Heavy metals bioaccumulation in tissues of Tilapia zilli as indicators of water pollution in kafinchiri reservoir, Kano - Nigeria

This study assessed the levels of heavy metals accumulation in water, gills and liver of Tilapia zilli fish collected from Kafinchiri water Reservoir for a period of four months with the aim of predicting health risk effect on consumers. Water and Tilapia zilli samples were collected from three different sites along the course of the dam; upstream, midstream and downstream. The concentration of copper, lead, chromium and cadmium in water and their accumulation in the liver and gills of the sampled fishes were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results revealed that concentration of dissolved heavy metals in the water ranges from Cu (0.4mg/L- 0.6mg/L), Pb (0.9 mg/L – 1.4mg/L), Cr (undetected - 0.1mg/L) and Cd (0.01mg/L – 0.02mg/L). Accumulation in the gills of tilapia fish ranges from Cu (0.8μg/g – 0.85μg/g), Pb (0.3μg/g -0.9μg/g), Cr (≤0.1μg/g) and Cd was not detected. The accumulation of heavy metals in the liver were Cu (3.0μg/g – 5.4μg/g), Pb (2.7μg/g – 9.6μg/g) and Cr (0.1μg/g – 0.15μg/g) and Cd not detected. Water content chemical analysis indicated that; sampling point B (midstream) had the highest concentration of the heavy metals in which Pb recorded had the highest Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of 5.76. The mean range of physicochemical parameters studied were temperature (25.90 – 27.37 °C), pH (7.60 – 8.52), DO (6.27 – 7.47mg/L), BOD (2.02 – 3.02mg/L), turbidity (28.05 - 34.00 NTU), electrical conductivity(187.60 – 361.17μS/cm), TDS (211 - 363mg/L), Total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, turbidity and nitrate recorded significant difference between sites (P<0.05). It was believed that domestic activities around the reservoir is the major contributing factor to the accumulation of toxic heavy metals in fish examined. It is recommended that intervention by relevant authorities is needed curtail potential long term effect of this pollutants in the reservoir.Key words: Heavy metals Pollution, Tilapia zilli, Bioaccumulation, Kafinchiri Reservoi

Acute Toxicity Study and Hepatocurative Effect of Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Parkia Biglobosa in Wister albino Rats

Parkia biglobosa plant is widely is used in folk medicinal practices to treat and/or manage various diseases including diabetes, malaria, diarrhea and pains. The current research seek to establish the toxicity profile and hepatocurative ability of aqueous stem bark extract of the plant. Twelve (12) rats were used for Oral LD50 determination, and were grouped into four (4) groups of three rats (3) each. The first three groups were administered with 10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively, while the last group was subdivided into three groups of one rat each and were administered with 2500mg/kg, 3500mg/kg and 5000mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. For the hepatocurative studies, twenty five (25) experimental rats were divided into five groups of five (5) rats each. Group I served as normal rats, Group II served as test Control while Groups III to V were induced with liver damage and administered with 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg of the extract respectively. The LD50 was found to be greater than 5000mg/kg, while phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Flavanoids, Glycosides, Tanins, Saponins, Steroids and Phenols, with the absence of Anthraquinones. For the hepatocurative study, a significant (p<0.0.5) increase in serum albumin and liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) was observed in test control compared to normal control. Upon administration of the extract, a significant (p<0.0.5) fall in Albumin, AST, ALT and ALP was recorded in a dose dependent pattern. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between groups in total protein, direct and total bilirubin. The research concludes that the extract is practically non-toxic and possess strong hepatocurative ability which might be due to the phytochemicals present. Keywords: Acute toxiicity; CCl4; Liver; P. biglobosa; Phytochemical and wistar rats. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-16-04 Publication date:September 30th 202

Prevalence and Determinants of Endothelial Dysfunction among Adults Living with HIV in Northwest Nigeria

Background: Endothelial dysfunction constitutes an early pathophysiological event in atherogenesis and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, determinants, and degree of endothelial dysfunction in antiretroviral therapy (ART)–treated people living with HIV (PLWH) in northwestern Nigeria using brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Methods: This was a comparative, cross-sectional study. A total of 200 ART-treated adults living with HIV with no evidence of kidney disease were compared with 200 HIV-negative participants attending a tertiary hospital in Kano, Nigeria, between September 2020 and May 2021. Endothelial function was evaluated by measuring FMD with a high-resolution vascular ultrasound transducer. FMD was calculated as the ratio of the brachial artery diameter after reactive hyperemia to baseline diameter and expressed as a percentage of change. Blood and urine samples were obtained from participants in both arms. Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) was calculated using the 2021 CKD-EPI estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) creatinine-cystatin C equation without the race variable, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was measured using enzymatic method. Results: The overall mean age (± standard deviation) of the study participants was 42 ± 11 years. Participants in the comparison arm were younger than PLWH (38 ± 11 versus 46 ± 10 years, respectively). The median (interquartile range) uACR was 41.6 (23.2–162.9) mg/g for the ART-treated PLWH versus 14.5 (7.4–27.0) mg/g for healthy controls. PLWH had a significantly lower mean percent FMD when compared to HIV-negative participants (9.8% ± 5.4 versus 12.1% ± 9.2, respectively). Reduced FMD was independently associated with HIV infection (β = –2.83%, 95% CI, –4.44% to –1.21%, p = 0.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (β = –0.04%, 95% CI, –0.07% to –0.01%, p = 0.004) and LDL cholesterol (β = –1.12%, 95% CI, –2.13% to –0.11%, p = 0.029). Conclusion: HIV-positive status, lower estimated GFR, and higher LDL cholesterol levels were independently associated with endothelial dysfunction. Future prospective studies with larger cohorts of persons living with HIV (and age- and sex-matched HIV-negative controls) are needed to gain further insight into these important findings. In the interim, aggressive management of modifiable risk factors is warranted

Biochemical Charactarization of Lectin Isolated from the Seeds of Shear Butter Tree (Vitellaria Paradoxa)

The study on biochemical characterization of lectin isolated from the seeds of shear butter tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) was carried out. The plants materials were obtained fresh from Kaduna metropolis. Seeds extracts from different plant sources were assay for the presence of lectins. Haemagglutinating activity of the crude extract was determined. Blood samples of 5ml each were collected from the three healthy donors belonging to the A, B and O blood group within Kaduna metropolis for its specificity in agglutination in all human erythrocyte type. Biochemical characterization of V. paradoxa seed lectin was also determined. Hemagglutinating activity of lectin from V. Paradoxa seeds was monitored using human erythrocytes. V. Paradoxa showed no specificity for human erythrocytes of ABO blood groups. It was concluded that lectin was inhibited by D-glucose and fructose making it a super-lectin since it was able to recognize structurally two different sugars. Its maximum agglutinating activity was obtained at pH of 7.5 and temperature of 25OC. It is recommended that lectins need to be isolated, purified and characterized to ascertain any similarity or difference in their properties between them and that of the seed. The molecular analysis also needs to be carried out on the lectins from the various plant parts. It is only from the genes that it can be ascertained that the lectin from the seed, leaf and stem back of V. paradoxaare the same or differ. The isolated lectin can also be tested against micro-organisms to ascertain if it has any anti-microbial property

Accidental kerosene oil ingestion in under-five age children in Nigeria – The need for vigilance in primary care settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Four children aged between 15 months and two years presented in several different out-patient emergency departments with a history of recent ingestion of kerosene. Majority of the patients lived in crowded domestic settings, and they all presented with varying degrees of respiratory distress, different presentations of respiratory clinical symptoms and signs, after being subjected to various potentially dangerous home remedies to counter the effect of the kerosene. Majority of the children presented late, but all recovered following appropriate management. The presented cases demonstrate the vital importance of prompt emergency management in primary care settings, family counseling on childcare and domestic safety, and community enlightenment on reducing the complications and frequency of childhood poisoning in increasingly overcrowded and less affluent communities