Indication of pollution in a teaching and research farm reservoir

The production and productivity of a water body is largely dependent on its quality. One major source of water pollution is from the agrochemicals from nearby farmlands. The quality of water in the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm Reservoir (Ile-Ife, Nigeria) was monitored between October, 1993 and March, 1994. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain information on the types of agrochemicals in use on the farm. Water samples were collected fortnightly for analyses of the physico-chemical parameters and ionic content of the water. Investigation revealed that 21 agrochemicals had been in use on the farm. The physico-chemical parameters of the water showed that the water was very poor in nutrient. The high concentration of ammonium ion contents of the water shows an indication that the residues of certain agrochemicals got into the water to pollute it. Agrochemicals should be used with great caution on farmlands especially in areas close to water bodies from which man obtains fish and other proteinous foods. This paper also suggests a regular monitoring of water quality of reservoirs in order to pick the earliest signs of pollutio

Fish diversity in two reservoirs in Southwest Nigeria

This study investigated the fish diversity of Eko ? Ende and Owalla reservoirs, which are within the Osun river system in South West, Nigeria with a view to document biodiversity information needed for conservation and sustainable fisheries. Fish samples were collected monthly from the two reservoirs for one year, using a battery of multifilament gill nets. The data collected from each reservoir was analyzed for fish diversity. Information obtained on the forage / carnivore (F/C) ratio of fishes in each reservoir was used in measuring and comparing the ecological balance of the reservoirs. The results showed that eighteen fish species representing 16 genera and 10 families were identified in Eko ? Ende, while 17 fish species in 15 genera and 10 families were identified in Owalla during the period of study. Sixteen species (representing 84.2% of the total number of fish species) were common to both reservoirs and they were both dominated by Cichlids. Eko ? Ende Reservoir had greater fish diversity than the Owalla Reservoir. Shannon ? Weiner (H') index of fish diversity from Eko ? Ende reservoir was 2.37 while that from Owalla reservoir was 2.10. The forage / carnivore (F/C) ratios of the fishes from the two reservoirs showed that Eko ? Ende reservoir (F/C = 1.98) is ecologically balanced, while Owalla reservoir (F/C = 0.92) is not Owalla reservoir had a higher population of Hemichromis fasciatus (a predatory species). This reservoir also had more intensive fishing activities than the smaller Eko ? Ende reservoir. The study concludes on the need for a participatory research to alleviate the problem of ecological imbalance of fish species in Owalla reservoir

Influence of diabetes mellitus on carotid intima-media thickness of non-obese, normotensive diabetic patients

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease of great public health importance. Macrovascular complications like stroke and myocardial infarction initially manifest as atherosclerosis which is seen as thickened arterial wall. Direct determination of the progression of atherosclerosis can be undertaken through serial ultrasound measurement of the common carotid artery (CCA) intima media thickness (IMT).Aim: The objective of the study was to compare the IMT of the CCA in diabetic patients and healthy subjects within the same age, sex and geographic distribution.Method: This prospective study was conducted on 100 diabetic patients and 100 non-diabetic subjects aged 21years and above. The CCAs were scanned using GE Logic 5 color Doppler scanner (2007) with 7.5MHz linear probe. Two measurements of the IMT were obtained at 1cm proximal to the right and left carotid bulbs and the mean value of the two measurements was recorded.Results: The age range of the 200 participants comprising of 65 males and 135 females was 21-70 years with a mean age of 46.60 ±12 years. Mean CIMT was significantly higher in diabetic patients compared to normal patients (0.81+0.25mm and 0.61+0.12mm, p= 0.001). Age has significant influence on the CIMT on both groups of participants. However, male and  overweight subjects had significantly higher CIMT values than female and underweight subjects respectively only among non-diabetic subjects. The overall right and left mean CIMT in the diabetic patients and control respectively were 0.78+0.21mm, 0.83+0.37mm, 0.61+0.12mm and 0.61+0.13mm. In each group, there was no significant difference between the two sides.Conclusion: CIMTvalues were higher among non-obese normotensive diabetic  patients compared to normal subjects. Age, sex, and BMI have effects on CIMT of non-diabetic subjects, whereas only age has significant effect on the CIMTof diabetic patients.Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Non-Obese,  Normotensiv