A Bibliometric Study of Authorship and Collaboration Trends Over the Past 30 Years in Four Major Musculoskeletal Science Journals

This study explored changes in bibliometric variables over the last 30 years for four major musculoskeletal science journals (BONE®), Calcified Tissue International® (CTI®), Journal of Bone and Mineral Research® (JBMR®), and Journal of Orthopaedic Research® (JOR®), with a specific focus on author gender. Bibliometric data were collected for all manuscripts in 1985 (BONE®, CTI®, JOR®), 1986 (JBMR®), 1995, 2005, and 2015; 2776 manuscripts met inclusion criteria. Manuscripts from Europe were more often published in BONE® or CTI®, while those from North America in JBMR® or JOR®. All journals demonstrated an increase over time in the number of authors (3.67–7.3), number of countries (1.1–1.4), number of institutions (1.4–3.1), and number of references (25.1–45.4). The number of manuscript pages increased (6.6–8.9) except for JOR® which showed a decline. CTI® had the lowest number of authors (4.9 vs. 5.6–6.8). There was a change in the corresponding author position from first to last for all journals; this change was highest for CTI® (35%) and lowest for BONE® (14.0%). All journals demonstrated an increase over time in female authors; however, CTI® was the highest amongst these four journals. The percentage of female first authors rose from 24.6 to 44.3% (CTI® 29.1–52.3%). The percentage of corresponding female authors rose from 17.5 to 33.6% (CTI® 22.9–40.0%). The proportion of female authors is increasing, likely reflecting the increasing number of women obtaining doctorates in science, medicine, and engineering

Histopathological changes associated with exposure of some viscerals and testicular tissues to bisephenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

Purpose: To evaluate the pathological effect associated with the exposure of viscerals and testicular tissues of albino rats to BPA and DEHP. Methods: A total of sixty adult male Wistar rats weighing 200 – 250 g were divided into four (4) groups of 15 rats per cage in a sanitized environment. Group I animals received normal rodent pellet and water and served as untreated group. Thereafter, the rats in the second group (II) were administered 5 mg/kg per day of BPA mixed with rodent pellet orally; group III received 0.5 mg/kg daily dose of DEHP mixed with rodent pellet; while group IV received orally mixture of 0.5 mg/kg of BPA and 0.5 mg/kg DEHP + pelleted rodent feed. The rats were fed and water provided regularly for 30 days; finally, the animals were weighed and sacrificed by cranial dislocation. Result: BPA and DEHP resulted in significant (p < 0.05) weight losses, inflammation and fatty deposits in the liver, degenerated bowman capsule and glomeruli of the kidneys, lung oedema, and deteriorated leydig cells in testes. Conclusion: The results suggest that BPA and DEHP cause significant weight loss and are injurious to the cellular make-up of rat tissues, which may be the same in higher animals

Use of single pill anti-hypertensive combination medications in Cardiology Clinic of a Tertiary Health Institution in Nigeria

Background: Majority of patients with hypertension require 2 or more medications to provide adequate blood pressure (BP) control. In addition, contemporary guidelines on the management of hypertension favor the use of single-pill combinations (SPCs) as they simplify the treatment regimen and decrease the daily pill burden for patients, both of which are associated with improved adherence. In spite of this, there is a lack of data in sub-Saharan Africa on the frequency of use of SPC anti-hypertensive medications. Method: We prospectively collected detailed clinical data from 373 patients with primary diagnosis of hypertension attending the cardiology clinic of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital between 2016 and 2017. Results: Three hundred and seventy three patients with mean age of 50.6 ± 12.3 years and mean body mass index of 31.2 ± 6.5kg/m2 on anti-hypertensive treatment were evaluated. Baseline mean systolic and diastolic BPs were 161.1 ± 3.1mmHg and 95.4 ± 15.6mmHg respectively, while the mean pulse pressure was 56.6 ± 18.1mmHg. 212 (56.8%) where on SPCs, with 32.5% on angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), 18.9% on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) plus HCTZ, 9.9% on amlodipine (AML) plus ARB, 3.3% on AML plus ACEI, 3.8% on thiazide-like diuretic plus atenolol, 29.2% on HCTZ plus amiloride, and 2.4% on triple combination of AML+ARB+HCTZ. Conclusion: Our study has shown that over 50% of our patients were on SPC anti-hypertensive medications, with the most prescribed single pill combination being angiotensin receptor blocker plus thiazide diuretic

DEVELOPMENT OF VEHICLE EMISSION REDUCTION UNIT (VERU) FOR USE IN PETROL ENGINES

Emisije plinova iz vozila glavni su uzrok zagađenosti zraka u modernim gradovima. Sve veći broj osobnih automobila, posebno u zadnjem desetljeću, doveo je do složenih prometnih teškoća i ozbiljnog povećanja potrošnje goriva i emisija plinova. Cilj je razviti napravu koja će smanjiti štetne sastojke u ispušnim pliovima iz vozila prije njihova ispuštanja u atmosferu. VERU (Vehicle Emissions Reduction Unit = naprava za smanjenje emisija) je upotrebljavan za upijanje određenih količina ugljičnog dioksida, ugljičnog monoksida i ugljikovodika koji bi inače završili u atmosferi. VERU se sastoji od metalne cijevi i smjese načinjene od gline, soda vapna i vode, oblikovane u kuglice koje se zatim suše na suncu. Suhe kuglice namjeste se u cijev koja se pričvrsti na kraj ispušne cijevi vozila. Rezultati ispitivanja VERU naprave pokazuju smanjenje ugljičnog dioksida za 60 %, ugljičnog monoksida za 73 % i ugljikovodika za 80 %, dok je količina kisika veća 150 %. Stoga je zaključeno da bi VERU mogao smanjiti emisije plinova iz vozila i iz tog se razloga preporuča njegova uporaba.Vehicle emissions constitute the main source of atmospheric pollution in modern cities. The increasing number of passenger cars, especially during the last decade, has resulted in composite traffic problems with serious consequences on emissions and fuel consumption. The main focus is on the development of a unit to reduce the constituents of vehicle emissions before they get into the atmosphere. The Vehicle Emissions Reduction Unit (VERU) was used to absorb certain percentages of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons (HC) which would have been emitted into the atmosphere. The VERU consists of a canister and specimen prepared by mixing clay with soda lime and water and rolled into balls which were then sun dried. The sun dried specimen were placed in the canister and applied at the tail end of exhaust pipes of vehicles. The results of the tests carried out using VERU showed that CO2 was reduced by 60%, CO by 73%, HC by 80%, while O2 was increased by 150%. It was concluded that the use of VERU could reduce vehicle emissions and is therefore recommended for use

DEVELOPMENT OF VEHICLE EMISSION REDUCTION UNIT (VERU) FOR USE IN PETROL ENGINES

Emisije plinova iz vozila glavni su uzrok zagađenosti zraka u modernim gradovima. Sve veći broj osobnih automobila, posebno u zadnjem desetljeću, doveo je do složenih prometnih teškoća i ozbiljnog povećanja potrošnje goriva i emisija plinova. Cilj je razviti napravu koja će smanjiti štetne sastojke u ispušnim pliovima iz vozila prije njihova ispuštanja u atmosferu. VERU (Vehicle Emissions Reduction Unit = naprava za smanjenje emisija) je upotrebljavan za upijanje određenih količina ugljičnog dioksida, ugljičnog monoksida i ugljikovodika koji bi inače završili u atmosferi. VERU se sastoji od metalne cijevi i smjese načinjene od gline, soda vapna i vode, oblikovane u kuglice koje se zatim suše na suncu. Suhe kuglice namjeste se u cijev koja se pričvrsti na kraj ispušne cijevi vozila. Rezultati ispitivanja VERU naprave pokazuju smanjenje ugljičnog dioksida za 60 %, ugljičnog monoksida za 73 % i ugljikovodika za 80 %, dok je količina kisika veća 150 %. Stoga je zaključeno da bi VERU mogao smanjiti emisije plinova iz vozila i iz tog se razloga preporuča njegova uporaba.Vehicle emissions constitute the main source of atmospheric pollution in modern cities. The increasing number of passenger cars, especially during the last decade, has resulted in composite traffic problems with serious consequences on emissions and fuel consumption. The main focus is on the development of a unit to reduce the constituents of vehicle emissions before they get into the atmosphere. The Vehicle Emissions Reduction Unit (VERU) was used to absorb certain percentages of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons (HC) which would have been emitted into the atmosphere. The VERU consists of a canister and specimen prepared by mixing clay with soda lime and water and rolled into balls which were then sun dried. The sun dried specimen were placed in the canister and applied at the tail end of exhaust pipes of vehicles. The results of the tests carried out using VERU showed that CO2 was reduced by 60%, CO by 73%, HC by 80%, while O2 was increased by 150%. It was concluded that the use of VERU could reduce vehicle emissions and is therefore recommended for use

Assessment of Soil Salinity and Irrigation Water Quality of Chanchaga Irrigation Scheme I, Minna, Niger State

The extent to which salinity is increasing in arid and semi-arid regions recently has become a concern in irrigation and non-irrigation land. In view of this, the study evaluated soil salinity and irrigation water quality at Chanchaga Irrigation Scheme I, Minna, Niger State with the aim of assessing the soil fertility status and irrigation water source of the scheme. The study took soil samples at 0 - 30cm depth from irrigated and non-irrigated plots and water was taken from the main point of the border irrigation system. Both soil and water sample collected were subjected to laboratory analysis. The study determined sodium absorption ratio and exchangeable sodium percentage of soil and water parameters analyzed in the laboratory. The Levene's test for equality of variances was performed on the concentration of the parameters analyzed in both soil (irrigated and non-irrigated plot) and water of the scheme. The study reveals that the sodium concentration was found higher in the irrigated plot than control plot and the EC and SAR values of the irrigated plot was classified as sodic. The SAR and other exchangeable values in both irrigated and non-irrigated plot have equal variances (> 0.10) with the exception of chlorine which is significant. The level of potassium in the water was higher and sodic in nature. The study concluded that the sodium hazard in both soil and water was higher than the desirable limits. It is important to take the soil sample of the whole plots so as to examine the salt variation in the schem

Histopathological effects of acetaminophen abuse in male Wistar rats, and prevalence in human subjects: An experimental and cross‑sectional study

Aim: This study aimed to examine the histopathological effects of acetaminophen (ACMP) abuse in select organs of male Wistar rats. The second goal was aimed at determining the prevalence of ACMP abuse in human subjects.Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional design (structured questionnaire and oral interview) was used for data collection from 1911 male to 1009 female subjects, aged (15–72) years in Benin City, Nigeria, between June, 2014 and April, 2015. The animal study was done using 60 adult male Wistar rats with a mean weight of (228.34 g). ACMP was orally administered to 10 Groups of rat in the following order: Groups A1 and A2 (400 mg/kg), B1 and B2 (800 mg/kg), C1 and C2 (1200 mg/kg), and D1 and D2, (1600 mg/kg) body weight in rat. Water and feed were provided ad libitum for the duration of ACMP administration that lasted for 21 days (sub‑acute exposure) in Group A1, B1, C1, and D1 . The administration lasted for 42 days (sub-acute and acute exposures) in Groups A2, B2, C2, and D2 while Groups E1 and E2 served as the control. At termination, all rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, grossed, and processed histologically.Results: The prevalence of ACMP abuse within the study population (males and females, in Benin City, Nigeria) stood at 97.3% and was significantly affected by contributory factors like: Age‑group, income, profession, etc. Grossly, renal and hepatic necrosis was observed in the high‑dose/acutely exposed treated rats (C2 and D2). Histopathology findings revealed hepatocellular distortion at the central vein of the liver tissue and tubular expansion and increased glomerular space in the kidney. Decrease in body weights of the rats in Groups C2 and D2 were statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusion: There was a high incidence of ACMP abuse in the males and females population in Benin City, Nigeria. Prolonged oral consumption of ACMP in animals resulted in hepatocellular and renal deleterious effects and may be of a similar hazard in humans.Keywords: Acetaminophen, cross‑sectional survey, gross examination, histochemical methods, histological technique

Regular condom use tends to decrease cervical lesions in resident-commercial sex workers in Sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND Cervical lesions are abnormalities seen in tissues and cells examined from the uterine cervix. These abnormalities are on the increase and are ignored; thereby constituting major health problems in resident commercial sex workers (CSWs) who temporarily reside in brothels for sex business. Hence, we investigated the associations between behavioural risk factors and cervical lesions in resident commercial sex workers. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study among 119 resident commercial sex workers using questionnaires as the data gathering tool, liquid-based cytology for cervical lesions screening, and microscopy for examination of slides. Statistical analyses were conducted using Epi- Info™ version 6.4 and STATISTICA (StatSoft, version 5, 2009 Edition, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 USA). Data were analysed using multivariate and simple logistic regression analyses, while the level of significance was set at p £0.05. RESULTS The behavioural risk factors, like smoking and hard drugs, alcohol intake, commercial sex duration, client’s daily patronage and sex frequency were not significant apart, but regular condom use tends to decrease the cervical lesions in CSWs (OR=0.91;95% C.I. 0.92-1.06), including anal and oral sex (OR = 0.99 (95% C.I. 0.29-3.60). The patterns of cervical lesions further showed acute and chronic cervicitis with a prevalence of 10.1%, including low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). We recorded 8/12 (66.7%) for acute cervicitis, 4/12 (33.3%) chronic, and 82.4% negative. CONCLUSION We suggest that behavioural risk factors are associated with cervical lesions and that regular condom use tends to decrease cervical lesions among resident CSWs