (22.8%) had an insignificantly higher prevalence than secundigravidae (19.4%) and multigravidae (15.9%). Also, 30.5% of women who registered in their third trimester of pregnancy had a significantly higher malaria parasitaemia than those who registered during their first 8.10%, or second trimesters, 19.4%. Of the 84 MPB-NCB-PLB pairedamples examined, 16.7%, 8.3% and 25% respectively were infected with malaria parasitaemia. On frequency of compliance, mothers who took SP once (37.5%) had a significantly higher MPB parasitaemia than those who took it twice (7.84%) and those of thrice (6.25%). Neonatal cord blood parasitaemia prevalence revealed that those that took SP once, that is, 25%, had a higher prevalence than others like those of twice (5.88%) and thrice (0%) respectively. Conclusion: The use and compliance of SP reduced the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women and their new-borns. Keywords: Compliance; Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine; Pregnant women; Malaria Parasitaemia

Contributions of financial sector reforms and credit supply to Nigerian agricultural sector (1978-2009)

This study analyzed the trends and pattern of institutional credit supply to agriculture during pre- and post-financial reforms along with their determinants. It then compared the effects of reform policies on access to institutional credits in Nigerian agricultural sector before and after the reforms (1978 - 1985; and 1986 -2009). Relying mainly on time series data from CBN and NBS, it used ordinary least squares method (linear, semi-log and double log) to model the determinants of banking sector lending to the agricultural sector during the review period. The models were subjected to several econometric tests before accepting one. Chow test was used to verify the presence of structural change in the selected equation before and after the reforms. Results indicated an exponentially increasing trend of agricultural credit supply in the economy after the reform began. Econometric analysis shows that stock market capitalization, interest rate and immediate past volume of credit guaranteed by ACGSF significantly influenced the quantity of institutional credit supplied to the agricultural sector over the period in review. There was a significant difference between the credit supply function during the pre-reform and post reform periods. It was recommended that government must consider interest rate regulation as a veritable tool for making credit accessible to farmers at affordable levels; increase fund allocation to ACGSF; boost monitoring capacity of CBN on banks generally and strengthen the microfinance banks to be more responsive to agricultural credit needs

Analysis of Market Participation by Rice Farmers in Southern Nigeria.

The study analyzed the factors affecting market participation by smallholder rice farmers in the study area. A random sampling procedure was employed in selecting the respondents. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and the probit regression model. The results showed the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the small holder rice farmers varied greatly. The probit regression result showed that the level of crop produced, total land size, use of improved seeds, group participation, market information and contractual agreement has positive and significant impact on the ability of household to participate in output market. Lack of timely market information, transport and restricted access to extension agents are some of the problems associated with smallholder farmers in the study area. Based on the findings of the study some policy implications are discussed. KEYWORDS:Market participation, Small holder rice farmers, Market information, Output marke

Effects of methanol leaf extracts of Loranthus micranthus Linn from three host plants on some biochemical indices of diabetic rats

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of Loranthus micranthus leaf extracts from three host plants on the blood glucose, lipid profile and other biochemical indices of diabetic rats. Methods: The extracts of L. micranthus from Persea americana, Irvingia gabonensis and Cola acuminata were administered (orally at 200 mg/kg for 14 days) to alloxan-induced diabetic rats with glibenclamide serving as the standard drug. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, hematological indices and liver enzyme functions of the rats were determined. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts was carried out by standard methods. Results: The extracts reduced (p < 0.05) the FBG, low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides and increased (p < 0.05) high density lipoprotein (HDL) and hematological parameters of the rats. However, there was no increase (p > 0.05) in liver enzymes. Phytochemical screening showed abundance of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and terpenoids. Conclusion: The study revealed that L. micranthus extracts from the three host plants possess antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and anti-anemic activities. Keywords: Anemia, Dyslipidemia, Enzymes, Hyperglycemia, Loranthus micranthus, Mistleto

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of the methanol leaf extract of Diaphananthe bidens in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Purpose: To investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of the methanol extract of Diaphananthe bidens leaf using acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity rat model. Methods: Thirty albino Wistar rats, randomly assigned into 6 groups (A - F, n = 5), were used for the study. Groups A and B received distilled water (10 ml/kg), group C received silymarin (0.10 g/kg) while groups D - F received D. bidens extract 0.15, 0.30 and 0.60 g/kg, respectively, for 7 days. On day 8, groups B - F rats received acetaminophen (2 g/kg) orally. About 48 h later, pentobarbitone sodium (0.035 g/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for sleeping time studies. The time of sleep, time of awake and the duration of sleep were recorded. On awakening, blood samples were collected for evaluation of serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant profile. Thereafter, the rats were humanely euthanized and the liver excised for histopathological evaluation. In vitro antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) scavenging assay. Results: Treatment of the rats with D. bidens decreased (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde values and activities of ALT, AST and ALP, but increased glutathione levels and catalase activities when compared to negative control group. The extract significantly (p < 0.05) decreased sodium pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time relative to the negative control group and produced concentration-dependent increase in antioxidant activities in vitro. The extract protected the hepatocyte against acetaminophen-induced damage. Conclusion: D. bidens extract elicits antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo and thus, protects rat liver against acetaminophen-induced damage. Therefore, the extract can potentially be developed as a hepatoprotective agent for the clinical management of liver damage