Schatzki’s Ring in a Nigerian at Gastroscopy

Schatzki’s Rings are the most common of the types of esophageal rings. Their prevalence varies with the population being studied and the diagnostic technique deployed. They are rarely documented and described from reports emanating from this environment. This article seeks to document one such case and briefly discuss aspects of its clinical significance and management.Keywords: Schatzki’s Ring, Nigeria, Gastroscop

Ethnozoological Study of Wild Bird Species Body Parts Supply in Traditional Medicine Markets, Abeokuta, Nigeria

The paper examined the ethnozoological study of wild bird species' body parts supply of eighty-three traditional medicine marketers in six traditional medicine markets in Abeokuta North and South Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria using snowball and convenience sampling techniques through the administration of a set of structured questionnaire to 83respondents. The result showed that four-fifths of the total respondents were females (85.54%), two-thirds of the total respondents (68.68%) were less than 50 years and 91.56% of the total respondents had formal education. A total of 21 bird species had their body parts and products on sale in the different markets studied in the study area. Due to the belief and faith of the people, the respondents agreed that there were some bird species that are regarded as being sacred or forbidden and thus, the birds and their bird body parts are used and sold in traditional medicine to treat different ailments and for sacrificial activities of their clients. It was concluded that the existence of bird species cannot be over-emphasized because they are important in believed resources for curing specified types of ailments and sacrificial offerings in traditional medicine. It was recommended that since birds significantly contribute to the natural ecosystem, human health and nutrition, forest and wildlife conservation campaign should be strengthened

Tapping into the World of Terpenoids

Terpenes are a class of secondary metabolites found in plants and insects (such as termites or swallowtail butterflies). Terpenes are strong-smelling aromatic hydrocarbon which are used by plants/ insects to protect themselves by deterring parasites. They are secondary metabolites synthesized in plants. When a hydrogen or atoms of hydrogen, are replaced by other atoms such as oxygen, in a terpene compound, the terpene becomes a terpenoid (also known as isoprenoids). Terpenoids are a large and diverse class of naturally occurring organic chemicals, derived from five-carbon isoprene units assembled and modified in thousands of ways. They are multicyclic structures that differ from one another not only in functional group but also in their basic carbon skeletons. Terpenoids are found in all classes of living things, and are the largest group of natural products

Exercise-induced bronchospasm and its associated factors among secondary school students in an urban community

Introduction: Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is a transient narrowing of the airway that usually occurs shortly after exercise. It occurs commonly in people with asthma; however EIB has also been reported in individuals without clinical asthma. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with EIB among secondary school students. Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional school- based study involving secondary school students aged between 10 and 17 years without previous history of asthma. Subjects undertook a six-minute running test, spirometry was done and the best of three FEV1 readings were obtained pre-exercise, at 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes post exercise. The diagnosis of EIB was made when there was a decrease in FEV1 of ≥10% from baseline after exercise. Results: Of the 265participants studied, 34 (12.8%) had EIB at 5 minutes post exercise. EIB was significantly more in the 10–13 years age group (χ2 = 18.416, p = <0.001), there was no significant gender difference. The presence of allergic (vernal) conjunctivitis and rhinitis were both significantly associated with the development of EIB (χ2 = 13.574, p < 0.001 and 0.011 respectively). There was no significant association with previous history of wheeze and exposure to indoor air pollution such as cooking with biomass fuel and parental cigarette smoking. Conclusion: EIB exist among non-asthmatic school children, and it is more frequent in the early adolescent age-group. Students with allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis are more likely to manifest exercise induced bronchospasm

Alkylating efficiency of sodium azide on pod yield, nut size and nutrition composition of Samnut 10 and Samnut 20 varieties of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.)

Mutation has been utilised to improve growth and yield of many food crops, but only little effort has been made to ascertain the nutritional advantages in such improved crops. The present study evaluates the alkylating efficiency of sodium azide of different concentrations on pod yield, nut size and nutritional composition of two groundnut varieties. Dry seeds of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.); Samnut 10 and Samnut 20 varieties obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria were treated with different sodium azide concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50mM) for 12 hours. Seeds soaked in distilled water for 12 hours were used as control for each variety. The treated seeds and control were sown in planting bags in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Alkylating effects of the treatments were studied on pod parameters and nut size while proximate analysis was carried out on the nuts to determine their nutritional composition. The results showed that sodium azide treatment of 50 mM produced significantly taller plants with more branches and leaves. Analysis of collected data revealed that sodium azide is effective in achieving significantly earlier- maturing plants with higher pod yield, bigger nut size and heavier nuts. All concentrations of Sodium azide applied induced significant higher crude protein and fat with respect to control in samnut 10 while 50 mM yielded highest protein and fat in samnut 20 variety. Generally, nutritional values of the studied groundnut were improved by sodium azide treatments with respect to protein and fat content which are the most important constituents in groundnut utilization as food or raw material for edible oil. The study concluded that the alkylating effect of sodium azide was effective on pod yield, nut size and other nut characteristics of groundnut and could be employed to improve protein, crude fat and other nutrition contents of the nuts for human and animal consumption as well as industrial applications.Key words: Alkylating effect, nutrition composition, sodium-azid

Regional-Based LEACH For Energy Efficiency In Wsns

Network lifetime and throughput are the major considerations for determining the overall performance of a wireless sensor network (WSN). There have been various protocols proposed based on Hierarchical Clustering to improve network lifetime. The proposed Regional-Based LEACH is a centralized cluster-based protocol for extending the stability period of the WSNs. This protocol aims to accomplish better energy efficiency by dividing the sensing field into sub-regions and selects Cluster Heads for each region based on their residual energy along with the incorporation of Base station mobility. This leads to a relatively uniform energy consumption and residual energy level among the nodes in a region leading to an extended stability period

Chemical and biological studies of Lobelia flaccida (C. Presl) A.DC leaf: a medicinal plant used by traditional healers in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Purpose: To investigate the phytochemical constituents, acute toxicity and biological activities of Lobelia herb (dried leaf of Lobelia flaccida; family: Campanulaceae), a popular medicinal agent used to manage pain and epilepsy among other indications in Eastern Cape Region of South Africa.Methods: Essential oil (EO) obtained from the dried leaf was analysed with gas chromatography-mas spectroscopy GC/MS while an infusion extract of the herb was obtained by soaking in hot boiled water (100 oC) for 24 h, filtered and the filtrate dried in vacuo. Phytochemical screening of the infusion extract was performed to detect the presence of secondary plant metabolites and relative abundance of some of the metabolites. The aqueous extract was evaluated for oral (p.o.) acute toxicity (LD50) using the Lorke’s method [30];, thereafter the extract was tested for anti-inflammatory activity on carrageenaninduced rat paw oedema at 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o., normal saline and aspirin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) used as negative and positive controls respectively. Finally, the extract at 500 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o. was tested for anticonvulsant activity on pentylene tetrazol (85 mg/kg, intraperitoneally)-induced convulsion model in mice, normal saline and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) served as negative and positive control groups respectively.Results: EO yield was 0.022 % w/w and the two major compounds identified were acetophenone (26.37 %) and caryophyllene (17.35 %). Phytochemical screening showed high concentration of alkaloids, saponins and flavonoids among other constituents. LD50 of the aqueous extract was ≥ 5000 mg/kg per oral while the aqueous extract exhibited significant (p < 0.01) anti-inflammatory activity on carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema comparable to aspirin but insignificant anticonvulsant activity on pentylene tetrazol-induced convulsion when compared with diazepam.Conclusion: Lobelia herb is non-toxic, and possesses significant anti-inflammatory and mild anticonvulsant activities. It is suggested that the essential oil of this herb should be screened for pharmacological activities.Keywords: Lobelia flaccida, Essential oil, Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy analysis , Infusion extract, Acute toxicity, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-convulsan

Empirical Determination of Losses in an Optical Fibre Link

This paper analyses the characteristics of signal loss in optical fibre link with splicing loss forming part of the total loss with the loss measurement carried out with the aid of Optical Time Domain Reflector.An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is made up of a detector and a laser. Light signals are sent into the fibre using a laser and a demodulator or a detector on the other end to receive the signals. The received signal is displayed on a graph. The transmitted signal is a pulse with a given amount of energy. A clock determines the time duration of the signal. This paper explains the splicing using Optical Time Domain Reflectometer. These losses in an optical fibre cable arise from spliced points and joints with either connectors or any other passive fibre optic device. The study shows that losses along optical fibre arise from the splice joint, connector joint and along the fibre length as attenuation loss. These losses were obtained from readings of the optical time domain reflectometer. The study also shows that the combined splicing and connector loss is higher than attenuation loss. Here, splicing and connector loss contributes 75% of the total losses while attenuation losses account for the remaining 25%. An attempt should, therefore, be made to reduce splices in order to minimize losses when using optical fibre cabling

Phytoremediation Potential of Senna fistula L. in the Decontamination of Crude Oil-Polluted Soil

Crude oil contaminated soil could be treated using physicochemical, thermal or biological managements. However, the objective of this paper is to assess the phytoremediation potential of Senna fistula L in the decontamination of crude oil-polluted soil in a greenhouse located at Wilberforce Island, Niger Delta Area, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. This study examined the survivability of Senna fistula in soil contaminated with crude oil with a view to ascertain its potential in bioremediation. Experiments to assess the germination and growth rates of S. fistula were conducted in a greenhouse, using soil contaminated with varying concentrations of crude oil (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). Germination rate and growth parameters (number of leaves, nodulation, plant girth and height) were ascertained in accordance with scientific methods. Equally, the physicochemical properties of the soil (organic matter, pH, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen) were determined in accordance with scientific methods. Results revealed that at 0% 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% crude oil in soil the corresponding germination rates for S. fistula were 26%, 22%, 22%, 15% and 14% in that order. The mean heights of the plant 16 weeks after planting, were 52.30cm, 34.50cm, 26.50cm, 25.40cm and 20.80cm; mean girths 0.40mm, 0.35mm, 0.35mm, 0.25mm and 0.20mm; number of nodules 8, 2, 0, 0 and 0 and number of leaves 13.00, 8.00, 8.00, 7.00 and 4.00, 0% for 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% crude oil concentrations, in that order. Organic matter in the contaminated soil was in the range of 4.15%-4.73%; pH, 3.34-4.25; N, 0.30-0.41%; P, 6.15- 6.38 mg/kg; Na, 2.05-2.81 mg/kg; Ca, 12.85-14.50 mg/kg, and Mg, 1.45-1.91 mg/kg. An inverse proportionality was observed between measured parameters and crude oil concentrations. However, the germination efficiency and the relative growth rate of the plant evinced survivability under crude oil chemical stress and its fittingness for use in soil remediation in the Niger Delta