Effect of Moringa oleifera Leave Meal on Digestibility and Haematological Parameters, and Health Status of Doe Rabbits

The study involved the use of the Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) to feed doe rabbits and determine its effect on their nutrient digestibility and haematological indices. Five (5) treatment diets were formulated to contain MOLM inclusion levels of 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Forty five (45) rabbits of same sex were distributed randomly into five groups of nine animals and replicated three times per treatment having between 24 – 28 weeks of age with initial weight of about 1800 – 2400 g per animal. The does were provided with feed and water throughout the experimental period which lasted eight weeks. Analysis of the Moringa leaf meal (MOLM) on DM basis indicated that the leaves contained 92.15% Dry Matter, 12.85% Crude Protein, 5.10% Ether Extract, 6.57% Crude Fibre, 11.20% Ash, 64.28% Nitrogen Free Extract. The apparent digestibility of CP, CF, EE and NFE were affected (P<0.05) by the graded levels of MOLM inclusion except for the dry matter. The haematological parameters like packed cell volume, white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil and monocyte vary significantly (p<0.05) between treatments. MOLM could be included in rabbit feed at an inclusion level of 25% without any adverse effect on the digestibility performance while blood indices of doe rabbits improved with increasing levels of Moringa oleifera

An Estimate of the Incidence of Prostate Cancer in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is rated the second most common cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among men globally. Reports show that African men suffer disproportionately from PCa compared to men from other parts of the world. It is still quite difficult to accurately describe the burden of PCa in Africa due to poor cancer registration systems.We systematically reviewed the literature on prostate cancer in Africa and provided a continentwide incidence rate of PCa based on available data in the regio

The Problematization of Sexuality among Women Living with HIV and a New Feminist Approach for Understanding and Enhancing Women’s Sexual Lives

In the context of HIV, women’s sexual rights and sexual autonomy are important but frequently overlooked and violated. Guided by community voices, feminist theories, and qualitative empirical research, we reviewed two decades of global quantitative research on sexuality among women living with HIV. In the 32 studies we found, conducted in 25 countries and composed mostly of cis-gender heterosexual women, sexuality was narrowly constructed as sexual behaviours involving risk (namely, penetration) and physiological dysfunctions relating to HIV illness, with far less attention given to the fullness of sexual lives in context, including more positive and rewarding experiences such as satisfaction and pleasure. Findings suggest that women experience declines in sexual activity, function, satisfaction, and pleasure following HIV diagnosis, at least for some period. The extent of such declines, however, is varied, with numerous contextual forces shaping women’s sexual well-being. Clinical markers of HIV (e.g., viral load, CD4 cell count) poorly predicted sexual outcomes, interrupting widely held assumptions about sexuality for women with HIV. Instead, the effects of HIV-related stigma intersecting with inequities related to trauma, violence, intimate relations, substance use, poverty, aging, and other social and cultural conditions primarily influenced the ways in which women experienced and enacted their sexuality. However, studies framed through a medical lens tended to pathologize outcomes as individual “problems,” whereas others driven by a public health agenda remained primarily preoccupied with protecting the public from HIV. In light of these findings, we present a new feminist approach for research, policy, and practice toward understanding and enhancing women’s sexual lives—one that affirms sexual diversity; engages deeply with society, politics, and history; and is grounded in women’s sexual rights

Zinc improves sexual and erectile function in HAART-treated rats via the upregulation of erectogenic enzymes and maintenance of redox balance

AbstractPurpose HAART has been shown to impair sexual function and penile erection via perturbation of penile redox balance, while zinc has been established to exert antioxidant activity. Therefore, this study focused on the role and associated molecular mechanism of zinc in HAART-induced sexual and erectile dysfunction.Materials and methods Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into four (n = 5 rats per group); the control, zinc-treated, HAART-treated, and HAART + zinc-treated groups. Treatments were per os daily for eight weeks.Results Zinc co-administration significantly improved HAART-induced increase in the latencies of mount, intromission, and ejaculations. Zinc also attenuated HAART-induced reduction in the motivation to mate, penile reflex/erection, and frequencies of mount, intromission, and ejaculations. In addition, zinc co-treatment improved HAART-induced decline in penile NO and cGMP, dopamine, and serum testosterone. More so, zinc prevented HAART-induced rise in penile activities of monoamine oxidase, acetylcholinesterase, phosphodiesterase-5, and arginase. Furthermore, concomitant treatment with zinc ameliorated HAART-induced penile oxidative stress and inflammation.Conclusion In conclusion, our present findings show that zinc improves sexual and erectile function in HAART-treated rats by upregulating erectogenic enzymes via the maintenance of penile redox balance

Challenges to Farmers’ Participation In Artificial Insemination (AI) Biotechnology In Nigeria: An Overview

Livestock farming is an important source of animal based food products and income in Nigeria. To improve livestock production in the country, technologies such as artificial insemination have to be understood and transferred properly by Livestock Extension Agents (LEA) to farmers for proper adoption. This technology has been applied for some years in a number of countries using the appropriate extension approaches. Advantages claimed for the practice are the lessening of the risk of spread of disease in livestock, reduction in sterility and increase in fertility, facilitation of improvement in quality, and economy in livestock management. Against this background this paper highlights the benefits of AI technology, factors limiting against AI program in Nigeria, suggest the appropriate extension methods for disseminating the technology and suggest strategies that should be put in place to make AI technology sustainable in livestock production for increased productivity

Challenges to Farmers’ Participation In Artificial Insemination (AI) Biotechnology In Nigeria: An Overview

Livestock farming is an important source of animal based food products and income in Nigeria. To improve livestock production in the country, technologies such as artificial insemination have to be understood and transferred properly by Livestock Extension Agents (LEA) to farmers for proper adoption. This technology has been applied for some years in a number of countries using the appropriate extension approaches. Advantages claimed for the practice are the lessening of the risk of spread of disease in livestock, reduction in sterility and increase in fertility, facilitation of improvement in quality, and economy in livestock management. Against this background this paper highlights the benefits of AI technology, factors limiting against AI program in Nigeria, suggest the appropriate extension methods for disseminating the technology and suggest strategies that should be put in place to make AI technology sustainable in livestock production for increased productivity

Phenotypic Variability and Diversity Analysis of Bean Traits of Some Cocoa Hybrids in Nigeria

Abstract: It is essential to understand the economic potential and superiority among cocoa hybrids. Therefore, the present study aims at detecting variability among cocoa hybrids for bean index in Nigeria. Dried bean of fourteen genotypes of cocoa were evaluated for their bean values. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to understand the variability among the fourteen genotypes and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to identify distinguishing traits and the grouping of the genotypes based on similarities. The fourteen cocoa genotypes were significantly (p#0.05) different from each other with respect to weight of one bean, bean length, width, thickness, 100 bean weight, bean length to width, length to thickness and width to thickness ratio. All the studied morphometric characters exhibited high (>70%) broad sense heritability. G8, the hybrid between T53/5 and N38 was the most superior genotype for bean weight and some other bean characteristics. The mass of seventy-four dried cocoa bean of G8 approximated 100 g. The first three Principal Component axes explained 91% of the total variation and the PCA grouped the fourteen genotypes into four distinct clusters. Genotypes could be selected for specific traits and improvement of traits seemed to be genetically reliable