Proteomics of Carbon Fixation Energy Sources in Halothiobacillus neapolitanus

Through the use of proteomics, it was uncovered that the autotrophic, aerobic purple sulfur bacterium Halothiobacillus neapolitanus displays changes in cellular levels of portions of its carbon dioxide uptake and fixation mechanisms upon switch from bicarbonate to CO2(g) as carbon source. This includes an increase in level of a heterodimeric bicarbonate transporter along with a potential switch between form I and form II of RubisCO. Additional changes are seen in several sulfur oxidation pathways, which may indicate a link between sulfur oxidation pathways as an energy source and carbon uptake/fixation mechanisms

Circumcision mishaps: A continuing challenge in the developing countries

Objective: Circumcision has been described as the most commonly performed surgical operation in the boys and is probably the oldest surgical procedure in man. This prospective study was aimed at establishing the pattern, treatment outcome and cost of major complications of neonatal circumcision seen in a tertiary center in Nigeria.Methods: Consecutive cases of complications of circumcision presenting at the Paediatric Outpatient Department in a tertiary centre in Nigeria were prospectively studied over a period of 3 and half years from July 2003 to December 2006. Information regarding the age of the patient, time of circumcision, the surgeon, place of circumcision was recorded as well as the type of mishap; outcome and cost of management were noted.Results: Forty five patients with major complications of circumcision representing 6.2% of the patients. Their age at presentation ranged between 2 weeks to 10 years (Median = 3months). All the patients were circumcised during the neonatal period. The commonest complication reported is urethro-cutaneous fistula in 25 (56%), Meatal Stenosis in 4(8.9%), Severe bleeding in 4(8.9%), Epidermoid cyst in 3 (6.7%), and 2 (4.4%) cases each of Buried penis, penile amputation, penile degloving with glans amputation, glanular adhesions and redundant prepuce respectively. The cost of treatment for the repairs varies from 4500 -35,000NGN (40-305 Dollars)Conclusion: The prevalence of complications of circumcision is high in our environment

An audit of the quality of surgical operation notes in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Background: Operation note records are important tools for ensuring patients’ continuity of care, for research purposes and medico-legal reasons. They can effectively serve these purposes only if well documented. The main objective of this study was to assess the practice of recording the operation notes among surgical trainees in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.Methods: Operation notes completed by doctors in the Surgery Department over a 2-month period were audited for completeness, legibility and conformity to the standards of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.Results: There were 100 operation notes reviewed, two-thirds of these were written by Senior Registrars, majority of which were for elective operations (63%). Only 37 of the operation notes were appropriately completed with about two-thirds either incomplete or wrongly filled. The cadre of the surgical trainee did not significantly influence the completeness of the operation notes.  Legibility of the operation notes was associated significantly with completeness (p<0.04).  Conclusion: Standards of operation note writing in our practice needs to be improved upon. The challenges of legibility and completeness of documentation can be overcome by the use of an aide-memoire as well as computerized operation notes

Retrospective analysis of mathieu’s urethroplasty for anterior hypospadias repair in circumcised children: A single center experience

Introduction: Mathieu’s technique (peri-meatal based flap) makes use of the urethral plate in the repair of anterior hypospadias, thereby creating an almost natural neo-urethra. In a circumcised baby or after previous unsuccessful repair, Mathieu’s flap may be one of the few options left torepair anterior hypospadias.Objectives: To evaluate the result of Mathieu’s flap repair for anterior hypospadias in a resource poor setting.Materials and Method: This is a retrospective review of post-circumcision anterior hypospadias managed by Mathieu’s flap repair between January 1996 and December 2006 in the paediatric surgical unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, a tertiary hospital in theSouth Western Nigeria.Results: Mathieu’s flap repair was performed in 16 patients with isolated anterior hypospadias; 15 (93.8%) were circumcised before presentation. The complications were urethrocutaneous fistula in 3 (18.8%), wound infection in 2 (12.5%) and flap necrosis in 1 patient (6.3%). Final outcomewas satisfactory in all patients.Conclusion: Mathieu’s flap remains a viable option in the repair of anterior hypospadias even after circumcision

Oxidative stress biomarkers in West African Dwarf goats reared under intensive and semi-intensive production systems

This study explored the variation in physiological oxidative status of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats as the rainy season progressed in a humid climate in south-west Nigeria. A total of 24 growing WAD bucks, averaging 10.5 kg + 0.78 liveweight, were reared under intensive and semi-intensive management systems during the rainy season. Twelve (12) bucks were used for each management system. Animals raised intensively were fed Megathyrsus maximus hay ad libitum, while those reared semi-intensively were allowed to graze freely in a fenced paddock. Their diets were supplemented with a maize grain-based concentrate. Blood samples were collected at the onset of the experiment and fortnightly throughout the 16-week experimental period. Oxidative stress biomarkers in blood were measured and analysed separately for each rearing system using repeated measures analysis. Means of oxidative stress biomarkers measured at the beginning and end of the rainy season were compared using a T-test. Results showed that intensively managed goats had significantly higher levels of bilirubin and uric acid in the early season than in the late rainy season. In semi-intensively managed goats, bilirubin, uric acid, and glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly higher at the start compared with the end of the rainy season. It could be concluded that the antioxidant capacity of WAD goats was greater early in the rainy season compared with the late rainy season under both management systems. Thus, during the early raining season WAD goats tend to have higher antioxidant capacity and, consequently, better immune responses, while the opposite is true during the late rainy season.Keywords: bucks, immune response, seaso

A Simple Model to Predicting Pore Pressure from Shear Wave Sensitivity Analysis

A successful seismicity alongside core analysis provides data for subsurface structural mapping, definition of lithology, identification of the productive zones, description of their depths and thickness. Inadequate understanding of Pore pressure of a formation is regarded as one of the major problems drillers face in the exploration area. This may be amongst others, the pressure acting on the fluids in the pore spaces of the rock. Pore pressure can be normal, abnormal or subnormal. Shear waves are slow and thus, get to the surface after primary wave. It is with this intrinsic property that this project was initiated and researched. Data was obtained from a major operator in the Niger Delta. Methods of this study are as follows: Log description, interpretation and analysis and evaluation of pore pressure using the petro-physical parameters, model development using Domenico's equation as foundation and the shear wave velocity estimation. The result from this study, shows the importance of well logs and shear wave velocity in the evaluation of pore pressure, it also indicates where pressure can be encountered during drilling activities

Challenges of Surgical Repair of Hypospadias in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Objective: To document the presentation, outcome and challenges of management of hypospadias in a resource-limited setting.Patients and Methods: For this retrospective study we analyzed the files of  all patients with hypospadias managed at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between 1996 and 2006. The parameters studied were the patients’ bio-data, clinical presentation,treatment and outcome. Results: During the 10-year period under review 51 cases of hypospadias were managed. The majority of the patients (n=39, 76.5%) presented within the first year of life with a mean age atpresentation of 1 year and 8 months, though most of the repairs were done in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of life. Of the 51 patients 46 (90.2%) came from rural and semi-urban areas and 18 (35.3%) had been circumcised before presentation. Surgical repair consisted of preputial island flap in 22 patients (43.1%) followed by a peri-meatal based flap (Mathieu procedure) in 16 patients (31.4%). The MAGPI procedure was used in 5 patients (9.8%) and the Snodgrass procedure in 1 (2%).Staged repair was necessary in 7 patients (13.7%). Post-operative complications were encountered in 15 patients with urethrocutaneous fistula being the commonest one (11 patients, 21.6%). Conclusion: Our results show that hypospadias can be successfully managed in a low- resource setting

EVALUATION OF SELECTED LEAVES OF TREES AND FOLIAGE OF SHRUBS AS FODDER IN RUMINANT PRODUCTION

The potentials of selected leaves of trees and foliage of shrubs as fodder in ruminant production systemwere evaluated using chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility as indices. Theselected trees were Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oleifera, Gliricidiasepium, Pterocarpus santalinoides, and Millettia grifoniana, and shrubs were Stylosanthes scabra,Tephrosia bracteolata and Lablab purpureus. The results showed that the chemical compositions ofleaves of trees and foliage of shrubs varied significantly (p<0.05) among species. The crude protein(CP) content of the tree leaves ranged from 15.20 to 25.43% for Pterocarpus santalinoides and Moringaoleifera leaves, respectively, while CP in foliage of shrubs ranged from 21.63 and 26.67% forStylosanthes scabra, and Lablab purpureus, respectively. The in vitro dry matter digestibilities of theseleaves also varied significantly (p<0.05) with the selected trees ranging from 40.80 to 74.75% for Millettiagrifoniana and Gliricidia sepium, respectively while shrubs ranged from 50.35 to 61.24% for Stylosanthesscabra, and Lablab purpureus, respectively. Results indicated that these forages are highlydigestible and their inherent nutrients are higher than the range recommended for maintenance inruminant production. These fodders can be fed as supplements to low protein forage and can alleviatefeed shortages experienced for ruminants in dry season

In vitro Assessment of Morinda lucida Benth on Methanogenesis and Fermentation Parameters in West African Dwarf Goats

Ruminants produce methane gas which is an energy loss to them, and also one of the greenhouse gases which cause global warming. This study assessed the effect of varying levels of Morinda lucida Benth leaf powder (MLLP) on methane production and rumen fermentation parameters using in vitro technique. Six concentrate diets were formulated to contain MLLP as an additive at levels 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10mg g-1 DM. Fresh Panicum maximum Jacq. leaves were air dried to constant weight, milled and combined with each of the concentrate diet in the ratio 60 : 40 to serve as the substrate for the in vitro study. Incubation was carried out for 48 hours with 12 replicates per treatment in a completely randomized design. Data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and significant means were separated using the Duncan multiple range test. Results obtained showed that MLLP contained saponin (8.62%), alkaloids (3.48%), tannin (511.4 mg 100 g-1), phenolic acids (328.15 mg 100 g-1), oxalate (110.58 mg 100 g-1), cyanogenic glycoside (4.34 mg 100 g-1), flavonoids (595.63 mg 100 g-1) and trypsin inhibitor (4.35 TIU g-1). Inclusion of MLLP up to 10 mg g-1 in the diet did not (P > 0.05) affect metabolizable energy, short chain fatty acids, total volatile fatty acids production and pH. However, net gas production, methane production, in vitro organic matter digestibility, in vitro dry matter digestibility and ammonia nitrogen concentration decreased (P < 0.05) at 8 and 10 mg g-1 DM. The study therefore concluded that MLLP could be used to manipulate rumen fermentation at 2 mg g-1 DM to depress methanogenesis without negative effect on dry matter digestibility and ammonia nitrogen concentration