Hydrogeophysical Study Of The Groundwater Potential Of Ilara-Mokin Southwestern Nigeria

Geoelectric study of the groundwater potential of Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State Southwestern Nigeria was carried out using electrical resistivity (Vertical Electrical Sounding) method with the view to providing adequate information on the different sub-surface geoelectric layers, structural configuration of the concealed basement rocks and the groundwaterpotential of the study area. Forty-one Schlumberger vertical electrical soundings (VES) were conducted across the study area. The computerassisted VES data interpretation enabled generation of geoelectric curves, sections and overburden thickness map which were used in the delineation of key hydrogeologic features like the topsoil, weathered basement, fractured basement and the fresh basement. Resistivity values range from 21 Ω-m to 798 Ω-m in the topsoil, 14 Ω-m to 209 Ω- m in the weathered basement, 51 Ω-m to 209 in the partially weathered/fractured basement and 312 Ω-m to ∞ within the fresh basement. Layer thickness values also vary from 0.3 m to 6.1 m in the topsoil and 0.9 m to 28.6 m in theweathered basement. The depth to the resistive bedrock ranges from 0.3 m to 29.3 m across the study area. The study revealed that greater part of Ilara-Mokin town is underlain by marginally thick overburden thus constituting shallow aquifer units with poor to marginal groundwater potential. Partially weathered/fractured basement were delineated in isolated cases with tendency for low to marginal groundwater yield around central and northeastern areas of the town. The results reasonably provide basic information that is expected to assist in the future development of groundwater resources in Ilara-Mokin

Geophysical study of saline water intrusion in Lagos municipality

Saline water intrusion presently constitutes serious concerns in the Lagos municipality just like many other coastal cities, thus necessitating its intervallic study. The present study involving 52 borehole logs (consisting of natural gamma and electrical resistivity components) was aimed at delineating intruded and vulnerable zones. Saline water columns defined by low resistivity values in the range of 0.1 and 20 Ωm as compared to fresh water (≥ 100 Ωm) were delineated on 22 logs. Four of the geosections generated in this study indicate saline water intrusion at depths varying from surface in Satellite Town, Kirikiri, Ijora, Iganmu, Apapa, Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki to depths ranging from 40 m at Iganmu to 158 m at Lekki. Intrusions of 47 m (143 - 190 m) and 60 m (56 - 116 m) were delineated at Ajah; 50 m (265 - 315 and 258 - 308) at Lakowe; 57 and 112 m (51 - 108 m and 198 - 308) at Ibeju Lekki, Akodo and 122 m at (233 - 355m) at Awoyaya. The hydrogeologic importance of the Coastal Plain Sand aquifer unit in Lagos is under severe threat of continued sea water intrusion on its southern flank. This study illustrates the current extension of the sea water intrusion. It highlights the depreciation of the water resource due to over pumping at higher rate than the natural recharge and slow sea level rise.Key words: Borehole logs, saline water intrusion/incursion, natural gamma, resistivity, freshwater sand

Does Lycoperscon Esculentum (Tomato) Accelerate or Retard Wound Healing in Wistar Rats?

The study aimed at determining the effects of Lycoperscon esculentum on the wound healing processes of wistar rats. Excisional wounds were inflicted on the upper dorsolateral trunk of 20 adult male wistar rats. The wounds were dressed every three days (experimental with methanol extract of Lycoperscon esculentum and control with saline). Wound dimensions along two perpendicular axes were taken prior to dressings for the purpose of estimation of wound contraction rates. Granulation tissues were excised from five animals in each group and scar tissues obtained from the remaining animals. Fibroplasia and angiogenesis were evaluated histologically. Matched wound contraction rates were higher in the experimental group. Duration of healing was shorter in the experimental group (19.80 ± 1.64 vs 28.80 ± 4.55 days). Fibroblast counts of granulation tissue were 35.20 ± 17.53 (experimental) and 24.00 ± 8.00; with respective angiogenesis counts of 12.60 ± 8.32 and 15.60 ± 5.77. Respective values for fibroblast and angiogenesis of the scar tissues in experimental and control groups were 18.40 ± 3.7 vs 20.80 ± 5.21; and 14.20 ± 1.92 vs 13.20 ± 1.64). Histological sections of the granulation and scar tissues revealed abundance of collagen and paucity of macrophages in the experimental group. Lycoperscon esculentum promotes wound healing via bactericidal activity, rapid initiation and acceleration of wound  contraction, increased fibroblast production and collagen synthesis.Key words: Wound healing, Lycoperscon esculentum, Wound contraction, fibroplasia, angiogenesis

Blood pressure gradients and cardiovascular risk factors in urban and rural populations in Abia State South Eastern Nigeria using the WHO STEPwise approach

Background: Developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face a double burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases. As high blood pressure (BP) is a common global cardiovascular (CV) disorder associated with high morbidity and mortality, the relationship between gradients of BP and other CV risk factors was assessed in Abia State, Nigeria. Methods: Using the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance of chronic disease risk factors, we conducted a populationbased cross-sectional survey in Abia state, Nigeria from August 2011 to March 2012. Data collected at various steps included: demographic and behavioral risk factors (Step 1); BP and anthropometric measurements (Step 2), and fasting blood cholesterol and glucose (Step 3). Results: Of the 2983 subjects with complete data for analysis, 52.1% were females and 53.2% were rural dwellers. Overall, the distribution of selected CV disease risk factors was diabetes (3.6%), hypertension (31.4%), cigarette smoking (13.3%), use of smokeless tobacco (4.8%), physical inactivity (64.2%) and being overweight or obese (33.7%). Presence of hypertension, excessive intake of alcohol, smoking (cigarette and smokeless tobacco) and physical inactivity occurred more frequently in males than in females (p,0.05); while low income, lack of any formal education and use of smokeless tobacco were seen more frequently in rural dwellers than in those living in urban areas (p,0.05). The frequency of selected CV risk factors increased as BP was graded from optimal, normal to hypertension; and high BP correlated with age, gender, smokeless tobacco, overweight or obesity, annual income and level of education. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of hypertension in this part of Nigeria, there is an urgent need to focus on the reduction of preventable CV risk factors we have observed to be associated with hypertension, in order to effectively reduce the burden of NCDs in Africa.http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073403IS

Deriving an optimal threshold of waist circumference for detecting cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Waist circumference (WC) thresholds derived from western populations continue to be used in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite increasing evidence of ethnic variation in the association between adiposity and cardiometabolic disease and availability of data from African populations. We aimed to derive a SSA-specific optimal WC cut-point for identifying individuals at increased cardiometabolic risk. METHODS: We used individual level cross-sectional data on 24 181 participants aged ⩾15 years from 17 studies conducted between 1990 and 2014 in eight countries in SSA. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to derive optimal WC cut-points for detecting the presence of at least two components of metabolic syndrome (MS), excluding WC. RESULTS: The optimal WC cut-point was 81.2 cm (95% CI 78.5-83.8 cm) and 81.0 cm (95% CI 79.2-82.8 cm) for men and women, respectively, with comparable accuracy in men and women. Sensitivity was higher in women (64%, 95% CI 63-65) than in men (53%, 95% CI 51-55), and increased with the prevalence of obesity. Having WC above the derived cut-point was associated with a twofold probability of having at least two components of MS (age-adjusted odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 2.4-2.9, for men and 2.2, 95% CI 2.0-2.3, for women). CONCLUSION: The optimal WC cut-point for identifying men at increased cardiometabolic risk is lower (⩾81.2 cm) than current guidelines (⩾94.0 cm) recommend, and similar to that in women in SSA. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these cut-points based on cardiometabolic outcomes.International Journal of Obesity advance online publication, 31 October 2017; doi:10.1038/ijo.2017.240

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Nigeria in 1995 and 2020: A systematic analysis of current evidence

Improved understanding of the current burden of hypertension, including awareness, treatment, and control, is needed to guide relevant preventative measures in Nigeria. A systematic search of studies on the epidemiology of hypertension in Nigeria, published on or after January 1990, was conducted. The authors employed randomeffects meta-analysis on extracted crude hypertension prevalence, and awareness, treatment, and control rates. Using a meta-regression model, overall hypertension cases in Nigeria in 1995 and 2020 were estimated. Fifty-three studies (n = 78 949) met our selection criteria. Estimated crude prevalence of pre-hypertension (120-139/80-89 mmHg) in Nigeria was 30.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.0%-39.7%), and the crude prevalence of hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) was 30.6% (95% CI: 27.3%-34.0%). When adjusted for age, study period, and sample, absolute cases of hypertension increased by 540% among individuals aged ≥20 years from approximately 4.3 million individuals in 1995 (age-adjusted prevalence 8.6%, 95% CI: 6.5-10.7) to 27.5 million individuals with hypertension in 2020 (age-adjusted prevalence 32.5%, 95% CI: 29.8-35.3). The age-adjusted prevalence was only significantly higher among men in 1995, with the gap between both sexes considerably narrowed in 2020. Only 29.0% of cases (95% CI: 19.7-38.3) were aware of their hypertension, 12.0% (95% CI: 2.7-21.2) were on treatment, and 2.8% (95% CI: 0.1-5.7) had at-goal blood pressure in 2020. Our study suggests that hypertension prevalence has substantially increased in Nigeria over the last two decades. Although more persons are aware of their hypertension status, clinical treatment and control rates, however, remain low. These estimates are relevant for clinical care, population, and policy response in Nigeria and across Africa

Prevalence of dyslipidaemia and associated risk factors in a rural population in south-western Uganda : a community based survey

BACKGROUND: The burden of dyslipidaemia is rising in many low income countries. However, there are few data on the prevalence of, or risk factors for, dyslipidaemia in Africa. METHODS: In 2011, we used the WHO Stepwise approach to collect cardiovascular risk data within a general population cohort in rural south-western Uganda. Dyslipidaemia was defined by high total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 5.2 mmol/L or low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) 6% (men aOR=3.00, 95%CI=1.37-6.59; women aOR=2.74, 95%CI=1.77-4.27). The odds of high TC was also higher among married men, and women with higher education or high BMI. CONCLUSION: Low HDL-C prevalence in this relatively young rural population is high whereas high TC prevalence is low. The consequences of dyslipidaemia in African populations remain unclear and prospective follow-up is required

Characterisation of heart failure with normal ejection fraction in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The study aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of heart failure with normal EF in a native African population with heart failure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>It was a hospital cohort study. Subjects were 177 consecutive individuals with heart failure and ninety apparently normal control subjects. All the subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography. The group with heart failure was further subdivided into heart failure with normal EF (EF ≥ 50) (HFNEF) and heart failure with low EF(EF <50)(HFLEF).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The subjects with heart failure have a mean age of 52.3 ± 16.64 years vs 52.1 ± 11.84 years in the control subjects; p = 0.914. Other baseline characteristics except blood pressure parameters and height were comparable between the group with heart failure and the control subjects. The frequency of HFNEF was 39.5%. Compared with the HFLEF group, the HFNEF group have a smaller left ventricular diameter (in diastole and systole): (5.2 ± 1.22 cm vs 6.2 ± 1.39 cm; p < 0.0001 and 3.6 ± 1.24 cm vs 5.4 ± 1.35 cm;p < 0.0001) respectively, a higher relative wall thickness and deceleration time of the early mitral inflow velocity: (0.4 ± 0.12 vs 0.3 ± 0.14 p < 0.0001 and 149.6 ± 72.35 vs 110.9 ± 63.40 p = 0.001) respectively.</p> <p>The two groups with heart failure differed significantly from the control subjects in virtually all echocardiographic measurements except aortic root diameter, LV posterior wall thickness(HFLEF), and late mitral inflow velocity(HFNEF). HFNEF accounted for 70(39.5%) of cases of heart failure in this study.</p> <p>Hypertension is the underlying cardiovascular disease in 134(75.7%) of the combined heart failure population, 58 (82.9%) of the subjects with HFNEF group and 76(71%) of the HFLEF group. Females accounted for 44 (62.9%) of the subjects with HFNEF against 42(39.3%) in the HFLEF group (p = 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The frequency of heart failure with normal EF in this native African cohort with heart failure is comparable with the frequency in other populations. These groups of patients are more likely female, hypertensive with concentric pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy.</p

Deriving an optimal threshold of waist circumference for detecting cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND: Waist circumference (WC) thresholds derived from western populations continue to be used in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite increasing evidence of ethnic variation in the association between adiposity and cardiometabolic disease and availability of data from African populations. We aimed to derive a SSA-specific optimal WC cut-point for identifying individuals at increased cardiometabolic risk. METHODS: We used individual level cross-sectional data on 24 181 participants aged ⩾15 years from 17 studies conducted between 1990 and 2014 in eight countries in SSA. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to derive optimal WC cutpoints for detecting the presence of at least two components of metabolic syndrome (MS), excluding WC. RESULTS: The optimal WC cut-point was 81.2 cm (95% CI 78.5–83.8 cm) and 81.0 cm (95% CI 79.2–82.8 cm) for men and women, respectively, with comparable accuracy in men and women. Sensitivity was higher in women (64%, 95% CI 63–65) than in men (53%, 95% CI 51–55), and increased with the prevalence of obesity. Having WC above the derived cut-point was associated with a twofold probability of having at least two components of MS (age-adjusted odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 2.4–2.9, for men and 2.2, 95% CI 2.0–2.3, for women). CONCLUSION: The optimal WC cut-point for identifying men at increased cardiometabolic risk is lower (⩾81.2 cm) than current guidelines (⩾94.0 cm) recommend, and similar to that in women in SSA. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these cut-points based on cardiometabolic outcomes