A study of the participating women in Lake Alau's fishery

The article discusses the increasing participation of women in artisanal fishery in Nigeria. The concept of involvement of women in poverty alleviation, food security and social development activities should have high priority and should put women on the research agenda as one of the means of bridging the gap in knowledge regarding their status and contribution in rural development in Nigeri

Effect of oral administration of aqueous extract of cassia occidentalis l. seeds on serum electrolytes concentration in rats

The effect of aqueous extract of C. occidentalis seeds on serum electrolytes concentration, in rats, was investigated in order to assess the acclaimed hypotensive effect of the seeds and also the seeds extract’s relation with acid – base balance of the body. Serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate ions were determined in 64 rats grouped into 4. Groups I, II and III rats were orally administrated with the seeds extract at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg and 90 mg/kg respectively for 1,2,3 and 4 weeks each. Group IV served as control. Concentration of sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate in the serum of control rats were found to range from 130 – 155 mEq/L, 3.4 - 8.7 mEq/L, 80 – 107 mmol/L and 20 -35 mmol/L respectively. The results of this study showed no significant difference (

A double blind prospective study of effect of intrathecal ropivacaine 0.75% and bupivacaine 0.5% for lower limb orthopedic surgery in young patients

Background: Subarachnoid block is among the most versatile regional block available today. It is a very old and well established anesthetic technique that is simple to perform and has a high success rate and a good safety profile. The aim of the present study was to compare the characteristics of spinal block, adequacy of anaesthesia and side effects using intrathecal ropivacaine 0.75% and bupivacaine 0.5% in young patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgery.Methods: 60 adult patients of either sex (aged 18 to 60 years) were studied, ASA grade I and II were randomly assigned into two anaesthetic groups. Group X: received 3.5 ml of 0.75% isobaric ropivacaine and group Y: received 3.5 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. After induction, the various parameters of intrathecal block and adequacy of anaesthesia were studied.Results: 0.75% isobaric ropivacaine had late onset of sensory and motor blockade as well as shorter duration of analgesia and anaesthesia with similar quality of block as compare to 0.5% bupivacaine. There was no significant change in the cardiovascular response to subarachnoid block. In present study, no adverse effects were noted in any of the patients in any group.Conclusions: Isobaric ropivacaine at the concentration of 0.75% can be safely used as an alternative to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine as long acting local anaesthetic in intrathecal block

Breakfast consumption pattern of some Ahamdu Bello University students and nutrient composition of commonly consumed breakfast foods

This study was carried out to evaluate breakfast consumption pattern of university students and determine nutrient composition of some commonly consumed breakfast foods. Seventy five (75) students took part in the study, using semi-structured questionnaires to obtain information on breakfast consumption pattern and 24-hour dietary recall to document dietary intake. Standard methods were used to determine weight and height from which their body mass index was calculated. Proximate and mineral compositions of some breakfast foods were determined using standard methods. Results obtained showed 85.3% of respondents eat breakfast while 14.7% skipped breakfast. Breakfast contribution to total calorific consumption of breakfast eaters was 2651.86 kcal compared to 1981.00 kcal for breakfast skippers. Both groups showed lower intake of some vitamins and micronutrients when compared to RDA. Nutrient content of commonly consumed breakfast foods revealed moimoi and bean cake had 16.44±0.70g/100g and 22.19±0.08g/100g crude protein respectively, while fried yam had high amount of carbohydrate 41.12±2.12g/100g. Millet pap recorded higher content of magnesium (18.55+0.03mg/100g), calcium (28.73+0.52mg/100g), copper (26.33+0.08mg/100g) and Chromium (1.09+0.05mg/100g). A healthful breakfast food choices by students may be an important strategy for improving the nutritional quality of their dietary intake.Keywords: Students, Breakfast, Food, Nutrient compositio

Effect of some free radicals on superoxide dismutase and carboxypeptidase - A review

Free radicals are species with unpaired electron in their outermost shell. Most free radicals come from oxygen or nitrogen atoms. Radical species such as superoxide radical, hydroxyl radicals and hydrated electron are called the primary radicals of water radiolysis and can be produced by irradiating water molecule. Inorganic radicals on the other hand are formed by irradiating aqueous solution of enzyme containing sodium or potassium salt of the radical to be produced. Superoxide dismutase, an important antioxidant enzyme can be inactivated by hydrogen peroxide at His-118 of the active site of the enzyme, while hydrated electron was found to be completely ineffective as inactivating specie. Hydrated electron was also found to be completely ineffective in the inactivation of carboxypeptidase, while there appears to be some relative efficiency with hydrogen atom.Keywords: hydroxyl radical (.OH); hydrogen atom (H.); hydrated electron (e-aq); superoxide dismutase SOD; Superoxide radical (O2.-

INTESTINAL HELMINTHIASIS AMONG CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN SOME HOSPITALS IN KANO METROPOLIS

Infection with parasitic helminthes is often recognized as one of the important public health problems in tropical Africa. The majority of this infection occurs in resource-limited settings like Sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminthes among children and adults in some hospitals in Kano metropolis. The study involved a cross-sectional survey of 134 stool samples where 84 were collected from children and 50 from adults. The samples were examined usingdirect wet mount and formol-ether concentration technique. The overall prevalence of intestinal helminth infection observed was 11.2%. In the study, three different parasites were identified. These include Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuristrichura and Hookworm. In terms of isolation rate, Hookworm was the commonest intestinal helminth observed in children 5 (50%) while Ascarislumbricoides was the most isolated 3 (60%) in adults