Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings raised in fish tanks

Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings stocked and raised in fish tanks were undertaken for a 6-month culture period: Sorting was undertaken from the first, second, and third months of stocking the fish fingerlings while the control was not sorted at all. The sorting assessments revealed that the twice sorting of fish fingerlings stocked with a Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) of 3.44 was significantly different (p>0.05) from those sorted once with MRR of 0.912, and three times with MRR of 2.65 respectively, thus making twice sorting most advisable for fish farmers utilizing Clarias gariepinus fingerlings for tank aquacultur

Acute toxicity and antidotal therapy studies of deltaphos in mice and rats

No Abstrac

Chronic toxicity studies on deltaphos in rats

No Abstrac

Behavioural and anthropometric risk factors for diabetes mellitus among newly admitted undergraduates in a Nigerian University

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is fast becoming a global epidemic, and its prevalence is increasing in children and young adults. The aim of the study was to identify young adults who had type 2 DM or impaired fasting glucose as well as those at risk of these conditions using anthropometric data and behavioral pattern. Methodology: Two hundred and twenty newly admitted undergraduates who were randomly selected during the registration process were involved in the study. Anthropometric parameters were measured while information on demographic details, medical history, and family history were obtained using a standard questionnaire. Fasting blood glucose was measured using the glucose oxidase method. Results: Two hundred and seven (94%) participants had serum glucose within reference range, 10 (4.6%) had impaired fasting glucose, and 3 (1.4%) had serum glucose >7.1 mmol/L, which is indicative of DM. A large number (91.4%) of individuals engaged in physical activity equivalent to a walk of at least 30 min/day. Most of them (93.2%) had body mass index <25.0 while 6.8% were overweight. One hundred and three participants (46.8%) indicated that they eat 3 or more servings of whole grain per day.Conclusion: Most of the participants are involved in healthy lifestyle. This has resulted in very low prevalence of impaired fasting glucose and type 2 DM among the group. It will be useful to follow up the group and note if they are able to maintain this trend since the risk of developing DM is known to increase with age.Keywords: Impaired fasting glucose, lifestyle, prevalence, type 2 diabetes mellitus, young adult

Comparative Neuropharmacological Activities Methanolic Extracts of Leaves and Roots of Cissus Cornifolia in Mice

Comparative neuropharmacological efficacy of the leaf and root 70 % methanol extract of Cissus cornifolia was studied in mice. The extractive values of the leaf and root methanol extract was found to be 31.5 g with yield of 12.6 %(w/w) and 37.8 g with the yield of 15.12 %(w/w) respectively. The acute toxicity (LD50) values in mice were found in leaf and root extracts as 2154.1 and 1131.4 mg kg-1 bd. wt. (i.p.) respectively. The sedative properties on the CNS of both the leaf and root extracts were studied employing diazepam-induced sleep, motor coordination, and exploratory behavioural test in mice. Both extracts potentiated the diazepam-induced sleeping time with markedly higher duration of sleep at 600 mg kg-1 bd. wt. (213.8 ± 27.5) exhibited by leaf extract. There was generally appreciable variation in the activities expressed by the leaf extract compared to that of the root in all the other tests conducted. Thus, at 300 mg k-1 bd. wt. the leaf extract revealed 5.3 ± 0.7 while the root had 8.0 ± 0.8 as mean number of head-dips in mice. The mean duration of beam walk was found to be 6.88 ± 0.71 and 4.72 ± 0.28 expressed by the leaf and root extract respectively at the same dose of 300 mg k-1 bd. wt. in mice. This work further confirms our earlier report on sedative effects of this plant as used traditionally against mental problems

Case Report: Strongyloides stercoralis coinfection in a Nigerian with HIV.

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in many areas of the world where human contact with fecalcontaminated soil or water is common. The nematode is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, including southwestern Nigeria. Strongyloides infections in the immunocompetent are often asymptomatic or associated with few clinical features, particularly during initial migration through the body. However, persons with defective cellular immunity are at risk of severe, clinically significant disease (mainly involving the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems). Patient, Methods and Results: A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Nigerian trader with candidiasis and trichomoniasis, while being screened for antiretroviral therapy, was found to also have S. stercoralis infection. She was treated with oral mebendazole. We report the first documented case of Strongyloides infection in an HIV-infected Nigerian. Conclusion: S. stercoralis infection is much easier to prevent than treat, and so we strongly advocate routine screening of all HIV patients for intestinal opportunistic pathogens and prompt therapy. Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Strongyloides stercoralis, Nigeria

Production, Characterization and Purification of Laccase by Yeasts Isolated from Ligninolytic Soil

Laccases are multi copper oxidases having wide substrate specificity for phenolic compounds, amines, inorganic compounds like iodine, using oxygen and producing water as by product. The aim of this study is to produce, characterize and purify laccase from yeast isolated from different samples. Yeast isolates were screened for laccase production using tannic acid, catechol, hydroquinone and acetaminophen. Two isolates from soil were selected for further study based on their positive response to screening compounds. Maximum laccase production was achieved with glucose as the best carbon source (10g/l) for Kluyveromyces sp.Dw1 and maltose for Pichia sp.Dw2; Sodium nitrate (3g/l) as the best nitrogen source, optimum pH of 6.0, optimum temperature of 30°C and 350C for Kluyveromyces sp.Dw1and Pichia sp.Dw2 respectively. Rice bran supported the highest laccase production of 88.625U/L in Kluyveromyces sp.Dw1and cane bagasse (79.107U/L) in Pichia sp.Dw2. The addition of inducers like copper sulphate and acetaminophen stimulated maximum laccase production. Maximum activity recorded at pH 9.0, 300C and 500C temperature for Kluyveromyces sp.Dw1and Pichia sp.Dw2 respectively. Laccase activity was retained in the presence of Ca2+, K+, Hg+, EDTA and Benzoic acid. Kluyveromyces sp.Dw1 had Km value of 0.08mM and 0.13mM for Pichia sp.Dw2 using ABTS as substrate. From this study, Kluyveromyces dobzhanskii Dw1 and Pichia manshurica Dw2 produced laccase that oxidized ABTS with higher laccase production using agro wastes and inducers

Computational study of Cattaneo–Christov heat flux on cylindrical surfaces using CNT hybrid nanofluids: A solar-powered ship implementation

This study examines the potential of using nanofluids in solar thermal energy systems. Nanofluids are known to exhibit high convection heat transfer coefficients, low specific heat, and density, making them ideal for improving the performance of solar thermal energy systems. However, this computational study investigates the application of Cattaneo-Christov heat flux on cylindrical surfaces using carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid nanofluids, for use in a solar-powered ship. The work utilizes numerical simulations to analyze the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of the hybrid nanofluids. The research examines the use of single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT and MWCNT) in engine oil (EO) as the working fluid. The Galerkin weighted residual method (GWRM) is utilized to solve the ordinary differential equations (ODEs) governing the system. The impact of various parameters, such as Cattaneo-Christov heat flux, solar thermal radiation, nonlinear stretching surface, slippery velocity, and porous media on the velocity equation, energy equation, and entropy generation are investigated and elaborated through detailed plots. The findings show that the MWCNT-SWCNT/EO hybrid nanofluid (HNF) exhibits maximum efficiency of around 2.4%, while the minimum efficiency is at 2.7%. This research provides valuable insights into the design and optimization of solar thermal systems for sustainable transportation

Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) prevents lead-induced testicular toxicity

Background: Lead, an example of heavy metals, has, for decades, being known for its adverse effects on various body organs and systems such that their functions are compromised. Aim: In the present study, the ability of lead to adversely affect the male reproductive system was investigated and tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum : Source of antioxidants) paste (TP) was administered orally to prevent the adverse effects of Pb. Materials and Methods: Fifteen Sprague Dawley rats, randomised into three groups (n = 5), were used for this study. Animals in Group A served as the control and were drinking distilled water. Animals in Groups B and C were drinking 1% Pb (II) acetate (LA). Group C animals were, in addition to drinking LA, treated with 1.5 ml of TP/day. All treatments were for 8 weeks. Statistical Analysis Used: A Mann-Whitney U -test was used to analyse the results obtained. Results: The obtained results showed that Pb caused a significant reduction in the testicular weight, sperm count, life-death ratio, sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, and plasma and tissue superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, but a significant increase in plasma and tissue malondialdehyde concentration. But, Pb did not cause any significant change in the serum testosterone level. TP, however, significantly reduced these adverse effects of Pb. Conclusion: These findings lead to the conclusion that TP significantly lowered the adverse effects of Pb exposure on the kidney as well as Pb-induced oxidative stress

Onion (Allium cepa) extract prevents cadmium induced renal dysfunction

Cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal, is known for its adverse effects on the body. In this study, the lowering effect of Cd on renal clearance (RC) was investigated, and Allium cepa extract (AcE) (an antioxidant) was pre-administered orally to prevent Cd's adverse effects. Seventy-two Wistar rats, grouped into three (n = 24), were used for this study. While Group C was given 1.0 ml of AcE daily (orally), Group A and Group B were given distilled water. AcE administration was done for eight weeks. Afterwards B and C were then given 1.5 ml/kg BW of 0.3 mg/L 3CdSO4.8H2O intraperitoneally for three consecutive days. The results obtained showed that Cd causes significant reduction in the 24 hour urine volume (from 3.017 ± 0.125 to 2.433 ± 0.118 ml), RC (from 3.258 ± 0.114 to 1.357 ± 0.104 ml/h for creatinine; and from 0.350 ± 0.057 to 0.185 ± 0.055 ml/h for urea), plasma and tissue SOD and CAT activity (form 1.644 ± 0.036 to 1.307 ± 0.056 u/g protein for plasma SOD; 0.391 ± 0.029 to 0.2692 ± 0.031 u/protein for plasma CAT; 1.695 ± 0.034 to 1.327 ± 0.049 u/g protein for tissues SOD; and from 0.350 ± 0.027 to 0.273 ± 0.043 u for tissue CAT), and significant MDA increased in plasma (from 1496.79 ± 1.321 to 1679.48 ± 143.29 μg/g protein) and tissue (from 1265.22 ± 2.285 to 1669.87 ± 14.61 μg/dL). AcE, however, prevents these Cd's adverse effects. This findings lead to the conclusion Cd exposure causes renal dysfunction, but oral administration of onion could prevent it