Parental Communication as a Tool Kit for Preventing Sexual Abuse among Adolescent Secondary School Students

This study employed the survey design to investigate the relevance of parent communication in preventing sexual abuse among secondary school students in Nigeria. The instrument for data collection tagged “Parent Communication Strategy for Preventing Sexual Abuse questionnaire” (PCOSPSAQ) , was a researcher designed instrument. It was administered to 686 respondents(266 male and 420 female) 500 and 400 sandwich undergraduates of the University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State who were parents to adolescent secondary school students. Mean scores were used to answer the research question while t test and Analysis of Variance (ANNOVA) were used to test the six null hypotheses at .05 alpha level. Findings reveal parents’ irresponsibility, ignorance of sexual abuse signs as well as inability to see and stop sexual abuse before it happens as part of the reasons for showing reluctance to communicate with their adolescents on sexual matters. Findings also reveal no significant difference in parents’ pattern of communication on prevention of sexual abuse based on gender, religion and type of family, but significant difference was found on type of parenting and geo political zones. Recommendations include the need for government and nongovernmental organizations to provide adults and parents resources that could boost their awareness on the things they need do to prevent sexual abuse of their adolescent boys and girls. Keywords:  Communication, Parents, Adolescents, Sexual Abuse Prevention

Mycological, toxigenic and nutritional characteristics of some vended groundnut and groundnut products from three Northern Nigerian ecological zones

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and groundnut products are important, street-vended, energy-rich sources of protein and oils useful in human and animal diets although fraught with microbial contaminations. Fungi associated with vended samples of roasted groundnut, Kulikuli, Donkwa, peanut butter and Yaji obtained from Kano, Kaduna, Minna and Ibadan were isolated using pour-plate method. These were qualitatively screened for presence of mycotoxin on palm kernel agar medium and the concentrations of aflatoxin and deoxynivalenol content in the samples quantified through immunoassay. The fungal load of the samples was highest between 1.3X103 and 1.6X104 TFU/g while the frequency of occurrence of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Rhizopus and Penicillium species in the samples were 36%, 33%, 20% and 11%, respectively. Qualitatively, the highest aflatoxin intensity producers were two strains of Aspergillus flavus from a Yaji and Kulikuli sample. The highest aflatoxin concentration (115ppb) was recorded in the Kaduna Yaji sample and 65% of the samples had aflatoxin concentration above the FDA-prescribed 20ppb. The highest deoxynivalenol concentration (0.7ppm) was recorded in Kaduna Donkwa sample which was still lower than the 1.0ppb prescribed recommendation. Kano Yaji and Kaduna Kulilkuli had the highest protein content (60% and 44% respectively) while all samples were high in calcium and potassium (725.16-1292.75 and 325-1280mg/100g) respectively. There was fungal contamination of vended groundnut product samples and the detection of mycotoxins in all the samples. Regulatory bodies, especially in developing countries, need to set quality standards and ensure compliance of the same in street vended food products for product and consumer safety.Keywords: Groundnut products, Mycotoxigenic properties, Deoxynivalenol, Aflatoxin, Nutritional compositionAfr. J. Biomed. Res. Vol. 22 (January, 2019); 65- 7

Latent common genetic components of obesity traits

Background: Obesity is rapidly becoming a global epidemic. Unlike many complex human diseases, obesity is defined not just by a single trait or phenotype, but jointly by measures of anthropometry and metabolic status. Methods: We applied maximum likelihood factor analysis to identify common latent factors underlying observed covariance in multiple obesity-related measures. Both the genetic components and the mode of inheritance of the common factors were evaluated. A total of 1775 participants from 590 families for whom measures on obesity-related traits were available were included in this study. Results: The average age of participants was 37 years, 39% of the participants were obese (body mass index ≥30.0 kg/m2) and 26% were overweight (body mass index 25.0-29.9 kg/m2). Two latent common factors jointly accounting for over 99% of the correlations among obesity-related traits were identified. Complex segregation analysis of the age- and sex-adjusted latent factors provide evidence for a Mendelian mode of inheritance of major genetic effect with heritability estimates of 40.4 and 47.5% for the first and second factors, respectively. Conclusions: These findings provide a support for multivariate-based approach for investigating pleiotropic effects on obesity-related traits, which can be applied in both genetic linkage and association mapping. © 2008 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved

Evaluation of Pasting Properties of Plantain, Cooking Banana, Selected Cereals and their Composites as Indicators for their Food Values

The pasting properties of unripe plantain, unripe cooking banana, some selected cereals and their composite flours were investigated in relation to their food values. Each of the samples was cleaned, air–dried and pulverized to form the native flours which were mixed in different proportions to form the composite flours. Soft doughs were prepared from the flours and subjected to textural evaluation. The adjudged best from each set was analysed using Rapid Visco–Analyser followed by determination of their proximate composition and functional properties. The results showed that the breakdown viscosity (cP) of each of the composite flours was less than 920.50 in plantain and 915.50 in cooking banana, indicating improved ability to withstand shear stress. The values of the final viscosity of the composite flours were generally lower than the native flours of plantain and cooking banana which indicated better flow property. The setback viscosities of the composite flours were lower than the native cereal flours except sorghum which indicated lower tendency to undergo retro–degradation. Furthermore, the composite flours gelled at lower temperature (72.1–84.9 °C) when compared with the native flours (82.7–89.2 °C) reflecting less energy requirement for cooking. Combination of cereals with plantain or cooking banana had led to production of composite flours which gave better and improved pasting properties without depreciation in functional properties and nutritional composition. Keywords: Composite flour; Cereal–plantain; Cereal–cooking banana; Proximate composition; Functional and pasting properties

Sero-prevalence and risk factors for cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in a teaching hospital in Ogun state, Nigeria

Background: Infection with cytomegalo virus is usually asymptomatic however in pregnant women the risk of congenital infection and foetal  abnormalities makes antenatal screening for CMV infection necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence and risk factors for  CMV infection among pregnant women in Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted between January and May, 2017 on patients attending the antenatal clinic of  Babcock University Teaching Hospital. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kits were used to determine IgM and IgG anti CMV antibody titresinvenous blood samples obtained from study participants.Results: A total of 80 patients were recruited into the study. The mean age was 30 years.All (100%) respondents were sero-positive for anti CMV IgG  antibodies while 28.75% of respondents were seropositive for anti CMV IgM antibodies.Conclusion: There was a highsero-prevalence rate of CMV infection in the study. Screening of pregnant women for CMV infection is necessary due to the  risk of congenital infection and fetal defects

Proceedings of a Sickle Cell Disease Ontology workshop - Towards the first comprehensive ontology for Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a debilitating single gene disorder caused by a single point mutation that results in physical deformation (i.e. sickling) of erythrocytes at reduced oxygen tensions. Up to 75% of SCD in newborns world-wide occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, where neonatal and childhood mortality from sickle cell related complications is high. While SCD research across the globe is tackling the disease on multiple fronts, advances have yet to significantly impact on the health and quality of life of SCD patients, due to lack of coordination of these disparate efforts. Ensuring data across studies is directly comparable through standardization is a necessary step towards realizing this goal. Such a standardization requires the development and implementation of a disease-specific ontology for SCD that is applicable globally. Ontology development is best achieved by bringing together experts in the domain to contribute their knowledge. The SCD community and H3ABioNet members joined forces at a recent SCD Ontology workshop to develop an ontology covering aspects of SCD under the classes: phenotype, diagnostics, therapeutics, quality of life, disease modifiers and disease stage. The aim of the workshop was for participants to contribute their expertise to development of the structure and contents of the SCD ontology. Here we describe the proceedings of the Sickle Cell Disease Ontology Workshop held in Cape Town South Africa in February 2016 and its outcomes. The objective of the workshop was to bring together experts in SCD from around the world to contribute their expertise to the development of various aspects of the SCD ontology

Evaluation of blood reservation and use for caesarean sections in a tertiary maternity unit in south western Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Haemorrhage from obstetric causes is the most common cause of maternal mortality in the developing world. Prevention of mortality from haemorrhage will necessarily involve prompt blood transfusions among other life saving measures. There are however limited stocks of fresh or stored blood in many health care facilities in Sub Saharan Africa. Caesarean section has been identified as a common indication for blood transfusion in obstetrics practice and its performance is often delayed by non availability of blood in our centre. An evaluation of blood reservation and use at caesarean sections in a tertiary maternity unit in Lagos, south western Nigeria should therefore assist in formulating the most rational blood transfusion policies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Case records of 327 patients who had elective and emergency caesarian sections at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital between 1^stOctober and 31^stDecember 2007 were reviewed. Data pertaining to age, parity, booking status, type and indication for Caesarean section, pre- and post-operative packed cell volume, blood loss at surgery, units of blood reserved in the blood bank, unit(s) of blood transfused and duration of hospital stay was extracted and the data analysed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were 1056 deliveries out of which 327 (31%) were by Caesarean section. During the study period, a total of 654 units of blood were reserved in the blood bank and subsequently made available in theatre. Out of this number, only 89 (13.6%) were transfused to 41 patients. Amongst those transfused, twenty-six (54%) were booked and 31 (75.6%) had primary caesarian section. About 81% of those transfused had emergency caesarean section. The most common indication for surgery among those transfused were placenta praevia (9 patients with 21 units of blood) and cephalo-pelvic disproportion (8 patients with 13 units).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Even though a large number of units of blood was reserved and made available in the theatre at the time of operation, majority of the patients operated did not need blood transfusion. Provision of a mini- blood bank within the obstetric unit and careful patient categorization will ensure timely availability of blood for surgery without necessarily tying down stock in the central blood bank.</p

Discovery and Fine-Mapping of Adiposity Loci Using High Density Imputation of Genome-Wide Association Studies in Individuals of African Ancestry: African Ancestry Anthropometry Genetics Consortium

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified \u3e 300 loci associated with measures of adiposity including body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (adjusted for BMI, WHRadjBMI), but few have been identified through screening of the African ancestry genomes. We performed large scale meta-analyses and replications in up to 52,895 individuals for BMI and up to 23,095 individuals for WHRadjBMI from the African Ancestry Anthropometry Genetics Consortium (AAAGC) using 1000 Genomes phase 1 imputed GWAS to improve coverage of both common and low frequency variants in the low linkage disequilibrium African ancestry genomes. In the sex-combined analyses, we identified one novel locus (TCF7L2/HABP2) for WHRadjBMI and eight previously established loci at P \u3c 5×10−8: seven for BMI, and one for WHRadjBMI in African ancestry individuals. An additional novel locus (SPRYD7/DLEU2) was identified for WHRadjBMI when combined with European GWAS. In the sex-stratified analyses, we identified three novel loci for BMI (INTS10/LPL and MLC1 in men, IRX4/IRX2 in women) and four for WHRadjBMI (SSX2IP, CASC8, PDE3B and ZDHHC1/HSD11B2 in women) in individuals of African ancestry or both African and European ancestry. For four of the novel variants, the minor allele frequency was low (\u3c5%). In the trans-ethnic fine mapping of 47 BMI loci and 27 WHRadjBMI loci that were locus-wide significant (P \u3c 0.05 adjusted for effective number of variants per locus) from the African ancestry sex-combined and sex-stratified analyses, 26 BMI loci and 17 WHRadjBMI loci contained ≤ 20 variants in the credible sets that jointly account for 99% posterior probability of driving the associations. The lead variants in 13 of these loci had a high probability of being causal. As compared to our previous HapMap imputed GWAS for BMI and WHRadjBMI including up to 71,412 and 27,350 African ancestry individuals, respectively, our results suggest that 1000 Genomes imputation showed modest improvement in identifying GWAS loci including low frequency variants. Trans-ethnic meta-analyses further improved fine mapping of putative causal variants in loci shared between the African and European ancestry populations

Association of genetic variation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure among african americans: The candidate gene association resource study

The prevalence of hypertension in African Americans (AAs) is higher than in other US groups; yet, few have performed genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in AA. Among people of European descent, GWASs have identified genetic variants at 13 loci that are associated with blood pressure. It is unknown if these variants confer susceptibility in people of African ancestry. Here, we examined genome-wide and candidate gene associations with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) using the Candidate Gene Association Resource (CARe) consortium consisting of 8591 AAs. Genotypes included genome-wide singlenucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data utilizing the Affymetrix 6.0 array with imputation to 2.5 million HapMap SNPs and candidate gene SNP data utilizing a 50K cardiovascular gene-centric array (ITMAT-Broad-CARe [IBC] array). For Affymetrix data, the strongest signal for DBP was rs10474346 (P = 3.6 ×10-8) located near GPR98 and ARRDC3. For SBP, the strongest signal was rs2258119 in C21orf91 (P = 4.7 × 10-8). The top IBC association for SBP was rs2012318 (P = 6.4 × 10-6)) near SLC25A42 and for DBP was rs2523586 (P = 1.3 3 10-6) near HLA-B. None of the top variants replicated in additional AA (n 5 11 882) or European-American (n = 69 899) cohorts. We replicated previously reported European-American blood pressure SNPs in our AA samples (SH2B3, P = 0.009; TBX3-TBX5, P = 0.03; and CSK-ULK3, P = 0.0004). These genetic loci represent the best evidence of genetic influences on SBP and DBP in AAs to date. More broadly, this work supports that notion that blood pressure among AAs is a trait with genetic underpinnings but also with significant complexity. The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press