Evaluation of the Cytogenotoxic Effects of Emulsifiable Concentrate form of Amitraz Pesticide on Allium cepa L

The cytogenotoxic effects of emulsifiable concentrate of amitraz pesticides was evaluated using Allium cepa L. test. The root meristems of A. cepa L. were treated with five concentrations (1%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 40%) of the chemical pesticide at 48 h for cytogenetic analyses and 96 h for root length inhibition. Pesticide doses affected root length significantly (P<0.05) at 5% to 40%; with 50% effective concentration (EC50) value of 18% while there was no significant difference between control and 1% (p>0.05). The mean root length of the treated A. cepa for Amitraz pesticides in all concentrations was lower compared to the control showing the obvious mitodepressive effects of amitraz pesticides. A dose dependent reduction in the total mitotic dividing cells and mitotic index was observed in A. cepa treated with the pesticides. The values of mitotic index obtained for amitraz pesticides at 5% (5.20), 10% (4.0), 20% (2.30) and 40% (0.80) were lower than half of the negative control (7.25), which reflect its cytotoxicity. All the concentrations of the pesticides used in the present study induced important abnormalities during mitotic division. These aberrations were: chromosome stickiness, disturbed spindle, anaphase and telophase bridges, chromosome fragments, laggard chromosomes, and c- Mitosis. The highest abnormality number was observed in the root tips of Allium cepa (5%) while the least was at 40%. Frequencies of chromosome abnormalities were low at 20% and 40% concentration because of damaged cell and lower cell divisions. The present study, showed the inhibition of growth and induction of chromosomal aberrations by amitraz, this suggest their capability in inducing cytotoxicity and genome instabilityKeywords: Allium cepa, chromosomes, amitraz pesticides, aberrations, mitotic inde

Selected Chemical Composition and Acceptability Assessment of Pre-treated Dehydrated Telfairia Leaves

Telfairia leaves were harvested fresh, sliced and subjected to different blanching pre- treatments tests - in boiling water, steam, sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate solutions before drying in a multipurpose produce drier (40-500C) for preservation. The control portion was dehydrated without any pre-treatment. All the dehydrated test portions were analyzed for proximate composition (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash and carbohydrate), microbial quality and sensory acceptability assessments. Dehydrated steam-blanched and water- blanched leaves had relatively lower moisture content (13.75 – 13.99%). Leaf nutrients (crude protein, crude fat and ash) concentrated relatively more in the steam blanched dehydrated leaves. No microorganism was detected in all the dehydrated treated and untreated test portions. Process treatments reduced the sensory acceptability rating of the dehydrated leaves as the untreated control portions were better accepted by assessors. Keywords: Telfairia leaves, Blanching, Dehydration, Acceptability

Ascorbic acid retention of freshly harvested seven Nigerian green leafy vegetables after soaking in water

Vitamins are micronutrients needed in the body for important biologic functions. The current study examined the influence of steeping on vitamin C retention of seven Nigerian vegetable leaves after soaking for 8 h. One kilograme each was purchased and 6 lots of 100 g were sorted out, cleaned and treated as follow; whole leaf 1, whole leaf 2, sliced leaf 1, sliced leaf 2, sliced and salted leaf 1 and sliced and salted leaf 2. Each of the treatments 1 was soaked in 1 litre of distilled water while each of treatments 2 was soaked in 2 litres of distilled water. All treatments were kept for 8 h while monitoring the trend of reduction in vitamin C contents at 2 h intervals. Moisture (%) was determined following AOAC (2002) methods while dry matter content was estimated from moisture by calculating the difference. Ascorbic acid content (mg/100 g) was determined following the method of Ndawula et al. (2004). Result showed that; moisture, dry matter, and ascorbic acid contents of raw leaves ranged from 67.63–86.70%, 13.30–32.37%, and 103.00–1199.23 mg/100g respectively. During soaking, ascorbic acid retained by the seven green vegetables reduced as follows; 73.39–24.26% (Amaranthus viridis), 100.26–19.62% (Gnetum africanum), 129.05–27.72% (Gongronema latifolium), 66.84–7.55% (Ocimum gratissmum), 42.59–4.14% (Piper guinense), 77.38–10.26% (Pterocapus mildbedii) and 120.02–17.97% (Telfaria occidentalis). The study showed that ascorbic acid retention (%) of seven Nigerian green vegetable leaves decreased with increasing soaking duration

Cervical cancer: current knowledge, perception and associated factors among female undergraduate student in a Nigerian polytechnic

Background and Objective: Cervical cancer is a major public health problem and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality amongst the gynaecological cancers worldwide, especially in developing countries. Cervical cancer continues to persist in Nigeria like other developing countries despite the existence of interventions. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge and perception of female students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan about cervical cancer.Methods and Design: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using a cluster sampling technique to select respondents. Sample of 420 was divided between the four (4) female hostels. Data was collected using self-administered semi-structured questionnaire and was analysed with SPSS® version 16. Bivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with knowledge and perception about cervical cancer.Results: Of all the interviews conducted, 89.1% were aware that cervical cancer is a life threatening situation, and 67.4% of the respondents knew that cervical cancer is linked to the virus, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Majority recognized that smoking (90.2%), multiple sexual partners (75.7%), early onset of sexual intercourse (73.2%) are risk factors for cervical cancer. Most (85.7%) agreed it can be treated if detected early, while 78.8% agreed that screening for cancer of the cervix is necessary to detect cancer. Poor perception put women at high risk of cervical cancer (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Cervical cancer is a major health burden for women in sub-Saharan Africa, yet only three-fifth and half of the respondents had good knowledge and good perception of cervical cancer respectively. Understanding factors associated with women's perceived risk of cervical cancer could guide future educational and clinical interventions to increase knowledge, perception and cervical cancer screening.Keywords: Cervical cancer, knowledge, perception, female undergraduat

Effect of graded levels of differently processed Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens

The study was conducted to determine the effect of graded levels of differently processed Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty (150), 28-day old birds were randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments of 3 replicates of thirty birds each. Each replicate had 10 birds. The treatments were: T1 - control diet with 0% inclusion level of Roselle SeedMeal (RSM) while the four other diets had 50% of raw (T2: rRSM), soaked (T3: sRSM), boiled (T4: bRSM) and fermented (T5: fRSM) Roselle SeedMeal in a complete randomized design. At the end of the 28thday of the feeding (week 8), parameters measured were on performance and carcass characteristics. The data collected were analyzed using ANOVA of SAS with the means, where significant, were separated using the Duncan's Multiple Range Test. Final weight (FW) and weight gain (WG) were highest in birds on T5. Birds on T5 had the least feed conversion ratio (FCR) value (2.62). Feed intake and percent mortality did not differ significantly among birds on the different dietary treatments. Birds on T5 had significantly (p < 0.05) higher values for live weight (LW), thigh weight (TW) and neck weight (NW). Percentage eviscerated weight, breast weight, drumstick weight, shank weight, wing weight and back weight did not differ significantly among the birds on the different treatments. The gizzard (G), liver (L) and spleen (S) had the highest values in birds on T3 (G: 2.53%), T1 (L: 2.34%), T5 (S: 0.18) being significantly (p<0.05) different fromT5 (G: 2.04%and L: 1.87%), T2 (S: 0.08%), T3 (S: 0.08%) and T4 (S: 0.09%) respectively. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences observed among the treatments for percentage heart weight. It can be concluded that processing methods enhanced the utilization of Roselle seed meal with the best being the fermentation method as revealed by its feed conversion ratio, live weight and some carcass parameters when Roselle SeedMeal was substituted for 50% of soybean meal in the broiler finisher diets

Effect of graded levels of raw roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of broiler chicken

Means of reducing the rising cost of feed resources in livestock production is a concern in thepoultry industry in Nigeria.The study was carried out to investigate the effect of graded levelof roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal on performance traits, physical and sensoryquality of broiler chicken meat. One hundred and twenty birds at day 28 were used and thirtybirds were randomly allotted into respective four dietary treatments [T1 - control diet with0% inclusion level of raw roselle seed meal (RSM) while T2, T3 and T4 had 25%, 50% and75% inclusion level of RSM respectively] in a complete randomized design. Each treatmenthad three replicates with ten birds per replicate. At the end of the 28-day feeding trial being 8weeks, 24 birds (2-birds/replicate) were slaughtered for physical and sensory meat qualitycharacteristics: colour, appearance, flavor, texture, taste and overall acceptability. Resultshowed there was not significant (P>0.05) difference for final weight, weight gain and feedintake among T1, T2 and T3 but T4 had significant (P<0.05) least values in final weight(1.58kg) weight gain (1.05kg) and feed intake (3.52kg) among the treatments. The FCR wasnot significantly different for T1 (3.32) and T4 (3.36) while both T1 and T4 differedsignificantly from T2 (3.13) and T3 (3.11). There were not significant (p>0.05) differences inthe carcass traits that were measured across the treatments. The cooking loss from the thighmeat in T2 (27.55%) was significantly lower in comparison to treatments T3 (36.60%) andT4 (35.62%) but was not significantly different from T1 (30.48%). The cooking loss frombreast and drumstick meat showed insignificant (P<0.05) difference among the treatments.The texture of the meat had least scored value in T1 (4.93) which was significantly differentfrom T1 (6.33) but not significantly different from T2 (5.13) and T4 (6.07). The overallacceptability of the meat from the treatments was highest in T1 (7.03) with no significantlydifferent from T3 (6.33) and T4 (6.67) but was significantly different from T2 (5.6). It can beconcluded that raw roselle seed meal can be used as a substitute for full fat soybean for use infinisher broiler diets up to 50% inclusion level without adverse effect on the performancetraits and some meat quality attributes of chicken. Keywords: Broilers' performance, meat quality traits and roselle seed meal. &nbsp

Budget overruns experienced on tertiary institutional building projects – recourse to the contractors’ related factors

This paper examined the contractors’ related factors that are causing budget overruns on tertiary institutional building (TIB) projects in south western part of Nigeria. Survey method was adopted and one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires administered on the respondents. It was discovered that delay in delivery of materials to site, poor skills and experience of labour and financial problems, shortage of materials on site and lack of contractors’ staff on site were the bane of cost overrun experienced on construction projects. The study recommended adequate and timely planning in terms of providing schedule for ordering materials (both quantity and time) and the list of suppliers so as to avoid delay in delivery of materials to site. Experienced labours with adequate skills are to be used, while making readily available another source for financing the projects aside total dependency on monthly valuation to avoid financial difficulty. This study has served as eye opener to the critical CRF that should be accorded high priority to avert budget overruns

The predictive value of syndromic approach to diagnosis of malaria among adults attending the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Ikeja, Lagos

Background: Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria-a country known for high prevalence of malaria. Available records show that ≥ 50% of the population of the country suffers from at least one episode of malaria each year. In all settings, ideally clinical suspicion of malaria should be confirmed with a parasitological diagnosis. However, in settings where parasitological diagnosis is not possible, the use of detailed weighting and scoring systems for clinical symptoms and signs of malaria may improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis. This study evaluated the complementary role of a syndromic approach to the diagnosis of malaria with the use of a structured algorithm as a tool to improve upon the presumptive diagnosis of malaria.Methods: A hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was done. Participants were selected using a systematic sampling method. A total of 386 adult participants with subjective experience of fever who had presumptive diagnosis of malaria were studied. Common presenting symptoms and signs were evaluated for those associated with positive malaria microscopy in order to determine their utility in syndromic diagnosis of malaria. The clinical predictors of malaria were determined by the logistic regression model. The level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated for the various clinical predictors and the algorithm score.Results: The data of 386 participants who presented with complaint of fever were analysed. There were 49.48% male and 50.52% female respondents. The respondents aged 31-40 years were in the majority (44.82%). The prevalence of malaria as indicated by positive malaria microscopy was 71.76%. The clinical features significantly associated with positive malaria microscopy in the bivariate analysis were joint pains, reduced appetite, and normal chest examination, however, following logistic regression, reduced appetite (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.04- 2.64, p value = 0.035) and normal chest examination (OR 3.07; 95% C.I: 1.41-6.70, p value= 0.005) were features found to be significant. Syndromic positivity for malaria assigned to total scores >7, had a sensitivity of 97.5%, specificity of 7.3%, positive predictive value of 72.8%, and negative predictive value of 53.3%.Conclusion: A total score > 7 as syndromic positivity for malaria in this study had a very high sensitivity (97.5%) but low specificity (7.3%) for malaria infection. A respondent with a history of fever who had been presumed to have malaria, and has a total score > 7, is three times more likely to have malaria infection. Such patient should be treated for malaria in settings with no facility for parasitological diagnosis. However, on account of the low specificity of this syndromic approach, it is important for clinicians to examine patients properly to rule out other causes of fever such as urinary tract infection, gastrointestinal infection.Keywords: Syndrome, Malaria, Adult, Outpatient, Hospita

Hepato-toxicological and lipid profile of male Wistar rats following chronic carbamazepine, gabapentin, and carbamazepine-gabapentin adjunctive treatment

Aim: This study evaluated the hepatotoxicity and lipid profiles of male Wistar rats following chronic carbamazepine (CBZ), gabapentin (GBP) and carbamazepine-gabapentin (CBZ+GBP) adjunctive treatment. Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups (n = 7) to receive daily oral administration of normal saline (0.2ml), or CBZ (25 mg/kg), or GBP (50 mg/kg), or the sub-therapeutic dose of CBZ (12.5 mg/kg) and GBP (25 mg/kg) combination for 56 days. Thereafter, blood and liver homogenate were subjected to biochemical analysis, while liver tissues were processed for the histomorphological investigation. Data were analysed statistically, while p< 0.05 was taken as level of significance. Results: Activities of alanine phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase significantly increased in the CBZ and CBZ + GBP treated rat.  CBZ and CBZ + GBP treatments increased the plasma concentration of low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol. The liver concentration of malondialdehyde increased significantly in all the treated groups relative to control. There were severe vascular congestions in theliver of the CBZ treated rats, this was moderate in the GBP and CBZ + GBP treated rats. Conclusion: Chronic use of CBZ may induce hepatotoxicity and lipid profile derangement, GBP and CBZ + GBP adjunctive treatment may be saver than treatment with CBZ.&nbsp