Determination of nitrate, nitrite, N- nitrosamines, cyanide and ascorbic acid contents of fruit juices marketed in Nigeria

The nitrate, nitrite, N- nitrosamines and ascorbic acid content as well as the levels of cyanide in eight brands of fruit juices and twelve brands of sachet water commonly marketed and consumed in Nigeria were estimated. The mean values of nitrate ranged from 2.29±0.05 to 16.50±1.21 mg/L for the juices and0.64±0.21 to 7.56±3.10 mg/L for sachet water. While the mean concentration of nitrite ranged from 6.84±0.47 to 12.03±1.07 and 0.12±0.02 to 4.42±0.33 mg/L for juices and sachet water, respectively. Four out of the eight brands of juices analyzed contained detectable levels of nitrosamines (2.75±0.47 to45.70±3.07 ìg/L) while none of the samples contained any detectable amount of cyanide. Ascorbic acid concentrations of the samples varied from 100 to 400 mg/L. The results are discussed from nutritional and toxicological points of view

Fractured metallic tracheostomy tube in a child: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Tracheostomy is a common airway procedure for life support. The fracture of the tracheostomy tube is a rare complication. We report a case of a 14-year-old boy whose fractured stainless steel tracheostomy tube dislodged into the tracheobronchial tree. We include a literature review and proposed recommendations for tracheostomy care.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 14-year-old Thai boy who had a stainless steel tracheostomy tube presented with a complaint of intermittent cough for 2 months. During tracheostomy tube cleaning, his parents found that the inner tube was missing. A chest X-ray revealed a metallic density foreign body in his right main bronchus. He underwent bronchoscopic removal of the inner tracheostomy tube and was discharged without further complications.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A fractured tracheostomy tube is a rare complication. Appropriate cleaning and scheduled replacement of the tracheostomy tube may prevent this complication.</p

Issues of context, capacity and scale: Essential conditions and missing links for a sustainable blue economy

Funding: This work was supported by the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI), Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), One Ocean Hub (Grant Ref: NE/S008950/1).The blue economy has roots in the international arena of sustainable development and sets out to unlock opportunities for economy and society whilst protecting and enhancing marine environments. To date there has been no analysis of how this overarching intention for sustainability has influenced the rapid development of blue economy policies at national and regional scales. In this article, we analyse the synergies and conflicts between blue economy policies from a diversity of national and regional policies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We show that to maintain critical alignment with targets for sustainability, place-based contextual development of blue economies that meet the needs of all actors is necessary. These needs relate to ensuring resilience against future environmental and political shocks, the maintenance of the ecological basis for thriving blue economies, and capacity development at all levels to support effective and equitable governance. Results indicate that co-production will be important to achieve sustainable blue economies.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Improved pregnancy outcome in refugees and migrants despite low literacy on the Thai-Burmese border: results of three cross-sectional surveys

BACKGROUND: Maternal and infant health has been associated with maternal education level, which is highly associated with literacy. We aimed at estimating literacy rates among reproductive age women attending antenatal clinics in camps for refugees and in migrant clinics in Tak province, north-western Thailand, to determine whether illiteracy had an impact on birth outcomes. METHODS: Three reading assessments were conducted using an identical method each time, in 1995-97, 2003 and 2008. Midwives chose at random one of four pre-set sentences. Each woman was asked to read aloud and scoring was based on a "pass/fail" system. Pregnancy outcomes were compared with maternal literacy rate. RESULTS: Overall, 47% (1149/2424) of women were able to read. A significant improvement was observed among migrant (34% in 2003 vs. 46% in 2008, p = 0.01), but not refugee (47% in 1995-97, 49% in 2003, and 51% in 2008) women. Literate women were significantly more likely to be of non-Karen ethnicity, primigravidae, non-smokers, to remain free from malaria during pregnancy and to deliver in a health clinic. Significant improvements in pregnancy outcome (reductions in premature births, low birth weight newborns and neonatal death) between 1995-97 and 2003 were unrelated to literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Significant reductions in poor pregnancy outcome over time have not been driven by changes in literacy rates, which have remained low. Access to early diagnosis and treatment of malaria in this population, and delivery with skilled birth attendants, despite ongoing low literacy, appears to have played a significant role

In Vivo Metabolism in Rats of Cyanide -Containing Compounds From Cassava Leaves

Qualitative analysis of ethanol extracts of cassava by double dimensional thin-Iayer chromatography indicated the presence of novel cyanide-containing compounds, which were shown chemically to be cyanohydrin (Rf, 0.25) ands nitrile (Rf, 0.645). Administration of the eluates of those chromatographically identified CN- entities to rats by stomach intubation resulted in statically significant differences (p< 0.01) in blood and urine thiocyanate (SCN-) and cyanide (CN). The increased SCN- fonnation in blood and urine provided definite evidence that the cyanogens were metabolized either partially or wholly. This was further confined by non -detection of the novel cyanide compounds when two dimensional t.l.c examination of rat urine was conducted in ethylacetate: methanol: diethylether (8:.1: 1. v/v). The toxicological implication of these findings are discussed. Keywords: novel cyanide-compounds, cassava leaves, metabolism, rats. Bio-Research Vol.1(1) 2003: 69-7

Cyanide, nitrates and nitrite contents of livestock feeds in Umuahia, Nigeria.

The cyanide nitrate and nitrite contents in pig feeds from six different farms in Umuahia, Nigeria were assayed using spectrophotometric and enzymatic methods. Enzymatic analysis of the feed samples indicated mean total cyanide level of 59.30 ± 3.72 - 361.90 ± 11.2mg-1 DM. The mean cyanide content of cyanogenic plant materials used in the feed formulation ranged from 85.60 ± 13.2 - 888.10 ± 23.17mgkg-1. Observation was made that the cyanide measured in these feed samples were higher than the recommended dietary cyanogens levels for both non-ruminants and ruminants; 100mg HCN equivalent kg-1 for cassava ration. The mean levels of nitrate and nitrite ranged 25.5 ± 2.76mg - 285.5 ± 12.70 and 2.20 ± 0.3 - 218.80 ± 13.42mg kg-1DM respectively. The toxicological and nutritional significance of the results obtained are discussed

Toxicity evaluation of the cyanogens of a Nigerian local legume (Vigna species) in rabbits

No Abstract.Bio-Research Vol. 3(2) 2005: 21-2

Queuing Models: A Tool For Assessing The Profitability Of Barbing Salon Business In Agbor Town Of Delta State, Nigeria.

The study considered small scale business as an option in reducing the unemployment rate in our society. The study uses queuing models to assess the profitability of barbing salon business in Agbor town of Delta State. The result of the study indicates that the distribution of inter-arrival times, service times, and waiting times are invariant with respect to the time of the day. It was observed that the barbers are idle for 40 percent of the total time. The customer was expected to spend 30 minutes in the system with waiting time and service time of 18 minutes and 12 minutes respectively. The shop opens for 12 hours daily for business with 36 and 10,368 customers demanding for services daily and annually respectively. The business made an annual net profit of N837, 881 with opening capital of N15,100. This indicates 555% rate of return on the capital employed. It was concluded that the business is very profitable and has a solvency/liquidity ratio of 7:1. It was therefore recommended that unemployed youths should avail themselves of the opportunity of low capital requirement to get something doing.Keywords: queuing model, arrival time, service time, unemployment, barbing salon queuing behaviour, profitability, customer

Queuing Models: A Tool For Assessing The Profitability Of Barbing Salon Business In Agbor Town Of Delta State, Nigeria

The study considered small scale business as an option in reducing the unemployment rate in our society. The study uses queuing models to assess the profitability of barbing salon business in Agbor town of Delta State. The result of the study indicates that the distribution of inter-arrival times, service times, and waiting times are invariant with respect to the time of the day. It was observed that the barbers are idle for 40 percent of the total time. The customer was expected to spend 30 minutes in the system with waiting time and service time of 18 minutes and 12 minutes respectively. The shop opens for 12 hours daily for business with 36 and 10,368 customers demanding for services daily and annually respectively. The business made an annual net profit of N837, 881 with opening capital of N15,100. This indicates 555% rate of return on the capital employed. It was concluded that the business is very profitable and has a solvency/liquidity ratio of 7:1. It was therefore recommended that unemployed youths should avail themselves of the opportunity of low capital requirement to get something doing.Keywords: queuing model, arrival time, service time, unemployment, barbing salon queuing behaviour, profitability, customerJournal of the Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics, Volume 20 (March, 2012), pp 477 – 48

Comparative antioxidant capacity, membrane stabilization, polyphenol composition and cytotoxicity of the leaf and stem of Cissus multistriata

In this present study, a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant capacities, phenol and polyphenol composition, membrane stabilization, and cytotoxicity to brine shrimps (Arthemia salina) of the leaf andstem extracts of Cissus multistriata were carried out. 2,2- Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of the extracts was determined spectrophotometrically. The highest radicalscavenging effect was observed in the stem extract with IC50 of 29.25 ìg/ml. The potency of radical scavenging effect of the stem extract was close to the synthetic antioxidant quercetin with IC50 of 21.05ìg/ml. The antioxidant activities of each extract increased with increasing concentration of extracts. The phenol and polyphenol content of the stem varied between 0.564 ± 0.000 to 6.200 ± 0.557% and that of the leaf content is lower (0.523 ± 0.000 to 3.400 ± 0.355%). The higher amount of phenolic compound in the stem could be contributory to the greater radical scavenging effects observed. The methanolic extracts exhibited minimum and maximum percentage membrane stability of 51.364 ± 11.241 and 56.098± 14.654% on human erythrocyte. The highest membrane stabilizing activity was observed in the stem extract with percentage stability of 56.098 ± 14.654%. The activity of the extracts was comparable to thestandard anti-inflammatory drug (Indomethacin) used. The extracts are less toxic to the cell (Arthenia salina) with their LC/EC50 higher than that of standard potassium dichromate used. The results obtainedin this present study indicate that C. multistriata can be a potential source of natural antioxidant and is relatively safe