Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding in Sokoto: The Role of Counseling, Parental Support, and Health Education

Purpose – This study aims to investigate exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Sokoto. Design/methods/approach – A survey type of 300 respondents was used; data were analyzed with frequency counts/percentages and an X2 test. Findings – All respondents were female (100.0%), aged 26-35 (100.0%). The majority of the participants were single (66.7%) and unemployed (66.7%), with a secondary school education (66.7%). However, 33.3% of the participants were married, were civil servants, and had tertiary education. The study revealed that the majority (66.7%) had received breastfeeding counseling during antenatal care. All respondents (100.0%) received proper guidance/counseling at home on exclusive breastfeeding. Fathers (66.7%) and mothers (33.3%) supported exclusive breastfeeding. The respondents reported exclusively breastfeeding their child for the first six months after delivery (100.0%), and weaning occurred between 19-24 months. The reasons for avoiding exclusive breastfeeding were the sickness of the mother (66.7%) and insufficient milk (33.3%). All respondents (100.0%) agreed that exclusive breastfeeding improved the baby’s health, and health awareness encourages breastfeeding (100.0%). Research implications/limitations – This study provides a limit in the form of maximum exclusive breastfeeding for children aged 24 months. Practical implications – The study suggests that counseling, support from parents, and health awareness can improve exclusive breastfeeding, and healthcare providers should provide such services during antenatal care while promoting the practice through health education campaigns. Originality/value – This study highlights the importance of counseling, parental support, and health education in promoting exclusive breastfeeding and improving the health of infants in Sokoto. Paper type Research pape

Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of garlic extracts

The antibacterial potency of aqueous and methanol extracts of garlic was determined invitro against three bacterial isolates (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) by agar well  diffusion method. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannin, flavonoid, carbohydrate, protein, saponin, alkaloid and glycoside in the plants while anthraquinone was absent. Both the aqueous and methanol extract of garlic were observed to be more potent against E. coli with maximum zone of growth inhibition of 21.5mm at 200mg/ml and 24.0mm at 200mg/ml respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the aqueous and methanol extracts of garlic against E. coli was 100mg/ml and 50mg/ml respectively, and for S. aureus it was 200mg/ml and 100mg/ml respectively. Similarly, The MIC against Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the aqueous and methanol extracts was 200mg/ml and 200mg/ml respectively. Higher minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 300mg/ml was observed against P. aeruginosa with aqueous extract and 250mg/ml with the methanol extract. The MBC for both the aqueous and methanol extract was 200mg/ml respectively against E. coli while MBC of 300mg/ml was observed against S. aureus for the aqueous extract and 200mg/ml for the methanol extract. These findings therefore justify the traditional medicinal use of garlic.Keywords; Phytochemical, Antibacterial, Efficacy, Garlic, Isolates

Genetic diversity for nutritional traits in the leaves of baobab, Adansonia digitata

Genetic divergence of baobab (Adansonia digitata) in the North East and West of Nigeria was investigated. The seeds collected from 36 populations of Adansonia digitata were thoroughly washed from the pulp, dried and sown in polyethylene pots and arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications in the nursery of Savanna Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, (FRIN), Zaria Station. The leaves of the seedlings were assessed at 16 weeks after sowing (WAS) for nutritional traits such as carbohydrate, crude protein, fat, moisture content, fiber and ash. Highly significant differences were observed in all the traits assessed showing that high variability exists among the populations. Mean separation and comparisons were also consistent with the observed variability in allthe traits of the genotypes in the 36 populations. Mahalanobis D2 statistic and wards minimum variance grouped the 36 populations into four clusters: I (25), II (3), III (7) and IV (1). Clusters IV and I had the highest inter-clusters value and intra-cluster distance. Clusters II and I had the least values of D2 and √D2 of the inter cluster and intra cluster distance. Furthermore, cluster I had the highest population (25) and cluster IV was observed to be an isolated cluster with only one population and 0 intra-cluster values. Crosses can be made among the genetically divergent populations of baobab to develop genotypes for higher nutritional quality in the leaves as well as withstand both biotic and abiotic stress arising from the environment.Keywords: Adansonia digitata, Genetic variability, diversity, populations, and clustersAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(2), pp. 301-306, 8 January, 201

Emerging technologies with disruptive effects: a review

Since the last decade, several technologies have been abruptly influencing our lives. Among the notable major changes in the human society is the way humans interact with each other, which now involves the social media heavily where this is previously unknown to the masses. This type of technology is called Disruptive Innovation, a type of technology which has the potential to alter how human lives, market trends as well as other aspects including transportation and communications. Studies show that in the next few years, there are plenty of technology with the disruptive features. The new technologies, part of the domino effect of previous emerging technologies, include autonomous vehicle, the blockchain as well as Internet-of-Things. Despite the rapid advent, little discussion has been done to discuss and summarizes the emerging technologies in a single work in Malaysia. This brief survey is written as an effort to initiate the discussion, particularly in Malaysia about the disruptive innovation. It gives an introductory idea to the general audience, as well as academician and practitioners about the examples of the innovation, as well as brief discussion about the future studies which need to be commended in relation to the current development. This work is hoped to speed up the implementation of the emerging technologies in Malaysia as well helping and guiding policymakers, practitioners as well as academicians in understanding the phenomenon

EXTENT OF CYANIDE, NITRATE, AND FLAVONOIDS GOITROGENS IN SOILS AND TOBACCO PLANT IN SOKOTO, NIGERIA

Nitrate, cyanide, and flavonoids are among the chemicals that threatens hormones especially the thyroid gland and in turn affecting the body. Their presence in tobacco and cigarette shall be determine to inform the public. The objective of this work was to determine the extent of nitrate, cyanide, and flavonoids in soil and tobacco from Sokoto, Nigeria using standard methods. The results determined by this work indicated varied levels of goitrogens (cyanide, nitrate, and flavonoids) present in soils and tobacco leaves grown in three different points within Sokoto state, Nigeria (namely, Sokoto city, Gwadabawa, and Illela). 100.21±6.12 -705.10±4.60ppm, ppm 136± 6.10-170.30±3.36ppm, 7.10±0.3-17.0±0.11ppm are range values of cyanide, nitrate, and flavonoids respectively obtained in soils in Sokoto state. Likewise, 90.0±2.16-500.0±1.3ppm, 70.11±3.9-120.0±10.3ppm, 6.2±0.5-25.11±0.05ppm are the ranges of cyanide, nitrate, and flavonoids respectively determined in tobacco leaves in Sokoto state, Nigeria. There exist elevated levels of the goitrogens in soils and tobacco in Sokoto, therefore, risking the consumers and non-consumers to iodine deficiency

What drives women into entrepreneurial activities? view from Malaysia and Philippines

Women nowadays are actively involved in entrepreneurship and contributing to economy development. In developing country such as Malaysia and Philippines, the participations are increasingly noted, yet the phenomena are still new. This study aims to understand the factors that motivate women to involve in entrepreneurship, in addition to their profiles and industry/business engagement. The study further explores the obstacles faced before/during venturing into entrepreneurial activities. Using quantitative approach, descriptive method and correlation are used to understand the phenomena. Findings from this study will provide a profiling of women entrepreneurs together with their motivational factors and to understand the challenges faced in the course. As both countries are establishing women as part of their economic development player, this study shall provide real inputs for policy building in promoting, encouraging and easing women involvement in entrepreneurial activities and the related industry

A Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Secreting Adenocarcinoma Arising in Tailgut Cyst : Clinical Implications of Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Tailgut cysts (TGCs) are rare congenital cysts that occur in the retrorectal or presacral spaces. Although most tailgut cysts have been reported as benign, there have been at least 9 cases associated with malignant change. We report herein on an unusual case of a 40-year-old woman with a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-producing adenocarcinoma arising within a TGC who underwent surgical resection and local radiation therapy. Despite the complete resection, metastatic adenocarcinoma developed five months after surgery. CEA-producing adenocarcinoma from a TGC is extremely rare and only two cases, including this case, have been reported in the English medical literature. Besides CEA, the serum levels of CA 19-9 became markedly elevated in this patient. Given that the serum CEA level decreased to the normal range after complete resection of tumor and that the tumor recurrence was associated with a rebound of the CEA serum level, our case shows that serial measurements of serum CEA can be used for treatment planning and for assessing the patient's treatment response for this rare disease

TGFBR1 variants TGFBR1*6A and Int7G24A are not associated with an increased familial colorectal cancer risk

Variants of the transforming growth factor-beta receptor type 1 (TGFBR1) gene, TGFBR1*6A and Int7G24A, have been suggested to act as low-penetrance tumour susceptibility alleles with TGFBR1*6A being causally responsible for some cases of familial colorectal cancer (CRC). We performed a case–control study of 262 unrelated familial CRC cases; 83 hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and 179 non-HNPCC. Patients were genotyped for TGFBR1*6A and Int7G24A and compared with 856 controls. Further, we screened the coding region of TGFBR1 in affected members of a large family with CRC linked to 9q22.32-31.1. TGFBR1*6A allelic frequency was not significantly different in all of the familial cases compared with controls (0.107 and 0.106, respectively; P=0.915). In a subgroup analysis allele frequencies were, however, different between HNPCC and non-HNPCC familial cases (0.157 and 0.084, respectively; P=0.013). TGFBR1*6A genotype did not influence age of onset. Int7G24A allele frequencies were similar in cases and controls. No germ-line mutation was identified in the family with CRC linked to this chromosomal region. Our study provides no substantial support for the hypothesis that the polymorphic variants TGFBR1*6A or Int7G24A contribute to familial CRC risk. We cannot, however, exclude the possibility that TGFBR1 variants have a modifying effect on inherited risk per se

The impact of the initial COVID-19 outbreak on young adults’ mental health: a longitudinal study of risk and resilience factors

Few studies assessing the effects of COVID-19 on mental health include prospective markers of risk and resilience necessary to understand and mitigate the combined impacts of the pandemic, lockdowns, and other societal responses. This population-based study of young adults includes individuals from the Neuroscience in Psychiatry Network (n = 2403) recruited from English primary care services and schools in 2012–2013 when aged 14–24. Participants were followed up three times thereafter, most recently during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 outbreak when they were aged between 19 and 34. Repeated measures of psychological distress (K6) and mental wellbeing (SWEMWBS) were supplemented at the latest assessment by clinical measures of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). A total of 1000 participants, 42% of the original cohort, returned to take part in the COVID-19 follow-up; 737 completed all four assessments [mean age (SD), 25.6 (3.2) years; 65.4% female; 79.1% White]. Our findings show that the pandemic led to pronounced deviations from existing mental health-related trajectories compared to expected levels over approximately seven years. About three-in-ten young adults reported clinically significant depression (28.8%) or anxiety (27.6%) under current NHS guidelines; two-in-ten met clinical cut-offs for both. About 9% reported levels of psychological distress likely to be associated with serious functional impairments that substantially interfere with major life activities; an increase by 3% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Deviations from personal trajectories were not necessarily restricted to conventional risk factors; however, individuals with pre-existing health conditions suffered disproportionately during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience factors known to support mental health, particularly in response to adverse events, were at best mildly protective of individual psychological responses to the pandemic. Our findings underline the importance of monitoring the long-term effects of the ongoing pandemic on young adults’ mental health, an age group at particular risk for the emergence of psychopathologies. Our findings further suggest that maintaining access to mental health care services during future waves, or potential new pandemics, is particularly crucial for those with pre-existing health conditions. Even though resilience factors known to support mental health were only mildly protective during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains to be seen whether these factors facilitate mental health in the long term