Variations of Concentrations of Lead, Zinc, Iron, Copper and Cadmium in Urine of Primary School Pupils in Relation to Age, Sex and Academic Performance

This study was conducted in order to assess the variations and correlations in the concentrations of lead, zinc, iron, copper and cadmium metals in the urine samples of selected primary school pupils with respect to their sex, age and academic performance. Urine samples were collected from 240 pupils in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and then digested in concentrated acids and analysed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Lead, zinc, iron and copper were detected in most of the urine samples. Cadmium was not detected in any of the samples. The mean concentrations of lead, zinc, iron and copper in the samples from different classes ranged between 0.27–0.90, 0.59–0.78, 1.56–2.32 and 0.005–0.01 mg/L, respectively in pupils with high academic performance, and 0.37–0.71, 0.56–0.81, 1.79–2.55 and 0.005–0.01 mg/L, respectively in pupils with low performance. The overall mean concentrations of the metals ranged between 0.01–2.04 and 0.01–2.17 mg/L in males and females, respectively. There were no significant differences in most of the concentrations of the heavy metals in pupils’ urine samples between the two sexes. The findings indicated some significant positive correlations between the pupils’ age and the concentrations of lead and iron in urine samples, while there were no significant correlations for zinc and copper. Some of the concentrations of the heavy metals showed significant negative or positive correlations with the academic performance of the pupils. Therefore, the concentrations of the heavy metals were correlated with age, sex and academic performance in some samples. The concentrations of lead were generally alarming. Keywords: Heavy metals; children urine; age; sex; academic performance; Tanzani

Studies on the glycemic response of wheat at various level of processing fed to normal healthy rats

In this study, glycemic response was studied using wheat at various forms of processing. The study was aimed at estimating the glycemic index of various processing effect subjected to wheat, in normal rats using white bread as standard (control). Twenty rats were separated into four groups of five rats: one control group and three experimental groups. Group one was given durum wheat spaghetti, group two was given whole wheat, group three was given dehulled wheat and group four was given white bread (control). For the purpose of consistency, the samples were ground into flour and made into viscous paste using flour and water in a ratio of 1:3 respectively. Blood samples were collected from the tip of rats' tails at fasting and also at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes post feed respectively. Blood glucose level was determined using Accu-Chek glucometer and test strips. Dehulled wheat showed the highest blood glucose level at 30 minutes and 60 minutes post feeding, while whole wheat showed the highest blood glucose level at 90 minutes. Durum wheat showed the lowest blood glucose level at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and 120 minutes. In conclusion, the study revealed that dehulled wheat has the highest glycemic response while durum wheat spaghetti has the lowest glycemic response

In Vivo Investigation of the Ameliorating Effect of Copper Albumin Complex on chondroitin sulfate in Monosodium iodoacetate -Induced Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that manifests as cartilage deterioration and subchondral bone sclerosis in the joint tissues. The weight-bearing joint is most severely impacted by OA. According to some research, consuming foods high in copper albumin complex (cu-albumin complex) can help with OA-related joint degeneration and pain relief. The current study's objective to determine how oral administration of the cu-albumin complex as an anti-inflammatory medication affected the development of rat knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Fifty adult albino rats were divided into three groups: negative control untreated (n= 10, no KOA induction); positive untreated control (n= 20, KOA induction); and treated group (n= 20, KOA induction with administration of cu-albumin complex). According to the severity of the clinical symptoms, treated and untreated arthritic groups were equally divided into mild and severe groups (n=10). Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) was used as intra-articular injection for osteoarthritis induction. Rats were euthanized after a month of the beginning of the experiment, and the joints were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. It was indicated that the treatment was effective in reducing KOA severity and in improvement of chondroitin sulfate of the affected cartilages. In conclusion, the structure of the chondroitin sulphate in the knee joint cartilages of KOA-affected rats was modified by the cu-albumin complex

Studies on the glycemic response of wheat at various level of processing fed to normal healthy rats

In this study, glycemic response was studied using wheat at various forms of processing. The study was aimed at estimating the glycemic index of various processing effect subjected to wheat, in normal rats using white bread as standard (control). Twenty rats were separated into four groups of five rats: one control group and three experimental groups. Group one was given durum wheat spaghetti, group two was given whole wheat, group three was given dehulled wheat and group four was given white bread (control). For the purpose of consistency, the samples were ground into flour and made into viscous paste using flour and water in a ratio of 1:3 respectively. Blood samples were collected from the tip of rats' tails at fasting and also at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes post feed respectively. Blood glucose level was determined using Accu-Chek glucometer and test strips. Dehulled wheat showed the highest blood glucose level at 30 minutes and 60 minutes post feeding, while whole wheat showed the highest blood glucose level at 90 minutes. Durum wheat showed the lowest blood glucose level at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and 120 minutes. In conclusion, the study revealed that dehulled wheat has the highest glycemic response while durum wheat spaghetti has the lowest glycemic response

Trust-based Service-Oriented Architecture

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an architectural style in building Web applications based on services. In SOA, the lack of trust between different parties affects the adoption of such architecture. Because trust is an important factor in successful online interactions, it is a major criterion for service selection. In the context of online services and SOA, the literature shows that the field of trust is not mature. The definitions of trust and its essential aspects do not reflect the true nature of trust online. This paper proposes a comprehensive trust-based SOA solution based on an identified trust definition and its principles for selecting services based on their trustworthiness. In particular, SOA is extended and a new component, the trust framework, which is responsible for the trust process, is added to the architecture. Consequently, its components are identified and built. The trust-based SOA is implemented through experiments and scenarios

Protective Effect of Starch-stabilized Selenium Nanoparticles against Melamine-induced Hepato-renal Toxicity in Male Albino Rats

Melamine and its analogues are illegally added to raise the apparent protein content in foods. The elevated concentrations of these compounds cause adverse effects in humans and animals. In this contribution, the protective effects of the synthesized starch-stabilized selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs@starch) on melamine-induced hepato-renal toxicity have been systematically investigated. The Se-NPs@starch were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping analysis, TEM, and FT-IR. Starch plays a crucial role in the stabilization and dispersion of Se NPs, as noticed from the TEM and EDS investigations. Furthermore, the atomic ratio of Se distribution over the starch surface is approximately 1.67%. The current study was conducted on four groups of adult male rats, and the oral daily treatments for 28 days were as follows: group I served as control, group II received Se-NPs@starch, group III was exposed to melamine, while group IV was treated with melamine and Se-NPs@starch. The results reveal a significant alteration in the histoarchitecture of both hepatic and renal tissues induced by melamine. Furthermore, elevated liver and kidney function markers, high malondialdehyde, and increased expression levels of apoptosis-related genes besides a reduction in GSH and expression levels of antioxidant genes were observed in the melamine-exposed group. Interestingly, the administration of the Se-NPs@starch resulted in remarkable protection of rats against melamine-induced toxicity through increasing the antioxidant capacity and inhibiting oxidative damage. Collectively, this study provides affordable starch-stabilized Se-NPs with potent biological activity, making them auspicious candidates for prospective biomedical applications

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