Spectrum of congenital heart diseases in children with Down Syndrome at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto

Objective: Congenital heart diseases (CHD) frequently occur in children with Down syndrome. A few studies in Nigeria have highlighted the pattern of CHD in such patients, but results are variable with no data from the study area for comparison. This study aims to determine the pattern of CHD among children with Down syndrome as seen at UDUTH, SokotoMethods: A prospective study conducted between 1st October 2011 and 31st April 2015. Subjects included all children with phenotypic features of Down syndrome (DS) who were seen at the Pediatric cardiology clinic and had echocardiography diagnosis of congenital heart diseases.Results: Of the 41 cases of DS seen during the study period, 32 (78.0%) children aged 2 weeks to 22 months (Mean +SD = 5.6 ± 4.0 months) were diagnosed with CHD. Male to female ratio was 2.2:1. Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) was the commonest CHD seen in 18 (56.3%) patients. Nine (28.1%) patients had isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD), three (9.4%) had VSD coexisting with atrial septal defect (ASD) while one (3.1%) patient each had isolated ASD and Fallot's tetralogy respectively. Only three (9.4%) patients had surgical closure abroad, with good postoperative outcome in two of the patients.Conclusion: AVSD is the commonest CHD in our series, which is similar to previous reports. Increased access to definitive intervention is advocated since surgical outcome in such patients may be favorable.Keywords: Down syndrome, congenital heart diseases, pattern, Sokot

Prevalence and clinical forms of malaria among febrile HIV-infected children seen at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

Background: Malaria and HIV infections are major health problems facing the world today. Sub-Saharan Africa with 10 percent of world’s population harbors more than half the burden of the scourge. The present study determined the prevalence and clinical forms of malaria among febrile HIV-infected children aged 3months to 15years, seen in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study among febrile HIV-infected children and their control cohort were carried out between May and October 2016. The participants had the following investigations: malarial parasite, packed cell volume, random blood sugar, retroviral test.Results: A total of 140 febrile HIV-infected children aged 3 months to 15 years and 140 febrile HIV-negative age- and gender-matched children were recruited; 100 of the HIV-infected children were on ART and cotrimoxazole. The prevalence of malaria among the febrile HIV-infected children was 71.4% (100/140) which was significantly lower than the prevalence of 94.3% (132/140) among the control group (χ2 27.72, p=0.001). Among the febrile HIV-infected children that had malaria, 54(54.0%) had uncomplicated malaria while 46(46.0%) had severe malaria. Of the 132 controls that had malaria, 48(36.4%) had uncomplicated malaria and 84(63.6%) had severe malaria (χ2 =7.184, p=0.007).Conclusion: Malaria is a problem in HIV-infected children. Since nearly half of the febrile HIV-infected children had severe form of malaria, it is recommended that health promotion, intermittent malaria prophylaxis, early diagnosis and prompt effective treatment should be instituted for HIV-infected children. This may prevent severe form of malaria and its attendant mortality. Key words: Malaria; Prevalence and clinical forms of malaria; Febrile, HIV-infected, Sokoto state

Analysis of Fadama III Project's Impact on Productivity of Watermelon Production in Misau Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria

The study compared the productivity of watermelon production for Fadama III Project support among beneficiaries and non-Beneficiaries in Misau Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 140 watermelon farmers were randomly selected from the study area, consisting of 70 Fadama III project beneficiaries and 70 non-beneficiaries, respectively. Primary data were collected using questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting and regression analysis. The result reveals that the net farm income earned by beneficiaries (N79, 972.80/ha) was higher than those of the non-beneficiaries (N43, 163.96). The returns on naira invested were equally higher for beneficiaries than non-beneficiaries'. Seed input was a significant fertilizer, labour, farm size, agro-chemicals and fuel significantly determined the output of watermelon in the farms. The efficiency ratio for seeds, agro-chemicals, fuel and farm size were utilized below economic optimum level, while labor, fertilizer were used above economic optimum by both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, respectively. The main constraints of watermelon production in both farms included pest and disease infestation, inadequate fertilizer, high costs of seeds. inadequate extension services and lack of credit facilities. The study therefore, recommended the provision of more extension agents, provision of fuel at affordable price, provision of credit facilities by the banks at reasonable interest rates, provision of farm inputs at lower prices and provision of permanent fencing materials to restricts domestic animals on free range from encroaching watermelon farms toward facilitating effective watermelon production

The health risk assessment of heavy metal concentration in drinking water samples from selected location of Kauru Local Government Area Kaduna State Nigeria

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Effects of single and co-immobilization on the product specificity of type I pullulanase from Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4

Type I pullulanase from Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4 (PulASK) is an unusual debranching enzyme that specifically hydrolyzes starch α-1,6 linkages at long branches producing oligosaccharides (≥G8), but is nonreactive against short branches; thus, incapable of producing reducing sugars (G1–G7). We report on the effects of both single and co-immobilization of PulASK on product specificity. PulASK was purified and immobilized through covalent attachment to three epoxides (ReliZyme EP403/M, Immobead IB-150P, and Immobead IB-150A) and an amino-epoxide (ReliZyme HFA403/M) activated supports. Following immobilization, all PulASK derivatives were active on both short and long branches in starch producing reducing sugars (predominantly maltotriose) and oligosaccharides (≥G8), respectively, a feature that is absent in the free enzyme. This study also demonstrated that co-immobilization of PulASK and α-amylase from Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4 (TASKA) on ReliZyme HFA403/M significantly changed the product specificity compared to the free enzymes alone or individually immobilized enzymes. In conclusion, individual or co-immobilization caused changes in the product specificity, presumably due to changes in the enzyme binding pocket caused by the influence of carrier surface properties (hydrophobic or hydrophilic) and the lengths of the spacer arms

Evaluation of Moringa oleifera (L) Aqueous Seed Extracts on Aphrodisiac, Gonadal and Epididymal Sperm Reserves of Wistar Rats

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Moringa oleifera (L) aqueous seed extract on aphrodisiac, gonadal andepididymal sperm reserves of Wistar rats. Twenty-five male and fifteen female Wistar rats aged two months weighing 150 –200 g were purchased and housed in cages at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. The Wistarrats were provided with a 12 hours light and dark cycle, fed with pellets of broiler starter and drinking water were provided adlibitum. The rats were acclimatized for 14 days and they were randomly divided into 5 groups A, B, C, D and E. Group B, Cand D as treatment groups, whereas, group A and E were negative and positive controls, respectively, with 5 rats in each groupand each was kept singly in separate cage. Groups A and E received 1 ml of distilled water and 5 mg of sildenafil citrate orallyrespectively. Groups B, C and D received suspension of Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extract orally at the dose rate 100, 200and 300 mg/kg respectively, between 9:00 - 10:00 am daily for 21 days. Female rats were paired with males at a ratio of 1:1,and mating behaviour recorded. Group C and E male rats showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in mounting frequency (MF),respectively. Intromission frequency (IF) was significantly (p < 0.05) increase in group C and E, respectively. Gonadal andepididymal sperm reserves were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the M. oleifera treated and control groups. Keywords: Aphrodisiac: Gonadal sperm reserves: Moringa oleifera aqueous seeds extract; Fertilit