Heavy Metals Concentration In Soils And Bioaccumulation In Earthworm (Lumbricus Terrestris) At Lemna Solid Wastes Dumpsite, Calabar, Cross River State

This study investigated the concentrations of heavy metals and their bioaccumulation in earthworm in Lemna solid wastes dumpsite in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Three composite samples of the depth of 30 cm each were collected from Lemna dumpsites and control from the University of Calabar Botanical garden, making a total of four composite soil samples, while samples of earthworms were collected at each sampling point. The samples were analysed for Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu. The result showed that the levels of heavy metals were all higher in dumpsite and significantly different from the control. The respective means of metal concentrations from both Lemna and control were Pb(323.99mg/kg , 89.88mg/kg),  Cd(1.12 mg/kg, 0.072 mg/kg), Zn(281 mg/kg, 7.60 mg/kg) and Cu(21.58 mg/kg, 4.89 mg/kg). Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu were also higher in earthworm of dumpsite than earthworm of the control soil. Correlation between Cadmium and Zinc concentration in soil and Cadmium and Zinc concentration in earthworm displayed strong and positive relationship while weak and negative correlation was observed between Cu and Pb concentrations in soil and Cu and Pb concentrations in earthworm. Bioaccumulation of the heavy metals by earthworm was in the order of Zn (0.382) > Cd (0.170) > Pb (0.076) > Cu (0.020). The dumpsite soil was found to be contaminated with Cd, Pb and Zn as their concentrations were high above maximum permissible limits except Cu.  For safe consumption of crops from Lemna dumpsite soil, remediation of heavy metals in the soil in advocated.   &nbsp

Properties of soils of different lithology in the humid tropics of southeastern nigeria

This study evaluated the properties of soils developed on diverse parent materials in Ogoja Local Government Area. Five profile pits on five different parent materials were dug, morphologically delineated and described. The five parent materials were basement complex (BC), mudstone (MS), sandstone (SS), shalestone (SH) and limestone (LS). Morphologically, the soils were deep with varying color, structure, texture and consistency. The results of chemical analyses revealed that the soils have acid pH with means of 5.4, 5.4, 5.4, 5.3 and 5.4 in BC, MS, SS, SH and LS. Organic carbon was low (<15g/kg) across the parent materials while total N was slightly higher in MS, SS and LS with means of 0.04 g kg-1, 0.10 g kg-1, 0.04 g kg-1, 0.10 g kg-1  and 0.20 g kg-1  in BC, MS, SS, SH and LS accordingly. Available P was low (<8mg/kg) across the parent materials with slightly higher value recorded in SH than in other parent materials. Calcium and sodium were the dominant and the least bases respectively with mean values of 3.2 cmol/kg, 3.93 cmol/kg, 3.65 cmol/kg, 3.3 cmol/kg and 3.95 cmol/kg and 0.25 cmol/kg, 0.10 cmol/kg, 0.08 cmol/kg, 0.08 cmol/kg, 0.08 cmol/kg in BC, MS, SS, SH and LS respectively. Exchangeable bases were higher in MS than other soils. Both Al3+ and H+ contributed at the same level to acidity of the soils. Correlation analysis showed that sand correlated negatively and significantly with clay (-0.81), OC (-0.41), TN (-0.42), and Al+++ (-0.78) and positively and significantly with pH (0.72), Ca2+ (0.7), Mg2+ (0.64), K+ (0.56), ECEC (0.71) and BS (0.70).  Correlation between pH and exchangeable bases, available P (0.83), ECEC (0.9) and base saturation (0.83) was significant and positive.  However, most properties had negative and non-significant correlation with each other

Do patients have to choose between ejaculation and miction? A systematic review about ejaculation preservation technics for benign prostatic obstruction surgical treatment

PURPOSE: Ejaculatory dysfunction is the most common side effect related to surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). Nowadays, modified surgical techniques and non-ablative techniques have emerged with the aim of preserving antegrade ejaculation. Our objective was to conduce a systematic review of the literature regarding efficacy on ejaculatory preservation of modified endoscopic surgical techniques, and mini-invasive non-ablatives techniques for BPO management. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was carried out on the PubMed database using the following MESH terms: "Prostatic Hyperplasia/surgery" and "Ejaculation", in combination with the following keywords: "ejaculation preservation", "photoselective vaporization of the prostate", "photoselective vapo-enucleation of the prostate", "holmium laser enucleation of the prostate", "thulium laser", "prostatic artery embolization", "urolift", "rezum", and "aquablation". RESULTS: The ejaculation preservation rate of modified-TURP ranged from 66 to 91%. The ejaculation preservation rate of modified-prostate photo-vaporization ranged from 87 to 96%. The only high level of evidence studies available compared prostatic urethral lift (PUL) and aquablation versus regular TURP in prospective randomized-controlled trials. The ejaculation preservation rate of either PUL or aquablation compared to regular TURP was 100 and 90 versus 34%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Non-ablative therapies and modified endoscopic surgical techniques seemed to be reasonable options for patients eager to preserve their ejaculatory functions

Response of Okra to Incorporating Humic Acid-Derived Active Molecules into NPK Fertilizer and Lime on Coastal Plain Sand in Calabar, Nigeria

This study evaluated the response of okra to NPK fertilizer with humic acid and lime at the University of Calabar, Teaching and Research Farm between October 2015 and January 2016 cropping season. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The experiment consisted of NPK with humic acid and liming materials as treatments. The test crop was okra. The result of initial analysis of the chemical properties of the soil before the experiment showed that the soil was acidic and was low in exchangeable bases, organic matter (1.13%), total nitrogen (0.14%) and ECEC but high in available phosphorus (26.63 mg/kg) and base saturation. After application of treatment, the result showed that 6.2 g of lime and 4.6 g of NPK with humic acid increase the soil pH from 5.6 units in the control to 5.8 in NPK with Humic Acid, 6.0 in NPK with Humic Acid and lime and 6.4 in lime. Organic carbon content, total nitrogen and available phosphorus also increase in like manner. The results for the growth parameters showed that okra height, number of leaves, and pod yield were significantly (p≤0.05) different from the control. Based on the result of this study further research is recommended in other locations to fully ascertain the effects of this treatment using a different combination

Hydraulic Properties of Soils of Akani Esuk Orok in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

The study highlights the hydraulic properties of Akani Esuk Orok in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Twenty soil samples were collected from Akani Esuk in Calabar on a grid measuring 6 m X 6 m at a distance of 2 m apart to determine the hydraulic conductivity and to assess its influence on bulk density, particle density, total porosity and texture. The mean value of hydraulic conductivity was 14. 91cmhr-1, bulk density1.3 g cm-3, particle density 2.5 g cm-3, total porosity 47.6 %, sand content 80.1 %, silt content 8.4 % and clay content 11.5 %. The texture of the experimental plot was loamy sand. The mean values of pH were 5.4; effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) was 63.9 cmol kg-1.These values, which are rated medium for the soils are probably responsible for the luxuriant growth of several crops cultivated in the area. The mean base saturation of the soils was 58.3 %. The potassium level of the study area was low, a mean value of 0.11 2 mg kg-1. Though the soils were strongly acidic in reaction and the fertility status was considered low, medium and high taking consideration values of organic carbon, total nitrogen, ECEC and base saturation. Hence, the fertility should be maintained by planting Calopogonium municoides, Centrosema pubescens and adoption of appropriate cultural practices

Morphological and Physicochemical Properties of Basaltic Soils on a Toposequence in Ikom, South Eastern Nigeria

Three profile pits were sunk along a toposequence of basaltic soils in Ikom, Cross River State to determine their morphological and physicochemical properties. The profile pits were morphologically described and thirteen (13) soil samples were collected from different horizons of the profiles for physicochemical analysis. Morphologically, the soils were deep and well drained with no concretions. The colour of the surface soils varied between dark reddish gray (5YR4/2) and dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) to dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4), while that of the subsurface varied between red (2.5YR 4/6) to reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4). The soils had sub-angular blocky structure of different grades and classes with predominantly clayey texture in the Ap horizons and very gravelly clayey texture in the Crtg horizons. The chemical analysis revealed that exchangeable Ca2+ was the most dominant cation amongst the exchangeable bases. The soils were low in total nitrogen, organic carbon, available phosphorus and very high in base saturation. The study showed that the soils are moderately fertile and as such, a lot has to be done to improve their fertility status through the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers with good management practices such as mulching with crop residue after harvest, sowing of crops at low density per hectare, conservative tillage, strip cropping, crop rotation and shifting cultivation to ensure sustainable productivity

Clinical outcomes after salvage radiotherapy without androgen deprivation therapy in patients with persistently detectable PSA after radical prostatectomy: results from a national multicentre study

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