The efficacy of peanut oil and palm oil in preserving chicken eggs in a tropical environment

The study was undertaken to compare the effect of different  storage methods on external and internal quality of Isa Brown eggs obtained from Rufai Poultry Farms Bakura, Zamfara State. Ninety (90) eggs were collected from the Rufai farms sales office at Talata Mafara, Zamfara State. The eggs were divided into three groups (A, B and C) of 30 eggs each. The mean weight of the eggs in each of the groups was determined. Group A was left uncoated in a crate, while groups B and C were coated with peanut oil and palm oil respectively, and stored for four (4) weeks at room temperature. The egg shell, mean egg weight, egg yolk, egg white (albumen) and volume of each individual eggs were evaluated. The average percentage whole egg weight loss for all the groups showed significant difference (p<0.05) after preservation, with group A having the highest average percentage egg weight loss of 64.16±5.00%, although, group B had heavier weight compared to group A before preservation. Eggs coated with palm oil had better internal quality compared to peanut oil coated eggs and non-oil coated eggs, as it was seen to have intact internal content. A significant difference (P< 0.05) was also seen in the volume of group B and C with group C having the highest volume of 67.67±10.79ml. In conclusion this study showed that all palm oil coated eggs had good external and internal quality and longer shelf-life than non-oil coated and peanut coated eggs. It was therefore recommended that eggs should be preserved by coating with palm oil, so as to extend their shell-life.Keywords: Chicken egg, Egg Albumen, Egg Yolk, Palm oil, Peanut oil, Preservatio

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 84.7%) were from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 62.8%), followed by strabismus (n = 429 10.2%) and proptosis (n = 309 7.4%). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 95% CI, 12.94-24.80, and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 95% CI, 4.30-7.68). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs. © 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

The prevalence of malaria in patients from some selected Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, north-west, Nigeria

Cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of malaria among patients from randomly selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State was undertaken between March 2011 to February 2012. Blood samples were collected from 1,918 patients attending the GOPD Ward various state government-owned hospitals in selected LGAs and examined for malaria parasites. Among the LGAs, Kaduna-South LGA had the highest (84.7%) prevalence of malaria while the lowest (60.7%) prevalence was recorded in Kachia LGA. The highest prevalence of malaria was recorded in the wet month of August (78.7%) and lowest in the dry month of  February (47%). The monthly prevalence of malaria showed no significant  association to malaria infection except in the dry months of January and February 2012.The age related prevalence of malaria indicates higher prevalence (75.0%) in 0-4 years agegroup while the least prevalence (58.7%) was recorded in 5-14 years age-group. Only age-group 15 and above was significantly associated to prevalence of malaria. The prevalence of malaria in males was slightly higher (74%) than in females (67%) in the study, however, the difference in prevalence was not significant (p>0.05).The Federal Government of Nigeria and its partners in the Roll Back Malaria scheme should strive to ensure that the importance of preventive measures should be strongly emphasized in every nook and cranny of the LGAs of the state.Keywords: Prevalence; malaria; Kaduna States; patients; Nigeria

Anti-trypanosomal activity of ethanolic bulb extract of Allium porrum in albino rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Twenty-five male albino rats were divided into five groups and used for the study. Day 5 post-infection and establishment of parasitemia (1x106 trypanosomes/ml of blood), Group 1 was untreated while Groups 2-4 were treated with single intraperitoneal injection 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of A. porrum respectively. A single dose 3.5 mg/kg diaminazene aceturate was administered to Group 5. Clinical manifestations of trypanosomiasis including increased rectal temperature, weakness and dullness were observed in experimental rats in all the groups. There were decrease packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell count (RBC) in Groups 1-4 but none of these was significant (p>0.05) while Group 5 had a significant increase (p<0.05) in PCV and non-significant increase (p>0.05) in RBC post-treatment. Meanwhile, there were feeble reductions in the pre-treatment and post-treatment parasitemia level in the groups treated with ethanolic extract of A. porrum compared with untreated group while there was significant clearance in parasitemia in the control-group.Keywords: T. b. brucei; A. porrum; ethanolic extract; albino rat; trypanosome

Evaluation of onchocerciasis using seroprevalence in some ivermectin treated Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Kachia and Kagarko LGAs are among the LGAs that have been treated with Ivermectin consistently for 19 years according to the records of Kaduna State Ministry of Health. Hence this study was carried out to conduct an appraisal of these selected areas in order to determine its efficacy, longevity and corroborate or otherwise the issue of recrudescence of the disease. A cross sectional study was conducted in May, 2018 to investigate the prevalence of onchocerciasis in Kachia and Kagarko LGAs of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total number of 208 participants were screened using SD Bioline onchocerciasis IgG4 kit from the two LGAs, 23 (11.1%) were found to be positive for IgG4 antibodies to O. volvulus. Result of the Chi square analyzes showed that there were no significant association between sex and seroprevalence (X2=0.377, df=1, p=0.593), LGAs and seroprevalence (X2=1.119, df=1, p=0.290, CI=95%) however, a significant association between age and seroprevalence (X2=13.408, df=5, p=0.020) was recorded. Occupationally, the LGAs had a significant association (X2=14.420, df=4, p=0.006). In Kachia LGA, there was equally a significant association (X2=10.848, df=4, p=0.028) while, in Kagarko there was no significant association (X2=5.866, df =4, p=0.209) in the seroprevalence. Significant  association was equally recorded between seroprevalence and compliance to ivermectin in Kachia (X2=27.419, df=1, p=0.05) and Kagarko (X2=33.269, df=1, p=0.05). Conclusively, there was  reduction in Onchocerca infection due to adherence to ivermectin intake by the inhabitants. Therefore, regular surveillance of endemic areas is to be carried out promptly in order to ensure compliance to prescribed annual ivermectin dosage and identify and treat infected individual

Prevalence of helminth parasites of domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in Jalingo Metropolis, Taraba State

A study was conducted to determine the gastrointestinal helminth parasites in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in Jalingo Metropolis, Taraba State. Sixty pigeons made up of 35 males and 25 females were selected, slaughtered and the  gastrointestinal tract examined for the presence of helminth parasites using  standard parasitological methods. Forty- seven birds (78.3%) were found to harbour single or multiple infections. Of the total infection, 43.3% were due to nematode parasites while 35.0% were caused by parasitic cestodes. Nematode parasites recorded were Ascaridia columbae (20.0%), Ascaridia galli (11.7%), Heterakis gallinarium (10.0%) and Capillaria spp. (5.0%) while Raillietina tetragona (18.3%), Hymenolepsis columbae (13.3%) and Rallietina cesticilus (3.3%) were the only parasitic cestodes recorded. Prevalence of these helminthes was significantly higher (p<0.05) in male (55.0%) than in female (23.3%) birds. Similarly, adult pigeons recorded higher prevalence (68.3%) than young pigeons (10.0%) (p<0.05). The intensity of worm infection by the different helminth parasite as reflected by the mean worm burden showed that pigeons infected with Hymenolepsis columbae had the highest mean worm burden (6 ± 0.9922) among the parasitic cestodes, while those infected with Ascaridia galli and Ascaridia columbae had the highest mean worm burden (05 ± 1.2936 and 05 ± 1.4697) among the nematodes recovered. The lowest mean worm burden (02 ± 0.6166) among the entire helminth parasites recovered was recorded in the pigeons infected with Rallietina tetragona.Keywords: Prevalence; helminth parasites; domestic pigeons; post mortem; Jalingo Metropolis

The Response of Nigerian Government to COVID-19: Patient Management and Diagnosis – A Mini-Review

A series of pneumonia cases of unknown cause has emerged in Wuhan, Hubei, China, in December 2019 with clinical manifestation highly related to pneumonia. Analysis of the respiratory tract sample of the infected patients by deep sequencing revealed a coronavirus named 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which is relatively considered as a deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronaviruses are positive RNA viruses, non-segmented assigned to the family of Coronaviridae, and the order Nidovirales. They are widely distributed in humans and other mammals. Although coronavirus infection is mild, beta coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV-2, and SARS-CoV) epidemic and pandemic have claimed the lives of people all over the world in the past two decades and presently. There is a scarcity of information on COVID-19 in Nigeria, there are less published information on how physicians are managing COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, and its success and challenge. This research reviewed the current COVID-19 diagnostic techniques used in Nigeria, drugs used in patient management, and general management adopted by physicians. RT-qPCR is the standard diagnostic technique recommended by NCDC, while patient management is basically using a drug such as Lopinavirritonavir and vitamins. However serological tests can be used for supportive information. Hence, PCR-based diagnostic technique is adopted in Nigeria to test for COVID-19, but information about the challenge and success of using PCR in COVID-19 diagnosis is not available which is a new area of research

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level

This cross-sectional analysis reports the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis across the world during a single year, investigates associations between clinical variables and national income level, and investigates risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Key PointsQuestionIs the income level of a country of residence associated with the clinical stage of presentation of patients with retinoblastoma? FindingsIn this cross-sectional analysis that included 4351 patients with newly diagnosed retinoblastoma, approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, 49.1\% of patients from low-income countries had extraocular tumor at time of diagnosis compared with 1.5\% of patients from high-income countries. MeaningThe clinical stage of presentation of retinoblastoma, which has a major influence on survival, significantly differs among patients from low-income and high-income countries, which may warrant intervention on national and international levels. ImportanceEarly diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. ObjectivesTo report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and MeasuresAge at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. ResultsThe cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4\%) were female. Most patients (n=3685 {[}84.7\%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n=2638 {[}62.8\%]), followed by strabismus (n=429 {[}10.2\%]) and proptosis (n=309 {[}7.4\%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5\%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3\%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1\%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9\%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 {[}95\% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 {[}95\% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and RelevanceThis study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs