Exploring Overlaps Between the Genomic and Environmental Determinants of LVH and Stroke: A Multicenter Study in West Africa

Background Whether left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is determined by similar genomic and environmental risk factors with stroke, or is simply an intermediate stroke marker, is unknown. Objectives We present a research plan and preliminary findings to explore the overlap in the genomic and environmental determinants of LVH and stroke among Africans participating in the SIREN (Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network) study. Methods SIREN is a transnational, multicenter study involving acute stroke patients and age-, ethnicity-, and sex-matched control subjects recruited from 9 sites in Ghana and Nigeria. Genomic and environmental risk factors and other relevant phenotypes for stroke and LVH are being collected and compared using standard techniques. Results This preliminary analysis included only 725 stroke patients (mean age 59.1 ± 13.2 years; 54.3% male). Fifty-five percent of the stroke subjects had LVH with greater proportion among women (51.6% vs. 48.4%; p \u3c 0.001). Those with LVH were younger (57.9 ± 12.8 vs. 60.6 ± 13.4; p = 0.006) and had higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (167.1/99.5 mm Hg vs 151.7/90.6 mm Hg; p \u3c 0.001). Uncontrolled blood pressure at presentation was prevalent in subjects with LVH (76.2% vs. 57.7%; p \u3c 0.001). Significant independent predictors of LVH were age \u3c45 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14 to 3.19), female sex (AOR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.44 to 2.81), and diastolic blood pressure \u3e 90 mm Hg (AOR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.39 to 3.19; p \u3c 0.001). Conclusions The prevalence of LVH was high among stroke patients especially the younger ones, suggesting a genetic component to LVH. Hypertension was a major modifiable risk factor for stroke as well as LVH. It is envisaged that the SIREN project will elucidate polygenic overlap (if present) between LVH and stroke among Africans, thereby defining the role of LVH as a putative intermediate cardiovascular phenotype and therapeutic target to inform interventions to reduce stroke risk in populations of African ancestry

Evaluating the Potentials of Drilling Mud Production from Clayey Solis Derived from Imo Shale Formation in Okada, Near Benin, South Western Nigeria

Samples from Okada area in the Southwestern, Nigeria were collected to evaluate their likely potentials in drilling mud production with comparison with some commercial bentonite. In order to carry out this evaluation mineralogical, geotechnical and geochemical analysis were used to assess these drilling mud potential. The geotechnical analysis involving the determination of moisture content, specific gravity, particle size analysis, atterberg/ consistency limits test was combined with geochemical analysis of Xray Fluorescence (XRF) and Xray Diffraction (XRD) to determine the qualitative, (types of clays) and quantitative (compositions of each mineral in clay component) and the mineralogy percentages in the clay. The geotechnical results showed particles size of < 60% with very high plasticity (88-140%) having clay activity of <1.25%. Geochemical analysis shows significant amount of Silicate (SiO2), Alumina (Al2O3), Iron (Fe2O3), Magnesium (MgO), Calcium oxide (CaO), Titanium oxide (TiO2) and Manganese oxide (MnO). In CEC, Ca, K, Na (in order of decrease) oxides in Okada and high LOI (38%). The Okada clay revealed the dominance of montmorillonite (30-35.1%) and Kaolinite (2-20.1%) with Quartz (2-24%), Calcite (7-91%) and a very unique occurrence of Palygorskite (2-33%) in the study area which has never been seen in Nigeria. The attributes of the Okada clay were compared with the natural commercial bentonite of Wyoming and Moscow and it was observed to meet the requirement as drilling mud except in the plasticity and swelling potentials which would have to be taken into consideration in beneficiation of the okada clays.Acknowledement This research was funded by TETFUND Institution Based Research Fund (2021-2022 Merged)

Cd(II) biosorption using bacterial isolates from sawdust: optimization via orthogonal array Taguchi method

Orthogonal array of Taguchi experimental design with L16 four-level factors: pH (2–8), temperature (303–333 K), time (1–4 h), inoculum concentration (5–20 v/v) and Cd(II) initial concentration (50–200 mg/L) was applied to optimize Cd(II) biosorption from aqueous solution via bacterial isolates from sawdust. The optimum conditions were found to be 4, 303 K, 4 h, 15 v/v % and 50 mg/L for pH, temperature, time, inoculum concentration and Cd(II) initial concentration, respectively. A confirmatory experimental run at these conditions revealed 99.53% Cd(II) removal. Fourier transform infrared revealed the presence of –OH on the bacterial surface enhancing Cd(II) biosorption. The presence of small cavities on the bacterial surface with a porous inner multilayer was shown by scanning electron microscopy analysis. Proposed biosorption mechanisms were electrostatic interaction, surface complexation and ion exchange. In conclusion, bacterial isolates from sawdust could effectively be applied as biosorbent for Cd(II) removal from aqueous solution

Assessment of Perceived Health and Environmental Problems of Household Energy Consumption among Ilese Ijebu Residents Southwestern Nigeria

The study was carried out among Ilese-Ijebu residents southwestern Nigeria, to assess their perceived health and environmental problems associated with different sources of household energy use for cooking, then their perception and acceptability of adopting other alternative source of energy (biogas). A focused group discussion and self-structured questionnaire administration methodologies were adopted to elicit information on their current energy sources and adoption for alternative energy source (biogas). The researchers randomly selected twenty five (25) households to include the total sample size of one hundred (100) and organized an interactive session on the subject matter, during which three prepared forms were given out to the participants to filled their demographics characteristics, sources of energy for household cooking with associated health and environmental problems and perception and acceptability of biogas, descriptive statistics and likert scale technique were used to analyze the results obtained. The results of the analysis showed that, the respondents do make use of more than one source of energy for cooking, kerosene stoves (95), firewood (63), charcoal stove(32), while lesser people made use of liquefied gas (12) and electricity (5). Average numbers of respondents 50-60 are aware of associated health and environmental problems with firewood and charcoal, but not ready to use electricity and liquefied gas because of bills and fire hazards when the energy sources is&nbsp; not properly handled. However, the likert scale results of the positive score of 227 and the negative score of 598 on the acceptability of use of biogas for domestic cooking indicating that, presently, the residents are not ready to adopt the biogas as the alternative energy. Therefore, there is need to organize massive awareness campaign, health education talks among the residents on the effect of air pollution associated with household energy sources and consumption, health and financial benefits of adopting other alternative clean energy source