Hydraulic properties from pumping tests data of aquifers in Azare area, North Eastern Nigeria.

Pumping test data from twelve boreholes in Azare area were analysed to determine the hydraulic properties of the aquifers, and the availability of water to meet the conjugate demands of the increasing population.The values of the aquifer constants obtained from the Cooper-Jacob’s non-equilibrium graphical method were generally low. Yield, Q, values range from 2.24 to 17.46m3/hr (6.22 x 10-4 to 4.85 x 10-3 m/sec), while Transmissivity, T, fell between 7.39 x 10-6 and 3.55 x 10-4m2/sec and hydraulic conductivity, K, from 5.62 x 10-7 to42.54 x 10-5 m/sec. The average specific capacity, Cs, value is 2.10 x 10-4m3/sec/m. The total yield is 98.67m3/hr or 2368.08m3/day, and drawdowns in excess of 20m were recorded. These values indicate that the hydraulic characteristics of the aquifers are poor. The implication is that the available boreholes cannot provide sufficient waterfor domestic and agricultural needs of the area. The Azare area therefore will continue to face severe water supply problems with increasing populations unless more wells are drilled, and supplemented by water impoundment using dams

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory mechanisms in uveitis

The eye, as currently viewed, is neither immunologically ignorant nor sequestered from the systemic environment. The eye utilises distinct immunoregulatory mechanisms to preserve tissue and cellular function in the face of immune-mediated insult; clinically, inflammation following such an insult is termed uveitis. The intra-ocular inflammation in uveitis may be clinically obvious as a result of infection (e.g. toxoplasma, herpes), but in the main infection, if any, remains covert. We now recognise that healthy tissues including the retina have regulatory mechanisms imparted by control of myeloid cells through receptors (e.g. CD200R) and soluble inhibitory factors (e.g. alpha-MSH), regulation of the blood retinal barrier, and active immune surveillance. Once homoeostasis has been disrupted and inflammation ensues, the mechanisms to regulate inflammation, including T cell apoptosis, generation of Treg cells, and myeloid cell suppression in situ, are less successful. Why inflammation becomes persistent remains unknown, but extrapolating from animal models, possibilities include differential trafficking of T cells from the retina, residency of CD8(+) T cells, and alterations of myeloid cell phenotype and function. Translating lessons learned from animal models to humans has been helped by system biology approaches and informatics, which suggest that diseased animals and people share similar changes in T cell phenotypes and monocyte function to date. Together the data infer a possible cryptic infectious drive in uveitis that unlocks and drives persistent autoimmune responses, or promotes further innate immune responses. Thus there may be many mechanisms in common with those observed in autoinflammatory disorders

Drug discovery in ophthalmology: past success, present challenges, and future opportunities

BACKGROUND: Drug discovery has undergone major transformations in the last century, progressing from the recognition and refinement of natural products with therapeutic benefit, to the systematic screening of molecular libraries on whole organisms or cell lines and more recently to a more target-based approach driven by greater knowledge of the physiological and pathological pathways involved. Despite this evolution increasing challenges within the drug discovery industry are causing escalating rates of failure of development pipelines. DISCUSSION: We review the challenges facing the drug discovery industry, and discuss what attempts are being made to increase the productivity of drug development, including a refocusing on the study of the basic biology of the disease, and an embracing of the concept of ‘translational research’. We consider what ophthalmic drug discovery can learn from the sector in general and discuss strategies to overcome the present limitations. This includes advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of disease; improvements in animal models of human disease; improvements in ophthalmic drug delivery and attempts at patient stratification within clinical trials. SUMMARY: As we look to the future, we argue that investment in ophthalmic drug development must continue to cover the whole translational spectrum (from ‘bench to bedside and back again’) with recognition that both biological discovery and clinical understanding will drive drug discovery, providing safe and effective therapies for ocular disease

Hydraulic properties from pumping tests data of aquifers in Azare area, North Eastern Nigeria.

Pumping test data from twelve boreholes in Azare area were analysed to determine the hydraulic properties of the aquifers, and the availability of water to meet the conjugate demands of the increasing population.The values of the aquifer constants obtained from the Cooper-Jacob’s non-equilibrium graphical method were generally low. Yield, Q, values range from 2.24 to 17.46m3/hr (6.22 x 10-4 to 4.85 x 10-3 m/sec), while Transmissivity, T, fell between 7.39 x 10-6 and 3.55 x 10-4m2/sec and hydraulic conductivity, K, from 5.62 x 10-7 to42.54 x 10-5 m/sec. The average specific capacity, Cs, value is 2.10 x 10-4m3/sec/m. The total yield is 98.67m3/hr or 2368.08m3/day, and drawdowns in excess of 20m were recorded. These values indicate that the hydraulic characteristics of the aquifers are poor. The implication is that the available boreholes cannot provide sufficient waterfor domestic and agricultural needs of the area. The Azare area therefore will continue to face severe water supply problems with increasing populations unless more wells are drilled, and supplemented by water impoundment using dams

Chemical characteristics of ground water from parts of the Basement Complex of Oban massif & Obudu plateau, SE Nigeria.

Groundwater samples from 29 boreholes in the Basement areas of Obudu and Oban in Cross Rivers State have been analyzed for their major, minor and trace element constituents and some physical characteristics. The results are evaluated with a view to determining its quality and potability. The Ca2+, Mg2+, − 3 NO , 2− 4 SO and Cl– concentration levels of 0.8 – 69.2mg/l, 0.8 – 22mg/l, 0.02 – 1.7mg/l, 0.3 – 22mg/l and 0.3 – 22mg/l respectively, for the water samples are lower than the WHO recommended highest desirable levels of 75, 50 and 200mg/l respectively. Total Iron and Mn2+ concentration are 0.02 – 1.6 and 0 – 0.66mg/l respectively. All the water samples, with the exception of some from Okodi and Sankwala for total Iron and Anineje for Mn2+ have their concentration levels below the WHO maximum permissible levels of 1.0mg/l and 0.5mg/l. The total hardness (as CaCO3) concentration levels of 10 – 220mg/l are in most cases higher than the WHO maximum permissible levels (of 500mg/l). The pH (5. 0 – 7.5) with the exception of those obtained from Sankwala, fall within the maximum permissible levels of 6.5 – 9.2 units. Generally, these chemical characteristics compare well with those of the groundwater from other basement areas but differ in many respects from those from sedimentary terrains. The water is of good quality and therefore potable. Keywords: Basement area, concentration level, permissible levels, potable

Prevalence of Rhesus Negative Gene and Awareness of its Implications

To determine the prevalence of the Rhesus negative gene in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba and to assess the awareness of women to any implications of their blood group, a retrospective study of 1200 women was carried out and a prospective study of 100 women randomly selected from same population at follow up visits to ascertain their awareness of the implication of their Rhesus status. The prevalence of the Rhesus negative gene was 7.5%. Only 5% were aware of the implications of Rhesus status. The prevalence is comparable with previous reports, the use of anti-D immunoglobulin is advised when appropriate. Key Words: Rhesus negative, genotype anti-D immunoglobulin. Jnl of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol.2 2001: 11-1

Aetiological Factors in Female Infertility: The ABSUTH Experience

To determine the prevalence of infertility in a traditional Ibo society using Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba as a case study and to identify the common causes of female infertility in Aba, a retrospective study of patient investigated and treated for infertility from 1st January to 31st December 1996 was done. A total of 1487 patients attended the gynaecological clinic of ABSUTH within the study period. Three hundred and thirty-five (22.5%) presented with infertility. Primary infertility occurred in 28.3% while secondary infertility occurred in (71.7%). The peak incidence of infertility was in the age group of 25 to 29 years. The major factors in female's infertility were: male factors 195 (58.2%), tubal factors 103 (30.6%) and ovarian factors 80 (23.8%). Twelve per cent of the patients had more than one factors operative. Infertility is a major gyanecological problem in Igbo society. Sexually transmitted disease injuries and infections sustained during abortion and labour may have a significant influence on the high level of infertility found in our analysis. Key Words: Female infertility, Igbo society, Aetiology and Prevention. Jnl of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol.2 2001: 46-4

Unidentified retained left atrial myxoma: intra-operative detection by trans-oesophageal echocardiography.

A 73-year-old woman underwent surgery for removal of a large left atrial myxoma diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiogram. At operation a large tumour was removed, and the left atrium and atrial septum closed. Trans-oesophageal echocardiography prior to weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass revealed that a smaller tumour, which had not been detected by visual inspection or palpation, remained within the left atrium. This was removed through the atrial septum, and the operation completed uneventfully. The patient made a full recovery